USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1941-1945 > Part 28
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41
Town Forest Committee
77
Town Meeting (Abstract), March 13, 1944
16
Town Nurse
72
Town Officers 9
Treasurer's Report 85
Tree Warden 52
Trustees of Goodnow Fund 69
Police
75
Public Welfare 73
War Price and Rationing Board 105
Warrant, Monday, March 5, 1945 3
Workmen's Compensation Agent
55
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Several Official Boards
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
MASSACHUSETTS
RAF
ONI
₹35.
ACTON.
For the Year Ending December 31 1945
WELCOME HOME!
It is with sincere appreciation that we dedicate this year's report to the boys and girls of Acton who have so valiantly done their part in World War II.
Many have returned home, many are still serving their Country on the home front and on foreign soil. Ten have paid the supreme sacrifice-they will not be forgotten. It is with pride that we speak of those boys-our Minutemen of today-who have given their lives for our freedom, our home-our Acton.
Our Acton, consisting of 12,167 acres located twenty- four miles northwest of Boston with excellent transportation facilities afforded by the Boston and Maine Railroad and through routes 2, 27 and 111, has continued to grow since the first house was built on the "new grant" by Capt Thomas Wheeler about 1669, until at the present time we have a population of 2,869 people, 792 houses, 5 churches, 3 ele- mentary schools, 1 high school, several factories and private industries, with a valuation of over $3,000,000.00.
We have been rich in hstory since that memorable April morning in 1775 when Capt. Isaac Davis said "I haven't a man who is afraid to go" and his men went bravely forward to Concord Bridge to repulse the enemy-likewise, down · through the years, Acton has gone forward for home and liberty.
This is our heritage, linked with loyalty and community friendliness; we trust our returning boys and girls will in- deed enjoy the spirit of peace and happiness in our Acton- their Acton.
GEORGE S. BRAMAN, ARTHUR W. LEE, LAWRENCE DONNELLY,
Selectmen of Acton.
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TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, ss.
RATED
NI
-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 pre- cincts, to wit:
Precinct 1-Town Hall, Acton Center
Precinct 2-Universalist Church, South Acton Precinct 3-Woman's Club House, West Acton.
at 12 o'clock noon, Monday, the fourth day of March, 1946, 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 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 selectman for three years; one assessor for three years; one member of the Board of public welfare for three years; 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;
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one member of the board of health for one year to fill vacancy ; one trustee Memorial Library for three years; one trustee Memorial Library for two years to fill vacancy; and a tree warden.
The polls will be open at 12 o'clock noon, and close at 8 o'clock p. m.
You are further requested in the name of the Common- wealth to notify the legal voters of said town of Acton, as aforesaid, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Acton on Mon- day, the eleventh day of March, 1946, at 7:30 o'clock P. M. Then and there to act on the following articles:
Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers and committees 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 committee chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.
Article 4. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 or some other sum for the observance of Memorial Day, this sum to be expended under the direction of a committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen, or act anything thereon.
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, to bor- row money from time to time in anticipation of the rev- enue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1946, 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 6. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $250.00 for the use of the Treasurer, to pay the expenses of the local Dog Officer. The amount
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spent for board and disposal of dogs will be reimbursed by the County of Middlesex, or act anything thereon.
Article 7. To see if the town will vote to transfer the sum of $400.00 from the Machinery Fund to the Machinery Account, or act anything thereon.
Article 8. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 or any other sum to be used, in conjunction with $500.00 now available, by the Town Forest Committee for the purpose of purchasing additional forest land or act anything thereon.
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300.00 for necessary labor and material to repair the town clock, or act anything thereon.
Article 10. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150.00 to defray the necessary ex- penses of office supplies, etc., in connection with the admin- istration of Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children and General Relief, or act anything thereon.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to instruct the Moderator to appoint a committee of three to investigate the advisability of extending our present fire alarm box sys- tem and to submit report at the next annual or a special town meeting, or act anything thereon.
Article 12. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $450.00 for the purchase of one hose dryer for the South Acton Fire House, or act anything thereon.
Article 13. To see of the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1800.00 or some other sum, so that the Board of Health may contract for the collection and dis- posal of garbage for a period of one year, or act anything thereon.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and
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appropriate the sum of $250.00 for the Tree Department for the replacement of shade trees, or act anything thereon.
Article 15. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate to defray the necessary ex- penses of the several departments of the town and determine how the same shall be raised.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to instruct the Board of Selectmen to have an annual audit of the various accounts of the town, or act anything thereon.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to transfer the sum of $4500.00 or some other sum from the Surplus Rev- enue Account for the purchase of a truck for the highway department or act anything thereon.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 723, Acts of 1945, being an act to authorize the establishment and maintenance of municipal departments and of districts for furnishing information, ad- vice and assistance to veterans of World War II or other veterans or act anything thereon.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3000.00 for the maintenance of a municipal department or of a district for the furnishing of information, advice and assistance to veterans of World War II or other veterans as outlined in Chapter 723 (Acts of 1945).
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to continue the work of the Acton War Record Committee and that this committee be called the Acton War Record and Veteran's Service committee to handle all veteran affairs and that the director be appointed for a period of one year by the Board of Selectmen, and that the sum of $1200.00 be raised and appropriated for this committee, or act anything thereon.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $600.00 for the purchase of a snow plow and authorize the Board of
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Selectmen to trade in or sell any old snow plows or act any- thing thereon.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for the painting of traffic lines and signs or act anything thereon.
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to elect a School Building Committee consisting of the chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and School Com- mittee, with the Superintendent of Schools as Clerk of the School Building Committee without a vote, to survey the elementary school needs of the town, secure preliminary plans, and report on the advisability of remodeling the present elementary schools, the estimated cost of a central 8-grade elementary school, including sub-primary depart- ment, and of three new 8-grade elementary schools, including sub-primary department, one in each precinct; and to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1500.00 or any other sum for the use of said School Build- ing Committee, and to instruct it to report to the town at the next annual or special town meeting, or act anything hereon.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to transfer
from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $4200.00 for the purchase of a forest fire truck and that the purchase of the truck be left to the Board of Selectmen and the Fire Engineers of the town and that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to use the old forest fire truck for the town sprayer and that the Board be also authorized to dispose of any un- necessary equipment or act anything thereon.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $450.00 for the purchase of a Police Cruiser and that the Board of .
Selectmen be authorized to trade in the old cruiser or act anything thereon.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to instruct 1 the Assessors to publish a list of valuation of all personal and real estate of the town for 1946 and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the same or act anything thereon.
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Article 27. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $400.00 for the painting of the West Acton Fire House or act anything thereon.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3000.00 for new construction of Main Street from the Carlisle line to the State Road in North Acton; said money to be used in conjunction with $3000.00 to be allotted by the County and $6000.00 to be allotted by the State, or act anything thereon.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $200.00 for the purchase of a power mower for the town grounds or act anything thereon.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $3500.00 from the Overlay Surplus as a Reserve Fund or act anything thereon.
Article 31. To see if the town will appropriate from the Surplus Revenue Account the amount of the State's and County's allotments for Highways under Chapters 81 and 90, provided that the reimbursement from the State and County be credited back to the Surplus Revenue Account or act anything thereon.
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $200.00 for the purchase of addi- tional snow fencing or act anything thereon.
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $400.00 or any other sum for the use of the Zoning and Building Committee or act anything thereon.
Article 34. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $450.00 so that the Board of Health and the Committee on Post War Public Works may jointly employ sanitary engineering services to make a preliminary study of need and possible cost of a sewerage system and sewage disposal in the built-up sections of the town or act anything thereon.
.
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Article 35. To see if the town will vote to transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $1000.00 or any other sum for the purchase and erection of a fence to separate the Goward Field playground from the highway de- partment or act anything thereon.
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 do- ings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time of meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hands at Acton this ninth day of Jan- uary, 1946.
GEORGE S. BRAMAN, ARTHUR W. LEE, LAWRENCE DONNELLY, Selectmen of Acton.
A true copy .. Attest:
Robert G. Willett,
Constable of Acton.
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TOWN OFFICERS
Moderator Albert P. Durkee
.Selectmen
George S. Braman
Term expires 1946
Lawrence Donnelly
Term expires 1947 Term expires 1948
Arthur W. Lee
Town Clerk Harlan E. Tuttle
Town Treasurer William Henry Soar
Assessors
Carl C. Flint
Term expires 1946
Albert P. Durkee
James W. Baker
Term expires 1947 Term expires 1948
Collector of Taxes Carrie M. Durkee
Tree Warden James J. Knight
Board of Public Welfare
Mary M. Laffin
Term expires 1946
Water B. Stevens
Term expires 1947
Benjamin J. Ineson
Term expires 1948
Constables
Ivar Peterson Robert G. Willett Samuel E. Knowlton
Michael Foley
Cemetery Commissioners
Horace F. Tuttle Term expires 1946
Harry E. Holt Term expires 1947
Ray L. Harris Term expires 1948
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School Committee
Waldo J. Flint
Term expires 1946
Marion C. Reed
Term expires 1946
Edith T. Engman
Term expires 1947
Margaret Fraser
Term expires 1947
Hermann H. Gatchell
Term expires 1948
Richard A. Lowden
Term expires 1948
Trustees of Memorial Library
Horace F. Tuttle
Term expires 1946
Wendell F. Davis
Term expires 1947
Mary Haskell Lothrop
Term expires 1948
Board of Health
O. Lawrence Clark
Term expires 1946
Robert R. Ford
Term expires 1947
Lowell H. Cram Term expires 1948
Agent of Board of Health Ernest E. Allsopp
Trustees of Elizabeth White Fund
Grace O. Lears
Term expires 1946
Clara L. Sawyer Term expires 1947
Waldo E. Whitcomb Term expires 1948
Trustees of West Acton Firemen's Relief Fund
James B. Wilson
Term expires 1946
Arnold H. Perkins Term expires 1947
H. Stuart MacGregor Term expires 1948
Trustees of Acton Firemen's Relief Fund
Herbert Merriam
Term expires 1946
Frederick T. Kennedy Term expires 1947
Clarence Frost Term expires 1948
Trustees of Goodnow Fund
Horace F. Tuttle Term expires 1946
Charles E. Smith Term expires 1947
Ralph P. Marble Term expires 1948
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APPOINTMENTS MADE BY SELECTMEN-1945
Executive Clerk Virginia Milbery
Office : Town Hall Hours : 8 A. M. to 4 P. M.
Meetings: Board of Selectmen, Wednesday evenings at 7:30 Board of Public Welfare, Monday evenings at 7:00
Finance Committee
W. Stuart Allen
Pauline Bursaw
Alden C. Flagg
William T. Merriam
Albert W. Locke Porter G. Jenks
Superintendent of Streets Russell C. Berry
Town Accountant
Howard L. Jones Term expires 1947
Registrars of Voters
James W. Coughlin
Term expires 1946
James B. Wilson
Term expires 1947
William B. Feely
Term expires 1948
Harlan E. Tuttle
Ex-Officio
Election Officers
Precinct I
Warden-Alice C. Duren
Clerk-James A. Wayne
Inspector-Samuel E. Knowlton
Inspector-Paul A. Coughlin
Deputy Warden-Gertrude M. O'Neil Deputy Clerk-Helen R. Best
Deputy Inspector-Ralph I .. Rogers
Deputy Inspector-Leo T. McCarthy
Teller-Marion C. Jewell
Teller-Mary F. McCarthy
Precinct II
Warden-Doris Soar
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Clerk-Grace J. Cullinane.
Inspector-Merle M. Hayward
Inspector-Sophia Walsh Deputy Warden-Marion H. Wilmot Deputy Clerk-Thomas M. Murray Deputy Inspector-Henry L. Capelle
Deputy Inspector-Joseph H. Lemoine Teller-Marion L. Piper
Teller-Margaret Coughlin
Precinct III
Warden- Fannie E. Davis
Clerk-Anna M. Learmonth
Inspector-Louise C. O'Brien Inspector-Mary M. Laffin
Deputy Warden-Bertram D. Hall Deputy Clerk-Elizabeth M. White
Deputy Inspector-Harry E. Holt
Deputy Inspector-Katherine M. Kinsley
Teller-Margaret F. Leveroni
Teller-Marion C. Reed
Fire Engineers H. Stuart MacGregor, Chief Engineer Clarence Frost, Asst. Engineer-Precinct I David Clayton, Asst. Engineer-Precinct II Arno H. Perkins, Asst. Engineer-Precinct III
Cattle Inspector Ernest E. Allsopp .
Forest Warden H. Stuart MacGregor
Dog Officer Arthur Fraser
Sealer of Weights and Measures Carl E. Anderson
Town Forest Committee
Arno H. Perkins Term expires 1946
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Clarence Frost James J. Knight
Term expires 1947 Term expires 1948
Surveyors of Wood and Lumber
Oliver D. Wood
Charles E. Smith
Fence Viewers
Robert G. Willett Edward W. Estabrook
Louis F. Leveroni
Field Drivers
Norman E. Livermore Benjamin H. Sawyer Benjamin E. Derby Superintendent of Moth Work James J. Knight Police Officers *Michael Foley, Chief
Robert G. Willett Benjamin H. Sawyer
Louis F. Leveroni Samuel E. Knowlton *Civil Service-Permanent
Burial Agent Waldo J. Flint
Soldiers' Relief Agent Waldo J. Flint
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Superintendent of Jones Memorial Field Russell C. Berry
Superintendent of Goward Field Russell C. Berry
Workmen's Compensation Agent Howard L. Jones
Public Weighers
William Braman Albert S. Braman
G. Howard Reed Philip Newell
A. W. Davis Thomas Hearon
John William Davis
Albert R. Jenks
Alfred Davis, Jr.
Porter G. Jenks
M. B. Ferber Louise Garceau L. W. Lowe
Willard Houghton
Otis J. Reed
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TOWN MEETINGS
Abstract of the Preceedings of the Annual Town Meeting, March 12, 1945
Art. 1. To choose all necessary town officers and com- mittees and fix salaries of all town officers.
Chose: Waldo E. Whitcomb trustee of the Elizabeth White Fund for three years.
Chose: H. Stuart MacGregor trustee of the West Ac- ton Firemen's Relief Fund for Three years.
Chose : Clarence Frost trustee of the Acton Firemen's Relief Fund for three years.
Chose: Ralph P. Marble trustee of the Goodnow Fund for three years.
Voted: That the salary of the Tax Collector be twelve hundred and fifty dollars per annum.
Voted : That the salary of the chairman of the Select- men be three hundred dollars per annum and the other mem- bers two hundred dollars each per annum.
Voted : That the salaries of the Assessors be fifteen hundred dollars in the aggregate per annum to be appor- tioned as they may determine.
Voted: That the salary of the chairmann of the Board of Health be twenty-five dollars per annum, the clerk fifteen dollars and the other member ten dollars per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the chairman of the Board of Public Welfare be one hundred and twenty-five dollars per annum and that of the other members seventy-five dol- lars each per annum and that a member of the Board of Public Welfare shall serve as Supervisor of Old Age Assist. ance and that the expense of administering this assistance such as necessary supplies, salary and traveling expense of
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said supervisor shall not exceed the amount provided for this purpose by the Federal Government.
Voted: That the salary of the Moderator be fifteen dollars for the annual meeting and ten dollars for the special meetings.
Voted : That the salary of the Town Clerk be three hundred and fifty dollars per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the Town Treasurer be six hundred and fifty dollars per annum.
Voted: That the salary of the Town Accountant be six hundred and fifty dollars per annum.
Voted: That the Selectmen be authorized to fix the salaries of all other town officers.
Art. 2. To see if the town will vote to accept the sev- eral reports of the town officers.
Voted: To accept the several reports of town officers.
' Art. 3. To hear and act upon the reports of any com- mittee chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.
The committee appointed in 1941 to assign numbers to buildings and dwellings in the town reported their work completed.
Voted: To accept the report with thanks and dis- charge the committee.
Art. 4. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $250.00 or some other sum for the ob- servance of Memorial Day, this sum to be expended under the direction of a committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of ($250.00) two hundred and fifty dollars for the observance of Mem-
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orial Day, this sum to be expended under the direction of a committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen.
Art. 5. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, to bor- row money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1945, and to is- sue 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.
Voted unanimously: 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, 1945, 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 perod of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Art. 6. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $250.00 for the use of the Treasurer, to pay the expenses of the local Dog Officer. The amount spent for board and disposal of dogs will be reinibursed by the County of Middlesex, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hun- dred and Fifty (250) dollars for the use of the Treasurer, to pay the expenses of the local Dog Officer. The amount spent for board and disposal of dogs will be reimbursed by the County of Middlesex.
Art. 7. To see if the town will vote to transfer $875.00 from the Machinery Fund to the Machinery Account, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To transfer Eight hundred and seventy-five dollars ($875.00) from the Machinery Fund to the Machin- ery Account.
Art. 8. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $500.00 or any other sum to be used by
18
the Town Forest Committee for the purpose of purchasing additional forest land or act anything thereon.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hun. dred (500) dollars to be used by the Town Forest Commit- tee for the purpose of purchasing additional forest land.
Art. 9. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $500.00 or any other sum from the Surplus Revenue Account for the work of the Post-War Public Works Committee, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To appropriate the sum of Five Hundred (500) dollars from the Surplus Revenue Account for the work of the Post-War Public Works Committee.
Art. 10. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $550.00 for repairs on the town roller, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hun- dred and Fifty (550) dollars for repairs on the town roller.
Art. 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $1000.00 for repairs to the buildings now used by the Highway Department, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of One Thous- and (1000) dollars for repairs to the buildings now used by the Highway Department.
Art. 12. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $100.00 to defray the necessary ex- penses of office supplies, etc., in connection with the admin- istration of Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children and General Relief, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of One Hun- dred (100) dollars to defray the necessary expenses of office supplies, etc., in connection with the administration of Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children and General Relief.
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Art. 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $1000.00 to purchase new hose and three (3) fire alarm boxes, or act anything thereon.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand (1000) dollars to purchase new hose and three (3) fire alarm boxes and install the same.
Art. 14. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to approve bills to the amount of $1,500.00 for the furnishing and installing of fluorescent lights in some rooms of the elementary schools, or act any- thing thereon.
Voted: To authorize the Board of Selectmen to ap- prove bills to the amount of Fifteen Hundred (1500) dol- lars for the furnishing and installing of fluorescent lights in some rooms of the elementary schools and that said board shall not approve for payment the bills until said installations are approved by the state wiring inspector.
Art. 15. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate $77.80 to pay the balance due on the installation of fluorescent lighting in the elementary schools.
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