Kinnie v. City of Waverly

42 Iowa 486 | Iowa | 1876

Adams, J.

Code, Sec. 532, provides that in cities of the second class the city solicitor shall have such powers and perform such duties as are provided in title 4, chapter 10, or bjr any ordinance of the city council not inconsistent therewith; and Sec. 524 provides that the officers of cities shall receive such compensation and fees for their services as the council shall by .ordinance prescribe.

1. MUNICIPAL corporation: city solicitor: fees Where neither the duties or compensation of a city solicitor are prescribed, it is his duty unless otherwise instructed to perform such services as the interests of the city may require, and he may recover therefor what they are .reasonably worth. As the petition avers that the plaintiff’s services were necessary to enable the assessor to perform his official duty, we have to determine whether the assessor is a city officer or not.

2___ assessor. Section 390 of the Code j>rovides that “in any township in which is situated a city or incorporated towii, two township assessors shall be elected, one by the voters of said township residing without the corporate limits of such city or town at the general election, and the other by the voters thereof residing within such limits at the municipal election in such city or town, and each in the discharge of his duties as assessor shall be confined to that portion of his township in which he is elected as hereinbefore provided; and said city or town assessor shall hold his office for one yeai\ from the first of January next ensuing.” Ifi said section the assessor is called both township assessor and city assessor. ITe is to hold his office from the first day of January next ensuing his election like township officers, but he is to be elected at the municipal election. His duties are to'be confined to that portion of the township in which he is. elected, but that portion of the township) is identical with the territory of the city. He is to be elected by the voters of the township residing within the city limi.ts, but such voters are, of course, the voters of the city. We see nothing to determine the question as to whether the assessor is or is not a city officer but the. manner in which his duties and election are prescribed. The words used to describe his territory are “ that portion of his township in which he is elected.” He is to be elected by the voters thereof (that is, of the township) residing within such limits.” The territory and voters being described with reference to the township instead of the city, we think the assessor should be regarded as a township, and not a city, officer. With this view, plaintiff’s services were not rendered for the city.

Affirmed.