number equal to the number whose term of service then expires. Vacancies occurring in the board shall, in towns, be filled by the remaining member or members and the selectmen, by a majority of ballots of the officers so entitled to vote, at a meeting called for the purpose by the selectmen; and in cities, by the city council in the manner herein provided for the election of the commissioners. The remaining member or members shall in case of a vacancy exercise the powers of the board until the vacancy is filled. The city or town treasurer shall not be eligible as such commissioner, and the acceptance of the office of treasurer by a commissioner already elected shall operate as a resignation of the office of commissioner. But the foregoing provisions as to the mode of electing commissioners and filling vacancies shall not apply to boards of sinking fund commissioners established before the thirteenth day of June in the year 1875. Pub. Sts., c. 29, § 10.

KEEPER OF POUND.

Each city and town shall annually appoint a suitable keeper of each pound therein. Pub. Sts., c. 36, § 22.

SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.

Except in the county of Suffolk, the cities of Cambridge, Somerville, and Quincy, and the

towns of Medford, Brookline, and Watertown, towns and the city councils of cities shall annually elect one or more surveyors of lumber, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties. Pub. Sts., c. 63, §§ 1, 6; St. 1890, c. 159.

TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Every town which raises or appropriates money for the support of a free public library, or free public library and reading-room that is owned by the town, shall at its annual meeting, or at a legal town meeting appointed and notified for that purpose by the selectmen, elect a board of trustees, except in cases where such library has been or may be acquired by the town, in whole or in part, by some donation or bequest containing other conditions or provisions for the elections of its trustees or for its care and management, which conditions have been accepted and agreed to by vote of the town. St. 1888, c. 304, § 1. Said board of trustees shall consist of any number of persons divisible by three, which the town may decide to elect, one-third thereof to be elected annually and to continue in office for three years, except that the town shall first elect one-third of the trustees for one year, one-third for two years, and one-third for three years, and thereafter one-third the number annually for the term of three years. No person shall be ineligible to serve upon said board of trustees

by reason of sex. Such board of trustees shall be elected by ballot, and shall organize annually by the choice of a chairman and secretary from their own number; provided, any town, having a free public library, which has heretofore elected a board of trustees to manage the same, consisting of a number divisible by three, and has heretofore elected annually one-third of said board for three years, may continue to elect annually one-third of said board, and the trustees in office shall hold their offices until the term for which they were elected shall expire, unless the town shall vote otherwise. Ibid., c. 304, § 2, amended by St. 1889, c. 112.

If any person elected a member of the board of trustees, after being duly notified of his election in the manner in which town officers are required to be notified, refuses or neglects to accept said office, or if any member declines further service, or from change of residence or otherwise, becomes unable to attend to the duties of the board, the remaining members shall in writing give notice of the fact to the selectmen of the town, and the two boards may thereupon, after giving public notice of at least one week, proceed to fill such vacancy until the next annual town meeting; and a majority of the ballots of persons entitled to vote shall be necessary to an election. St. 1888, c. 304, § 3.

COLLECTORS OF TAXES.

Towns may choose by ballot suitable persons to be collectors of taxes therein. If the persons chosen refuse to serve, or if no person is elected or appointed, the constables of the town shall be the collectors of taxes. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 123. Collectors shall be paid such compensation for their services as their cities or towns shall determine. In towns they shall be elected by ballot, and their compensation shall be fixed by the towns at the annual meeting, or at a special meeting called for that purpose. St. 1888, c. 390, § 93.

BOARD OF HEALTH.

A town, respecting which no provision is made by special law for choosing a board of health, may, at its annual meeting or at a meeting legally warned for the purpose, choose a board of health by ballot, to consist of not less than three nor more than nine persons; or may choose a health officer. If no such board or officer is chosen, the selectmen shall be the board of health. Pub. Sts., c. 80, § 3.

DIRECTORS OF WORKHOUSE AND ALMSHOUSE.

Every city or town having a workhouse or almshouse may annually choose three, five, seven, or more directors, who shall have the inspection

and government thereof, and who may appoint a master and necessary assistants for the more immediate care and superintendence of the persons received or employed therein. Where such directors are not specially chosen, the overseers of the poor shall be the directors. Pub. Sts., c. 33, § 3.

Any number of cities or towns may, at their joint charge and for their common use, erect or provide a workhouse or almshouse, and purchase land for the use thereof. Pub. Sts., c. 33, § 5. The ordering, governing, and repairing of such house, the appointment of a master and necessary assistants, and the power of removing them for misconduct, incapacity, or other sufficient cause, shall be vested in a joint board of directors, who shall be chosen annually by the several places interested. Pub. Sts., c. 33, § 6. Unless all the places interested in such house agree to choose a different number, each of them shall choose three members of the board; and in case of the death of a director, or of his removal from the place for which he was chosen, the vacancy may be supplied by such place. If a place neglects to choose directors, those chosen by the other places shall have the whole charge of the house. Pub. Sts., c. 33, § 7.