Bowers v. Selectmen of Needham

This is a bill in equity under R,. L. c. 25, § 100, by ten taxpayers of the town of Needham, to enjoin the defendants, who are the board of selectmen, from entering into contracts for the expenditure of money for the maintenance of its fire department.

It was within the scope of municipal authority for the town to appropriate money “for fire department maintenance,” and the appropriation ordinarily could be expended by the selectmen not merely for current expenses, but for necessary repairs of the fire or engine houses, Tainter v. Worcester, 123 Mass. 311, 316, and cases cited. But the board…