USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1956 > Part 2
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Moved by Mr. Morley L. Piper and duly seconded : "That the Third Report of the School Building Needs Committee for the period from January 1956 to the present, be and the same hereby is accepted as an interim report, and that the Committee be continued for the purpose of making a further study and investigation concerning school housing needs, the Committee to render its report thereon at a town meeting at or before the next annual town meeting, and that the sum of $500 be appropriated for the purposes of the Committee."
Voice Vote. Motion unanimously carried.
Article 10. Moderator: "To see if the Town will vote to construct a parking area on a portion of the Engine House Lot, so-called, located at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Willow Street, the work to be done under the direction and supervision of the Board of Selectmen, and to raise and appropriate a sum of money for such purpose, or take any action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Mr. Lawrence Lamson and duly seconded : "That the open area of the Engine House lot, so-called, located at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Willow Street, be transferred from the custody of the Board of Engineers to that of the Selectmen, and that the area be
22
made into a parking lot for the public with a hard-top surface, the work to be done by the Town under the direction and supervision of the Selectmen, and that the sum of $400 be appropriated for such purposes."
Voice Vote. Motion unanimously carried.
Article 11. Moderator: "To see if the Town will vote to accept Chapter 670 of the Acts and Resolves of 1955, being an act 'relative to increasing the amounts of pensions, retirement allowances and annuities payable to certain former public employees,' or take any action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Mr. Everett F. Haley and duly seconded : "That the Town accept the provisions of Chapter 670 of the Acts and Resolves of 1955, being an act 'relative to increasing the amounts of pensions, retirement allowances and annuities payable to certain former public employees.' "
Voice Vote. Motion unanimously carried.
Article 12. Moderator: "To see if the Town will vote to sell for not less than $2000 all its right, title and interest in and to a parcel of land and the easements and rights appurtenant thereto and belonging to the Town taken in 1943 by the Town by eminent domain for the pur- pose of a public playground and recreational center and shown on a Plan of 'Hamilton Park' dated August 26, 1886, on file at the office of the Town Clerk, and on a Plan entitled 'Plan of Highland Park' dated September 3, 1887, recorded at Essex (South District) Registry of Deeds, Book 1201, Page 1, said property being described in said taking as beginning at the northeasterly corner of Grant Avenue and Arthur Avenue and running westerly one hundred and twenty feet to Roosevelt Avenue, thence turning and running southerly one hundred feet to a passageway from Roosevelt Avenue to Grant Avenue, thence turning and running easterly one hundred and twenty feet to Grant Avenue, thence turning and running northerly to Arthur Avenue one hundred feet to the point of beginning, and containing approximately twelve thousand (12,000) square feet, be all these measurements more or less, or take action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Mr. Lawrence R. Stone and duly seconded : "That the Town sell for not less than $2000 all its right, title and interest in and to a parcel of land and the easements and rights appurtenant thereto shown on a plan of 'Hamilton Park,' dated September 3, 1887, recorded in Essex (South District) Registry of Deeds, Book 1201, Page 1, said parcel having been the subject of a taking by the Town by eminent domain in 1943 and being described in such taking as beginning at the northeasterly corner of Grant Avenue and Arthur Avenue and running westerly 120 feet to Roosevelt Avenue, thence turning and running southerly 100 feet to a passageway from Roosevelt Avenue to Grant Avenue, thence turning and running easterly 120 feet to Grant Avenue, thence turning and running northerly to Arthur Avenue 100 feet to the point of begin- ning, and containing approximately 12,000 square feet, be all these measurements more or less:"
Voice Vote. Motion unanimously carried.
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Article 13. Moderator: "To see if the Town will vote to authorize and approve the Board of Assessors to use available funds or 'free cash' in an amount not to exceed the sum of $10,000.00 in determining the tax rate for the year 1956, or take any action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Mr. Clark S. Sears and duly seconded : "That the Town authorize and approve the Board of Assessors to use available funds or ' free cash' in an amount not to exceed the sum of $10,000.00 in determin- ing the tax rate for the year 1956."
Voice Vote. Motion unanimously carried.
Article 14. Moderator: "To hear the report of the Committee appointed to consider and investigate the use or disposition of the Jonathan Lamson School Building, to vote on what use or disposition shall be made of same, and raise and appropriate a sum of money there- for, or take any action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Mr. John T. Walke and duly seconded : "That the report of the committee appointed to consider the use or disposition of the Jonathan Lamson School Building, distributed with the Town Report for 1955, be and said report is hereby accepted and that the building be removed, saving such facilities as may be desirable and the existing foundations, and taking such precautions with respect to the maintenance of the grounds and foundations as may be necessary to protect the public, the work to be done under the supervision of the selectmen, and the sum of $3000 raised and appropriated for such purposes."
From the floor: "Have you advertised for bids for removal of the building ?"
Mr. Walke: "We have never had any authority to do so. However, I believe in advertising it and we will advertise it."
From the floor : "What is the purpose of saving the boiler and the basement foundation ?"
Mr. Everett F. Haley : "That is what the $3000 is for - to protect the foundation. It may be that the building advisor will advise to leave the first floor. It is the thought of a good many of us that this may be the future site of a building to house the police and fire departments, and perhaps a municipal library."
Moved by Mr. Barkley W. Tree and duly seconded: "That this article be placed on the table permanently."
Voice Vote. Motion defeated.
This article requiring a two-thirds vote, the Moderator chose tellers and called for a standing vote on the original motion that the Jonathan Lamson School building be removed and that $3000 be raised and ap- propriated for such purposes. The count of votes was reported to the Moderator by the tellers, and he announced the vote to be :
In favor: 179 Against : 96
The Moderator then declared the motion defeated.
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Article 15. Moderator: "To see if the Town will vote to adopt a Building Code By-Law in the form or substantially in the form on file with the Town Clerk, and copies of which are included with the Annual Town Report for 1955, or take any action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Mr. Jerome F. Flynn and duly seconded: "That the Town By-Laws be and the same hereby are amended by the adoption of a Building Code By-Law in the form distributed with the Town Report for 1955 and at this meeting."
Voice Vote. Motion carried.
Article 16. Moderator: "To see if the Town will vote to adopt a Wiring Code By-Law in the form or substantially in the form on file with the Town Clerk, and copies of which are included with the Annual Town Report for 1955, or take any action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Mr. Jerome F. Flynn and duly seconded : "That the Town By-Laws be and the same hereby are amended by the adoption of a Wiring Code By-Law in the form distributed with the Town Report for 1955 and at this meeting."
Voice Vote. Motion carried.
Article 17. Moderator : "To see if the Town will vote to abandon and discontinue as a public way a section of Cunningham Drive, such section being that portion of a circular road or turn around which lies northerly of a new northerly line of Cunningham Drive to be established as a semi-circle between stone bounds and shown on 'Plan of Proposed Alteration, Cunningham Drive, Scale 1"=20 feet, Jan. 1956, Chas. H. Morse & Son, Eng'rs, Haverhill, Mass.,' said section to be abandoned being cross-hatched on said plan, or take any action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Mr. Lawrence Lamson and duly seconded: "That the Town abandon and discontinue as a public way a section of Cunningham Drive, such section being that portion of the circular road or turn around which lies northerly or a new northerly line of Cunningham Drive to be established as a semi-circle between stone bounds and as shown on 'Plan of Proposed Alteration, Cunningham Drive, Scale 1"=20 feet, Jan. 2, 1956, Chas. H. Morse & Son, Eng'rs, Haverhill, Mass.' on file in the office of the Town Clerk."
Voice Vote. Motion unanimously carried.
Article 18. Moderator : "To see if the Town will vote to accept as a public town way Day Avenue, so-called, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and shown on a Plan on file with the Town Clerk entitled 'Acceptance Plan, Day Avenue, Hamilton, Mass., December 1955, Chas. H. Morse & Son, Engineers,' or take any action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Mr. A. Wendall Day, Jr., and duly seconded : "That the Town accept as a public way, Day Avenue, so-called, as laid out by the Selectmen and shown on a plan entitled 'Acceptance Plan, Day
25
Avenue, Hamilton, Mass., December 1955, Chas. H. Morse & Son, En- gineers,' on file with the Town Clerk."
Voice Vote. Motion unanimously carried.
Article 19. Moderator : "To see if the Town will vote to accept as a public town way a certain way, shown as Fox Run Road, on a plan on file with the Planning Board entitled "Huntswood, Section A., Hamilton, Mass.' as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and shown on an Acceptance Plan on file with the Town Clerk, and that such way be named Elm Street, or take any action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Mr. Omer J. Poirier and duly seconded : "That the Town accept as a public town way, Fox Run Road, so-called, as laid out by the Selectmen and shown on a plan entitled 'Plan of Fox Run Road, for Acceptance, February 1956, Chas. H. Morse & Son, Engineers, Haverhill, Mass., on file with the Town Clerk, and that such way be named Elm Street."
From the floor: "I would like to make a motion to amend this Article by deleting the words 'Elm Street' and substituting 'Fox Run Road.' "'
Mr. Everett F. Haley : "We in the Selectmen have the responsibility to see that they are in proper condition. We asked Mr. Morse to give us a report. We have talked this over with Mr. Poirier, and we just want to bring to your attention that at the present time this road is not in proper condition for acceptance."
Mr. Omer J. Poirier : "There are low spots and holes in the road caused by the frost and a little grading will be needed near the drains. They have our promise that we will take care of that in the Spring."
The Moderator called for a vote on the motion to delete "Elm Street" from the Article and replace it with "Fox Run Road."
Voice Vote. Motion carried.
The Moderator then called for a vote on the original motion to accept Fox Run Road.
Voice Vote. Motion carried.
Article 20. Moderator : "To see if the Town will vote to accept as a public town way a section of Tally-Ho Drive, so-called as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and shown on a plan on file with the Town Clerk, or take any action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Omer J. Poirier and duly seconded : "That the Town accept as a public way a portion of Tally-Ho Drive, so-called, as laid out by the Selectmen and shown on a plan entitled 'Plan of a Portion of Tally-Ho Drive for Acceptance, Feb. 1956, Chas. H. Morse & Son, Engineers, Haverhill, Mass.,' on file with the Town Clerk."
Voice Vote. Motion carried.
Article 21. Moderator : "To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time, in anticipation of revenue of the financial year begin-
26
ning January 1, 1957, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws and Amendments thereto."
Moved by Mr. Lawrence Lamson and duly seconded: "That the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1957, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a shorter period than one year, in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws and Amendments thereto."
Voice Vote. Motion unanimously carried.
Article 22. Moderator : "To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Collector to use all means of collecting taxes which a Town Treasurer, when appointed Collector, may use agreeable to Chapter 41, Section 37, General Laws and Amendments thereto."
Moved by Mr. Everett F. Haley and duly seconded : "That the Town authorize the Collector to use all means of collecting taxes which a Town Treasurer, when appointed Collector, may use agreeable to Chapter 41, Section 37, General Laws and Amendments thereto."
Voice Vote. Motion unanimously carried.
Article 23. Moderator: "To act on any other matter that may legally come before said meeting."
Mr. Melvin F. Reid, Civil Defense Director, took the floor and requested that everyone in the Town read their Civil Defense pamphlets and that those who had not received their copy could obtain them on Election Day at the polls.
Mr. Perkins, the Moderator, read the following letter from Mrs. Bessie Preston Cutler, to whom the Town had paid tribute during the past year :
To the Board of Selectmen and
the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton :
This is the first opportunity that has presented itself where I could express my most sincere thanks for the very great honor which you bestowed upon me the 26th of June, 1955.
To add to the honor and gifts was an envelope presented to me by Mr. John Perkins with these words "The contents of this envelope is to be used for the good of the communities."
Fortunately, I did not open the envelope until I had calmed down a bit but the calmness departed when I read the contents - a cheque for $500.00 to which you had all subscribed. Even greater than the money value was the confidence you had placed in me.
Emotion was too high for common sense to prevail at that time, there was but one thing to do, place it in a Fund in the Beverly Trust Savings Department pending a decision.
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During the ensuing months it became evident the sport enjoyed by Hamilton and Wenham could not continue unless drastic meas- ures were taken. The bowling must die out unless "mechanical setters" were installed.
Knowing how much this sport meant to every age I offered the money you so generously had given me to pay for the major part of the installation of the machines, that once again the bowling at the Community House of Hamilton and Wenham might be available for everyone.
It is my hope that you will agree with my decision.
Again my deepest thanks,
Most sincerely, Bessie Preston Cutler 5 March 1956
Mr. Everett F. Haley made an announcement pertaining to the method of obtaining free polio shots which will be made available during the ensuing year.
Prior to calling for a motion to adjourn, the Moderator, Mr. John H. Perkins, paid tribute to Mr. Frederic Winthrop, who has resigned his position as Chairman of the Finance Committee after ten years of faithful service. On behalf of the citizens of Hamilton, Mr. Perkins expressed sincere appreciation to Mr. Winthrop for the capable and efficient manner in which he has performed the extremely difficult duties required of him as head of the town's Finance and Advisory Committee.
There being no further business, it was voted to adjourn at 9:15 p.m., until 8 :00 a.m., Tuesday, March 13, 1956, at the High School Auditorium, when the balloting under Article 1 shall take place.
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Vote on Article 1. March 13, 1956.
Polls were opened at 8:00 a.m. by the Moderator, John H. Perkins. There were 1338 votes cast under Article 1.
Men 658 Voted in Person 1327
Women
680 Absentee Votes 11
1338
1338
MODERATOR-for one year
Perkins, John H. 1150 Blanks 188
TOWN CLERK-for one year
Whipple, Francis H. 1195 Blanks 143
SELECTMEN-three for one year
Haley, Everett F. 751 Mackenzie, William F.
Lamson, Lawrence
831
Hemenway, Gordon
1
Haraden, Donald G. 425
TREASURER-for one year
Sellman, Walfred B. 1151 Blanks 187
TAX COLLECTOR-for one year
Crowell, Bertha L.
1196
Blanks
142
ASSESSOR-for three years
Chittick, Robert H. 1166 Blanks
172
TREE WARDEN-for one year
Haraden, Rudolph H. 1164 Blanks
174
HIGHWAY SURVEYOR-for one year
Poole, Charles F. 1131 Blanks 207
SCHOOL COMMITTEE-one for three years
Caldwell, Frederick J. 607 Henley, Thomas L. 93
Emery, Richard M.
584
Blanks
54
TRUSTEE PUBLIC LIBRARY-for three years
Trussell, Sarah H. 1112 Blanks 226
WATER COMMISSIONER-for three years
Harrigan, George A.
1102 Blanks 236
CEMETERY COMMISSIONER-for three years
Tucker, Paul S.
1097
Blanks
241
PARK COMMISSIONER-for three years
Sanford, Ray M.
1140
Blanks
198
PLANNING BOARD-one for five years
Perkins, Paul F., Jr. 1082 Blanks 256
The polls were closed at 8:00 p.m. and the Moderator announced the results of the voting and declared the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Attest : FRANCIS H. WHIPPLE,
Town Clerk
615
Stone, Lawrence R.
756
Blanks
635
29
REPORT OF PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY Held April 24, 1956
TELLERS AND ELECTION OFFICERS
Republican Lawrence R. Stone
Everett F. Haley
Frank H. Tuck
Hazel M. C. Bray
Edward J. Ready
Democratic Lawrence Lamson Mary T. Greeley Jessie W. B. Cunningham Thomas A. Sargent, Jr.
Town Clerk Francis H. Whipple
Police
Edward Frederick Robert W. Poole
The Warrant was read and polls declared open at one o'clock P.M. by Lawrence Lamson, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen.
A total of 193 votes were cast, Republican 164, Democratic 29, as follows :
REPUBLICAN VOTE
Delegates At Large (10) and Alter- nate Delegates At Large (10) to National Convention.
DELEGATES
Christian A. Herter 150
Leverett Saltonstall 149
Joseph W. Martin, Jr. 142
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. 145
Sinclair Weeks 138
Elmer C. Nelson 126
Ralph H. Bonnell 130
Esther W. Wheeler 131
Robert F. Bradford 138
Thomas Pappas 125
Blanks 266
ALTERNATE DELEGATES
Basil Brewer 116
Bruce Crane 124
Katherine G. Howard 123
Charles J. Innes 124
Daniel J. Lynch 120
Maxwell M. Rabb 122
Richard F. Treadway 125
John A. Volpe 129
William W. White 123
Sumner G. Whittier 139
Blanks
395
District Delegates (2) and Alter- nate District Delegates (2) to Na- tional Convention (6th District) .
DELEGATES
Frank S. Giles, Jr. 126
Herbert S. Tuckerman 150
Blanks
52
ALTERNATE DELEGATES
Henry Graf, Jr. 128
William G. Reed 130
Blanks
70
STATE COMMITTEE (MAN) (Third Essex District)
William G. Reed 132
Blanks
32
STATE COMMITTEE (WOMAN) (Third Essex District)
Ann Sheafe Cole
127
Blanks
37
30
TOWN COMMITTEE (35)
Harriet F. Adams
128
Nellie E. Woodman 136
Ella D. Johnson 128
Ruth F. Donaldson 135
John R. Hollister 132
Standish Bradford 138
Francis P. Sears, Jr. 133
Lawrence R. Stone 143
John C. Garland 130
George C. Cutler, Jr. 131
Robert H. Chittick 143
Olivia C. Wetson 124
Paul F. Perkins, Jr. 131
Jane W. Caraganis 123
William C. Bickel
123
Barbara I. Sears 128
Philip A. Graham 144
Mary C. Stockwell 125
Frances C. Hollister 128
H. Ruth Smith 127
Sarah H. Trussell
135
Isabelle D. Caldwell 128
W. Whitney Lundgren 129
Richard W. Brown 122
Robert A. Greeley 133
Wilbur C. Marchant 121
James G. Callahan 121
Hazel E. Cram 127
Richard Preston 137
Carolyn C. Preston 130
Blanks 1825
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE
Eisenhower 132
Blanks 32
DEMOCRATIC VOTE
Delegates At Large (24) and Alter- nate Delegates At Large (24) to National Convention.
DELEGATES
John F. Kennedy 25
Paul A. Dever 18
John W. McCormack 16
John B. Hynes 18
William H. Burke, Jr. 13
Margaret M. O'Riordan 13
James M. Curley 17
14
Hugh J. Mclaughlin 13
Edward J. Cronin 15
Doris M. Racicot 12
Anna Sullivan 13
Michael F. Skerry
13
Mary DePasquale Murray 12
11
J. William Belanger
12
Daniel Rudsten
11
Matthew L. McGrath, Jr. 12
13
Garrett H. Byrne
13
Daniel B. Brunton
13
James D. O'Brien
13
James R. Carter 12
John F. Kane 14
Thomas J. Hannon
11
Howard W. Fitzpatrick
13
Harry L. Silva 11
John S. Begley
10
James J. Corbett
14
Jean S. LeCompte 12
Jackson J. Holtz
12 John F. Cahill 12
Blanks 354 Blanks 415
ALTERNATE DELEGATES
Joseph A. DeGuglielmo 12
J. Henry Goguen 11
Chester A. Dolan, Jr. 14
Michael LoPresti 12
Peter J. Rzeznikiewicz 13
Francis E. Lavigne 11
Salvatore Camileo 11
Leonard J. Warner
11
Silas F. Taylor 10
Mary A. Tomasello 11
Thomas J. Buckley
Albert S. Previte, Jr.
14
John A. Callahan
14
Charles N. Collatos
Anthony M. Scibelli 11
Ida R. Lyons
11
Joseph Garcznski, Jr.
Edward Krock
10
John E. Powers 16
31
District Delegates (4) and Alter- nate District Delegates (4) to Na- tional Convention (6th District).
DELEGATES
Francis X. Collins
18
William J. Maguire 15
Albert H. Zabriskie
15
Benjamin A. Smith 14
Blanks 54
ALTERNATE DELEGATES
Margaret T. Jellison
13
Jacob W. Shinberg
12
Blanks
33
STATE COMMITTEE (WOMAN) (Third Essex District)
Mona R. Jones 12
Blanks
17
TOWN COMMITTEE (10)
Bernard A. Cullen 20
Stephen J. D'Arcy 23
Morley L. Piper 21
Wanda H. Piper 20
James F. D'Arcy 22
Jessie W. B. Cunningham 16
Lawrence Lamson
20
Thomas A. Sargent, Jr. 19
John Walsh 20
Blanks 109
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE
STATE COMMITTEE (MAN) (Third Essex District)
John W. McCormack 4
Adlai Stevenson 16
James P. Boyle
9
Estes Kefauver
1
John J. Brennan
8
Harry S Truman
1
Blanks
12 Blanks
7
The polls were closed by Lawrence Lamson, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, at 8 P.M., and the results of the balloting announced at 9 P.M., April 24, 1956.
Attest :
FRANCIS H. WHIPPLE, Town Clerk
32
REPORT OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Held in the High School Auditorium, July 16, 1956
The Moderator, Mr. John H. Perkins, opened the meeting at 8:08 p.m. in the evening on Monday, July 16, 1956.
Invocation offered by Rev. Halsey De Wolf Howe.
Moderator: "The first business of the evening is Article 1: To see if the Town will vote to receive and accept the fourth special report of the School Building Needs Committee relative to its activities and investigations from March, 1956, to the present time as an interim report, and to continue the Committee for the purposes of making further study and investigation concerning school housing needs, such Commit- tee to render its report on or before the next annual town meeting."
Moved by Mr. Lawrence Lamson and duly seconded : "That the town receive and accept the fourth special report of the School Building Needs Committee relative to its activities and investigations from March, 1956, to the present time as an interim report, and that the Committee continue its investigations concerning school housing needs, making further recommendations thereon on or before the next annual town meeting."
Voice Vote. Motion unanimously carried.
Article 2. Moderator: "To see if the Town will vote to appoint a School Building Committee of eight of which three shall be members of the Hamilton School Committee, for the purpose of selecting a site and securing the services of a competent schoolhouse architect to draft preliminary plans, studies, and estimates for a new elementary school building consistent with the recommendations of the School Building Needs Committee as outlined in its fourth special report now on file in the office of the town clerk, and transfer from available funds a sum of money for the same, or take any action thereon or relative thereto."
Moved by Mr. Allan MacCurrach and duly seconded : "That a School Building Committee of eight, of which three shall be members of the Hamilton School Committee, be appointed by the Moderator for the purpose of selecting a site and securing the services of a competent schoolhouse architect to draft preliminary plans, studies and estimates for a new elementary school building consistent with the recommenda- tions of the School Building Needs Committee as outlined in its fourth special report now on file in the office of the town clerk, and that $5000 be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account for such pur- pose."
The Moderator announced that the Town By-laws call for a two- thirds vote on articles requiring a transfer of funds and appointed Mr. Robert H. Chittick and Mr. Bernard Cullen as tellers to count the votes.
33
A standing vote was taken and the Moderator announced the vote to be :
Yes : 209 No : 0
The Moderator then declared the motion unanimously carried.
Article 3. Moderator : "To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $116,000.00 to provide an additional source of water supply and an additional reservoir, of which sum there shall be allocated :
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