USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1947-1951 > Part 3
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ARTICLE 20. Voted that the sum of $625.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of purchasing five hundred (500) feet of new two and one half (21/2) inch double jacket treated Fire Hose, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers.
ARTICLE 21. Voted that the sum of $500.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of cleaning and maintenance of the several water holes or reservoirs in the various sections of the Town, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Highway Depart- ment.
ARTICLE 22. Voted that the sum of $1,000.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of celebrating the return of men and women who served in or were affiliated or associated with any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States in World War II, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 23. Voted that the sum of $500.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of repairing certain public sidewalks, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Select- men.
ARTICLE 24. Voted to dismiss this Article relative to an Appropriation for the Control of Poison Ivy, such an Appropriation not being allowed by State Law.
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ARTICLE 25. Voted that the Board of Selectmen be and hereby are authorized, in the name and behalf of the Town, to enter into a contract with the Westford Water Company for a period not to exceed five years, on such terms and conditions as they deem advisable, for three Hydrants to be located as follows:
One on Pleasant Street between Abbot Street and Patten Road; One near the corner of Brookside Road and Lowell Road; and One on Lowell Road easterly from Brookside Road.
ARTICLE 3. Voted to take up Article 3 Item 5.
5. Voted that the sum of $3,455.00 be raised and appropriated for Fire Hydrants.
ARTICLE 26. Voted that the Board of Selectmen be and hereby are authorized, in the name and behalf of the Town, to enter into a contract with the Westford Water Company for Hydrant Service for a period not to exceed five years on such terms and conditions as the Board of Selectmen may deem advisable.
ARTICLE 30. Voted that the Town accept a gift from Richard W. Hall, George E. Reeves, George D. Gower and A. Michael Woznac, of a triangular parcel of land situated on the Southeasterly side of Main Street in Graniteville, together with the Monument erected there- on in honor of those residents of Graniteville who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during World War II.
ARTICLE 31. Voted that the action taken under Article 2 of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting held June 15, 1937, which related to the Compensation of members of the Fire Department, be rescinded.
ARTICLE 32. Voted that the Town accept the Provisions of Section 4B of Chapter 136 of the General Laws relative to the grant- ing of Licenses by the Board of Selectmen for the operation of Bowling Alleys on the Lord's Day.
ARTICLE 33. Voted not to authorize the Board of Assessors to use as Free Cash, a sum of money not to exceed $15,000.00, said amount to be approved by the Commissioner of Corporations and Tax- ation of the Commonwealth, and said sum to be applied in determining the tax rate for the current year 1947.
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ARTICLE 34. Voted that the term of office for the Moderator be changed from a one year to a three year term and that beginning with the next Annual Town Election, the Moderator be elected for the term of three years.
ARTICLE 35. Voted to accept the verbal Report of the Com- mittee on By-Laws.
Voted that the Town rescind its By-Laws as adopted at the An- nual Town Meeting held February 11, 1924 and any Amendments or Additions thereto adopted subsequent to that time, and that the By- Laws as set forth in the Warrant for this Meeting, as amended at this Meeting, be adopted as By-Laws of the Town, and that the sum of $150.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of printing and publishing the same. The following By-Laws were adopted under this vote.
BY-LAWS ARTICLE I.
Town Meetings and the Procedure Thereat
SECTION 1. The Annual Meeting for the election of Town Of- ficers shall be held on the first Monday of March in each year. The Polls shall be opened at 12:00 o'clock noon and shall remain open until 8:00 o'clock P. M.
SECTION 2. All business of the Annual Town Meeting except the election of such Officers and the determination of such matters as by law or vote of the Town are required to be elected or determined by ballot shall be considered at said Meeting on the Saturday follow- ing called at 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon.
SECTION 3. Notice of every Town Meeting shall be given by posting an attested copy of the Warrant at the Town Hall and each Post Office in Westford at least seven days before such Meeting.
SECTION 4. Special Town Meetings shall be called on any day not earlier than 7:30 o'clock P. M. except that on Saturday they may be called not earlier than 2:00 o'clock P. M.
SECTION 5. The proceedings of Town Meetings shall be gov- erned by the rules of practice contained in Roberts' Rules of Order except as modified by law or by the By-Laws.
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SECTION 6. At any Town Meeting held for the transaction of town business, no person whose name is not on the list of voters shall be admitted to the floor of the Hall except those who may be invited by the Meeting assembled. It shall be the special duty of the Police and Election Officers to enforce this law by use of the check list, but the same shall not apply to the State Election, Primaries or Meetings for the Election of Town Officers, or to be construed to prohibit press reporters from such admission. The Moderator shall determine the bounds of the floor of the Hall.
SECTION 7. All Committees shall be appointed by the Mod- erator unless otherwise specially directed by the Meeting and all Committees so appointed shall be directed to report within a definite time. If a Committee does not report within the time stated, or at the first Annual Town Meeting held thereafter, it shall be considered dis- charged. The Moderator shall not be a member of any Committee appointed by him.
SECTION 8. All Motions shall be presented in writing, if the Moderator so requests.
ARTICLE II.
Duties of the Finance Committee
SECTION 1. There shall be a Finance Committee of six voters of the Town, no one of whom shall hold an elective or appointive Town office having to do with the expenditure of Town money. The members of this Committee shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties and shall serve without pay.
SECTION 2. The Finance Committee shall be appointed by the Moderator. The first Committee shall be appointed as follows: Two for one year, two for two years and two for three years .. At the Annual Meeting in each year thereafter, two members of said Committee to serve for the term of three years shall be appointed by the Moderator. The term of office for said members shall commence on March 1st of the year of their appointment. Said Committee shall meet at the call of the Town Clerk and choose its Chairman and Clerk. The Moderator shall forthwith fill by appointment any vacancies which occur in its membership and said appointee shall serve for the re- mainder of his predecessor's term of office.
SECTION 3. The Finance Committee shall consider matters relating to the appropriation, the borrowing and the expenditure of
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money by the Town, its indebtedness, the methods of administration of its various offices and departments, property valuation and assess- ments, and other municipal affairs, and make recommendations to the Town or to any Town Board, Officer or Committee, relative to such matters, also Articles in Town Warrants involving the expenditure or appropriation of money and shall approve or disapprove the same in whole or in part, and shall make report to the voters with such recommendations or suggestions as the Committee shall deem advis- able.
SECTION 4. The Town Accountant shall immediately upon the close of the financial year compile statements in tabulated form showing the amounts appropriated and the amounts expended from each appropriation during the preceding year, and the estimates for the current year, and shall forthwith furnish a copy thereof to the Finance Committee to consider and report on proposed appropriations. The said Committee shall, after due consideration, designate the amounts which in their opinion should be appropriated for the ensuing year, and shall accompany the same with such explanations and suggestions in relation thereto as they may deem desirable for the proper informa- tion of the voters. The Selectmen shall print and distribute this docu- ment at or before the Annual Town Meeting and the Town Clerk shall transmit a copy thereof, and of all Town Reports to the Director of Accounts. The Committee shall furnish to the Selectmen on or before February 20th of each year a report of the matters so considered by it with recommendations or suggestions relative thereto, and the same shall be printed in the Annual Town Report.
ARTICLE III
Duties of the Board of Health
SECTION 1. The Board of Health shall annually make a report to be printed in the Annual Town Report, showing in detail the statis- tics of the health and sanitary condition of the Town, with recommenda- tions for its improvement, together with a full and comprehensive statement of its work and that of its appointees during the previous year. The Board shall make and publish such regulations as it deems necessary for public health and safety, and from time to time shall cause said rules and regulations to be printed in a form suitable for public distribution.
SECTION 2. They shall have charge of the appropriations for. quarantine purposes, in addition to the regular health appropriation, and any special appropriation which may be made by the Town, which concern the health and sanitation of the Town, not specifically en- trusted to any other department.
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ARTICLE IV
Junk Dealers and Collectors of Junk
SECTION 1. The Selectmen may license suitable persons to be dealers in and keepers of shops for the purchase, sale or barter of junk, old metals or second-hand articles; they may also license suit- able persons as junk collectors, to collect by purchase, or otherwise, junk, old metals, and second-hand articles from place to place in said Town; and they may provide that such collectors shall display badges upon their persons or upon their vehicles, or upon both when engaged in collecting, transporting or dealing in junk, old metals, or second- hand articles, and may prescribe the design thereof. Fees for such license shall be $5.00.
SECTION 2. Every such shopkeeper shall keep a book, in which shall be written at the time of every purchase of any such article a description thereof and the name, age and residence of the person from whom and the day and hour, when such purchase was made and such book shall at any time be open to the inspection of the Select- men and by any person by them authorized to make such inspection.
SECTION 3. Every such shopkeeper shall allow his shop and all articles of merchandise therein to be at any time examined by the Selectmen and by any person by them authorized to make such in- spection, and every collector shall allow any place, vehicles or recep- tacle used for the collection or keeping of such articles of merchandise to be at any time examined by the Selectmen and by any person by them authorized to make such inspection.
ARTICLE V Streets and Sidewalks
SECTION 1. No person shall suffer horses or grazing beasts or swine to run at large in the Town or to graze within the limits of the highway in the thickly settled parts of the Town; or to graze within the limits of the highway in any other part of the Town unless securely tied.
SECTION 2. No person shall throw stones, snowballs, sticks, or other missiles, or kick football, or play at any game, in which a ball is used, or fly kites or balloons, or shoot with an airgun, bow and arrow, sling shot or other similar device, in or across any of the public ways of the Town.
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SECTION 3. No person shall wilfully or negligently obstruct the free passage of foot-travellers on any sidewalk, nor shall any person loaf upon any sidewalk or in any street or public way of the Town after a request to move made by any Constable or Police Officer.
SECTION 4. No person shall break or dig up any sidewalk, street or highway, or place thereon any staging or other temporary structure, or move any building into or along the same without a writ- ten permit from the Board of Selectmen or the Board having charge of the streets in such cases. Any permit issued hereunder shall be in force for such time as the Board may specify; shall be issued upon condition that from one half hour after sunset until one half hour before sunrise sufficient lights or lanterns shall be so placed as to secure travellers from danger and shall be issued upon such other con- ditions as the Board may prescribe. The Board granting such permit shall have the right to revoke the same at any time, and may require a bond either before the commencement of work or during its progress to insure its proper performance. Any person having such a permit shall, before the expiration of the same, restore the sidewalk, street, or highway to its original condition.
SECTION 5. No person shall throw or place or cause to be thrown or placed upon any street or highway of the Town, any nails, spikes, screws, glass, tin cans or any rubbish or refuse of any kind.
SECTION 6. No person shall deface or damage any public monu- ment or damage any public grounds or property.
SECTION 7. No person shall ride, drive or cause to be driven, any horse or vehicle over that part of any street which is being mended, repaired or paved, if a watchman or signs are placed prohibiting the same.
SECTION 8. The Selectmen shall have the right to close any street or highway or portion thereof to coasting.
SECTION 9. No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any street or highway nor shall any owner of any vehicle knowingly permit such vehicle to be driven or moved on any street or highway unless such vehicle is so constructed, or so loaded, as to prevent its contents from spilling, dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom. Vehicles loaded with any material which may be blown about by the wind shall be suitably covered to prevent the contents from being blown about the streets and highways.
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ARTICLE VI
Legal Affairs
SECTION 1. The Selectmen shall, with the assistance of Town Counsel, institute, prosecute and defend any and all claims, actions and proceedings to which the Town is a party or in which the interests of the Town are or may be involved.
SECTION 2. The Selectmen may, subject to the approval of the Town, settle any claim or suit made or instituted by them in behalf of the Town. They may compromise or settle any claims or suits against the Town, provided an appropriation by the Town for the pay- ment of such compromise or settlement has first been obtained.
ARTICLE VII
Penalty
SECTION 1. Whoever violates any of the provisions of these By-Laws shall be punished with a fine of not more than twenty dollars for each offense unless specifically provided otherwise herein.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
SECTION 1. These By-Laws may be repealed or amended at any Annual Town Meeting an Article or Articles for such purpose having been inserted in the Warrant for such Meeting.
ARTICLE IX
Repeal
SECTION 1. These By-Laws shall go into effect upon their ac- ceptance by the Town and their approval and publication in the manner required by law, and all the By-Laws or votes of the Town in- consistent with these By-Laws are hereby repealed.
ARTICLE 36. Voted that the sum of $100.00 be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Depart- ment of Veterans' Services, including the compensation of the Director of Veterans' Services, as provided in Chapter 599 of the Acts of 1946.
ARTICLE 37. Voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the Meeting.
ARTICLE 38. Voted to dissolve the Meeting.
A True Record, Attest:
CHARLES L. HILDRETH,
Town Clerk, Westford.
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ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION-FEBRUARY 10, 1947
Prec. 1 Prec. 2 Prec. 3 Prec. 4 Total
Whole Number of Ballots Cast ____ 356 247
122
379 1104
SELECTMAN
Cyril A. Blaney
97
152
50
172
471
Lawrence J. Charlton
12
28
5
19
64
Clifford J. Courchaine
4
26
11
136
177
Thomas Curley
175
23
28
23
249
Samuel A. Richards
63
15
26
18
122
Blanks
5
3
2
11
21
ASSESSOR
Victor B. Daly
79
101
36
258
474
Carroll J. Rollins
239
39
65
38
381
Edward J. St. Onge
29
98
20
71
218
Blanks
9
9
1
12
31
TREASURER
Charlotte P. Greig
321
179
104
259
863
Cyril A. Blaney
1
0
0
0
1
Blanks
34
68
18
120
240
TAX COLLECTOR
David I. Olsson
325
182
110
267
884
John Catchpole
0
0
0
1
1
Blanks
31
65
12
111
319
CONSTABLE
John F. Sullivan
309
175
105
285
874
Kent Allen
0
1
0
0
1
Francis Wood
0
1
0
0
1
Augustus Elliot
0
0
0
1
1
Victor Doucette
0
1
0
0
1
Bob Spinner
1
0
0
0
1
Blanks
46
69
17
93
225
MODERATOR
Ben W. Drew
313
161
103
245
822
Blanks
43
86
19
134
282
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
William L. Wall
280
166
98
251
795
Bill Robinson
0
1
0
0
1
Blanks
76
80
24
128
308
41
SCHOOL COMMITTEE-Vote for Two
Robert M. Hunter
93
69
53
120
335
James L. Knowlton
196
106
66
148
516
F. Stanley Smith
182
118
45
82
427
Alfred T. Wark
111
30
25
18
184
Edwin J. Webber
24
68
10
215
317
Blanks
106
103
45
175
429
TRUSTEE OF THE J. V. FLETCHER LIBRARY
Alice M. Howard
302
158
102
241
803
Clifford Courchaine
0
0
0
1
1
Blanks
54
89
20
137
300
CEMETERY COMMISSIONER
Sebastian B. Watson
290
155
99
227
771
Arthur Milot
0
1
0
0
1
Robert J. Orr
0
0
0
1
1
Blanks
66
91
23
151
331
BOARD OF HEALTH
Ralph E. Cole
307
166
108
244
825
Blanks
49
81
14
135
279
TREE WARDEN
Harry L. Nesmith
302
170
104
247
823
Blanks
54
77
18
132
281
"Shall the provisions of section forty of chapter seventy-one of the General Laws, as amended, relative to equal pay for men and women teachers be in force in this town ?"
Yes
183
116
71
167
537
No
59
26
13
27
125
Blanks
114
105
38
185
442
We hereby certify that the above is a true canvass of the Votes Cast at the Annual Town Election held February 10, 1947.
ATTEST:
1
PAUL L. DUNIGAN,
JAMES J. McKNIFF,
NORMAN E. DAY, CHARLES L. HILDRETH,
Board of Registrars of Voters,
Westford.
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING-MARCH 4, 1947
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, Tuesday, March 4, 1947, at eight o'clock P. M., the following business was transacted:
In the absence of Ben W. Drew, Town Moderator, Charles L. Hil- dreth, Town Clerk, called the Meeting to order.
The Chair asked for nominations of a Moderator Pro. Tem. William R. Taylor was nominated. It was moved and then voted that nomina- tions be closed. William R. Taylor was elected Moderator Pro Tem and was sworn in by the Town Clerk.
Voted to dispense with the reading of the Warrant.
Voted to accept the written Report of the Fire Committee, ap- pointed under Article 18 of the Annual Town Meeting held February 17, 1947, and that it be placed on file.
ARTICLE 1. Voted that the Town raise and appropriate or, with the approval of the Tax Commissioner, transfer from Free Cash, the sum of $7,000.00, for the purpose of purchasing a New Fire Truck having a Pumping Capacity of at least five hundred (500) gallons per minute. Said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers.
ARTICLE 2. Voted that the Town accept the gift of a Cadillac Ambulance, subject to the conditions imposed by the donors thereof and, as set forth in the Bill of Sale presented to the Town. Said con- ditions being:
1. That this Ambulance be placed permanently under the care, supervision and control of the Board of Fire Engineers and
2. That it be stationed permanently in the Fire House at Westford Center.
A standing vote of thanks was given to those soliciting the funds which provided this fine gift.
Voted that the Board of Fire Engineers be and hereby are author- ized to make such Rules and Regulations as they may see fit govern- ing the use of the Ambulance just given to the Town.
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ARTICLE 3. Voted that the Expenses of Operating and Main- taining the Ambulance just given to the Town be charged to and paid out of the Account entitled "Fire Department-General Expense" and that the sum of $400.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of defraying the General Expenses of the Fire Department. Said sum to be in addition to the sum already appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting.
ARTICLE 4. Voted that the Board of Fire Engineers be and hereby are authorized to sell and transfer, by a good and sufficient Bill of Sale, title to an Old Trailer now used by the Fire Department.
ARTICLE 5. Voted to accept the minutes of the Meeting.
ARTICLE 6. Voted to dissolve the Meeting.
A True Record, Attest:
CHARLES L. HILDRETH, Town Clerk, Westford.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING-APRIL 21, 1947
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, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1947 ,at 8:00 o'clock P. M., the following business was transacted:
Ben W. Drew, Town Moderator, called the Meeting to order.
A Motion that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $6,000.00, for the purpose of celebrating the return of men and women who served in or were affiliated or associated with any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States in World War II, said sum to be in addition to the sum already appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting held February 17, 1947, was lost by a vote of YES 24, No 61.
Voted to accept the minutes of the Meeting.
Voted to dissolve the Meeting.
A True Record, Attest:
CHARLES L. HILDRETH,
Town Clerk.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN
To the Citizens of Westford:
The Board organized at the beginning of the year with Arthur L. Healy, Chairman; Edward F. Harrington, Secretary, and Cyril A. Blaney.
The Annual Audit was made by the Director of Accounts and a copy is printed herein.
The reports of different departments are printed in this report.
In addition to the regular meetings special sessions were found necessary. A lot of time and effort was spent to have a celebration for the veterans, all plans were made and then at the Special Town meeting in April the money needed in addition to the regular appro- priation was voted down.
In accordance with State regulations it was necessary to install an Auxiliary lighting system in the Town Hall and place safety bars on the doors.
We have written and contacted the Lowell Electric Light many times about installing the street lights that have been voted at the different Town Meetings, but they still claim it is impossible to obtain the material necessary to install same.
During the year we had the Town By-laws published and printed and copies distributed to the various departments.
A new furnace was installed to replace the one in the front of the Town Hall and the furnace in the rear of the hall was repaired.
Several trees in the Town were badly in need of having limbs removed and others had to be taken down completely as they were endangering the lives of people walking near them. It was necessary to contact an outside contractor to do this work, which was done at no expense to the Town.
Attended several meetings and hearings regarding the signs at the Forge Village crossing, the work was not done in the past year, but agreements are all made and it will be done very soon.
Also have contacted the State and County and work is to be done this year on repairing Town Farm Road and replacing the bridge.
Had several meetings with the Westford Water Company re- garding the new contract, which was agreed upon for five years.
Appointed a Fuel Committee to take care of the needs of the people of the Town for fuel during the shortage now existing.
Signed, ARTHUR L. HEALY CYRIL A. BLANEY EDWARD F. HARRINGTON
Board of Selectmen
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS
Board of Selectmen,
Westford, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The following is my report for the year ending December 31, 1947:
CHAPTER 81 AND HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE
The usual highway maintenance was carried out during the year, which included the use of pea stone, gravel, tar, asphalt, sand, and patch on our various streets and those that come under our Chapter 81 Contract.
CHAPTER 90 CONSTRUCTION
Groton road, Chapter 90 construction was delayed due to the fact necessary work on other streets started earlier in the year had to be completed. Although this project was late in getting underway, we had favorable weather and with the use of power equipment the con- struction progressed rapidly and was finished in November, 1947.
Respectfully yours,
J. AUSTIN HEALY Supt. of Streets.
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REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Westford, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report for the year 1947 for the Police Department.
Report to the Department of Correction has been made.
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