USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1918 > Part 2
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ART. 38. To appropriate and raise, by borrowing or other- wise, such sum or sums of money as may be necessary for all or any of the purposes mentioned in the Articles in this Warrant.
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 eleventh day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighteen.
HORATIO A. PHINNEY, WILLIS P. HOWARD, THOMAS J. DONNELLY, Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
CONSTABLE'S RETURN
Arlington, February 26, 1918.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
By virtue of this warrant I have notified and warned the in- habitants of the Town of Arlington, qualified to vote in elections
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and Town affairs, to meet at the time and place, and for the purpose herein named, by causing a printed, attested copy of the same to be left at every dwelling house in the Town, and also by posting an attested copy of said Warrant at the door of the Town Hall, in said Arlington, seven days at least before said day of meeting. Notice of the time, place and object of said meeting was published in the Arlington Advocate, and the Arlington Weekly News.
(Signed) WILLIAM T. CANNIFF, Constable of Arlington.
In pursuance of the foregoing Warrant, the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, met in the Town Hall in said Arlington, on Monday the fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighteen, and were called to order at six (6) o'clock in the morning, by the Town Clerk, who read Articles 1 and 2 of the Warrant calling the meeting, and the return thereon of the Constable, who served the same upon the in- habitants.
It was unanimously voted: To postpone the reading of the remaining articles until the Adjourned Meeting.
Article 1 taken up. (Choice of Moderator.) Jacob Bitzer was unanimously elected Moderator of the meeting, and was sworn to the faithful performance of his duties by the Town Clerk.
Article 2 taken up. (Election of Town Officers.) The follow- ing Election officers having been appointed by the Selectmen, were sworn to the faithful performance of their duties by the Town Clerk and assigned as follows:
Ballot Clerks - David T. Dale, Frank E. Kenney, George J. White and Oscar Schnetzer.
Checkers at Ballot Boxes - George C. Tewksbury, William D. Grannan, Frank Y. Wellington and Herbert L. Converse.
Inspectors - Joseph W. Moore, James E. Sweeney, Richard Healey, James G. Moir and Daniel L. McCarthy.
Tellers - George A. Clark, George G. Barry, Ernest H. Beers, George H. Peirce, George M. Richardson, Arthur J. Hendrick, Charles A. Paine and Warren W. Beers.
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A sealed package of ballots was then delivered to the Moder- ator who publicly broke the seal and delivered the ballots to the Ballot Clerks.
Lists of registered voters, both male and female, were sup- plied by the Registrars of Voters to the Ballot Clerks and the Checkers at the Ballot Boxes.
Cards of instruction to and penalties on voters were posted in conspicuous places, as well as in each booth, as required by law.
In compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth governing elections, the Town Hall was fitted up as a polling place, a space railed off and booths and shelves provided for the use of the voters, to examine and mark their ballots.
The ballot boxes were examined by the Moderator and the Town Clerk, and were found to be empty and the register set at zero.
The keys were then delivered into the custody of Constable John Duffy, and remained in his custody until the close of the meeting.
The polls were then declared open for the reception of votes for Town Officers at five minutes after six o'clock in the fore- noon, and remained open until five o'clock in the afternoon, at which time, after due notice, they were declared closed.
The ballot boxes were, by unanimous consent, opened at various times during the day, for the purpose of removing the ballots to be counted, as follows :
At eight o'clock Box No. 1 registered 190 Box No. 2 registered 182 Total 372
At nine o'clock
Box No. 1 registered 286
Box No. 2 registered 288 ยท Total 574
At ten o'clock Box No. 1 registered 339 Box No. 2 registered 364 Total 703
At three o'clock Box No. 1 registered 613
Box No. 2 registered 581 Total 1194
At five o'clock Box No. 1 registered 711 Box No. 2 registered 682 Total 1393
Of the above number (1393) twenty (20) were women's votes, leaving the total number of men voting 1373.
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The names checked by the Ballot Clerks and those checked at the ballot boxes were counted and found to agree with the number registered, viz .: 1393.
The unused ballots, both men's and women's, were enclosed in a package, sealed and delivered to the Town Clerk.
The ballots cast were then canvassed by the Moderator, Town Clerk and Election Officers, and declaration made thereof at thirty minutes after seven o'clock in the afternoon, as follows:
Selectmen for three years: Horatio A. Phinney had 1097 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 4; blanks, 276.
Town Clerk for one year: Thomas J. Robinson had 1170 votes and was declared elected, sworn in open meeting by the Moderator; blanks, 203.
Town Treasurer for one year: Myron Taylor had 1061 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 5; blanks, 312.
Collector of Taxes for one year: Edward A. Bailey had 1070 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 5; blanks, 303.
Auditor for one year: George M. Richardson had 1041 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 5; blanks 332.
Assessor for three years: Francis A. Patterson had 960 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 5; blanks, 413.
Board of Public Works for three years: Samuel E. Kimball had 586 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 12, Maurice P. Ahern had 452 votes; Russell W. Barr had 30 votes; Frank V. Noyes had 270 votes; blanks, 35.
School Committee for three years: Fred L. Dawson had 709 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 14; John R. Foster had 742 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 14; Claude A. Palmer had 700 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 14; James E. Doughty had 610 votes; blanks 1418.
Member of Planning Board for three years: Henry W. Hayes had 962 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 11; blanks, 411.
Board of Health for three years: Charles F. Atwood had 751 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 7; Francis E. Talty had 466 votes; blanks, 156.
Board of Health for one year: Alfred W. Lombard had 949 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 7; blanks, 424.
Park Commissioner for three years: William W. Crosby had
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994 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 14; blanks, 379.
Commissioner of Sinking Fund for three years: Henry Horn- blower had 1004 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 11; blanks, 369.
Trustee of Pratt Fund for five years: Charles W. Allen had 941 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 14; blanks, 432.
Trustee of Edwin S. Farmer Poor Widows' Fund for five years: George Hill had 958 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 12; blanks, 415.
Trustee of Robbins Library for three years: Cyrus E. Dallin had 943 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 15; William A. Muller had 828 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 14; blanks, 975.
Trustee Edwin S. Farmer Needy Persons' Fund for five years: George Hill had 943 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 12; blanks, 430.
Cemetery Commissioner for three years: J. Edwin Kimball had 966 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 14; blanks, 407.
Tree Warden for one year: Daniel M. Daley had 1064 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 5; blanks, 309.
Constables for one year: Daniel M. Hooley had 1061 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 5; Thomas O. D. Urquhart had 855 votes and was declared elected, sworn March 5; blanks, 830.
On the question: "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town?" two hundred and fifty- eight (258) voted "yes," and nine hundred and eighty-five (985) voted "no," and declaration was made that the Town had voted that no licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in the Town during the ensuing year. Blanks, 130.
On the question: "Shall Chapter 254 of the General Acts of 1917, being an Act to authorize cities and towns to pay their employees who enlist in the service of the United States the difference between their military and their municipal compen- sation be accepted by the Town?" seven hundred and ten (710) voted "yes," and three hundred and forty-five (345) voted
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"no," and declaration was made that the Town had voted to accept said chapter. Blanks, 318.
On the question shall Chapter 23 of the General Acts of 1917, being "Act to provide for the licensing of coffee houses so- called" be accepted by the Town, 625 voted "Yes" and 291 voted "No" and declaration was made that the Town had voted to accept said Act. Blanks 457.
On the question'shall Chapter 268 of the Special Acts of 1917, being "An Act to place the janitors of the public schools of the Town of Arlington under the civil service laws," be accepted by the Town 710 voted "Yes" and 345 voted "No" and declara- tion was made that the Town had voted to accept said Act. Blanks 318.
The following officers were renominated and elected to the offices and for the terms designated :
Fence Viewers for one year: Charles F. Wyman and James R. Mann.
Fish Preserver for one year: Everett S. Chapman.
Measurers of Wood and Bark for one year : Patrick F. Brosna- han, Edmund L. Curtis and Charles F. Donahue.
Field Drivers for one year: Thomas O. D. Urquhart, F. Joseph Cahalin, Andrew Irwin, Thomas F. Priest, Daniel M. Hooley, John Duffy and Edwin Jacobs.
Each of the above elected officers has appeared and was sworn to the faithful performance of his duties.
Voted: That when this meeting adjourns, it adjourn to meet in the Town Hall on Monday evening, March 25, 1918, at 7.30 o'clock.
Meeting adjourned at 7.15 P.M.
A true record. Attest:
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.
Arlington, March 5, 1918.
I hereby certify that I have this day appointed Edna C. Pierce, Assistant Town Clerk, and that she has taken the oath required under Chapter 25, Section 62 of the Revised Laws, for the faithful performance of her duties.
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.
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Arlington, March 25, 1918.
Pursuant to adjournment, the citizens of Arlington qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs met in the Town Hall, in said Town, on Monday, the twenty-fifth day of March, and were called to order by the Moderator, Jacob Bitzer, at thirty minutes after seven o'clock in the evening.
On motion of Mr. Devereaux, Article 3 was taken up.
Article 3 (Reports of Committees).
Voted, on motion of Mr. Devereaux: That the reports of the various Town Officers, as presented in their own reports, together with the additions of the tables of Statistics of Assessors and Committees heretofore appointed be accepted.
Mr. George H. Shirley, Secretary, presented the report of the Committee on School Sites as follows, and the report was received, accepted as progressive and ordered filed. The report :
Arlington, March 1, 1918.
Your Committee, appointed at the Town Meeting of Decem- ber 7, 1916, under the vote that a Committee of Five be ap- pointed to investigate and select suitable sites for school build- ings, one in the vicinity of Franklin and Warren Streets, one in the Crescent Hill Section, one near Mystic Street and one in the Lake Street District, have already reported on one in the Franklin and Warren Streets section and the Town pur- chased the lot last year.
Following out the vote of the Town that the committee should report on locations in the Crescent Hill, Mystic Street and Lake Street districts at the Town Meeting of March, 1918, . we respectfully submit the following report :
Your Committee has held a number of meetings and has visited the different parts of the Town mentioned. After an extended study of the school situation and the financial con- dition of the Town and after a conference with the School Committee, the School Site Committee believes the interests of the Town will be best served by purchasing one lot this year instead of three, as called for by the vote of the Town, and by a vote of the Town instructing the Committee to report on the other lots at the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1919.
The committee recommends that the Selectmen be and
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hereby are authorized and empowered in the name and behalf of the Town to acquire by purchasing, by taking or otherwise for municipal purposes a certain parcel of land containing 3.48 acres as shown on plan entitled :
Plan of land in Arlington Heights owned by Charles A. Peirce as prepared by George E. Ahern, Town Engineer, for the School Site Committee.
That the sum of $6000 be hereby appropriated for the pur- chase of said property; $2000 to be taken from the tax levy of 1918, and for the purpose of raising the balance of $4000 that the Treasurer is hereby authorized and empowered in the name and behalf of the Town to issue four serial notes therefor of $1000 each, one being payable in 1919, and the remaining notes to be payable one in each of the succeeding years thereafter. Said notes to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Selectmen, and to bear interest not to exceed four per cent payable semi-annually, and to be desig- nated on the face thereof "Crescent Hill Purchase of 1918."
The Committee wishes to thank the various Town Officials who have so kindly aided us in our work and other citizens who have furnished us with valuable information.
W. IRVING MIDDLETON, Chairman, GEORGE H. SHIRLEY, Secretary.
Mr. Howard B. S. Prescott presented the following report of the Committee appointed to investigate the Mill Street proposition for a Town Yard, and to further study the possi- bilities of the present Town Yard. The report was offered as a report of progress and was received and accepted as such and ordered filed. The report:
The Committee appointed in accordance with the vote under Article 8, in the Warrant for the Town Meeting of April 25, 1917, was instructed "to investigate the Mill Street proposi- tion " and "authorized to study the present Town Yard."
The recommendation was evidently expected, either to abandon the present Yard and purchase property available from Mill Street for this use or additional land to develop the existing location. Some consideration of arrangement. of buildings should be included to show relative fitness of the two
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properties, as the request for part of these would follow the selection of the site.
The present condition of the Town finances and the high cost of materials would seem to make any unnecessary expenditures uncalled for, and the time not favorable for a fair consideration of abandoning Town property now in use, or purchasing of any new land to lay idle for several years.
In any event, the Board in charge of the present property will probably be obliged to do some necessary construction, if only temporary, before a suitable development could be com- pleted so no serious damage would result from postponement.
Therefore, the Committee feels that a proper comparison of the respective locations can well be delayed until the conditions are better for financing the project. Also, that this meeting should determine as to whether the Committee should be re- lieved from further consideration of the matter, or that this should be accepted as a report of progress.
Respectfully submitted, H. B. S. PRESCOTT, W. S. FAIRCHILD.
On motion of Mr. Devereaux, Chairman of the Finance Committee, the report of that Committee was taken up.
Article 3 was then laid on the table.
Voted: That the various articles in the Warrant be now taken up and that the recommendations of the Finance Com- mittee under the articles in their report be considered as now before the meeting to be voted upon without further motion separately and in the order in which they appear in said report.
Article 28 taken up. (Acceptance of Oxford Street.)
Voted: That the Town accept and establish as a Town way the private way known as Oxford Street, from Massachusetts Avenue to Raleigh Street, as laid out by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, and as more particularly described in Article 28 of the Warrant.
Article 6 taken up. (Town ways, Highways and Bridges.)
Voted: That the Town ways, highways and bridges be re- paired during the ensuing year, under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
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Article 8 taken up. (Selectmen, Agents of the Town.)
Voted: The Committee recommends the passage of the following vote: That the Selectmen be appointed agents of the Town to institute and prosecute actions in favor of the Town, to appear and defend suits and legal proceedings against or involving the interests of the Town, with power to employ counsels therein, and when necessary, in all other matters and business appertaining to Town affairs during the year com- mencing March 1, 1918.
Article 18 taken up. (Authority of Tax Collector.)
Voted: That the Collector of Taxes be authorized to use all means of collecting taxes for the year 1918 which the Town Treasurer may use when appointed a Collector of Taxes.
Article 19 taken up. (Lease of Old Town Hall.)
Voted: That the Board of Selectmen be and hereby are authorized in the name and behalf of the Town to lease said portions of the old Town Hall Building for such time and upon such terms as they may determine to be for the best interests of the Town.
Article 22 taken up. (Town assumes Compensation Lia- bility.)
Voted: That on and after the expiration of any. policies now in force the Town shall thereafter on its own responsibility carry out the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act, so called, relating to laborers, workmen and mechanics in the employ of the Town.
Article 23 taken up. (Town Treasurer to borrow.)
Voted, by a two-thirds vote: That the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1918, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year. Any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.
Article 27 taken up. (Proposed relocation of Bow Street.)
The Committee recommended that no action be taken. Mr. Birch presented a petition from some of the residents on the street and asked that the Joint Board be given permission to petition the County Commissioners for a relocation of the lines
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of this street. The Chairman of the Finance Committee, replying, stated that the Committee had very carefully con- sidered the whole proposition and found that Mr. Birch was practically the only one financially benefited by this proposed relocation, which would be very expensive to the Town. It was then
Voted: That no action be taken under this article.
Article 33 taken up. (Finance Committee of Twenty-one.)
Voted: That the Moderator of this meeting, together with the Chairman and Secretary of the present Finance Com- mittee of Twenty-one are hereby appointed a Committee to nominate and report to this meeting a Finance Committee of twenty-one citizens, representing all sections of the Town, to serve until the end of the Annual Meeting of 1919; fourteen members to be selected from the present Committee, provided they will serve; the other seven to be newly appointed. That no person holding an elective Town office shall be eligible to serve on said Committee. To this Finance Committee are hereby referred all Articles in any Town Warrant issued during the term of office. Said Committee shall, after due considera- tion of the subject matter of said Articles, report thereon, in print or otherwise, to the Town Meeting, with such recom- mendations as it shall deem best. Said Committee shall choose its own officers and have power to fill vacancies.
The following citizens were nominated and elected to serve on this Committee in accordance with the foregoing vote:
Frank A. Adams, 11 Upland Road Luther H. Bateman, 33 Robbins Road
Carl H. Bunker, 81 Hillside Avenue
Wilson D. Clark, Jr., 25 Wellington Street
Ralph E. Conder, 20 Milton Street
Edward S. Crockett, 15 Wachusett Avenue Elmer Buckley, 151 Massachusetts Avenue Cyrus L. Doe, 48 Linden Street 1
Foster P. Doane, 243 Lowell Street
James P. Donnelly, 57 Brattle Street
William G. Hadley, 20 Pond Lane Charles H. Higgins, 7 Swan Street
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Clarence A. Moore, 81 Walnut Street
Frank A. O'Brien, 77 Bartlett Avenue
Walter A. Robinson, 36 Jason Street George O. Russell, 55 Jason Street Earl A. Ryder, 31 Norfolk Road W. Dean Sawyer, 105 Bartlett Avenue William C. Scannell, 14 Marion Road Francis J. Whilton, 258 Mystic Street Olvin H. Lufkin, 17 Trowbridge Street
Article 4 taken up. (Appropriation for Robbins Library.)
Voted: That there be appropriated the sum of $5,800 in addition to the dog tax, the receipt for fines and the sale of catalogues for the maintenance of the Robbins Library for the year 1918, same to be expended under the direction of its Trus- tees.
Article 5 taken up. (Appropriation for Schools.)
Voted: That the sum of $163,109 be appropriated for the public schools for the year 1918. That for this purpose $15,000 be taken from the unexpended balance, $148,109 be raised by general tax, '$3,000 to be expended for general repairs, $750 for the maintenance of Spy Pond Athletic Field, $1,000 for the extension of the home garden work, $600 for the tuition of pupils in state-aided technical schools, $300 for School Physician, the same to be expended under the direction of the School Committee.
This increase over 1917, $22,264.30, is due principally in two causes:
Increased salaries on account of high living cost $18,979
Additional fuel costs 3,100
$22,079
Article 9 taken up. (Memorial Day.)
Voted: That the sum of $250 be appropriated for the proper observance of Memorial Day, the same to be paid to the Quartermaster of Francis Gould Post 36, G. A. R., and to be expended under the direction of officers of Francis Gould Post 36, G. A. R.
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Article 10 taken up. (Fire Hydrants, etc.)
Voted: That the sum of $7,000 be appropriated and paid to the Water Works Department for water used for fire hydrants, street watering and public buildings for the year 1918.
Article 11 taken up. (Extension of Water Mains.)
Voted, by a two-thirds vote: That the sum of $10,000 be appropriated for the extension of water mains, that $2,000 of said sum be raised by general tax of 1918, and for the purpose of raising the balance, $8,000, there be issued four serial notes of $2,000 each, payable respectively in 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922, said notes to be issued in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 616 of the Acts of 1910 and amendments thereto and to be designated on the face thereof "Water Loan of 1918," and to bear interest at a rate not to exceed four per cent per annum, payable semi-annually.
Article 12 taken up. (Permanent Sidewalks.)
Voted: That the sum of $2,400 be appropriated for the con- struction and repair of permanent sidewalks. Such work to be done under the provisions of the Sidewalk Act, Section 43 of the Revised Laws, or any Act in addition thereto or amend- ment thereof.
Article 13 taken up. (Maintenance of Sewerage System.)
Voted: That the sum of $3,000 be appropriated for the maintenance of the Sewerage System
Article 17 taken up. (Street Lights.)
Voted: That the sum of $14,000 be appropriated for street lighting for the ensuing year.
Explanation: The Committee feels that the Town should return to the one o'clock schedule lighting system in view of coal and general conservation and the probable reduction of transportation facilities. The benefits of all night lighting are inconsistent with the expense incurred thereby.
The appropriation provides for all night lighting in the civic center.
Article 20 taken up. (Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths.)
Voted: That the sum of $5,500 be appropriated to be ex- pended during the year ending December 31, 1918, under the direction and control of the Selectmen in suppressing the gypsy and brown tail moths in the Town of Arlington, in accordance
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with the provisions of Chapter 381 of the Acts of 1905 and amendments thereto.
Article 21 taken up. (Planting trees, etc.)
Voted: That the sum of $1,250 be appropriated for planting the new trees and the care of the trees, to be expended under the direction of the Tree Warden.
Article 15 taken up. (Highway Appropriations.)
Voted: That the sum of $64,200 be appropriated for main- tenance and construction of highways during the year 1918. That for this purpose the sum of $5,000 be taken from un- expended balance now in the Treasury, that the Street Railway and Excise Tax now in the treasury amounting to $141.83 be appropriated toward the payment thereof and the balance, $59,058.17, be raised by general tax.
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