1940-02-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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84 G� 3EI,ECT�tEN � � ME^T ING M , 260 1940. ' A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held .in the Selettmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Locke and Sarano were present• The Clerk was also present. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, appeared before the Board. The Chairman said that the man at the head of the Historical Records Division of the W.P.A. came to Lexington and tried to sell the Town. the idea of having a W.P.A.. project on historical matters. The Selectmen did not feel that it was anything the Torn had to have but decided to ask Mr. Worthents opinion on it. Mr. Worthen did not think so much of such a project but did say he thought it mould be a good idea to have the old town records copied and an index madbo. Town The Chairman said that the reason he had asked Mr. Carroll to Records appear tonight was to discuss this subject. Project. Mr. Carroll said that the indexing was all completed from the beginning to the present time. The Chairman asked if, the index was up-to-date, and Mr. Carroll replied in the affirmative. He said that after a Torn Meeting, all matters were immediately indexed. He said that the woman on the W*P.Ao who worked in his office started with records of 1698 and copied them up to 1891. He said that from 1880 on the Town records are in good condition. However, there are a few odd books, such as Treasurerts cash books, tax return books, etc. that have not been copied. He did not think that it was necessary to have these done, however. He said that those that needed to be done most had been copied. Mr. Carroll said that he did not have the necessary equipment to do such work, He has one old typewriter which belongs to himself and another machine that is 35 years old. He said he did not like to have an outsider in his office anyway and did not care to go through the routine of breaking in a new girl. He said that there was a provision in his bond referring to persons who may be inside his office. Mr. Carroll said he talked with Mr. Wortheh today and Mr. Worthen said he would like to have the historical records copied. This would not have to be done in Mr. Carroll's office but could be done anywhere. The Chairman said that Mr. Worthen said that there was no index of town records previous to 1800 and Mr. Carroll'said that he could not agree and that there was an index prior to that date. The Chairman asked Mr. Carroll to talk the matter over with Mr. Worthen and he said that he would be glad to do so. The Chairman asked Mr. Carroll if what had been copied had been bound, and he said that they had not been. The Chairman asked Mro carroll if he was satisfied that the Town Olerkts records were in a place that were safe from fire, and Mr. Carroll said that Jib was saiisfied that they were. , He retired at 705 P.M.