Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-04-21

The New Sewer Law.
The law which was prepared with I
view to permit Woodbury. and cities of III
class to issue bonds for the construction O
system of sewerage is chapter AZ of ths
laws of 1898, and is entitled An act tC
authorize cities of the third class to con
struct sewers, drains, or both, and to pro
vide for the payment of the cost thereof"
The act complete occupies eight pages o.
the pamphlet laws, and would fill three
columns of our paper. hence we select fol
publication sufficient to give the people
necessary information on the important
points of the law.
Section / confers on Councils of third
class cities authority to construct and main
tain a system of sewers or drains and
necessary outlets
Section provides that =" if in,the iudg-
ment of said Council the construction If
such sewers is likely to benefit and increase
the value of real estate in the vicinity
thereof, the governing body shall apply to
the court of common pleas of the county
for the appointment of commissioners to
estimate and assess such Benefits" notice OF
such application to be published for ten
days in two newspapers the court shalt
then appoint as commissioners three free
holders, residents of the city to estimate
and assess said benefits; the court shall
have authority to create vacancies in the
commission, and fill same.
Section 8 provides that before the COM
missioneIs enter upon their duties that they
shall be sworn to fairly, legally and eq-
uitably, according to their best skill and
understanding, perform the duties assigned
them.
Section provides FOR public hearings by
the commissioners, when pc sons interested
may be heard witnesses may be sum-
mOned and examined under oath they
also are given power to enter upon and
examine premises.
Section 5 provides for the submission of
their written report to the court, accom-
panied by survey and map prepared by
the city engineer, which map shall show
the particular lots or parcels benefited, and
the names of the owners thereof; the cost
to the city at large and to individual prop
eriy owners If the cost of the work ex-
ceeds the benefits the excess shall be paid
by the city at large. In no case shall any
property OF owner thereof be assessed
beyond the amount of benefit actually
derived from the construction of such
sewers.
Section provides that upon presentation
to the court, signed by the commissioners
or any two of them, the court shall set a
time and place of hearing objections to
assessments, and after such hearing the
court shall either confirm said report or
refer it back to the commissioners for re-
vision or correction, or TO new commits
sioners appointed forthwith to consider the
matter and make new report, and so on
from time to time until report shall be
obtained that the court can confirm, and
the report as confirmed shall be final and
binding. The report shall then be referred
to the collector who is charged with the
duty of collecting said assessments.
Section provides that legal proceedings
to review the report or any proceedings In
relation to the improvement, or affecting
the assessment, must be made within 30
days
Section makes assessments under the
act first lien upon the property affected
thereby.
Section provides for meeting the ex
pense. Bonds may be issued bearing inter-
est not exceediDgsix per cent per annum,
payable in not less than one or more than
ten years, at the option of the city; bonds
shall be paid as fast as money is received
from assessments on taxes and all moneys
received from assessments shall be applied
to the payment of bonds. and for no other
purpose.
hot 70
shall bear interest not exceeding six per
cent. per annum, after sixty days from the
confirmation of same; and unless sooner
paid, shall be paid in ten equal installments
on October 20 of each year, and if not paid
in sixty days after they become due, the
property may be sold under existing laws
for the collection of taxes.
Section II provides that in case the cost
exceeds the benefits, the amount shall be
raised by taxation and paid in nine equal
payments.
Section IL provides for amicable taking
of land necessary for sewers or outlets
within or without the city.
Section 10 provides for legal taking of
land necessary for sewers or outlets within
or without the city.
Section IA provides that this act shall
not apply to or Affect any city until the
same shall have been first submitted TO the
legal voters thereof for their approval
either at an annual municipal or special
election especially ordered by said city
council for that purpose, by twenty days
public notice in at least one newspaper
printed in said city at such election all
qualified voters shall be entitled to vote.
The ballot shall set forth the title of the
sewer act, and those in favor the word
" accepted" shall be written or printed
thereon, and for those opposed the word
+" rejected" Council shall furnish the
ballots. If at regular election, the regular
election officers shall conduct the election
if special election, Council shall appoint
the election officers. Finally, unless
majority of the ballots cast for acceptance
or rejection be for its acceptance, it shall
then, and not otherwise go into effect and
be binding upon such city in which such
vote shall have been taken.