USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1903 > Part 2
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Received and paid town treasurer for drug- gist's license, 1 00
Received for dog licenses to Dec. 1st, 1902, and paid the county treasurer, 398 40
Recorded 25 births.
Recorded 16 marriages.
Recorded 29 deaths.
OTIS F. BROWN, Town Clerk.
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN.
Within a few years the importance of the preservation of shade trees on the highways in the state caused the legislature to pass an act requiring every town to elect at their annual town meeting a Tree Warden, who would have the care of shade trees on the highways. Elected to fill this important office, your war- den soon discovered that there was much work that ought to be done and much more that might be done.
At the present time our shade trees seem to be in good con- dition. Branches have been removed where they in any way ob- structed the highways or sidewalks. Two hundred rock maples have been planted, and they all lived and in a few years will make the streets very attractive. If a hundred or two were set each year, in a short time our public streets would be as fine as any in the state.
Mr. George v. L. Myer has planted a good many trees on Main street at his own expense, also furnishing men and a team to help plant the two hundred last spring.
But for the generous assistance of Mr. Myer, who instructed his foreman to send all the help needed, much more of the appro- priation would have been expended. Mr. Myers is quite inter- ested in the planting of shade trees, and hoped they would be planted every year.
O. F. BROWN,
Tree Warten.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND LIBRARIAN OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Trustees take pleasure in reporting an unusual interest in the Library the past year, and a good progress in all depart- ments. The number of patrons has steadily increased.
Following the principle adopted in former years, the Trus- tees have exercised discrimination in selecting new books, believ- ing that in a small library only those books which are likely to have some permanent value are worthy a place on its shelves. It is the duty as well as the privilege of a public library to set the standard of reading, to place a value upon quality rather than upon quanity. Beside the best current fiction there have been added works of standard authors ; books of general interest in biography, history, travel and religion - treating of current events and discussions, and several translations of the classics. Atten- tion is called especially to the large number of valuable works of absorbing interest which have not entered largely into general circulation.
Books on special subjects, which are of interest to the gen- eral reader, have been furnished to the teachers and pupils of the public schools, to study clubs and societies. The principal of the South School having established a school library for the pupils, has made generous selections which have been loaned for a lim- ited period. Under her supervision the pupils have been directed and encouraged to read the best literature, and the number of books in circulation has increased. The Trustees would be glad to furnish similar collections to other schools to a reasonable ex- tent and for a limited time, believing thereby the library may be made to serve all the citizens in a larger way. Arrangements have been made already for the establishment of such a loan li- brary in the West School.
The Librarian has spent much time outside of regular hours in cataloguing the recent accessions according to the Dewey sys-
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LIBRARY REPORT
tem, and in preparing the supplement to the finding-list, issued in January.
The delivery room, which also serves as reading room and reference room, is greatly crowded at times. Undoubtedly a much larger number would take advantage of it if there were better opportunity for quiet reading and study. Harper's Weekly, Harper's Monthly, The Century, Scribner's, The Youth's Com- panion, The New England Magazine, The Review of Reviews, The Atlantic, McClure's, Munsey's, St. Nicholas, The Vegeta- rian and The Christian Work, have appeared regularly on the reading room tables ; and The Ladies' Home Journal, The Out- look, The World's Work, Outing and Success, have been added to the regular list. There have been also contributions of other magazines and periodicals.
Many of the volumes have been re-bound and some thor- ougly worn out replaced. In the coming year it will be well to have many more re-bound, and magazines which will be of permanent value bound and preserved. Some of the magazines now on file might be loaned to the school libraries.
The Woman's Education Society of Boston has rendered great service by providing, free of charge, three loan exhibitions, Photographs of Authors, Photographs of Birds and Photographs of Australia and New Zealand. All were highly instructive and thoroughly appreciated by the public, including large numbers of pupils of the schools. This society also loaned for six months an Audubon Library, consisting of books and charts, which were for general circulation.
A few volumes have been received from the General Theolog- ical Library of Boston, the local library as a .distributing branch being entitled to two volumes for each resident clergyman, to be retained three weeks. The only expense involved in any of these loans from abroad is for transportation.
Thanks are due Mr. Horace E. Andrews for the use of his store as a delivery station.
The Trustees respectfully recommend the appropriation of four hundred dollars for the ensuing year.
31
LIBRARY REPORT
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
STATISTICS
Total number of volumes March, 1902 2,896
66 66
added 197
66
March, 1903
3,093
Number of volumes of fiction issued
5,104
history and travel
197
66
miscellaneous 337
Total number of bound volumes issued
5,758
magazines issued 779
bound volumes and magazines 6,537
88
" since Library opened
1,133
Fines collected during year
GIFTS
Bound Volumes 1
Unbound Volumes
State Mass., Trial of John O'Neil 1
Public Documents Acts and Resolves 7
₹ Journals
Public Documents 5
Soldiers and Sailors of Rev'n. 2
66
66 Memorial to Roger Wolcott 1
U. S. Gov. Reports, Com. Ed.
1
Smithsonian Ins. 1
66 Interstate Com. Com. 1
Civil Ser. Com. 1
Reports,
16
N. E. Hist. Gen. Soc., Vital Records 7
Rep. Geo. H. Gibney, Legislative Souvenir 1
Manual Gen. Court 1 Hon. A. E. Pillsbury, Memorial Discourses J. W. & E. D. Pillsbury 1
City of Boston, Public Lib. Report
Boston Univ., Catalogue Sch. Med. 1
1
6
biography 120
Number of cards issued during the year
$6.81
Hon. A. P. Gardner, Rep. Comp. Currency
32
LIBRARY REPORT
Bound Volumes
Unbound Volumes
City Fall River, Pub. Lib. Rep.
Town Topsfield, Town Report
Town Merrimac 66 Gen. Theo. Lib. Report
1
1
Miscellaneous 2
27
Chas. D. Sias, parcel magazines
Miss Ella Rankins, parcel magazines
Anonymous, Pioneers of Mass., by C. H. Pope 1
Miss Sara Safford, parcel magazines
T. W. Lawson, History of the America's Cup
1
Mrs. G. K. Knowlton, The New Voice, 1 year
GRACE C. STONE, Librarian
TREASURER'S REPORT
AUGUSTUS P. GARDNER, in account with Trustees of Public Library of Hamilon, Mass. Dr.
1902
Brought forward from last account $ 227 14 July 22. Received of Miss Grace C. Stone, amount of fines 4 75
Received of Daniel E. Safford, Treas., amount appropriated by Town of Hamilton, at Annual Town meeting of 1902 400 00
Mar. 1. Received of Miss Grace C. Stone, amount of fines 6 81
$ 638 70
Cr.
Apr. 29. Paid Warrant No. 1
Pilgrim Press
$ 35 70
J. G. Nichols, sundries 6 61
Grace C. Stone, extra work 5 00
$ 47 31
2
1
33
TOWN REPORT
July 1. Paid Warrant No. 2
Almy, Bigelow & Washburn, magazines $ 28 25
Grace C. Stone
25 00
J. G. Nichols
4 00
E. A. McIntire 1 00
$ 58 25
Oct. 11. Paid Warrant No. 3
Almy, Bigelow & Washburn, books $36 26
Pilgrim Press 32 25
Grace C. Stone 25 00
A. C. Cummings, trans. of books 13 00
$105 61
Dec. 26. Paid Warrant No. 4
Pilgrim Press
$ 22 41
Grace C. Stone
35 00
Beverly Citizen Co., finding lists
20 00
Almy, Bigelow & Washburn
14 39
1903
$ 91 80
Feb. 21. Paid Warrant No. 5
Pilgrim Press
$ 18 54
A. C. Cummings
11 75
J. G. Nichols
5 08
Almy, Bigelow & Washburn
5 25
Grace C. Stone
25 00
$ 65 62
Balance to credit of Library Trustees
$270 11
$ 638 70
E. & O. E.
AUGUSTUS P. GARDNER, Treasurer of Trustees.
Hamilton, Mass., March 2, 1903.
JESSE G. NICHOLS, GEORGE v. L. MEYER, AUGUSTUS P. GARDNER, Trustees of the Public Library.
ORDERS AND BY-LAWS
OF THE
TOWN OF HAMILTON.
ORDERS AND BY-LAWS
HAMILTON, MASS., Feb. 16, 1903.
Whereas the undersigned were appointed at the pre- vious annual town meeting as a Committee to revise the by-laws of the town, we beg in the pursuance of our duty in that capacity to submit the following report :
Your Committee has carefully considered the needs of the town, not only in its present condition, but under circumstances which may reasonably be expected to arise in the future.
While we cannot hope to please all, yet we cherish the hope that to the reasonable majority of our townspeople these orders and by-laws will prove satisfactory.
Your Committee has spared no pains in consulting modern authorities, and have freely borrowed from the revised and lately-approved by-laws of other towns; and we hereby gratefully acknowledge the unfailing courtesy of the officials to whom we have applied either for advice or the use of public documents.
We desire to call especial attention to our endeavors to systematize the town records, by calling for itemized repors from the different departments and the provision made for the indexing of these records when filed with the Town Clerk.
As there seems to be a misapprehension of some of the public statutes of Massachusetts which nearly affect us as townspeople, your Committee has freely incorpo- rated sections of the Revised Laws which deal with matters of interest to us all, thinking this a most feasible way of putting information before the citizens in a con- veniently accessible form.
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ORDERS AND BY-LAWS
While not by any means claiming perfection, being well conscious of our shortcomings, we hope these orders and by-laws will be useful to this town for many years to come.
ORDERS
ARTICLE I. TOWN MEETING.
When Held.
The annual town meeting shall be held on the second Tuesday in March, and meeting shall be opened at nine o'clock in the forenoon.
How Notified.
All warrant for town meetings shall be served by posting at- tested copies thereof at the Congregational Church, at the Town Hall and at the Wenham Depot Post-office in said town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Special Meetings.
The selectmen shall give at least three days' public notice of their intent to issue a warrant for a special town meeting, unless in their judgment public interest would suffer by such delay.
Adjourned Meetings.
When any town meeting shall be adjourned, except from day to day, by reason of the regular business of the meeting being unfinished, the town clerk shall cause notices of the time and place of holding such adjourned meetings to be duly posted in the public places mentioned in section two, which notices shall also state briefly the business to come before such ad- journed meeting and shall include notices of all pending motions.
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ORDERS AND BY-LAWS
Form of Vote to be used upon Money Matters.
No vote shall be passed appropriating or involving the expen- diture of money at any meeting except by hand vote, or written or printed ballot, which vote shall be counted by tellers appointed by the chair, and said vote shall be recorded by the town clerk.
Reconsideration of Vote upon Money Matters.
No vote relative to the raising, paying or appropriating any money shall be reconsidered in town meeting by any less num- ber of votes than were cast at the former consideration of the same.
Government of Town Meeting.
SECT. 7. Town meeting shall be governed according to the rules of parlimentary practice in Cushing's Manual, so far as they are applicable and not inconsistent with law.
ARTICLE II. APPROPRIATIONS.
SECTION 1. No action shall be taken at any town meeting ap- propriating or involving the expenditure of money or the creating of any town debt, unless at least thirty-five shall vote in favor of such appropriation, expenditure or incurred debt.
SECT. 2. No action shall be taken at any special town meeting appropriating or involving the expenditure of money, or the creat- ing of any town debt exceeding the amount of one thousand dol- lars, unless at least seventy-five shall vote in favor of such appro- priation, expenditure or incurred debt.
SECT. 3. Whenever the appropriation placed in the hands of any board or department for a specified purpose shall be ex- hausted, such board or department shall not proceed to further expenditure without authority from the town.
Provided, however, that this shall not forbid any expenditures that may be absolutely needful to the public safety, or that may be required by the laws of the Commonwealth.
SECT. 4. Whenever it shall appear to the selectmen that any board or committee has exhausted its appropriation, the select-
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ORDERS AND BY-LAWS
men shall not draw any furthur order therefor without a vote of the town.
SECT. 5. Whenever the account of an appropriation made for any department of the town shows at the end of a fiscal year a balance unexpended, such balance shall be carried to the credit of such department or specific work for the ensuing year. If the amount appropriated for a special work exceeds the cost of such work, the balance of such appropriation shall be placed in the general funds of the town.
ARTICLE III.
DEMANDS AGAINST THE TOWN.
SECTION 1. All demands against the town shall be presented in separate accounts to the board or committee to which they respectfully appertain, at a meeting of such board or committee, by whom they shall be examined, and if approved shall be attested by the official signature of the chairman and clerk of said board or committee duly endorsed thereon. A brief statement of the ac- count shall be made in a book kept for that purpose by the clerk of each board.
SECT. 2. All accounts and other claims against the town for labor done, services performed, or material furnished for the use of the town under the charge, direction or superintendence of any board or officer, shall when presented to the selectmen bear an at- testation of the approval of such board or officer, otherwise the same shall not be acted upon by the selectmen. And the selectmen shallnot authorize the payment of any account or claim whatever against the town, unless such account or claim be accompanied by a full and exact statement of the labor or services performed or the mateaial furnished, and the selectmen shall also secure sat- isfactory vouchers from each of the persons to whom payment was due.
ARTICLE IV.
TOWN CLERK.
SECTION 1. The clerk shall be responsible for the safe keep- ing of all books, papers, documents, plans and records, which
7
ORDERS AND BY-LAWS
shall be deposited in town vault, and shall not allow them to be taken from his custody.
SECT. 2. The town clerk shall furnish all boards and commit- tees with a copy of all votes affecting them. All committees to whom any matter which requires a public hearing is referred by the town, shall give a public notice thereof, stating time and place of such hearing.
SECT. 3. The town clerk shall furnish blanks of the ordinary letter size, with appropriate headings, upon which petitions, re- ports and other papers in the ordinary course of town proceed- ings may be prepared. He shall fold uniformly all papers and documents within his department, and shall endorse them in a manner to indicate the contents of each paper, and shall file and arrange them in a manner convenient for reference and examina- tion. He shall index all such papers and documents and all records of the town.
SECT. 4. All petitions for the insertion of articles in the war- rant for a town meeting, and all papers and reports, whether printed or written, relating to such a meeting, shall be kept in separate files with the words, "Regular Town Meeting," or " Special Town Meeting," as the case may be, with the current year plainly marked thereon.
SECT. 5. Whenever a report of any board or committee is presented to the town, and its recommendations are adopted, the town clerk shall cause to be entered upon the records of the meet- ing such portions of the report as may be necessary for the un- derstanding of the action taken by the town.
ARTICLE V.
SELECTMEN.
SECTION 1. The selectmen shall make an annual report to the town, giving an account of their action in all matters of pub- lic interest, stating specifically what streets, if any, have been laid out and constructed, or altered, what damages have been as- sessed and paid, and what claims are outstanding and unsettled, and they shall give full reports with regard to all suits against the town.
-
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ORDERS AND BY-LAWS
SECT. 2. The selectmen may bring suit in the name of the town against the principal and sureties, or either of them, named in any bond given to the town by any officer, agent, contractor or other person, for breach of the condition of such bond.
They shall cause the appearance and answer of the town to be entered and made in all suits brought against the town at law or in equity.
They shall consider all claims made against the town for dam- ages, or breaches of contract, and may settle the same before suit is brought thereon, provided that in no case shall a settlement be so made by a payment of more than five hundred dollars.
SECT. 3. The selectmen shall have control of the police de- partment, and shall make from time to time such rules and regu- lations for the government, disposition and management of the police as they may deem expedient.
SECT. 4. The selectmen shall keep a separate account of each appropriation made by the town, and shall post all books in their charge by the first day of each month. Each account shall be distinctly set forth in their annual statement made to the town.
SECT. 5. It shall be the duty of the selectmen to audit the ac- count of the collector at least once in two months. It shall be their duty to audit the account of the treasurer at the close of each municipal year, and as much oftener as they deem expedient, and for this purpose they shall have access to all books and vouchers in his possession, or in the possession of any other offi- cer of the town, and they shall in all cases report to the town the result of their examination.
SECT. 6. The selectmen shall cause the annual report to be printed which shall contain the report of the auditor with the ac- counts and statements upon which it is based, the warrant for the next annual town meeting, the report of all town meetings held during the year, as recorded by the town clerk, and the reports of all other boards and officers.
They shall cause the same to be distributed to the citizens of the town at least one week before the annual town meeting of each year.
9
ORDERS AND BY-LAWS
ARTICLE VI.
TREASURER.
SECTION 1. The treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all receipts and payments of money in behalf of the town, and shall pay all demands against the town upon orders of the select- men, and upon warrants drawn by the school committee.
Notes, interest and all sums required by law to be paid either to the state or county treasurer shall be paid by the town treas- urer without special direction.
SECT. 2. All money belonging to the town shall be deposited in the name of the Town of Hamilton in any National Bank or trust company which shall be approved by the selectmen, and the treasurer shall sign all checks and drafts on deposit.
ARTICLE VII.
COLLECTOR.
SECTION 1. The collector of taxes shall exhibit his accounts to the selectmen at least once in two months, and shall then pro- duce treasury receipts for all money paid into the treasury by him, and shall deliver to the treasurer an order for such abate- ment of taxes as have been made by the assessor. The collector shall pay the treasurer all money received on account of taxes at least once in each month.
ARTICLE VIII. TREE WARDEN.
SECTION 1. The tree warden shall give the owner of any land abutting a highway at least twenty-four hours written notice of his intention to trim any shade tree on the highway abutted by such land, and he shall carefully observe the following section of chapter 53 of Revised Laws : -
SECT. 12. The tree warden may appoint and remove deputy tree wardens. He and they shall receive such compensation as the town determines or, in default thereof, as the selectmen al- low. He shall have the care and control of all public shade trees in the town, except those in public parks or open places under the jurisdiction of the park commissioner, and of those, if
10
ORDERS AND BY-LAWS
so requested in writing by the park commissioner, and shall en- force all the provisions of law for the preservation of such trees. He shall expend all money appropriated for the setting out and maintenance of such trees.
Regulations for their care and preservation made by him, ap- proved by the selectmen and posted in two or more public places, imposing fines and forfeiture of not more than twenty dollars in any one case, shall have the force and effect of town by-laws. All shade trees within the limits of a public way shall be public shade trees.
SECT. 13. Public shade trees outside the residential part of a town, as determined by the selectmen, shall not be cut or re- moved, in whole or in part, except by the warden or his deputy or by a person holding a license so to do from the tree warden.
Public shade trees within said residential parts shall not be cut, except for trimming by the tree warden, nor shall they be re- moved by the tree warden or his deputy or other person without a public hearing at a suitable time and place, after notices there- of posted in two or more public places in the town and upon the tree and after authority granted by the tree warden thereof. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall forfeit not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars to the use of the town.
ARTICLE IX. CHIEF OF POLICE.
SECTION 1. The selectmen shall appoint a Chief of Police who shall serve during their pleasure.
He shall receive complaints against all persons violating any law in the town, prosecute offenders, and attend in behalf of the town the trial of offenders.
He shall enforce all orders, regulations and by-laws of the town and shall obey and execute all lawful orders and commands of the selectmen. He shall keep a record of all offences com- mitted and of all prosecutions.
The Chief of Police shall receive such compensation as the selectmen determine.
In case the office becomes vacant the selectmen shall appoint a successor.
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ORDERS AND BY-LAWS
ARTICLE X.
BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.
SECTION 1. All boards and committees shall make a record of their meetings and proceedings thereat, which record shall be open to public inspection.
SECT. 2. All officers shall transmit to their successors in office, at the expiration of their term of office, all books, papers, documents, plans and other properties in their custody belong- ing to the town.
The officers of all departments shall turn over to the town clerk all books, papers, documents, plans and records belonging to the town and not necessary for the immediate use of their respective departments, and these shall be deposited in the town clerk's vault.
SECT. 3. Any board or committee having in charge any con- tract work or undertaking of any nature for which any special appropriation has been made, shall in the annual town report make a statement of the condition of such contract work or other undertaking with a report of all receipts, expenditures and indebtedness incurred by said board or committee to the date of said report and an estimate of the amount of money necessary to finish said work.
SECT. 4. All boards, committees or officers having charge of expenditures of money shall at the end of the year make a report to the auditor of all unpaid bills. The financial year shall end on the fifteenth day of February.
ARTICLE XI.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
SECTION 1. The selectmen shall constitute the board of health.
SECT. 2. The board of health shall organize annually by choice of one of their members as chairman.
The said board shall also appoint a secretary, whose duty it shall be to have charge of the records of the board.
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ORDERS AND BY-LAWS
SECT. 3. It shall be the duty of the board of health to look after the sanitary condition of the town and make all such regu- lations as it judges necessary for the public health and safety re- specting nuisances, sources of filth and causes of sickness within the town, and respecting articles which are capable of containing infection or contagion that might be brought into or conveyed from the town.
It shall be the duty of the board to enter complaint against all persons offending against the laws of the Commonwealth provid- ing for the preservation of the public health, and to prosecute the same to final judgment, at the expense of the town.
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