USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1872-1884, v. 3 > Part 57
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Shapleigh, James H.
Wesson, Elijah B.
Shewell, Thomas R.
Wheeler, Leonard M.
Singleton, Thomas C.
Winsor, Alfred
Spaulding, Charles S.
Williams, Arthur
Stearns, William
Wood, Charles H.
Stearns, Charles H.
Wood, William
Stillman, Oscar B.
Woodward, Arthur S.
Taylor, William H.
Young, John D.
Toussaint, Winand W. J.
Attest : B. F. BAKER,
Brookline, Mass., February 15, 1883. Town Clerk.
Voted, That the foregoing list be accepted.
Fifth Article taken up :
To see what action the town will take to secure suitable and safe ap- proaches to the Brookline station of the Boston and Albany Railroad, on the petition of Edward Atkinson.
On motion of Mr. Edward Atkinson, it was -
Voted, That Oliver Whyte, Moses Williams, and Edward S. Philbrick be a committee of three to whom the subject of the Fifth Article be referred, to examine into the matter and report at an adjourned meeting.
Sixth Article taken up :
To hear and act upon the report of town officers and committees.
Mr. Charles H. Drew presented the reports of the various town officers, which had been printed and distributed among the inhabitants, and moved their acceptance.
Voted, to accept the reports.
Fifteenth Article taken up :
To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary for all or any of the purposes mentioned in the foregoing articles, or as may be required to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year, and especially to act upon all the appropriations asked for or proposed by the Selectmen, or by any town officers or committees.
689
Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 15, 1883.
The meeting proceeded to vote the following appropri- ations ; to wit, -
Appropriations.
Abatements of taxes
$1,000 00
Almshouse (re-appropriated) .
3,618 50
Almshouse (additional) . .
2,500 00
Allandale road (re-appropriated)
1,209 21
Allandale road (additional)
2,000 00
Auditors
150 00
Assessors
3,250 00
Cemetery (Walnut street)
200 00
Clerk of Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor
750 00
Clerk of Trustees of Walnut Hills Cemetery
150 00
Contingencies .
8,000 00
Decoration Day
300 00
Fire Department
9,300 00
Health Department .
2,000 00
Highways, including removing snow from sidewalks
18,500 00
Interest on town debt
87,000 00
Library (including Librarian's salary)
5,200 00
Lamp posts
Lighting streets
17,500 00
Muddy-river improvement
1,000 00
Overseers of the Poor
1,000 00
Police (including fees)
20,000 00
Ringing bell
175 00
Selectmen
2,000 00
Sewers, care of
1,500 00
Sidewalks
4,000 00
Sinking fund
59,000 00
State aid
800 00
Schools
38,500 00
Schools, evening
500 00
Schools, industrial .
250 00
Schools, interior repair
500 00
Superintendent of Streets
1,500 00
Town Clerk
1,000 00
Town Hall, lighting, care of, and salary of janitor
2,500 00
Treasurer and Collector
3,000 00
Watering streets
6,000 00
Water Works, extension .
2,640 00
Water Works, maintenance
8,800 00
Water Works, building workshop and stable, and horse, wagon, &c. .
4,000 00
Voted, That the Treasurer shall annually report to the town, in detail in figures (names omitted), the amount of
750 00
Poor, support of
7,000 00
Soldiers disabled, and families of deceased soldiers
500 00
690
Brookline Town Records.
taxes, both upon real and personal estates, due and remain- ing unpaid for the past years.
Voted, That authority be given to the Water Board to extend the main in Toxteth street to connect with the main in Aspinwall avenue; also to lay a 2-inch pipe in Cypress street for a distance of 225 feet.
Voted, That authority be given the Water Board to erect a brick building on land belonging to the town in rear of Mr. C. Chase's stable, to be used as a workshop and stable ; also to purchase a horse, wagon, harness, etc., for the use of the water works.
Sixth Article taken up :
To hear and act upon the reports of town officers and committees.
Mr. Oliver Whyte, chairman of the Water Board, pre- sented a supplementary report of the board, calling the atten- tion of the town to the encroachment of certain parties upon the premises occupied by the town for the location of their water main, and to the removing of earth from the prem- ises taken by the town for the location of their water works at Cow Island.
On motion of Mr. Whyte, it was -
Voted, That the Water Board and the Board of Selectmen of the town of Brookline, or either of said boards, are hereby authorized and empowered to begin and prosecute to final judgment and execution, in the name of said town, any actions at law or suits in equity which, in the opinion of either of said boards, may be necessary to protect the water works of said town, or the land taken by said town for its water sup- ply, from injury at the hands of any persons or corporations, or in order to recover damages for any injuries already done, or which may be done, to said water works or said lands, and that the expense of such proceedings be charged to the re- ceipts from water rates.
On motion of Mr. Thomas Parsons, it was -
Voted, That when this meeting adjourns, it be to meet in this place on Tuesday, the 27th instant, at half-past seven of the clock in the evening.
.
691
Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 27, 1883.
Eighth Article taken up :
To see if the town will accept the thirteenth and fourteenth sections of the twenty-seventh chapter of the Public Statutes of Massachusetts, authorizing public baths and other public works.
Voted, That the Eighth Article be referred to a committee of five, to be appointed by the Moderator, to examine the matter and report at an adjourned meeting.
The Moderator appointed Dr. T. E. Francis, Dr. D. B. Van Slyck, Dr. George K. Sabine, Dr. Ira B. Cushing, and Mr. William K. Melcher to comprise said committee.
Adjourned.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 27, 1883.
Pursuant to adjournment, the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, met in the Town Hall in said town, on Tuesday, the twenty-seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three, and were called to order at half-past seven of the clock in the evening by the Moderator, Rufus G. F. Candage. The records of the last meeting were read and approved.
On motion of Mr. Thomas Parsons, it was -
Voted, That the meeting now proceed to choose by ballot one Commissioner of the Sinking Fund for three years.
Voted, That the polls be kept open five minutes.
The polls were then declared open for the reception of votes for one Commissioner of the Sinking Fund for three years.
The polls were kept open for five minutes, when, after due notice, they were declared closed.
The Moderator and Town Clerk then proceeded to sort and count the votes given in, and the whole number of votes so given in was forty, and were for the following persons ; viz., -
William Jennings had one.
Mr. Foster had one.
Charles O. Foster had eighteen.
692
Brookline Town Records.
Austin W. Benton had twenty, and was declared elected, he having a plurality of the votes cast. [March 31, 1883, accepted].
In voting, the check list was used, and no person was allowed to deposit his vote until his name was found on the list and checked.
The meeting then proceeded to nominate and choose the following officers in place of those who had been chosen but had not qualified for their respective offices : -
Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark: John E. Cou- sens [sworn by the Town Clerk], Charles D. Austin.
Sealer of Leather : Isaac D. White.
Sealer of Weights and Measures: Willard Y. Gross [sworn by the Town Clerk].
Sixth Article taken up :
To hear and act upon the reports of town officers and committees.
Mr. Edward Atkinson called up and spoke upon the method of keeping the financial accounts of the town as not being the best way of showing the present condition of its affairs, or at the close of the financial year, and on his motion, it was -
Voted, That the Treasurer be hereby instructed to open a set of books by double entry, to record thereon all assets of the town, whether held in trust or otherwise, and all the lia- bilities of the town, as they stood at the end of the financial year in 1883, and thereafter to keep the said books by double entry, to the satisfaction of the Auditors of the town.
Mr. Charles H. Drew presented the supplementary report of the Water Board and moved its acceptance.
Voted, To accept the supplementary report of the Water Board.
Voted, That the Water Board and the Board of Selectmen of the town of Brookline, or either of said boards, are hereby authorized and empowered to begin and prosecute to final judgment and execution, in the name of said town, any actions at law or suits in equity which, in the opinion of either of said boards, may be necessary to protect the water works of said town, or the land taken by said town for its water sup- ply, from injury at the hands of any persons or corporations, or in order to recover damages for any injuries already done
693
Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 27, 1883.
or which may be done to said water works or said lands, and that the expenses of such proceedings be charged to the re- ceipts from water rates.
Voted, That the Water Board and the Board of Selectmen are hereby authorized to employ suitable counsel for the pur- pose of beginning and prosecuting to final judgment and execution the actions and suits authorized by the town to be brought by them.
On motion of Mr. Charles H. Drew, the meeting took up for consideration and action so much of the report of the Se- lectmen and School Committee as relates to purchasing a lot of land on Walter avenue and erecting a schoolhouse thereon, and the enlargement of the Boylston school by the addition of two rooms.
Voted, That the Board of Selectmen and Board of School Committee be a committee to purchase the lot of land on Walter avenue recommended by the committee, and erect thereon a wooden building with two schoolrooms, and enlarge the Boylston-school building by the addition of two school- rooms.
Voted, That the sum of twenty-two thousand dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of purchasing the lot of land on Walter avenue and the erection thereon of a wooden building with two schoolrooms, and the enlargement of the Boylston-school building by the addition of two schoolrooms.
Voted, That the sum of fifteen thousand dollars be bor- rowed for the purpose of purchasing a lot of land on Wal- ter avenue and erecting thereon a schoolhouse, and in part payment of the enlargement of the Boylston schoolhouse, in anticipation of the taxes of the year 1884, and the said sum is hereby expressly made payable from the taxes of the year 1884.
Fifth Article taken up :
To see what action the town will take to secure suitable and safe ap- proaches to the Brookline station of the Boston & Albany Railroad, on the petition of Edward Atkinson.
The committee to whom the subject of the Fifth Article in the warrant had been referred at the previous meeting pre-
694
Brookline Town Records.
sented their report, which had been printed and distributed among the voters in the hall, in which they set forth that the approaches to said station are very unsatisfactory and require improvement, and that it is advisable that the bridge-way should be widened and a new way of approach be provided for the convenience of persons going to and from said station, and that it is desirable to obtain accurate information on the subject and ascertain what the undertaking will cost, and what part of the expense of the improvement will be borne by the county and the Boston & Albany Railroad Company.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized and requested to give a public hearing upon the subject of the widening of the bridge and approaches to the railroad station, to procure re- leases or waivers of damages from the abutters on the east side of Washington street, opposite the railroad causeway and bridge on Fay place and on White place, so far as affected by the changes proposed; viz., the widening of Washington street over the bridge and its approaches to a width to be fixed by the Selectmen, and the raising of Fay place and White place to conform to the new levels, with the house lots and houses abutting thereon ; also to ascertain what co-ope- ration can be had from the Boston & Albany Railroad Com- pany, - such releases to be conditioned upon the execution of the work without cost to the said abutters ; and to report the results to the town at a future meeting, with such other information and advice for further action as it may seem best to communicate. Provided, that in the taking of such re- leases or waivers as aforesaid, it shall be understood and agreed by the parties thereto that the town is to be in no way committed to such widening without further vote of the town.
Seventh Article taken up :
To see whether the town will take action relative to the establishment of a higher service in the system of water supply.
Voted, That the report of the Water Board be recommitted to the Water Board, and two citizens to be added thereto, to be appointed by the Moderator, to take the whole subject of the present and future water supply into consideration and report at a future meeting.
695
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 3, 1883.
The Moderator appointed Messrs. Edward S. Philbrick and Henry M. Whitney to be added to the Water Board to com- pose said committee.
Voted, That when this meeting adjourns, it be to meet in this place on Tuesday, the third day of April next, at half- past seven of the clock in the evening.
Adjourned.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL 3, 1883.
Pursuant to adjournment, the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, met in the Town Hall in said town, on Tuesday, the third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty- three, and were called to order at half-past seven of the clock in the evening by the Moderator, Rufus G. F. Candage.
The records of the last meeting were read and approved.
Fifteenth Article taken up :
To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary for all or any of the purposes mentioned in the foregoing articles, or as may be required to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year; and especially to act upon all the appropriations asked for or proposed by the Selectmen, or by any town officers or committees.
Voted, That the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1500.00) be appropriated for the repairs of town buildings.
Voted, That the sum of two thousand seven hundred and eight ($2708.00) dollars be appropriated to settle the suit with Mr. Joseph H. White.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to settle the suit of Mr. Joseph H. White.
Voted, That the Treasurer be authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars in anticipation of taxes, at a rate of interest not exceeding four and one-half per centum per annum, giving the note or notes of the town therefor, signed by the Treasurer and countersigned
696
Brookline Town Records.
by a majority at least of the Selectmen, to be paid from the taxes to be raised the present year.
On motion of Mr. Charles H. Drew, it was -
Voted, That the vote passed by the town on the twenty- seventh day of March last, whereby the town voted to borrow the sum of fifteen thousand dollars for the purpose of pur- chasing land and building and enlarging schoolhouses, be, and hereby is, reconsidered.
Voted, That the Treasurer is authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars, to be appropriated for the purpose of purchasing a lot of land on Walter avenue and the construction thereon of a wooden building with two schoolrooms, and towards the enlargement of the Boylston- school building by the addition of two schoolrooms, giving the note or notes of the town therefor, signed by the Treas- urer and countersigned by a majority at least of the Select- men, for a period not exceeding one year, and to bear interest not exceeding four and one half per centum per annum, which note or notes shall in terms be made payable and shall be paid from the taxes of the year 1884.
Voted, That the sum of two hundred and seventy-five dol- lars ($275.00) be appropriated for the Sinking Fund Com- missioners.
The Eighth Article taken up :
To see if the town will accept the thirteenth and fourteenth sections of the twenty-seventh chapter of the Public Statutes of Massachusetts, authorizing public baths and other public works.
The committee to whom the Eighth Article was referred reported as follows ; to wit, -
REPORT.
The committee appointed at the town meeting held on March 15. 1883. to examine into and report at a subsequent meeting upon the Eighth Article in the warrant, beg leave to recommend that the town accept the 13th and 14th sections of the 27th chapter of the Public Statutes of Massa- chusetts. The committee respectfully ask for more time for further con- sideration of the subject. G. K. SABINE, Sect.
Brookline, 3-27-83.
Voted, That the committee have further time.
697
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 3, 1883.
Ninth Article taken up :
To see if the town will appoint a committee of three (to serve without pay) to take charge of the trees in the public highways.
Voted, That Charles S. Sargent, James H. Bowditch, and Charles H. Stearns compose said committee.
Tenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to settle any claims or suits against the town.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to settle any claims or suits against the town which in their opinion can- not successfully be defended, where said suit or claim does not exceed the sum of one thousand dollars.
Twelfth Article taken up :
To see whether the town will, by its vote or otherwise, ask the Legis- lature to extend to women who are citizens the right to hold town offices and to vote in town affairs on the same terms as male citizens.
Voted, That the Twelfth Article be indefinitely postponed.
Fourteenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to construct any lat- eral sewers that may be deemed necessary, and to pay for the construc- tion of the same from the receipts for sewer assessments.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to construct such lateral sewers as they may consider to be necessary, and pay for the same from money in the treasury received from sewer assessments, first giving a hearing to all the abutters on the line of the proposed sewers.
On motion of Mr. Thomas Aspinwall, it was -
Voted, That a committee of five be appointed by the chair, to consider and report upon the question of the connection of house drains with the public sewers, to prepare a system of rules to govern such connection, together with any regulation they may deem advisable concerning the plumbing of such houses as may communicate with the said sewer.
The Moderator appointed the following gentlemen to com- pose said committee ; viz., Thomas Aspinwall, Charles H. Drew, Edward I. Thomas, D. Blakely Hoar, William K. Melcher.
698
Brookline Town Records.
Thirteenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to construct the lateral sewers asked for by Charles O. Foster and others in Marion and Harvard streets, and by John J. Henry and others in Kent, Francis, and Toxteth streets, and to make the necessary appropriations therefor.
Voted, That the Thirteenth Article be laid on the table. Voted, That the Eleventh Article be taken up :
To see if the town will accept and allow a town way in extension of Toxteth street, as laid out by the Selectmen.
The subject matter of the Eleventh Article was then dis- cussed at some length, when it was -
Voted, That the Eleventh Article be postponed to a future meeting.
The Thirteenth Article was then taken from the table.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to construct a lateral sewer through Marion street to Harvard street, and through Harvard street to connect with the main sewer at Aspinwall avenue, and that the sum of eight thousand and five hundred dollars ($8500.00) be appropriated therefor.
Voted, That the Eighth Article be taken up :
To see if the town will accept the thirteenth and fourteenth sections of the twenty-seventh chapter of the Public Statutes of Massachusetts, authorizing public baths and other public works.
On motion of Mr. William Aspinwall, it was -
Voted, That sections thirteen and fourteen of the twenty- seventh chapter of the Public Statutes of Massachusetts be accepted.
The vote was taken by rising, and was as follows : - Yeas, one hundred and seventeen (117). Nays, none (0).
Sections thirteen and fourteen of the Public Statutes of Massachusetts are as follows ; to wit, -
" SECTION 13. A town in which chapter two hundred and fourteen of the statutes of the year eighteen hundred and seventy-four has been duly accepted, or in which this and the following section have been accepted by two thirds of the legal voters present and voting at an annual meeting, may purchase or lease lands, and erect, alter, enlarge, repair, and im- prove buildings for public baths and wash-houses, either with or without open drying grounds, and may make open bathing places, and may fit up and furnish all of the same with the requisite furniture, fittings, and con- veniences, and may raise and appropriate money therefor.
699
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 18, 1883.
" SECTION 14. Such town may establish rates for the use of such baths and wash-houses, and appoint officers therefor, and may make by-laws for the government of such officers, and authorize them to make such rules and regulations as may seem to them expedient for the manage- ment of such baths and wash-houses ; but such by-laws. rules, or regula- tions shall be subject to alteration or repeal at any time."
On motion of Mr. Robert Bishop, it was -
Voted, That the committee on the Eighth Article be requested to report at the adjourned meeting.
Voted, That when this meeting adjourns, it be to meet in this place on Wednesday, the eighteenth instant, at half-past seven of the clock in the evening.
Voted, To adjourn.
Adjourned.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL 18, 1883.
Pursuant to adjournment, the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, met in the Town Hall in said town, on Wednesday, the eighteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three, and were called to order at half-past seven of the clock in the evening by the Moderator, Rufus G. F. Candage.
The records of the last meeting were read and approved.
On motion of Mr. Thomas Parsons, it was -
Voted, That the vote passed by the town on the fifteenth day of March last, whereby it voted to build a stable and workshop on land belonging to the town on Prospect street, in the rear of Mr. C. Chase's stable, be reconsidered and rescinded.
Voted, That authority be given the Water Board to erect a brick building on land belonging to the town on Walnut street, in the rear of the steam fire-engine house on Wash- ington street, to be used as a workshop and stable; also to purchase a horse, wagon, harness, etc., for the use of the water works.
700
Brookline Town Records.
Dr. T. E. Francis, for the committee on bath-houses, re- ported that in their opinion it is not expedient, in view of the cost of the same, to erect public bath-houses the present year.
Voted, To accept the report.
On motion of Mr. Robert Bishop, it was -
Voted, That a sum not exceeding three thousand dollars ($3000) be appropriated for the erection and maintenance of one or more public bath-houses.
Voted, That a committee of five be appointed to erect one or more bath-houses and maintain the same, and report to the town rules for the government and regulation of the same, provided that no action be taken by the town which shall directly or indirectly commit the town to the expendi- ture of a sum exceeding three thousand dollars.
The Moderator appointed the following gentlemen to com- pose said committee ; viz., T. E. Francis, Robert Bishop, William K. Melcher, Nathaniel Lyford, Thomas Parsons.
Thirteenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to construct the lat- eral sewers asked for by Charles O. Foster and others in Marion and Harvard streets, and by John J. Henry and others in Kent, Francis, and Toxteth streets, and to make the necessary appropriations therefor.
On motion of Mr. John J. Henry, it was -
Voted, That the sum of fourteen thousand dollars be appro- priated for the construction of the sewer through Kent, Francis, and Toxteth streets to Aspinwall avenue.
Seventh Article taken up :
To see whether the town will take action relative to the establishment of a higher service in the system of water supply.
Mr. Henry M. Whitney presented the report of the special committee appointed at the adjourned meeting held on the twenty-seventh day of March last, in which they do not recommend to the town to go to the expense of estab- lishing a high-water service immediately, but give it as their opinion that in the near future such action will have to be taken in order reasonably to satisfy a large number of citi-
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