The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-01-23
PROPOSED HIGHWAY LAW

Establish State highway Department DeIne
Powers Duties Veng therein Powers and Duties now
Deyoved by Law upon the State Highway Commission
II is hereby enacted by General Assembly of the State Of
Vermont:
Sec l. CREATION OF STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
department hereby created 70 be known as the state High
whom one shall be the the State exo another the
State Engineer exoo and the third member to be appointed
and vacancy such vacancy to be filled by the Governor Tor
three years. the appointment to fill vacancy being
the balance the unexpd term Inc compensation OF Sad
member shall be S25O0 per year.
Sec. 2. ORGANIZATION Said State Highway Department
shall organize the election Of officers by said board and shall
provide for holding stated meetings suitable once snal De
maintained the Capitol and records of all transactions in
said Department shall be kept there that they will be available
inspection by the public all reasonable times The signature
chairman Of the Board in his absence or disability the
designated by the Board any ORDER rega
to contract bill other paper document required to be signed
behalf of the State Highway Board shall be sufficient evidence
authority therefor and authenticity thereof Said Depart
ment shall have a common SEAL
Sec g. EXPERT HIGHWAY ENGINEER. The State Highway
Department shall employ having special knowledge s
experience road and bridge construction and maintenance and
having knowledge of the most approved methods and systems OF
highway construction maintenance and financing to make survey
and investigation of conditions existing in this state respecting
highways but event not later than
December l. 1921 submit to the Board report which shall
contain recommend for adoption by the General Assembly
it's next biennial session. definite plan or system OF
highways program of highway construction maintenance
data necessary report basis for constructive highway
legislation The expense of this special survey and investigation
shall paid the special appropriation made for this purpose
by this Act Said Board continue the employment OF such an
expert, may be required
Sec a. POWERS The office Of State Highway Commissioner
hereby abolished powers and duties heretofore granted
imposed by any upon the State Highway Commissioner shall
exercised and performed as not inconsistent with this
Act by the State Highway Board Said State Highway
shall exclusive and complete control Of the constructing
widening Strengthening regarding and maintaining state high
shall have exclusive and complete control and
all xpended balances of appropriations made for state roads,
and the same shall be transferred to said Highway Department
necessary for this purpose and of all moneys now or hereafter
for state including the maintenance fund derived
from received under Chapter 1913 of the General Laws and the
bridge fund provided by General Laws Sections 4548 to 45oO
inclusive and likewise shall have and exercise complete and
exclusive of all property held by the State Highway
Commissioner and property that hereafter belong to
the and be used in the construction maintenance OF
ways and bridges Said State Highway Department shall control
the expenditure of the five cent State highway lax
appropriated and reapptoned to towns and villages
on the basis mileage and also control and direct the expenditure
all special appropriations made to the towns Tor the Dene OF
highways either by the General Assembly by order OF Court
shall have power employ and discharge assistants deputies
other employees and abores and to formulate rules ana regu
tons and prescribe duties for the conduct Of the business work.
and general administration of the Department s oces ana
employees The State Highway Department shall also nave all
necessary the performance of the work OF the department
without detail These shall be literally construed
All acts determined by said Board shall require the vote OF
majority thereof
Sec s. MAINTENANCE The State Highway Board shall
establish maintenance system including patrol repair system 10
go into effect as practicable hereafter
Sec CONTRACTS The State Highway Board shall nave the
to execute perform all and contracts and to 90 all
things necessary and for the construction maintenance anu
repair of state highways Independent contractor or
contracts made the name the State of Vermont But the
members said Board and any employee OF the state highway
Department shall be directly indirectly interested In any
for constructing improving any road under s Act
Sec 4 AUDITING Said Board shall provide Tor he proper
auditing all accounts and received or expended ana
labor performed materials used road work and Tor the
lection tabuaon of such statistics may De proper OF
necessary for the use of the Department
Sec & EXPENSES The members Of said Board and persons
employed by said Board shall be allowed necessary expenses
their official duties