Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-10-28
FENDALL SMITH IS NOW
COUNTY ENGINEER

Appointed by Cape May County Board
of FreehOIders at Meeting on Tines,
day, in Place Of Leaning Rice-Two
Convicted Members of Board Cannot
Act Until Legal Status is Defined
Other Business of the Board.
At the meeting of the Cape NAV
County Board of Chosen F~reeholders
held at Cape May Court House on
Tuesday, October 18th, r. Fendan
Smith, of Marmora, was appointed
County Engineer in place of Engineer
Leaning NJ. Rice, Mr.. Rice's convic-
ton in connection with the Mechanic
street paving case automatically re-
moving him, under the law, as the
County Engineer.
The law provides that nc member Of
a municipal body may hold Office
when under conviction of a crime, and
this affects not only Engineer Rice.
but Freebooter Joseph Camp, of Mid
die Township, and Joseph P. MacKis-
sic. Lower Township. Both Freehold.
ers attended Tuesdays meeting, but
neither took part in any way in the
Boards business. If the convictions
are reversed in the higher courts
when the cases are appealed, Engineer
Rice and the ousted Freeholders will
again be able to resume their official
duties.
Now on Straight Salary
The old fee system of employment
of the County Engineer was also done
away with at Tuesdays meeting, and
a straight salary substituted. The
resolution under which the appoint
ment of Smith is made, and the change
in fees, is as follows:
Whereas, the County Engineer
of the County of Cape May has
heretofore been paid on a per-
centage basis, and
Whereas, the Office of County
Engineer is now vacant on account
OF certain contingencies which
have arisen, under and by virtue
of the laws of the State of New
Jersey in such case made and pro-
vided;
And whereas, it is deemed nee
essary to appoint a civil engineer
in order tt fulfill the duties of the
+ office of County Engineer until the
status of the former County Engi-
neer is definitely determined in
the courts of the law of this state,
Now, Therefore, Be 1t Resolved,
that the Board of Chosen Free
holders of Cape May County does
hereby appoint R. Fendall Smith
as County Engineer, to take effect
upon said R. Fendall Smith taking
the oath of Office and filing a bond
for 81, 000.0 90, and to function as
such until the courts of law Of
New Jersey determine the status
} of the former County Engineer,
Leaning M. Rice;
5 And Be 1t Further Resolved, the
salary of said r. Fendall Smith as
such County Engineer shall be at
the rate of Three Hundred Dollars
($300.O0) per month, which shall
include travelling expenses, and
such compensation shall cease
upon the said courts of law deter
mining the status of said former
County Engineer Leaning M. Rice.
Other Board Business
Other business of the Board on
Tuesday was as follows:
Report from the Department of In.
l situations and Agencies, Trenton, OIL
an inspection of the County Aims.
house, where everything was found in
excellent condition, and of the county
l Jail, where it was recommended that
a matron be employed to look after the
I women prisoners.
The bridge committee reported thai
the cost Of electrical repairs to the
} Ocean City drawbridge would cos
: $751; rs, and the purchase of Sc new
batteries to operate the draw woulC
cost $1,156. The work was ordered
l done.
: John Morton was appointed as in
! spector on the Grassy Sound to Bur
, leigh road work, in place of JasoI
! Buck, who has been acting in tina
{ capacity.
= Members in each district were dl
i rected to ascertain the condition o
E their road scrapers and report to tn
. County Purchasing Agent any new
! parts of supplies needed.-Sea ISL
! City Times.
COMMUNICATED