The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-07-26

TAX COLLECTORS ELECTED FoR THREE YEARS.
Many laws were passed by the last Legis-
lature, and Of the number three are Of spec
ial interest to boroughs. We give them
herewith in full. The first IS entitled, An
Act to Enable Borough Councils TO Estab-
lish Boards Of Health" Il was approved BY
the Governor, May nth. 1898. It viii be
noticed that il is mandatory upon the Town
Council and not optional. The Act is as
follows:
SECTION !. Il shall be the duty Of the
President Of The Town Council, of every
Borough in this Commonwealth, within SIX
months after the passage OF this act 10 NOM
inate. and by ana with the consent of the
Council. to appoint, a Board OF Health Of
such Borough. to consist OF five persons, not
members of the Council one OF whom shall
be a reputable physician Of not less than
two years standing IN the practice OF has
profession. At the first appointment the
President of the Town Council shall desig-
nate one OF the members 10 serve for one
year, one 10 serve Tor two years, one TO serve
for three years, one to serve for four years
and one 10 serve for five years. The Board
shall be appointed by districts 70 be fixed by
the Town Council representing as equally as
may be all portions OF the borough. The
members shall serve without compensation.
SEC > The duties responsibilities, pow
ers and prerogatives OF sand Board shall be
Identical with those assigned 10 Boards Of
Health Of cities of the third class by Sec
tions 3, 4, ;. 6 and of Article Al of the Act
of Nav 23d 1889, entitled " An Act PrOvId-
ing for the Incorporation and Government
of Cities of the Third Class, which reads as
follows, due allowance being made Tor the
difference in municipal government Of cities
and bOr0ughs-
SIC. 3. The members Of the Board shall
severaily take and subscribe the cath pre-
scribed for borough officers and shall annu-
ally organize by the choice of one of their
number as President. They shall elect a
Secretary who shall keep the minutes Of their
proceedings and perform such other duties
as NAV be directed by the Board and a
Health Officer, who shall execute the orders
OF. the Board, and for that purpose the said
Health Officer shall have and exercise the
powers and authority Of a policeman Of TIE
borough. The Secretary and the Health Of
ficer shall receive such salary as may be fix
ed by the Board, aud shall bold their Office
during the pleasure of the Board. They
shall seyerally give bond 10 the borough in
such sums as may be fixed by ordinance for
the faithful discharge Cf tbeir duties, and
shall also take and subscribe the oath reqnir-
ed By the members of the Board. All fees
which shall be collected or received by the
Board. or by any officer thereof in his oiii-
cial capacity, shall be paid over into the bOF-
ough treasury monthly together with all
penalties which shall be recovered for the
violation Of any regulation OF the Board
fsaHn
power 10 administer oaths or aillrmations IN
any proceedings or investigation touching
the regulations of the Board, but shall not
be entitled to receive any fees therefor.
SEc. 4. The said Board Of Health shall
have power, and it shall be their duty, to
make and enforce all needful rules and regu-
lations 20 prevent the introduction and
spread OF infectious or contagious diseases,
By the regulation Of intercourse with infect
ed places, by the arrest, separation and treat
ment OF infected persons and persons who
shall have been exposed 20 any infectious OF
contagious disease, and by abating and re-
moving all nuistnoes which they shall deem
preiudicial 70 the public health: 70 enforce
vaccination; to mark infected houses or
places TO prescribe rules for the cOnstruc-
on and maintenance OF house drains, waste
pipes soil pipes and cess pools, and to make
all such other regulations as they shall deem
necessary for the preservation Of The public
health. They shall also have power, with
the consent of the Council. in case of the
prevalence Of any contagious or infectious
disease within the borough, % establish one
or more hospitals, aud 10 make provision
and regulations for the management OF the
same The Board may in such cases ap-
point as many ward or district physicians
aud other sanitary agents as they may deem
necessary, whose salaries shall be fixed by
the Board before their appointment. Il
shall be the duty of all physicians practic-
ing within the borough 10 report 10 the Sec
rotary of said Board of Health the names
and residences Of ali persons coming under
their professional care afflicted with such
contagious or infectious disease in the man
ner directed by said Board.
SEc. ). The said Board Of Health shall
have power, as a body or BY committee as
well as the Healib Officer. together with his
subOrdinaies, assistants and workmen, IN
der and By order of the said Board, to enter
at any time upon any premises in the bOr-
ough upon which there is suspected 10 be
any infectious or contagious disease, or nui-
sance detrimental to The public health, fOs
the purpose OF examining and abating the
same, and all written orders for the removal
of nuisance issued 10 the said Health Officer
by order of said Board attested by the Sec
retary shall be executed by him and his sub
ordinates and wOrkmen, aud the cost and
expenses thereof shall be recovered from the
owner or owners of the premises from which
the nuisance shall be removed, or from any
person or persUus causing or maintaining
the same. in the same manner as debts OF
like amount are now by law collected.
SEc g. The said Board Of Health shall
have the power 10 create and maintain 4
complete and accurate system Of the regis
tmtiOn Of all marriages, births and deaths
which may occur within the borough. and
TO compel obedience to the same upon the
part of all physicians and other medical
practitioners. clergymen, magistrates, under
/ takers, sections and all other persons from
whom information for such purposes may
properly be required. The Board sha II
make and cause TO be published all necessa-
~ rules and regulations for carrying into
effect the powers and functions with which
they are hereby invested, which rules and
regulations, when approved by the borough
council and Chief Burgess, and when adyes-
/ tised in the same manner rs other Ordinan-
ces, shall have the force Of ordinances OF the
borough, and all penalties for the violation
thereof, as well as expenses necessarily in
CURED in carrying the same into effect, shall
be recoverable for the use of the borough in
| the same manner as penalties for the viola
ton of borough ordinances subject to the
/ like Limitation as TO the amount thereof.
! SEC Z. II shall be the duty of the Board
/ of Health to submit annually 70 the Council
before the commencement Of the fiscal year,
an estimate of the probable receipts and ex-
| penditures OF the Board during the ensuing
| year. and the Council shall then proceed 10
make such appropriation thereto as they
/ shall deem necessary. aud the said Board
| shall in the month of January OF eaeh year
submit report in writing to the Council oi
its operation for the preceding year, with
the necessary statistics thereof together with
/ such information or suggestions relative 10
\ the sanitary condition and requirements OF
/ the borough as il may deem proper, and the
\ Council shall publish the same in the official
journal. Il shall also be the duty of the
Board 10 communicate 70 the State Board OF
| Health, at least annually, notice of It's or
ganization and membership and copies Of
all its reports and publications together with
such sanitary information as may from time
to time be required by said State Board.
SKc. 9. All acts or part of acts inconsist-
ent with or contrary to the provisions oi
this act are hereby repealed.
The second Act of importance is entitled
"An Act to Authorize the Election ofa chieI
Burgess for Three Years. in the Several Bor-
oughs of this Commonwealth, who shall not
be Eligible TO the Office for the next Sseceed
ing Term. and Providing that such oficel
shall not be Member ofthe Town Council
Giving him the Power TO Veto Ordinances
Providing for the Election Ofa Presiding
Officer of Councils and AbolishiDg the 0iiie'
Of Assistant Burgess" As the title indicates
.