The Mount Holly news., 1914-08-04
$4,000 for Road Repairs.

RAVgVOO AOk ANOd0 INCPdIlS
At a special meeting of the Board
: Freeholders, on Friday, it was decid,
4 to increase the budget $4,000, notwit
standing that Solicitor Rigg gave q
E opinion that such action would
illegal. This money is to be used to r
pair roads, most of which are in a d
. plorable condition from neglect.
The meeting had been called to vo
on amending the budget, award SON
contracts and transact such other bus
ness as might come up. This covere
all the functions of the board with tn
exception of the payment of bills, whic
were specifically barred in the call fror
coming before the meeting.
i When the SIC, 900 addition to the buC
get was called up by Director Davis, tn
solicitor was requested to give an opinio
as to its legality. Mr.. Rigg stated tina
it is an open question if the law permits a
increase in budget that has been dul
fixed and adopted. The matter has nc
been passed upon by the courts. In hi
opinion such action would be illegal.
Mr.. Dubell said he was opposed to tn
proposition upon the ground that tn
amount is too small to do the road repai
work properly, and the money will b
wasted. 1t should be $25, 900 or nothing
Mr.. Hart stated he had been told tina
if the county raises SO, 900 like amour
would be contributed by the state roat
department. Mr.. Esham said there haC
been some promise of that character.
Mr.. Russ offered a resolution tina
$4,000 be added to the budget, thu
money to be used for repairs to roads.
After considerable discussion the
resolution was passed by vote of Il
to IL.
Considerable other business was trans
acted. Resolutions were passed al
follows:
That an amount not exceeding 5000 be
appropriated to repair tenders on the
Lower Bank drawbridge.
That repairs be made to Wading River
drawbridge at cost not exceeding $780,
That the bonds be issued as authoriz-
ed heretofore, to pay for the erection OF
the Pearl street bridge, Burlington, the
work having been completed. The cost
was SIS, 900, of which amount the troll
ley company pays 4090, making $4,000
due from the county. The bonds will
be for that amount and will be dated
July l, 1914.
That a new form of commitment be
adopted to send patients to the State
Village of Epileptics at Skillman, which
forms require only the signature of the
clerk of the board after the other legal
requirements haye been fulfilled. Here
tofore action by the entire board, was re-
quired, which often caused much delay.
That small bridge be rebuilt on
Meadow Road, Bass River township, at
a cost of not more than 800.
Authorizing the formal issuing of the
bonds, heretofore voted to the amount
of $4,000, to pay for the new bridge built
at Smithville.
That the Coleman bridge, Magnolia
road, Pemberton township, be replaced
by pile structure, II feet wide, and that
bids be requested to do the work.
There was considerable discussion on
a resolution directing the collector to
issue notes to pay for work on roads
by the state road commits
sioner, such notes to be retired as soon
as the money is received from the state.
The laborers and teamsters who are en-
ployed to do the work want to be paid
every week, but there is no money avail
able for that purpose. The state prefers
not to make payments until the work is
Mr.. Bright stated that Road Commits
sioner Stevens had agreed to sign orders
on the State Comptroller for the pay
ment of such bills while the work is
but it usually takes two
weeks before the necessary red tape is
and the money forthcoming.
Solicitor Rigg suggested that there is
a general resolution to borrow money in
anticipation of taxes that covers this
The balance in the road
is only $1,000, which must
not be overdrawn.
A resolution was offered providing for
the forfeiture of the money deposited
with the county by Patrick Byrne to
guarantee his furnishing bond and sign
ing the contract to build the Aaron Col
Inns bridge in Mount Laurel township.
Mr.. Byrne had been awarded the con-
tract to do thiswork but had not fulfilled
the requirements above referred to-
although he had begun work on the
structure. The resident freeholder, Mr..
had ordered the work discon-
tinued until the contract had been
signed and bond furnished.
Mr.. Rigg stated that he knew the bond
had been prepared and, with the signed
contract, had been forwarded to the
company in Baltimore. 1t
usually requires two weeks time to get
a bond from such a company. Both
papers should be in the hands of the
county engineer in day or two.
On motion of Mr.. Russ the time of
Mr.. Byrne to comply with the require
ments was extended six days.
Mr.. Russ moved that the solicitor be
directed TO institute quo warrauto pro-
against Joseph Couples, to set
tie the question of Mr.. Couples being
legal member of the board. After the
election last November Mr.. Couples neg
lected to file his election expense account
within the time specified by law. which,
it is claimed, disqualified him from tax
ing his seat in the board.
Solicitor Rigg said he doubted the
right of the board to take such action.
On motiou of Mr.. Birkhead no action
was taken until the next meeting, to
give the solicitor time to look up the
law on the subject.
There was only one bid for redeckine
the Hainesport drawbridge-Lewis c.
Mathis, of Haddonfield, 1886, and he
was awarded the contract.
For building concrete drawbridgt
across Bass River there were seven bid
ders who desired the job, as follows:
Bridgeton Construction Co., $4,000,
work to be completed in 140 days.
Rennell Construction Company, Of
New York, SIG, $50; time 100 days.
Penn Bridge Company, of Beaver
Falls, Pa, SIS, 800; time 180 days.
Kelly-McFeeley Co., of Camden, $19,
$40; time rs days.
Medford Concrete Company, ST., 200