People ex rel. Penn Yan & Branchport Plank-road Co. v. Martin

By the statute (Laws 1877, p. 171, ch. 164, sec. 1, amending ch. 440, sec. 3 Laws 1873), the construction of which is involved in this motion, it is made the duty of plank-*517road inspectors to inspect such roads at least once in each month; it is also provided that after a gate has been once thrown open by the order of the inspectors, because the road is out of repair or in such condition that it cannot be conveniently used by the public, such gate “ shall not be closed wntil such road shall be fully repaired or be in proper condition to the satisfaction'’'’ of such inspector. As commissioners of highways are now inspectors of plank-roads and as the number of commissioners may be from one to three, as the town shall have determined, it must be borne in mind in construing this statute that it is providing a method of procedure applicable to all towns, and the commissioner or commissioners (as the case may be) are by it clothed with the power of making a determination, which is judicial in its character alike when performed in towns where there is but one inspector and in towns where there are three inspectors.

The question here is whether, when this tribunal has once ordered the gate to be thrown open, and after that, upon a subsequent inspection, the application and claim of the plank-road company that the road has been put in repair, it makes a judicial determination, is it sufficient to evidence that determination by an oral declaration or should it be reduced to writing. The original notice and order to- open the gate must be in writing and if the result of the subsequent inspection upon the claim of the company that their road is repaired and in good condition is, that the inspectors are satisfied that it is so repaired and in such condition, it would hardly be questioned that such satisfaction should be evidenced by a written order, so as to be of equal certainty and dignity with the first order, the force of which it stays or abrogates; and if a decision one way is to be in writing, it seems to me if the decision be the other way it should be in writing.

Upon these two grounds, then, I am strongly impressed that the commissioner should make a written order in this case.

1. The determination is that of a tribunal acting judicially *518and should, therefore, be in writing (Smith agt. Spaulding, 3 Rob., 615).

2. The first order being in writing the subsequent determination on the same matters, or growing out therefrom, should be in writing.

An order may be entered for an alternative mandamus without costs of this motion.