Court Opinion

ID: 8179261
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 22:25:23.867672+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:40:06.828893
License: Public Domain

Poffenbarger, Judge:
The relator seeks a peremptory writ of mandamus to restore him to the office of Chief of Police of the City of Williamson, from which an order issued by the Mayor of that city purports and attempts to suspend him.
By the charter of the city, ch. 14, Acts of 1915, Municipal Charters, as amended by ch. 20, Acts of-1919,- Municipal Charters, the jurisdiction to suspend that officer is vested in the commission of sis members, which governs the city. See see. 42 of Act of 1919. No provision of the present charter empowers the mayor to do so
As the law of the city formerly was, it seems the mayor was empowered by a valid ordinance, to remove the chief of police from office, and the amendatory act of 1915, Municipal Charters, continued in effect all ordinances then in force and not inconsistent with the provisions of that act, until amended or repealed. That statute put the power of suspension of the chief of police in the city manager. This of necessity impliedly repealed the ordinance. The act of 1919, amending the act of 1915, puts that power in the commission. Hence, lack of authority in the mayor to suspend the relator, is clear.
Any implication of such authority in him, arising out of the general powers conferred upon him, is excluded by this express provision. A mere unnecessary implication cannot stand against express terms inconsistent therewith. Moreover, it is very unusual to place a power of appointment or *234amotion in the hands of two distinct officers or tribunals. In such case, there would be an inevitable conflict of authority, often leading to trouble between the repositories of such power and public embarrassment.
The return, however, sets up removal of the‘relator by the commissioners, betAveen the issuance of the alternative writ and the return, thereof, by a resolution or order passed or adopted by three of them, claiming to have acted in a meeting at which, under the circumstances, they constituted a quorum. The commission, theoretically, is by-partisan. In the return, it is asserted that, ordinarily, no meeting could be held, in the absence of any of the members representing one of the political parties, because neither of the other two would attend. Now it is claimed one of those three has resigned, abandoned or forfeited his office, by removal from the city and the state. The three members of the other party, deeming themselves then to be a sufficient number to constitute a quorum, held a meeting, declared vacant the office of the migrating member, and passed the resolution aboAm mentioned, and here interposed as a defense.
If the resolution was passed in a duly constituted meeting of the commissioners, it would no doubt bar the relief sought because the award of the writ would be fruitless and unavailing. Hall v. Staunton, 55 W. Va. 684. As the resolution, if valid, would make the writ useless and futile, the objection to the filing thereof, on the ground of its adoption after award of the alternative writ, is untenable. But, if the meeting in AAdiich it was adopted was not duly constituted and could not validly do what it undertook to do, the objection can be sustained on the ground of invalidity of the resolution. The vital question, then is whether the three members constituted a quorum.
As the charter provision respecting a quorum is general, simply saying a majority of the commissioners shall be necessary to form a quorum, Act, 1915, sec. 15, the presence of three sufficed, if the commission was then composed of only five members. State v. Huggins, Harp. (S. C.) 139; Coles v. Williamsburgh, 10 Wend. (N. Y.) 659; State v. Wilkesville Tp., 20 O. St., 288; 29 Cyc. 1688. Otherwise it did not. If *235removal of commissioner Sammons from tire city and the State ipso facto put an end to his membership of the tribunal, it consisted of only five members, at the date of the meeting, bnt, if it did not so terminate his membership, and, action of the commission was necessary to its termination upon that ground, the commission then consisted of six members, and attendance of four was required for a quorum.
In the absence of positive legal provisions indicative of intention to adopt a different rule on the subject, a vacancy in office occurs by, (1) expiration of the term, or, (2) death of the incumbent, or, (3) his resignation, or, (4) his.removal from office. McQuillen, Mun. Cor. sec. 478. This author adds two more, abolition of the office and disqualification of the incumbent to hold it. The first of these two is an impossibility. There can be no vacancy in a non-existent office. The other is disqualification by express legislation. People v. Highland Park, 88 Mich. 653; People v. Morrell, 21 Wend. (N. Y.) 575. Likely Judge Christian thought a vacancy occasioned by death of the incumbent was too apparent for mention, when he said, in the Bland and Giles County Judge Case, 33 Gratt. 443, that “An office is determined proprio vigore by resignation, expiration of the term and removal by competent authority. But in other cases the office is not determined ipso facto by the occurrence of the cause. There must be a judgment of amotion after a judicial ascertainment of the fact.” This language is partially quoted with approval in Johnson v. Mann et al., 77 Va. 265, 270.
In parliamentary law, which governs in cases of the class to which this one belongs, an office is vacated by refusal of the elected member to accept it, communicated to the proper authorities ; refusal to qualify; resignation; and death. In all other instances, such as expulsion, adjudication of a controverted election, disqualification by act of the party and acceptance of an incompatible office, ascertainment of the fact and declaration of the existence of the vacancy are necessary. Cush. L. & Pr. Leg. Assemblies, secs. 471 to 478, inclusive. Application of this rule to the case now under consideration harmonizes with our decisions in those cases in which persons elected to municipal offices are alleged to be ineligible. They *236are admitted, subject to inquiry and determination of the question of their eligibility. Price v. Fitzpatrick, 85 W. Va. 76; Trunick v. Town of Northview, 80 W. Va. 9. As to the fact of disqualification by removal from the subdivision in which an officer holds his position, he is entitled to be heard, if he desiies a hearing. He must have notice, if it can be conveniently given, and be allowed his “Day in court,” and he cannot be deemed to be out unless nor until he shall have had these privileges.
Upon these principles and conclusions, the writ asked for was awarded.

Writ awarded.