Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1931-1935, Part 24

Author: Acton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1931
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 766


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1931-1935 > Part 24


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Term expires 1937


Trustees of Elizabeth White Fund


Warren H. Jones


Term expires 1935


Waldo E. Whitcomb


Term expires 1936


Charlotte Conant Term expires 1937


Trustees of West Acton Firemen's Relief Fund


C. D. Cram .


Term expires 1935


H. Stuart MacGregor Term expires 1936


A. N. Hederstedt Term expires 1937


Trustees of Goodnow Fund


Charles E. Smith


Term expires 1935


Charlotte Conant Term expires 1936


Horace F. Tuttle Term expires 1937


Appointments Made by Selectmen-1934


Finance Committee


Murray Brown


William T. Merriam


Alfred W. Davis


William Rawitser


Albert P. Durkee


Webster S. Blanchard


Superintendent of Streets A. H. Perkins


Town Accountant Howard L. Jones


Registrars of Voters


Daniel W. Sheehan Term expires 1936


Edwin A. Phalen


Clarence D. Chickering


Term expires 1937 Term expires 1935


Horace F. Tuttle Ex-Officio


5


Election Officers Precinct I


Warden-James W. Coughlin Clerk-Arthur W. Wayne


Inspector-Arthur F. Davis


Deputy Inspector-Harold F. Coughlin


Deputy Warden-George A. Murphy


Deputy Clerk-Spencer H. Taylor


Deputy Inspector-S. E. Knowlton


Inspector-Leo F. McCarthy


Precinct II


Warden-Theron Lowden Clerk-John J. Manning


Inspector-L. C. Hastings


Inspector-Timothy Hennessey


Deputy Warden-Clare Milbery


Deputy Clerk-Thomas Murray


Deputy Inspector-Frank A. Merriam


Deputy Inspector-James Brown


Precinct III


Warden-Bertram D. Hall Clerk-David R. Kinsley


Inspector-A. R. Beach


Inspector-James Kinsley


Deputy Warden-Fred S. Whitcomb


Deputy Clerk-Frank McDonald


Deputy Inspector-Harry Holt


Deputy Inspector-John J. Dugan


Fire Engineers H. Stuart MacGregor, Chief


Alan B. Frost, Engineer-Precinct I David C. Clayton, Engineer-Precinct II A. Hazelton Perkins, Engineer, Precinct III


Cattle Inspector Fred S. Whitcomb


Forest Warden Alan B. Frost


6


Sealer of Weights and Measures Ralph Littlefield


Superintendent of Town Forest Charles A. Durkee


Burial Agent Charles A. Durkee


Surveyors of Wood and Lumber


Bertram D. Hall Charles E. Smith George H. Reed


Field Drivers


Michael Foley


Alan B. Frost George A. Braman


Superintendent of Moth Work James J. Knight


Police Officers Michael Foley, Chief Alan B. Frost C. A. Durkee


George A. Braman


George H. Reed William Braman A. W. Davis


Public Weighers W. H. Soar G. Howard Reed W. H. Francis Davis


Jury List (Revised 1934) Precinct I


Edward S. Fobes


Spencer H. Taylor


Fred Billings


E. Faulkner Conant


Frank E. Parsons


James W. Coughlin


Simon Taylor


George S. Tucker


George A. Richardson


J. A. VanWinkle


Precinct II


James Brown


William S. Jones


Llewellyn T. Fullonton John J. Bradley


Precinct III Allen Brooks Parker


James A. Grimes George A. Rifford Benjamin Coolidge


Arthur H. Wetherbee


Charles Miles Fred Sims Carl Flint


Henry Capelle


David R. Kinsley Bertram D. Hall Howard C. Tracy Eugene L. Hall


7


Town Warrant


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss.


ATEL


ONI


1735.


^ACTON.


To either of the Constables of the Town of Acton, in said County, Greetings :


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify the legal voters of said town of Acton, qualified to vote at town meetings for the transaction of town affairs, to meet in their respective precincts, to wit: Precinct 1-Town Hall, Acton Center.


Precinct 2-Universalist Church, South Acton.


Precinct 3-Fire House, West Acton.


at 12 o'clock noon, on Monday, the fourth day of March, 1935, by posting a copy of this warrant, by you attested, at each of the place as directed by vote of the town, seven days at least before the fourth day of March. To bring in their votes on one ballot for the following town officers: Moderator, town clerk, town treasurer, collector of taxes, one selectmen for three years, one assessor for three years, three members of the board of public welfare, four constables, one cemetery commissioner for three years, two members of the school committee for three years, one member of the board of health for three years, one trustee Memorial Library for three years, and a tree warden.


The polls will be open at 12 o'clock noon, and close at 8 o'clock. p. m.


8


You are further requested in the name of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts to notify the legal voters of said Town of Acton, as aforesaid, to meet at the Town Hall in said Acton, on Monday, the eleventh day of March, at seven o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles :


Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers and com- mittees and fix salaries of all town officers.


Article 2. To see if the town will vote to accept the sev- eral reports of the town officers.


Article 3. To hear and act upon the reports of any com- mittees chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.


Article 4. To see what sum of money the town will appro- priate to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the town and determine how the same shall be raised.


Article 5. To see what sum of money the town will raise for the observance of Memorial Day.


Article 6. To see what action the town will take in regard to the collection of taxes.


Article 7. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the maintenance of the fire department, or vote anything thereon.


Article 8. To see if the town will pay for fighting brush fires and fix price thereon.


Article 9. To see what action the town will take toward the suppression of the brown-tail and gypsy moth.


Article 10. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to insure the employees of the town or act anything thereon.


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.


Article 12. To see if the town will vote to authorize the town treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money


9


from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1935, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.


Article 13. To see if the town will vote to employ a public health nurse, and appropriate a sum of money for the main- tenance of same.


Article 14. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 for the reconstruction of Pope Road from State Highway, East Acton to the Carlisle line provided at least a like sum is allotted to the town by the State Department of Public Works and at least a similar sum by the County of Middlesex or act anything thereon. 500.


Article 15. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum sufficient to pay the County of Middlesex, as required by law, the town's share of the net cost of the care, maintenance, and repair of the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital, as as- sessed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 111 of the General Laws and Acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto or take any action in relation thereto. 5 04.06


Article 16. To see if the town will accept the laying out by the selectmen of a street in West Acton; beginning at the south- erly end of Kinsley Road and extending in a southerly direction over the former location of the Street Railway about 850 feet as described and shown on a plan filed with the town clerk and appropriate a sum of money to build said street. 400.


Article 17. To see if the town will authorize the selectmen to construct a vault in the town hall for the safe keeping of the public records and appropriate a sum of money therefor.


Article 18. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to meet the Town's share of ERA expenses or act any- thing thereon. 1000.


Article 19. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of Three hundred dollars ($300.) for the redemption of tax titles held by the town.


10


Article 20. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 or any other sum, for the care of shade trees, or act anything thereon.


Article 21. To see if the town will vote to accept a fund contributed by the members of the several fire departments of the town and known as the Acton Fireman's Relief Fund. Said fund to be held as a trust fund and administered by three trus- tees to be chosen one for one year, one for two years and one for three years and thereafter one annually for the term of three years.


Article 22. To see if the town will purchase new chairs for the town hall and appropriate a sum of money therefor.


Article 23. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum for the pruning of dead wood from the elms and for the removal of any dead or dying elms on the public streets.


Article 24. To see if the town will cause to be published the list of valuation on all personal and real-estate of the town for the year 1935.


Article 25. To see what action the town will take to have each head of any department of the town bring in to the Select- men a written inventory each year of all tools and stock which they may have, the same to be kept on file.


And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting at- tested copies thereof seven days at least before the time of said meeting as directed by vote by the town. Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the town clerk at or before the time of meeting as aforesaid.


Given under our hands at Acton this second day of Febru- ary, 1935.


HOWARD J. BILLINGS, WALDO E. WHITCOMB, GEORGE S. BRAMAN, Selectmen of Acton.


A true copy.


Attest : MICHAEL FOLEY, Constable of Acton.


11


Report of Finance Committee


Your Committee on Finance respectfully submits the fol- lowing recommendations for appropriations for the ensuing year. Roads


$12,000.00~


Schools 43,500.00~


Street Lighting


2,500.00$1000. -


Memorial Library, current expense 800.00 -


Memorial Library, books


200.00 -


Hydrant Service


3,079.00-


General Government


5,500.00- 1,800.00 --


Cemeteries


+300 france 700.00 200.00- 500.00*


Soldier's Relief


1,000.00 -1-500-


Police Department


2,500.00 **


Board of Health


1,000.00-


Public Welfare


7,000.00~


Old Age Assistance


8,000.00-


Snow Removal, estimate


Care of Shade Trees


6,000.00- +1000- 500.00- 400.00-


Unclassified Bonds, High School


4,000.00- 1,200.00-


Interest on Bonds


Interest on Revenue Loans


2,000.00~ 275.00-


Memorial Day


Fire Department


2,800.00- 500.00 500.00~


Gypsy Moth Work


Liability Insurance


1,000.00- 250.00~


Treasurer's and Collector's Bonds


Public Health Nurse .


2,200.00 -- 504.46-


County Hospital Assessment


1,000.00-


ERA Expense


ยท Redemption of Tax Titles, Article 19 300.00


$113,708.46


13


Buildings and Grounds


Military Aid


State Aid


Forest Fires


12


Article 14. We do not recommend an appropriation for Ar- ticle 14, this year.


Article 16. Recommend under Article 16, if the Town ac- cepts the general lay-out of this road, the expense be taken from general road maintenance.


Article 17. Recommend under Article 17 that a Committee be appointed to look into the matter of constructing and locat- ing a Town vault and report at a later date.


Article 20, 22, 23. We do not recommend an appropriation for these articles.


Recommended an appropriation of $1,000.00 for Cemetery Fund. $700.00 to be raised and $300.00 to be taken from the Cemetery Land Fund.


Recommend appropriating the sum of $1,500.00 from the Overlay Surplus for the Reserve Fund.


The Committee wishes to bring to the attention of the Voters of the Town that approximately $17,000.00 of the Town Grant goes to meet the various relief measures.


This means at least $7.00 per $1,000.00 on your tax rate.


FINANCE COMMITTEE


Precinct 1-Murray Brown, Albert P. Durkee.


Precinct 2-Ralph W. Piper, William T. Merriam.


Precinct 3. Webster Blanchard, Alfred W. Davis.


13


Selectmen's Report


We submit, herewith, the reports of the various departments of the Town for the year ending December 31, 1934. All of the actions under the different articles voted at the last annual town meeting and special town meeting.


The following abstract from a letter received from the Com- missioner of Corporations and Taxations should be called espe- cially to the attention of the voters.


"The practice which has prevailed in some communities to purposely make the first appropriation less than is required and then to add subsequently through special meetings must be abandoned because after the tax rate is set there can be no appropriations which can be included in it and if there are no funds available, the city or town is likely to face serious dis- comforture.


The responsibility of the financial bodies in the cities and towns in 1935 is perhaps greater than ever before in the re- quirement of a very careful and complete survey of departmental needs. It is highly desirable that the amount to be taken from the taxpayers as shown in the tax bill received by them on or before June 14, 1935 represents the total amount needed to pay for required activities for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 1935 and that no necessary functions will have to be aban- doned because of lack of money not provided through the tax levy."


Respectfully submitted,


HOWARD J. BILLINGS, WALDO E. WHITCOMB, GEORGE S. BRAMAN, Selectmen of Acton.


14


Welfare Department


The Board of Public Welfare submits the following report for the year 1934.


During the year forty-four families representing one hundred and twenty-two persons have been aided.


Two cases having an Acton settlement, but living elsewhere.


Seven families living in Acton but having a settlement in other towns.


The Board has had four burials.


We have expended about $1,800.00 from Town Funds for ex- penses incurred by the ERA projects.


To provide for the expenses of the coming year, the Board advises a separate appropriation.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE A. RICHARDSON, Chairman, BERTRAM D. HALL, CARL E. BACKMAN,


Board of Public Welfare.


15


Old Age Assistance Report


We started the year 1934 with eleven Old Age Assistance cases. There was added to this during the year, ten new cases and one case closed, due to the party having passed away. There is no doubt that, if the prevailing conditions continue throughout the coming year, we may expect an increase in number of cases.


With this in view and due to the considerable increase in cases during the past year, we found it necessary to ask for a con- siderably increased amount to carry through the year, 1935.


CARL E. BACKMAN, O. A. A. Agent.


16


Emergency Relief Administration Report


The following work has been done under ERA projects, since April, 1934.


Hosmer St., from Mass. Ave., to School St., widening, straightening and grading 3,168 feet, using sixteen men, 1 foreman, four trucks, from April 5 to Octo- ber 25.


Total payroll,


Arlington Street from Newtown Road, widening. and grading 3600 feet to December 27, using six- teen men, 1 foreman, four trucks from November 8 to December 27.


Total payroll $1,489.70


Insect Pest Control, ten men, 1 foreman used, from October 11 to December 27.


Total payroll $1,354.50


Painting Outside of Town Hall, six men, 1 foreman.


Total payroll $516.00


Fire Protection Water Holes. Hosmer Street, six


men, 1 foreman $281.40


Central Street, seven men, 1 foreman, five trucks 376.95


Total payroll $658.35


Sewing Project, ten women, 1 forewoman


Total payroll $2,522.40


Total Expended $10,213.55


During the year 1934, there has been distributed among 58 families :


34 241/2 lb. bags flour 1 venison


105 lb. lard


60 lbs. lard


1096 lb. butter


105 lbs. pork


600 pkgs. cereal


600 cans roast beef


78 cans canned vegetables


40 lbs. cheese


81 pieces of veal


3200 lbs. potatoes


384 pkgs. rice


2000 lbs. cabbage


1400 articles (clothing, etc., from the sewing project.)


Respectfully submitted, GEORGE A. RICHARDSON,


Administrator.


Town Meetings


Abstract of the Proceedings of the Annual Town Meeting,


March 12, 1934


Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers and com- mittees, and fix salaries of all town officers.


Chose Charlotte Conant, Trustee of 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 addi- tional 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 Welfare be one hundred and twenty-five dollars per annum and the other members seventy dollars each per annum.


Voted: That the salary of the Town Treasurer be five hun- dred dollars per annum.


Voted : That the salary of 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 salary of the Assessors be nine hundred dol- lars in the aggregate per annum, to be apportioned as they may determine, the said sum to include any salary of a clerk.


-


18


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 report of any com- mittees chosen at any previous meeting who have not already reported.


No action taken under this article.


Article 4. To see what sum of money the town will appro- priate 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 and raise by taxation for :


Roads


$12,000.00


Schools 41,500.00


Street Lighting


2,500.00


Memorial Library, current expenses


800.00


Memorial Library, books


200.00


Hydrant Service


3,079.00


General Government


5,500.00


Buildings and Grounds


1,000.00


Cemeteries


700.00


Military Aid


200.00


State Aid


600.00


Soldiers' Relief


1,000.00


Police Department


2,500.00


Board of Health 1,000.00


Public Welfare 3,000.00


Old Age Assistance


4,000.00


Snow Removal


5,000.00


Care of Shade Trees


500.00


Unclassified 400.00


Bonds, High School


4,000.00


Interest on Bonds


1,600.00


Interest on Revenue Loans


2,000.00


19


Memorial Day


250.00


Fire Department 2,800.00


Forest Fires 500.00


Gypsy Moth Work 500.00


Liability Insurance


600.00


Treasurer's and Collector's Bonds


225.00


Public Health Nurse


2,200.00


County Hospital Assessment


598.08


County Hospital Note


2,500.00


Pope Road


2,500.00


High School Insurance 900.00


Sylvia Street Construction 600.00


Voted: To appropriate for care of cemeteries from the Cemetery Land Fund 300.00


Voted : To appropriate from the overlay surplus as a Reserve Fund 1,500.00


Article 5. To see what sum of money the town will raise for the observance of Memorial Day.


Voted : To raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars to be expended under the direction of a commit- tee consisting of the commander of the Isaac Davis Post, G. A. R., and the commander of the American Legion.


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 October 15, 1934 and on all taxes remaining unpaid after November 1, 1934 interest shall be charged according to law from October 15, 1934 until such taxes are paid.


Article 7. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the maintenance of the fire department or vote anything thereon.


Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of twenty-eight hundred dollars.


Article 8. To see if the town will pay for fighting brush fires and fix the price thereon.


20


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 suppression of the gypsy and brown tail moths.


Voted : To raise and appropriate 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 raise and appropriate six 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 fifty 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 anticipation'of the revenue of the financial year be- ginning January 1, 1934 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 anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1934 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.


Article 13. To see if the town will vote to employ a Public Health Nurse and appropriate a sum of money for the main- tenance 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 appropriate the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars for the reconstruction of Pope Road from State Highway, East Acton to the Carlisle


21


line, provided at least a like sum is allotted to the town by the State Department of Public Works and at least a similar sum by the County of Middlesex or act anything thereon.


Voted : To appropriate the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars for the reconstruction of Pope Road from the State Highway, East Acton to the Carlisle line, provided at least a like sum is allotted to the town by the State Department of Public Works and at least a similar sum by the County of Middlesex.


Voted: That the road be built by town labor.


Article 15. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money as an annuity to the widow of Frank W. Hoit, who died from injuries received while in the performance of his duty as a member of the fire department of the town, in accordance with the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 32, Section 89 as amended by the Acts of 1933, Chapter 340, the same to be paid if and when all members of the Board provided for by said statute shall certify to the Town Treasurer that the death was the direct result of said injury, the amount of said annnuity to be determined from time to time within the limits of said statute by the Board of Selectmen, to do or act anything thereon.


Voted: To pass over the article.


Article 16. To see if the town will vote to accept the layout as made by the Selectmen of a street in South Acton leading northwesterly from Main street toward the Marlboro Branch railroad tracks. Sylvia Street so called.


Voted : To accept the laying out of a street in South Acton, called Sylvia Street by the Selectmen and to appropriate six hundred dollars to construct said street.


Article 17. To see if the town will appropriate a sum suf- ficient to pay the County of Middlesex as required by law, the town's share of the net cost of the care, maintenance and repair of the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital, and for the town's share of the expense under the provisions of Chapter 331 of the Acts of 1933 which provides for the settlement of certain claims of the Commonwealth against the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital District, including interest or discount on temporary notes issued therefor, as assessed in ac-


22


cordance with the provisions of Chapter 111 of the General Laws, and Acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto, or take any action in relation thereto.


Voted : To appropriate five hundred ninety-eight and 8/100 (598.08) dollars for said County Hospital assessment.


Article 18. To see what amount of money the town will raise for insurance on the High School Building.


Voted to raise and appropriate nine hundred dollars for in- surance on the High School Building.


Proceedings of a Special Town Meeting Held July 23, 1934


Article 1. To see if the town will appropriate an addi- tional sum of money for the use of the Welfare Department or act anything thereon.


Voted: To appropriate the sum of three thousand ($3000) dollars.


Art. 2. To see if the town will vote to purchase a new fire truck for Precinct 1, or act anything thereon.


Voted: That the town purchase a new piece of fire appara- sus for Precinct 1, the cost not to exceed three thousand ($3000) dollars.


Voted: That the sum of three thousand ($3000) dollars be taken or appropriated from the Overlay Surplus account to purchase said fire apparatus.




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