USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1946-1950 > Part 11
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Article 49. Moved that the sum of $1,200.00 be raised and appropriated to meet the Town's share of the cost of Chapter #90 Highway Construction of Pine Street, and that, in addition the sum of $3,600.00 be transferred from unappropriated available funds in the Treasury to meet the State's and County's share of the cost of the work, the reimbursements from the State and County to be restored upon their receipt, to unappropriated avail- able funds in the Treasury.
Article 51. Voted to adopt a by-law establishing a Park and Playground Commission as provided by cer- tain Sections of Chapter 45 of the General Laws and Acts in amendment thereof, and in addition thereto pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Voted: Sec. 1. There shall be in the Town of Aga- wam a Board of Park and Playground Commissioners, hereinafter called the Board consisting of three mem- bers to be elected by the voters of the Town. At the an- nual election in February 1948, there shall be elected one member to serve one year, one member to serve two years, and one member to serve for three years.
Sec. 2. The Board shall annually elect a chairman and clerk from its own membership. It shall adopt rules consistent with law for the conduct of its business. Meetings shall be held monthly and special meetings may be held at the call of the chairman.
Sec. 3. The Board shall have all powers and duties as Park Commissioners as provided in Chapter 45, Sec- tion 1 to 9, inclusive and also as Playground and Recre-
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ation Commissioners as provided in Chapter 45, Section 14, and acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto.
Sec. 4. The Board shall serve without compensation.
Sec. 5. The Selectmen of the town shall serve as a temporary board from the date of the approval of this by-law until the annual election in 1948.
Sec. 6. This by-law may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds vote of those present at any regular or spe- cial town meeting, pursuant to an article in the warrant. This by-law shall become effective on approval by the Attorney-General and disapproval of any provision shall not invalidate the remaining provisions.
Article 52. Voted to appropriate the sum of $2,100.00 as recommended by the Recreation Committee and the same to be expended by the Park and Playgrounds commission.
Article 53. Voted that the Board of Selectmen of this Town be and they are authorized to execute, acknowl- edge, and deliver in the name of and on behalf of this town, and under its corporate seal, a deed from this Town to Western Massachusetts Electric Company, by which there shall be granted to the said Company all and singular the right, title, and interest which this Town now has in and to a certain parcel of land located in Agawam, Hampden County, Massachusetts, described as follows:
That portion of "M" Street, so-called, extending from the Agawam-West Springfield Town Line in a south- easterly direction and then in a northeasterly direction to the Agawam-West Springfield Town Line at a point where said line intersects "H" Street, so-called, some- times referred to as Connecticut Avenue said "M" Street being eighty (80) feet in width, said parcel of land be- ing the first parcel of land described in a deed from Con- necticut Valley Realty Company to the Town of Agawam and shown on plan entitled "Plan of M Street", recorded in said Registry, Book of Plans Z, Page 69.
Such Deed is to be in such form as may be approved by the Town Counsel.
Article 54. Voted: That the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen with the approval of the Treasurer and the Finance Committee to sell and convey either by private sale or public auction any or all parcels of real
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estate to which the Town has acquired or may here- after acquire title of foreclosure of tax titles in the Land Court, provided the initial tax on any one parcel is less than $300, and provided further that any resident of the Town shall be given preference in such sales if the best interests of the Town are served thereby, and to execute and deliver proper deeds therefor; and that the Treasur- er be, and is hereby authorized, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to sell and convey by private sale or public auction all lands of low value secured by proce- dure under Sections 79 and 80 of Chapter 60 of General Laws, and acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto, and to execute and deliver proper deeds there- for; and further, that any and all sales and conveyances of real estate sold by the Town since May 13, 1947, to the date hereof, be and hereby are approved, ratified and confirmed. (Unanimous vote)
Article 55. Moved that the Selectmen be, and are hereby authorized to sell and deliver a proper deed to Alfred Sherman of a certain parcel of land now owned by the Town, described as follows: Bounded Southerly by Carmen Street one hundred fifty and 50/100 (150.50) feet, Easterly by land now or formerly of Calix Menard and Moses Menard two hundred ninety five (295) feet; Northerly by other land of said Menards over hundred forty three and 95/100 (143.95) feet, and Westerly by land now or formerly of one Gazer two hundred ninety five and 8/100 (295.08) feet being the same property con- veyed to the Town by deed recorded February 14, 1947, in Hampden County Registry of Deeds, Book 1836, Page 361, all for the sum of One Hundred Twenty Five ($125.00) Dollars, and a proper deed from said Alfred Sherman of a parcel of land at the end of Carmen Street through to Liberty Street thirty (30) feet wide for high- way purposes.
Article 56. To see if the Town will accept Sherman Avenue as a public street.
Voted to pass over.
Article 57. To make the necessary appropriations for the ensuing year.
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General Government
Legislative
Salary Moderator
$ 25.00
All Other
15.00
Selectmen
Salaries
1,650.00
Clerk
750.00
All Other
200.00
Accounting Department
Salary
1,330.00
All Other
150.00
Treasurer
Salary
2,000.00
Clerk
900.00
All Other
400.00
Collector
Salary
2,300.00
(Plus $650.00 Water Dept.)
Clerk
1,600.00
All Other
1,000.00
Assessors
Salaries
3,025.00
Excise Tax Salary
423.50
Clerk
1,440.00
All Other
300.00
Law
Town Counsel
500.00
All Other
1,000.00
Town Clerk
Salary
500.00
Clerk
900.00
All Other
300.00
Election and Registration
1,000.00
Town Buildings
Administration Building
Janitor
2,230.00
All Other
3,500.00
Other Buildings
1,368.00
$ 28,806.50
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Protection to Persons and Property
Police Department
Salaries All Other
19,000.00
3,500.00
Fire Department
Salaries
7,858.00
All Others
5,200.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Salary
600.00
All Other
300.00
Forestry
Tree Warden
Labor
$ 2,000.00
Truck
500.00
Spraying
400.00
All Other
200.00
Forest Warden
Labor
100.00
Fire Permits
100.00
Equipment
125.00
All Other
40.00
Japanese Beetle
Extermination
200.00
Moth Extermination
600.00
$ 40,723.00
Health and Sanitation
General Administration
$ 300.00
Hospitals and all other
1,000.00
Garbage
2,500.00
Inspector of Animals
250.00
Inspector of Meats and Provisions
50.00
Inspector of Slaughtering
Farm Slaughtering $500.00 Slaughter House Inspections 600.00
Transportation
150.00
1,250.00
Vital Statistics
40.00
Sewer Entrance Costs
5,000.00
Diphtheria Clinic
70.00
$ 10,460.00
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Highways
Maintenance
$ 14,650.00
Oiling
6,000.00
Snow Removal
4,500.00
Ash Removal
1,200.00
Sidewalks
350.00
Sewers Transfer $50,000.00
Lighting
9,200.00
Road Machinery Account
4,000.00
$ 39,900.00
Schools
232,050.00
Water Department
Salary of Commissioners $ 110.00
Salary of Superintendent
2,814.00
Salary of Collector
650.00
Contract for Water Consumption
16,000.00
All Other
43,085.00
$ 62,659.00
Charity
General Relief
Salaries
$ 1,500.00
Relief
9,105.00
All Other
250.00
Old Age Assistance Relief
20,000.00
Administration
2,200.00
Aid to Dependent Children Relief
4,000.00
Administration
300.00
$ 37,355.00
Engineering Department Building Department Building Inspector
6,230.00
Salary All Other
$ 1,000.00 920.00
Plumbing Inspector Labor
1,500.00
All Other
300.00
$ 3,720.00
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Veterans
Benefits
$ 6,000.00
Administration All Other
2,500.00 800.00
$ 9,300.00
Libraries
Salaries
$ 500.00
Light and Heat
200.00
All Other
100.00
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$ 800.00
Planning Board
1,025.00
Board of Appeals
300.00
Unclassified
800.00
North Cemetery
50.00
Town Cemetery Lot Care
50.00
Maple Grove Cemetery
20.00
Houghton Cemetery
25.00
Interest on Bonded Debt
1,000.00
Annuities
1,200.00
Debt-Bond Payment
20,000.00
Voted under Previous Articles
15,800.00
Total of Recommended Appropriations $512,273.50
This Appropriations total, if voted as given, will necessitate an estimated tax rate of about $39.00 as com- pared with the 1946 rate of $36.60.
Article 58. Voted to adjourn.
BRANDON N. LETELLIER Town Clerk
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Special Town Meeting
MAY 28, 1947
A Special Town Meeting was held on this date ac- cording to the warrant. The meeting was called to order by the Moderator George W. Porter. The warrant was read by the Town Clerk, a quorum was declared present and under Articles 1-30 voted as follows:
Article 1. VOTED: That Donald M. Macaulay, spe- cial counsel for the Town of Agawam, be and he hereby is authorized and directed in the name and behalf of the Town of Agawam to demand and collect, by suit or legal action, or otherwise, damages for or the proceeds from the sale of real estate items which were parts of the property of the Town, which property was formerly owned by the Agawam Racing and Breeders' Associa- tion, Inc .; and, without limiting the generality of the authorization and direction above set forth, particularly to demand and collect, by suit, legal action, or otherwise, from any party liable therefor, damages for or the pro- ceeds of the sale of real estate items of said property sold in the spring of 1945 by Arthur Black, Esquire, or the Trustee in Bankruptcy of the Agawam Racing and Breeders' Association, Inc., for the sum of thirty thou- sand two hundred fifteen dollars ($30,215) : provided, that if in the opinion of said special counsel, a compro- mise of said claim or claims is advantageous for the Town, he shall report such recommended compromise in writing to the Board of Selectmen and the Chairman of the Finance Board, but no compromise thereof shall be effective without the approval of the Board of Select- men, the Finance Committee, and the Town Treasurer.
Upon the adoption or acceptance of any form of compromise, the Town Treasurer, with the approval of
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the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee, is hereby authorized and empowered to execute and de- liver for and in the name of the Town of Agawam such releases, covenants, specialties or instruments under seal as may be required or necessary to fully and effectually compromise and terminate any and all claims or demands arising or pending in favor of or against the bankruptcy estate of the Agawam Racing & Breeders' Association, Inc., Charles F. Connors as Trustee in Bankruptcy, Ar- thur Black, individually and as Referee in Bankruptcy and the Town of Agawam.
Article 2. Voted unanimously: That the Town ap- propriate the sum of $2,701.14 which is the Surplus War Bonus Fund of World War I (Chapter 480 of the Acts of 1924) to establish a Veterans Memorial Park on land donated by Wilson-Thompson Post No. 185, Inc., the American Legion, situated on Springfield Street, between Taft and Mckinley Streets, filling, draining, grading, and landscaping the area and erecting Memorial to honor veterans of World War I from the Town, in accordance with provisions of a special Act of the Legislature of 1947.
Article 3. Voted unanimously that the Town vote to transfer the sum of $6,000 appropriated and the sum of $18,000 transferred from Excess and Deficiency from the Chapter 90 Construction of Suffield Street Account to Chapter 90 Construction of Pine and Suffield Streets.
Article 4. Voted unanimously. That the Town Of- fices close all day Saturday beginning May 31 through August 30, in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 265, Acts of 1947.
Article 5. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $3,700.00 to purchase a Heavy Duty Platform Scale for the use of the Town.
Voted to pass over.
Article 6. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $2,800.00 or any other sum for water construc- tion on Rowley Street.
Voted to pass over.
Article 7. Voted to accept the Report of the Com-
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mittee appointed to select a site for a new school in Feed- ing Hills.
Article 8. Voted unanimously to rescind all action taken on this article.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate any sum of money to move and rebuild two to- bacco sheds now standing on the site recommended.
Voted to pass over.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to appoint a Committee to direct the preparation of working draw- ings and specifications, and to report back not later than the next Annual Meeting in 1948.
Voted to pass over.
Article 11. Voted unanimously that the Zoning By- Law of the Town of Agawam as amended March 1, 1947, be further amended by striking out from Section 3, Gen- eral, Paragraph L, the following words "or except where it is to be used within the limits of the town".
Article 12. Voted unanimously that a sum of $500.00 be appropriated for the laying out and establishment of boundaries for the acceptance of streets as public ways.
Article 13. Voted unanimously that the Town ac- cept as a public street Senator Ave., as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Plans of Layout and Survey now on file with the Town Clerk of the Town of Agawam.
Article 14. Voted unanimously that Federal Street Extension as laid out by the Selectmen, in accordance with Plans of Layout and Survey now on file with the Town Clerk of the Town of Agawam, be accepted as a public street.
Article 15. Voted unanimously that Northwood Street, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, in accord- ance with Plans of Layout and Survey now on file with the Town Clerk of the Town of Agawam, be accepted as a public Street.
Article 16. Voted unanimously that Hastings Street, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, in accordance with
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Plans of Layout and Survey now on file with the Town Clerk be accepted as a public street.
Article 17. Voted unanimously that Belle Street, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Plans of Layout and Survey now on file with the Town Clerk be accepted as a public street.
Article 18. Voted unanimously that Section 5, of the By-Laws relating to the laying out and acceptance of streets adopted March 6, 1918, be changed from "No pro- posed street shall be less than fifty feet in width" to "the width of any proposed street shall be left to the discre- tion of the Selectmen."
Article 19. Voted to pass over article to change the zone of the property of William Drewnowski on the north- erly side of Springfield St., from residence A. to Business.
Article 20. Voted to re-zone from Residence A. to Business the property of Jennie E., Hazel M. and Ashley R. Cooley on the northerly side of Springfield St., begin- ning at the intersection of the westerly line of property owned by Daniel S. MacPhail then running westerly along the northerly line of Springfield St. a distance of 479 ft. more or less to the easterly line of property of William J. DeForge; thence northerly 200 ft. along the westerly line of the petitioners; thence easterly 479 ft. more or less parallel with the northerly line of Springfield St., thence southerly 200 ft. along the easterly line of the petitioners' property to Springfield St. to the point of beginning.
Article 21. Voted to pass over changing the zone of the Property of Killwood Industries, Inc., on the north- erly side of North St., from Residence A. to Industrial A.
Article 22. Voted unanimously to change the zone of the property of Faustino DePrimo, from Residence A. to Business, on the southerly side of Springfield St. at the easterly corner of William St. beginning at the easterly intersection of Springfield and William St., thence run- ning easterly along the southerly side of Springfield St. a distance of 131.84 ft. to land of one Mueller; thence southerly along land of said Mueller 160.60 ft .; thence westerly 100 ft. to William St .; thence northerly along
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the easterly line of William St. to Springfield St. to the point of beginning.
Article 23. Voted to pass over the article to change from Residence A. to Business the property of George A. Giroux on the easterly side of Poplar St.
Article 24. Voted unanimously to amend Sections B, G, K, I and L etc.
To amend Sections B, G, I, K, and L of the Manual of Building By-Laws.
To substitute for Section B in the Building By-Laws the following, being known as Section B, Permit Required:
Section B-PERMIT REQUIRED
No wall structure, building, or part thereof, shall hereafter be built, enlarged or altered, or excavation begun therefor, nor shall any building or structure be moved until an acceptable plan of the proposed work, to- gether with adequate specifications and plot plan of loca- tion, shall have been submitted to the Inspector of Build- ings, who shall, if in accordance with the provisions here- in contained, issue a permit for the proposed construction.
Plans, specifications and plot plans of location of any building erected, altered or repaired hereunder shall be filed with the Inspector of Buildings. The Inspector of Buildings may waive filing of plans and specifications for minor repairs. Plans, specifications and plot plans of lo- cations of any building, erected, altered or repaired here- under, shall be kept upon the premises and open to the inspection of the Inspector of Buildings at all reasonable times, and no person shall make any changes in such plans or plot plans of location, or in the structural parts of such buildings, alterations, or repairs, without the written consent of the Inspector of Buildings.
To substitute for Section G in place of Paragraph Seven (7) of said Section the following:
Section G-Walls
Paragraph 7-Masonry walls, other than concrete, less than twelve (12) inches thick shall be reinforced with buttresses not over ten (10) feet apart, up to grade height, which must be constructed on the inside of all walls which are eight (8) inches thick on a substantial footing equal to the footing of the main wall.
And to amend Paragraph One (1) of Section I by adding after the words "the following sizes", the words
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"9 feet timber not less than 2 inches by 6 inches, not over 12 inches on centers".
And to amend Section K by substituting for Section K the following section :
Section K-Fire Stops
At each floor level, in all buildings hereafter erected, all stud walls, partitions, furrings, and spaces between joists where they rest on division walls or partitions shall be fire-stopped with brick or cement in a manner to com- pletely cut off communication by fire through concealed spaces.
Such fire stopping shall extend at least four (4) inches above each floor level excepting that on the first and second floors, box sill construction with a two inch wood shoe fastened to the sub-floor may be substituted for the brick and cement which is to be used in other part of the building as hereafter mentioned.
(a) All main carrying partitions must be fire stopped with cement or brick; or two (2) inch solid block fire stop may be approved by the building inspector.
(b) Wherever water pipes, steam pipes, air pipes, vent pipes, sewer pipes or BX cable pass through a par- tition, the point at which such pipes or cables pass through the partition shall be imbedded in concrete in the partition.
(c) All hot air ducts where they finish must be capped with two inches of concrete.
(d) All stairs must be fire stopped with two (2) inches of wood between each studding carrying the side runs; also one riser at the center of each stair.
And to amend Section L by substituting after the words "studding or furring", in lieu of the remainder of said Section L, the following :
Section L-Chimneys and Fireplaces
Commencing after Paragraph Four (4): In every tenement house each apartment in which cooking is done shall have a chimney smoke flue. All chimney flues shall conform to the following requirements :
(a) For one (1) stove connection and for each apart- ment in which cooking is done, the flue area shall be not less than 8 inches by 8 inches and of terra cotta tile. For one furnace or boiler connection the area of the flue shall be not less than 8 inches by 12 inches and of terra cotta tile.
(b) For two furnaces or two boiler connection the
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area of the flue shall not be less than 12 inches by 12 inches of terra cotta tile.
(c) Gas stoves, gas ranges, gas water heaters, gas logs or similar devices shall connect with a chimney flue. But this shall not apply to small, or portable heaters. In no case shall such flue have an area of less than 8 inches by 8 inches and with a terra cotta tile.
(d) Every fireplace shall have a separate flue. The area of such flue shall be equal to at least a 9 inch by 13 inch flue.
(e) All furnaces shall be connected to a chimney having a flue area of not less than 9 inches by 13 inches with a terra cotta file from a clean outside to the high point of the chimney and shall be separate from cooking ranges.
Boston, Massachusetts, July 1, 1947
The foregoing amendments to building by-laws are hereby approved.
CLARENCE BARNES, Attorney General
Article 25. Voted to appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 from Excess and Deficiency to be used to complete direct radio connections between Police Station and the cruisers.
Article 26. To see if the voters will instruct the mod- erator to appoint a committee of five to consider the ad- visability of holding Town elections every two years, said committee to report not later than the next annual Town Meeting.
Voted to pass over.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to abolish the office of Fire Commissioner, and elect a Board of three men, one from each Precinct, to be known as a Board of Public Safety. The duties of this board will be to have full charge of the Police and Fire Department.
Voted to pass over.
Article 28. To see if the voters will vote that no elected officer of Agawam shall be eligible to an ap- pointed office that pays a salary of more than $50.00 per year.
Voted to pass over.
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Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to have all salaries paid by the Town individually recorded in the Town Report.
Voted to pass over.
ยท Article 30. Voted to adjourn.
BRANDON N. LETELLIER, Town Clerk
Special Town Meeting
NOVEMBER 5, 1947
A special town meeting was held on this date, the meeting called to order by the Moderator George W. Porter, a quorum declared present and the warrant read by the Town Clerk, and under
Article 1. The following committee was appointed to check into the status of the race track property relative to the proposals of purchase and/or tenancy; the repairs required; the cost of maintenance ; insurance responsibili- ties and the possibilities of utilization by the Town, etc., and to report at the Annual Town Meeting 1948.
Joseph P. McMahon, Chairman
Edw. W. Talmadge
Ralph D. Walker
Charles W. Hull
Alvin R. Kellogg, Jr.
Andrew Chriscolo Paul B. Johnson
Jerrie Cavanaugh
Herbert Williams
Vincent Mercadante Leo F. Risley
Article 2. VOTED that the Board of Selectmen be and the same is hereby authorized in the name and be- half of the Town of Agawam, upon an appropriation of eleven thousand six hundred eighty-seven dollars ($11,- 687), or such amount as the Town may determine for
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the purpose by a two-thirds vote of the Town, to pur- chase or take by eminent domain under the authority of Section 14 of Chapter 40 and of Chapter 79 of the Gen- eral Laws (Tercentenary Edition), and of all acts in amendment thereof, and of all power and authority the Board of Selectmen thereto enabling, the following de- scribed parcels of land within the limits of the Town of Agawam, together with all rights therein, both legal and equitable, including all easements, privileges, appur- tenances, restrictions, conditions, and all estates and rights of reverter, for schoolhouse purposes ; said parcels being described as follows :-
Parcel A. A certain parcel of land, supposed to belong to Jenevieve Hill, located in said Agawam, more particu- larly bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at a point in the Easterly line of South Westfield Street at the Southwesterly corner of property of Charles H. Wood and Edythe F. Wood and running Easterly, two hundred twenty-one (221) feet, more or less, along property of said Wood to a point; thence Northerly eighty-five (85) feet, more or less, along said Wood to property of the Town of Agawam; thence Easterly five hundred forty (540) feet, more or less, along property of the Town of Agawam, one Trevallion, and one Kellogg to a point ; thence thirty-five (35) feet, more or less, along the old Railroad to the Northerly line of property of one Barry; thence Westerly seventy-two (72) feet, more or less, along said Barry to a point; thence Southerly three hundred eighteen (318) feet, more or less, along said Barry to the old Railroad property ; thence Southerly two hundred forty (240) feet, more or less, along the old Rail- road to the Northerly line of one Hannum; thence West- erly six (6) feet, more or less, to the Southeasterly cor- ner of property of one Dymersky ; thence Northerly along said Dymersky, one hundred sixty-two (162) feet, more or less, to a point; thence Westerly three hundred (300) feet along said Dymersky to a point; thence Northerly along Jenevieve E. Hill, two hundred thirty-nine (239) feet, more or less, to a point; thence Westerly along said Hill, three hundred ten (310) feet, more or less, to the Easterly line of South Westfield Street; thence Northerly along the Easterly line of South Westfield Street to the point of beginning.
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