The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-21
CHAPTER CLXNI.
Cf1AT EN- CLANI.
An act concerning street improvements il


An act concerning street improvements in
cities.
Whereas, The assessment laws now in force
relating to street improvements are com
pick in detail, slow in operation, and are
burdened with costs of advertising, en-
cheering fees, legal services, inspection
fees and assessing fees, rendering the cost
of any street Improvement assessed against
specific property an uncertain sum; and
whereas, property owners frequently petit
ton the governing bodies in cities for per-
mission to grade, curb, pave and sewer
streets, the total expense to be borne by
such property owners; and whereas, with
out affecting the assessment laws now in
force in cities of this state, and to enable
property owners who, at their W ex-
pense, are DESTROYS to obtain and pay for
Street improvements and enable the gov
erning bodies OF cities to direct n con-
troll such improvement; now, therefore,
l. Be 1T enacted by the Senate and Genera
Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That
in cities of this state the property owners or
their representatives owning or representing
all the property fronting on any street or
part of a street in any city OF this state may
petition the governing board or body hav-
ing control OF streets, lanes. alleys and pub
lie places for the grading, curbing, paving
and sewering of streets, lanes, alleys or pub
lie places, or any part thrreof, in any city,
stating in such petition that the petitioners
represent the whole lineaI frontage where
the improvement is asked for, and also stat
ing the character of the improvement de-
sired and that the petitioners viii pay the
total contract price OF such improvement,
including inspection fees, whereupon such
governing board or body, If it grants such
petition, shall prepare specifications for the
work to be don to complete such improve
ment, which specifications shall name a price
10 be paid for inspection fees, the amount of
which fees is to be set out in the specifica-
tons, whereupon such governing board or
body shall advertise for bids or proposals in
accordance with such specifications, which
advertisement shall be inserted in the
official newspaper or newspapers OF the
city, and shall be advertised for a space of
not less than six days, and u advertise
ment shall call for sealed bids or proposals,
and state the time and place of receiving
such bids or proposals, at which time and
place they shall be publicly opened and laid
over for one week, at the expiration OF which
time the contract hall be awarded to the
lowest bidder, INT an INSPECTOR appointed,
who shall receive the compensation as fixed
in the specification, unless in the meantime,
the aforesaid %petitioning property-owerSn
representing a majority OF the Hneal feet or
property on the line of the improvement file
with the clerk of such board or body the
amount of money already incurred or spent
for advertising for proposals or bids, to-
gether with a petition wrltin, requesting
such board or cody not to award u con
tract, out requesting a embarrassment,
whereupon such board OF body shall re-
advertise for bids or proposals.
2. And be it enacted, That the only cost of
n improvement as aforesaid which can be
assessed upon the property shall be the actual
amount paid to the contractor for the ma
terials furnished work lone ana inspection
fees; the cost of advertising, legal, engineer
ing md assessment fees shall be paid by the
city by general tax, and that the law officer
or officers, engineer or engineering bureau,
the board OF body assessing property for an
nual taxes now receiving an annual salary
in any city shall perform the legal. engi-
neering and assessment work hereinbefore
and hereinafter provided in this act without
any additional compensation.
3. And be it enacted, That upon the COM
pletion of the work done by contract as here
matter provided, the engineer or engineer
ing bureau of the city shall file a statement
showing the exact amount ordered paid to
the contractor for materials furnished, work
done and inspection fees with the board or
body in any city authorized to make the an
nual assessments for taxes, which
borrd shah proceed to apportion such
total cost upon the total amount Of lineal
feet fronting upon the improvement,
SO that the whole lineal feet is charged with
the total cost and each lineal foot is charged
with an amount equal to every other lineal
foot, which apportionment shall have the
force and effect of an assessment and be-
binding and chargeable as a first and para
mount lien upon the property affected, and
such board OF body shall divide the total
amount SO apportioned to each property
owner fronting upon The Improvement into
five equal parts, whereupon such board shall
49,, 2,~, e-Nk ,cancSp1apf and q a,tSNrrinntt mani
naming the date when the same was made,
and tile the same, as a records of lien against
the property so apportioned and assessed
with the official receiving annual taxes.
4. And be i enacted, That after the max
ing of the assessment and apportionment as
herein provided. the property owners, sue
cessors. heirs or assigns, shall have i've years
from the date when the nnual tax is pay
able next after the making of the aforesaid
assessment and a-pportionment in which TO
pay for said Improvement. the amount as
sesSed or apportioned against each piece OF
propertyIshall bear interest at the rate of
per centuiu per annum from the date
of confirmation and that the payments shall
made in five annurl installments; the first
installmept is to, be payable when the an
tax Is payable next after the making
of the aforesaid assessment and apportion-
ment, and each installment thereafter shall
be payable on and after the date of payment
of annual taxes of each year in any city
wherein the installment is ,payable, and the
property owner shall at any time after the
confirmation have the right to pay
the whole, amount assessed and apportloned
against such property owners property, with
interest as aforesaid from the date of con-
firmation to date of payment; all payments
herein provided for shall be paid to the Off
cial authorized to receive the payment of an
nual taxes.
5. And be it enacted, That the official re-
ceiyiug annuai taxes shall not be permitted
to receive or receipt for annual taxes against
any property on which an assessment n
ap~portionment have been made as herein
provided, unless at the Same time payment is
for the annual installment and interest
as herein provided.
6. And be it enacted, That all property
which each installment is appor-
toned as aforesaid shall be subject to the
laws now i'll force for the collection OF as
sessments and taxes and all such assess
ments, apportionment and installments shall
enforced and collected in the manner now
or hereafter provided by law for the collec-
ton Of taxes and assessments in such city,
and it shall be lawful for the common coun7
Gil or other governing body of saeh city to
by ordinance on resolution for such
enforcement and collection i'll accordance
with the provisions of this act and the laws
of this state. . "a
I. And be it enacted, That to provide tho
money for the materials furnished, work
done and inspection fees contracted for by
virtue of the provisions of this act, any city
ordering such improvement shall be author
lied to issue to the contractor Improvement
certificates, to bear interest at q rate not ex-
five per centum per apnnnI, payable
at the option of the city and, within six years
from date.
s. And be it enacted, That the fiscal Off