Court Opinion

ID: 3562902
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 23:13:03.161808+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:49.732206
License: Public Domain

The relators filed an information in the nature of a quowarranto under the fourth section of the statute, seeking to be reinstated as officers of the board of health of the borough of North Arlington, New Jersey, which offices are presently occupied by the respondents. The relators were appointed officers of said health board for one year, their term to end on December 31st, 1936. This is the record as contained in the official minutes of the meeting of the governing body of the borough of North Arlington, dated January 2d 1936.
In the trial of the cause, an attempt was made to prove, by oral testimony, that the mayor of the borough intended to appoint these relators for a term of three years, in accordance with the provisions of the health ordinance and not for a term of one year. In other words, the evidence, if received, would tend to alter the official minutes by parol. That this cannot be done by parol was recently decided by our Court of Errors and Appeals in the case of Campbell v. Hackensack, 115 N.J.L. 209. There it was held that parol evidence cannot be invoked to alter or supplement the written record of a municipality. Cook v.Manasquan, 80 N.J.L. 206; Fogg v. Ocean City Sewer Co.,72 N.J. Eq. 736; Bloomfield v. Board of Chosen Freeholdersof Middlesex County, 74 N.J.L. 261. See, also, Andrews v.Inhabitants of Boylestown, 110 Mass. 214. The proffered testimony was correctly excluded.
Counsel for the relators requests, in the brief submitted, that if our view is that the testimony in question was properly excluded, the relators be awarded an alternative writ ofmandamus, the object being to require the municipality to correct the minutes of January 2d 1936. The record before us is not sufficient for the award of a writ of mandamus. The statement by counsel of what the witness would have testified to, if permitted, is not under oath. It is a simple matter for counsel to prepare proper moving papers and seek mandamus in the customary mode.
Judgment for the respondents, with costs. *Page 423