Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1941-1945, Part 9

Author: Acton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1941
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 840


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1941-1945 > Part 9


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In the high school free expression is again the guiding principle. Pupils receive full instruction on the fundamentals of line, form, and color, including design, figure sketching, lettering, interior decorating, fashion drawing, plants, per- spective, history of art, and appreciation of surroundings.


Mr. Yeremian reports good progress in music:


1. A course of study for Grades 1-12 is being developed to in- sure uniform training in the entire school system including vocal music, theory, instrumental music, and music appre- ciation.


2. The high school now has an orchestra of over 20 students and it is still growing. Through the P. T. A. music fund the school now owns two tympani, a trombone, several violins, toy symphony instruments for each elementary school, and another piano for the West School.


3. Our music department is in urgent need of textbooks and music.


4. The morale in all music groups is improving, thanks to the co-operation of parents and members of the school organ- ization.


P. T. A.


Several projects sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Associ- ation have been of great benefit to the pupils. Hot lunches are served at the town hall to Center School children, weekly dancing classes are held in the high school, the grand piano is being reconditioned, and over $275, raised by a newspaper col- lection is being spent for orchestral instruments. Mrs. Henry Engman, president, has continued the good work of this or- ganization and has seen the membership increase to more than 225 paid members.


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Guidance


To help students select their careers a series of talks by representatives of various colleges and business schools was arranged, and several vocational films were shown. Mechanical aptitude tests were given in the high school to interest boys in defense industries. The school office enabled a number of girls to secure summer employment. A $50 scholarship, offered by the Acton Center Woman's Club, was awarded to Anne Hag- garty, who entered Salem Teachers College; and Priscilla Gleason received a $100 scholarship from the New England Conservatory of Music.


Conclusion


I. If our schools are to render better service to the town, two fundamental problems should receive attention:


1. The budget should be flexible enough to provide sal- aries that will attract and hold strong teachers.


2. The co-operation of all parents is needed in matters of discipline to insure morale, particularly in the high school. If difficulties should arise, parents are urged, before drawing a conclusion, to consult the teachers and principals.


II. The past year has been marked by many adjustments in the school department, some brought about by the high school addition, and others by changes in the committee and staff. Through this period, the superintendent has appreciated the co-operation of parents, teachers, and janitors and the excellent support of the committee.


Respectfully submitted,


RICHARD B. GREENMAN, Superintendent of Schools.


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REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN


ยท


Richard B. Greenman Superintendent of Schools Acton, Mass.


Dear Sir:


I herewith submit my report as school physician.


The yearly physical examinations of all the pupils in the schools was complete in October.


The diphtheria immunization clinic was held in May and the pre-school clinic was conducted in June.


In March we had some cases of measles in the West and South Schools, and in the Center School we had two cases of scarlet fever in November; but by prompt isolation and quaran- tine we were able to control the disease.


At a joint meeting of the superintendents and school physi- cians of Middlesex County held at Concord in November, the reasons for so many rejections in the selective service draft were discussed, and I feel that the concensus of the medical men was that the cause of some of these conditions occurred after the school age.


A detailed report of the results of the physical examina- tions will be found in the nurse's report.


We appreciate the improvements made in the nurse's room at the high school.


Again I wish to thank the superintendent, teachers, nurse, and the townspeople for their co-operation.


Respectfully submitted,


E. A. MAYELL, M. D.


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REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE


Mr. Richard B. Greeman Superintendent of Schools Acton, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir:


I herewith submit my annual report as school nurse. It has been my desire to prevent illness among the school popula- tion through the promotion of good health habits and health consciousness on the part of pupils. Seasonal colds and ill- nesses do interrupt school attendance and have been unus- ually severe this winter.


The schedule for school visits remains the same as last year, the high school at 9 a.m. and the elementary schools from 1-2 p.m. Absences are checked and any child who may be ill is taken home. The visits to the elementary schools may not always adhere to schedule as it often seems advisable to com- bine a school visit with a sick call in the same vicinity, thus saving time and mileage. When there has been a case of com- municable disease, the school physician examines pupils in their classes as frequently as necessary, thus effectively con- trolling the spread. Doctor Mayell gave all pupils a physical examination in the fall, advising parents by card of any serious defects discovered.


Although I feel that school health has been improved, much remains to be done, especially as regards care of teeth. The School Dental Clinic cannot include high school pupils in its schedule because there is not time. The dentist feels that his time is best devoted to the pupils of the lower grades. The high school pupils have been urged to see a dentist at least once a year. In many instances very little work is needed to keep the teeth in good condition. The school dentist has not yet made his annual visit, but is expected in the early spring. The State Department of Health has offered to make a survey of our dental needs. Recommendations made by this survey


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will help us to develop the type of dental clinic best suited to our pupils.


Vision tests were given to all pupils by the teachers and re-tests were made when necessary. A new test of vision, which exposes defects that the older type Snellen test has failed to show, is being considered.


The importance of our Diphtheria Clinic was emphasized this year. A case of diphtheria made mothers unusually anx- ious to have the protective treatment given to their children. Nursing services in the schools include first aid, simple dress- ings, and assistance to the school physician and the school dentist. I would ask parents to be aware of the possibility of a contagious disease when children are ill, thus avoiding ex- posure of others.


My work for the year is as follows:


Pupil inspections 1892


Simple dressings 471


First aid


22


Pupils taken home ill


39


Pupils taken to clinic


26


Home visits


211


I wish to express my appreciation to you and to the teach- ers for your support in this school health program.


Respectfully submitted,


GENEVIEVE J. CREELEY, R. N.


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Acton High School GRADUATION PROGRAM Friday, June 13, 1941 High School Auditorium at 8:00 p.m.


ENTRANCE MARCH OF SENIORS


Priests' March Mendelssohn


Mrs. Leonard A. Godfrey


INVOCATION


The Reverend Lynne P. Townsend


SALUTATORY


Doris M. Towne


ESSAY-These Things Called Books


Anne M. Haggarty


CHORUS OF SENIOR CLASS


To Thee, O Country


Julius Eichberg


ESSAY-The Federal Bureau of Investigation Earle C. Harriman


PRESENTATION OF CLASS GIFT Betty Marble Vice-President of the Senior Class


ESSAY-The Lighthouse at Minot's Ledge


Dorothy E. Bond


VALEDICTORY


Anne M. Haggarty


CLASS SONG


Music: Priscilla Gleason


Words: Raymond Reynolds


PRESENTATION OF AWARDS


Supt. Richard B. Greenman


PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS Mrs. Leland F. Howe


FINALE MARCH Elgar


Pomp and Circumstance


RECEPTION TO GRADUATES IN SCIENCE ROOM


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Graduates of 1941


Phyllis Irene Aldred James Milton Andersen Dorothy Elaine Bond


Henry Francis Bulette Victor Clapp Vera May Cunningham Charles Judd Farley, Jr.


Howard William Lovejoy


Herbert William Merriam, Jr. Olga Locke Nelson Mabel Jeanne Ogilvie


Esther Marie Petersen


Priscilla Jeanne Gleason


* Anne Marie Haggarty


*Esther Pinolehto Marjorie Faye Reed Raymond Aquilla Reynolds Gordon Alan Smith J. Henry Thatche."


*Earle Chester Harriman Donald Reynolds Howard Shirley Eileen Kelley


*Hazel Lucy Knight Eleanor Louise Larrabee Betty Louise Marble *Honor Students


*Doris May Towne Robert Lynne Townsend Betty-Jeanne Tubbs Meltha Elizabeth Walther


*Margaret Whitcomb


Awards During Year:


Esther Pinolehto and Earle Harriman: American Legion Awards for best rank in Scholarship, Loyalty, and Achieve- ment (Edwards-Quimby Post).


Doris Towne: Washington-Franklin Medal for best records in American History (Massachusetts Society, Sons of the American Revolution.)


INDEX


Assessors 59


Board of Health 82


Cemetery Commissioners 52 80


Dog Officer


Elizabeth White Fund


80


Finance Committee


7


Fire Department


91


Forest Warden


90


Inspector of Animals


79


Middlesex County Extension Service


61


Moth Control 54


Sealer's Report


62


Selectmen's Report


16


Schools:


Budget for 1942 154


Graduation Program


179


Organization 149


School Committee 153


School Nurse


177


School Physician 176


Special Building Committee 51


Summary of Expenses, 1941 155


Superintendent 166


Teachers 152


Special Town Meeting (Abstract), Dec. 29, 1941 30


Superintendent of Streets 56


Index-Continued


Librarian's Report 66


Bocks Added to Public Library


67


Tax Collector 85


Town Accountant 109


Balance Sheet, Dec. 31, 1941 144


Town Clerk's Report


32


Births


33


Marriages


36 40


Deaths


Non-Resident Burials


41


Dog Licenses


43


Jury List (Revised) 1941


47


Town Forest Committee 58


Town Meeting (Abstract), March 10, 1941 18


Town Nurse 81


Town Officers 11


Treasurer's Report 96


Tree Warden 55


Trustees of Goodnow Fund 60


Police 63


Public Welfare 92


Warrant, Monday, March 2, 1942 3


Workmen's Compensation Agent 65


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


Several Official Boards


OF THE


TOWN OF ACTON


MASSACHUSETTS


RATED


BONI


1735.


ACTON.


FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1942


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


Several Official Boards


OF THE


TOWN OF ACTON


MASSACHUSETTS


RATED


R


OONI


1735.


ACTON


FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1942


STOUGHTON PRINTING COMPANY Stoughton, Mass.


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TOWN WARRANT


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss


RA


D


HOONI


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-Woman's Club House, West Acton


at 12 o'clock noon, Monday, the first day of March, 1943, 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 first day of March, to bring in their votes on one ballot for the following town officers:


Moderator, town clerk, town treasurer, collector of taxes,


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one selectman for three years; one assessor for three years; one member of the board of public welfare for three years; one member of the board of public welfare for two 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 school committee for one year ; one member of the board of health for three years; one member of the board of health for one year; 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.


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 Monday, the eighth day of March, 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 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- mittee chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.


Article 4. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the town and deter- mine how the same shall be raised.


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


Article 6. 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


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financial year beginning January 1, 1943, 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 7. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the Work Relief Fund, or act any- thing thereon.


Article 8. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priote the sum of $200.00 for the use of the Treasurer, to pay the expenses of the local Dog Officer. The town will be re- imbursed for the amount spent by the County of Middlesex, or act anything thereon.


Article 9. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $100.00 for the maintenance of Jones Com- munity Field, South Acton, or act anything thereon.


Article 10. To see if the town will vote to transfer $500.00 from the Machinery Fund to the Machinery Account, or act anything thereon.


Article 11. To see if the town will adopt Section 38A, Chapter 41, General Laws relative to Town Collector or act anything thereon.


Article 12. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the use of the Town Forest Committee or act anything thereon.


Article 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to defray the cost of collection and disposal of garbage throughout the town or act anything thereon.


Article 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money sufficient to insure the com- pressed air tanks and steam boilers of the three fire stations or act anything thereon.


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Article 15. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the expenses of the Rationing Board or act anything thereon.


Article 16. To see if the town will accept Section 100A, Chapter 41, General Laws relative to indemnification of officers or employees for damages, etc., incurred on account of injuries arising out of their operation of publicly owned motor vehicles, 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 doings thereon to the town clerk at or before the time of meeting as aforesaid.


Given under our hands at Acton this twenty-seventh day of January, 1943.


W. BURTON HARVEY, ARTHUR W. LEE, GEORGE A. MORSE, Selectmen of Acton.


A true copy. Attest :


ROBERT G. WILLETT, Constable of Acton.


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Town Officers


Moderator Albert P. Durkee


Selectmen


W. Burton Harvey


Term expires 1943


George A. Morse


Term expires 1944


Arthur W. Lee Term expires 1945


Town Clerk Harlan E. Tuttle


Town Treasurer William Henry Soar


Assessors


Carl C. Flint


Term expires 1943


Albert P. Durkee


Term expires 1944


Clare A. Milbery Term expires 1945


Collector of Taxes Carrie M. Durkee


Tree Warden James J. Knight


Board of Public Welfare


Mary M. Laffin


Term expires 1943


Raymond L. Hatch Term expires 1944


*Burton B. Bursaw


Term expires 1945


** Benjamin J. Ineson *Resigned * Elected to replace*


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Constables


Samuel E. Knowlton


Ivar Peterson


Robert G. Willett Norman L. Perkins


Cemetery Commissioners


Horace F. Tuttle Harry E. Holt


Term expires 1943


Term expires 1944


Ray L. Harris Term expires 1945


School Committee


Fannie E. Davis Term expires 1943


Edward A. Schmitz


Term expires 1943


*Hazel O. Bundy Term expires 1944


Walter B. Stevens


Term expires 1944


Richard A. Lowden


Term expires 1945


Robert C. Hall


Term expires 1945


** Margaret Fraser


*Resigned


** Elected to replace*


Trustees of Memorial Library


Horace F. Tuttle Term expires 1943


J. Sidney White Term expires 1944


Frank A. Merriam Term expires 1945


Board of Health


O. Lawrence Clark


Term expires 1943


*Lillian E. Taylor Lowell H. Cram ** Henry K. Doyle * Resigned ** 'Elected to replace*


Term expires 1944


Term expires 1945


Agent of Board of Health Ernest E. Allsopp


Trustees of Elizabeth White Fund Charlotte Conant Term expires 1943


Clara L. Sawyer Term expires 1944


Waldo E. Whitcomb Term expires 1945


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Trustees of West Acton Firemen's Relief Fund


James B. Wilson


Term expires 1943


Arnold H. Perkins


Term expires 1944


H. Stuart MacGregor


Term expires 1945


Trustees of Acton Firemen's Relief Fund


Herbert Merriam


Term expires 1943


Frederick T. Kennedy


Term expires 1944


Clarence Frost


Term expires 1945


Trustees of Goodnow Fund


Horace F. Tuttle


Term expires 1943


Charles E. Smith


Term expires 1944


Charlotte Conant


Term expires 1945


Appointments Made by Selectmen-1942


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, Tuesday evenings at 7:00.


Finance Committee


W. Stuart Allen Alden C. Flagg William T. Merriam


Henry E. Tolman Albert W. Locke Porter G. Jenks


Superintendent of Streets William C. Kazokas


Town Accountant


Howard L. Jones Term expires 1944


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Registrars of Voters


James W. Coughlin


Term expires 1943


James B. Wilson


Term expires 1944


William B. Feely


Term expires 1945


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-Marie S. Whouley


Deputy Clerk-Spencer H. Taylor


Deputy Inspector-Ralph L. Rogers


Deputy Inspector-Leo T. McCarthy


Teller-Louisa N. Wood


Teller-Mary L. FitzGibbon


Precinct II


Warden-Clarence Robbins


Clerk-Grace J. Cullinane


Inspector-Merle M. Hayward Inspector-Sophia Walsh


Deputy Warden-David Clayton


Deputy Clerk-Thomas M. Murray


Deputy Inspector-Henry L. Capelle


Deputy Inspector-Joseph H. Lemoine


Teller-Pauline Bursaw


Teller-John J. Bradley


Precinct III Warden-Fannie E. Davis Clerk-Charles A. Byron Inspector-Havelock J. Schnair Inspector-Katherine M. Kinsley


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Deputy Warden-Bertram D. Hall Deputy Clerk-Albert C. Gravlin Deputy Inspector-Harry E. Holt Deputy Inspector-Mary Laffin 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 .4


Town Forest Committee


Albert R. Jenks Term expires 1943


Clarence Frost Term expires 1944


James J. Knight Term expires 1945


Surveyors of Wood and Lumber


Bertram D. Hall Charles E. Smith


Field Drivers


Norman E. Livermore Robert G. Willett


Norman L. Perkins


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Superintendent of Moth Work James J. Knight


Police Officers * Michael Foley, Chief


Norman L. Perkins Lawrence Roche


Robert G. Willett *Civil Service-Permanent


Burial Agent Waldo J. Flint


Soldiers' Relief Agent Waldo J. Flint


Superintendent of Jones Memorial Field Ralph Jones


Workmen's Compensation Agent Howard L. Jones


Public Weighers


William Braman A. W. Davis M. B. Ferber


Alfred Davis, Jr.


G. Howard Reed


W. H. Francis Davis


Philip Newell


Thomas Hearon Fred Stone


Willard Houghton W. H. Soar


Albert S. Braman


Peter Olsen, Jr.


Harold Whitney


Gerald Davis


Charles Clark


William Kane Edward Hellier


John William Davis


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Selectmen's Report


Herewith, we submit the reports of the various depart- ments of the Town for the year ending December 31, 1942; also a report of the action taken on all articles submitted to the voters at the regular and special town meetings.


Nineteen hundred forty-two was the first full year after this country entered the present world war. Problems arising out of the support of the war effort, organizing for local defense, co-operating with governmental agencies and corre- lating the life of the town to the national emergency, has multiplied by many times, both the work and responsibilities of the Board.


We wish to thank the members of the Acton Committee on Public Safety for the efficient manner in which they have assumed much of the added responsibility. Especially do we wish to thank the members and staff of Rationing Board No. 41 for the forthright and equitable handling of its most important but sometimes unpleasant task. It has rendered a public service of the highest order.


In carrying out the wishes of the voters as expressed in the regular and special town meetings, we purchased a new police cruiser with two-way radio equipment and installed an efficient heating plant in the town hall. We purchased the power grader now in use on the streets of the town, but due to priorities, have as yet been unable to complete the purchase of the new fire truck authorized by act of the voters. The board is still negotiating with government agencies in regard to this purchase.


Due to the fact that the Legislature did not make the necessary appropriations for new road construction under


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Chapter 90, no work under this chapter has been done during the year.


We wish to express our appreciation to all the regular town officers and committees for the faithful discharge of their duties and responsibilities during the year and to the citizens of the town whose response to the war emergency and its problems has carried the town successfully through a most trying year.


W. BURTON HARVEY, ARTHUR W. LEE, GEORGE A. MORSE, Selectmen of Acton.


.


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TOWN MEETINGS


Abstract of the Proceedings of the Annual Town Meeting, March 9, 1942


Art. 1. To choose all necessry 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 Acton Firemen's Relief Fund for three years.


Chose Clarence Frost trustee of the Acton Firemen's Relief Fund for three years.


Chose Charlotte Conant trustee of the Goodnow Fund for three years.


Voted: That the salary of the Tax Collector be one thousand dollars per annum.


Voted: That the salary of the chairman of the Selectmen be three hundred dollars per annum and the other members two hundred dollars each per annum.


Voted : That the salaries of the Assessors be nine hun- dred dollars in the aggregate per annum to be apportioned as they may determine.


Voted : That the salary of the chairman of the Board of Health be twenty-five dollars per annum, the clerk fifteen dollars and the other member ten dollars per annum.


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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 dollars each per annum and that a member of the Board of Public Welfare shall serve as Supervisor of Old Age Assistance and that the expense of administering this assistance such as necessary supplies, salary and traveling expense of 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 special meetings.


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


Voted: That the Selectmen be authorized to fix the sal- aries of all other town officers.


Art. 2. To see if the town will vote to accept the several 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- mittees chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.


The committee appointed under Art. 25 of the warrant for the annual meeting, March 10, 1941, recommended no action be taken on a highway building due to war conditions.


Art. 4. To see what sums of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the town and deter-


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mine how the same shall be raised.


Under this and other articles in the warrant it was voted to appropriate and raise by taxation for :


Highways, Village $ 1,450.00


Highways, Chapter 81


8,550.00


Highways, Chapter 90 2,000.00


General Government 7,200.00


Bonds (town officers) 251.50


Notes and Bonds




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