The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-01-10
STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
Summary of the Features of the Law
Governing the Election of Road
Supervisors.

|
A law passed by the Legislature of
1905, and approved by the Governor
April u, 1905, provides for a new
System of electing road supervisors.
Beginning with the February cleo
tion, 1906, every township of the second
class in the State must elect three
supervisors There are no townships
| excepted from this requirement, nor is
the adoption of the law optional with a
township.
The board of supervisors of each
township is required to organize on the
| first Monday OF March. One of their
| number is chosen chairman and another
| secretary. The treasurer must not be
member of the board
The board is required to meet at least
once month. Two constitute quorum.
The supervisors receive no compensa-
tion for their services, but actual eX-
penses are to be paid The treasurer
| receives compensation not to exceed
two per centum Of the money handled
by him. The secretary of the board
may receive payment for the work
performed by him as secretary.
The board has authority to levy tax
rate not greater than ten mills (; the,
levyiug OF an additional ten mills being
authorized by an order from the Court
OF Quarter Sessions. In addition to the
regular levy, the board must assess one
dollar upon every taxable person.,
Upon Il petition from at least 20 tax
payers, the Court of Quarter Sessions
shall authorize special election to be
held at the time OF the February elec-
tion, wnen the question of abolishing
the work tax shall be decided by IA
majority vote of the electors. A town
ship which thus abolishes the work tax
is entitled 10 receive from the state
| sum in cash. equal to fifteen per centum
| Of the actual amount of cash tax col
lected by the township, This election
may be held at the Ulme of the Feb
ruary municipal election of 1906, or at
any succeeding February election.
Each board is required to- divide its
| township into districts of not less than
| five miles each, but there is nothing TO
| prohibit the dividing of the township
| into districts having more than five
miles each, or one district OF the whole
| township. A roadmaster must be en-
| ployed Tor each district Roadmasters
are required to work upon the roads
| themselves, to everseer men employed
and to carry into effect the instructions
| of the board of supervisors. No men,
Der of the board OF supervisors can be
employed as roadmaster under section
| 3, but "a member of the board of super
visors can work out his road tax.
The board may, if it deems advisable,
| make contract with any citizen of the
township for keeping in repair of not
| more than three miles Of road.
On all road taxes paid before June 1st
! an abatement of five per centum is made.
The full amount is required to be paid
on all taxes paid between June 1st and
November lst. After November 1st
five per centum in penalty is added, and
the tax list turned over to the township
collector, who receives the added five
per centum in payment for his services.
The board is authorized to purchase
any material, tools or machinery neces-
sary for making and repairing roads.
A township can join with one or more
adjoining townships, or boroughs, in
Joint ownership of machinery.
Full records must be kept by the
board of their proceedings and audited
by the township auditors, and an annual
report is required to be made to the
State Highway Commissioner on or
before March 10th in each year. The
necessary blank form for this report is
furnished by the State Highway De-
partment.
In addition to the foregoing, the law
contains numerous detailed provisions
concerning the duty of the supervisors,
for which see the Act OF Assembly.