Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-02-27

authorizing the payments of The charges
for which the bills were presented, and
therefore Council has no legal authority to
pay the same. | am Tprlsed that he did
not go little further with his opinion and
say that there was no aw prohibiting the
payments of said bills, and hence Council
had right TO pay for services rendered,
then he would have come a little nearer to
the facts of the case.
The Mayor OF our City is elected under
an act to incorporate the City OF Woodbury.
approved March Is, 1870, and the act pro-
vides the duty Of the Mayor. Oae of the
bills presented to your body was for extra
work done under An Aeb TO provide for
drainage and sewerage in cities of this State
approved April q 1890, the other bill was
for extra work done under IAN Act to
authorize the Improvements of streets and
highways in Cities Of this State, and to
provide for the payment Of the expense of
the same approved June IS, 1885," Both Of
these acts were passed since the incorpora-
tion of the City of Woodbury.; they place
extra work on the Mayor not provided for in
the city charter. The act Incorporating the
city provides that the City Council can pre-
scribe compensation for all officers therein
named. Custom, usuage and precedent es-
tablish laws sometimes in the absence OF
any law regulating the matter.
Now, what is the custom OF the City
Coupcil? First, it is to pay for all work
rendered the city at the usual rate for such
work
Second, the City Treasurer by an or
dinance passed November 81, 1906, is paid
sala y of $720 per year in lieu of all fees
and charges, nevertheless he received $3l5.
30 for extra work done under the sewerage
act Of April Z, 1890.
Third, the City Assessor. under an or
dinance passed January 30, 1895, received
$500 salary in lieu of all fees. He received
$50, or one-sixth of the amount of his salary
for assessing small portion of land added
to the city
Ii the payments of the above for extra
work were legal transactions there is no
reason why the Mayor should not be paid
for extra services rendered In accordance
with his bills, but there is every reason
why his bills should be paid. He receives
no salary and very few fees. In making up
the bills rendered. / found there was one
ordinance of the city which fixed the fee for
the city seal at fifty cents hat ordinance
is an ordinance regulating the licensing OF
ball aud bowling alley, billiard table, pool
table, shuttle board or bagatelle table, APP
proved April 80, 1885 Fifty cents being
the price fixed by Council for placing the
city seal on pool license, | considered
that it was worth equally as much to sign
aad affix the city seal 80 cisy bond or
obligation, hence my bills. With al due
respect to our City Solicitor, consider my
bills as presented legal charge against the
city, and the City Council had legal right
to pay them, and they should be paid.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL III LADD, Mayor.
Mr.. Shiyers moved that the Mayors COM
munication be referred to the City Solicitor
for his (the Solicitor's) opinion.
The request of the Board of Health for
the annual appropriation was granted.
The report Of the Board Of Health was
read and ordered published with other re-
ports.
Mr. Swackhamer, special counsel reported
shat the case of the Cooper street improve
ment had been argued before the Court Of
Errors, and decision is expected at the
next term.
A letter from Counsellor Hollingshed, Jr.
apropos to the old Hudson tax, was refer
red to the Solicitor and Finance committee
for further investigation.
Mrs VI. F. Cattell offered to sell the CITY
three lots and stable on Wood street for
$1,000. The communication was received
and ordered filed.
The following resolution by Mr.. Shivers
was unanimously adopted
WHEREAS, 1t is the opinion of a large ma
jority of the residents and taxpayers of
the City of Woodbury., that the County
Boards of Taxation, created by the Leg
islature of the State of New JERSEY, at
its session held in the year nineteen hun
dred and six, are not carrying out the
provisions of she law creating said boards
and bringing about the results for which
said boards were appointed, and
WHEREAS, Said boards have been in exist
ence for period of about two years, and
should have shown some good results
from their duties, therefore be is
Resolred, By the Mayor and Council of
the Cisy of Woodbury., that our representa-
tives in the House of Assembly and Senate
of the State of New Jersey, be requested
to use their efforts for the repeal OF the law
creating said boards
Mr.. Sbivers moved that the property in
the Ogden fund be placed in the hands Of
real estate agent, and the committee sell
the property If possible. Carried. GO
Mr.. Shivers moved the Clerk communi-
cate with the State Treasurer to see if the
State desires to purchase portion or all Of
our School bond issue. Carried.
Mr.. Burkett reported that committee was
willing to pay Mr.. johnson SIS for his
horse.