USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1907-1908 > Part 5
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COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
Francis Bigelow, of Natick, had seven hundred forty-one (741) votes.
George A. DeLord, of Acton, had one hundred seventy-seven (177) votes.
Austin B. Rollins, of Cambridge, had twelve (12) votes.
George W. C. Smith, of Somerville, had seventy-six (76) votes.
Blanks, one hundred nine (109) ; ballots cast eleven hundred fifteen (1115).
ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONERS.
James H. Christie, of Newton, had one hundred one (101) votes.
George B. Glidden, of Waltham, had one hundred twenty-five (125) votes.
Matthew H. Quick, of Cambridge, had twenty-four (24) votes.
David T. Strange, of Stoneham, had six hundred fifty-four (654) votes.
Edward Everett Thompson, of Woburn, had five hundred sixty-six (566) votes. Charles A. Ward, of Stoneham, had seventeen (17) votes.
Blanks, seven hundred forty-three (743); ballots cast eleven hundred fifteen (1115).
DISTRICT-ATTORNEY, NORTHERN DISTRICT.
John J. Higgins, of Somerville, had eight hundred twenty-five (825) votes. John J. McClure, Jr., of Lowell, had one hundred ninety-three (193) votes. Blanks, ninety-seven (97); ballots cast eleven hundred fifteen (1115).
SHERIFF, MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
John R. Fairbairn, of Cambridge, had eight hundred and two (802) votes. Albion A. Weeks, of Cambridge, had thirty-four (34) votes.
George W. Wilkins, of Carlisle, had one hundred eighty-nine (189) votes. Blanks, ninety (90) ; ballots cast eleven hundred fifteen (1115).
On the question "Shall the proposed amendment to the constitution author- izing the Governor, with the consent of the Council. to remove justices of the peace and notaries public be approved and ratified ? " six hundred seventy six (676) voted "yes " and one hundred one (101) voted "10."
Blanks, three hundred thirty-eight (338); ballots cast eleven hundred fifteen (1115).
·
48
TOWN RECORDS.
The election returns were then filled, signed by the Selectmen, counter- signed by the Town Clerk, sealed up in open meeting and delivered to the Town Clerk to be forwarded to the several places of destination.
The presiding officer then declared the meeting dissolved, all business call- ing the meeting having been transacted at thirty-minutes after five o'clock.
A true record. Attest :
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.
ARLINGTON, November 15, 1907.
Pursuant to the law the Town Clerks of Arlington and Lexington met in the office of the Town Clerk of Arlington, on Friday, the fifteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seven, at twelve o'clock noon, for the purpose of canvassing the votes cast on the fifth day of November, for a Representative to the General Court of the Common- wealth to represent the twenty-ninth Middlesex District.
The canvass showed the following result of the votes cast in Arlington and Lexington :
Horace Dexter Hardy had in Arlington eight hundred ninety-seven (897) votes and in Lexington four hundred eighty-two (482), making a total of thirteen hundred seventy-nine (1379) votes.
There being no other person receiving votes the total votes of both Towns showed that Horace Dexter Hardy, of Arlington, had a majority of all the votes cast by both Towns.
Two certificates were filled out, signed by the Clerks of both Towns, one sent to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the other delivered to Horace Dexter Hardy, of Arlington.
A true record. Attest :
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk of Arlington. GEORGE D. HARRINGTON, ' Town Clerk of Lexington.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
ARLINGTON, November 15, 1907.
By virtue of my office as Constable of the Town of Arlington, I have this day served, by giving in hand, the certificate of election, as Representative to the General Court to be holden on the first Wednesday of January next, to Horace D. Hardy, of 48 Irving Street, Arlington.
CHARLES F. DONAHUE, Constable of Arlington.
A true record. Attest :
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.
49
TOWN RECORDS.
TOWN MEETING, NOVEMBER 18, 1907.
TOWN WARRANT-
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Arlington, in 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, who are qualified as the constitution requires, to vote in elections and Town affairs, to assemble in the Town Hall, in said Town, on Monday, the eighteenth day of November next, at 8.00 o'clock, P. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz :-
ARTICLE 1. To bring in their votes to the Town Clerk for a moderator to preside for the transaction of Town business
ART. 2. To hear and act on the reports of committees heretofore appointed.
ART. 3. To see if the Town will make an appropriation to be expended from Nov. 30, 1907, and for the twelve months next en- suing, for suppressing the gypsy and brown tail moths, in accord- ance with the provisions of Chapter 381, Acts of 1905, and amend- ments thereto, and determine in what manner the money shall be raised.
ART. 4. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for a new air compressor for Fire Alarm purposes.
ART. 5. To see if the Town will vote to grade and construct sidewalk with edgestone on both sides of Beacon street, the same to be done under Chapter 49 of the revised Laws relative to assess- ments, and make an appropriation for the same.
(Inserted at request of Joint Board. )
ART. 6. To see if the Town will make an additional appropria- tion for the Health Department.
(Inserted at request of Board of Health.)
ART. 7. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the further extension of the Sewerage System, and determine in what manner the money shall be raised.
( Inserted at the request of the Board of Public Works.)
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TOWN RECORDS.
ART. 8. To see if the Town will vote to increase the salary of the Inspector of Plumbing, and make an appropriation for the same.
(Inserted at the request of the Board of Health.)
ART. 9. To see if the Town will vote to install a new heater in Highland Hose House No. 2, and make an appropriation for the same.
(Inserted at request of Engineers of Fire Department.)
ART. 10. To see if the Town will make an additional appropria- tion for the Fire Department.
(Inserted at request of Engineers of Fire Department.)
ART. 11. To see if the Town will appoint a committee to inves- tigate the congested condition of the Locke School District and report at a future Town meeting a proper relief of the same, with recommendations.
(Inserted at request of School Committee.)
ART. 12. To see if the Town will make an additional appropri- ation for the Metropolitan Water Assessment and for the maintenance of the Water Works, and determine in what manner the money shall be raised.
(Inserted at request of Board of Public Works.)
ART. 13. To see what action the Town will take in regard to the further extension of water mains, and make an appropriation for the same, and determine in what manner the money shall be raised.
(Inserted at request of Board of Public Works.)
ART. 14. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of sections 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 of Chapter 78 of the Revised Laws, said sections being relative to the Board of Cemetery Commissioners. (Inserted at request of Trustees of Cemeteries.)
ART. 15. To see if the Town will make an additional appropria- tion for Incidental account.
ART. 16. To see if the Town will make an additional appropria- tion for Town House account.
ART. 17. To see if the Town will make an additional appropria- tion for care of Town House site.
ART. 18. To see if the Town will authorize the Overseers of the Poor to transfer from the Almshouse account, to the Outside Poor account, the balance remaining in said Almshouse account or any part of the same.
ART. 19. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for Millitary Aid.
ART. 20. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for Soldiers' Relief.
ART. 21. To see if the Town will make an additional appropri- ation for the abatement of Taxes.
(Inserted at request of Board of Assessors.)
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TOWN RECORDS.
ART. 22. To see if the Town will authorize and empower its Board of Public Works to purchase, in the name and behalf of the Town, a plot of land adjoining the northwesterly boundary of the gravel pit on Grove Street, not exceeding fourteen thousand square feet in area, for the purpose of utilizing the same as a gravel pit, and make an appropriation therefor, and determine in what manner the money shall be raised.
(Inserted at request of Board of Public Works.)
ART. 23. To see if the Town will authorize and empower jits Board of Public Works to enter into a contract in the name and be- half of the Town for the purchase of gravel, and make an appropri- ation therefor, and determine in what manner the money shall be raised.
(Inserted at request of Board of Public Works.)
ART. 24. To see if the Town will authorize the Town Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money for any nec- essary purpose, in anticipation of the collection of taxes for the year 1908, the same to be repaid directly from the proceeds of said taxes.
(Inserted at the request of the Town Treasurer.)
ART. 25. To see if the Town will make an appropriation suf- ficient to meet the charges for filling deposited on the park lands adjoining Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, in accordance with the vote passed by the Town May 5, 1902.
ART. 26. To appropriate and raise, by borrowing or otherwise, such sums of money 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 twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and. seven.
S. FREDERICK HICKS, FREDERICK S. MEAD, J. HOWELL CROSBY, Selectmen of the Town of Arlington ..
CHAPTER 78, REVISED LAWS.
BOARD OF CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS.
SECTION 21. A Town which accepts the provisions of this and the four following sections or has accepted the corresponding pro- visions of earlier laws may, at any Town meeting, elect by ballot a Board of Cemetery Commissioners consisting of three persons, a
52
TOWN RECORDS.
majority of whom shall for at least one year previous to their elec- tion, have been owners of a lot in a cemetery or other public burial ground in said Town. If such board is first chosen at a meeting other than an annual Town meeting one member shall be elected for one year from the day following that fixed by law for the last pre- ·ceeding annual Town meeting, one member for two years, and one member for three years, from said day; and annually thereafter one member so qualified shall, at the annual Town meeting, be elected by ballot for a term of three years. Such boards shall choose a chairman, and a clerk who may be a member of the board.
SEC. 22. Said board shall have the sole care, superintendence and management of all public burial grounds in its Town, may lay out any existing public burial grounds in its town or any land pur- chased and set apart by said Town for cemeteries and other public burial grounds in lots or other suitable subdivisions with proper paths and avenues, may plant, embellish, ornament and fence the same and erect therein such suitable edifices and conveniences and make such improvements as it considers convenient ; and, subject to the approval of the Town, may make such regulations, not incon- sistent with law, as it considers expedient.
SEC. 23. Said board may, by deed made and executed in such manner and form as it may prescribe, convey to any person the sole and exclusive right of burial in any lot in said cemetery and of ·erecting tombs, cenotaphs and other monuments or structures there- on upon such terms and conditions as its regulations prescribe. Such deeds and all subsequent deeds of such lots made by the owners thereof shall be recorded by said board in suitable books of record, which shall be open to the public at all reasonable times.
SEC. 24. A Town in which Cemetery Commissioners are chosen may receive gifts or bequests for maintaining cemeteries or cemetery lots, which shall be paid into the the Town treasury of said Town and, with the accounts thereof, shall be kept separate from the other money and accounts of said Town. The Town Treasurer shall invest all such funds in accordance with the stipulations, if any, accompanying them ; otherwise he shall invest them as ordered by the Selectmen and said Commissioners and pay the income therefrom upon their order or with their approval. The proceeds of sales of lots or rights of burial in said cemetery, shall be paid into the Town treasury and shall be subject to said orders.
SEC, 25. Said board shall not incur debts or liabilities for pur- poses other than aforesaid nor to an amount exceeding the amount of the funds subject to their order ; and it shall annually make a report in writing to said Town of its official acts, of the condition of said cemetery and burial grounds, and render an account of its receipts and expenditures for the same and of the funds subject to its order.
53
TOWN RECORDS.
ARLINGTON, Nov. 14, 1907.
By virtue of this warrant I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, to meet at the time and place and for the purposes herein named, by causing a printed attested copy to be left at every dwelling house in the Town, and also by posting an attested copy on the doors of the Town Hall, seven days at least, before said day of meeting.
GARRITT BARRY, Constable.
A true record of the warrant. Attest :
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.
In pursuance of the foregoing warrant the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, qualified, as the law requires, to vote in elections and Town affairs met in the Town Hall in said Arlington, on Monday, the eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and seven, and were called to order at eight (8) o'clock in the evening, by the Town Clerk, who read Article 1 of the warrant calling said meeting and the return of the Constable who served the same upon the inhabitants. By unanimous consent the reading of the remaining articles in the warrant was dispensed with, each of the voters present being supplied with printed attested copies.
Article I taken up. (Election of Moderator.)
Charles A. Hardy and John J. Mahoney were appointed Tellers to receive, sort and count ballots for Moderator, and were sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties and placed in charge of the check list and ballot box. Three (3) ballots were cast, each bearing the name of John G. Brackett and he was declared elected Moderator and sworn to the faithful performance of his duties.
Article 2 taken up. (Reports of Committees.)
Frederick A. Bisbee, Chairman of the Committee of Twenty one, to whom had been referred all articles in the warrant calling for an appropriation made the report of said Committee in print and said report was distributed to the voters present.
Voted : That the report of the Committee of Twenty-one as presented be accepted and that the same be acted upon in the order in which they appear in said report.
Article 2 was then laid on the table.
Article 3 taken up. (Suppressing of gypsy and brown-tail moths.)
Voted: By a two-thirds vote, that the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) be appropriated to be expended from November 30, 1907, to November 30, 1908, under the direction and control of the Selectmen in suppressing the gypsy and brown-tail moths in the Town of Arlington, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 381 of the Acts of 1905, and amendments thereto, That four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) of said sum be raised by
54
TOWN RECORDS.
general tax in 1908, and the balance, five hundred dollars ($500) be borrowed, and the Town Treasurer be authorized to give the Town's note therefor, pay- able in not exceeding one (1) year, bearing interest, signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Selectmen.
Article 4 taken up. (New air compressor.)
Voted: That this article be laid on the table.
Article 5 taken up. (Grading Bacon Street.)
Voted: That owing to an error in the warrant, Bacon Street being spelled Beacon Street, this article be laid on the table.
Article 6 taken up. (Additional appropriation for Health Department.)
Voted: That the sum of eight hundred dollars ($800) be appropriated for the Health Department, said sum to be taken from the Treasury accounts.
Article 7 taken up. (Sewerage system extension.)
Voted : That the sum of two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225) be appro- priated for the extension of the sewer under the new playground and Lombard Terrace. Said sum to be taken from the Treasury accounts.
Article 8 taken up. (Salary of Inspector of Plumbing.)
Voted: That this article be laid on the table.
Article 9 taken up. (Heater in Highland Hose House No. 2.)
Voted: That the sum of three hundred seventy dollars ($370) be appropri- ated to pay for a new heater in Highland Hose House No. 2. Said sum to be taken from the Treasury accounts.
Article 10 taken up. (Additional appropriation for Fire Department.)
Voted: That the sum of three hundred fifty dollars ($350) additional be appropriated for the Fire Department, same to include eighty dollars ($80) for expenses already incurred for repairs to the heating apparatus in Hose House Nos. 1 and 3, and for repairs to the roof of Hose House No. 3. Said sum to be taken from the overlayings of the tax of 1907.
Article 12 taken up. (Additional appropriation for metropolitan water assessment.)
Voted: That the sum of two thousand six hundred dollars ($2,600) additional be appropriated for the metropolitan water assessment, and for the maintenance of the water works. Said sum to be taken from the Treasury accounts.
Article 13 taken up. (Extension of water mains.)
Voted: By a two-thirds vote, that the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) be appropriated for the extension of water mains; and for the purpose of raising the one thousand dollars ($1,000) there be issued one note or bond for the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000), payable in the year 1913; said note or bond to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Selectmen, and to be designated on the face thereof "Water Loan of 1907," and to bear interest at a rate not exceeding four per centum per annum, payable semi- annually.
55
TOWN RECORDS.
Article 15 taken up. (Additional appropriation for incidental account.)
Voted : That the sum of six hundred dollars ($600) additional be appro- priated for the Incidental Account. Said sum to be taken from the treasury accounts.
Article 16 taken up. (Additional appropriation for Town House account.)
Voted: That the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) be appropriated to cover additional repairs made on the Town House. Said sum to be taken from the overlayings of the tax of 1907.
Article 17 taken up. (Additional appropriation for Town House site.)
Voted; That the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) be appropriated to pay the Town's share of the construction of a fence between the Town House site and the Robbins estate, also to cover a few minor expenses in connection with the site. Said sum to be taken from the treasury accounts.
Article 18 taken up. (Overseers of the Poor account.)
Voted: That the Town hereby authorizes the Overseers of the Poor to transfer the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) from the Almshouse account to the Outside Poor account.
Article 19 taken up. (Military Aid.)
Voted : That the sum of twenty-four dollars ($24) be appropriated for Military Aid. Said sum to be taken from the treasury accounts.
Article 20 taken up. (Soldiers' Relief.)
Voted : That the sum of one hundred sixty-four dollars ($164) be appropri- ated for Soldiers' Relief. Said sum to be taken from the treasury accounts.
Article 21 taken up. (Abatment of taxes.)
Voted: That the sum of three hundred dollars ($300) (in addition to the former appropriation of $1,500) be appropriated for the abatement of taxes. Said sum to be taken from the treasury accounts.
Articles 22, 23 and 25 taken up.
Voted: That these articles be laid on the table.
Article 14 taken up. (Acceptance of Revised Laws relative to cemeteries.)
Voted: That the Town accept Sections 21; 22, 23, 24 and 25 of Chapter 78 of the Revised Laws, said Sections being relative to the Board of Cemetery Commissioners.
Article 24 taken up. (Treasurer authorized to borrow.)
Voted: 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 1908, the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to borrow on and after January 1, 1908. from time to time, with the approval of the Board of Select- men, a sum or sums in the aggregate not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) 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.
56
TOWN RECORDS.
Article 26 taken up.
Voted: That this article be laid on the table.
Article 11 taken up. (Congested condition of Locke School District.)
Voted: That a committee of five, to be appointed by the Moderator, be appointed to investigate the congested condition of the Locke School District, said committee to report to the March Town meeting a proper relief of the same with recommendations.
The Moderator appointed the following citizens to serve on said committee : ---- Frederick A. Bisbee, Cyrus E. Dallin, Frank W. Hodgdon, Charles R. Fultz and Edward W. Goodwin.
The Selectmen appointed Constables John Duffy and Charles F. Donahue to have charge of the incoming turnstile No. 3057 and the outgoing turnstile No. 3056, respectively, who made a return in writing at the adjournment of the meeting, showing that one hundred ten (110) voters had entered the hall through turnstile No. 3057 and eleven (11) voters had left the hall through turnstile No. 3056, showing that ninety-nine (99) registered voters attended the meeting.
All articles in the warrant calling the meeting having been acted upon it was
Voted : That this meeting be now dissolved.
Meeting dissolved at 9.10 P. M.
A true record. Attest :
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
The Board of Selectmen submit the following report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1907.
On March 5, 1907, the Board met and organized as follows : - Chairman, S. Frederick Hicks.
Clerk, Horace A. Freeman.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
S. Frederick Hicks, Police Department and State Aid. Frederick S. Mead, Fire Department, Almshouse and Public Lands. J. Howell Crosby, Outside Poor, Town House and Public Buildings ..
TOWN DEBT AND TAX RATE.
On December 31, 1906, the fixed debt was $644,148 64 Paid during the year 1907 . $11,450 00 Increase during the year 1907. 22,000 00
Net increase during the year 10,550 00
On December 31, 1907, the fixed debt is 654,698 64
On December 31, 1906, the sinking fund was 99,528 18
On December 31, 1907, the sinking fund is. 117,976 57
Increase during the year .
$18,448 39.
It will be noticed from the above that the fixed debt has increased $10,550, not taking the sinking fund into account. This was be- cause of $3,000 spent for short extensions of water mains, $5,000 for new streets, namely, Tanager, Wyman, Palmer Streets and Avon Place ; $4,000 for short extensions of our sewerage system, and $10,000 for the renewal of old cement-lined pipe.
All of this added indebtedness, as in the form of serial notes, none of it maturing later than 1920. A part of that spent for new streets will be returned in betterment assessments, and a part of that spent for sewerage system extension in sewer assessments.
The tax rate for 1907 was $18.80 on $1,000, which is seventy cents more than it was the year before.
58
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Notwithstanding a net increase of $546,987 in the valuation of real and personal property on May 1, 1907, over that of May 1, 1906, our tax rate increased seventy cents This was because the Town grant for 1907 was $18,432 more than in 1906. While the increase in valuation would naturally lower the rate, the increased appropriations more than offset this and added seventy cents to the rate beside. It is evident, therefore, that the appropriations must be considered when a lower tax rate is desired.
The advisability of establishing a more uniform tax rate has been suggested, and the Board believes the question is worthy of con- sideration.
To this end the amount contributed annually to the sinking fund could vary from a minimum of $12,000 according to the amount of the Town grant.
FIRE DEPARTMENT. For the first time in the history of the fire department, the Selectmen are called upon to register the death of its chief engineer while in active service.
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