USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1872-1884, v. 3 > Part 3
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Thirty-first Article taken up :
To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be required to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year, or any of the fore- going articles.
The meeting then voted the following
APPROPRIATIONS.
For the support of schools
$35,000
the support of poor
900
the support of highways and underdraining
30,000
the support of sidewalks
· 10,000
making and widening Boylston street
15,000
Fire Department
4,500
new hydrants
1,500
finishing and furnishing new engine and hook-and-ladder
house
3,000
new reservoir .
1,500
celebration of Decoration Day
200
watering-places for cattle
500
collecting taxes
1,500
lighting streets and town buildings
10,000
support of library
5,000
police
10,000
contingencies
8,000
new hook-and-ladder truck
1,200
new hose
1,000
making the extension of Goddard avenue
8,500
Voted, That the Selectmen are authorized to spend money for plank sidewalks where in their judgment they shall deem it best.
Thirty-first Article laid on the table.
Voted, That when this meeting adjourns it be to meet on
.
24
Brookline Town Records.
Wednesday, the tenth day of April next, at four of the clock in the afternoon.
Voted, To reconsider so much of the vote passed post- poning certain articles until the adjourned meeting as applies to the twentieth article.
Twentieth Article taken up :
To see if the town will petition the General Court for authority to divert Muddy river.
Voted, That the Selectmen be instructed to apply to the General Court for authority to divert the waters of Muddy river, and to endeavor to secure the same in the bill now pending before the Committee on Harbors, upon the petition already presented.
Adjourned.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 26, 1872.
In pursuance of the laws of this Commonwealth, the Town Clerk forthwith made out his warrant and delivered it to Constable J. P. Sanborn, requiring him, within three days from the date thereof, to summons all officers chosen and not qualified, to appear before the Town Clerk within seven days from the date of said warrant, to be qualified for their several offices, to be sworn where an oath is required, or to signify their refusal of said office; also to signify their ac- ceptance or refusal of the office to which they have been elected where an oath is not required by law.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS,
NORFOLK, SS. BROOKLINE, April 1, 1872.
Personally appeared the persons below named, and were sworn at the time set against their names, or signified their
25
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 10, 1872.
acceptance or refusal of the office to which they had been chosen ; to wit, -
Fence Viewers : Clark L. Haynes [sworn March 29], William K. Melcher [sworn April 1].
Sealer of Leather : Samuel A. Robinson [sworn April 1].
Truant Officers : Willard Y. Gross [sworn March 28], George F. Dearborn [sworn March 29].
Pound Keeper : Eben W. Reed [sworn March 29].
Surveyor of Lumber and Measurer of Wood and Bark: William K. Melcher [sworn April 1].
Sealer of Weights and Measures : Alfred Kenrick Jr. [sworn April 1]. Constables : Daniel C. Murray [sworn March 30], Samuel D. Edwards [sworn March 28], Eben W. Reed [sworn March 29].
Field Drivers : Eben W. Reed [sworn March 29], Thomas S. Petten- gill [sworn March 29], Daniel C. Murray [sworn March 30].
School Committee, 3 years : J. Eliot Cabot [accepted March 28], Robert Amory [accepted March 28].
School Committee, 1 year : R. G. F. Candage [accepted April 1].
Trustee Public Library, 3 years : Robert S. Davis [accepted March 29].
Auditors : Robert S. Littell [accepted March 30], Edward I. Thomas [accepted April 1].
Cemetery Committee : Thomas S. Pettengill [accepted March 29].
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL 10, 1872.
Pursuant to adjournment, the citizens of the town of Brookline met at the Town Hall in said town on Wednesday, the tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, and were called to order at four of the clock in the afternoon by the Moderator, Charles H. Drew, in the chair.
The meeting then proceeded to fill the vacancies in the various offices occasioned by the non-acceptance or non- qualification of those chosen at the annual town meeting, as follows ; to wit, -
Sealer of Leather : Willard Warren.
Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark: William D. Coolidge, Frank F. Seamans, J. Anson Guild, John E. Cousens.
Auditor : Daniel H. Rogers.
.
26
Brookline Town Records.
Voted, That the three Field Drivers who have been quali- fied be the number for the ensuing year.
The meeting then proceeded to transact the following business ; viz., -
The committee to whom was referred the Fifth Article, in relation to cleaning ice and snow from sidewalks, made the following report ; viz., -
BROOKLINE, April 9, 1872.
The committee appointed to report upon the subject of the Fifth Article in the warrant for the town meeting held at Brookline, March the 26th, 1872, said Article running as follows: "Fifth, To see if the town will adopt a by-law in relation to cleaning snow and ice from side- walks and rendering them safe," report as follows : -
That, in their judgment, no action is necessary on the part of the town, and that the adoption of any by-law relating to the subject matter is at present inexpedient.
MOSES WILLIAMS, Jr. ALFRED KENRICK, Jr. ALFRED D. CHANDLER.
Voted, To accept the report.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone the Fifth Article.
Sixth Article laid on the table.
Seventh Article laid on the table.
The committee to whom was referred the Eighth Article reported as follows ; to wit, -
REPORT ON EIGHTH ARTICLE.
The committee to whom was referred the Eighth Article in the war- rant, having considered the subject of creating a sinking fund to pay the town debt, submit the following report : -
It appears by the Treasurer's report that the total amount of the town debt on the 1st of February last was $473,000.
Of this sum there is due during the current year, $19,000
In 1873
10,000
1874
10,000
1875
14,000
1876
15,000
1877
15,000
1878
16,000
1879
16,000
1880
16,000
1881
19,000
1882
29,000
1883
24,000
1884
30,000
27
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 10, 1872.
Maturing within the next twelve years, $233,000. Leaving the sum of $240,000.
Of which amount there is payable in the year
1886
·
$50,000
1891
· 100,000
1896 .
90,000
For the payments of the certificates of debt or bonds issued under votes of the town for the said sum of $240,000, the committee recom- mend a sinking fund, to be established by annual taxation, of a sum which, with the accumulation of interest, will be sufficient to pay said debt at maturity.
The committee find that if the first payment is made on the first day of July next and then interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, the amount should be $5830. Your committee, therefore, recommend that the sum of $5800 be raised by taxation the current year, and a like sum be raised by taxation annually and invested in a sinking fund, and that said sums so appropriated from year to year, together with the accumulated interest, should be pledged and held as the sinking fund thus to be established for the reduction of the town debt.
Your committee further recommend that should the debt of the town be increased by the issue of notes or bonds payable at any time beyond the next twelve years, that there be raised by taxation at the time of creating such additional debt, a sum by taxation annually, which with its accumulated interest will be sufficient to pay said debt at maturity.
It is also recommended that a board of commissioners be created, to be called " Commissioners of the Sinking Fund," and that the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, the Chairman of the Board of Assessors, together with the Town Treasurer, constitute said Board of Commis- sioners.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN C. ABBOTT, W. A. WELLMAN, Committee.
Voted, To accept the foregoing report.
Voted, To adopt the recommendations of the report.
After some discussion in relation to the Chairman of the Selectmen, the Chairman of the Assessors, and the Town Treasurer, constituting the Board of Commissioners to take charge of the sinking fund, it was
Voted, That Charies D. Head, William A. Wellman, John C. Abbott, be a Board of Commissioners to take charge of the sinking fund.
William A. Wellman presented the following report of the Committee on Building the new Town Hall : -
28
Brookline Town Records.
The Building Committee of the new Town Hall ask leave to report :
The building has been advanced to near completion on the exterior, the work to be done being painting and jobbing connected with the stone work, the fixing in position the iron crests on the roof, the completion of the iron cornices, and the finishing of the doors and windows.
The interior will be ready for plastering in about ten days, on the com- pletion of which the woodwork, decorations, &c., will be pushed forward as rapidly as consistent with proper execution, with the expectation of completing the building as carly as September next.
The amount of the mason's contract was
carpenter's "
On account of which has been paid to the
mason
$76,500
carpenter
.
19,000
$95,500
In addition, the extra mason's work will be about
3,000
carpenter's
800
steam heating not provided for
6,987
decoration (estimated)
3,000
memorial window or tablet
1,500
architects' commissions
6,800
competitive plans, &c. .
700
mantel pieces
400
lamp posts to front steps .
200
gas fixtures
1,500
wall around the building and grounds
5,501
contingencies
2,000
$150,010
The sum of $50,000, being additional to the $100,000 already raised by loan, the committee recommend should be raised in a similar manner.
As the Town Hall cannot be occupied until it is finished, the committee have thought it expedient to procure from the architects estimates for furnishing the two halls and the adjoining rooms and the offices for the various boards of town officers.
They recommend that the town appropriate $8500 for the furnishing of the halls and the adjoining rooms, to be expended under the direction of the Town Hall Committee.
They recommend the appropriation of $4500 for the furnishing of the offices for the occupation of the town officers, to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen. These sums, amounting to $13,000, they recommend should be raised by taxation the current year.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
For the Committee, W. A. WELLMAN, Chairman.
Brookline, April 10, 1872.
Voted, To accept the report.
$78,356
37,626
glass not in contract
1,640
29
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 10, 1872.
Voted, That for the purpose of completing the new Town Hall and finishing the grounds about the same, the bonds of the town of Brookline be issued to the amount of fifty thousand dollars, to be called the Brookline Town Hall Fund, said bonds to be for amounts not less than five hun- dred dollars, payable to bearer or to order, at the office of the Treasurer in Brookline, in not less than five nor more than twenty years from the date thereof, with interest, pay- able semi-annually at some bank in Massachusetts, at a rate not exceeding six per centum per annum, with coupons for said interest attached ; said bonds to be sealed with the seal of the town, to be signed by the Treasurer, and counter- signed by a majority, at least, of the Selectmen, the coupons to be signed by the Treasurer alone.
Voted, That the form of said bonds be substantially as follows ; to wit, -
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. $ Brookline Town Hall Fund Bond. $
The Town of Brookline, for value received, promises to pay or bearer (or order), at the office of its Treasurer, dollars, on the day of A.D. 18 , with interest, at the rate of six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, on the first days of
and in each year, at the Bank in upon the delivery of the proper coupons hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, the Town of Brookline has caused its corporate seal to be hereto affixed by its Treasurer, and has caused these presents to be signed by said Treasurer, and to be countersigned by a majority, at least, of its Selectmen, this day of 187
L SEAL OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
1 Selectmen. Treasurer.
The Selectmen, to whom was referred the Twefth Article, in relation to widening Newton street as laid out by the County Commissioners, reported that the street should be made as laid out.
Voted, To make Newton street as far as laid out by the County Commissioners, and that the sum of four thousand
30
Boookline Town Records.
five hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for that pur- pose.
Fourteenth Article taken up.
The committee to whom was referred the Fourteenth Arti- cle, in relation to road commissioners, reported as follows ; viz., -
BROOKLINE, April 10, 1872.
The committee to whom was referred the Fourteenth Article in the warrant of the town meeting held March 25, having given the matter referred to them careful consideration, respectfully report, that, in their opinion, it is expedient to adopt the provisions of Chapter 158, Acts of 1871, in relation to the election of road commissioners.
CHARLES D. HEAD.
GEORGE F. HOMER. SAMUEL CLARK. EDWARD S. PHILBRICK.
Voted, To accept the report of the committee.
Seventeenth Article taken up :
To see what action the town will take upon the majority and minority reports of the School Committee in reference to an ungraded school.
The motion of Rev. William W. Newton, made at the meeting held on the twenty-sixth day of March last, was taken from the table ; viz., -
That the majority report of the Committee on ungraded schools be adopted.
After considerable discussion on the subject, it was -
Voted, To adopt the report of the majority of the Com- mittee on ungraded schools.
Eighteenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will accept the by-laws concerning truant children and absentees from school, recommended by the School Committee.
The following by-laws concerning truant children and ab- sentees from school, which were printed in the report of the School Committee and had been distributed with said report amongst the inhabitants of the town, were then presented to the meeting for acceptance ; to wit, -
1. Any of the persons described in the first section of the "Acts con- cerning Truant Children and Absentees from School," passed April 30, 1862, upon the conviction of any offence therein described, shall be pun-
C
St
31
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 10, 1872.
ished by fine not exceeding twenty dollars, or may be committed to any institution of instruction, house of reformation or suitable situation, pro- vided for the purpose under authority of first section of said Act, for such time, not exceeding two years, as such judge, justice, or court, hav- ing jurisdiction of the same, may determine.
2. Any child between the ages of six and sixteen who, while a member of any school, shall absent himself or herself from school without the consent of his or her teacher and parent or guardian, shall be deemed a truant.
3. Any child between the ages of seven and sixteen who shall not attend some public school or suitable institution of instruction, at least twelve weeks in the year, six of which shall be consecutive in the sum- mer term, and six of which shall be consecutive in the winter term, shall be deemed an absentee.
4. Absentees of the second class, - children between the ages of seven and sixteen years of age, - wandering in the streets or loitering in stores, shops, or public places, having no lawful occupation and growing up in ignorance, are hereby placed under the supervision of the Truant Officers, so far as the law provides. The first offence shall be reported to parents, guardian, or master of said child, by a Truant Officer, and in case of the failure to secure said child the requisite amount of schooling or instruction elsewhere, he shall be fined twenty dollars; for the second offence of the same person, the child shall be sent to the almshouse, or to the State Reform School or State Industrial School for Girls, for a period agreeable to the statutes, as the justice of the court having jurisdiction of the same shall determine.
5. The town shall annually choose three or more Truant Officers whose duty it shall be to make complaints in case of violation of these by-laws, for the purpose of carrying into execution the sentences thereof, who shall receive such compensation for their services as the School Commit- tee may determine.
6. It shall be the duty of every Truant Officer to inquire diligently concerning all persons between the ages aforesaid, who seem idle or vagrant, or who, whether employed or unemployed, appear to be grow- ing up in ignorance, and to enter complaint against any one unlawfully absent from school or violating any of these by-laws.
7. It shall be the duty of every Truant Officer, prior to making any complaint before a justice, to notify the truant or absentee child, and its parents or guardian, of the penalty of the offence. If he can obtain satisfactory pledges of reformation, which pledges shall be subsequently kept, he shall forbear to prosecute.
Voted, To adopt the foregoing by-laws.
Voted, That the foregoing by-laws be presented to the court for approval by the Moderator.
(June 22, 1872, approved by John W. Bacon, Justice of Superior Court. )
Nineteenth Article taken up :
32
Brookline Town Records.
To see if the town will petition the General Court for an act to supply the town with water.
Voted, That the Selectmen, in conjunction with the Com- mittee on Water, petition the General Court for authority to supply the town with water.
Mr. Charles D. Head, Chairman of the Board of Select- men, presented the following report on Guide Posts and Guide Boards.
Voted, That the reading of the report be dispensed with.
REPORT ON THE LOCATION OF GUIDE BOARDS.
One at the corner of Beacon and Harvard streets, directing to Cam- bridge and Cambridgeport, to. Boston, and to Newton Centre; corner of Winchester and Beacon streets, directing to Brighton ; corner of Beacon and Washington streets, to Newton Centre and Boston, Brighton and Rox- bury ; corner of Longwood avenue and Harvard street, to Roxbury; corner of Harvard and Washington streets, to Cambridge and Brighton ; corner of Washington and Boylston streets, to Brighton and Newton and Newton Upper Falls; corner of Boylston and High streets, to Jamaica Pond; corner of Walnut and High streets, to Dedham and West Rox- bury ; corner of Walnut and Washington streets, to Dedham and Jamaica Plain ; corner of Warren and Dudley streets, to Dedham; corner of Warren and Cottage streets, to Jamaica Plain and Dedham; corner of Warren and Clyde streets, to Dedham; corner of Newton and Clyde streets, directing to Newton, to Spring street, to Readville. to Dedham, and to Chestnut Hill Reservoir and Brookline Village; corner of Grove and Newton streets, to Newton, West Roxbury, and Dedham; corner of Grove and South streets, to Dedham, Newton, and Brighton; corner of Heath and Boylston streets, to Dedham; corner of Brighton and Boyl- ston streets, to Brighton.
Voted, To accept the report.
Twenty-first Article taken up :
To see if the town will approve and confirm the deeds taken of the lands bought for commons or playgrounds, and the action of the Selectmen thereon.
The following preamble and vote were passed ; viz., -
Whereas, at a legal meeting of the inhabitants of Brookline, holden May 2, 1871, for the purpose of acting, among other matters, upon the report of the committee appointed at the last annual meeting, upon the subject of procuring land for public commons or playgrounds, the town. pursuant to said report, voted to buy for said purposes two lots of land described in said vote ; and whereas the Selectmen, upon the seventeenth day of May in the year 1871, in behalf of the town, and in pursuance of its votes, accepted a deed to the town from Col. Thomas Aspinwall of the lot of land on Brookline avenue, bought as aforesaid, and upon the
33
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 10, 1872.
twenty-second day of said May accepted a deed to the town from William B. Craft, James Murray Howe, and Samuel Clark of the lot of land on Cypress and other streets, bought as aforesaid, and have paid in behalf of the town to said grantors the consideration named in said deeds accord- ing to said votes : now it is hereby -
Voted, To confirm, ratify, and approve the said deeds, and to approve, ratify, and confirm the doings of the Selectmen in the premises, as set forth in their report to the town.
Seventh Article taken from the table :
To see if the town will apply to the General Court for authority to lay out ways and establish the grade thereof, without being obliged to con- struct the same within the time now fixed by law.
Voted, That the Selectmen be instructed to petition the General Court for authority to lay out ways and establish the grades thereof, without being obliged to construct the . same within the time now fixed by law.
Sixth Article taken from the table :
To see if the town will take any action upon the subject of laying out streets, open spaces, squares, and sewers, in conjunction with adjoining cities and towns.
Voted, To refer the Sixth Article to the Selectmen, to re- port thereon at a future meeting.
Twenty-second Article taken up :
To see if the town will buy horses, carts, land, and buildings for high- way purposes.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to purchase, and that the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for that purpose.
Twenty-third Article taken up :
To see if the town will appropriate money to water the streets, and to buy watering apparatus.
Voted, That the Selectmen make the same arrangements with the abutters as they did last year.
Voted, That the sum of six thousand dollars be raised and appropriated for watering the streets.
Twenty-fourth Article taken up :
To see if the town will adopt a by-law in relation to planting trees in the streets.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone the Twenty-fourth Article.
34
Brookline Town Records.
Twenty-fifth Article taken up :
To see if the town will buy land for gravel and stone to repair the streets.
Voted, To refer the subject matter of the Twenty-fifth Arti- cle to the Selectmen, to ascertain what can be bought, and report at the next town meeting.
On motion of D. D. Brodhead, Esq., it was -
Voted, To reconsider the vote instructing the Selectmen to make the same arrangements in relation to watering the streets as last year.
Voted, That the Selectmen be instructed to make such ar- rangements with the abutters for watering streets as they shall deem it for the interests of the town so to do.
Twenty-sixth Article taken up :
To see if the town will appropriate money to grade the grounds around the schoolhouses.
Voted, That the grounds around the schoolhouses be graded under the direction of the Selectmen, and that the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for that purpose.
Twenty-seventh Article taken up :
To see if the town will authorize a survey of the town and estates therein.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to procure a linear and topographical survey of the town.
Voted, That the sum of one thousand dollars be raised and appropriated for that purpose.
Voted, That the work be done by the engineer of the town under the direction of the Selectmen.
Twenty-eighth Article taken up :
To see if the town will adopt the votes in relation to drains and sewers recommended by the Selectmen.
Voted, That the subject matter of the Twenty-eighth Article be recommitted to the Selectmen, to report thercon at the next town meeting.
Twenty-ninth Article taken up :
35
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 10, 1872.
To see if the town will take any action in relation to the railroad track in the streets.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed by the chair to confer with the officers of the Metropolitan Railroad Com- pany, and ask that the company shall reduce the fare between this town and Roxbury upon said road, and to otherwise give the citizens such accommodations as are due to them ; and if such accommodations cannot be had as are due to our citi- zens, the Selectmen be requested to remove the track from the streets of said town, agreeably to a petition now before the Board of Selectmen.
The chair appointed the following gentlemen to constitute said committee ; viz., -
Committee on Horse Railroad : Bradford Kingman, Austin W. Benton, Alfred Kenrick, Jr.
Thirtieth Article taken up : 1134095
To see what action the town will take in regard to widening Washing- ton street.
Voted, That the Board of Selectmen be and are hereby in- structed to urge upon the County Commissioners the imme- diate necessity of laying out and widening Washington street between Boylston street and the Brighton line, to eighty feet, for the accommodation of public travel.
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