USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1927-1931 > Part 10
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14. Voted that the article relative to authorizing all departments having charge of public buildings to plan for their insurance against loss by fire, and to include the estimated cost of same in their annual budget, be referred to a special committee consisting of the chairman of each department having buildings to be insured. Said committee to report at the next town meeting. A motion to add the name of the Chairman of the Finance Committee to said Special Committee was lost by a vote of 36 to 41.
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15. Voted that the following be appropriated for General Govern- ment purposes: General Government $6400; Town Hall $1700.
16. Voted that the sum of $2700 be appropriated for the Police Department.
17. Voted that the sum of $3000 be appropriated for the Fire Department.
18. Voted that the sum of $125 be appropriated for the Sealer of Weights and Measures.
19. Voted that the sum of $100 be appropriated to cover the expenses of the Fish and Game Warden.
20. Voted that the sum of $1000 be appropriated to defray the expenses of fighting forest fires, and also that $75 be appropriated for the purchase of fire extinguishers.
21. Voted that the sum of $300 be appropriated to meet the ex- penses of the Tree Warden.
22. Voted that the sum of $2700 be appropriated for the Moth Department.
23. Voted that the sum of $4800 be appropriated for the expense of the Health Department.
24. Voted that the sum of $150 be appropriated for the Cattle Inspector.
25. Voted that the sum of $5000 be appropriated for the main- tenance of the existing state and county roads on condition that like amounts be contributed by the state and county respectively, to be used in conjunction therewith.
A motion that the sum of $6000 be appropriated for repairs on the Concord Road on condition that like amounts be contributed by the state and county respectively, to be used in conjunction therewith, was lost by a vote of 33 to 49.
It was voted 79 to 6 that the sum of $3333 be appropriated for repairs on Main Street, Westford, on condition that like amounts be contributed by the state and county respectively, to be used in con- junction therewith.
A motion that the sum of $5000 be appropriated for repairs on the Groton Road from Wyman's Corner to the Groton line, on condition that like amounts be contributed by the state and county respectively, to be used in conjunction therewith, was lost.
It was voted that the sum of $21,200 be appropriated for other highway purposes to be divided as follows: $18,500 for Town Roads, oiling, repairs and equipment; $1,500 for Snow Removal; $500 for Brush Cutting; $600 for Sidewalks, and $100 for Street Signs.
A motion that the sum of $1,600 be appropriated for repairs on the bridge over Stony Brook on the Town Farm Road was lost.
26. Voted that the sum of $11,200 be appropriated for Public Welfare, said sum to be taken from the surplus revenue and divided as follows: $5,500 for Outside Aid, and $5,700 for Westford Home.
27. Voted that the sum of $2,400 be appropriated for Soldiers' Benefits, $800 to be taken from the surplus revenuc.
28. Voted that the sum of $62,552 be appropriated for the ex- penses of the Public Schools.
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29. Voted that the sum of $2,200 and the receipts from dog licenses in 1927 be appropriated for the expenses of the Public Library.
30. Voted that the sum of $200 be appropriated for the Care of the Common.
31. Voted that the sum of $400 be appropriated for Band Con- certs, the place of holding them to be left in the hands of the Select- men.
32. Voted that the sum of $300 be appropriated to commemorate . Memorial Day.
33. Voted that the sum of $625 be appropriated to defray the expenses of Publishing the Town Report.
34. Voted that the sum of $500 be appropriated for Liability Insurance.
35. Voted to appropriate the sum of $400 and to elect a director for demonstration work in agriculture and home economics, the money to be expended by, and the director to serve in co-operation with the County Trustees for Aid to Agriculture of the Middlesex County Bureau of Agriculture and Home Economics, under the provisions of Section 40-45 of Chapter 128, General Laws. John A. Kimball was elected Director.
36. Voted that the sum of $200 be appropriated to defray the ex- penses of the Town Forest.
37. Voted to dismiss the article relative to the purchase of scales.
38. Voted that the sum of $1,200 be appropriated for Cemeteries. 39. Voted that the sum of $2,840 be appropriated for Hydrant Service.
40. Voted that the sum of $7,125 be appropriated for Street Lights.
41. Voted that the sum of $6,500 be appropriated for General Loans.
42. Voted that the sum of $4,100 be appropriated for Interest on General Loans.
43. Voted that the sum of $1,700 be appropriated for Interest on Revenue Loans.
44. Voted that the sum of $2,000 be appropriated in accordance with the provisions of Section 6, Chapter 40, of the General Laws, as a Revenue Fund.
45. Voted that the sum of $1,054.13 be appropriated to pay bills outstanding Dec. 31, 1927, to be divided as follows: General Govern- ment, $21.66; Fire Department, $162.64; Moth Department, $1.72; Health Department, $6.25; Cattle Inspector, $112.50; Street Lights, $541.55; School Department, $170.86; Care of Common, $10; Street Signs, $26.95.
46. Voted that the sum of $4,000 be appropriated for Vocational School Tuition, to be expended under the direction of the School Com- mittee.
47. Voted 25 to 20 that the sum of $1,500 be appropriated to pay the transportation expenses of pupils from Westford, who are regu- larly enrolled in full courses at the Lowell Vocational High School, day session, and who are meeting the requirements of the school.
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Said transportation to be for pupils between the ages of 14 to 21 years; the type and manner of the transportation to be entirely in the control of the Westford School Board.
48. Voted that the Town rescind so much of the vote passed at the Special Meeting held May 9, 1927, as authorized the borrowing in excess of $32,000 for the addition to the Forge Village Schoolhouse.
49. Voted that the Town rescind the vote passed at the Special Meeting held July 7, 1922, relative to acquiring land at Forge Vil- lage for the erection of a School House and that the unexpended bal- ance of the appropriation be returned to the treasury as surplus.
50. Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to enter into a con- tract with the Lowell Electric Light Corporation for 34 additional street lights to be placed as follows: 4 on Chamberlain Road, 3 on Robinson Road, 13 on Groton and Millstone Hill Road, 11 on Dunstable and Nutting Road, and 3 on Cold Spring Road. Voted that the sum of $600 be appropriated to cover charges for the same.
51. Voted that the sum of $75 be appropriated to finish the re- taining wall at Sargent School.
52. Voted that the town celebrate the 200th Anniversary of its incorporation.
Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to appoint a committee, one member from each precinct, to act with them and report at & subsequent meeting the approximate cost of the celebration and out- line a program therefor.
53. Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to enter into a con- tract with the Westford Water Company for two additional hydrants on Depot Street, and that the sum of $80 be appropriated for service of the same.
54. Voted to dismiss the article relative to stocking Forge Pond with food fish.
55. Voted unanimously that the Town Treasurer, with the ap- proval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the municipal year beginning January 1, 1928, and to issue a note or notes therefor, pay- able within one year, any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.
56. Voted that the Tax Collector be instructed to collect all taxes according to law and that he be authorized to return, at the expense of the Town, a receipted tax bill when paid.
57. Voted to reconsider Article 28.
Voted that the sum of $65,552, instead of $62,552, be appropriated for the expenses of the Public Schools.
58. Voted to accept the minutes of the meeting.
59. Voted to dissolve the meeting.
CHARLES L. HILDRETH,
Town Clerk.
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Special Town Meeting, April 30, 1928
At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Westford, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs held at the Town House, April . 30, 1928, the following business was transacted: Alfred W. Hartford, Town Moderator, called the Meeting to order.
Charles L. Hildreth, Town Clerk, being acsent, Leonard W. Wheeler was elected Town Clerk pro tempore.
1. Voted unanimously that the Town acquire for school purposes, for the sum of Three Thousand Dollars, the property now used by the Town as a High School consisting of about 1 and 272-1000 acres of land with the building thereon known as Westford Academy, said premises being bounded and described as follows and to be conveyed to the Town by the Trustees of Westford Academy subject to the follow- ing provision and restriction: Beginning at a stake in the wall on the easterly side of Main Street by land formerly of Dr. Benjamin Osgood, deceased (at a point supposed to be marked by a stone bound,) and thence running southwesterly on said Main Street one hundred twenty- two and 8-10 feet to a stake at land now or formerly of Donald M. Cameron (at a point supposed to be marked by a stone bound;) thence In a straight line south 32 east on said Cameron land four hundred and ten feet to a stake (at a point supposed to be marked by a stone bound;) thence at a right angle north 58 east still on said Cameron land one hundred forty-five and 5-10 feet to the wall at said Osgood land; thence at an angle of 86 50' on the wall by said Osgood land north 35 10' west four hundred fourteen and 5-100 feet to the point of beginning; also all that portion of said Main Street bounded southerly by the southerly line of said premises produced, northerly by the northerly line of said premises produced, easterly by the westerly line of said premises, and westerly by the median line of said street; being all the same premises conveyed to The Trustees of Westford Aca- demy by Donald M. Cameron by deed dated Oct. 26, 1896, and recorded with Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds, Bock 280, Page 383, and subject to the provision contained in said deed, so far as the same is now in force and applicable relative to the building and maintenance of a fence along said Cameron land, and furthermore subject to the restriction that said premises shall forever herearter be held and used by the Inhabitants of Westford for the purposes of a school to hear the name of Westford Academy and to be conducted according to law under the order and superintendance of the authorities of said Town of Westford.
2. Voted unanimously that the Town build an addition to the school building known as Westford Academy, thereby increasing the floor space.
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3. Voted unanimously that the Town appropriate the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars to meet the expense to be incurred in acquir- ing the land for school purposes and erecting an addition to the school building known as Westford Academy, whereby the floor space of said building is increased, as follows: The sum of Three Thousand Dollars for acquiring said land, and Twenty-seven Thousand Dollars for build- ing the addition to the school building known as Westford Academy and the expenses in connection therewith, and that to meet said ap- propriation there be raised in the levy of the current year the sum of Eleven Hundred Dollars and that the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen be authorized to borrow the sum of Twenty-eight Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars and to issue bonds or notes therefor, said bonds or notes to be payable in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws as amended, including Chapter 338 of the Acts of 1923, so that the whole loan shall be paid not later than 20 years from the date of the issue of the first bond or note or at such earlier date as the Treasurer and Selectmen may determine.
4. Voted unanimously that the Town make alterations in the school building known as Westford Academy and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars therefor.
5. Voted unanimously that the School Committee have full charge of the erection of the addition to the school building known as Westford Academy and the making of alterations therein.
6. Voted unanimously that the Selectmen be authorized to enter into an agreement with the State and County for repairs on the Con- cord Road and that the sum of $6000 be appropriated on condition that the State and County contribute like amounts.
7. Voted not to authorize the Selectmen to purchase a truck.
8. Voted unanimously not to appropriate money for the recon- struction of the bridge on the Town Farm Road over Stony Brook.
9. Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to enter into a con- tract with the Lowell Electric Light Corporation for 12 additional street lights to be placed from Wyman's Corner to Rose Shugrue's house on the Groton Road.
10. Voted to reconsider the vote under Article 6.
Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to enter into an agree- ment with the State and County for repairs on the Concord Road and that the sum of $6000 or such portion thereof be appropriated as the State and County may each contribute, in the event that the State and County will not contribute the sum of $6000 each.
11. Voted to accept the minutes of the meeting.
12. Voted to dissolve the meeting.
LEONARD W. WHEELER,
Town Clerk Pro Tempore.
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Special Town Meeting, June 20, 1928
At a legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Westford, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, held at the Town House, June 20, 1928, the following business was transacted.
Alfred W. Hartford, Town Moderator, called the Meeting to order. 1. Voted to accept the written report of the Finance Committee.
2. Voted unanimously that the Treasurer be authorized to with- draw from the City Institution for Savings the funds now on deposit which were received from the State under Chapter 480, Acts of 1924, and that said funds and interest thereon be appropriated to meet the expense of the erection of the Memorial Stage in connection with the repairing and remodelling of Westford Academy and further that the Town appropriate the sum of $3425 for the purpose of remodelling, repairing, equipping and other expenses that may be incurred in con- nection therewith.
3. Voted to accept the minutes of the meeting.
4. Voted to dissolve the meeting.
CHARLES L. HILDRETH, Town Clerk.
30
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
Citizens of Westford:
The "State and County aided" roads so called, have been kept in repair during the year as directed and supervised by an engineer from the Public Works Department of the State.
The other oil-surfaced roads were scarified, rolled and re-oiled where necessary during the spring and early summer. These roads have been patrolled at regular intervals and patched wherever the road was beginning to break, thus preventing the road from going to pieces.
A very bad stretch of road on Depot Street was rebuilt with field- stone, gravel and oil. £ We had an engineer lay out this work and es- tablish grades, etc and we feel that this section is very substantially built and will stand up under heavy traffic.
All the roads have been gone over with the Fordson grader, many of them several times during the year to keep them in as smooth a condition as possible.
Many of the roads have been gravelled and bad mud-holes filled as evidenced by the fact that about 4600 loads of gravel have been applied. Approximately 800 loads of sand have also been used for sanding after,oiling.
It is the intention of the Board to use a portion of each year's appropriation for re-building bad sections of roads. But after pur- chasing the oil required for the oil-surfaced roads and keeping the 80 to 90 miles of roads in general repair, there is but a small balance left from the small total appropriation to reconstruct any great distance of road.
Main Street, for which the Town voted money for specific repairs, an allotment being made by the County and State, was let out to con- tract by the State. This road was rebuilt from the Chelmsford line to the Drew Farm Corner, so called, a total distance of about 3600 feet, but has not as yet been oiled. The total cost of this work to date is about $9000. We are asking the Town to appropriate an additional $4000 towards the completion of this work.
We are again asking for an appropriation to be used towards the reconstruction of Concord Road from Beaver Brook Road at Forge Village to Parkerville, in the event that the County and State will each allot a like amount. The Town voted an appropriation last year and the County was willing to grant an allotment. We conferred with the Public Works Commissioner several times but were unsuccessful in obtaining an allotment from the State. However we feel that an attempt to get the money from the State this coming year may possibly be successful.
The Town's automotive road equipment is housed at the rate of $4 per month for each machine, with an additional charge of $2 per month for heat for about three months of the year.
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We have had the Standard Oil Company install a gasoline tank for the Town's use, thus we purchase gasoline direct and get the bene- fit of wholesale prices.
At the last Annual Town Meeting the Board was authorized to appoint four others, one from each voting precinct, to act with the Selectmen as a committee to formulate plans for the observance of the 200th anniversary of the incorporation of the Town. The Board has appointed Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher, Herbert V. Hildreth, Richard D. Prescott and Walter C. Wright and the report of this committee will be made verbally at the Town Meeting.
A committee was chosen at the last meeting to investigate and report in regard to insurance on all our Public Buildings. We under- stand that this committee is recommending a separate appropriation be made for insurance, with the Selectmen to have the matter in charge. In the event that this vote is passed we are asking for an appropriation to cover this.
We are printing in this year's Town Report the total amount of insurance now carried on each building, also the amount that will ex- pire this year. It appears that many of the buildings have a low coverage and additional insurance should be placed if the Town de- sires to cover with approximately 50 to 60 per cent of the replacement value.
We submit herewith separate reports of the Highway Superin- tendent and the Police Department.
Respectfully submitted,
BURTON D. GRIFFITH, WILLIAM R. TAYLOR MARK A. PALMER.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS
Selectmen of Westford
Gentlemen:
The Highway Department is well equipped with loaders and machinery.
The tractors and snow removal equipment is in first class condi- tion and ready to clear any snow. The public must bear in mind that there is over ninety miles of road and every road can not be cared for at the same time.
The State and County Aid Roads require close attention as the heavy trucking soon breaks them up and continuous patching has to be done. They have been scarified where needed and oiled through- out, namely :
Brookside Rr. From Taylor's Cor. to West Chelmsford Line
Graniteville Rd. from Counter's Bridge to Westford Center.
Acton Rd. from Chelmsford Line to Acton Line.
Groton Rd. from Chelmsford Line to Groton Line via Graniteville and Forge Village.
The Beaver Brook Road has been graveled from bridge to Little- ton Line with some help from state on account of detour.
A new piece of road was built from Mr. Perrins toward Westford depot about 1/4 mile, bottom had stone wall foundation with 10" of gravel to cover, also TarcoB applied on top of rolled gravel.
Through the generosity of H. E. Fletcher Co. about 500 tons of chips and stone dust were given to the town and put on road from Whidden's Cor. to West Chelmsford.
The main roads where rough were scarified, reshaped and oiled.
Most of the back roads were scraped and smoothed several times and some widened. Gravel has been put in mud holes and needed places. I believe they all should be widened at least so two cars could pass but in order to do this several high banks would have to be cut back and a lot of gravel put on, but with a liberal amount of money this coming year a great deal of this can be accomplished.
Several new catch basins have been built:
1 at Graves Cor.
1 at Phillips Cor.
2 at Westford depot hill
1 at 4 Cors at Brookside
2 in Forge Village
2 at Oscar Spalding's
1 at W. Whidden's
Here is a list of 5394 loads of sand and gravel put out this year and taken from following banks:
Kimbal's Bank 108 loads Bannister's Bank 25 loads
Jack Healy's Bank 55 loads
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McIntosh's Bank
122 loads
Prescott's Bank
12 loads
Abbot's Bank
395 loads
Healy's Bank
732 loads
Paiges Bank
259 loads
Shugrue's Bank
56 loads
Town Farm Bank
2479 loads
Gagnon Bank 125 loads
Smith's Bank
76 loads
Stuart's Bank
30 loads
Taylor's Bank
47 loads
Foster's Bank
17 loads
Jesseman's Bank
310 loads
Picking's Bank 159 loads
Hale's Bank
181 loads
Blodgett's Bank
132 loads
Gould's Bank
74 loads
....
Total 5394 loads
The following is a list of equipment now owned by the Town:
1 12 Ton Steam Roller
2 5 Ton Holt Tractors
2 Sargent Snow Plows
1 Chevrelot Dump Truck
2 2 Horse Watering carts
1 Horse drawn Scraper
5 Road Levelers
1 16 yd. Drag Line
2 Tar Kettles 2 Truck Snow Plows
1 Conant Loading Machine
1 Fordson Tractor and Grader
1 Gasoline Water Pump
Respectfully,
J. AUSTIN HEALY. Supt. of Highways
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REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
-
Selectmen of Westford,
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report for the year 1928. The report is about the same as the year before. Report to the department of correction has been made.
List of Cases Handled
Arrests made 22
Assault and Battery
8
Attempt assault with dangerous weapon 4
Attempt to rape
1
Auto violations
26
Abandoned autos
8
Auto and motorcycle accidents
37
Auto transfers 34
Auto registrations revoked 19
Auto licenses suspended
16
Auto insurance revoked 21
Breaking and entering 11
Band concerts 14
Bastardy cases
7
Cases in Ayer court
62
Civil and criminal cases in Superior Court 12
Chicken thieves
4
Collected for dog licenses
$249.00
Collected for Sunday licenses $ 94.50
Cruelty to children 4
9
Complaints regarding custody of children
18
Complaints against minors
41
Dogs killing hens
5
Dogs shot
22
Dogs killing rabbits
2
Dances
34
Duty at public gathering
42
Driving under the influence of liquor
7
Drowning accident
1
Disturbance of the peace 11
Drunkenness
14
Fruit thieves 2
Family disturbances 17
Fires attended 19
Complaints against dogs
Dogs killed by automobiles
35
Fines in Ayer court $548.00 $915.00
Automobile fines going to state
Girl taken to Lancaster 1
Girl taken to the House of the Good Shepard 1
Gasoline licenses
22
In lockup at Town Farm
15
Investigations 496
Jurors
5
Keeping and exposing liquor
7
Larceny 15
Liquor raids
13
Liquor complaints
10
Liquor forfeited
6
Manslaughter cases
2
Men sent to the House of Correction
2
Misconduct 7
Money return for police work
$ 69.90
Notices posted 17
1
Pedestrians struck by automobiles
5
Patients taken to Worcester State Hospital
for Insane 2
Public nuisance
8
Petty complaints
202
Operating so as to endanger lives
3
Summonses and notices served
47
Sunday licenses collected
19
Unpaid dog licenses collected
110
Warrants served 24
2
Vagrants
3
Trespassing
9
Suspicious persons
5
JOHN F. SULLIVAN,
Police Officer.
Non-support cases
Wayward girls
36
List of Jurors
Names
Occupation
Adress
Anderson, Oscar A.
Laborer
Baum, Herbert
Paving Cutter
Brown, James H.
Electrician
Burnham, Fred W. Carpentier, Joseph Caunter, Frank R.
Blacksmith
Machinist
Connell, Leo J.
Chauffeur
Connell, Patrick J.
Electrician
Day, Quincy W.
Retired
Edwards, John
Machinist
Forge Village
Eastman, Henry F.
Retired
Westford
Fletcher, Austin D.
Clerk
Westford
Fletcher, Henry A.
Retired
Westford Westford
Fletcher J. Willard
Farmer
Fletcher, Walter N.
Insurance Agent
Graniteville
Gower, George E.
Machinist
Graniteville
Greene, John R.
Clerk
Graniteville
Greenslade, Arthur T.
Carpenter
Forge Village
Healy, Frederick S.
Coal Dealer
Graniteville
Howard, John
Farmer
Littleton Common
Keyes, Edward H.
Farmer
Westford
Knowlton, Harlan E.
Farmer
Westford
Lowther, Frank
Machinist
Forge Village
Lundberg, Axel G.
Monument Dealer
Westford
McDonald, Leo C.
Farmer
Westford
McGlinchey, Frank
Engineer
Nabnassett
Picking, Arthur
Moulder
Westford
Provost, Edmund
Carpenter
Graniteville
Seavey, Homer M.
Farmer
Westford
Sullivan, Joseph
Farmer
Westford
Wall, William L.
Painter
Graniteville
Weaver, George H.
Mill Overseer
Forge Village
Whidden, Walter
Electrician
Tyngsborough
Whitney, Hamilton E.
Weaver
Westford
Wyman, William W.
Carpenter
Westford
Young, Norman
Chauffeur
Westford
Carpenter
Westford West Chelmsford Forge Village Westford Graniteville Graniteville Westford Forge Village Westford
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