USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1946-1950 > Part 16
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Water consumed by the Town, both domestic and industrial, amounted to over 186 million gallons. Each year this consumption increases and the efforts of the Department are primarily concerned with maintaining service and operations which will result in complete sat- isfaction to the Taxpayers.
When the original water system in Agawam was laid out, provision was not made to take care of a town such as we have today. Water mains of inadequate size, lack of gate valves, numerous dead ends, etc., require a defi- nite and co-ordinated plan by this Department to gradu- ally correct these deficiencies and make our system an efficient and up to date one. New construction work dur- ing the past year has been carried out with the intent of providing first, the most important projects to secure better water service and fire protection. If this work is interrupted or postponed, it will only serve to compound the difficulties now being encountered, and we trust that our efforts to continue this work will be encouraged.
During 1947 an 8 inch main was laid from North Westfield Street to the end of the old main of North West Street, a distance of 2,300 feet. This installation tied in two dead end lines and provided a two-way feed of water to the Feeding Hills area. This is the third im- portant tie-in installation, succeeding that done on Shoe- maker Lane and Suffield Street to provide two-way water
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supply for the areas involved. Other installations made, included water main extensions on Rowley Street, Wil- liams Street, Monroe Street and Kensington Street. In addition, installations by private developers amounted to almost 6,000 feet of water mains, and the subsequent service connections from these projects gave us 69 new customers in addition to the 122 new services installed by the Department, or a total of 191 new water customers.
Revenue produced by the Water Department in 1947 reached an all time high of $46,452. Of this sum, service work by the Department including new entrances, clean- ing or replacing existing entrances and other types of work amounting to $13,018, an increase of 40 per cent over 1946. With ever increasing costs for operations, we feel that the personnel of the Department have done an outstanding job in this respect.
For the year 1948, we have requested funds to carry out new construction work which we consider to be the most important at this time. The objectives to be accom- plished are: the eliminating of several dead ends, which have been a constant source of trouble; and the continu- ing of our policy of providing two-way feeds to those parts of the Town that secure water through Agawam Center. We ultimately hope to have the water main on Shoemaker Lane tied in from both ends, which will pro- vide a second feed line to the southwest and south end of Town. We hope to do part of this in the coming year.
Connecting Springfield Street and Suffield Street through Rowley Street, also provide a double feed for that area, eliminating the need for prolonged shut-offs and lack of fire protection when trouble occurs in Aga- wam Center.
As residential development increases, each year the matter of fire protection becomes more important, and every effort made to provide our system with the proper facilities to combat this hazard represents money well spent. Tieing in our dead ends, and cross connecting our larger mains is the only solution to this problem, unless entire new transmission mains of greater capacity are considered for the near future.
During the war years, the physical equipment of the Department, already in need of replacement, was nursed along as best as possible. Our principle need at this mo- ment in the automotive line is a large truck, capable of
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hauling all of the necessary materials and equipment that are required on service or emergency work. Our present facilities are not only inefficient but uneconomical as well, since they cannot be depended upon. ,
We list below for your inspection a survey of our operations for the past year :
NEW CONSTRUCTION Street Size of Main
Distance
Rowley St. 8"
1,200'
Monroe St. 6"
1,400'
North West St. 8"
2,200'
Williams St.
6"
Tie in from Springfield St.
Kensington St. 6"
300'
NEW MAINS LAID BY DEVELOPERS AT NO COST TO THE TOWN:
No. and So. Alhambra Circle
6"
1,800'
Pond
6"
1,400'
Moreno
6"
2,100'
Ramah
6"
350'
NUMBER OF NEW ENTRANCES-122
HYDRANT REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS-6 Re- placements ; 14 Repaired
REPAIRS TO BROKEN MAINS AND LINES 68 Services
2 Frozen Lines
3 Main Gates Repaired
2 New Hydrants Installed on Royal and Randall Streets Paid to the city of Springfield for water
$14,771.89
Water Commitments
$33,433.50 1
Received from Water Rents $31,099.96 1
Accounts Receivable Revenue $7,603.75 1
Water connections revenue $5,415.00 1
Respectfully submitted,
DUDLEY K. BODURTHA, Chairman LOUIS MERCADANTE, Superintendent EDWARD G. CONNOR, Clerk Board of Water Commissioners
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND BOARD OF HEALTH
The Town suffered a great loss in the year 1947 in the sudden death of Ralph D. Walker who was just fin- ishing his first year of a three year term on the Board of Selectmen and Board of Health. Mr. Walker was an honest, hard working and conscientious official, and is greatly missed by his associates.
Agawam is growing fast as you will notice in the reports of your Building and Plumbing Inspectors. With this rapid growth there arise many problems such as roads, sewers, street lights, and many other conveniences demanded by residents.
The past year sewers were constructed on Spring- field St. and Mill St. toward Feeding Hills Center, also on Cleveland St., Pierce and Moreland, one-half mile on Main St., and a piece from O'Brien's Corner easterly on Springfield St. to the top of the hill. We strongly rec- ommend that sewer work be continued this year.
In 1947 Pine St. was finished under Chapter 90 work, and the State proposes to finish Suffield St. this year from the corner of South St. to the State Line under the same agreement-that is, 50 per cent of the cost is borne by the State, 25 per cent by the County, and 25 per cent by the Town. Twelve Thousand Dollars has already been allocated by the State, Six Thousand by the County, and we are recommending that the Town appropriate Six Thousand Dollars so that Suffield St. will be completed to the State Line. There is an over- lay of Six Thousand Dollars State money, Three Thou- sand Dollars of County Funds, and Three Thousand Dol- lars appropriated last year by the Town, making a total of Thirty-Six Thousand Dollars available this year, which is estimated will complete the job.
The Mass. State Highway Commissioners have in- formed us that they will build Route 57, that is, Spring-
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field St., on a Chapter 90 plan. Chapter 90 work means that the State pays 50 per cent of the cost, the County 25 per cent, and the Town 25 per cent. This seems to be the best deal that we can obtain, as the State refuses to accept Route 57 as a State Highway. Due to the heavy travel on this road, and the dangerous condition of the Agawam Hill, we feel that the Town should accept this plan. However this cannot be done this year as the State insists that roads such as Pine St. and Suffield St. be completed before new projects are started.
We purchased one new truck last year for the High- way Dept. If we had not had this new truck for the snow removal we would have been unable to do as well as we have on account of the heavy snow. Our other trucks are all pre-war, worn out, and will not do the work which has been necessary this winter. If the roads are not plowed out very soon after a storm, the people living on these streets feel that they are being discriminated against. We are recommending one new truck this year.
The Selectmen have been approached by the West- ern Mass. Electric Light Officials in regard to our Street Lighting System, which is considered by them to be obsolete. They propose, for a small additional cost to change over and modernize the system, giving better lighting facilities, and also all night lighting, which parts of the Town do not have at present.
The Board of Selectmen are apprehensive in regard to the increases in all Department Budgets, and strongly urge the need of economy, and cutting appropriations wherever possible. After all, the Selectmen spend only what the people appropriate in Town Meeting, and if your tax bill is too high, it is because you appropriate too much money.
In closing, the Board would say that their regular meeting is held on Friday evening, and wishes any per- son to feel free to come in with his or her problems. We will be glad to discuss matters and be of any assist- ance possible.
GILES W. HALLADAY EDWARD W. TALMADGE Selectmen of Agawam.
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State Auditor's Report
March 26, 1947
To the Board of Selectmen
Mr. Giles W. Halladay, Chairman Agawam, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the town clerk and town treasurer of the town of Agawam for the period from August 25, 1946 to February 15, 1947, made in accordance with the provis- ions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Herman B. Dine, Assistant Director of Accounts.
Very truly yours,
FXL:CFB
FRANCIS X. LANG Director of Accounts
Mr. Francis X. Lang
Director of Accounts
Department of Corporations and Taxation
State House, Boston
Sir:
In accordance with your instructions, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the town clerk and town treasurer of the town of Agawam for the period from August 25, 1946, the date of the previous audit, to February 15, 1947, and submit the following report thereon :
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked in detail. The receipts, as record- ed, were analyzed and checked with the records of the town departments making payments to the treasurer, and with the other sources from which money was paid into the town treasury. The expenditures were compared with the treasury warrants approved by the board of select- men, and the cash balances on February 15, 1947 were
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proved by reconciliation of the bank balances with state- ments received from the banks of deposit and by actual count of the cash in the office.
The payments on account of debt and interest were proved by comparison with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled securities on file.
The securities, including savings bank books, repre- senting the investments of the trust funds in custody of the treasurer were examined and listed, the income being proved and the payments being verified.
The records of tax titles held by the town were ex- amined. The tax title register was analyzed and checked with the collector's and treasurer's accounts and with the records at the Registry of Deeds.
The tax titles foreclosed as shown by the records at the Registry of Deeds were listed, the treasurer's record of tax possession sales was checked, and the tax posses- sions on hand were listed and proved with the bookkeep- er's ledger.
The financial transactions of the town clerk were examined. The receipts for dog and sporting licenses were checked with the record of licenses issued, the payments to the State and the town treasurer being verified and the cash on hand on February 15, 1947 being proved by actual count.
The surety bonds of the town clerk and town treasur- er were examined and found to be in proper form.
Appended to this report are tables showing a recon- ciliation of the treasurer's cash, as well as summaries of the financial transactions of the town clerk and of the tax title and tax possession accounts.
For the cooperation received from all town officials during the progress of the audit, I wish, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, to express appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
HBD:CFB
HERMAN B. DINE Assistant Director of Accounts
126
RECONCILIATION OF TREASURER'S CASH
Balance August 25, 1946, per
previous audit $130,018.51
Receipts August 25 to December 31, 1946 366,799.34
$496,817.85
Payments August 25 to Decem- ber 31, 1946
$307,127.27
Balance December 31, 1946 189,690.58
$496,817.85
Balance January 1, 1947
$189,690.58
Receipts January 1 to February 15, 1947 33,033.27
$222,723.85
Payments January 1 to February 15, 1947
$ 75,961.39
Balance February 15, 1947 :
Springfield
National Bank
$125,509.56
Union Trust
Company 9,213.83
West Springfield
Trust Company .. 11,057.40
Cash in office,
verified
981.67
146,762.46
$222,723.85
Springfield National Bank
Balance February 15, 1947, per statement $132,437.70
Balance February 15, 1947,
per check register $125,509.56
Outstanding checks February
15, 1947, per list 6,928.14
$132,437.70
Union Trust Company Balance February 15, 1947,
per statement $ 10,765.50
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Balance February 15, 1947, per check register $ 9,213.83
Outstanding checks February 15, 1947, per list 1,511.67
$ 10,765.50
West Springfield Trust Company
Balance February 15, 1947, per statement
$ 12,727.31
Balance February 15, 1947,
per check register $ 11,057.40
Outstanding checks February
15, 1947, per list 1,669.91
$ 12,727.31
TAX TITLES
Balance August 25, 1946, per pre- vious audit $1,648.73
Transfers to tax titles August 25 to December 31, 1946:
Taxes :
Levy of 1945 $ 12.00
Levy of 1946 306.52
Interest and costs 31.23
349.75
Redemption in excess of tax title value refunded August 25 to De- cember 31, 1946 100.00
$2,098.48
Tax titles redeemed August 25 to De- cember 31, 1946 $ 40.10
Balance December 31, 1946 2,058.38
$2,098.48
Balance January 1, 1947
$2,058.38 3
Tax titles redeemed January 1 to
February 15, 1947 $ 4.80
Audit adjustment :- Tax titles foreclosed August 25
to December 31, 1946, not re- ported 57.04
Balance February 15, 1947, per list 1,996.54
$2,058.38
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TAX POSSESSIONS
Balance August 25, 1946, per previous audit $100,810.92
Sales in excess of tax possession values August 25 to December 31, 1946 576.29
$101,387.21
Payments to treasurer August 25 to December 31, 1946 $ 1,322.50
Tax possession value in excess of sales August 25 to December 31, 1946 160.14
Balance December 31, 1946 99,904.57
$101,387.21
Balance January 1, 1947 Audit adjustment :-
$ 99,904.57
Tax titles foreclosed August 25 to December 31, 1946, not reported 57.04
Sales in excess of tax possession values January 1 to February 15, 1947 50.75
$100,012.36
Payments to treasurer January 1 to February 15, 1947 $ 150.00
Tax possession values in excess of sales January 1 to February 15, 1947 142.22
Balance February 15, 1947, per list
99,720.14
$100,012.36
TOWN CLERK Dog Licenses Henry E. Bodurtha, Town Clerk
Cash balance August 25, 1946 : Due town $214.80
Clerk's fees 18.20
$233.00
Licenses issued August 25 to December 31, 1946: Males, 21 @ $2.00 $ 42.00 Females, 1 @ $5.00 5.00
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Spayed females, 3 @ $2.00 6.00
53.00
$286.00
Payments to treasurer August 25 to December 31, 1946 $262.80 Fees retained August 25 to De- cember 31, 1946, 116 @ $.20 23.20
$286.00
TOWN CLERK Sporting Licenses Henry E. Bodurtha, Town Clerk
Cash balance August 25, 1946,
per previous audit : Due Division of Fisheries and Game $ 44.50
Clerk's fees 5.50
$50.00
Licenses issued
August 25 to December 31, 1946: Resident citizen fishing, 7 522.00
@ $2.00
Resident citizen hunting, 14.00
261 @ $2.00
Resident citizen sporting,
14 @ $3.25 45.50
Resident citizen minor and
female fishing, 1 @ $1.25 1.25
Resident citizen minor
trapping, 1 @ $2.25 2.25
Resident citizen trapping, 9 @ $5.25 47.25
Special non-resident citizen fishing, 1 @ $1.50 1.50
Non-resident citizen fish- ing, 2 @ $5.25 10.50
Non-resident citizen hunt-
ing, 18 @ $10.25 184.50
Duplicates, 8 @ $.50 4.00
832.75
$882.75
Payments to Division of Fish- eries and Game August 25 to December 31, 1946 $798.75
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Fees retained August 25 to De- cember 31, 1946, 336 @ $.25 84.00
$882.75
Licenses issued
January 1 to February 15, 1947:
Resident citizen fishing, 45 @ $2.00
$ 90.00
Resident citizen hunting, 29 @ $2.00
58.00
Resident citizen sporting, 197 @ $3.25
640.25
Resident citizen minor and
female fishing, 10 $1.25 @
12.50
Resident citizen trapping, 1 @ $5.25
5.25
Non-resident citizen fish- ing, 2 @ $5.25 10.50
Non-resident citizen hunt- ing, 4 @ $10.25 41.00
$857.50
Payments to Division of Fish- eries and Game January 1 to February 15, 1947
$725.00
Fees retained January 1 to Feb- 15, 1947, 263 @ $.25
65.75
Cash on hand February 15, 1947, verified :
Due Division of Fisheries and Game $ 60.50
Clerk's fees
6.25 66.75
$857.50
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WHITING STREET WORTHY POOR FUND
Savings
Cash
Deposits
Securities Par Value
Total
On hand August 25, 1946
$1,459.67
$2,195.00 $3,400.00
$7,054.67
On hand at end of year 1946
$1,545.17
$2,195.00 $3,400.00
$7,140.17
On hand February 15, 1947
$1,492.77
$2,195.00 $3,400.00 $7,087.77
Receipts
Payments
August 25 to December 31, 1946
Income
$ 90.00
Aid rendered
$ 40.00
Aid rendered refunded
35.50
Cash on hand December 31, 1946
1,545.17
Cash on hand August 25, 1946
1,459.67
$1,585.17
$1,585.17
January 1 to February 15, 1947
Income
$ 48.95
Aid rendered $ 100.00
Administration expense
1.35
Cash on hand February 15, 1947, verified :- Union Trust Com- pany, Springfield
1,492.77
$1,594.12
$1,594.12
-
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Cash on hand January 1, 1947 .. 1,545.17
DESIRE A. PYNE CHARITY FUND
Savings
Cash
Deposits
Total
$365.46
$2,007.50
$2,372.96
$380.51
$2,000.00
$2,380.51
On hand February 15, 1947
$319.51
$2,000.00
$2,319.51
Receipts
Payments
August 25 to December 31, 1946
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Income Cash on hand August 25, 1946 365.46
7.55
Cash on hand December 31, 1946 $380.51
$380.51
$380.51
January 1 to February 15, 1947
Income
$ 10.00 Cash on hand, January 1, 1947 380.51
Aid rendered $ 71.00 Cash on hand February 15, 1947, verified :- Union Trust Com-
pany, Springfield 319.51
$390.51
$390.51
On hand August 25, 1946 On hand at end of year 1946
Withdrawn from savings banks $ 7.50
MARY A. PHELON SCHOOL FUND
Savings
Securities
Cash
Deposits
Par Value
Total
On hand August 25, 1946
$455.90
$2,734.56
$1,500.00
$4,690.46
On hand at end of year 1946
$1,627.75
$2,725.93 $500.00
$4,853.68
On hand February 15, 1947
$610.72 $2,725.93
$1,500.00
$4,836.65
Receipts
Payments
August 25 to December 31, 1946
Sale of securities
$1,000.00
Withdrawn from savings banks
8.63
Premium on sale of securities
100.00
Income Cash on hand August 25, 1946
63.69
455.90
$1,628.22
$1,628.22
January 1 to February 15, 1947
Income
$ 15.75
Purchase of securities
$1,000.00
Cash on hand January 1, 1947
1,627.75
Premium on securities pur- chased 25.00
Accrued interest on securities purchased 2.78 Administration expense 5.00
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Administration expense $ .47 Cash on hand December 31, 1946 1,627.75
Cash on hand February 15, 1947, verified 610.72
$1,643.50
$1,643.50
MARY A. PHELON LIBRARY FUND
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On hand August 25, 1946 On hand at end of year 1946 On hand February 15, 1947
Savings Deposits
Total
$500.00
$500.00
$500.00
$500.00
$500.00
$500.00
Payments
Receipts
August 25 to December 31, 1946 No transactions recorded
January 1 to February 15, 1947
Income $5.00 Transfer to town $5.00
OLD CEMETERY FUND
Saving's Deposits Total
On hand August 25, 1946
$ 700.00 $ 700.00
On hand at end of year 1946
700.00
700.00
On hand February 15, 1947
700.00 700.00
Receipts
Payments
August 25 to December 31, 1946 No transactions recorded
Income
January 1 to February 15, 1947
$7.00 Transfer to town
$7.00
MAPLE GROVE CEMETERY FUND
Savings Deposits Total
On hand August 25, 1946
$1,405.79
$1,405.79
On hand at end of year 1946
$1,405.79 $1,405.79
On hand February 15, 1947
$1,405.79
$1,405.79
Receipts Payments
August 25 to December 31, 1946 No transactions recorded
Income
January 1 to February 15, 1947
$14.05 Transfer to town
$14.05
POST-WAR REHABILITATION FUND
Cash
Securities Par Value
Total
On hand August, 25, 1946
$150,000.00
$150,000.00
On hand at end of year 1946
$20.00
$151,600.00
$151,620.00
On hand February 15, 1947
20.00
$151,600.00
$151,620.00
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Receipts
Payments
August 25, 1946 to February 15, 1947
Purchase of
Sale of securities $50,000.00 Income 1,620.00 securities $51,600.00 Cash Dec. 31, 1946, and Feb. 15, 1947, verified 20.00
$51,620.00
$51,620.00
137
State Auditor's Report
November 19, 1947
To the Board of Selectmen Mr. Giles W. Halladay, Chairman Agawam, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the clerk and treasurer of the town of Agawam for the period from February 16, 1947, to August 2, 1947, and of all other departments for the period from August 25, 1946, to August 2, 1947, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, Gen- eral Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Herman B. Dine, Assistant Director of Accounts.
Very truly yours,
FXL:GPT
FRANCIS X. LANG Director of Accounts
Mr. Francis X. Lang
Director of Accounts
Department of Corporations and Taxation
State House, Boston
Sir :
In accordance with your instructions, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the town clerk and town treasurer of the town of Agawam for the period from February 16, 1947, and of all other departments for the period from August 25, 1946, the dates of the pre- vious examinations, to August 2, 1947, and submit the following report thereon :
The financial transactions, as recorded on the books of the several departments collecting or disbursing money for the town or committing bills for collection, were examined, checked, and verified.
The books and accounts of the bookkeeping de- partment were examined. The recorded receipts were
138
checked with the treasurer's record of receipts, while the recorded payments were compared with the approved treasury warrants. The ledger was analyzed; the appro- riation ledger accounts were checked with the appropri- ations and transfers voted by the town; as listed from the town clerk's record of town meetings; the ledger record of departmental accounts receivable was compared with the records of the departments committing the charges and with the treasurer's record of collections; and a balance sheet, which is appended to this report, was prepared showing the financial condition of the town on August 2, 1947.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked in detail. The receipts, as recorded, were analyzed and checked with the records of the de- partments making payments to the town treasurer and with the other sources from which money was paid into the town treasury. The payments were compared with the treasury warrants approved by the board of select- men and with the bookkeeper's records. The bank bal- ances as of August 2, 1947 were reconciled with state- ments received from the banks of deposit, and the cash in the office was proved by actual count.
The reconciliation of the treasurer's cash balance showed that the amount of cash in the banks and in the office was $137.90 less than the total required to balance his accounts. Of this amount $91.43 is accounted for by payments by the treasurer in excess of the amounts ap- proved for disbursement.
The payments on account of debt and interest were proved by comparison with the amount of debt matured and with the cancelled securities on file.
The securities, including savings bank books, repre- senting the investment of the trust and investment funds in the custody of the town treasurer were examined and listed, the income being proved and the payments to the town being verified.
The books and accounts of the tax collector were ex- amined and checked. The commitment lists of taxes and assessments were added and proved with the warrants given by the board of assessors for their collection. The recorded collections were compared with the payments to the treasurer, the recorded abatements were checked with the assessors' record of abatements granted, the
139
outstanding accounts were listed and proved with the bookkeeper's ledger, and the cash balance on August 2, 1947 was proved by actual count of the cash in the office.
The tax title register was analyzed and checked with the tax collector's and town treasurer's accounts and with the records at the Registry of Deeds.
The financial transactions of the town clerk were examined. The receipts for dog and sporting licenses were checked with the record of licenses issued, the pay- ments to the Division of Fisheries and Game and to the town treasurer were verified, and the cash on hand was proved by actual count.
The surety bonds filed with the town by the town clerk, town treasurer, tax collector, water collector, and the clerks employed in the offices of the tax collector and treasurer were examined and found to be in proper form.
The recorded receipts for licenses issued by the board of selectmen were checked with the records of li- censes granted, and the payments to the treasurer were verified.
The charges for the rental of town-owned property were listed, the payments to the treasurer were verified, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved.
The receipts for revolver permits issued by the chief of police were checked with the record of permits issued, the payments to the treasurer were verified, and the cash on hand on August 2, 1947 was proved by actual count.
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