USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1924 > Part 13
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To vote "Yes" or "No" on the acceptance by the town of Referendum Question No. 5-Shall a law (Chapter 473 of the Acts of 1923) which amends existing legislation on the same subject and provides that, subject to certain limitations, no person shall en- gage or be financially interested in the business of re- ceiving deposits of money for safe keeping or for the purpose of transmitting the same or equivalents thereof to foreign countries unless he has executed and delivered a bond to the State Treasurer, or de- posited securities in lieu thereof, and has received a license from the Commissioner of Banks authorizing him to carry on such business; that any money which in case of breach of bond shall be paid by the licensee or surety thereon, or the securities deposited in lieu thereof, shall constitute a trust fund for the benefit of depositors; that the license shall be revocable by the Commissioner of Banks for cause shown; that the money deposited with licensees for safe keeping shall be invested in the manner prescribed by the Act; and that the violation of any provision of the Act shall be
193
TOWN RECORDS
punished in the manner therein prescribed, which law was approved by both branches of the General Court by votes not recorded, and was approved by His Excellency the Governor, be approved ?
To vote "Yes" or "No" on the acceptance by the town of Referendum Question No. 6 .- "Shall daylight saving be retained by law in Massachusetts ?"
To vote "Yes" or "No" on the acceptance by the town of Referendum Question No. 7-Is it desirable the General Court ratify the following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States : -"Section 1. The Congress shall have power to limit, regulate and prohibit the labor of persons under eighteen years of age. Section 2. The power of the several States is unimpaired by this Article except that the operation of State laws shall be suspended to the extent necessary to give effect to legislation en- acted by the Congress ?"
All the above to be voted for on one ballot. The polls will be open from 6 A. M. until 7.00 o'clock P. M. And you are directed to serve this Warrant by post- ing attested copies thereof in at least five conspicuous places in each precinct seven days at least before the time of said meeting, as directed by vote of the town. And you are further directed to leave an attested copy of this Warrant at every dwelling house in the town.
Hereof, fail not, and make due return of this War- rant, with your doings thereon, to the Selectmen, on or before said day of Election.
Given under our hands this 22nd day of October, A. D. 1924.
NELSON B. CROSBY, CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX, FREDERICK W. HILL.
Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
194
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
CONSTABLE'S RETURN
Arlington, October 28, 1924.
Middlesex County :
By virtue of this Warrant I have notified and warned the legal voters of the Town of Arlington 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 by posting an attested copy at the doors of the Town Hall seven days at least before said day of meeting and by posting attested copies in two or more con- spicuous places in each voting precinct in the town. A notice of the time, places, and objects of the meet- ing was published in the local papers.
(Signed) DANIEL M. HOOLEY,
Constable of Arlington.
In pursuance of the foregoing Warrant, the in- habitants of the Town of Arlington, qualified to vote in elections, met in their respective voting places on Tuesday the fourth day of November, nineteen hundred and twenty-four at six o'clock in the forenoon.
Polling places had been designated as follows: Precincts 1 and 2, Crosby School ; Precincts 3-4-5 and 6, Town Hall; Precinct 7, Locke School.
The following Election Officers served by appoint- ment of the Selectmen or by Wardens of the respective precincts :
Precinct 1. Albert E. Olson, Warden; 35 Cleve- land street. Edmund J. Duggan, Clerk; 51 Cleveland street. Harold F. Baumeister, 29 Cleveland street, John F. Buckley, 27 Everett street. Herbert B. Kel- logg, 34 Cleveland street. Ethel C. F. Mellin, 55 Cleve- land street. Charles D. Moore, 71 Harlow street. Percy S. Morine, 71 Towbridge street. Otto P. Olson, 35 Cleveland street. Claire L. Pavey, 30 Cleveland street. George H. Pray, 28 Towbridge street. Chester
195
TOWN RECORDS
E. Smith, 57 Cleveland street. R. W. Nixon, 27 Marathon street. W. R. Jukes, 43 Harlow street.
Precinct 2. Edward A. Smith, Warden; 4 Belknap street. Walter J. Buckley, Clerk; 166 Brooks avenue. Thomas J. Martens, 23 Melrose street. Thomas H. Murphy, 24 Alfred road. Clarence E. Biathrow, 13 Belknap street. Carl O. Larson, 1 Belknap street. Alanson D. Yeaton, 4 Belknap street. Claude Hamil- ton, 22 Melrose street. Laura C. Fletcher, 27 Hender- son street. Mrs. O. G. Wheeler, 31 Varnum street. Ruth E. Corey, 27 Varnum street. Elizabeth C. Cain, 39 Orvis road. Arthur O. Alden, 21 Lakehill avenue.
Precinct 3. Harry W, Marden, Warden; 11 Wy- man street. David T. Dale, Clerk, 280 Broadway. Harold Cahalin, 10 Webster street. Edward D. Mc- Carthy, 75 Warren street. W. Frank Gay, 18 Irma avenue, Watertown. J. F. McGarry, 22 Prescott street. Walter Chamberlain, 16 Palmer street. Carrie M. Fowle, 11 Wyman street. May A. Shean, 58 Med- ford street. John F. O'Connor, 135 Medford street. Paul K. Lincoln, 355 Massachusetts avenue. Anna E. Duffy, 93 Medford street. Clifford Strout, (Room 333) 200 Devonshire street, Boston. John F. Saxton, 69 Beacon street. William Robinson, 18 Webster street.
Precinct 4. Roger W. Homer, Warden; 25 Ad- dison street. Ralph M. Day, Clerk; 9 Whittemore street. Edward J. Dineen, 15 Avon place. Rev. Don Ivan Patch, 11 Maple street. Francis G. Gallagher, 140 Pleasant street. Mrs. Theresa Turner, 130 Jason street. Mrs. Ruth C. Turner, 37 Wellington street. Miss Alice Morrissey, 232 Pleasant street. Stephen D. Merrill, 105 Pleasant street. Stanwood H. Cook, 23 Addison street. Frank B. Hargrove, 105 Pleasant street: Mildred B. Hargrove, 105 Pleasant street. Al- bert W. Wunderlich, 123 Jason street. William J. Tobin, 38 Kensington park. Charles J. Tynan, 8 Pond Terrace.
196
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Precinct 5. Arthur J. Hendrick, Warden; 17 Court street. Maurice L. Hatch, Clerk; 17 Farrington street. Therese B. Thomas, 45 Fairview avenue. Emily G. Alden, 61 Rangeley road. Thomas J. Don- nelly, Jr., 65 Brattle street. Mary M. Donahue, 923 Massachusetts avenue. Charles P. Ladd, Jr., 12 Wil- low place. Frederick M. Gay, 829 Massachusetts avenue. Chester R. Whitman, 59 Ronald road. John G. Kelly, 8 Farrington street. Margaret C. Moore, 691 Massachusetts avenue. Albert K. Peirce, 12 Court street. Michael J. Canniff, 23 Dudley street. John P. Cadagan, 19 Summer street.
Precinct 6. James E. Doughty, Warden; 2 Har- vard street. Augustine D. Doyle, Clerk; 51 Wildwood avenue. Roger Dunbar, 56 Jason street. John R. Hendrick, 15 Trent street. Eliza Kirsch, 48 Walnut street. Mina Wilbur, 16 Walnut street. James Moir, 15-A Jason street. Benjamin D. Knowles, 10 Mt. Vernon street. John Flynn, 1140 Massachusetts avenue. John Dunn, 56. Appleton street. Luke A. Manning, 131 Trent street. Joseph Smith, 14 High- land avenue. John T. Kerr, 28 Harvard street. Florie A. Kelley, 83 Highland avenue.
Precinct 7. Paul R. Bennett, Warden; 56 Walnut street. Charles E. Daly, Clerk; 7 Premus avenue, Bos- ton. Floyd R. Battis, 12 West street. Sarah R. Vaughan, 164 Park avenue. James F. Colgan, Jr., 45 Oakland avenue. William J. Furdon, 19 Arnold street. F. W. McNamara, 23 Alpine street. George C. Tewks- bury, 45 Claremont avenue. Edith G. Byram, 26 Florence avenue. Bartel Swanson, 614 Summer street. Adrian H. Robinson, 91 Westminster avenue. Eva B. Schnetzer, 45 Hillside avenue. May F. Currier, 82 Claremont avenue.
On account of the very great increase in the num- ber of registered voters, it was necessary that the num- ber of election officers be increased as well as the paraphernalia for a State election.
197
TOWN RECORDS
The Precinct Officers in each precinct made their returns to the Board of Selectmen and Town Clark who canvassed the same with the following results :
Total number of ballots cast 8505
Ballots cast in Precinct 1
1183
Precinct 2
1215
" Precinct 3
1377
66 " Precinct 4 1033
66
" Precinct 5 987
" Precinct 6
1180
66
" Precinct 7
1530
8505
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS
Precinct
2 3 4 5
6 . 7 Total
Coolidge and Dawes,
Republican
770 804 627 841 622 964 1130 5758
Davis and Bryan,
Democratic
302 256 539 137
227
137 208 1806
Foster and Gitlow,
Workers' Party
5
2
7
Johns and
Reynolds,
Socialist Labor Party
1
.
·
2 . . 2
5
La Follete and Wheeler,
Independent Progressive Blanks
70
93
95
38
85
41
121
543
41
61
116
17
51
33
67
386
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
GOVERNOR
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
John J. Ballam
1
1 796
164
367
215 311 2680
Alvan T. Fuller
727
795
558
855
600
937 1164 5636
James Hayes
2
1
1
. . .
3
1 2 10
. . .
2
3
10 17
James M. Curley 429
398
198
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Walter S.
Hutchins
3
3
1
1
2
9
19
Andrew J. Peters 1
1
Blanks
21
17
20
14
14
22
34
142
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Precinct
1 2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Frank G. Allen
730 779 559 859 589 929 1145 5590
John J.
Cumming
398 370 741 154 339
192 288 2482
Arthur A. Cunning
.. .
2
5
. .
2
5
4
18
Thomas Nicholson
6
5
1
.
1
2
11
26
Edward Rand
Stevens
2
5
1
5
8
7
28
Blanks
47
54
70
20
51
44
75 361
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505 SECRETARY
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Frederic W.
Cook
754 807 592 850 594 930 1143 5670
Winfield A.
Dwyer
6
13
17
2
10
19
15
82
Samuel Leger
5
5
3
4
8
8
33
H. Oscar
Rocheleau
326
290
642
146
292
148 238 2082
Edith Williams
11
8
6
2
6
13
17
63
Blanks
81
92
117
33
81
62
109
575
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
TREASURER
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Michael L.
Eisner
343 301 648 138 298 165 244 2137
. .
.
199
TOWN RECORDS
Patrick H.
Loftus
8
4
11
. .
7
11
8 49
Louis Marcus
6
6
5
1
4
6
12
40
Albert Oddie
4
7
1
1
10
3
4
30
William S.
731 777 556 835 570
922 1125 5516
Youngman Blanks
91
120
156
58
98
73 137 733
1183 1215 1377 1033
987 1180 1530 8505
AUDITOR
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Strabo V.
Claggett
460 417 788
420
407 427 449 3368
Alonzo B. Cook
606
656
429
527
450
642 915 4225
Isidore Harris
4
2
4
. .
6
6
4 26
James J. Lacey
10
12
9
4
14
11
11
71
Dennis F.
Reagan
5
7
11
3
4
6 12
48
Blanks
98
121
136
79
106
88 139
767
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505 ATTORNEY GENERAL
Precinct
1
2
3
4 841
5 593
6
7 Total
Jay R. Benton
736 783 577
943 1137 5610
Harry J.Canter
4
8
5
1
6
5
7 36
Frederick
Oelcher
4
. .
.
.
3
2
5
16
John Weaver Sherman
5
12
5
5
2
7
16
52
John E. Swift
345
307
656
139
294
149 251 2141
Blanks
89
105
132
47
89
74 114 650
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505 SENATOR IN CONGRESS
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Frederick H. Gillett
645 678 478 802 535 841 1026 5005
2
200
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Antoinette F.
Konikow
1 2
.
2
6
6
5 22
David I. Walsh
500
494 862
208
414
293
431 3202
F. W. Dallinger Blanks
37
41
37
21
32
39
68
275
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
CONGRESSMAN-EIGHT DISTRICT
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5 339
6
7 Total
Daniel P. Leahy 393
381 772
169
203 286 2543
Harry I. Thayer 709
749
538
812
572 897 1110 5387
Blanks
81
85
67
52
76
80
134 575
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
COUNCILLOR-SIXTH DISTRICT
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Bernard J.
Golden
353
314 672 148 307
181 249 2224
Charles S.
Smith
687
736 524 799 549
859 1085 5239
Blanks
143
165
181
86
131
140 196 1042
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
SENATOR-SIXTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Edward G. Daly 352 312
145 300
181
249 2194
Charles C.
Warren
733
787 598 830
599
903 1126 5576
Blanks
98
116
124
58
88
96 155 735
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT
TWENTY-SEVENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
Precinct 1
2
3
4
5
6 7 Total
Bert S. Currier
703 736 547
826 567 871 1128 5378
1
1
655
201
TOWN RECORDS
Edward A.
Geary
395
369
759
161 343
215
275 2517
Blanks
85
110
71
46
77
94 127 610
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MIDDLESEX
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Alfred L.
Cutting
754 750 655 785 597 872 1026 5439
Walter C.
Wardwell
756 772 695
737
555 814 974 5303
John J. Dale
1
1
Blanks
855 908 1404 544 822 674 1060 6267
2366 2430 2754 2066 1974 2360 3060 17010
REGISTER OF PROBATE AND INSOLVENCY MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
John J. Butler
362
326
669
143 308 190 253 2251
Charles N.
Harris
698 734 533
809
556 869 1082 5281
Blanks
123
155
175
81
123
121 195 973
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
COUNTY TREASURER MIDDLESEX
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Charles E.
Hatfield
713 752 534 826 569 890 1105 5389
Daniel F.
McBride
353
323
690
143 308
180 245 2242
Blanks
117
140°
153
64 110
110 180 874
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
202
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
REFERENDUM NO. 1 Striking Out the Word "Male"
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Yes
594
643
549
646
486
693 860 4471
No
243
243
320
151
202
201 220 1580
Blanks
346
329
508
236
299
286
450 2454
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
REFERENDUM NO. 2
Women to Hold Any State, County or Municipal Office Change in Woman's Name-Notary Public Commission
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Yes
632
654
602
637 515
723 881 4644
No
233
257
305
164 200
201 251 1611
Blanks
318
304 470
232 272 256 398 2250
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
REFERENDUM NO. 3 Manufacture and Transportation of Liquor
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5 442
6
, 7 Total
Yes
557
649
537
629
696 838 4348
No
423
387
552
277
376
320 424 2759
Blanks
203
179
288
127
169
164 268 1398
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
REFERENDUM NO. 4
Tax on Gasoline
Precinct
1
2
3 4
5
6
7 Total
Yes
296
327
300
407
303
410
411 2454
No.
667
660
736
473
487
571
810 4404
Blanks
220
228
341
153
197
199
309 1647
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
203
TOWN RECORDS
REFERENDUM NO. 5 Deposit and Transportation of Money to be Bonded to State Treasurer
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Yes
616
676 599
662
479
719
866 4617
No
165
155
201
68
134
132
126 981
Blanks
402
384 577
303
374
329 538 2907
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
REFERENDUM NO. 6
Daylight Saving
Precinct
1 2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Yes
673 712
722
647
522
733 875 4884
No
314
304
380
259
287
277
388 2209
Blanks
196
199 275
127
178 170
267 1412
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
REFERENDUM NO. 7
Child Labor
Precinct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Total
Yes
267
353
231
220
171
269
464 1975
No
779
713
947
714
689
752
845 5439
Blanks
137 149
199
99
127
159
221 1091
1183 1215 1377 1033 987 1180 1530 8505
The ballots cast in all precincts were delivered to the Town Clerk in sealed packages, as were the unused ballots. The voting list used at the entrances of the polling places and at the ballot boxes, with tally sheets and copy of precinct record of election, were also re- turned, all properly sealed in conformity with the laws governing election.
Attest :
E. CAROLINE PIERCE,
Town Clerk.
204
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Arlington, Mass., November 10, 1924.
The returns of election were filled out on the blanks furnished for the purpose, signed by a majority of the Selectmen and the Town Clerk, and filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Certificate of election as Representative from the Twenty-seventh Middlesex District was made out, signed, and delivered to Thomas O. D. Urquhart, Con- stable, who delivered the same to Bert S. Currier, in accordance with return filed in this office.
Attest :
E. CAROLINE PIERCE, Town Clerk.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The following is the report of the Board of Select- men for the year ending December 31, 1924:
At the annual meeting in March 1924 Mr. Frederick W. Hill was elected a member of the Board for a term of three years, and was sworn to the faithful perform- ance of his duties. The Board then organized, with Nelson B. Crosby as Chairman, John A. Easton, Clerk of the Board and Agent of the Overseers of the Poor, and S. Frederick Hicks, Assistant Clerk of the Board.
It is with profound regret that we note the death of Mr. S. Frederick Hicks on August 9, 1924. Mr. Hicks was Selectman of the town for three years begin- ning 1905. and in the latter part of his life acted as Clerk for the Selectmen, bringing to the Board and town the benefit of his matured experience.
TOWN DEBT AND TAX RATE
The Town Debt on December 31, 1924, was $971,000. This is an increase of $65,000 over the amount at the end of 1923. The Sinking Fund total on December 31, 1924, was $100,991.46.
The total appropriations $1,607,694.63
Total amount raised by taxes $1,142,230.96
Property valuation $37,156,682.00
POLICE
The force is now composed of a Chief, Lieutenant, three Sergeants, and twenty-three patrolmen. This is composed of the men for regular police work and a squad of nine in charge of a Sergeant as a traffic squad. During the year a motor cycle was purchased for the
205
206
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
use of the Department, and it has proved its efficiency in various ways. It has been of immense help in the traffic work and also in the general police work, being equipped with a side car, so that it can go to any point from which a call may come. Spot lights have been erected for the protection of the traffic officers in the dangerous points.
The Board feels improved quarters are an imperative need. The old Town Hall, which is now used, is in- adequate, and the cells in the basement are damp most of the time, notwithstanding extraordinary efforts to make them sanitary.
In view of the recent "crime wave" which has come upon the Metropolitan District, we feel that the citizens have every reason to be proud of their Police Depart- ment. We have had more burglaries than usual, but this situation has been efficiently met by the Chief and his men, and kept to a minimum. We take this oc- casion, as a Board, to congratulate the Chief and his men for their work.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Our Fire Department is composed of fifteen permanent men, twenty-three call men, and a Chief, with five pieces of apparatus in commission. This leaves an average of three permanent men to a piece. Inasmuch as our men have one day off in three, at no time are there more than two men per piece. This, of course, allows a piece of apparatus always to be manned to get to a fire, and then, unless call men are picked up on the way, it must wait until they arrive. The number of permanent men should be increased.
The town has grown; building permits amounting to over $4,000,000 in 1924 were issued, and we still de- pend largely on the call system of firemen.
Fortunately we have not had any conflagrations this year. There were two bad fires, the Masonic Block
207
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
and the Baptist Church fires, both of which were effi- ciently handled. Undoubtedly the careful inspection work of the Chief and his men, much of which was done on time off, has saved the town a number of bad fires.
In the matter of fire prevention, Arlington has un- dertaken something attempted in no other town. It is the inspection of every building, including dwellings. Of course, there are regular inspections for store and manufacturing property, but never before has a fire chief attempted to help the citizens avoid loss by in- specting the fire hazards in dwellings. This is all brought out in detail in the Fire Chief's report, which we recommend for careful study.
The new engine house on the triangle lot is rapidly reaching completion. When finished this will represent the most modern equipment in fire alarm systems and facilities for the firemen. It is expected that this building will be ready for occupancy about June 1. The use of the Highland House will not be discontinued, as the Chief plans to keep apparatus there to protect the Heights section. The railroad is between the new headquarters and the Heights, and it would not be ex- traordinary if the apparatus was held up occasionally. For this reason the Highland Station should be kept in use.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT
1924 has been a year of phenomenal growth for the Town of Arlington. Over $4,000,000 in permits were issued, making it the largest year yet. Fees for various permits authorized by the Annual Meeting of 1924 have made this Department more self-supporting, the total amount received during 1924 being $3,057. Most of these fees were not effective until June 9, 1924, five days after the final adjournment of the Annual Meeting, at which fees for gas and building permits were authorized.
208
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ROBBINS HALL
Early in the year the Board studied the matter of rental of the hall, and reduced the charges to a mini- mum, based on present costs. The result has been that the hall has been much more used by the townspeople, and the revenue derived from it has not suffered. The receipts for this year were $3,594. The policy of the Board in renting the hall has been to make it available for home people and organizations rather than outsid- ers, inasmuch as the hall was given for the use of the townspeople and not for revenue deriving organizations from other towns.
During the year the painting of the inside of the hall has been completed, and we do not look for any great amount for repairs during the coming year. The roof also has been gone over and found to be in first-class shape.
OUTSIDE POOR
The amount necessary for outside poor does not seem to increase much as time goes on. It is largely, of course, an economic question, there being less to dis- burse when business in general is good and people can obtain work. There are about thirty on the regular payrolls being cared for the town. Disbursements in 1924 were $24,543.27, of which we received back $7,418.41 from other cities and towns in which the per- son assisted was found to have a settlement.
We also call your attention again to the bills from the hospital on account of emergency accident cases. Under the law of the Commonwealth, a hospital taking an emergency case may collect from the town. This is irrespective of whether the accident happened within our limits or not. The town may get back some of this money, but the hospital is entitled to be paid in the first instance. During 1924 we have paid $1,488.75, and
209
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
there are other bills pending. The hospital is co-oper- ating with the Board, and attempts to collect these bills, but all they are unable to collect must be paid by the town.
INSURANCE
The town insurance during 1924 was handled through the town insurance agent. This method has proved to be extremely satisfactory. Adjustments and information are received much more speedily where one person is responsible for them than formerly.
AUDITOR
On July 1st George MacKay Richardson, Auditor of the town for sixteen years, resigned his position. It was with deep regret that the Board accepted same, and did so only in deference to Mr. Richardson's desires. Mr. Clarence Needham was appointed to fill the unexpired term.
After Mr. Needham's appointment the Common- wealth made an audit of the town's accounts, the result of which was most gratifying to the Board. At the same time the accounting system under Section 35, Chapter 34 of the General Laws was installed. This was authorized by vote of the Town Meeting held December 5, 1923. This new system is working well now, and seems to be a good thing. It is more simple, and is the uniform system which in the near future will probably be required of all cities and towns. Under this system the Selectmen approve all bills of the town. This makes for more detail in the Selectmen's office, but it is felt that such a state of affairs will be most beneficial to the town.
ZONING
During 1924 the town adopted a Zoning By-Law. The policy of the Board, which is the Board of Appeal
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named in this by-law, has been to grant relief only in cases of extreme hardship. We feel that there should be no wholesale letting down of the provisions of this ordinance, thinking that if any particular section is detrimental it should be remedied by amendment, as provided in the law.
Pursuant to this, the Board recommended that the sections on the matter of distances of one and two-car garages from other buildings and lot lines be put back under the Fire Marshal's rules for the Metropolitan District. This recommendation was accepted and voted by the town at the October meeting.
Several suits are pending to test the validity of the law, and two have been settled in favor of the town. No final judgments, however, have yet been rendered.
BUS LINES
During the year the Board has granted licenses for the operation of two bus lines in the town, that of the Boston & Middlesex Railway and the Eastern Massachu- setts Railway. The Board feels that this method of transportation will probably develop considerably in the near future, but also feels that some provisions should be made to compel the licensees to contribute to the upkeep of our roads. At present they do not help in any way.
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