USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1890-1898 > Part 30
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WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
We have tried to show you what your children can do in the schools. Is there anything that you can do to help them? Try to have them in their seats ready to begin work at nine o'clock. Visit the schools, and so show your interest in them and their work.
NAMING A SCHOOL.
In the summer a circular was prepared and sent to each family in town, suggesting the name Ralph Wheelock for the Centre School. Although the matter seemed important enough to call out a favorable editorial in a leading Boston daily, and although educators in distant States wrote approvingly to the Committee of the object, comparatively few of our citizens manifested the amount of interest expected or returned the blank with any sug- gestion as to a name. Those, however, who did suggest a name were almost unanimous in favor of Ralph Wheelock. Believing that the lack of replies was not due to opposition and not always even to indifference, the Committee have named the school Ralph Wheelock. In the near future the building may bear this name ; and it is a part of the plans of this Committee to place a tablet within the building, recounting the services of Ralph Wheelock in the line of education.
48
THE GENERAL CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS.
One of the teachers at the beginning of the year said it was her ambition to do more work and better work than ever before. So all have acted; and the condition of the schools has never been better, nor the corps of teachers more efficient. We are some- times asked how our schools compare with those in other towns of similar size. Not long since several pupils came from a large town in this county, entered the same grade, took up the same books and at the very point where they had dropped their studies. These facts and other information lead us to believe that our schools compare favorably with those of our neighbors.
Length of School in Weeks.
Whole Number of Scholars.
Average Attendance.
Percentage of Attendance.
Number over 15 Years.
Salary of Teachers.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
High,
9
15
31
31
26
27.40
27.25
24.15
92+
96
94+
28
25
20
$900
H. Grammar, .
9
15
II
30
29
28
29.5
28.48
27.25
89++-
96++
96+
12
8
12
425
L. Grammar,
9
15
II
31
32
31
26.18
27.14
27.38
84+
84+
88+
2
0
425
Intermediate,
9
15
II
35
47
44
28.06
42.82
43.5
97+
93+
92+
0
0
425
H. Primary,
9
15
II
43
45
43
31.5
38.9
38.7
87+
95
92
0
O
425
L. Primary,
9
15
II
33
34
33
24.8
26.6
27.6
87
93
88
O
0
425
North
9
15
II
21
24
21
18.1
20.36
17.05
94
92
86
0
400
South,
9
15
II
26
27
25
24.6
25.5
24.3
92-
95+
97.2
O
O
425
ROLL OF HONOR.
Two years, Violet Getchell; one year, Julia McCarthy, Herbert Lord, Clarence Grant, Alberta Getchell, Alden W. Kingsbury, Mabel L. Clark, Helen M. Wood, Lucy Allen.
In behalf of the Committee,
GEORGE R. CHASE.
SCHOOLS.
-
-
TOWN WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Medfield, in said County, Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Medfield, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet in the Town Hall, in said Medfield, on Monday, the seventh day of March, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles : -
ARTICLE I. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To choose the following-named town officers, under the provisions of Chapter 417 of the Acts of 1893, namely : one Town Clerk, one Town Treasurer, one Collector of Taxes, three Selectmen, three Assessors, three Overseers of the Poor, three for Cemetery Committee, three Trustees of School and Trust Funds, five Constables, one Sexton, and one Auditor, all for one year; one School Committee for three years ; two Trustees of Public Library for three years; one for Board of Health for one year, one for Board of Health for two years, and one for Board of Health for three years. Also to vote on the following question : Shall license be granted to sell intoxicating liquors in this town for the ensuing year? The vote to be Yes or No. All of the above to be voted for on one ballot. The polls to be opened at half- past nine in the forenoon, and to be kept open at least four hours.
ART. 3. To choose Field Drivers, Pound Keeper, Fence Viewers, and Tree Warden.
ART. 4. To see if the town will accept the reports of the several town officers for the past year.
ART. 5. To grant and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
ART. 6. To see what action the town will take in relation to hiring money for any purpose.
ART. 7. To determine in what manner the taxes shall be collected for the ensuing year, also to determine what percentage shall be allowed the Collector for the ensuing year.
ART. 8. To see if the town will authorize the Collector to use all
50
such means in the collection of taxes as the Treasurer might if elected to that office.
ART. 9. To see if the town will accept the list of jurors as prepared by the Selectmen and posted according to law.
ART. IO. To see what compensation the town will allow the members of the fire department for the year ensuing.
ART. II. To see how much per hour the town will allow for work on the highways for the ensuing year, or do or act anything relating thereto.
ART. 12. To hear and act on reports of committees.
ART. 13. To see what action the town will take in relation to the bill of F. M. Ballou & Co. for concreting gutters and crosswalks.
ART. 14. To see if the town will set apart a lot in the cemetery to be used as a memorial lot or act anything relating thereto.
ART. 15. To see if the town will appoint a committee to take under consideration the names of the streets of the town, making such recom- mendations concerning the same as they may think advisable, and report at some future town meeting.
ART. 16. To see if the town will instruct its representative in the General Court to oppose the scheme known as a "Greater Boston " County or any other legislation which shall tend to dismember the County of Norfolk or disrupt its time-honored institutions.
ART. 17. To see what action the town will take relative to connecting the town building with sewer or do or act anything relating thereto.
.And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting up an attested copy thereof in the usual place for posting warrants in said Medfield, ten days at least before the time of said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, unto the Town Clerk at the time and place of meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this twenty-first day of February, A.D. eighteen hundred and ninety-eight.
WILLIAM F. GUILD, ) Selectmen . BENJ. F. SHUMWAY, of HENRY M. PARKER, Medfield. A true copy.
Attest: M. HOWARD BLOOD, Constable of Medfield.
BY-LAWS.
ANNUAL MEETING.
SECTION I. The annual meeting of the town shall be held on the first Monday in March.
FISCAL YEAR.
SECT. 2. The fiscal year of the town shall begin with the first day of February and end with the thirty-first day of January following.
TOWN MEETINGS.
SECT. 3. Town meetings shall be notified by posting an attested copy of the warrant calling the same, in usual place on Town House, seven days at least before the day appointed for said meeting. Pro- vided, however, if an emergency arise, rendering it necessary, in the judgment of the Selectmen, to call a meeting upon a shorter notice, such meeting may be notified by posting an attested copy of the warrant calling the same, as before provided, and by posting such warrant in two additional places in the town three days at least before the day appointed for said meeting.
TOWN OFFICERS.
SECT. 4. The number of town officers mentioned in this section shall be as follows : -
Three Selectmen.
Three Assessors.
One Collector of Taxes.
Three Overseers of the Poor.
Three Auditors of Accounts.
Cemetery Committee of three.
Two or more Field Drivers.
Three Fence Viewers.
Two Surveyors of Lumber, Wood, and Bark.
Three or more Constables.
One Sealer of Weights and Measures.
The town may, at any annual meeting, increase the number of Select- men to five; and the Selectmen may also be Overseers of the Poor, under the provisions of the public statutes.
52
When the town chooses no Board of Health, the Selectmen shall con- stitute that board.
The town shall also elect a Board of Trustees of the Public Library of the town, which shall be called the Library Committee, consisting of six persons, one-third of whom shall be chosen annually, and continue in office three years.
The School Committee shall, unless changed by vote, as provided in the statutes, consist of three members, inhabitants of the town.
TREASURER.
SECT. 5. All moneys raised and received for the support of schools; for the support of the poor; for repairing highways, bridges, and rail- ings ; for constructing sidewalks, gutters, and crossings, and for repairs thereon; for repairs on town buildings and on school-houses ; for street lights, hydrants, and water; for the Public Library; for the Cemetery ; for the Police Station; for salaries of town officers; for contingent town charges ; for fire engineers and the fire department ; for insurance, town debts, interest, and discount on taxes,-shall each be regarded as specific appropriations, to be applied only to the purposes designated. But money may also be appropriated for other specific purposes, for which the town may legally appropriate money.
The Treasurer shall keep separate accounts with each appropriation of money voted by the town, and no money shall be paid out except for the purpose for which it was appropriated. Nor shall any transfer be made from one account to another, except by vote of the town. All moneys received by the Treasurer, not specially appropriated, shall be kept in an account of unappropriated funds, to be disposed of as the town may direct. All notes and obligations of the town, for money bor- rowed by authority of the town, shall be signed by the Treasurer and Selectmen.
The Treasurer of the town shall each year prepare a report, in writing or print, of all receipts and payments received and made by him, with a statement of each account, and of the notes and claims in his hands belonging to the town, and of all notes or obligations given by him outstanding against the town, and the valuation of the property of the town, as estimated by the several departments, and present the same at each annual town meeting.
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS.
SECT. 6. No appropriation for any special improvement, change, repair, or purchase of any property not included in the usual or ordinary appropriations, exceeding three hundred dollars in amount or value, shall be made until some board of officers, officer, authorized committee, or agent of the town, shall have obtained and submitted to a meeting
53
notified to act thereon proper plans, specifications, and estimates of the probable expense or cost thereof, as near as can be reasonably ascer- tained, considering the nature and character thereof.
SELECTMEN.
SECT. 7. The Selectmen shall have the general direction and man- agement of the property and affairs of the town in all matters not other- wise provided for. They shall appear and act, institute suits, and may employ counsel in all suits at law or in equity in which the town is a party in all cases when no other provision is made in the statutes, and may audit and settle claims in suits against the town, and draw orders on the Treasurer in payment thereof. Provided that no payment in settlement of any suit or claim shall exceed the sum of three hundred dollars, which the Treasurer shall pay without further auditing, if there be sufficient money in his hands therefor.
In case any suit or claim against the town, not otherwise provided for, shall exceed three hundred dollars, as aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the Selectmen to lay the matter before the town at some regu- lar or special meeting before drawing an order on the Treasurer for payment of the same. They shall draw orders for the payment of all notes and obligations of the town, and for interest thereon, which shall be paid by the Treasurer. And, in all cases when not otherwise voted, the Selectmen shall have charge of all new buildings erected for the town, and all special additions, improvements, or repairs on the same, and of the insurance upon the buildings and property of the town.
When Highway Surveyors or a Superintendent of Streets are ap- pointed to take charge of the repairs and labor upon streets, ways, bridges, and sidewalks, the Selectmen shall, so far as may be, examine and allow their accounts of expenditures, subject to the approval of the Auditors.
They shall also, in establishing and grading sidewalks in the town, keep a record thereof in their books, and report the same with the. measurement thereof to the Town Clerk, who shall record the same with the record of highways.
They shall annually report all suits settled or pending against the town known to them, and unsettled and disputed claims against the town known and likely to be litigated.
On or before May 1, 1898, or as soon thereafter as may be, the Select- men or Superintendent of Streets, under their supervision, shall procure and maintain some suitable place within reasonable distance of the village, which shall be known as the free public dump, upon which the citizens and inhabitants of the town shall have the right, under suitable regulations, to deposit ashes, cellar dirt, old papers and cans, rubbish (not including filth or animal matter). And said dump shall be under the care and supervision of the Superintendent of Streets.
54
ASSESSORS.
SECT. 8. When the Assessors shall have committed any tax list to the Collector, they shall immediately certify to the Selectmen and to the Town Treasurer the amount of such tax list, and of each appropriation, to whom committed, and at what time the Collector is required to pay over the money collected thereon.
But no tax list shall be committed to any Collector until his bond, re- quired by law, has been procured and accepted by the Selectmen, due notice thereof being given to the Assessors.
The Assessors shall prepare the lists of taxes annually assessed by them, and commit the same, with their warrant, to the Collector of taxes on or before the thirtieth day of July in each year.
They shall publish with the Town Officers' Report for the year nine- teen hundred, and at least on each succeeding fifth year thereafter, and whenever at other times the town shall instruct them so to do, the full valuations and tax lists, both property and polls assessed within the town or upon which taxes are paid to the town, and each year the usual sum- mary thereof.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
SECT. 9. The Overseers of the Poor shall have the general charge and management of the farm and property connected therewith, and may employ a Superintendent and other necessary laborers, subject, however, to the specific vote of the town in relation thereto, and to the proper payments and expenditures of this department, for which the town may make appropriations.
LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
SECT. IO. The said Trustees of the public library, called the Library Committee as aforesaid, shall, subject to the special votes and appropri- ations of the town, have the care of the library rooms, the furnishing, warming, lighting, and repair of same; the authority to select and pur- chase books ; to appoint and pay the Librarian ; have the general control of the library, with power to make all needful regulations for the man- agement and use thereof.
They may also accept any donations to the library upon such terms as they may judge proper, and do such other things as they may regard for the benefit and advantage of the institution.
If any person elected a member of the Library Committee refuses or neglects to accept such office, or if any member dies, resigns, or from any change of residence or otherwise becomes unable to attend to the duties of the Committee, the remaining members may proceed to fill the vacancy for the remaining part of the year; and at the next annual town
55
meeting the town shall choose some one to fill such vacancy for the re- mainder of the time, if any there be.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
SECT. II. The several boards of town officers shall, so far as prac- ticable, transact all business coming under their supervision at meetings of the several boards at which a majority of the members are present, and also keep a record of all contracts, payments of money, and votes, appointments, and all other transactions had by them, including sched- ules of all town property under their care and control, and at the close of each fiscal year prepare a report of all their doings, with a statement in detail of all their payments and expenditures and all liabilities in- curred by them, including all outstanding orders and claims against the town, and also the valuation of all property of the town in their hands or under their care, and all debts due to the town, and submit an estimate of the probable expenses of the town for the ensuing year in their sev- eral departments. When the Selectmen are made Overseers of the Poor or have direction of the Superintendent of Streets, they shall per- form the same duties in each of such departments.
But no town officer, committee, or agent of the town, shall hereafter enter into or make any contract or obligation, oral or written, for or in the name or behalf of the town, for any special improvement, change, repair, or for the purchase of any property exceeding three hundred dollars in amount or value, and not included in the ordinary annual appropriations as aforesaid, by which any town indebtedness may arise in excess of that amount, until the town shall have made, as aforesaid, an appropriation therefor by vote and in the manner required by the statutes, nor in excess of the appropriation so made.
AUDITORS.
SECT. 12. The Auditors of Accounts shall meet at least once in each month, and, except as herein provided, examine and audit all claims, bills, and accounts against the town, and shall allow all such as appear to be just and right, and shall indorse their approval thereon or their rejection thereof. And they shall also report all claims, bills, and ac- counts approved by them to the town Treasurer.
Any bill, claim, or account of less than twenty dollars may be paid by the Treasurer upon the approval of one of the Auditors. All bills, claims, or accounts in excess of twenty dollars, shall be approved by a majority of the Auditors. Provided, however, in case of death, absence, or inability of the said Auditors, said bills, claims, or accounts, may be approved by the Selectmen, and paid by the Treasurer.
The Auditors shall keep full accounts and records of all their proceed- ings and transactions.
56
At the close of the fiscal year they shall examine the accounts of the Treasurer and of each of the other boards of officers and all vouchers presented by them, and make a written or printed report thereon as to their correctness, to be submitted to the town at the annual meeting, the report to include the account of the Treasurer as prepared by him, and so much of the accounts and reports of the other officers as the Auditors may deem expedient, with such statements and remarks in regard to the legality or propriety of any transaction or expenditures as, in their judgment, the interests of the town require. Such reports shall also contain a list of all taxes not paid during the fiscal year and such other matters as are herein required to be contained therein.
They shall have free access to the books and accounts, bills and vouchers, of all officers and committees of the town intrusted with the receipt, custody, or expenditures of money, and all original bills and vouchers on which moneys have been or may be paid by the Treasurer, as often as once each month, and shall examine the same at least once each year, and report thereon as aforesaid.
COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
SECT. 13. The Collector of Taxes shall, at the end of the year from the date of his warrant, deposit his book of collections with the Clerk of the town, who shall preserve the same for reference.
He shall also, in making such returns, certify that the payments shown therein are correct. He shall not be entitled to his compensation or to a discharge upon his bond until his book and such certificate are returned to the Clerk as aforesaid.
TOWN SEAL.
SECT. 14. The seal of the town shall be of the form and impress adopted at the town meeting held March 2, 1896; and the press stamp shall be in the custody of the Treasurer of the town or Town Clerk.
SHADE TREES.
SECT. 15. No person shall cut down or remove any ornamental or shade trees standing in a highway, town way, or street, unless the same obstructs such ways or endangers, hinders, or incommodes persons travelling thereon, without first giving notice of his intention to the Tree Warden; and, if the Tree Warden desires to retain the tree, he shall give notice of such desire to such person within ten days thereafter. And the damages caused by the retaining of said tree shall be deter- mined in the same manner as in a case of damage by the alteration of such highway, town way, or street.
57
ENACTMENT AND REPEAL.
SECT. 16. These By-laws shall take effect upon their approval by the Superior Court or, in vacation, by a justice of said court, and be entered and recorded in the office of the Clerk of the Courts in the County of Norfolk, as provided by the statutes.
All By-laws or parts of By-laws now existing, which conflict with the foregoing, are hereby repealed.
CEMETERY COMMITTEE.
SECT. 17. At the next annual town meeting after the adoption hereof the town shall elect from its inhabitants a Cemetery Committee, consisting of three members, one of whom shall be elected for three years, one for two years, and one for one year; and at each succeeding annual election thereafter one member shall be elected to serve three years, and until others are chosen as aforesaid.
If the town fails or neglects to elect such a Committee, or any member thereof required to be chosen as aforesaid, an election at a subsequent meeting shall be valid.
When a vacancy in such Committee occurs by the death, resignation, or removal from the town of any of its members, the remaining members may elect any eligible person to fill such vacancy, but the term of service of any member so elected shall end with the municipal year in which he is chosen ; and, if the vacancy which he is chosen to fill is for a longer period, the town shall, at the next annual meeting thereafter or at a sub- sequent meeting, elect some person to such unexpired term, to serve as aforesaid, and in the manner hereinbefore prescribed for original elections.
Such Committee shall have power to make rules and regulations for their own organization and government, and for the performance of their office as herein prescribed, as they shall from time to time deem neces- sary and proper; and they may also appoint a superintendent of the cemetery, and fix his compensation and prescribe his duties. They shall keep a record of all their acts and doings in the discharge of their duties as herein provided, and of all contracts made by them.
They shall have the care, control, and management of the cemetery grounds, including the pond and shores thereof, together with the dam and all public property in Vine Lake Cemetery (subject, however, to any specific vote of the town), and of the avenues, paths, and burial-lots in said cemetery, and of the laying out, boundaries, location, grading, and construction thereof, and of all the trees, shrubbery, hedges, and fences therein, in determining what shall be used and in locating, arranging, setting out, trimming, or removing the same for any cause which they shall regard reasonable and proper, for purpose of using, improving, or
58
beautifying the grounds or the burial-lots, avenues, paths, or spaces therein ; and, when they shall lay out any new avenues, paths, spaces, or burial-lots as aforesaid, the same shall be properly marked by monu- ments in the ground, and be traced upon the plan, and appropriately named, designated, and numbered for their identification and use. Pro- vided that no new lots shall be laid out, the boundaries of which shall be nearer than four feet from the external limits, or boundaries, of the cemetery grounds. They shall fix the prices of all burial-lots sold, and have the supervision of all sales thereof, and the location, enlargement, changing of lines of such lots or spaces within such grounds, and of all questions of right between proprietors of lots which shall hereafter arise. They shall superintend the general subject of interments in said grounds, and see that the provisions of the laws regarding the same are complied with.
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