Court Opinion

ID: 8060001
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 04:37:11.113447+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:38:01.264869
License: Public Domain

The opinion of the court was delivered by
Scudder, J.
The proceedings brought up for review in this case were taken on the application of twelve freeholders, in the township of Ridgefield, in the county of Bergen, under section 8 of the act concerning roads in the township of Hackensack (Pamph. L. 1870, p. 8), section 4 of the supplement (Pamph. L. 1871, p. 1507), and the further supplement (Pamph. L. 1874, p. 579). The public road board of the township of Ridgefield, having made their decision, award and assessment for laying out and opening an extension of Central avenue, through the lands of the prosecutors and others, this certiorari is brought to set aside these proceedings for alleged irregularities.
There are thirty reasons assigned for reversing the action of the road board, founded on the complex and difficult provisions of these different statutes. Fortunately we may stop at the first reason without examining the others, which seem to be of minor importance. The section (8) above referred to, in the original act, which is continued in the supplement, requires that “ the said board shall decide and determine upon the necessity of such proposed improvement, and if the said board shall decide and determine in favor thereof, they shall make their decision in writing,” &c. Section 4 of the supplement of 1871 adds to the former act that after hearing, “ the commissioners shall appoint a committee of their number to examine the route of the proposed road, and to report upon the feasibility and advisability of the same, and what changes, if any, shall be made therein; and thereupon the said board shall decide and determine upon the necessity of such proposed improvement,” &c., as in the prior act. The act of 1874 does not change these requirements. In examining the decision in writing returned with the writ, we find that a committee was appointed; that they reported it was feasible and advisable to lay out and open said road without any changes; “ and the said board did then decide in favor of *182such improvement of laying out and opening the said road,'' &c. The important omission is that it does not appear that the board did decide and determine upon the necessity of such proposed improvement. The decision and determination by them that the proposed improvement is necessary is made the basis of further proceeding, and it is therefore essential that it should appear on the face of their decision in writing. The-board having only a special statutory authority for taking land for public roads, and assessing damages and benefits therefor, every essential requirement of the law conferring-this extraordinary power must appear to have been observed. Semon v. City of Trenton, 18 Vroom 489.
For this reason the proceedings are set aside and vacated,, without costs.