State v. Township of West Orange
State v. Township of West Orange
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
An assessment for the expenses of establishing the grade of and grading Prospect avenue having been set aside, the municipality now applies, under section ten of the certiorari act, (Rev., p. 99,) for the appointment of
We think that neither of these positions is well taken.
The charter (Pamph. L., 1870, p. 466, § 8, ¶ 2,) expressly authorizes the township committee to order and cause any street to be graded, and the establishment of a grade is a necessary incident to this power.
Sections thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two and thirty-three of the same statute, provide for a special assessment of the expenses of such improvements, and although other enactments may give the municipality power to raise money by general tax for works of this character, the power of special assessment is not, therefore, taken away.
Whether the rule of assessment laid down by the charter accords with constitutional principles, is a question not at all discussed before us, and which, therefore, we do not decide. But as the commissioners whom we may appoint will be bound to adopt that rule, it is, perhaps, wise for the corporate authorities to consider it. If the question be a doubtful one,, the township may find a safer remedy under “An act in relation to assessments in townships,” approved March 9th,. 1877. Pamph. L., p. 227.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.