Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1898-03-02
THE LAW
FOR CITIES.
Under Which it uas Proposed
to Incorporate p1easantville
PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF LAST YEAR.
THE LENGTHY STATUTE CONDENSED
FOR GENERAL READING-sO THAT
THE READERS OF THE PRESS MAY
KNOW WHAT IT CONTAINED.

In The Press of last week one o.
our correspondents who signs him
self "a Citizen" asked that we print
the law, relating to the government
of cities, under which it was pro-
posed to incorporate Pleasantville
We cheerfully comply with his re
quest, as far as practicable in a
single article, for the law upon the
subject is a very long one and covers
forty-six pages of the Session Laws
of New Jersey of 1897. The legisla-
tion referred to is contained in
Chapter 30, pages 46 to 92, and was
approved by Governor Griggs March
"a, 1897. 1t is entitled, "An Act re-
lating to and providing for the
government of cities of this State
containing a population OF less than
twelve thousand inhabitants. We
give the vital points OF it, in sub
stance, as follows:
SECTION l, All cities of this State
having within their territorial limits 9
population of less than twelve thousand
inhabitants, shall be governed by the
provisions of this act and shall have the
officers and be vested with the powers
and charged with the duties herein set
forth.
SEC. 2. Provides that the Mayors
term of office shall be for two years,
which shall commence on the third
Tuesday in April next ensuing his cleo
ton.
SEC. g. Provides that the Mayor shall
be elected on tbe second Tuesday in
April. Council shall fix his salary, if any
is paid him, but it shall notexceed $1,000
per year, and he shall receive no fees OF
other compensation.
Sec. 4. The Mayor shall be the head
of the Police Department, appoint all
police officials and take all necessary
measures for the peace and good order ol
the city.
Sec. 5. The City shall constitute one
school district. Board of Education to
consist of five members-two to be
elected for q term of two years each,
land thereafter annually, at the annual
election, there shall be elected two per-
SONS as such Board of Education tC
serve for q term of two years each, and
one person for q term of one year, SO
that a majority of said Board shall be
elected each year"
Sec. 6. City to be divided into two
wards as nearly equal as possible.
. Sec. Z. Council to consist of three
members from each ward and one Coun.
cilman-at-Large whose term shall be foI
two wears. Other members of Council
elected as at present. City Clerk, Treas
urer, Collector, and Overseer of the Poor
elected for three years. One Assessor
and one Chosen Freeholder from each
ward for three years. Three Commits
sioners of Appeal in cases of taxation fol
one year. Justices of the Peace, Consta
bles, and other city and ward officers az
are now or hereafter may be provided
by law.
SEC. 8, 9, 10 and IL relate to the filling
of vacancies in Offices, the qualifying O
officials, the giving of bonds and the re
moval of officials for cause.
SEC. u. Provides for the election o
one of it's members as President o
Council and rules of procedure while il
session.
SEC, Is. Defines the duties of City
Clerk.
Sec. IA. Relates to quorum, trans
action of business and special meetings
SEC. Is. Defines how ordinances sbal
be passed. repealed, or reconsidered
signed and published.
SECS. 16 and II. Relates to the enact
ing clause of ordinances and the designa
ton of Councilmen.
The Powers OF Council are defined
under thirty-six different heads-th'
first four being of special Importance al
follows, which we quote in full.
1. ITO manage regulate and cOntro
the finances and property, real and per
sonaI, of the City; to borrow money ant
negotiate temporary loans in anticipa
ton of taxes or other revenues for any
current year, and for payment for any
public improvement, not exceeding th'
amount Of the speci fic assessment fcl
each Improvement -
2. "To prevent vice, drunkenness ant
immortality; to preserve peace and goot
order; to prevent and uuell riots, dis
turbancas and disorderly assembleages;'
3. "To restrain and suppress disor
derly and gaming houses and houses o
ill-fame, all Instruments and devices TO
gaming, and to prohibit all gaming ant
fraudulent Devices"
4. ITO license and regulate restaur
ants, victualing-houses or cellars, al
and lager-beer saloons and gardens
bilIiard-tables and bowling alleys, ant
to prohibit the same except by person
duly licensed"
5. Relates to the licensing of enter
tainments.
6. Relates to establishing the boun
daries of streets, avenues and highways
Z. Relates to repairing and cleaning
of streets, avenues, highways, sidewalks
bridges, sewers, &c. the privileges grant
ed to corporations the planting Q
shade trees &c.
8. Relates to the opening of streets
curbing, paving, &c. and the assessing G
taxes upon owners for betterments &c.
| 9. Relates to the filling and gradinI
of dangerous places &c.
10. Relates to encroachments o.
highways,
IL. Relates to fast driving.
IL, Is, and IA. Relates to cattle
public grounds and light.
Is, Is, and IL. Relates to waite
supply, pounds. and dogs.
18, 10, and 90. Relates to slaughter
houses and markets, vending and annoy
| aDces.
| 81 to "a. To beggars, board of health
contracts and nuisances.
| IS. To burials.
26. To the licensing Of different kind
| of business and occupation.
| ~. % and 30. To noise, bathing
/ weights and measures.
80, 81, and 80. To police, fire depar
ment and buildings. ..,
33, "a. and ST. To texes, duties
oflcers and their compensation ''I