USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1904-1906 > Part 8
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Voted : - On motion of Frank W. Hodgdon,
That the sum of fifty ($50) dollars be appropriated for State Aid the current year in addition to the sum appropriated at the
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TOWN RECORDS.
March meeting, this appropriation to be paid from the overlay- ings of the tax of 1904.
Article 23 taken up.
" To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of twenty-five hundred ($2,500) dollars for the abatement of taxes."
Voted : - On motion of Frank W. Hodgdon,
That the sum of twenty-five hundred ($2,500) dollars be appropriated for the abatement of taxes the current year in addition to the amount appropriated at the March meeting.
Voted : - Unanimously, on motion of Frank W. Hodgdon,
That for the purpose of raising the sums appropriated at the Town meeting held November Sth, and the adjournments thereof, and not otherwise provided for, notes of the Town be issued, said notes to bear interest and be payable within one year from date and in no case later than December 1, 1905. Said notes shall be issued from time to time for such sums as the Treasurer shall deem best, but shall not exceed in the aggregate eleven thousand two hundred and fifty ($11,250) dollars and shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Selectmen.
Voted : - At fifty minutes after eight o'clock that this meet- ing adjourn.
Meeting dissolved.
A true record,
Attest : THOMAS J. ROBINSON,
Town Clerk.
·
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TOWN RECORDS.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING DECEMBER 28, 1904.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. MIDDLESEX SS.
To Alonzo S. Harriman, a Constable of the Town of Arlington, is said County. Greeting : -
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, to assemble in the Town Hall, on Wednesday, the twenty-eighth day of December, current, at 7.30 o'clock, P.M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz : -
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meet- ing.
ART. 2. To hear and act on the reports of Committees heretofore appointed.
ART. 3. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the removal of the cupola on Town Hall Building and make such repairs as may become necessary by reason of its removal, as recommended by the Selectmen, or take any action thereon.
ART. 4. To see what action the Town will take to rescind a certain vote passed at a Town Meeting held Monday, Novem- bor 28, 1904, to wit :
" Voted : - That the Town set apart a reasonable portion of Mount Pleasant Cemetery for the exclusive use of such Roman Catholic residents of the Town as may purchase lots therein ; and that a committee of five, to be appointed by the Moderator of this meeting, shall, with the Trustees of the Cemetery, carry out the intention of this vote."
To annul or render nutgatory the effect of the proceedings if any, which may have been taken by the Committee appointed to carry out the intention of such vote; and to revoke the powers conferred upon such committee and discharge said com- mittee.
Inserted by J. Prescott Gage and others.
ART. 5. To see what action the Town will take regarding the passage of a By-Law to the following effect, viz : -
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TOWN RECORDS.
No citizen nor citizens of the Town of Arlington shall be denied the privilege of burial in any portion of any Cemetery owned by the Town of Arlington nor be discriminated against in any manner with respect to the use of any such Cemetery because not a member or members of a particular society or association, lay or ecclesiastical, incorporated or unincorporated.
Inserted at request of J. Prescott Gage and others.
ART. 6. To see what action the Town will take regarding the passage of a By-Law to the following effect, viz : -
Neither the By-Law contained in Article 5 nor the By-Law hereby enacted shall be repealed except by the vote of two- thirds of the citizens present and voting at a Town Meeting duly called for the purpose of repealing said By-Law.
Inserted at request of J. Prescott Gage and others.
ART. 7. To see if the Town will authorize the expenditure by the Gypsy Moth Committee of a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) of the appropriation of six thousand dollars ($6,000) voted at the last Town Meeting for the sup- pression of the Gypsy and Brown-Tail Moths, on the trees situated on private lands, overhanging the highways and parks, through the Tree Warden.
Inserted at request of Gypsy Moth Committee.
ART. 8. To see if the Town will approve the expenditure by the Tree Warden, under the direction of the Gypsy Moth Committee, of five hundred dollars ($500) out of the six thousand dollars ($6,000) appropriated at the last Town Meet- ing, for prizes for the collection of Brown-Tail moth nests and Gypsy and Brown-Tail caterpillars within the limits of the Town and upon public and private land.
Inserted at request of Gypsy Moth Committee.
ART. 9. To see if the Town will authorize the Town Treas- urer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money for any necessary purpose, in anticipation of the collection of taxes for the year 1905, the same to be repaid directly from the proceeds of said taxes.
Inserted at request of Town Treasurer.
ART. 10. To see if the Town will make an additional appro- priation for the Health Department.
Inserted at request of the Board of Health.
1
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TOWN RECORDS.
ART. 11. To see if the Town will make an additional appro- priation for Street Watering, to cover overdrafts.
Inserted at request of the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
ART. 12. To see if the Town will make an additional ap- propriation to cover the overdrafts of the Highway Division.
Inserted at request of the Board of Public Works.
ART. 13. To see if the Town will allow the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, if necessary, to expend sums of money equivalent to the assessments for work done on sidewalks, said sums to be obtained by issuing notes against such assessments.
.
Inserted at request of the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
ART. 14. To see if the Town will make an appropriation to cover the overdrafts of the Sidewalk Appropriation.
Inserted at request of the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
ART. 15. To see if the Town will allow the Board of Public Works, if necessary, to expend sums of money equivalent to the uncollected credits for work done by the Highway and Sewer Divisions during the fiscal year, said sums to be obtained by issuing notes against such credits.
Inserted at request of Board of Public Works.
ART. 16. To appropriate and raise, by borrowing or other- wise, such sums as may be necessary for all or any of the pur- poses mentioned in the foregoing articles.
Hereof, fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Selectmen, on or before said day ' and hour of meeting.
Given under our hands at said Arlington, this nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hun- dred and four.
WARREN W. RAWSON, GEORGE I. DOE, JAMES A. BAILEY, JR.
A true copy,
Selectmen of the Town of Arlington. Attest : ALONZO S. HARRIMAN, Constable of Arlington.
A true record, Attest : THOMAS J. ROBINSON,
Town Clerk.
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TOWN RECORDS.
Middlesex, ss.
Arlington, Dec. 27, 1904.
By virtue of this warrant, I have served the within warrant by posting upon the doors of the Town Hall an attested copy of this warrant at least seven days before said meeting calling the same. Also notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington who are qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs to assemble in the Town Hall, on Wednesday, the twenty-eighth day of December current, at seven-thirty o'clock P M., by notices containing the substance of this warrant as provided by the Town By-Laws.
ALONZO S. HARRIMAN. Constable of Arlington.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING DECEMBER 28, 1904.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, the inhabitants of the Town of Arlingon, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, met in the Town Hall, in said Town, on Wednesday, the twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and four, and were called to order at thirty minutes after seven o'clock in the evening by the Town Clerk, who read the warrant calling the meeting and the return thereon of the constable who served the same upon the inhabitants.
By unanimous consent Article One, calling for the election of a Moderator to preside at the meeting, was taken up and Edgar Crosby and James J. Mahoney were appointed Tellers to receive, sort and count ballots for Moderator and were sworn to the faithful performance of their duties by the Town Clerk.
At forty minutes after seven o'clock the polls were declared open for the reception of votes for Moderator.
At forty-three minutes after seven o'clock the polls were declared closed. The ballots were sorted and counted by the.
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TOWN RECORDS.
Tellers and declaration made by the Town Clerk as follows : Whole number of ballots cast, six (6). Walter A. Robinson had six (6) and was declared elected Moderator and was sworn to the faithful performance of his duties by the Town Clerk.
On motion of Francis L. Maguire Article 2 was taken up.
ART. 2. " To hear and act on the reports of Committees heretofore appointed."
John H. Hardy, Chairman of the Committee appointed at a previous meeting to set apart a portion of Mount Pleasant Cemetery for the exclusive use of the Roman Catholics of the Town, submitted the report of said Committee, as follows : -
" That this Committee recommend the purchase or taking of land of Russell and Jones east of the present limits of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, containing about twelve (12) acres, a portion of which shall be set apart for the burial of Roman Catholic residents of the Town and that said portion shall be designated as the Catholic Section of the Cemetery.
In the event of the failure of the Town to appropriate a sum sufficient for such purchase or taking, then this Committee recommend the setting apart for said purpose plots designated "P," " T," " U," in the present Mt. Pleasant Cemetery."
On motion of Howard W. Spurr it was voted : -
That the report of the Committee be received and placed on file. (File No. 317.)
On motion of J. Prescott Gage Article 4 was taken up.
ART. 4 "To see what action the Town will take to rescind a certain vote passed at a Town meeting held Monday, Novem- ber 28, 1904, to wit :
Voted :- That the Town set apart a reasonable portion of Mount Pleasant Cemetery for the exclusive use of such Roman
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TOWN RECORDS.
Catholic residents of the Town as may purchase lots therein ; and that a Committee of Five, to be appointed by the Modera- tor of this meeting, shall, with the Trustees of the Cemetery, carry out the intention of this vote.
To annul or render nugatory the effect of the proceedings, if any, which may have been taken by the committee appointed to carry out the intention of such vote, and to revoke the powers conferred upon such committee and discharge said com- mittee."
The check list being called for the Moderator appointed as tellers, Edgar Crosby, James J. Mahoney, Franklin T. Ander- son, John A. Bishop, Charles H. Gannett and Charles B. Hurley, and they were sworn to the faithful performance of their duties by the Town Clerk.
Pending the announcement of the vote on Article 4, on motion of Peter Schwamb, it was voted : -
That when this meeting adjourns it adjourn to meet in the Town Hall, Tuesday evening, January 3, 1905, at thirty minutes after seven o'clock.
The tellers have completed the counting of ballots on the mo- tion offered by J. Prescott Gage under Article 4 of the Moder- ator announced the vote as follows : - Whole number of votes cast nine hundred and four (904), " Yes" had five hundred seventy-one (571), " No " had three hundred thirty-three (333) and it was voted : -
That the following vote of the Town passed at a Town Meet- ing held November 28, 1904, namely : - that the Town set apart a reasonable portion of Mount Pleasant Cemetery for the exclusive use of such Roman Catholic residents of the Town as may choose to purchase lots therein ; and that a Committee of Five to be appointed by the Moderator at this meeting, shall with the Trustees of the Cemetery, carry out the intention of this vote, - be, and same is, hereby rescinded, that the powers
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TOWN RECORDS.
conferred upon the committee appointed in pursuance of said vote be and the same hereby are revoked and said committee discharged.
On motion of John W. Bailey it was voted to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at fifty minutes after ten o'clock.
A true record,
Attest : THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.
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TOWN RECORDS.
ADJOURNED SPECIAL TOWN MEETING JANUARY 3, 1905.
Pursuant to adjournment the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, met in the Town Hall, in said Town, on Tuesday, the third day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and five and were called to order at thirty minutes after seven o'clock in the evening by the Moderator, Walter A. Robinson.
On motion of J. Prescott Gage Articles 5 and 6 were taken up.
ART. 5. " To see what action the Town will take regard- ing the passage of a By-Law to the following effect, viz : -
" No citizen nor citizens of the Town of Arlington shall be denied the privilege of burial in any portion of any cemetery owned by the Town of Arlington nor be discriminated against in any manner with respect to the use of any such Cemetery because not a member or members of a particular society or association, lay or ecclesiastical, incorporated or unincor- porated."
On motion of J. Prescott Gage it was voted : - (178 yes, 72 no. )
That the By-Laws of the Town of Arlington be amended by the adoption of the following article which shall be numbered Article 18 of said By-Laws : -
" Nó citizen nor citizens of the Town of Arlington shall be denied the privilege of burial in any portion of any Cemetery owned by the Town of Arlington, nor be discriminated against in any manner with respect to the use of any such Cemetery because not a member or members of a particular society or association, lay or ecclasiastical, incorporated or unincor- porated."
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TOWN RECORDS.
Voted : - On motion of J. Prescott Gage,
That the Town Counsel of Arlington be authorized and directed to present this By-Law to the Attorney General for his approval, and in the event of the approval of said By-Law to take the necessary steps to have said By-Law published three times in some newspaper published in the Town of Arling- ton, and to do such other acts and things with regard to the same as may be necessary and proper to give said By-Law full force and effect.
ART. 6. " To see what action the Town will take regarding the passage of a By-Law to the following effect, viz : -
Neither the By-Law contained in Article 5 nor the By-Law hereby enacted shall be repealed except by the vote of two- thirds of the citizens present and voting at a Town Meeting duly called for the purpose of repealing said By-Law."
Voted : - On motion of J. Prescott Gage,
That the consideration of Article 6 of the warrant be indefi- nitely postponed.
Article 10 taken up.
" To see if the Town will make an additional appropriation for the Health Department."
Voted : - On motion of Frank W. Hodgdon,
That three hundred and fifty ($350) dollars be appropriated for the maintenance of the Health Department during the year 1904, in addition to the sum appropriated at the last Annual Meeting.
Article 11 taken up.
" To see if the Town will make an additional appropriation for Street Watering to cover overdrafts."
-
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TOWN RECORDS.
Voted : - On motion of Frank W. Hodgdon,
That two hundred and seventy-five ($275) dollars be appro- priated for Street Watering during the year 1904, in addition to the amount appropriated at the last Annual Meeting ; eighty- one ($81) dollars of which sum shall be credited to the abut- ters and the balance one hundred ninety-four ($194) dollars to the Town.
Article 12 taken up.
" To see if the Town will make an additional appropriation to cover the overdraft of the Highway Division "
Voted : - On motion of Peter Schwamb, that the considera- tion of Article 12 be indefinitely postponed.
Articles 13 and 14 taken up.
ART. 13. " To see if the Town will allow the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, if necessary, to expend sums of money equivalent to the assessments for work done on sidewalks, said sums to be obtained by issuing notes against such assessments."
ART. 14. " To see if the Town will make an appropriation to cover the overdrafts of the sidewalk appropriation."
Voted :- By a two-thirds vote, on motion of Walter W. Rawson, that the Treasurer is hereby authorized during each fiscal year, to borrow money on the notes of the Town issued in due form under the By-Laws, in anticipation of uncollected sidewalk assessments made during that year, and that the pro- ceeds of such notes shall be immediately available for the con- struction of permanent sidewalks during that year. The assessments against which the notes have been issued shall not be available for any purpose except the payments of the notes.
Article 15 taken up.
" To see if the Town will allow the Board of Public Works, if necessary, to expend sums of money equivalent to the uncol-
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TOWN RECORDS.
lected credits for work done by the Highway and Sewer Divisions during the fiscal year, said sums to be obtained by issuing notes against such credits."
Voted :- On motion of Frank W. Hodgdon, that the con- sideration of Article 15 be indefinitely postponed.
Article 3 was taken up and on motion of Warren W. Rawson, the consideration of this Article was indefinitely postponed.
Article 7 taken up.
" To see if the Town will authorize the expenditure by the Gypsy Moth Committee of a sum not exceeding one thousand ($1,0(0) dollars of the appropriation of six thousand ($6,000) dollars voted at the last Town Meeting for the suppression of the Gypsy and Brown-Tail Moths, on the trees situated on pri- vate lands, overhanging the highways and parks, through the Tree Warden."
Voted : -- On motion of Peter Schwamb,
That the Town instruct the Gypsy Moth Committee through the Tree Warden to adopt all reasonable measures within the limits of the appropriation therefor, to prevent the spread and secure the extermination of the Brown-Tail Moth, the Gypsy Moth and other tree and shrub destroying pests, and to enter upon private lands for this purpose under the authority given by Chapter 57 of the Acts of 1892 and to instruct the Town Treasurer to pay all bills of the Tree Warden and Gypsy Moth Committee appointed by the Town, when properly approved by them in the usual way.
Article 9 taken up.
" To see if the Town will authorize the Town Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money for any necessary purpose, in anticipation of the collection of taxes for the year 1905, the same to be repaid directly from the pro- ceeds of said taxes."
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TOWN RECORDS.
Voted : - By a two-thirds vote, on motion of William A. Muller,
That for the purpose of procuring a temporary loan to and for the Town of Arlington, in anticipation of the taxes of the municipal year 1905, the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to borrow on and after January 1, 1905, from time to time, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, a sum or sums in the aggregate not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand ($150,000) dollars and to execute and deliver therefor the note or notes of the Town, payable within one year from the time the loan is made. Any debt or debts incurred by a loan or loans to the Town under this vote shall be paid from the taxes of said municipal year.
Article 8 was taken up and on motion of Peter Schwamb the consideration of said Article was indefinitely postponed.
Voted : - On motion of Edward H. H. Bartlett, that this meeting dissolve.
Meeting dissolved at nine o'clock.
A true record,
Attest : THOMAS J. ROBINSON,
Town Clerk.
جــ
· REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
The Board of Selectmen submit the following report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1904.
The Board met March 12, 1904, and organized as follows :
WARREN W. RAWSON, Chairman.
Standing Committees.
Warren W. Rawson : - Fire Department, Public Lands and Almshouse.
George I. Doe : - Police Department, Town House and Buildings.
James A. Bailey, Jr. : - State Aid, Outside Poor, and Street Lights.
Horace A. Freeman : - Clerk.
BOARD ACTION.
The policy of the Board is to have all important matters come before it for general discussion and approval before being carried out by any department. This enables each of the Selectmen to be familiar with what is expected of each depart- ment and later as to results ; and also to share in responsibility.
The appointment of standing committees is for purposes of more specific oversight, and for attention to detail not sufficiently important for Board action.
ALMSHOUSE.
During the year eight inmates have been cared for. Of these two were admitted, one transferred to Woburn and one has died.
-
.
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
130
At present (December 31), there are five males and one female cared for.
The present inmates are : -
Mary Scanlan, 48 years old, admitted May 10, 1892. Timothy Linehan, 68 years old, admitted Nov. 21, 1896. Winslow Sullivan, 76 years old, admitted Feb. 2, 1900. Patrick Maloney, 57 years old, admitted Sept. 18, 1902. Thomas Green, 75 years old, admitted June 23, 1904. James Farrell, 58 years old, admitted Oct. 29, 1904.
The number of tramps lodged and fed during the year is 215 which is 73 less than the year before.
Mr. and Mrs. John B. Tay have been in charge of the Alms- house.
DECISION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL .- A decision of the Attorney General given November 21, 1904, is to the effect that Section 21, Chapter 30, of the Revised Laws, applies also to the several classes committed to an almshouse.
This section is as follows : -
" Every person who has been committed to a workhouse shall, if able to work, be kept diligently employed in labor during the term of his commitment. If he is idle and does not perform such reasonable task as is assigned, or if he is stubborn and disorderly, he shall be punished according to the orders and regulations established by the directors."
The Overseers of the Poor believe such employment should be exacted as far as is possible. It would be better both for inmate and Town. Judgment, of course, would be needed as to the kind of employment required.
Material for fuel from trees cut down or trimmed, or from repairs of public buildings or otherwise obtained, could be
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
taken to the almshouse and there sawed and split by those inmates able to do such work, thus they could contribute some- thing towards their support. This fuel would partially supply families aided by the Town. Other suitable work might be furnished by the Superintendent of the Almshouse.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Appropriation by the Town
$1,750 00
Expenditures (gross )
.
$2,137 89
Less receipts :
For board $345 29
For reimburse- ments 28 14
For sale of produce 91 04
464 47
Net expenditures for the year 1,673 42
Balance unexpended
$76 58
ALMSHOUSE REPAIRS .- At the March Meeting $450 was ap- propriated for special repairs on the Almshouse property. This sum has been expended (with exception of a small bal- ance) in painting all the buildings (except the new shed) two coats outside, repairing sills and conductors on the dwelling house and repairing the stable. John C. Waage was awarded the contract for painting at $350.
The heating plant of the Almshouse appears to be unable to furnish requisite heat for all parts of the building. Either a new boiler should replace the one now in use or a smaller one added. In either case an appropriation will be needed.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
COMPARATIVE TABLE.
1903
1904
Superintendent
$360 00
$360 00
Help
217 00
208 00
Groceries and provisions
823 49
796 97
Dry goods and clothing
62 64
84 59
Fuel, wood and coal
271 80
179 34
Lighting
98 25
93 48
Medicine and medical attendance
9 10
8 95
Grain, feed and hay
9.1 35
234 63
Ice
28 85
27 35
Burials
25 00
23 00
Incidentals
132 07
111 58
Veterinary services .
10 00
$2,119 55
$2,137 89
Less reimbursements
386 34
464 47
Net cost .
$1,733 21
$1,673 42
Appropriation .
.
2,000 00
1,750 00
Balance unexpended
$266 79
$75 68
POOR OUTSIDE THE ALMSHOUSE.
The policy pursued by the Overseers of the Poor the past year has been similar to that of the years previous, the object being to intelligently discriminate as to the more, the less and the non-deserving and to render aid in the most helpful and effective manner.
Aid that creates pauperism by causing the beneficiary to be less able to help himself is not the most effective. Neither is pauperism diminished by rendering such aid as makes paupers the envy of outsiders.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
As a rule aid rendered by a Town is duly appreciated by the recipient. Occasionally, however, parties claim assistance as a right and receive it as if conferring a favor on the Town, while others impose on a Town by pretending proverty while in ample financial circumstances. This the Overseers of the Poor have to guard against.
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