Bennington banner and reformer. (Bennington, Vt.) 1903-19??, 1903-05-28
VERMONT HEALTH LAWS.
New Code and Regulations Based Thsrson-A
Few Things People Should Know.


codify the statutes relating to health
regulations INTO compact form, so that
the common people could read and
readily ascertain just wat was re-
quifed Of them.
To this end prominent attorney
were employed by the State Board of
Health, aud the results, when intro
duc,d into the House last October,
were known as the Peck bills, "
Similar bills, we're also introduced in
the Senate.
When the House measure, as amend
ed by that body, reached the upper
branch so many changes had been
made that the closing hours Of the
session almost compelled an agreement
If anything was to be zone to correct
certain errors of 1900, whereby by mis-
take most Of the powers of local
boards OF health had been repealed.
Amid these conditions the revised
health laws come down to the people
to day, and hence the resultant lric-
tion in their administration,
Heretofore, under special charters or
other statutes, each town, city and in.
oorporated village had its own local
health board, OF which the health off
Ger was the executive, and secretary,
ex-oiicio. Evidently at some stage in
the legislative history OF the Acts
above named, this state Of affairs was
intended to have been continued but
as finally enacted the villages are
eliminated, so far as the health off
GERS appointed by the State Board are
concerned, and the boards created by
the statutes of 1902, consist of the
seleotmen in towns and the aldermen
of cities, with the respective health
officers of each. These boards of
health are given very great powers,
and all have now entered upon the dis
charge Of their duties.
In Bennington, with its three incor-
porated villages, two Of which, = Ben
nibgton and North Bennington, pos.
sessed special acts creating boards of
health, the question early arose as to
who constituted the board of health
under Act ll9, aforesaid, and whether
The state health officer was a member
Of the village boards?
The town attorney, the Hon. o. M
Barber, has rendered an opinion that
it is the selectmen and health officer,
and in this he agrees with those else
where who have had this question un.
der advisement. The opinion is too
long to quote here, but it is on file
witt the selectmen and the authorities
Of the villages named.
The sections OF the village charters
relating to health matters are not re-
pealeu, either expressly or by implica-
tion, wherever these refer to a local
board OF health, the villages might
proceed to organize as heretofore, but
the opinion suggests that boards so
formed would not possess the author
ity vested 10 the town board under the
provisions If No. ll3 OF the Acts Of
1902 I'm conclusion, and to summar.
ice, / am OF the opinion that the only
Be ard of Health which has full iuris-
diction Of the town and villages of
Bennington, is composed OF the select.
men Of the town, and the health Off
Ger appointed by the State Board Of
Health"
The trustees of this village took &C.
tion at their February meeting, referr-
ing all health matters to ths town
board, and this was repeated by the
present village trustees upon their Sc-
cession TO office 10 March. The local
board at North BENNINGTON organized
under its charter, and so continues,
but is acting 10 harmony with the
town board of health as created by Act
No. 113.
This subject has been the "bone of
contention" in local government in
several Vermont towns and cities, and
one issue arising in the city of Bur.
lington will, possibly, 60 up to the
supreme court, Dnt does not interest
this town. We have been at some
pains to get the facts in this import
ant matter, and commend its careful
perusal to our readers. The powers
conferred are quite arbitrary and auto
cratic, but we feel assured, judging
from past administrations, that no In
justice will be done to any citizen
Hereunder.
A Startling Test