Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1920, Part 3

Author:
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 130


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1920 > Part 3


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ARTICLE 4.


Under Article 4, Salaries and Fees for each department, as well as expenses, are included in the appropriation for said department. A complete list of Salaries and Fees recommended is given on the page following the list of these department appropriations.


To raise and appropriate money for :


69


FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT


Appropriated Called for


Recom-


1920


1921


mended 1921


Street Lighting


$5,400 00


$5,500 00


$5,500 00


Highway


11,000 00


14,000 00


14,000 00


Poor Department


4,000 00


4,000 00


4,000 00


State Aid


500 00


300 00


300 00


Soldiers' Relief and Military Aid


750 00


700 00


700 00


Town Hall


1,500 00


1,600 00


1,600 00


Fire Department


1,250 00


1,250 00


1,250 00


Cemetery


550 00


850 00


850 00


Park Commission


25 00


100 00


100 00


Tree Warden


800 00


800 00


800 00


Selectmen


1,100 00


1,100 00


1,100 00


Assessors


1,000 00


1,200 00


1,200 00


Treasurer


650 00


900 00


900 00


Collector


800 00


800 00


800 00


Accounting


1,100 00


1,100 00


1,100 00


Town Clerk


550 00


550 00


550 00


Police


2,235 00


2,500 00


2,500 00


Snow Removal


11,000 00


1,500 00


1,500 00


Finance Committee


25 00


25 00


25 00


Board of Health


500 00


1,000 00


1,000 00


Printing Town Reports


310 00


300 00


300 00


Brown Tail and Gypsy Moth


Work


4,350 00


4,500 00


4,500 00


Memorial Day


300 00


200 00


200 00


School House Loans


$1,980 00


1,980 00


*1,980 00


Interest on Tax


2,830 00


2,500 00


*2,500 00


Boiler Insurance


55 00


40 00


40 00


Schools


37,875 00


40,300 00


40,300 00


School House Insurance


2,000 00


1,000 00


1,000 00


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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT


Appropriated Called for


1920


1921


Recom- mended 1921


Sealer of Weights and Measures


150 00


150 00


150 00


Election and Registration


765 00


500 00


500 00


Moderator


50 00


50 00


50 00


Legal Expenses


100 00


100 00


100 00


Certifying Town Notes


10 00


20 00


20 00


Cattle Inspector


60 00


75 00


75 00


Town Clock


50 00


50 00


50 00


Public Library


1,500 00


2,000 00


2,000 00


Forest Fire Warden


25 00


50 00


50 00


Town Hall Insurance


1,500 00


1,500 00


Reserve Fund


** 1,381 00


2,000 00


*2,000 00


$98,526 00 $97,090 00 $97,090 00 *Recommended from Excess and Deficiency Fund.


** Transferred during year 1920.


MEMORANDOM OF SALARIES AND FEES INCLUDED IN FOREGOING APPROPRIATION UNDER ARTICLE 4


Selectmen, Chairman $350 00


Overseers of Poor


2d member


250 00


Chairman


$50 00


3d member


250 00


2d member 25 00


Treasurer


750 00


3d member


25 00


Collector


500 00


Registrars, $50 each


200 00


Town Clerk


300 00


Election Officers and Tellers, $10 each


100 00


Allowance and ex-


penses and fees


150 00


Town Accountant


1,000 00


Board of Health


Sealer


75 00


Chairman


50 00


Forest Fire Warden


10 00


2d member


25 00


Allowance for fees of


Cattle Inspector


75 00


3d member


25 00


Moderator, $10 per meeting


50 00


Assessors, per day 5 00


71


FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT


ARTICLE 5.


Transfer from Excess and Deficiency Fund to meet overdrafts in Assessors' and Forest Fire Warden's Departments. Called for by Article, $663.48. Recommended, $663.48.


ARTICLE 6.


Report of Committee on Memorials.


Left for action by the Town.


ARTICLE 7.


Petition of A. P. Gardner Post, American Legion.


Called for by Article, $200.00. Recommended, $200.00.


ARTICLE 8.


One Street Light on Mill Street. Called for by Article, $18.50. Recommended, $18.50.


ARTICLE 9. Two Street Lights on Grant Avenue. Called for by Article $37.00. Recommended $37.00.


ARTICLE 10.


Two Street Lights on Washington Avenue. Called for by Article $37.00. Recommended $37.00.


ARTICLE 11.


Acceptance of Mill Street, between Union and Willow Streets. No action taken.


ARTICLE 12.


Surface water drainage, Cottage and Hamilton Streets. Recommended.


72


HAMILTON TOWN REPORT


ARTICLE 13.


Alterations of Engine House. Called for by Article, $3,100.00. Recommended, $3,100.00.


ARTICLE 14.


Report of Committee on High School. No action taken.


ARTICLE 15.


New High School. We recommend that no action be taken at this time.


ARTICLE 16.


Appropriation for High School. Called for by Article, $100,000.00. Not recommended.


ARTICLE 17.


Release of land to William F. Barrett. Recommended.


ARTICLE 18.


Painting and alterations of Town Hall. No action taken.


ARTICLE 19.


Release of Commonwealth from land damages. Recommended.


ARTICLE 20.


Borrowing after January 1, 1922, in anticipation of taxes.


We recommend authorizing the Treasurer to borrow as set forth in this article of the Warrant.


73


FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT


ARTICLE 21. Collection of taxes. Recommended.


GRAND TOTAL OF APPROPRIATIONS RECOMMENDED.


From surplus From taxes 93,910 00


$7,143 48


From all sources $101,053 48


Corresponding totals in 1920, appropriated in three Town Meetings, as follows :


From surplus


$6,075 64


From taxes


96,235 00


From all sources $102,310 64


Respectfully yours,


CHESTER H. KNOWLES, Chairman,


EDWARD J. READY, Secretary,


WASHINGTON A. PATCH, LESTER E. McGARRY, GEORGE VON L. MEYER,


Finance and Advisory Committee, Town of Hamilton.


Proposed By-Laws of the Town of Hamilton


CHAPTER I.


TOWN MEETINGS.


SECTION 1. The annual town meeting shall be held on the second Tuesday in March. a-


all


The polls shall be open at 5.45 o'clock A. M., and shall remain open until 4 o'clock P. M. After the closing of the polls the meeting shall be adjourned until the third Tuesday in March at 8 o'clock in the evening, at which time the remaining articles in the warrant shall be acted upon.


MANNER OF CALLING TOWN MEETINGS.


SECTION 2. Every town meeting, except as otherwise provided by law, shall be called in pursuance of a warrant, under the hands of the Selectmen, notice of which shall be given at least seven days before said meeting, by posting attested copies thereof, one at the Town Hall, and one at each of the postoffices in said town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.


CHAPTER 2.


RULES OF PROCEDURE AT TOWN MEETINGS.


SECTION 1. All articles in the warrant shall be taken up in the order of their arrangement, unless otherwise decided by a two- thirds vote.


74


·


75


PROPOSED BY-LAWS


SECTION 2. In case of motions to amend, or to fill out blanks, the one expressing the largest sum or the longest time shall be put first, and an affirmative vote thereon shall be a negative vote on any smaller sum or shorter time.


SECTION 3. When a report of a committee is placed in the hands of the moderator it shall be deemed properly before the meeting for its action thereon, and a vote to accept the same shall discharge the committee, but shall not be equivalent to a vote to carry out its recommendations without a special vote to adopt it.


SECTION 4. No reports of committees shall be in order unless made under an article in the warrant which indicates the subject to be reported upon.


SECTION 5. If an article of the warrant has once been acted upon and disposed of, it shall not be again considered at that meet- ing, except by a two-thirds vote.


SECTION 6. Fifty legal voters shall constitute a quorum at all town meetings.


SECTION 7. The conduct of all town meetings, not prescribed by law or by the foregoing rules, shall be determined by the rules of practice contained in Cushing's Manual, so far as they are adapted to town meetings.


CHAPTER 3.


FINANCE COMMITTEE.


At the annual meeting and before the final adjournment thereof there, shall be appointed by the moderator a finance com- mittee consisting of five members, to serve until the final adjourn- ment of the next annual meeting and until their successors have been appointed, none of whom shall be an officer of or a member of


76


HAMILTON TOWN REPORT


any board of the town or any committee considering an appropria- tion or expenditure of money. Vacancies shall be filled by the moderator. The finance committee shall meet and organize by the election of a chairman and clerk. When the warrant for a town meeting contains any article or articles under which an appro- priation or expenditure of money, or the disposition of any prop- erty of the town, may be made, the finance committee shall con- sider said articles after giving one or more public hearings thereon, and shall report in writing its recommendations to the said town meeting. The failure, for any reason, of the committee to make such report shall not affect the legality of any action taken at any meeting.


CHAPTER 4.


LEGAL AFFAIRS.


SECTION 1. The board of selectmen shall have authority to prosecute, defend and compromise all litigation to which the town is a party, and to employ special counsel to assist the town counsel whenever in their judgment necessity therefor arises.


The town counsel shall draft all bonds, deeds, leases, obliga- tions, conveyances and other legal instruments, and do every pro- fessional act which may be required of him, by vote of the town or any board of town officers. Also, when required by said boards or any committee of the town, he shall furnish a written opinion on any question that may be submitted to him, and he shall at all times furnish legal advice to any officer of the town who may require his opinion upon any subject concerning the duties incum- bent upon such officer by virtue of his office.


He shall prosecute all suits ordered to be brought by the town or board of selectmen, and shall appear at any court in the com- monwealth in defence of all actions or suits brought against the


77


PROPOSED BY-LAWS


town or its officers in their official capacity, and shall try and argue any and all causes in which the town shall be a party, before any tribunal, whether in law or in equity, in the commonwealth, or before any board of referees or commission, and shall appear at any and all hearings on behalf of the town whenever his services may be required.


SECTION 2. The board of selectmen shall annually appoint an attorney-at-law to act as town counsel, who shall be paid such salary as the town votes.


CHAPTER 5.


TOWN CONTRACTS.


SECTION 1. No officer or board of the town shall make any contract on behalf of the town in which such officer or any member of such board is directly or indirectly financially interested, except competitive contracts.


SECTION 2. No town officer or board of town officers having the power or authority to appoint any town officer or agent shall appoint himself or any member of such board to any salaried office or position ; but this shall not prohibit any town officer from being chairman or clerk of the board of which he may be a member.


CHAPTER 6.


JUNK DEALERS, ETC.


No person shall be a collector of, or a dealer in, junk, old metals, or second-hand articles, or a keeper of a shop for the pur- chase, sale or barter of junk, old metals or second-hand articles, unless licensed therefor by the selectmen.


78


HAMILTON TOWN REPORT


CHAPTER 7.


WAYS.


SECTION 1. No person, except officers of the town in the lawful performance of their duties, and those acting under their orders, shall obstruct any sidewalk or street or any part thereof, or break or dig the ground of the same, without first obtaining a written license from the selectmen therefor.


SECTION 2. No person shall throw, place, or cause to be thrown or placed, upon any street or sidewalk in the town, any dirt, ashes or stones, hoops, boards or other wood with nails pro- jecting therefrom ; shavings, sawdust, manure, nails, spikes, screws, glass, tin cans, filth, rubbish or any noxious or refuse liquid or solid matter.


SECTION 3. No person shall drive, ride or lead a horse on any sidewalk of the town.


SECTION 4. No person shall tie a horse or other animal to any tree, nor to any structure protecting such tree, in the public streets of the town.


SECTION 5. No person shall fire or discharge any gun, fowling piece, pistol, or other firearm within any street, public way, place or square in the town, except with the permission of the board of selectmen ; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to any firing in accordance with law, nor to any firing permitted by the board of selectmen.


SECTION 6. No person shall distribute or display posters, handbills, placards, pamphlets, or other advertising matter in any public street or way without first obtaining a permit therefor from the board of selectmen.'


79


PROPOSED BY-LAWS


SECTION 7. No person shall place, or cause, or authorize to be placed, posters, handbills, placards, signs or other advertising matter of any nature in or upon any street or sidewalk in the town without first obtaining a permit therefor from the board of select- men.


SECTION 8. No person shall coast upon or across any sidewalk or street in the town, except at such times and in such places as may from time to time be designated by the selectmen or other officer having charge of the ways.


SECTION 9. No person shall allow any gate or door on prem- ises under his control and adjoining any public way, to swing on, over or into said public way.


SECTION 10. Three or more persons shall not stand together or near each other in any street, or on any footwalk or sidewalk, or upon any land left open between the curbing and building facing thereon and left open and used as a sidewalk in the town, so as to obstruct the free passage for foot passengers ; and any per- son or persons so standing shall move on immediately after a request so to do made by any constable or police officer of the town.


SECTION 11. No person shall loaf or loiter upon any public way after having been requested by a constable or police officer to move.


SECTION 12. No owner or driver of a vehicle shall bait or feed in a street a horse or beast connected with such vehicle, ex- cept in a place designated by the chief of Police, unless the horse or beast, while being baited or fed, is under the care of some suitable person, and is properly secured to prevent it from getting beyond such person's control.


80


HAMILTON TOWN REPORT


CHAPTER 8.


USE OF WAYS.


SECTION 1. No person shall place, or cause to be placed, upon any sidewalk, any coal, bale, box or trunk, crate, cask, barrel, garbage can, package or anything, so as to obstruct the same for more than one hour, or for more than ten minutes after being notified by a constable, police officer or selectman to move it.


SECTION 2. Every person intending to erect, repair or take down any building on land abutting on any street or way which the town is required to keep in repair ,and who desires to make use of any portion of said street or way for the purpose of placing therein building materials or rubbish, shall give notice thereof to the selectmen. The selectmen may grant a permit to occupy a portion of said street or way, and such permit shall be upon the condition that the licensee shall keep a sufficient number of lighted lanterns at or near the parts of the street or way obstructed or unsafe, and shall keep a railing or guard around the same, while such obstruction shall continue. If such obstruction is more than a temporary condition, the licensee shall place a good temporary walk around said obstruction, and at the completion of the work shall restore the street or way to its former condition.


Before issuing a license as specified in the preceding section, the person applying for the same shall execute a written agreement to indemnify and save harmless the town against and from all damages, by reason of cost or expense it may suffer or be put to by reason of any claim for damages or by reason of any proceeding, criminal or civil, on account of the existence of such obstruction or excavation.


81


PROPOSED BY-LAWS


CHAPTER 9.


PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION.


Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of Chap. 6, 7 and 8, of these By-Laws shall forfeit and pay, for each offence, a sum not exceeding twenty dollars.


All By-Laws heretofore adopted are hereby repealed .


These By-Laws shall be in effect and force when they have been approved as required by law.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE H. GIBNEY, CLARENCE S. KNOWLTON,


By-Law Committee.


Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting


Essex, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Hamilton,


GREETING :


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Hamilton, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, to meet in the Town Hall, in said Town, on Tuesday, the eighth (8th) day of March, nineteen hundred and twenty-one, at fifteen minutes before six o'clock in the forenoon (5.45 o'clock A. M.), then and there to act on the following articles, viz. :


ARTICLE 1. To bring in your ballots for :


Moderator, for one year. Town Clerk, for one year.


Three Selectmen, for one year.


Overseers of the Poor, and Board of Health, three for one year.


Treasurer, for one year.


Tax Collector, for one year.


Tree Warden, for one year.


Three Constables, for one year.


One Assessor, for three years.


One Library Trustee, for three years.


One Cemetery Commissioner, for three years.


One Park Commissioner, for three years.


One Member of the School Committee, for three years. And to vote on the following :


Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors for the coming year ? Yes or No.


82


83


WARRANT


Shall licenses be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxi- cating beverages for the coming year? Yes or No.


All on one ballot.


The polls will open at fifteen minutes before six o'clock (5.45 o'clock A. M.) and close at four (4) o'clock in the afternoon.


ARTICLE 2. To choose and appoint all other Town Officers in such manner as the Town shall determine.


ARTICLE 3. To hear the report of the Town Officers and of the Finance and Advisory Committee and other committees and take any action thereon.


ARTICLE 4. To raise and appropriate money for the repairs of Highways, Town Ways and Bridges, and all Town expenses, and determine the manner of expending the same.


ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will appropriate money from Excess and Deficiency Fund to meet overdrafts in the following accounts :


Assessors, $103.50


Forest Fire Warden, 559.98


ARTICLE 6. To hear the report of the Committee on Memo- rials to the veterans of all wars, and to see if the Town will appro- priate a sum of money to erect Memorials to veterans of all wars, or take any action thereon.


ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $200.00 for the use of the Augustus P. Gardner Post No. 194 of the American Legion, as petitioned for by Victor W. Daley and others.


ARTICLE 8. To see what action the Town will take towards installing one light on Mill Street, between Union and Cottage


.


84


HAMILTON TOWN REPORT


Streets, and appropriate a sum of money for the same, as petitioned for by A. Merrill Cummings and others.


ARTICLE 9. To see what action the Town will take towards placing lights on Grant Avenue and appropriate a sum of money for the sam, as petitioned for by George Bunce and others.


ARTICLE 10. To see what action the Town will take towards placing lights on Washington Avenue. and appropriate a sum of money for the same, as petitioned for by Walter Green and others.


ARTICLE 11. To see what action the Town will take towards accepting Mill Street between Union and Willow Street, as laid out by the Selectmen, and appropriate a sum of money to gravel and grade the same as petitioned for by Thomas Ryan and others.


ARTICLE 12. To see what action the Town will take toward overcoming the present conditions, relative to surface water, at the corner of Cottage Street and Hamilton Street. or take any action thereon, and make an appropriation for the same, as petitioned for by Frederick E. McGrath and others.


ARTICLE 13. To hear the report of the Committee appointed at the last Annual Town Meeting to investigate the advisability of erecting an Engine House at South Hamilton, and to see if the Town will vote to remodel and make alterations on the present Fire House at South Hamilton, and appropriate a sum of money therefor, or to take any action thereon.


ARTICLE 14. To hear the report of the Committee appointed at the last annual Town Meeting to investigate the advisability of erecting a High School building and report at the next annual Town Meeting, and to appropriate a sum of money to carry out any recommendation made by the Committee, or take any other action thereon.


85


WARRANT


ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to erect a High School Building at a cost not to exceed $100,000, as petitioned for by the School Committee, or take any action thereon.


ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $100,000 for the construction and erection and original equipment and furnishings for a High School Building, $5,000 of which shall be raised from the tax levy of 1921 and $95,000 of which shall be paid and provided by bond issue, and to take any action thereon.


ARTICLE 17. To see what action the Town will take towards releasing to your petitioner, all the right, title and interest which the Town has or may have in and to the following described parcel of land in said Town of Hamilton :


Being all the portions of Waldingfield Road, as it existed prior to June 8th, 1920, which lies between Highland Street in said Town and the southerly end of the new location of a part of said Waldingfield Road, which parcel was discontinued by decree of the Essex County Commissioners, dated June 8, 1920, and recorded with Essex South District Registry of Deeds, Book 2456, Page 335. Excepting, however, such part of said discontinued parcel as has been released to Bayard Tuckerman by your petitioner by deed prior to the date hereof and which lies southerly of the land of the petitioner, as petitioned for by William F. Barrett by his attorney, J. Edgar Barnes.


ARTICLE 18. To see what action the Town will take towards painting the Town Hall inside and out and making any other alterations, and appropriate a sum of money for the same.


ARTICLE 19. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to sign a release to the Public works Commission releasing the


86


HAMILTON TOWN REPORT


Commonwealth from any land damage that may have occurred in the taking and widening of Main Street near Moulton Street.


ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will authorize the Treas- urer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the municipal year, beginning January 1, 1922, in anticipation of the revenue of said municipal year, such sums of money as may be necessary to meet the current expenses of the Town, giving the note or notes of the Town therefor. Any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid for from revenue of said financial year.


ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will authorize the Collector to use all means of collecting taxes which a Town Treasurer, when appointed Collector, may use agreeable to Chapter 25, Section 75, of the Revised Laws.


ARTICLE 22. To hear the report of the By-Laws Committee and take any action thereon, and to pass any vote or votes thereon.


ARTICLE 23. To act on any other matter that may legally come before said meeting.


And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof, one at the Meeting House, one at the South Hamil- ton Post Office, and one at the Town Hall, in said Town, seven (7) days at least before the time of holding said meeting.


Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding said meeting.


Given under our hands this 15th day of February, A. D. 1921. .


GEORGE H. GIBNEY, ARTHUR C. CUMMINGS, AVON D. BRADEEN,


Selectmen of Hamilton.


List of Jurors


Harold M. Dodge, blacksmith, School St.


William E. Townsend, retired, Willow St. Fred R. Haskell, painter, Park St. Jno. Lamson, farmer, Highland St. Rodney H. Adams, farmer, Highland St. Frank Dane, foreman, Moulton St. Henry Rogers, motorman, Park St. Charles A. Smerage, R. R. conductor, Rust St. John E. Cox, foreman, Main St.


Roscoe Caverly, merchant, Gardner St. Rudolph H. Haraden, forester, Bridge St.


Joseph E. Allen, meat-cutter, Asbury St.


Richard H. Harraden, agent, Western Ave. Fred A. Saunders, collector, Railroad Ave. Frank C. Back, laborer, Maple St. Wendell W. Dodge, carpenter, Grant Ave. Harold C. Martin, bond salesman, Chestnut St. Ralph W. Porter, electrician, Walnut St.


Oscar A. Wood, carpenter, Bridge St. George P. Ayers, machinist, Bridge St.


87


7


The Commonwealth of Massachusetts DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS AND TAXATION DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS


REPORT OF AN AUDIT of THE ACCOUNTS OF


The Town of Hamilton For the Year Ending December 31, 1920


Made in Accordance with the Provisions of Section 35, Chapter 44, General Laws


· 'February 23, 1921


THE COMMONWEATH OF MASSACHUSETTS. DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS AND TAXATION.


DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS. STATE HOUSE, BOSTON.


February 23, 1921.


Gentlemen :-


I submit herewith my report of an audit of the accounts of the town of Hamilton for the year ending December 31, 1920, made in accordance with the provisions of Sec- tion 35, Chapter 44 of the General Laws. This report is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Edward H. Fenton, Chief Examiner of this Division, who was placed in charge of the work.


Very truly yours, THEODORE N. WADDELL,


TNW/EAD


Director of Accounts.


MR. THEODORE N. WADDELL,


Director of Accounts, Department of Corporations and Taxation, State House, Boston.




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