Important Measures Passed Without Opposition, New Bridge to be Erected, Tax Less Than Last Year.
HARDWICK, Thursday, March 5, 1925 — When Moderator, John E. Hancock, Sr., called the annual town meeting to order at ten o’clock Tuesday forenoon, there were just forty people in the building, most of them voters, and at a later hour there might have been a hundred or so, but the biggest vote cast contained 46 ballots. This fact must be indicative of the trust reposed in the town’s officials and in their conduct of the business of the town, or it may have been a lack of interest in the affairs of the town. Hardly any women were present during the day. The business moved so rapidly that it was nearly finished before dinner, but rather than doing this adjournment was made to the Methodist Church for a good dinner. Business was all completed at 1:30 p.m.
John E. Hancock, Sr., was elected moderator to govern the meeting for the year ensuing; the printed report was accepted and adopted without a dissenting voice; $700.00 was voted towards the support of the Hardwick Hospital, and the same amount for the maintenance of the library [$12,700.00 in today’s money], and $50.00 for the observance of Memorial Day.
Voted to raise $1.10 town school tax, 45c town highway tax, 1c county tax, 7c State highway tax, 10c State school tax, 15c special State tax, and $1.22 for general town purposes, making a total of $3.00, which is a reduction in the tax rate in the town of 15c, last year being $3.15.
Voted to pass over Article seven; voted to authorize school directors and selectmen to draw temporary loan orders in anticipation of taxes, and voted not less than $500.00 nor more than $1,000.00 for permanent highways, with the village apportionate adjusted as in the past.
Perley A. Shattuck was elected town clerk C. S. Cobb, lister for three years; C. A. Stanford, selectman for three years; road commissioner, N. J. Cushion; A. W. Norcross, overseer of poor; John E. Hancock, Jr., school director for three years; V. W. Rand, collector of town taxes; selectmen trustees of public money; treasurer, Perley A. Shattuck; W. L. White, auditor for three years; R. S. Hooper and A. R. Montgomery, town grand jurors; F. E. Hall, first constable and C. S. Bailey, second; R. S. Hooper, town agent; M. G. Morse, tree warden; library trustee for five years, W. H. Wheatley; sextons in village, cemetery trustees; Center, S. E. Marshall; Sanborn, cemetery trustees; Street, Elwin Peake; West Hill, Henry L. Hill; the selectmen appointed W. F. Field, C. A. Bridges, Leo J. Davis, G. H. Allbee, Ned Underwood, L. H. Carr; C. S. Cob, coal weigher; listers as fence viewers; R. J. Shurtleff, surveyor of wood, bark and lumber.
Voted to pay tax collector extra compensation of $200.00 if taxes in his hands are collected satisfactory to the auditors on February 1, 1926.
Passed over article regarding fixing compensation of town officers.
Voted to pay Village of Hardwick for services of Granite Hose Company in attending fire at East Hardwick, April 11, 1923.
The article regarding removal of brush, trees and other obstructions on the bank of the Lamoille river from Cottage street iron bridge to railroad bridge below village, left in the hands of the selectmen.
The article relative to a new bridge at East Hardwick was voted upon in the affirmative and a new bridge will be built. The following resolution was presented, accepted and adopted: “Resolved, That the selectmen be instructed to proceed to erect a new main street bridge at East Hardwick village, which in the judgment of the selectmen, shall be most feasible, according to estimates furnished by the State engineer.”
The State engineer has submitted estimates of the new bridge as follows: The span of the new bridge would be 45 feet and six inches, center to center of bearings, with a roadway width of 20 feet, between curbs. For a steel bride with two sidewalks, $16,900.00; steel bridge with one sidewalk, $14,500.00; concrete bridge with two sidewalks, $15,800.00; concrete bridge with one sidewalk, $13,100.00. On this bridge it is expected that the town will receive State aid of $5,000.00, and the taxes raised this year, included in the figures of $1.22 for general town purposes, it is expected will pay for a part of the new bridge, and finish paying for the bridge here in this village, and take care of other items which were read at the meeting.
