USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1931-1935 > Part 2
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$173 12
$2,771 18
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES-1931
Commitment Jan. 1 to April 11, 1931, per warrant, $1,961 86 Abatements after payment, refunded, 8 78
$1,970 64
Payments to treasurer Jan. 1 to April 11, 1931,
$779 64
Abatements Jan. 1 to April 11, 1931, 53 53
Outstanding April 11, 1931, per list,
742 70
Cash on hand April 11, 1931, (verified)
394 77
$1,970 64
DOG LICENSES
Cash on hand October 18, 1927, per previous audit,
$503 00
Payments to county treasurer Oct. 18 to Dec. 31, 1927, $503 00
19
Licenses issued 1928:
223 Males and spayed females at $2 00,
$446 00
53 Females, at $5 00, 1 Kennel, at $25 00,
265 00 25 00
$736 00
Payments to county treasurer 1928,
$677 00
Fees retained by town clerk, 277 at 20c,
55 40
Due county treasurer December 31, 1928,
3 60
$736 00
Due county treasurer January 1, 1929,
$3 60
Issued 1929:
210 Males and spayed females, at $2 00,
$420 00
44 Females, at $5 00, 220 00
1 Kennel, at $25 00, 25 00
$665 00
$668 60
Payments to county treasurer 1929,
$612 80
Fees retained by town clerk, 255 at 20c,
51 00
Due county treasurer December 31, 1929,
4 80
$668 60
Due county treasurer January 1, 1930,
$4 80
Issued 1930:
229 Males and spayed females, at $2 00,
$458 00
41 Females, at $5 00,
205 00
2 Kennel, at $25 00,
50 00
$713 00
Overpayment to county treasurer,
5 40
$723 20
Payments to county treasurer 1930,
$667 00
Fees retained by town clerk, 272 at 20c,
54 40
Due county treasurer December 31, 1930,
1 80
$723 20
Due county treasurer January 1, 1931, $1 80
Issued January 1 to May 1, 1931: 73 Males and spayed females, at $2 00, 8 Females, at $5 00,
$146 00
40 00
$186 00
$187 80
20
Fees retained by town clerk January 1 to May 1, 1931, 81 at 20c, $16 20 Cash balance (due county treasurer) May 1, 1931, 171 60
$187 80
HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES
Licenses issued January 1 to May 1, 1931 :
54 Resident citizens' sporting, at $2 75,
$148 50
1 Alien sporting, at $15 25, 15 25
$163 75
Payments to Division of Fisheries and Game, January 1 to May 1, 1931,
$102 50
Fees retained by town clerk January 1 to May 1, 1931, 55 at 25c,
13 75
Cash balance (Due Division of Fisheries and Game) May 1, 1931,
47 50
$163 75
ELIZABETH WHITE CHARITY FUND In Custody of Town Treasurer
Cash
Savings Bank Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1930,
$28,033 88
$28,033 88
On hand at end of year 1930,
28,346 70
28,346 70
On hand April 11, 1931,
$57 50
28,346 70
28,404 20
Receipts
Payments
1930
Income,
$1,347 82
Added to deposits,
$312 82
Refund (1929 orders cancelled),
215 00
Relief,
1,250 00
$1,562 82
$1,562 82
January 1 to April 11, 1931
Income,
$57 50 Cash on hand, April 11, 1931, $57 50
LIBRARY FUNDS
In Custody of Town Treasurer
Savings
Securities Par Value
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1930, $10,224 36
$1,000 00
$11,224 36
On hand at end of year 1930,
10,342 79
1,000 00
11,342 79
On hand April 11, 1931,
10,342 79
1,000 00
11,342 79
Deposits
21
Receipts
Payments
1930
Income,
$556 23 Added to savings deposits, $118 43
384 70 Transfer to town:
Heald account, $233 70
Book account, 588 80
$822 50
$940 93
$940 9.3
FIREMEN'S RELIEF FUND In Custody of Town Treasurer
Savings Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1930,
$454 56
$454 56
On hand at end of year 1930,
$477 54
$477 54
On hand April 11, 1931, Receipts
$477 54
$477 54
Payments
1930
Income,
$22 98
Added to savings de- posits,
$22 98
APRIL 19th CELEBRATION FUND In Custody of Town Treasurer
Savings Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1930,
$322 14
$322 14
On hand at end of year 1930,
$218 49
$218 49
On hand April 11, 1931,
$218 49
$218 49
Receipts
Payments
1930
Withdrawn from sav- ings deposits,
$103 65
Income,
16 30
Transfer to town,
$119 95
$119 95
$119 95
CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS In Custody of Town Treasurer
Cash
Savings Deposits
(Par) Value of Securities
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1930,
$33.282 15
$4,500 00
$37,782 15
On hand at end of year 1930,
$33,974 39
$4,200 00
$38,174 39
On hand April 11, 1931, $125 00
$33,974 39
$4,200 00
$38,299 39
22
Bequest-Heald Fund,
Receipts
Payments
1930
Securities matured,
$300 00
Added to savings depos- its, $692 24
Income,
1,798 17
Bequests,
1,600 00
Transfer to Blanchard Fund, 1,325 81
Transfer to Cemetery Surplus Fund, 276 37
Transfer to town, 1,403 75
$3,698 17
$3,698 17
January 1 to April 11, 1931
Income,
$25 00
Cash on hand, April 11,
Bequest,
100 00
1931, $125 00
$125 00
$125 00
CEMETERY SURPLUS FUND In Custody of Town Treasurer
On hand at beginning of year 1930,
$667 29
Total $667 29
On hand at end of year 1930,
$892 95
$892 95
On hand April 11, 1931,
$892 95
$892 95
Receipts
Payments
1930
Transfer from Cemetery
Perpetual Care Funds, $276 37
Added to savings depos- its,
$225 66
Income,
32 79
Transfer to town,
83 50
$309 16
$309 16
LUKE BLANCHARD CEMETERY FUND In Custody of Town Treasurer
Savings Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1930,
On hand at end of year 1930,
$1,356 59
$1,356 59
On hand April 11, 1931,
$1,356 59
$1,356 59
Savings Deposits
23
Receipts
Payments
1930
Deposited in savings bank,
$1,356 59
Income,
61 28
$1,387 09
$1.387 09
CHARLOTTE L. GOODNOW FUND In Custody of Trustees
On hand at beginning of year 1930,
$3,379 40
Total $3,379 40
On hand at end of year 1930,
$3,409 20
$3,409 20
On hand April 11, 1931.
$3,409 20
$3,409 20
Receipts
Payments
1930
Income,
$164 80
Added to deposits,
29 80
Evangelical Congrega- tional Church,
125 00
Care of Cemetery lot,
10 00
$164 80
$164 80
January 1 to April 11, 1931
Income,
$22 50
Evangelical Congrega- tional Church,
22 50
24
Transfer from Ceme- tery Perpetual Care Fund,
$1,325 81
Transfer to town 30 50
Savings Deposits
BALANCE SHEET-APRIL 11, 1931
GENERAL ACCOUNTS
ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
Cash: In Banks and Office, Accounts Receivable: Taxes:
$1,297 14
Temporary Loans: In Anticipation of Revenue,
$25,000 00
Sale of Cemetery Land Fund, Appropriation Balances,
90,617 86
Levy of 1925,
$4 00 11,798 53
Overlays Reserved for Abatements: Levy of 1925, $2 00
39,616 73
Levy of 1929,
2,781 55
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes:
Levy of 1930,
2,362 51
Levy of 1929,
$411 63
5,146 06
Levy of 1930,
2,068 65
Levy of 1931,
1,137 47
3,617 75
Departmental,
386 75
Departmental:
4,004 50
Public Welfare,
$113 75
Surplus Revenue,
State Aid,
273 00
386 75
Revenue 1931,
$104,909 00
Less Estimated Receipts Collected,
4,250 82
100,658 18
Due from Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund Income,
18 62
$145,595 17
578 00
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus,
7,124 63
Levy of 1929,
Levy of 1930,
27,814 20
Revenue Reserved Until Collected: Motor Vehicle Excise Tax,
$3,617 75
13,124 12
$145,595 17
25
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Net Funded or Fixed Debt,
$48,400 00 Fire House Loan, Street Construction Loans, $48,400 00 High School Loan,
$700 00 2,700 00 45,000 00
$48,400 00
TRUST ACCOUNTS
Trust Funds:
In Custody of Town Treasurer : Elizabeth White Charity Fund,
$28,404 20
$80,991 95
Library Funds,
11,342 79
Firemen's Relief Fund,
477 54
3,409 20
April 19th Celebration Fund,
218 49
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds,
38,299 39
Cemetery Surplus Fund,
892 95
$84,401 15
Luke Blanchard Cemetery Fund,
1,356 59
80,991 95
In Custody of Trustees: Charlotte L. Goodnow Fund,
3,409 20
$84,401 15
Cash and Securities: In Custody of Town Treasurer, In Custody of Goodnow Fund Trustees,
26
Selectmen's Report
To the Citizens of the Town of Acton:
We submit herewith a report of the various departments of the Town for the year ending December 31, 1931.
During the last year the accounts of all the Town Departments were audited by the State Accountants. This audit covers a three year period and your attention is called to the report of the auditors which is made a part of this town report.
At the last annual town meeting the selectmen were instructed to carry out special work under Articles 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 35 and 36 and the following action was taken on each article.
Article 23. Authorized the selectmen to spend $500.00 to make changes and improvements in the library vault. This appropriation was found to be inadequate to do the work as planned and action under this article was postponed.
Article 24. We have purchased and installed a gas range in the Town Hall and a gas hot water radiator in the town clerk's office at the town hall.
Article 25. Under this article we have constructed a new cement bridge on Stow street. The contract for this bridge was awarded to Hay- ward and Frost.
Article 26. The contract for repairs and additions to the West Acton Fire House was given to Phalen and Smith. The building is now on a good foundation and is in excellent repair. New doors have been installed in addition to the work covered by the contract. Much credit is due the West Acton Fire Department for completing the grading around the build- ing without cost to the town. This grading represents a lot of hard work and a considerable saving for the town.
Article 30. The selectmen have purchased the strip of land along the northerly side of the fire house lot in West Acton for the sum of fifty dollars.
Article 35. The vote passed on this article was: "To appropriate the sum of $2000 to continue the reconstruction of the Newtowne Road to the Littleton line, provided the state and county contribute a sum suf- ficient to complete the road." The state and county refused to contribute a sum in excess of that appropriated by the town on this road, consequent- ly a special town meeting was called at which the town voted to appro- priate the sum of $2500 provided the state and county contributed like amounts for the reconstruction of this road. This gave us $7500 out of
27
which we had to pay John J. Watkins approximately $900, over-run on the previous year's work. This left us with approximately $6600 for the new construction on Newtowne Road in 1931. This work was done by the town forces and approximately 2700 feet of road completed and ac- cepted under our state contract.
Article 36: Acting under this vote we have completed 4100 feet of new construction on High street at a cost of approximately $9000. This work was also done by the Town Road Department.
During recent years the selectmen have adopted the general policy of letting our new construction road work out to a contractor and handling our general maintenance work with the town forces, and under normal conditions we firmly believe that to be the correct policy. However, owing to the unusual conditions of unemployment in this town during the past year it seemed to us to be advisable to sacrifice some of the savings which might have been effected by the contracting of our new construction work in order to place all of the money in town and give employment to as many as possible. Conditions to date this year show little improvement in the unemployment situation in this town and as there seems to be con- siderable difference of opinion among our citizens as to the advisability of doing our own new construction work, even under conditions such as ex- isted during this year, we suggest that everyone give some thought to this problem. This matter will undoubtedly come up for discussion at town meeting and the selectmen would like to know the attitude of the majority of our voters on this question.
This year finds the town with all of its road and fire house notes paid up, leaving only the payments of $5000 annually on the high school in the form of bonded indebtedness. We have, however, been assessed $7763.17 as this town's share of the cost of the new County Sanitorium. This assessment coming as it does in a year when our receipts from the State and other sources have fallen off considerably is most unfortunate, but entirely outside of our control.
Another major item has been added to our annual budget in the form of Old Age Assistance, which will require an appropriation of $5000 for the coming year.
This town is, however, as a whole in an enviable financial condition, which condition can unquestionably be maintained by careful planning of our expenditures.
Respectfully submitted, HOWARD J. BILLINGS, WALDO E. WHITCOMB, WENDELL F. DAVIS,
Selectmen of Acton.
28
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
We are making our first report of the Old Age Assistance to the Town of Acton, from July 1, 1931 to December 31, 1931. During this time we have had fifteen applications. Eight of these have been rejected for the reason that they were not eligible for aid in this state. However, we have given aid to seven during this period to the amount of $978.00. Since January 1 we have added to this number, and for the coming year, we would recommend that the Town raise the sum of $5,000.00 to take care of the Old Age Assistance Act.
WALDO E. WHITCOMB. HOWARD J. BILLINGS, WENDELL F. DAVIS.
Board of Selectmen.
Department of Public Welfare
To the Citizens of the Town of Acton:
This year the Welfare work has been largely of a temporary nature.
Seven families have been aided temporarily during the year, due to a large extent to the unemployment situation. We have rendered aid con- tinuously through the year to two persons, one living in Acton, the other in Lowell.
We have had one Mother's Aid Case, with mother and two minor children.
On July 1st two elderly persons were transferred to the Old Age Assistance.
Respectfully submitted, WALDO E. WHITCOMB, HOWARD J. BILLINGS, WENDELL F. DAVIS, Board of Public Welfare.
29
Town Meetings
Abstract of the Proceedings of the Annual Meeting, March 9, 1931
Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers and committees and fix salaries of all town officers.
Chose Charlotte Conant, trustee of the Elizabeth White fund for three years.
Chose A. N. Hederstedt, trustee of the West Acton Fireman's Relief fund, for three years.
Chose Horace F. Tuttle, trustee of the Goodnow fund, for three years.
Voted: To fix the salary of the tax collector at three quarters of one per cent of the amount collected and to allow an additional charge for expense of postage incurred in the collection of taxes.
Voted: That the salary of the chairman of the selectmen be two hundred dollars per annum and the other members one hundred dollars each per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the moderator be fifteen dollars for the annual meeting and ten dollars for other meetings.
Voted: That the salary of the chairman of the board of public we !- fare be seventy-five dollars per annum and the other members forty dollars each per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the town treasurer be five hundred dollars per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the town accountant be four hundred dollars per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the town clerk be two hundred dollars per annum.
Voted: That the salaries of the assessors be nine hundred dollars, in the aggregate; per annum, to be apportioned as they may determine, the said sum to include any salary of a clerk.
Voted: That the selectmen be instructed to fix the salaries of all other town officers.
Article 2. To see if the town will vote to accept the several reports of the town officers.
Voted: To accept the reports of the several town officers.
Article 3. To hear and act upon the reports of any committees chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.
The zoning committee by its chairman W. Stuart Allen presented a report.
Voted: That the report of the committee on zoning be received.
30
Article 4: To see what sum of money the town will appropriate to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the town and determine how the same shall be raised.
Under this article and other articles in the warrant it was voted to appropriate for:
Roads, general maintenance
$12,000 00
Schools
45,000 00
Street lighting
5,400 00
Memorial Library, current expenses
1,000 00
Memorial Library, books
200 00
Hydrant Service
6.029 00
General government
5,000 00
Buildings and Grounds
800 00
Cemeteries
1,200 00
Military aid
200 00
State aid
360 00
Soldiers' relief
600 00
Police department
1,500 00
Board of Health
1.000 00
Public welfare
2,000 00
Old age pension
1,000 00
Snow removal
3,500 00
Care of shade trees
500 00
Unclassified
500 00
Bonds, high school and others
8,400 00
Interest on bonds and note:
2,000 00
Interest on revenue loans
2,000 00
Town forest
150 00
Memorial Day
300 00
Fire department maintenance
2,000 00
Fire department, new hose
700 00
Forest fires
500 00
Gypsy moth work
500 00
Liability insurance
500 00
Treasurer's and collector's bonds
270 00
Public health nurse
2,200 00
Demonstration work, agriculture
50 00
Library vault
500 00
Gas range and heater
300 00
Stow street bridge
2,000 00
West Acton, fire house
2,000 00
Zoning committee
200 00
West Acton fire house, additional land
50 00
High school insurance, amount indefinite
Newtown road
2,500 00
High street
3,000 00
Voted: To appropriate $1.200 from the overlay surplus for a reserve fund.
31
Voted: To instruct the assessors to deduct from the amount required to be assessed the current year $10,000 on account of surplus revenue and the amount of all the estimated receipts of the town except from loans and taxes.
Article 5. To see what sum of money the town will raise for the ob- servance of Memorial Day
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars, to be expended under the direction of a committee consisting of the Com- mander of Isaac Davis Post, G. A. R., the commander of the American Legion and the chairman of the selectmen.
Article 6. To see what action the town will take in regard to the collection of taxes.
Voted: That all taxes, other than poll, shall be payable not later than Oct. 15, 1931, and on all taxes remaining unpaid after Nov. 1, interest shall be charged at the rate of six per cent per annum from Oct. 15, 1931 until such taxes are paid.
Article 7. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appro- priate for the maintenance of the fire department, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To raise two thousand dollars for the maintenance of the fire department and seven hundred dollars for the purchase of new hose.
Article 8. To see if the town will pay for fighting brush fires and fix price thereon.
Voted: To appropriate five hundred dollars for fighting brush fires and that the price per hour be fixed by the forest warden.
Article 9. To see what action the town will take toward the sup- pression of the gypsy and brown tail moth.
Voted: To appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars.
Article 10. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to insure the employees of the town.
Voted: To appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars.
Article 11. To see what amount of money the town will appropriate for the payment of premiums on the treasurer's and collector's bonds, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To appropriate the sum of two hundred and seventy dollars.
Article 12. To see if the town will authorize the treasurer with the approval of the selectmen to borrow money from time to time, in anticipa- tion of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1931 and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.
Voted: That the town treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen be and is hereby authorized to borrow money from time to time in an- ticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1931, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year any debt or
32
debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to employ a public health nurse and appropriate a sum of money for the maintenance of the same.
Voted: To employ a public health nurse to be under the direction of the Board of Health.
Voted: To appropriate twenty-two hundred dollars for the salary and maintenance of said nurse.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate fifty dollars or some other amount in furtherance of and the director to serve in cooperation with the Middlesex County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture in the work of the Middlesex County Extension Service, under the provisions of Sections 40-45, Chap. 128, General Laws of Massa- chusetts.
Voted: To instruct the selectmen to appoint a director.
Voted: To appropriate fifty dollars for the expenses and services of the director in the work of the Extension Service.
Article 15. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of eight hundred dollars for the purpose of completing the action taken under Art. 32, of last year, or take any action thereon.
A motion to appropriate the sum of eight hundred dollars, for the purpose of constructing the roadway in accordance with the lay out of the county commissioners did not prevail.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to continue the reconstruc- tion of Nagog Hill road from a point about one hundred feet east of Main street to the intersection of said Nagog Hill road with Concord street, a distance of about 1000 feet, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To dismiss the article.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to close the dump at South Acton, or act anything thereon
Voted: That the Board of Health be instructed to close the dump at South Acton.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to insure its town hall, or act anything thereon.
A motion to appropriate $187.50 to insure the town hall for the term of three years for the amount of $10,000 did not prevail.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1350, to purchase and install a fire whistle, or other fire signal device for use at Acton Center, or act anything thereon.
A motion to appropriate the sum of $1350, to purchase and install a fire whistle, in Acton Center, did not prevail.
Article 20. To see what action the town will take toward locating the new forest fire pump in any particular precinct.
33
Voted: That the location of the forest fire truck be left with the forest warden.
Article 21. To see if the town will accept the provisions of law relative to choosing one highway surveyor or a board of road com- missioners.
A motion to choose one highway surveyor for the term of one year did not prevail.
Article 22. To see what action the town will take in recognition of the gift to the town, of the sidewalks along Main street in the Center vil- lage.
Voted, unanimously, the following resolution:
Resolved: That the town of Acton hereby expresses its appreciation of the gift of Mr. Augustine B. Conant and others, which made possible the construction of cement sidewalks along Main street in Acton Center.
Resolved: That a copy of these resolutions be sent to Mr. Conant. and also entered in the town records.
Article 23. To see if the town will take some action to enlarge and improve the condition of the vault in the Memorial Library, now used for the keeping of the public records, and appropriate a sum of money therefor
Voted: That the selectmen be authorized to make such changes and improvements in the Library vault, used for the keeping of the town records as they may consider necessary.
Voted: That $500 be appropriated for such changes and improve- ments.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to purchase a gas range for the town hall and a gas radiator heater for the town clerk's office in the town hall, or act anything thereon.
Voted: That three hundred dollars be appropriated to purchase a gas range and radiator, to be placed in the town hall.
Article 25. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of two thousand dollars to rebuild the Stow street bridge, or act anything thereon Voted: To appropriate $2000 for rebuilding Stow street bridge in South Acton.
Article 26. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $2000 tc install heat and make necessary repairs on the West Acton Fire House, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To appropriate two thousand dollars to install heating ap- paratus and make other necessary repairs on the West Acton Fire House.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to install 18 one thousand candle power lights, six lights to be installed in each Village, or act any- thing thereon.
Voted: To dismiss the article.
34
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to appoint a planning board in accordance with Chapter 41, Section 70, General Laws.
Voted: That a planning board be appointed by the selectmen, to consist of six members, two from each precinct, and that such acts be taken as will conform with the state regulations governing the appointment of a planning board.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1500 for the purpose of preparing a zoning map and zoning law for the town to be brought before the town at the next annual town meeting and appoint a committee to carry out, this article, or act anything thereon.
A motion that the town appropriate $1500 to prepare a zoning map and a zoning law for the towr to be presented at the next annual meeting and a committee appointed to carry out the vote did not prevail.
Voted: That a committee be appointed by the moderator, two from each precinct. to consider the matter of zoning further and report at the next annual town meeting.
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