The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-07-13
CHAPTER CXXIII,


An Act concerning the government of Certain
| cities in this state aud constituting municipa
board of public works and other officers there
in. and defining the powers and duti, OF sucl
boaris and relating to the municipal affair
and departments of such cities place unde
the control and management of such boar,
| and providing for the maintenance of sail
board. a.
l. Be it enacted by the Senate and Genera
| Assembly OF the State of New Jersey, That il
| all cities in this state now or hereafter havin,
within their territorial limits population of no
less than fifty thousand nor more than one hun
dred thousand inhabitants, the mayor thereo
shall within one month after this act shall tax,
effect appoint five suitable persons. residents o
such city, to be known as the board of public
works of such city, not more than three of whoa
shall be members of the same polite al party ,ont
for the term of one year, one for the term of two
years, one for the term of three years, one foi
the term of four years. one for the term of five
years, all from the date of their appointment
hereunder; and that at the expiration Of the term
OF service of each member of sal board, Others
shall be appon ed in the place of those whose
terms expire, in the same manner, for the term
of five years each any vacancy arising in the
office of member of such board shall be filed by
appointment in the same manner. for the unex
pred term only that each of the members of
said board shall devote such time and attention
70 the faithful performance of the duties of his
office as the welfare of the public works or mu.
ncipal departments. aud the affairs
under the government control and manage
ment of such board may require; that
aforesaid, shall constitute and be called "the
board of public works of the city of 49,"
name OF the city In and for which they are ap-
pointed); that each of the member of such board
shall, within ten days after his said appointment.
qualify by taking and subscribing before the clerk
of such city an oath or affirmation faithfully TO
discharge the duties of his office to the best OF his
skill and understanding and also give boud TO such
city in the sum of ten thousand dollars each, to
be approved as to the form thereof by the city
counsel of such city and as TO the suiiciency
thereof by the mayor Of such city, for the faithful
discharge of their official duties which bond shall
be filed in the office of the clerk of such city that
each of the members OF said board shall be paid an
annual salary of five hundred dollars, payable
monthly that the said board of public works of
such city shall have full power, in addition to all
other powers granted by law, in their discretion,
in the corporate name and on behalf of such city
to make contracts and engagements, all OF which
shall be binding on such city. in reference TO any
purpose whatever connected with the exercise
authority. power and duties by this act conferred
contemplated to be conferred on such board
and of condemning. taking, purchasing, holding
aud Conveying in the corporate name Of such city,
any real estate which in their Judgment may be-
come necessary or convenient for the public or
purposes, Tor the public works ormuncipa affairs
matters and things whatsoever which by the pr0vis-
ions of this act are placed under the government
control, management or direction of such board of
public works; and all the acts aud doings of such
board within the scope of their authority or duty
shall be obligatory upon, and be in law considered
rs done by such city, and under and by the au-
thority OF the same that the members Of such
board nfSi appointed hereunder shall meet a
municipal board Immediately after the taking and
subscribing of the required oaths or afiirmatons
and the execution of their official bonds for the
faithful performance of the duties of their office
and they shall Immediately select one of their
members to act rs president of such board for the
ensuing year, and thereafter they shall select q
presiden each year. and In of n vacancy
occurring at any time during the year, the board
shall fill the Office for the rest of the year; that Il
majority CT the whole number of the members of
such board shall be necessary to constitute a
acts OF three members of such board shall be the
acts of the board; that the president shall have
the power to call special meetings of such board
whenever he shall deem IL expodient: that the
members of said board may make, establish modi-
fly aud repeal such bylaws, rules aud regulations,
and pass such resolutions governing the proceed
ings of such board or OF its members and the Off
GERS and employees over whom, by the provisions
of this act, they shall have authority aid control
as such board may deem proper and advisable.
2. Aud be it enacted, That the board of public
works herein provided for in any city. shall be
substituted for and shall be vested with and shall
perform all the duties and powers of any street
commissioner or commissioners, common council,
board OF aldermen or other governing body, or any
board or authority now having power 10 lay out,
open, grade, alter, vacate or change the lines of
streets to pave repair clean Streets sidewalks
sewers and to make street and sewer improve
mens and constructions, and having the charge,
control, management, maintenance or construction
of water works and the water supply, and the
distribution, sale and Of the water In any such
city and any notice required 10 be given by any
city clerk in the course of any proceeding or work
that shall or may be undertaken done by said
board of public works provided for in this act,
and which is now given by any city clerk or other
officer shall hereafter be given by the clerk OF said
board Of public works. and any advertisement
required TO be made in the prosecution Of the public
works in such city shall be made by said board of
public works, and any application or petition for
the doing OF any public works in any such city
shall be made and addressed 10 the board of public
works OF such city, 1t being the intention of this
act TO entirely supersede the common council,
l..r al ..sls uts.a
cities, or other power or authority therein in the
several departments of streets, sewers and water
works, and place the same under power, authority
and control OF the board OF public works as herein
provided for, in the manner and with like
power and authority as the same are now vested in
or under the authority control Of any such COM
mon council, board of aldermen or other governing
body Of any such city or other power or authority
therein, and this act shall be so construed
3. And be 1t enacted That the board of public
works in any city herein authorized, shall have
power by ordinance TO lay out. open, grade pave
repaye, improve and vacate the streets and alleys
within the corporate limits of any such city, IN
like manner as the same now are laid out opened
graded, paved repayed, improved aud vacated 10
any such city by existing laws, and TO make all
sewer constructions, connections. alterations, re-
pairs and improvements in like manner as the
same are constructed connected, altered, re-
paired and improved Ia any such city by existing
laws, and to construct, repair maintain, control
and operate all public works aud TO control tbee
public water supply and the distribution, sale and
of the water, and of the collection Of wafer
rents and charges of such city In like manner as
the same now are constructed, repaired main
tanned, controlled and operated.
4. And be IL enacted, That the board of public
works in any city in this state herein pTo-
vided for shall have full power and authority to
elect, appoint and employ, from time to time, Il
clerk Of said board. street commissioner. an en-
gineer of sewers, who shall be civil engineer
and surveyor, and shall act as the city surveyor
OF every such city, and superintendent of the
water works Of such CITY, and all necessary inspec-
tors, supervisors, officers clerks and other persons
and employees to aid said board in the discharge
and execution of its duties under tins act and for
the carrying out and performance of the work and
labor OF the public works or municipal depart ments
Of the Affairs OF such city which, by the provisions
Of this act placed intended to be placed, un-
der the government control and management Of
such board and such board shall fix such reason
able compensation or salary 10 he paid to such Off
GERS and employees, and the manner Of the payment
thereof, within such Limitation to amount may
be approved by the mayors OF such cities respective
y and may, in their discretion require satisfactory
bonds for the faithful performance of their official
duties, to be made and executed by such officers
and employees or any of them, and they shall in
that case take and subscribe an oath or affirmation
faithfully to discharge the duties OF their Office and
that such clerk, street commissioner and engi-
neer, elected and appointed aforesaid shall
be in lieu Of and be substituted tor and shall
act and be recognized in the place Of, and shall in
each case respectively be fully invested with all the
rights powers. duties, privileges and advantages of
any clerk, street commissioner, engineer inspector
superintendent supervisor and other persons and
employees whatsoever now within such cities re-
spectiyey existing, elected or appointed, employed
or holding Office appointment in any such city, or
authorized by law TO act In any such official capac
ity, Office or employment aforesaid
Aud be II enacted, That upon the organza-
ton Of the said board of public works herein
provided for in any such city all the unexpended
appropriations moneys heretofore made or
received by any municipal or corporate author
ity OF such city. or by any board, department or
official thereof, and at that time under the con-
troll or In the custody of the same for or on &C.
count. or to the credit of such ard, department
or official on the books OF such city, or any de-
partnent or official thereof. for the purposes Of
constructions, erectons, improvements. repairs,
or the support maintenance or expenses OF me
public works or municipal departments, or at.
fairs OF such city, bv the provisions OF this act,
transferred, committed or placed under the
management. control or government of such
board OF public works of such city herein au-