Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-03-15
BOROUGH CODE IS
MUCH AMENDED
Important Changes in the Big Act
Which Will Affect Many
Municipalities

Changes of considerable interest to
Steelton, MiddIetown. Carlisle and the
numerous other boroughs in Dauphin
and Cumberland counties, as well as
to the smaller boroughs scattered
throughout the State, are contained in
the amended borough code which has
been placed on the files of the men,
bers of the House for second reading
tonight.
When enacted the code will clarity
all borough law and the amendments
made in committee are important.
Among the more important are:
Boroughs may now hold, lease, let
and convey such real and personal
estate its purposes require, not eX-
ceedinS yearly value of $4,000 The
committee has removed the $4,000
limit.
Boroughs can now prohibit and re-
move any nuisance on public and pri-
vate ground. The same power over
dangerous structures is given.
BoroughS now have power to regu-
late health and cleanliness and the
right of regula ting the beauty, con-
venience. comfort and safety" of the
borough is added.
Additional powers are given bor-
oughs to regulate the prevention of
fires; also to regulate and license and
to fix the time of opening and closing
OF pool and billiard rooms and ten
pin alleys also to provide for the
confiscation of false weights and
measures.
Power is given to condemn private
land, property or material for sew
erage systems and sewage. garbage
disposal, gas and electric light plants
in addition to the condemnation pow
ers now held by boroughs.
As to Highways
The restriction is eliminated that
provides that no street or alley shall
be open to public use until the dam
ages are liquidated in cases where
boroushs survey. lay out open. widen.
straighten. extend streets or alleys
without petition of property owners.
Where such action is taken or a
petition to council. the committee has
stricken from the present law the
provision that such ordinance must he
adopted by an affirmative vote of
three-fourths of the council and ap-
proved by the burgess: also that it
cannot be adopted until thirty DAYS
vertised.
The present law provides that if
petition for grading, curhing paving
or macadamizing signed by petition
ers representing four-fifths in num-
her of feet abutting on the proposed
improvement then the whole cost
may be collected
The committee has added:
The whole cost of such improve
men shall not be assessed unless the
petition shall contain a statement to
the effect that the whole cost may be
collected
Give Auditors More Pay
The sections Of the code which re-
late to the present law on grading.
paving. curbing and macadamiZing
connecting streets have been stricken
from the bill. Power is given bor-
oughs to enter into agreement with
adjoining municipalities and town
ships to improve boundary streets and
streets outside the borough limits
Now such agreements are limited to
townships.
The biennial organization of coun-
ell is fixed by committee amend
ment at s p. m. on the first Monday
of January, 1916. and every two years
thereafter The present law fixes the
organization hour at 0 a. m.
Borough auditors are now paid 50
a day. The committee would make
the compensation not less than 50
nor more than So a day, council to
fix the amount
The burgess of a borough is given
power for cause to suspend a police
man until the next regular meeting of
council, when council may reinstate
or discharge the officer.
Court May Fill Vacancies
Power is still vested in the quarter
sessions court to fill vacancies i'm
council. but the committee has elimi-
mated the provision of the law which
requires the judge to appoint an cleo
tor who voted for the person last
holding the office. 1t also has stricken
out the law that where a vacancy oc-
ours in council from failure to elect
or when two or more vacancies occur,
the court of quarter sessions may or
der an election. AS the code now
reads, the appointee of the judge
would serve until after the next mu-
nicipal election. when his successor
would be chosen for the uneXpired
term.
The committee has provided that in
all proceedings for the recovery of
municipal claims. an attorneys com
mission of per cent. may be in