128 A. 713 | Conn. | 1925
For many years previous to 1917, that portion of the charter of the city of Hartford which *220
constituted the court of common council and established the procedure by which it might enact valid ordinances contained a limitation, as follows: "it being expressly provided that no vote or resolution of said common council, ordering a public work or improvement, which shall require an expenditure of more than ten thousand dollars, shall be obligatory on said city, unless approved by a majority vote of a city meeting, duly warned and holden for that purpose; which vote shall be by ballot." 5 Special Laws (1859) p. 320. This provision was reenacted in 1917, except that the sum named was increased to $25,000. 17 Special Laws (1917) p. 888. In Johnston v. Hartford,
The board of water commissioners was first constituted by an Act of the General Assembly passed in 1853. 3 Special Laws, p. 386. By that Act "the mayor, aldermen, common council and freemen of the city of Hartford," were authorized to establish a water supply for the city and to issue for that purpose evidence of debt, which should be "obligatory upon said city and the inhabitants thereof" and should run to an amount and in a form to be determined in a city meeting. The board was directed to proceed with tentative plans and preparations and to make "conditional contracts" for securing a water supply for the city, and to report their plans, estimates and "conditional contracts" to the common council, "who may approve or reject the same," any contract "ratified" by the council thereupon to become "obligatory" upon the city. Upon approval of its plans, the board was "empowered to take and hold, for and in behalf of said city," any lands or other estate necessary for its purposes, and to prosecute or defend any action at law or in equity, by the name of the "Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Hartford," as to any matter under its superintendence, the board to "be regarded as a corporation for the purpose of suing or being sued." The "board" was authorized to institute condemnation proceedings *222 and to make contracts for labor and materials "to be binding on said city, when ratified by the court of common council." It was to be trustee of evidences of debt issued by the city, the issuance of which, if authorized by the city, it was to superintend, and which it might sell or, under the direction of the common council, pledge, but the common council was to direct what sum of money should be raised in this way "before they shall permit the construction of waterworks to be commenced and prosecuted." The board was directed to elect a president, to be approved by the common council, who was to perform various duties indicated and such other duties connected with the water supply "or with other business of the city" as should be assigned to him by the common council. All claims against "said commissioners or said city on account of said waterworks" were to be presented to the board and, if approved by it, were to be laid before the common council "who may allow the same and direct" their payment. The commissioners were required to report to the common council semiannually and give such further information as the common council might require from time to time. After the completion of the waterworks according to the plans approved by the common council, the board was directed to regulate the distribution and use of water in the city, subject in most matters of importance to a requirement that its acts were to be approved by the common council, and to the further provision that it should not reduce the water rates below a fair and reasonable compensation for the use of the water, if the effect would be to make the income insufficient to pay the annual expenses of the "waterworks" and interest on the debt incurred in building them, "except by a vote of two-thirds of the legal voters of the city, at a city meeting." All avails of water rents above *223 those needed for current expenses or the extension of pipes were to be paid monthly to the city treasurer, after an audit by the city auditor, to be used to discharge interest upon the outstanding debt, and, if there was an excess, the common council might direct whether it should go to extinguish the debt or to enlarge the waterworks. In the event of a deficiency in the sums needed to meet interest on the outstanding debt and current expenses, a tax was to be laid "on the grand list of all persons liable to city taxation;" and the Act closed with a provision for its submission to a meeting of the city for approval as a part of its charter.
We have referred at length to the provisions of this Act because their mere rehearsal shows without added argument that in its origin the board of water commissioners, instead of being an imperium in imperio, was a part, and a very subordinate part, of the city government. It was the city that was authorized to establish the water supply, and there was hardly an act of consequence which the board might make effective unless the approval of the common council or the city were first had; the indebtedness it might incur was an indebtedness resting upon the city, and, in case of a deficiency of assets, it was to a city tax that creditors must look for payment; claims against it were paid out of the city treasury, if approved by the council; and its receipts above current expenses went into the city treasury to be disbursed by the treasurer or under direction of the council. In 1904, the charter of the city of Norwich contained provisions substantially similar to those just summarized; 7 Special Laws, p. 198; Smith v. Water Commissioners,
In 1859, the charter of the city had its last revision and the Act of 1853 above outlined was woven into it. 5 Special Laws, p. 329. The board of water commissioners was continued and was directed to continue to supply water to the city; and the Act provided that the board might take and hold lands or estate "for and in behalf of said city;" that it was "in general, to do any other act necessary or convenient for accomplishing the purposes of supplying said city with water;" that it could prosecute or defend actions in its own name, and institute condemnation proceedings; and it concluded as follows: "It shall be the duty of the court of common council of said city to make ordinances, prescribing the duties of the board of water commissioners not expressly prescribed by this act; their powers over the water fund of the city of Hartford, and duties relative thereto; the officers of said board and their compensation, and bonds and oaths, and the powers of said board over the waterworks of said city; and the mode in which water rents or taxes shall be secured by lien on lots, houses, tenements, or otherwise, or shall be collected; also, relative to the proper number of said commissioners to constitute a quorum." In pursuance of this authority the common council in 1860 passed ordinances providing that the monthly accounts of the board should be examined by its auditing committee; that the president of the board should give a bond to the city for the faithful performance *225 of "his official duties due to the city," in the sum of $10,000; and restated, in almost identical language with that in the Act of 1853, the powers and duties of the board with reference to evidences of debt, duties of the president, making of contracts, reports, presentation and payment of claims, and laying of taxes to meet any deficiency. It was, however, provided that the board was to hold all receipts from the sale or pledge of evidences of debt, "subject to be drawn out only upon the written order of the city treasurer" and that, while they were to account for the avails of water rents, they were to hold any balance that might be left above the needs for current expenses "in trust . . . subject at all times to the order of the city treasurer." Charter and Ordinances, City of Hartford, 1862, pp. 26, 29, 83, 85.
Since 1859, numerous Acts have been passed by the General Assembly authorizing the board to increase its sources of supply, establish reservoirs, extend its mains, and the like, but previous to 1897 no important power was conferred upon it which it could exercise without the approval of the common council or the authority of a vote at a city meeting; 5 Special Laws, pp. 456, 539, 769; 6 Special Laws, p. 713; 7 Special Laws, pp. 682, 878; a seemingly broader Act, passed in 1875, was evidently but an addendum to an Act of the previous year authorizing the construction of reservoirs in West Hartford, if the mayor and common council of the city consented. 7 Special Laws, pp. 682, 878. A revision of the charter which was passed by the General Assembly in 1882, but which failed of adoption by the city, took from the board its principal powers, specifically vested in the city all property "now held by the board of water commissioners of said city, for and in behalf of said city," and directed the board to execute all papers necessary to perfect *226 title in the city; 9 Special Laws, pp. 619, 643, 644; a provision the significance of which lies in this, that the General Assembly surely would not have provided that the board should be so summarily deprived of its property interests in the water-supply system, then of no inconsiderable value, had it looked upon the board as in any sense an entity apart from the city.
In 1897, the board was authorized to take a branch of Salmon Brook as an additional water supply for the city, without having first to secure approval of the common council or of the voters at a city meeting; 12 Special Laws, p. 986; but this power was never exercised by it. In 1911, however, provision was made for the establishment of the Nepaug supply, and in connection with that, the board was authorized, "in behalf of said city," but without first securing its approval or that of its common council, to take and hold Nepaug River and connecting streams, and any land or property "which said board may deem necessary or convenient" for its purposes, to construct and maintain a compensating reservoir on the east branch of the Farmington River, and to institute condemnation proceedings or to petition the court for approval of changes in the highways or the removal of cemeteries. 16 Special Laws, pp. 389, 390. Subsequent to 1895, other lesser powers were also given to the board to be exercised at its own discretion. In the same period, however, the section of the charter of 1859 above quoted, giving the common council power to make ordinances with reference to the board, has been twice reenacted, with slight changes of no moment to our inquiry; 16 Special Laws (1913) p. 845; 18 Special Laws (1921) p. 434; and in another Act, giving the board power to harvest and sell ice, it was provided that its regulations and rates should be approved by the common council. Perhaps more significant is the *227 fact that, ever since 1859, all laws authorizing the issuance of bonds in connection with the water-supply system have used the same terms as have laws conferring on the city power to issue bonds for other purposes; it is the common council which has been authorized to issue them, "under the corporate name and seal" of the city; they are expressly made "obligatory upon said city and the inhabitants thereof;" and the city treasurer holds the avails, subject to the direction of the common council and the provisions of the charter. 7 Special Laws, p. 682; 11 Special Laws, p. 157 (two issues); 13 Special Laws, p. 307; 15 Special Laws, p. 802; 17 Special Laws, p. 120; 19 Special Laws (1923) p. 127. In one of these Acts the purpose of the issue is stated to be to fund temporary loans "to said city for its water department;" 11 Special Laws, p. 157; and in a later Act reference is made to "any department of the city, except the water and park departments." 18 Special Laws, p. 361.
One cannot find in this history any substantial evidence that the relationship of the board to the city has altered from that it originally occupied. It has been given greatly increased powers to take and hold lands and properties, and is holding today property of immense value, but it has always done this in behalf of the city. It has been authorized to institute or defend actions in its own name, but its attribute in that respect is well expressed in the original Act of 1853; the board was "to be regarded as a corporation for the purposes of suing or being sued." It has been authorized or directed to extend its mains and furnish service in other towns, but that does not mean that it is any less a part of the city government of Hartford, for the power of one municipality, when properly authorized, to carry on such activities within the limits of another is well known to our law. 3 Dillon, Mun. *228
Corp. (5th Ed.) § 1299; General Statutes, § 388. InWest Hartford v. Water Commissioners,
The board of water commissioners falls well within the natural meaning of the phrase "any branch of said city government." Had the legislature meant to include only the board of street commissioners, it would not have used the same general phrase; yet the history of the Act indicates that the legislature had in mind departments or agencies related to the city government in something the same way as is that board and exercising authority over considerable expenditures of public money. An examination of the city charter shows only two of these: the far less important and powerful board of park commissioners and the board of water commissioners. One can hardly conceive that the former was meant to be included in the Act and not the latter.
It is true that, in construing the provision in question, this court, in Park Eccl. Soc. v. Hartford,
As has already been noted, it was provided in the Act of 1853 establishing the board, that the board might "make contracts for labor and materials for the general purposes contemplated by this act (to be binding on said city, when ratified by the Court of Common Council)." After the revision of the charter in 1859, this provision was taken over among the ordinances *231
then adopted in this form: "Said Board of Commissioners may make contracts for labor and materials for the construction of Water-Works, which, when ratified by the Court of Common Council, shall be valid and binding on said city;" and so it stands to this day. The board contends that this ordinance should be construed to mean that, while it may make contracts valid and binding as regards itself, these will not be binding upon the city until ratified by the common council. What we have already said in effect answers this contention. If the board is a department or agency of the city, and not a separate entity, if the property standing in its name is in truth property of the city, any contract binding on it would be binding upon the city and enforceable out of the city's property. That we have said to be the effect of contracts made by the no less independent board of street commissioners of the city. Hartford v. Hartford ElectricLight Co.,
The board has entered into a contract with certain architects for the preparation by them of plans and for the supervision of the construction of the building in question, under which they will receive about $8,500, and we are asked to say whether or not the board had authority to employ these architects without first securing the approval of a city meeting. The gravamen of the question is thus expressed in the brief filed by the board: "Whether the cost of employing architects must be included with the cost of construction in determining the amount involved in such matters." Whether or not that cost is to be included would depend *233
upon the circumstances. If the employment of the architects was not a part of the undertaking involved in the construction of the building in question, as where, for instance, it was for the purpose of a preliminary study to determine the wisdom of proceeding with the undertaking, it would stand by itself. Where, however, as apparently in this instance, the services rendered are part and parcel of the actual construction of a building which the board has ordered to be built, the amounts to be paid the architects must be included in the cost of the structure. SeeMarchetti v. Sleeper,
We answer the questions stated in the reservation as follows: To the first question, asking whether the board had authority to enter into a valid contract for the construction of the headquarters building in question, to cost $140,345, without approval by a majority vote at a city meeting, we answer, No. To the second question, asking whether the board had power to employ architects to prepare plans and supervise the construction of the building in question without such approval, we answer — interpreting it as has the board in its brief — No. To the third question, whether the power of the board to contract for the construction of buildings and other structures as a part of the waterworks is limited by the provisions of the Act of the General Assembly approved June 2d 1921, we answer, Yes. To the fourth question, whether the board has power to make contracts for the furnishing of labor and materials for the construction of waterworks without securing ratification of such contracts by the common council, we answer, No.
The Superior Court is advised to enter judgment in accordance with the foregoing answers to the questions