USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1939 > Part 4
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$506.40
HENRY K. BEARSE,
Town Clerk.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING FEBRUARY 6, 1939
Article 1. To choose on one ballot the following Town Officers and Committee: Town Clerk, Town Treas- urer, Tax Collector, for one year; one Selectman, Overseer of Public Welfare and Board of Health, for three years ; one Assessor for three years; three Herring Committee for one year; one School Committee for three years; three Con- stables for one year; one Trustee of Brooks Library for three years; one Park Commissioner for three years; Mod- erator for one year; one Water. Commissioner for three
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years; Surveyor of Highways for one year; one Cemetery Commissioner for one year; one Cemetery Commissioner for two years; one Cemetery Commissioner for three years.
See 1940 Town Report.
Article 2. To choose all other Town Officers and Committees.
See 1940 Town Report.
Article 3. 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 rev- enue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1939. 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, Chap- ter 44, General Laws.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 4. To hear the report of all Town Officers and Committees, for the year 1938.
Accepted and adopted as printed in the Town Report.
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to de- fray Town expenses for the ensuing year, and act fully thereon.
The following budget was adopted.
Hearings
$150.00
Moderator
25.00
Selectmen's Salary ($700-$100.00 more for chairman)
2,200.00
Selectmen's expense
300.00
Assessors' Salary
1,500.00
Assessors' expense
400.00
Treasurer's Salary
700.00
Treasurer's expense
250.00
Treasurer's bond
144.00
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Collector of Taxes' salary
1,800.00
Collector of Taxes' expense
400.00
Collector of Taxes' bond
288.00
Town Clerk's salary
500.00
Town Clerk's expense
100.00
Town Clerk's bond
5.00
Accountant's salary
1,000.00
Accountant's expense
50.00
Stenographer's salary
600.00
Elections and registrations
2,000.00
Exchange Building
2,000.00
Law
200.00
1938 Unpaid Bills
800.00
Police Department
5,000.00
Forestry
3,000.00
Tree Warden
25.00
Fire Warden, see foot note No. 1
4,500.00
Wire Inspector
200.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
500.00
Board of Health
2,000.00
Dump
1,000.00
Inspector of Animals
50.00
Inspector of Slaughtering
50.00
Highways-General Repairs
11,000.00
Bridges
750.00
Fences and Railings
200.00
Snow removal
1,500.00
Electric Street Lights
7,275.00
Outside poor
6,000.00
Infirmary
2,500.00
Poor of other towns
1,500.00
State Aid
120.00
State poor
2,000.00
Schools and transportation (see foot note No. 2) 56,736.00
Brooks Library 1,000.00
Care of Cemeteries
500.00
. Park Commissioner
800.00
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Town Reports
500.00
Insurance
2,500.00
Repairs to public buildings (see foot note No. 3) 850.00
Soldiers Benefit
1,500.00
Advertising
150.00
Office equipment
100.00
Old Age Assistance
18,000.00
Foreclosures and tax titles
50.00
Traffic and Wychmere lights
100.00
Aid to dependent children
3,000.00
Interest on water bonds
2,380.00
Water extension bonds
1,000.00
Interest on water extension bonds
120.00
Interest on schoolhouse bonds
1,505.00
Retirement of schoolhouse bonds
7,000.00
Retirement of water bonds
7,000.00
Interest on town notes
200.00
Water Department
7,600.00
('ertifying town notes
30.00
Reserve fund
1,000.00
Miscellaneous
300.00
Overdrafts
343.90
Herring Committee
100.00
Total $178,946.90
Footnotes-1. Includes $250.00 for radio equipment for for- est fires-fire truck in addition to regular appropriation
2. Includes $3,500.00 for school cafeteria in addition to regular appropriation. This will permit the cafeteria bills to be paid by the town as required by law.
3. Includes $200.00 for repairs to the fire station, $150.00 for repairs to the Police station and $500.00 for general repairs.
Article 6. To see if the town will vote to instruct its Selectmen to control, regulate and prohibit the taking of Eels, Clams, Quahaugs and Scallops, within the Town
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limits as provided in Chapter 91, Section 85, and acts and amendments thereto, to the revised Laws of Massachusetts, and to make any regulations in regard to such fisheries as may be expedient, and act fully thereon.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 7. To see if the Twn will vote to maintain one street Eight on South Street, Harwich Center, between the residence of Fred Chase and the residence of Charles Allen, and raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money therefor, and act fully thereon.
Accepted and adopted. $16.80 appropriated. Light placed on pole just north of new entrance to H. S. grounds.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to erect and maintain one electric street light in front of Arthur Lloyd Nickerson house on Great Western Road, Harwich; for the purpose of children which are in danger of automobiles while crossing the street. By request.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to erect and maintain one electric light over the center of the street at the entrance of the School Yard (so-called) at Harwich- port.
Accepted and adopted. Location determined by the Police Dept. and Electric Light Co. $16.80 appropriated.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of money to erect and maintain two street lights; one between the Catholic Cemetery and the home of Mrs. Nellie Bassett; one opposite Lawrence B. Robbins.
Accepted and adopted. $33.60 appropriated.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate a sufficient sum to install and maintain (from May 1 to November 1 each year) three street lights on Wah- Wah-Taysee Road, in the Allen Harbor section of Harwich- port, and act fully thereon.
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Accepted and adopted, one light to be installed on the fourth pole south from the Lower County road, and one on each third pole thereafter, and that the sum of $27.00 be raised and appropriated therefor.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum sufficient to construct a sidewalk on the south side of Lower County Road, Harwichport, from the shop of Walter Emery to Wyndemere Bluffs Road.
Accepted and adopted. $300.00 appropriated.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to erect and maintain one street light in East Harwich, in front of Brotherhood Hall, on East Harwich-Brewster Road.
Accepted and adopted, and the sum of $16.80 raised and appropriated.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to erect and maintain two street lights on Depot Street, South Harwich, between the residence of Lester Crowell and the former site of the South Harwich Depot.
Accepted and adopted, the lights to be installed at the top and foot of the hill going twoard East Harwich, and that the sum of $33.60 be raised and appropriated.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to put one pole and street light on Stomach Road.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise amount to erect and maintain one light between the corner of Smith's Lane and Cemetery Road (Depot Road, West Harwich) on pole already erected ; pole number Y.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to main- tain one street light on the pole nearest the Boat Shop on Lower County Road at Allen's Harbor; and to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money therefor, and act fully thereon.
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Accepted and adopted. $16.80 raised and appropri- ated.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Six Hundred ($600) Dollars for the use of Harwich Post No. 292 American Legion, in the prop- er observance of Memorial Day and Armistice Day, and for other purposes.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote that, be- fore any extension to the Town Water System is made, enough takers be secured so that the income from the water rates shall equal 6% on the cost of said extension to the Town; to see what action the Town will take and act fully thereon. By request.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to accept Chapter 415 of the Acts of 1938, said act being entitled as follows: "An act further regulating liens for, and tht col- lection of, water rates and charges." By request.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to auth- orize the Selectmen, in consideration of Three Hundred ($300) Dollars, to convey to Mrs. Anne T. VanBuren, a strip of land six feet wide extending from Bayview Road to the beach, and act fully thereon; being the same prem- ises which the Town voted to accept from Harold S. Van- Buren by Article 10 of the Annual Town Meeting Warrant for 1918.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to change the name of Stomach Road, which runs from Lower County Road to Main Street. Would like to change to Barre Road. Name changed to Kildee Road.
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to change the order of the day of the annual town meeting so that the
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annual election of officers shall come after the reports of committees, unfinished business, and new business have been transacted; and act fully thereon.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate money to pay all unpaid bills; and act fully thereon.
Indefinitely postponed, provision having been made in the budget under article 5 for such items.
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money not to exceed Fifteen Hun- dred ($1,500) Dollars, under the provisions of Sub-Section 2 of Section 1 of Chapter 371 of Acts of 1921, and any and all amendments thereof and additions thereto for the em- ploying of a nurse through the Harwich Visiting Nurse Association, Inc.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred ($500) Dollars to be spent by the Selectmen for the following purposes : $100. to be spent for further improvement of parking space at the foot of Bank Street ; $100. to provide and maintain a raft for bathers' use; and the balance $300. to be used in keeping the beaches clean; and act fully thereon.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to accept a deed for a small parcel of land in Pleasant Lake, from Alvin H. Bassett, Heirs or Devisees, to be reserved as a Memorial Park to Valmer H. Bassett, World War Veteran ; to be kept and maintained perpetually by the said grantee.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 28. To see if the Town will raise and ap- priate a sum not exceeding Five Hundred ($500) Dollars for the establishment and maintenance of a free bed in the Cape Cod Hospital for the care and treatment of persons
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certified by the Selectmen to be residents of the Town and unable to pay for such care and treatment, under the pro- visions of General Laws Ter. Ed. Chapter 111, Section 74.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seven Hundred and Fifty ($750) Dollars, providing the State will contribute the same for the purpose of dredging, to widen and deepen, the entrance of Round Cove at Pleasant Bay at East Harwich, and act fully thereon.
Accepted and adopted, and the sum of $750.00 be . raised and appropriated therefor.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to rescind the action taken at the regular town meeting on Feb. 2nd 1931 whereby it accepted Section 1, 3, 6, and 7 and Section 11 and 16 (inclusive of Chapter 142 G. L. and all amend- ments and additions thereto said act being relative to the supervision of plumbing.
Indefinitely postponed. The state laws require plumbing regulations in any town having a public water supply, and it would be useless to rescind these regulations without first drawing up local regulations and getting them approved by the proper state authorities.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to place the Plumbing Inspector on a salary and to raise and appro- priate a sufficient sum of money therefor and act fully thereon.
Voted that the plumbing inspector be paid a salary of $500.00 per year, with all fees collected to be turned in to the town.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to rescind the action taken at the Annual Town Meeting of Feb. 6th 1933 whereby the Town voted to accept Article 31 of the Town Warrant to accept the provisions of Section 97 Chap- ter 41 contained in Vol. 1 Chapter 132A of the General Laws of Massachusetts known as the Tercentenary Edition, which
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provided for the establishment of a police department un- der the directions of the Selectmen.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to elect a Chief of Police for a term of one year by popular vote at each annual town election.
Indefinitely postponed, contrary to state law.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to re-im- burse Martha W. Thompson for damages to her building situated near the South Harwich Depot and raise and ap- propriate the sum of $75.00 therefor. By request.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to elect by ballot at the next annual Town Meeting, a Tree Warden, for the term of one year, and act fully thereon.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty ($50.) Dollars to care for and repair the Town floats at Wychmere Harbor and at Pleasant Bay, East Harwich.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Assessors to cause to have listed in the back of the An- nual Town Report the property tax payers of the Town and the amount of assessments on their various properties, and to act fully thereon.
Indefinitely postponed. Such information is avail- able at the town office for anyone interested, andits inclu- sion in the town report would be a substantial sum.
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to have signs painted and placed at suitable places on the highway, for the purpose of directing tourists to different parts of Harwich and to other towns.
Accepted and adopted, and the sum of $100.00 raised and appropriated.
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Article 39. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand ($1,000.) Dol- lars for improving and resurfacing with tar or other suit- able material the Chatham Road, beginning at the inter- section known as the Eagle, (across from the residence of J. William Crowell), and continuing as far as the money will allow.
Accepted and adopted and the sum of $1,000.00 be taken from the Gas Tax refund account for this purpose.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Thousand ($4,000) Dol- lars to purchase a Road Grader, and to act fully thereon.
Indefinitely postponed. Cheaper to hire from time to time.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seven Hundred ($700.) Dol- lars to be used for replanking the so-called Over-head Rail- road Bridge, and to act fully thereon.
Indefinitely postponed, the amount required for this work having been included under "bridges" in the budget submitted under Article 5.
Article 42. To see if the Town will vote to place its Police Officers and Chief of Police under Civil Service, and to accept Sections 48 and 49 of Chapter 31 of the Gen- eral Laws Ter. Ed. and all acts and amendments thereto.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 43. To see if the Town will vote to expend the refunded dog tax for 1937 and 1938 for the support of the Brooks Library, $914.65
Accepted and adopted.
Article 44. To see if the Town will raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to widen the present driveway to the new High School on Sisson Road and to harden with suitable material the extension of this drive-
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way to South Street. The said extension having been re- cently laid out by the W.P.A.
Accepted and adopted and the sum of $1,400.00 rais- ed and appropriated.
Article 45. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate the sum of Five Hundred ($500.) Dollars to be used for extensions to the Town Water System when requested Applications for extensions must guarantee the Town 6% income on the investment. To see what action the Town will take and act fully thereon.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 46. To see if the Town will vote to author- ize the Assessors to use a sum of money not exceeding $15,000. from the free cash in the treasury for the reduc- tion of the 1939 tax rate.
Voted that sum of $10,000.00 be taken from the free cash in the treasury to reduce the 1939 tax rate.
Article 47. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty-five Hundred ($2,500.) Dollars to be used under the direction of the Selectmen for the promotion of public recreation and amusement, in ac- cordance with Legislative Acts of 1930, Chapter 12. Section 1, and any acts and amendments thereto.
Accepted and adopted by a rising vote. An amend- ment was adopted "that a sufficient sum be set aside for equipment for the Twilight League."
Article 48. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred ($300.) Dollars for the benefit of Chase Library, West Harwich.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 49. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred ($300.) Dollars for the benefit of the Harwichport Library Association.
Accepted and adopted.
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Article 50. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand ($2,000.) Dol- lars to be expended in connection with W.P.A. work, said money to be expended under the supervision of the Select- men.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 51. To see what action the Town will take in regard to its Herring Fisheries.
Voted to hold the sale of the herring fisheries at once by auction. Thos. H. Nickerson, Auctioneer. Sold to Alton P. Hall, for $350.00
Article 52. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of Harwich-Orleans Road; said money to be used in conjunc- tion with any money which may be alloted by the State or County, or both. for this purpose; or to take any other ac- tion in relation thereto.
Accepted and adopted. and that the sum of $3,500.00 be raised and appropriated.
Article 53. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred ($200.) Dollars to stock ponds and streams with fish and for the feeding and propagation of game within the town limits, and that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to have charge of the work.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 54. To see if the Town will vote to elimin- ate that portion of Article 15 of the Town By-Laws which requires "The Town Clerk's Report shall include his rec- ord of the annual town meeting and all special meetings held during the year for which the report is made."
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 55. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500, said money to be used in conjunction with $1,500. from the County, and $3,000. from the State, to eliminate curve at Pleasant Lake.
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Accepted and adopted.
Article 56. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300. to finish resurfacing Low- er County Road, providing the County and State each con- tribute an equal amount to be used under Chapter 90.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 57. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $800. providing the County and State each contribute an equal amount, to resurface Sisson Road under Chapter 90.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 58. To see if the Town will vote to trans- fer the unexpended surplus overlay of $1,731.25 to the Re- serve Fund, and act fully thereon.
Accepted and adopted.
Adjourned at 4 o'clock.
At 3:30 o'clock Rev. Dr. Alfred Ray Atwood asked permission to address the meeting. It was readily granted.
Rev. Mr. Atwood eulogized the work and assistance freely given in many ways for the benefit of the town by Roger W. Tillson whose resignation from the Finance Com- mittee the meeting regretfully accepted.
Mr. Tillson has left Harwich and accepted a banking position in Middleboro, Mass.
The Rev. Alfred Ray Atwood, Henry K. Bearse and John Howard Paine were appointed to draw up and draft a resolution of gratitude and appreciation of Mr. Tillson's worthiness as a citizen. The resolution to be inscribed in the records of the town.
Resolution :---
"The Town of Harwich wishes to go on record as appreciating the years of faithful and effi- cient service rendered to it, by Roger W. Tillson. ">
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING MAY 19, 1939
Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate a sum of money from the Highway fund provided by Chapter 2 of the Acts of 1939 for any of the purposes au- thorized by said Chapter.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate $1,000. from the Gas Tax refund Chapter 500 of the Acts of 1938 to be applied in payment for improving the Chatham road as per vote of the Town Feb. 7 1939 under Article 39.
Accepted and adopted as read.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to rescind, or reconsider the vote whereby the Town voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,500. for the improvement of the Harwich Orleans road under Article 52 of the Annual Town Meeting Warrant of Feb. 7, 1939.
Accepted and adopted as read.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate the sum of $3,500. from the Highway fund provided by Chapter 2 of the Acts of 1939 for the purpose of improv- ing the Harwich Orleans road said improvements to be done under Chapter 90 of the General Laws, whereby the Town pays one quarter, the County, one quarter, and the State one half.
Accepted and adopted as read.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate the sum of $300. from the Highway fund provided by Chapter 2 of the Acts of 1939 for the purpose of reducing the amount of money raised at the Annual Town meeting held Feb. 7, 1939 under Article 56 for the purposeof finish- ing the resurfacing of Lower County road.
Accepted and adopted as read.
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Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two hundred fifty dollars ($250.) for the purpose of providing five Band Concerts, to be giv- en by the Junior Community Band and other Cape Musical organizations during July and August, at Brooks Park.
Accepted and adopted as read.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to purchase or take by eminent domain under Chap. 79 of the General Laws or any other Acts or amendments thereto, from Eliza- beth S. Taylor, a parcel of land on the West side of Greys Neck road, so called, for a public bathing beach; and raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money therefor, and act fully thereon.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to author- ize the Selectmen to sell at public, or private sale, the Wat- er pump and Tank in the Exchange building, and act fully thereon.
Accepted.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to accept as a gift from B. Harold Eldredge, about twenty feet of land at the intersection of Bank St. and the State Highway Route 28 at Harwich Port, for the purpose of widening, said intersection, and a deed be given to the Town therefor.
Accepted and adopted.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate Five hundred dollars from the Gasoline refund fund, so called, in accordance with the acts of 1939, said sum to be expended on Grey Neck road.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate Five hundred dollars from the Gasoline refund fund, in accordance with the acts of 1939 said sum to be expend- ed on shore road.
Indefinitely postponed.
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Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to change the term of office of the Surveyor of Highways from one year to three years.
Indefinitely postponed.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of making 2 6 inch water main extension from State Road, West Har- wich northerly on Mansion Street for a distance of 500 feet approximately, and act fully thereon.
Motion of G. D. Makepeace, "That the sum of $1,000. be raised and appropriated for the extension of the Town Water System on Mansion St .. as called for in Article 13." Accepted and adopted.
Article 14. To see what action the Town will take with reference to needed repairs on the New High School Building and also with reference to its agreement with Irving Rocheford to construct said Building and to act fully thereon.
The motion by Earl L. Sims was accepted and adopt- ed, "That the Selectmen be authorized to bring suit, if necessary against Irving Rocheford for breach of contract in his construction of the new High School Building."
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