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<br />the hope it might awaken some thoughts that may
<br />lead to the adoption of some plan to meet the pay-
<br />ment of this large amount without being heavily
<br />oppressed.
<br />Your attention is especially called to the practice
<br />of passing votes involving expenditures without mak-
<br />ing provision to meet such expenditures; this course
<br />might, at times, place the Selectmen in such position
<br />that the legality of their action might be question-
<br />able.
<br />At the Town Meeting held last November, the
<br />town accepted the Report of the Selectmen in regard
<br />to laying out and building Oakland street, and also
<br />grading the remaining portion of Merriam street, then
<br />unfinished, at an expense of $450. It also voted t❑
<br />accept the report of a committee recommending alter-
<br />ations in the Town Hall building, at an expense of
<br />$1,000, and chose a committee to carry out these re-
<br />commendations; and no measures were taken towards
<br />furnishing them with money. The committee had so
<br />far completed their task at the expiration of the finan-
<br />cial year as to present bills to the amount of $209.33
<br />for payment. As there was a balance of the Contin-
<br />gent Grant sufficient to meet the payment of these
<br />bills, they were paid from that Grant.
<br />The weather proving favorable for grading the two
<br />streets abovenamed, and as the town's teams were
<br />idle, it was considered best to complete them as soon
<br />as possible, and draw from unappropriated funds in
<br />the treasury to meet the expense, which was, for both
<br />streets, $353.30. This method of meeting payments,
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<br />when no special grant is made, is irregular, and might,
<br />under some circiunstances, be susceptible of much
<br />difficulty. We have deemed it our duty to allude to
<br />this subject, with the above explanation, with the
<br />wish that it might be the means of obviating future
<br />trouble.
<br />TOWN BUILDINGS.
<br />The many expenditures in repairs and alterations
<br />of the Town Hall building has caused frequently the
<br />enquiry, how it can be possible that this compara-
<br />tively new building should- require so many annual
<br />expenses; and the enquiry has also repeatedly been
<br />made, what this building has cost, and what is its
<br />general condition. In answer to these numerous en-
<br />quiries, the records show, that in the Report of the
<br />Selectmen. in 1871, it is stated that the " Town Hall
<br />building, with the land, cost $42,150.40; and of this
<br />amount $32,000 was borrowed,—$25,000 of the State,
<br />payable in 1890, $5,000 of the Treasurer of the Cary
<br />Library, and $2,000 of Geo. Holden." Since then
<br />there has been expended, in alterations, repairs, and
<br />purchase of firrniture, $11,000; for interest, $24,000;
<br />insurance, $1,000; gas, fuel, and janitors' services,
<br />$6,700. These accounts may vary somewhat, as some
<br />of the bills or receipts that are not itemized may con-
<br />tain articles for some other• purpose. The income
<br />from rents has been about $4,000. This amount may
<br />also vary, as the income from the Village Hall has, in
<br />some instances, been so connected with the Town
<br />Hall as not to he easily separated. When the pres-
<br />ent improvements are completed, the building will be
<br />
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