1879-04-07At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Beverly held at the Town Hall on Monday
the Seventh day of April in the year Eighteen Hundred and Seventy nine at One o'clock in the
afternoon the same being an adjournment of the annual Town Meeting held on the third and fourth
days of March in the same year.
It was voted by ballot that Wm. H. Lovett be Town Clerk pro tempore to serve at this meeting in
place of James Hill elected at the March meeting and since deceased.
Then in open Town Meeting, immediately after the election of Town Clerk pro tem. William H.
Lovett above named was sworn to the faithful discharge of his duties as Town Clerk pro tem.of
Beverly, by and before the moderator.
Voted by ballot that Ansel J. Cheney be elected a Constable in place of Anson J. Cheney who could
not be found.
Voted by hand vote that David L. Foster be a Fence Viewer in place of John Meacom who declined
to serve.
Voted by hand vote that Jeremiah Foster be Sealer of Leathers in place of David Thissell who
declined to serve.
Voted that the following persons be Field Drivers in place of others who declined;
Ward 3 Elisha Pride in place of James D. Abbott
Ward 8 Hugh Hill in place of Emerson G. Shaw
Ward 9 Moses E. Wilson in place of Alonzo Macon
Ward 10 Sullivan Brown in place of Oliver Edwards
Ward 12 Otis Burnham in place of Levi K. Goodhue
Voted by hand vote that William A. Teague be Pound Keeper in place of Livermore Whittredge who
declined to serve.
Upon a motion of Josiah A. Haskell
Mr. Haskell motioned that "the vote whereby the board of Selectmen was reduced to three be
reconsidered."
Motion lost.
Upon a motion of Robert R. Endicott
Voted that One hundred and Thirteen Thousand (113,000) Dollars be provided for by taxation for
current expenses the ensuing year.
Voted to accept the following motion made by Francis J. Crowell
"Beverly, Mass. April 7, 1879
Moved that the board of Assessors be hereby directed to assess severally the State, County
and Town taxes that they may assess in the town of Beverly, provided that such separate assessment
need not be separately computed and entered in the assessors accounts at the time of assessment of
taxes in any year, that they shall insert in the tax list and warrant delivered by them to the collector
of taxes a statement of the proportion said State and County taxes by them assessed may respectively
bear to the whole amount of tax by them assessed and shall direct the said collector to receive
payment of either State, County or Town tax when so requested by any person from whom said taxes
may be due giving to the person paying same a receipt therefor."
The report of the Committee chosen to consider the matter of enlarging the Farms School House was
read and accepted and is as follows.;
"The census of chilclren at Beverly Farms to go to school at the beginning of the school year
in September will be 126. The whole number of seats in the present school house is 98, which would
leave 28 children unprovided for, allowing that there is no further addition. There is no room to be
had at Beverly Farms for these additional scholars, and therefore it becomes necessary to provide
such room by building an addition to the present School House or by building separately. And
estimates show that to build a separate room outside of the present building would cost at least
$1200. - while to raise up the roof of the present House and to build in enough to make a second
story and to finish and furnish one school room therein, leaving room to finish another room
whenever needed could be done for $2000. - and the joint committee recommend that this latter
amount be appropriated and the school wants there thus provided for."
John I. Baker
For Joint Committee"
Voted that Two Thousand Dollars be raised to carry out the recommendations of the above report.
Upon Article 7 "Bell at Washington Hose House"
The report of the Board of Engineers to whom the matter was referred was read and accepted and
is as follows
The Board of Engineers to whom were referred the article in the warrant relating to locating
a fire alarm bell at the Washington Hose House, report that the cost of a bell suitable for that purpose
and placing the same in position for use would be three hundred and fifty dollars."
Levi K. Goodhue C.E.
Upon Motion of Robert L. Foster
Voted that this matter be indefinitely postponed.
Upon Article 8. Seth D. Allen's Taxes
The Report of the Assessors on this matter was read and accepted (See file) Upon recommendation
of the Assessors it was voted that the question be indefinitely postponed.
Upon Article 11 Relating to River Street
The Report of the Selectmen was read and accepted (See file) Voted that the Selectmen be instructed
to build the first part of River Street according to the orders of the County Commissioners at an
expense not exceeding Sixteen hundred Dollars.
Voted that Sixteen Hundred Dollars be appropriated with which to build the first part of River Street.
Upon motion of Jeremiah Murphy
Voted that the building of River Street be let out to the lowest responsible bidder and that preference
be given to citizens of the town.
Upon Article 13. Relating to Abbott Street
The Report of the Selectmen was read and accepted (See file)
The recommendation of the Selectmen was adopted.
Voted to indefinitely postpone the motion of Hiram Doane relating to the Superintendent of Water
Works. (See file)
The Selectmen having asked definite instruction in regard to the use of the Town Hall for charitable
purpose, it was voted that the whole matter be left to the discretion of the Selectmen.
It was voted that the pay of the Town Treasurer be the same as last year. Three hundred and Fifty
Dollars.
Voted that the pay of the Collector of Taxes be five eights of one per cent of the amount collected.
A motion to instruct the Overseers of the Poor to oblige the tramps to do an amount of work to pay
for their food and lodging, was lost
Upon motion of Robert R. Endicott
Voted that the pay of each of the Selectmen for the current year be One hundred and fifty dollars.
Voted that the Collector of Taxes deliver or cause to be delivered at the last and usual place of abode
of each inhabitant of the town who may be taxed or to such inhabitant in person as soon as
practicable after the taxes have been assessed a list of the taxes assessed upon such person,
accompanying which list shall be a notice of the time and place where the Collector will be present
to receive the taxes and also a notice of the meetings of the assessors to determine upon abatements,
and a discount of one half of one per cent a month shall be charged upon all taxes not paid on or
before the first day of November next, which interest shall be added to and considered a part of said
taxes, and that so far as practicable the Collector shall on the first day of January next, put in suit all
taxes then due and unpaid commencing with the highest and so on to the lowest tax.
Upon motion of Robert R. Endicott
Voted that the Resolutions of the Selectmen relating to the death of Mr. James Hill, as published in
the Beverly Citizen be entered on the Town Records as the sentiment of the Town.
Voted that the question relating to the compensation of the Janitor of the Town Hall for the current
year be indefinitely postponed.
Voted that the recommendation of the Board of Engineers relating to the placing of several
additional post hydrants (for location etc. see Recommendation on file) be accepted and that Two
Hundred and Fifty Dollars be raised to pay the expense of the same.
The Resolutions of the Selectmen relating to the death of Mr. James Hill adopted as the sentiment
of the Town as recorded above are as follows;
"Resolved that we render our cheerful and willing tribute to the worth of the deceased as a
man, to the value of his services as a faithful public officer, and to his many personal virtues as
illustrated in his consistent daily walk. And we tender to his bereaved widow and children our
sincere sympathy in their great affliction.
Resolved that the several town officers be requested to meet at the town hall on Wednesday
afternoon March 26 to attend the funeral of the deceased.
Freeborn W. Cressy
Clerk pro tem."
Voted that this meeting be dissolved.
A true record
Attest Wm. H. Lovett, Town Clerk pro tem