Case Name: Leonard Jackson vs. The Inhabitants of Hampden
Court: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Maine
Decision Date: 1839-07
Citations: 16 Me. 184
Docket Number: 
Parties: Leonard Jackson vs. The Inhabitants of Hampden.
Judges: 
Reporter: Maine Reports
Volume: 16
Pages: 184–186

Head Matter:
Leonard Jackson vs. The Inhabitants of Hampden.
When there are three members of the superintending school committee, two of them have no power to dismiss a schoolmaster, under the provision of stat. 1834, c. 129, sec. 3, “ to provide for the instruction of youth,” unless due notice has been given to the third, that he might have an opportunity to attend and act with them.
Assumpsit to recover compensation for the plaintiff’s services in teaching a school ten weeks, in district No. 15, in the town of Hampden, but composed partly of inhabitants of Hampden, and partly of inhabitants of Newburgh, of which towns Hampden was the oldest. The plaintiff had been duly contracted with, by the legal agent of the district, to teach the school; had procured the requisite certificates, and commenced teaching the school. After he had kept the school about two weeks, complaint was made to two of the three superintending school committee, the other member of the committee being absent from town, and not being notified of any of the proceedings, and taking no part therein, and those two members of the committee visited the school, and examined it and the master, and found him, as they said, unfit, and verbally discharged and dismissed him; and, in a few days afterwards, made and signed a written statement to the same effect, and caused it to be delivered to the plaintiff. The agent of the district, knowing all the facts, immediately made a new contract with the plaintiff to teach the school, and directed him to proceed, and he did go on and complete the original contract.
At the trial before Shepley J. the plaintiff’s counsel contended, that two of the committee could not legally act and dismiss the master. The Judge ruled that they could, to which the plaintiff filed exceptions. Several other questions were raised at the trial, and argued to the court, but are omitted, because the opinion is based on this, alone.
A. G. and D. T. Jewett, for the plaintiff,
argued that the acts of the two members of the committee were void, because the third was not notified of their meeting or proceedings. The whole committee must act in all affairs between individuals, to make their decision binding; and although, in public affairs, a majority can act in some cases, no act of the majority can be legal, unless the whole were notified, and bad an opportunity to act on tho subject. Commonwealth v. Ipswich, 2 Pick. 70 ; 1 Bos. & P. 236 ; 2 Kent, 293, 633 ; Towne v. Jaquith, 6 Mass. It. 46 ; 6 Johns. R. 39; 2 JVend. 491 ; 5 Bintmj, 485; 9 Serg. & JL 99; 7 Serg. & R. 444; Stat. 1834, c. 129; Searsmont v. Harwell, 3 Greenl. 450.
II. Ilmnlin., for the defendants,
contended, that the powers of the superintending school committee, like those of selectmen of towns, may bo exercised by a majority, and that it was not expected, or intended that all should be present to make the acts of the majority valid. The case of Searsmont v. Harwell, cited for tho plaintiffj is directly in our favor. But here the third member of the committee was out of town, and there was no committee to act, except those who did act. They had the samo power, as they would have had, if the third had been dead.

Opinion:
The opinion of the Court was drawn up by
Shepley J.
When the master was dismissed from the further charge of the school, the superintending committee consisted of three persons, two of them only acted, the third being absent from town was not notified. There is no provision in the statutes, authorizing a majority to act, as there is authorizing selectmen and assessors in certain cases. Tho powers of this committee in executing the public trust confided to them, must be ascertained by the application of the principles óf the common law. And it seems to be well settled, that when power is entrusted to several for private purposes, they must all join in the execution of it; but when the power is conferred for public purposes, a majority may act.
This bill of exceptions states, that the counsel " contended, that two of the; committee could not legally act and dismiss the master, but the judge ruled otherwise." This ruling, in the manner stated, was correct; but it appears in the case, that tho third committeeman was not notified; and tho Judge does not appear to haye particularly noticed that fact, or to have given the proper instructions in relation to it. This would not afford sufficient cause for setting aside the verdict, if it were not of vital importance in tho caso. Although it be true, that in the execution of a public trust, a ma jority may decide, yet the whole should be notified, that all may have opportunity to attend and take a part in the deliberations and decisions of the body. Grindley v. Barker, 1 B. & P. 236; Baltimore Turnpike, 5 Bin. 481; McReady v. Guardians of the Poor, 9 S. & R. 94; Ex parte Rogers, 7 Cow. 526; Crofoot v. Allen, 2 Wend. 494; Damon v. Granby, 2 Pick. 345. And it is important to require this notice to avoid the possibility, that a majority should intentionally exclude the minority from all participation in their deliberations and proceedings; and thus deprive the public of their services, prevent the exercise of a legal right, and perhaps accomplish purposes, which otherwise never could be accomplished.
In this case, it is not probable, that a notice to the third member of the committee would have been of any practical utility, because it is understood, that he was so situated that he would not have been present if notified. But that does not allow the majority to dispense with the rule requiring notice. They are not, in such cases, constituted the judges, whether the notice would be effectual to secure bis attendance. Nor would it be entirely safe to entrust to them such a power, as it would afford an opportunity to select an occasion, when they might judge that a notice would be ineffectual, and thus, by neglecting to give it, free themselves from the presence of a dissenting minority. And if notice be always required, it may often happen, that those will be able to attend, who were believed to be so situated, that their attendance could not be expected. Nor is there any difficulty in giving the requisite notice in such cases, as one left at the usual place of residence would be sufficient. Such a course may cause some delay and embarrassment in the execution of some of their duties, but whether this will be a greater evil than those alluded to, and that of allowing majorities to act in all cases without the knowledge and assistance of minorities, thus constituting the majority in effect the whole committee, the legislature must judge. The court can only apply the rule of law as it finds it established.
The proceedings of the committee must be regarded as illegal and ineffectual to dismiss the master, because the third member of the committee was not notified.
Exceptions sustained.