USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1931-1935 > Part 31
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Bertram D. Hall Charles E. Smith George H. Reed
Field Drivers
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
Public Weighers
George H. Reed
William Braman
W. H. Soar
G. Howard Reed
W. H. Francis Davis
Thomas Ahern Fred Burke
Daniel MacMillan
Jury List-Revised 1935 Precinct I
Edward S. Fobes Elwin Hollowell
George A. Richardson
J. A. Van Winkle Charles Farris
James W. Coughlin Precinct II
Fred Billings John G. Maguire H. L. Jones David Clayton
James Brown
William S. Jones
Fred Sims Carl Flint
Henry Capelle Precinct III
David R. Kinsley Howard C. Tracy Eugene L. Hall Arthur H. Wetherbee
George A. Rifford
Benjamin Coolidge Warren Davis August N. Hederstedt
William Munn
A. W. Davis
F. D. Harrington
M. B. Ferber
Phillip Newell
Spencer H. Taylor
E. Faulkner Conant
Samuel E. Knowlton
Alfred Davis, Jr.
Michael Foley
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Town Warrant
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss
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
on Monday, the second day of March, 1936, by posting a copy of this warrant, by you attested, at each of the places as directed by vote of the town, seven days at least before the second 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 selectman for three years, one assessor for three years, three members of the board of public welfare for one year, four constables for one year, 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 Me- morial Library for three years and a tree warden.
Also to vote Yes or No on the following question: Shall the operation of Section 105B of Chapter 131 of the General Laws, requiring for the taking of fur bearing animals the use of traps
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that kill at once or take such animals alive unharmed, be sus- pended in this town?
The polls will open at 12 o'clock noon, and close at 8 o'clock P. M.
You are further requested in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachustts to notify the legal voters of said Town of Acton, as aforesaid, to meet at the Town Hall in said Acton, on Monday, the ninth 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 commit- tees and fix salaries of all town officers.
Article 2. To see if the town will vote to accept the several reports of the town officers.
Article 3. To hear and act upon the reports of any commit- tees chosen at any previous meeting that have not already re- ported.
Article 4. To see what sum of money the town will appropri- ate 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.
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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 from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1936, 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 mainte- nance of same.
Article 14. 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 assessed 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.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1,125.00 to install a new heating plant and repair the ceiling in the Memorial Library, or act anything thereon.
Article 16. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $1,700 or any other sum for the suppression of brown-tail and gypsy moths or act anything thereon.
Article 17. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 or any other sum for the care of shade trees or act anything thereon.
Article 18. Shall the provisions of Chapter 139 of the Gen- eral Laws pertaining to; Burnt and Dangerous buildings be accepted.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $5,000 to reconstruct Parker Street, starting at the Concord Street end or act anything thereon.
Article 20. To see what action the town will take to adequately and efficiently heat the South Acton Fire House,
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appropriate a sum of money for the same, or act anything thereon.
Article 21. To see what action the town will take to purchase and install a fire whistle, or other fire signal device for use at the West Action Fire house or act anything thereon.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to purchase two new fire trucks for Precincts 2 and 3, or act anything thereon.
Article 23. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the maintenance of the fire department or vote anything thereon.
Article 24. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $550.00 or any other sum to purchase new fire hose.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to elect a board of Public Welfare to serve for three years, the term of one member to expire each year, or act anything thereon.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to discontinue as a public way, the road known as Woodlawn Lane from its inter- section with Taylor Road near the residence of William S. Dunn to its intersection with Concord Road near Woodlawn Cemetery.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to discontinue as a public way, the road known as Forest Road from its intersection with Woodlawn Lane to a point five hundred feet distant from its intersection with Hosmer Street near the residence of Samuel E. Knowlton.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $200 for the use of the treasurer, to pay the expenses of the local dog officer. The town will be reimbursed for the amount spent by the County of Middlesex, or act anything thereon.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to sell, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the town fourteen days at least before the sale, property taken by the town under tax title procedure provided that the selectmen or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such public auction may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any action relative thereto.
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And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof seven days at least before the time of said meeting as directed by vote of 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 in Acton this third day of February, 1936.
WALDO E. WHITCOMB, GEORGE S. BRAMAN, RALPH W. PIPER, Selectmen of Acton.
A true copy.
Attest :
Constable of Acton.
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Report of Finance Committee
Your Committee on Finance respectfully submits the follow- ing recommendations for appropriations for the ensuing year. Roads, General Maintenance $12,000.00
Schools
46,000.00
Street Lighting
3,000.00
Memorial Library, Current Expense
800.00
Memorial Library, Books
200.00
Hydrant Service
3,079.00
General Government
5,500.00
Buildings and Grounds
1,500.00
Cemeteries
800.00
Military Aid
200.00
State Aid
500.00
Soldiers' Relief
1,200.00
Police Department
2,500.00
Board of Health
1,000.00
Public Welfare
8,500.00
Old Age Assistance
9,000.00
Snow Removal, Estimate
4,000.00
Care of Shade Trees
500.00
Unclassified 400.00
Bonds, High School
4,000.00
Interest on Bonds
1,000.00
Interest on Revenue Loans
2,000.00
Memorial Day
275.00
Fire Department
2,800.00
Forest Fires
500.00
Forest Fires, New Hose
200.00
Gypsy Moth Work
1,700.00
Liability Insurance
1,000.00
Treasurer's and Collector's Bonds
250.00
Public Health Nurse
2,200.00
County Hospital Assessment
656.03
$117,260.03
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Article 15. Recommend the appropriation of $1,125.00 for this article.
Article 16. Recommend the appropriation of $1,700.00 for Gypsy Moth Work and the purchase of a spraying machine.
Article 17. Recommend the appropriation of $500.00 for the care of shade trees.
Article 19. Recommond this article be taken care of from the General road maintenance.
Article 20-21. Recommend action on these articles be post- poned this year.
Article 22. Recommend appropriation of $8,000.00 for the purchase of two fire trucks for Precincts 2 and 3. The sum of $2,000.00 to be raised this year and balance to be paid in not more than four years.
Article 24. Recommend the appropriation called for in this article.
Recommend appropriating the sum of $1,500.00 from the Overlay Surplus for the Reserve Fund.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Precinct 1-Murray Brown, Albert P. Durkee.
Precinct 2-Howard J. Billings, William T. Merriam.
Precinct 3-Webster Blanchard, Alfred W. Davis.
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Selectmen's Report
February 5, 1936
We submit the report of the various departments of the Town for the year ending December 31, 1935.
All of the actions under the different articles voted at the last Annual Town Meeting and at the Special Town Meeting.
We find the town at the close of the year in very good finan- cial standing, and we wish to thank the different officers and committees of the town for doing their part in keeping within their appropriations in carrying out their work in the different departments of the town.
WALDO E. WHITCOMB
GEORGE S. BRAMAN RALPH W. PIPER
Selectmen of Acton
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Welfare Department Report
January 27, 1936
The Board of Public Welfare submits the following report for the year 1935.
During the year, aid was given to forty-six families represent- ing 157 persons, eight families representing twenty-seven per- sons having Acton settlements were aided in other cities or towns. This makes a total of fifty-four families representing one hundred and seventy-four persons that were aided during the year.
Seven families were aided but having settlements in other cities or towns, the town of Acton will be reimbursed approxi- mately $1,700. In July the appropriation for ERA having run out, this Department assumed the expense of carrying on this work for the balance of the year. Due to this added expense, and also to make it possible to dispose of all unpaid bills carried over from the previous year, this board asked for an additional appropriation of $1,000 which was granted at a Special Town Meeting. This board assumed the sponsorship of the Sewing Project under WPA, and the expense for carrying this project is included in the appropriation asked for during the coming year. Respectfully submitted,
CARL E. BACKMAN BERTRAM D. HALL Board of Public Welfare.
FRANK S. BRAMAN
January 27, 1936
Honorable Board of Selectmen :
In estimating our budget for the coming year, this Board is faced with the problem as to what the effect will be if and when WPA employment ends.
However, from the figures now available, we feel that it will not be advisable to set our requirements for the coming year under $8,000. This includes the expense for carrying on the WPA Sewing Project. Also collecting and distributing the dif- ferent Federal Commodities, such as food, clothing, etc.
This is $1,000 less than total amount appropriated last year. CARL E. BACKMAN
BERTRAM D. HALL FRANK S. BRAMAN
Board of Public Welfare.
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ERA - WPA Sewing Project
January 27, 1936
During the year approximately 4,000 articles, (clothing, etc.) were given out to 150 families representing 600 persons. This project has given continuous employment to about 15 women during the year. There is now employed on the Sewing Project under WPA, 17 women. During the next six months for which time this project is expected to run, the estimated payroll com- ing into this town will be about $6,000.
CARL E. BACKMAN, Chairman.
Board of Public Welfare (Sponsor)
Old Age Assistance Report
January 27, 1936
We started the year 1935 with twenty Old Age Assistance Cases, there was added to this during the year, five new cases and six cases were closed. Four due to parties having passed away and two on account of removal.
Changes in Old Age Assistance Laws that have gone into ef- fect and others that are pending will no doubt, result in an in- crease in number of cases the coming year.
CARL E. BACKMAN, Agent
Bureau of Old Age Assistance
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Town Meetings
Abstract of the Proceedings of the Annual Town Meeting, March 11, 1935
Art. 1. To choose all necessary town officers and committees, and fix salaries of all town officers.
Chose Warren H. Jones, Trustee of Elizabeth White Fund for three years.
Chose Arnold H. Perkins Trustee of the West Acton Fire- men's Relief Fund for three years.
Chose Charles E. Smith 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 dollar 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 Pub- lic Welfare be one hundred and twenty-five dollars per annum, and the other members seventy-five dollars each per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the Town Treasurer be five hun- dred dollars per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the Town Accountant be four hun- dred dollars per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the Town Clerk be two hundred dollar per annum.
Voted: That the salary 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.
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Voted: That the Selectmen be instructed to fix the salaries of all other town officers.
Art. 2. To see if the town will accept the several reports of town officers.
Voted: To accept the reports of the several town officers.
Art. 3. To hear and act upon the report of any committees chosen at any previous meeting who have not already reported.
No action taken under this article.
Art. 4. To see what sum of money the town will appropriate to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several de- partments 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: general maintenance $12,000.00
Schools 43,500.00
Street Lighting
3,500.00
Memorial Library, current expenses
800.00
Memorial Library, books
200.00
Hydrant Service
3,079.00
General Government
5,500.00
Buildings and Grounds
1,800.00
Cemeteries
700.00
Military Aid
200.00
State Aid
500.00
Soldiers' Relief
1,500.00
Police Department
2,500.00
Board of Health 1,000.00
Public Welfare
7,000.00
Old Age Assistance
8,000.00
Snow Removal
7,000.00
Care of Shade Trees
500.00
Unclassified 400.00
Bonds, High School
4,000.00
Interest on Bonds
1,200.00
Interest on Revenue Loans
2,000.00
Memorial Day
275.00
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Fire Department
2,800.00
Forest Fires
500.00
Gypsy Moth Work 500.00
Liability Insurance
1,000.00
Treasurer's and Collector's Bonds 250.00
Public Health Nurse .
2,200.00
County Hospital Assessment
504.46
E. R. A. Expenses
1,000.00
Redemption of Tax Titles
300.00
Kinsley Road Construction 400.00
Pope Road 2,500.00
Voted : to appropriate from the overlay surplus for a Reserve Fund 1,500.00
Voted : To appropriate from the Cemetery Land Fund for the care of Cemeteries
300.00
Art. 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 seventy-five dollars to be expended under the direction of a committee consisting of the commander of the Isaac Davis Post, G. A. R., and the commander of the American Legion.
Art. 6. To see what action the town will take in regard to the collection of taxes.
Voted: To pass over the article.
Art. 7. To see what sum of money the town will raise and ap- propriate for the maintenance of the Fire Department or vote anything thereon.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of twenty-eight hun- dred dollars.
Art. 8. To see if the town will pay for fighting brush fires and fix the price thereon.
Voted: To appropriate five hundred dollars for fighting brush fires and that the price be fixed at fifty cents per hour.
Art. 9. To see what action the town will take toward the suppression of the gypsy and brown tail moth.
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Voted: To raise and appropriate five hundred dollars.
Art. 10. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to insure the employees of the town or act anything thereon.
Voted : To raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars.
Art. 11. To see what amount of money the town will appro- priate for the payment of premiums on the treasurer's and col- lector's bonds or act anything thereon.
Voted: To appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dol- lars.
Art. 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 begin- ning January 1, 1935, and to issue a note or notes therefor, pay- able 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 Sec- tion 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Voted: That the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money 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.
Art. 13. To see if the town will vote to employ a public health nurse.
Voted: To employ a public health nurse to be under the di- rection of the Board of Health.
Voted: To appropriate twenty-two hundred dollars for the salary and maintenance of said nurse.
Art. 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 Pub- lic Works and at least a similar sum by the County of Middlesex or act anything thereon.
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Voted: To appropriate the sum of twenty-five hundred dol- lars for the reconstruction of Pope Road from the State High- way East Acton, to the Carlisle line provided at least a like sum is alloted 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 with town labor.
Art. 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 assessed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 111 of the General Laws in amendment thereof, and in addition thereto, or take any action in relation thereto.
Voted : To appropriate $504.46 for said County Hospital as- sessment.
Art. 16. To see if the town will accept the laying out by the Selectmen of a street in West Acton: beginning at the southerly end of Kinsley Road, and extending in a southerly direction over the former location of the Street Railway about 850 feet as de- scribed and shown on a plan filed with the Town Clerk, and ap- propriate a sum of money to build said street.
Voted: To accept the laying out by the Selectmen of a street in West Acton : beginning at the southerly 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.
Voted: To raise and appropriate four hundred dollars for the construction of said street.
Art. 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.
Voted: That the Selectmen with three persons chosen by the meeting, be a committee to consider the matter of locating and constructing a town vault with instruction to report at a special town meeting : John S. Hoar, John L. Smith and Horace F. Tut- tle were chosen as members of the committee.
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Art. 18. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to meet the town's share of E. R. A. expenses, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To raise and appropriate one thousand dollars for ex- penses incurred in relation to the E. R. A.
Art. 19. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars for the redemption of tax titles held by the town.
Vote to appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars.
Art. 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.
A motion to appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 for the care of shade trees did not prevail.
Art. 21. To see if the town will vote to accept a fund con- tributed by the members of the several fire departments of the town and known as the Acton Firemen's Relief Fund. Said fund to be held as a trust fund, and to be administered by three trustees to be chosen one for one year, one for two years, and one for the term of three years.
Voted: To accept said fund as a trust fund to be administered by three trustees chosen by the town.
Chose Clarence Frost a trustee for one year.
Chose Herbert Merriam a trustee for two years.
Chose James E. Kinsley a trustee for three years.
Art. 22. To see if the town will purchase new chairs for the Town Hall and appropriate a sum of money therefore.
Voted : To pass over the article.
Art. 23. To see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum for the pruning of dead wood from the elms and for the re- moval of any dead or dying elms on the public streets.
Voted: To pass over the article.
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Art. 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.
Voted : To pass over the article.
Art. 25. To see what action the town will take to have each head of any department of the town bring in to the Selectmen a written inventory each year of all tools and stock which they may have, the same to be kept on file.
Voted: To pass over the article.
Proceedings of the Special Town Meeting Held October 7, 1935
Art. 1. To hear and act upon the report of the committee chosen at the annual Town Meeting to consider the matter of locating and constructing a town vault.
Waldo E. Whitcomb, chairman of the Selectmen, presented the report for the committee.
Voted: To accept the report of the committee.
Art. 2. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of thirty- five hundred dollars to build a vault and remodel the Town Hall and transfer the same from available funds or borrow under Chapter 49 of the Act of 1933 as amended, or take any action relative thereto.
Voted: That the sum of $3,500.00 be appropriated to build a vault and remodel the Town Hall, and to meet said appropriation, the sum of $3,500.00 be transferred from available funds in the treasury.
Art. 3. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars for the Welfare Department from available funds or borrow under Chapter 49 of the Act of 1933, as amended or take any action thereon.
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