Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1912, Part 2

Author: Reading (Mass.)
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 310


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Art. 25. Voted to take up.


Art. 25. On motion of Ward C. Mansfield it was voted that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Select- men, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the taxes of the municipal year beginning January 1st, 1912, to an amount not exceed- ing in the aggregate $120,000, and to issue a note or notes


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therefor payable within one year, any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the taxes of said municipal year.


Art. 34. Voted to take up.


Art. 34. To see how much money the Town will raise and appropriate for Mains, Service Pipes, Hydrant Rental, Water for Drinking Fountains, Water for Street Sprinkling, Interest on Water Loan, and Maintenance of Water Works, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 34. On motion of Henry R. Johnson it was voted that the Town raise and appropriate $5,610 for Hydrant Ren- tals, $500 for Water for Street Sprinkling, $300 for Water for Drinking Fountains, a total of $6,410; and that the above named sums, together with the receipts. for water, be appro- priated for Interest on the Water Loans, Maintenance of Water Works, and for Main and Service Pipes, and that $2,000 be paid on Water Works note, and $2,000 be paid to the Town Treasurer to be used in part payment of the Water Bonds.


On motion of Willie E. Twombly it was voted to adjourn to meet Monday, March 18, 1912, at seven forty-five p. M., in Lyceum Hall.


MILLARD F. CHARLES, Town Clerk.


ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING


READING, MASS., March 18, 1912.


Town meeting was called to order by the Moderator, George L. Flint, at seven forty-five o'clock P. M., pursuant to adjournment.


Art. 21. To see if the Town will lay a drain pipe on Elliot street, from the end of the present drain to Washing-


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ton street, adjacent to the land of Charles F. Nickerson, and how much money they will raise and appropriate therefor, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 21. Voted to lay on the table.


Art. 6. Voted to take up.


Art. 6. On motion of George H. Clough it was voted to reconsider action whereby it was voted to raise and appro- priate $5,500 for Support of the Poor.


On motion of George H. Clough it was voted to raise and appropriate $4,500 for Support of the Poor, instead of $5,500, as voted at a previous meeting.


Art. 6. Voted to lay on the table.


Art. 10. Voted to take from the table.


Art. 10. The committee appointed at the last adjourned town meeting of March;11, 1912, made a report on the gas question, as per motion then made under this article.


It was voted to accept report of the committee and place on file.


On motion of Mahlon E. Brande, to grant a franchise to the Town of Wakefield, under such an agreement as shall meet the approval of the Board of Selectmen, it was not a vote : 32 voted yes and 98 voted no.


On motion of A. Newell Howes it was voted to have the Gas Committee's report of the agreement as made by them with the Gas and Electric Light Commissioners of Wake- field printed in The Reading Chronicle, the Town to pay for the same.


Art. 21. Voted to take from the table.


Art. 21. On motion of Edwin L. Hutchinson it was voted to raise and appropriate $150 to lay a drain pipe on Elliott street, from the end of the present drain to Wash- ington street, adjacent to the land of Charles F. Nickerson.


Art. 22. To see whether the Town will vote to lay a pipe through the open ditch between Gould and Washington


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streets, and how much money they will raise and appropriate therefor, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 22. On motion of Gilman L. Parker it was voted to raise and appropriate $700 to lay a pipe through the open ditch between Gould and Washington streets.


Art. 23. To see if the Town will vote to accept Chapter 210 of the Revised Laws, Acts of 1911, an act relative to vacations of members of the Police Department, except in the City of Boston.


Art. 23. On motion of Jesse W. Morton to accept Chap- ter 210 of the Revised Laws, Acts of 1911, an act relative to vacations of members of the Police Department, except in the City of Boston, it was voted to not accept the act.


Art. 26. To determine the compensation of the Tax Collector.


Art. 26. On motion of Frank K. Black it was voted that the compensation of the Tax Collector be three-fourths of one per cent. on collections and postage.


Art. 27. To see what action the Town will take to meet the payment of Highland School House bonds for three thousand dollars due August 1, 1912.


Art. 27. On motion of Ward C. Mansfield it was voted to raise and appropriate $3,000 to meet the payment of Highland School House bonds due Aug. 1, 1912.


Art. 28. To see what action the Town will take to meet the payment of High School House bonds for four thousand dollars due Nov. 1, 1912.


Art. 28. On motion of Ward C. Mansfield it was voted to raise and appropriate $4,000 to meet the payment of High School House bonds due Nov. 1, 1912.


Art. 29. To see what action the Town will take to meet the payment of High School House note for one thousand dollars due Dec. 21, 1912.


Art. 29. On motion of Ward C. Mansfield it was voted


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to raise and appropriate $1,000 to meet the payment of High School House note due Dec. 21, 1912.


Art. 30. To see what action the Town will take to meet the payment of Lowell Street School House note for one thou- sand dollars due Sept. 27, 1912.


Art. 30. On motion of Ward C. Mansfield it was voted to raise and appropriate $1,000 to meet the payment of Lowell Street School House note due Sept. 27, 1912.


Art. 31. To see what action the Town will take to meet the payment of the Grouard Estate note for seventeen hun- dred dollars due July 21, 1912.


Art. 31. On motion of Ward O. Mansfield it was voted to raise and appropriate $1,275.34, and appropriate $424.66 from the income account, to meet the payment of the Grouard Estate note due July 21, 1912, of $1,700.


Art. 32. To see what action the Town will take to meet the payment of the Cemetery Bequest Fund note for twelve hundred dollars due May 15, 1912.


Art. 32. On motion of Ward O. Mansfield it was voted to raise and appropriate $1,200 to meet the payment of the Cemetery Bequest Fund note due May 15, 1912.


Art. 33. To see what action the Town will take to meet the payment of High School House note for one thousand dol- lars due Dec. 21, 1911. Through an error in recording, only one note for one thousand dollars was provided for in 1911, while two notes for one thousand dollars each became due.


Art. 33. On motion of Ward C. Mansfield it was voted that the sum of $1,000 be appropriated from the Overlay Account to meet the payment of the High School House note due Dec. 21, 1911.


Art. 5. Voted to take up.


Art. 5. On motion of Frank F. Strout it was voted that the Collector be instructed to collect all taxes (so far as pos- sible) on or before Oct. 1st, and upon all taxes unpaid at that time to add interest at the rate of 6% per annum from said


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date until paid, and to collect all taxes unpaid January 1 forthwith, by process of law, unless delinquents procure an order from the Selectmen releasing them from immediate payment.


Art. 5. Voted to lay on the table.


Art. 34. On motion of Lewis M. Bancroft it was voted to reconsider this article.


On motion of Lewis M. Bancroft it was voted to strike out the amount raised and appropriated for water for street sprinkling, $500, this being provided for under Art. 6, street watering.


Art. 35. To see if the Town will vote to change the name of the street now known as Prospect street extension, between Oak street and the extension of Prospect street, to "Hill Crest Road," or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 35. On motion of Edwin L. Hutchinson it was voted to change the name of the street known as South Prospect street extension, from Oak Street to Howard street, to Hill Crest Road.


Art. 36. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars for the purpose of carrying out the recommendations of the arbitration committee on account of the amount due Dr. Playdon for services rendered in 1909, 1910, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 36. On motion of George E. Horrocks it was voted to raise and appropriate $1,000 to pay the bill of Dr. C. H. Playdon for services rendered in 1909 and 1910 as recom- mended by the report of arbitration committee.


Art. 37. To hear and act on the report of the Select- men on the laying out of Dudley street, extension of Grand and Deering streets, and School street from Middlesex ave- nue to Chute street, and determine how much money the Town will raise and appropriate therefor, or what they will do in relation thereto.


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Art. 37. School street. The Selectmen made the fol- lowing report :


We, the subscribers, Selectmen of Reading, after giving due notice to all parties interested, have laid out for use of the Town as a public way described as follows: beginning on the northerly side of Mt. Vernon street, at the division line of estate of Edward Barrett and the estate of John Mel- len, then the line runs north 6º 22' east along said division line one hundred forty-four 79-100 (144.79) feet, then north 2º 46' east over land of Spencer G. Stewart and land laid out as a private way two hundred 5-100 (205.05) feet to southeast corner of a private way known as Dudley street, then the line runs north 1º 20' east along said private way and land of Hattie Swett and others four hundred sixty- one 48-100 (461.48) feet to the southerly side of Middlesex avenue. Said way is laid on the the westerly side of the above described line and is forty feet wide over land of said Mellen heirs and land of said Stewart, the remaining dis- tance to be fifty feet wide and is laid out under the bet- terment act. We have awarded damages to the estate of John Mellen, $1,200, to Spencer G. Stewart, $197.68. No other damages claimed and none awarded except the Town to build cellar and move house of said Mellen estate.


We would recommend that the way be named School street. Said way is intended to conform to the lines shown in red on a plan, dated Feb. 26, 1912, of same made by James A. Bancroft which is to be considered a part of this report, and when the report is accepted and adopted by the Town the said way shall thereafter be known as a public Town way.


GEORGE L. PRATT, OLIVER L. AKERLEY, FREDERIC D. MERRILL, Selectmen of Reading.


Feb. 26, 1912.


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On motion of Lewis M. Bancroft it was voted to raise and appropriate $2,500 to pay the expenses of the laying out of School street as per the recommendations of the Board of Selectmen and to adopt their recommendations.


Art. 38. To hear and act on the report of the Selectmen on the laying out of Woodward avenue, from High to Vine streets, and Vale road, from Woodward avenue to Vine street, and determine how much money the Town will raise and appropriate therefor, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 39. To hear and act on the report of the Select- men on the laying out of Howard street extention, west of West street, and determine how much money the Town will raise and appropriate therefor, or what they will do in re- lation thereto.


Art. 40. To hear and act on the report of the Selectmen on the laying out of Pratt street extension, from Prescott street to the private way called Fairview avenue, and deter- mine how much money the Town will raise and appropriate therefor, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Arts. 38, 39, 40. On motion of Henry R. Johnson it was voted to act on these articles jointly.


On motion of Henry R. Johnson it was voted to indefi- nitely postpone these three articles.


Art. 41. To see if the Town will vote to furnish creo- sote free to the citizens of the Town to paint gipsy moth nests, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 41. On motion of Edwin L. Hutchinson it was voted to furnish creosote free to citizens of Reading.


Art. 42. To see if the Town will purchase land for a playground, and how much money they will raise and appro- priate or otherwise provide for the purpose, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 42. On motion of George L. Pratt it was voted to indefinitely postpone this article.


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Art. 43. To hear and act on the report of the Selectmen in relation to guide posts, and to determine if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of fifty dollars for the repair of the same, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 43.


THE SELECTMEN'S REPORT ON GUIDE POSTS


Guide posts or suitable substitutes therefor are erected and maintained at the following locations, viz. :


Corner Walnut and South streets


Walnut street and Summer avenue


66 Main street and Summer avenue


Woburn street and Summer avenue


66 West street and Summer avenue (3)


West and Woburn streets


Lowell and Willow streets (2)


6 6 Lowell and High streets


Lowell street and Middlesex avenue


Grove and Franklin streets (2)


66 Main and Franklin streets


. 6 Mill and Short streets


Franklin and Haverhill streets (2)


Franklin and Pearl streets


Charles and Haverhill streets (2)


Haverhill and Pine streets


Pine and Salem streets


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Charles and Pearl streets


Charles and Main streets


66 Main and Pearl streets


Main and Salem streets


Salem and Lowell streets


Woburn and Lowell streets (2)


Salem and Harnden streets


66 Main and Pleasant streets


Pleasant and Parker streets


Haven and Village streets


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Corner Haven and Ash streets


6. Main and Ash streets High street and Middlesex avenue


Main street on the Common


Harnden street near Pleasant street


Several of the old boards have been replaced with new, and one new board put up corner of Pearl and Franklin streets.


GEORGE L. PRATT. OLIVER L. AKERLEY, FREDERIC D. MERRILL, Selectmen of Reading.


On motion of Alvah W. Clark it was voted to accept report of Selectmen and to appropriate $50 from appropria- tion for Highways, Bridges and Sidewalks, for guide posts and repairs.


Art. 44. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of nineteen hundred thirty-five dollars and forty- seven cents to provide for the net overdrafts of the depart- ments in 1910, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 44. On motion of Edwin L. Hutchinson it was voted to appropriate from Overlay Account $1,935.47 to pro- vide for the net overdrafts of the departments in 1910.


Art. 37. Voted to reconsider this article.


Art. 37. On motion of Lewis M. Bancroft it was voted to lay out and build School street, as recommended by the Board of Selectmen, and accept their report.


Art. 5. Voted to take from the table.


Art. 5. On motion of Frank W. B. Pratt, voted that the Selectinen be instructed to fix a standard to which new streets shall be built before their recommendation for ac- ceptance by the Town.


Art. 5. Voted to lay on the table.


Art. 45. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate


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the sum of three hundred sixty-six dollars and twenty-four cents to provide for the overdrafts in 1910 and 1911, account of Chas. L. Haag, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 45. On motion of Edwin L. Hutchinson it was voted to raise and appropriate $366.24 to provide for the overdrafts in 1910 and 1911 account of Chas. L. Haag.


Art. 46. To see what instructions the Town will give the Board of Selectmen in relation to filling vacancies which may occur on the Finance Committee.


Art. 46. On motion of Lewis M. Bancroft it was voted to instruct the Board of Selectmen to fill all vacancies occur- ring on the Finance Committee.


Art. 4. Voted to take from the table.


Art. 4. Voted to accept report of all Town Officers as printed in the Annual Town Report and the Finance Com- mittee's Report.


Voted to adjourn without date.


MILLARD F. CHARLES, Town Clerk.


SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, JUNE 25, 1912


Pursuant to a warrant and the Constable's return thereon, a town meeting was held at the time and place therein speci- fied, Lyceum Hall, at 8 o'clock P. M., June 25, 1912.


The meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk, Millard F. Charles. The warrant was partly read when a motion was made to dispense with further reading of the warrant except the Constable's return. Said motion was carried. After the reading of the Constable's return pro- ceeded to elect a Moderator under Art. 1.


The ballot box was duly opened and closed with the fol-


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lowing result : whole number of votes cast, one. George L. Flint had one, and was declared elected Moderator.


Art. 2. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate or otherwise provide one thousand one hundred dollars to purchase the Kingman property, on Ash street, adjoining the electric light station lot, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 2. On motion of Carl M. Spencer it was voted that the Board of Electric Light Commissioners be instructed to purchase the Kingman property on Ash street, adjoining the electric light station lot, at a price not to exceed $1,100, and that the sum of $1,100 be transferred from the Overlay Ac- count to pay for the same.


Art. 3. To see if the Town will take action to secure the abatement of taxes on the estate formerly occupied by the Young Men's Christian Association, or how much money they will raise and appropriate to pay said taxes as part rental of the estate during its use by the Public Library, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 3. On motion of Harry P. Bosson it was voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $250, to be expended under the approval of the Trustees of the Public Library for the payment of taxes assessed on the estate formerly occupied by the Young Men's Christian Association due by agreement as part rental of said estate under its occu- pancy for library purposes, provided said taxes are not abated.


Art. 4. To see if the Town will appoint a Committee on Municipal Playgrounds, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 4. On motion of Harry P. Bosson it was voted that a committee of three be appointed on Municipal Playgrounds by the Moderator.


The following were appointed : Harry P. Bosson, George L. Pratt and George E. Horrocks.


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Art. 5. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate one hundred and fifteen dollars for repairing the flag pole on the Common, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 5. On motion of Alvah W. Clark, it was voted to raise and appropriate $115 to repair flag pole on the Com- mon.


Art. 6. To see if the Town will appoint a committee to report a code of Building Laws, or what they will do in rela- tion thereto.


Art. 6. On motion of Alvah W. Clark it was voted that the Selectmen appoint a committee of five to report a code of Building Laws at a future special town meeting.


Art. 7. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate one thousand dollars for special highway work, provided the State Highway Commission will apportion to the Town a like amount.


Art. 7. On motion of Alvah W. Clark it was voted to raise and appropriate for special highway work, provided the State appropriates a like amount, to be laid out on Lowell street, the sum of $1,000.


Art. 8. To see if the Town of Reading will by vote authorize the Selectmen to grant authority to the Town of Wakefield to construct and maintain in the Town of Reading, pipes for the distribution and sale of gas to the inhabitants of the said Town of Reading and to the Town for municipal use, or what they will do in relation thereto.


Art. 8. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted that the Selectmen be authorized and directed to execute a contract in behalf of the Town, granting authority to the Town of Wakefield to construct and maintain in the Town of Reading a plant for the distribution of gas to said Town of Reading and the inhabitants thereof, upon the terms and conditious contained in draft of contract hereto annexed, and which will form part of the records of this meeting.


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MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT made this day of


A. D., 1912, by and between the TOWN OF READ- ING and the TOWN OF WAKEFIELD, municipal corporations sit- uated in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts.


WITNESSETH : - that WHEREAS the Legislature of said Commonwealth has passed an act known as Chapter 516 of Acts of 1911 as amended by the Acts of 1912, allowing said towns to supply each other with gas and electricity, and


WHEREAS : said Town of Reading is desirous of main- taining an efficient service for the distribution of gas and of making definite provisions for the extension thereof ; and


WHEREAS : said Town of Wakefield has an efficient plant for the manufacture of gas and is at present supplying what- ever gas is being consumed in the Town of Reading;


NOW THEREFORE BE IT KNOWN - First : that the said Town of Reading, in consideration of the covenants and agree- ments of the Town of Wakefield hereinafter contained, hereby authorizes said Town of Wakefield to construct, maintain and extend a service or plant for the distribution of gas to the Town of Reading, and the inhabitants thereof, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.


Second : The Town of Wakefield in consideration of the above authority hereby covenants and agrees as follows :


(a) To distribute gas within the Town of Reading for sale to said Reading and the inhabitants thereof at the price of one (1) dollar and fifty (50) cents per one thousand (1,000) cubic feet, less a discount of two (2) cents per one hundred (100) feet if bills for same shall be paid on or before the fif- teenth (15th) day of the month upon which the same shall be rendered.


(b) To install forthwith approximately five (5) miles of pipe in the following streets in said Reading, to wit :


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EAST SIDE


Green street 8 in. pipe from John to High streets


2,300 ft. High street 8 in. pipe from Green to Haven streets


300 " Chute street 8 in. pipe from Haven to Woburn streets


400 " Chute street 6 in. pipe from Woburn to Mt. Vernon streets


420 “


Mt. Vernon street 6 in. pipe from High street to Bancroft avenue 940 “


High street 4 in. pipe from Mt. Vernon street to Middlesex avenue · Middlesex avenue 4 in. pipe from High street to Lowell street


750 "


1,860 "


Lowell street 4 in. pipe from Middlesex ave- nue to Highland street


500 " Bancroft avenue 4 in. pipe from Mt. Vernon street to Middlesex avenue . 875 “


Kingston street 4 in. pipe from Middlesex ave- nue south 625 “


Linden street 4 in. pipe from Woburn to 915 “ Lowell streets .


9,885 ft.


WEST SIDE


Woburn street 6 in. pipe from Chute street to Summer avenue


3,100 ft.


Woburn street 4 in. pipe from Summer avenue to Berkley street .


Prescott street 4 in. pipe from R.R. to Sum- mer avenue . 2,468 " Summer avenue 4 in. pipe from Mineral street to Scotland road . 3,000 "


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Prospect street 4 in pipe from Woburn to


Grant streets


2,000 ft. Berkley street 4 in. pipe from Woburn to King streets


1,330 " King street 4 in. pipe from Berkley to Pros- pect streets .


450 “


Temple street 4 in. pipe from Woburn street to Summer avenue


Pratt street 2 in. pipe from Prescott to Woburn streets 485 “


1,426 "


Washington street 4 in. pipe from Prescott to Woburn streets 425 “


Arlington street 2 in. pipe from Prescott to Woburn streets 425 "


15,109 ft.


Making a total of 24,994 ft.


Said installation of pipes shall be begun as soon as possible and without requiring written guarantees of any sort from the abutter reached by such installation of pipes. The esti- mated cost of such installation is twenty-five thousand (25,000) dollars.


(c) To file with the Selectmen of the Town of Reading from time to time plans showing the location of all proposed construction or extension of its mains and pipes, and shall obtain the consent in writing of the Selectmen of Reading before digging up or opening the ground in any of the streets or highways of Reading.


(d) To extend the gas mains with the approval of the gas commissioners of the Town of Wakefield upon the re- ceipt of a written guarantee from the owner or owners of the land abutting the proposed extension that he or they will use a sufficient amount of gas so that the income there- from shall equal at least five per cent. of the cost of such extension each year for ten years and no longer; such guar-


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antee to be void and of no effect as soon as the total receipts from the sale of gas along such extensions shall equal fifty (50) per cent. of the cost of the same.


(e) To install service pipes for each customer fifty (50) feet in length for five (5) dollars; and for ten (10) cents additional for each foot over fifty (50) feet; the measure- ments in each case to be made from the center of the street to the inside of the cellar wall: and to install pipe ser- vice for gas stoves inside the house of each customer up to forty (40) feet in length free of cost, with ten (10) cents additional for each foot in excess of forty (40) feet: such installation for gas stoves to be made as herein set forth upon the condition that the customer purchase a gas stove from the Wakefield Municipal Light Plant.


(f) To set " regular " or " quarter in the slot " meters free of charge, but without installing any piping therefor.


(g) To give Reading the same reduction in price as may be in the future granted to takers in the Town of Wake- field.




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