City of Schenectady v. Trustees of Union College

21 N.Y.S. 147, 73 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 179, 49 N.Y. St. Rep. 161, 66 Hun 179

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: November 22, 1892
• Status: Published

Opinion

MAYHAM, P. J.

The case shows that, the defendant originally owned the land in Schenectady which now constitutes Union avenue and Gillispee street, in that city, and dedicated the same to the public, and the plaintiff accepted such dedication and adopted said land as public streets. After such dedication and adoption, Union street was paved by the plaintiff with asphalt, and a portion of the expense of the pavement was assessed by the common council of the plaintiff for the two lots, of which the half of Union avenue was one and the half of Gillispee street was the other, in the same manner as if they were private property; and the question upon this appeal brings up for review the validity of that assessment. This work of paving these streets was done by contract, pursuant to a resolution of the common council of the plaintiff, and the superintendent of streets certified the amount of costs and expenses of this improvement, as to each of the plaintiff’s intersecting street lots, for this work done in front of them, respectively, at the rate of the sum fixed in the contract, and paid by the plaintiff to the contractor, for making such improvement. The city paid the contractor; and the common council; by resolution, directed the city attorney to prosecute in the name of the city for the sum or assessment not paid by the defendant at a given date. The defendant failed to pay the amounts audited by the common council, as the same were certified by the superintendent of streets, at the time fixed; this action was commenced; and from the judgment recovered by the plaintiff in this action the defendant appeals.

The appellant objects that, in levying this tax or assessment upon the property of the defendant, no opportunity was given for a hearing before any board or officer to the appellant, and insists that the enforcement of the same by judgment tends to deprive the defendant of its property without due process of law, and in that respect violates the constitution, and that the assessment was therefore void.

The proceedings of the city government which led up to the making of this improvement do not seem to be in controversy on this appeal. So that we may start our investigation with the proceedings of the common council in levying or assessing and enforcing this tax. The plaintiff, in fixing the liability of the defendant, and in the enforcement of the same, assumes to proceed under the provisions of section 13 of title 7 of the charter of the city of Schenectady, (chapter 385, Laws 1862.) That section provides as follows:

“If the owner or occupant of any lot or building affected by any such ordinance shall fail to comply with the requirements thereof, the common council shall cause the same to be done, by or under the direction of the said superintendent,' for and at the expense of the owner or occupant. The said superintendent shall keep an account of such cost and expense, which shall include the cost of .survey, and shall certify to the correctness of the same, and. return it to the common council within thirty days after the completion of the work. The common council shall audit and allow such account at such sum as shall be deemed proper, and which shall be final and conclusive; and it shall be lawful for said city to sue for and recover from such owner or occupant, or his legal representatives, the sum so audited and allowed, with interest at the rate of one per cent, per month from the time of the audit and allowance of such account, in an action for money paid and expended for such owner or occupant by said city; and the account, with the certificate of the city clerk thereon of the amount so audited and allowed thereon, shall be sufficient presumptive evidence to entitle the plaintiff to recover in such action. ”

The appellant’s contention is that this provision fails to provide the property owner with any opportunity to be heard on the question of the amount or validity of the assessment, and makes the same, in ex-1 press terms, final and conclusive. We cannot agree with the learned counsel for the appellant in this contention. If the statute had stopped .with the provision that the assessment “shall be final and conclusive,” there would be great force in his position upon that point, or if it had confined the collection of this tax to a proceeding in rem, or if the plaintiff had sought to enforce the tax under the provisions of section 14 of this.act, which provides for a sale of the premises in reference to which the tax is assessed, then- we are not prepared to say that the positian taken by the appellant might not be upheld. But we are relieved in this case from the determination of that, question, as the defendant is invited by the plaintiff into a' tribunal where the assessment is by this statute made only presumptive evidence of the validity or correctness of the tax; and where the whole case is open to the objections and litigations of the defendant on the trial of the action, it cannot, we think, be said that the judgment in such action, if enforced against the defendant’s property, would be taking the same without due process of law. While it is doubtless the duty of the courts to sedulously guard the right of the citizen from invasion without due process of law, it is at the same time equally incumbent on the courts to uphold the constitutionality of acts of the legislature, unless the same are brought plainly within the constitutional prohibition. This rule is elementary, and has been recently adverted to and enforced by the highest court of this state. In Sweet v. City of Syracuse, 129 N. Y. 329, 27 N. E. Rep. 1081, and 29 N. E. Rep. 289, O’Brien, J., quotes with approbation the language of Ruger, C. J., in People v. Angle, 109 N. Y. 567, 17 N. E Rep. 413, as follows:

“Within settled rules, it requires a case to be made, showing clearly that the statute, when fairly and reasonably construed, is brought in conflict with some provision of the constitution, before the court can be justified in pronouncing it an unauthorized expression of the legislative will. If the act and the constitution can be so construed as to enable both to stand, and each can be given its legitimate ofiice to perform, it is the duty of the courts to give them such construction. ”

We see no difficulty, in this case, in giving that constitutional provision its fullest effect, and finding guarantied to the defendant, in an action prosecuted under section 13 of title 7 of this charter, the due process of law guarantied by the constitution. The law provided a method by which the defendant could have its day in court, and by the prosecution of this action it is furnished that opportunity to be heard, of which it has availed itself by its defense. Stuart v. Palmer, 74 N. Y. 183, was an action to set aside an assessment as a cloud upon title on which it was made by the act a specific lien upon the land, and no provision was contained in the act for the collection of the tax by action, as in this case, nor did the act provide for notice of any kind to the landowner, and the assessment was held void; but its invalidity was so palpable and apparent on the face of the proceedings it constituted no cloud upon the title. But it will be observed that in that statute no action was provided for, as in this, and no notice of any kind was authorized by the act. In Stuart v. Palmer, supra, the court held, in broad and most unequivocal terms, that the legislature has no power in itself, and can confer no power upon any subordinate department of the government, to arbitrarily seize the property of the citizen, or impose upon him.a tax without due process of law, and on proper notice to and opportunity by the citizen to be heard before some proper tribunal. But the learned judge in that case says “the legislature may prescribe the kind of notice, and the mode in which it shall be given;” and in the same case, in defining what is meant in the constitution by “due process of law,” the learned judge uses this language:

“It may, however, be stated, generally, that due process of law requires an orderly proceeding, adapted to the nature of the case, in which the citizen has an opportunity to be heard, and to defend, enforce, and protect his rights. ”

If, therefore, in the action prosecuted against the defendant for the collection of this tax, the certificate of the superintendent of streets, and the audit of the common council,, and their apportionment of the assessment against the defendant, constitute only presumptive or, prima facie evidence against the defendant in this action, it was within the power of the defendant to overcome that presumption, either as to the regularity or amount of the assessment in this action; and if beaten in that contest it cannot claim that its property is taken by taxation without due process of law.

But it is further insisted by the appellant that the common council exceeded its authority in passing a resolution that these streets should be paved with asphalt pavement. It must be conceded that the common council of a city is a creation of the statute, and has only such powers as are conferred on it by that instrument. The power conferred on the common council in reference to the subject of the pavement of the streets is contained in section 8 of the charter, and is in these words, (section 8, tit. 7, c. 385, Laws 1862:)

“The common council shall have power from time to time to adopt ordinances directing and requiring any of the streets, highways, lanes, alleys, walks, or squares paved, flagged, macadamized, planked, or covered with broken stone or gravel, at the expense of the owners or occupants of the lots and buildings lying upon the streets, highways, lanes, or alleys when such work shall be required to be done, and may in like manner direct and require the altering and repairing of the same; and said common council shall prescribe the time and manner in which such work shall be done, and which work shall be done under the superintendence and direction of the superintendent of streets. ”

The complaint alleged the taking by the plaintiff of the various steps by the common council to authorize the paving of these streets and charging the defendant with the payment for the same, most of which were not put in issue by the answer; and we are only called upon to consider such questions as are raised by the exceptions to the referee’s findings and conclusions; and discussed on this appeal. Under the provisions aboved quoted the common council was authorized by ordinance to provide for the pavement of the streets of this city. This authority carried with it the power to direct by ordinance the kind of pavement to be used, and prescribed no limit to any particular kind of pavement. The charter conferred upon the common council the exercise of a discretion, so long as it kept within the general designation of “pavement.” In Re Phillips, 60 N. Y. 22, the court held that “to pave is to cover with stone, brick, concrete, or any other substantial matter, making a smooth and level surface,” and that'the difference in material could not change the character or general identity of the work embraced in the generic term, “pave.” So the laying of a cross walk comes within the general designation of “paving.” In re Burke, 62 N. Y. 224. So “paving” is held to be a more comprehensive word than “flagging.” It includes flagging, as well as other modes of making a smooth surface for streets and sidewalks. In re Burmeister, 76 N. Y. 181. It follows that, when the legislature conferred on the common council the power to cause the streets of the city to be graded and paved, they conferred upon them the power of adopting such material in that work as ordinarily might be regarded as proper for that purpose.

But it is insisted by the appellant that, if this ordinance was valid, yet its provisions were not complied with, and that for that reason the plaintiff could not properly recover in this action. The first objection urged upon this point is that the work was not done in accordance with the provision's of section 13 of the charter, in that the work was done by the contract with the asphalt company, and not done by or' under the direction of'the superintendent of streets. Section 6 of the' ordinance provides that “it will be the duty of the superintendent of streets, immediately after the expiration of the time, [30 days,] to cause the-work to be done.” Section 2 of the agreement between the asphalt company and the common council provides that the work shall be done-in accordance with the terms of said ordinance, and that .the same shall be done under the supervision and direction of the superintendent of streets of said city. While this work was not done by the superintendent of streets, it seems to have been done under his direction, and comes clearly within the letter, and we think the' spirit, of the charter, in that respect. When the lot owners 'failed for 30 days to do this work, it became the duty of'the common council to cause the work to-be done which any such owner or occupant had failed to do, at the cost and expense of such owner or occupant. It is true that they were-required to cause this work to be done, within the terms of the charter,, by or under the direction of the superintendent of streets; but the fact-that it was done under a contract, under his direction, d<?es not in itself violate the terms of the charter, or the provisions of the ordinance of the common council. The charter provides that the work shall be done by of under the direction of the superintendent of streets,, and the disjunctive form of connecting the methods of the performance of the work makes either allowable, and the complaint is not, therefore, defective, in alleging that the work was done under his direction.

It is also objected that the notice required to be published by section, 61 of the charter must be deemed as duly and properly given, as that' is so alleged in the complaint and does not appear to be denied in the-answer, and there was no such modification of the ordinance after the giving of the notice as would invalidate or destroy the effect of the-notice. It- is true that every requirement having the semblance of benefit to" .the owner must be strictly complied with. Newell v. Wheeler,. 48 N. Y. 486-490.' But we think that we have shown that the work was in fact done under the direction of the superintendent of streets, in compliance with the provisions of the charter. Nor do we think that the pavement provided for by the ordinance under consideration comes-within the provision of section 3 of the charter, relating to ordinary repairs.

It is also urged on this appeal that the contract imposed upon the-property owners the burden of paying for keeping this pavement in repair for five years, and that the contract was therefore in excess of the-power conferred on the common council in reference to paving streets». In People v. Maher, (Sup.) 9 N. Y. Supp. 94, the common council passed an ordinance requiring the board of contract and apportionment, to require the contractor to agree to keep a pavement of granite block, to be laid by the contractor, in repair for seven years. The charter provided that the repairing of all streets paved with granite block should be-a charge upon the city, and not on abutting property owners; and the-court held that such a provision in a contract for laying granite block pavement was unauthorized, and tended to increase the burdens of abut-ting owners, and the contract was set aside as illegal. If this contract is subject to the same objection it should share the same fate, if the objection was properly raised in the court below. The referee was not asked to find, and did not find, that this provision in the contract increased the expense of the work, or enhanced the amount of the assessment. But this question was evidently raised and discussed in the court below, and is, I think fairly here for adjudication. But I am inclined to concur in the views of the learned referee that this case is substantially different in some of its essential particulars from that of People v. Maher, supra. In that case there was no express contract to - keep in repair for seven years. In this case the clause referred to in the contract had reference solely to the substantial character of the work performed and materials used in the performance of the contract. The pro- ■ vision to which objection is made reads as follows:

“The party of the second part hereby covenants and agrees that it will do all the work required by such ordinance and this contract in such good and substantial manner that no repairs thereto shall be required for the term of five years . after its completion. ”

If the contract had stopped here it would hardly be claimed that the contract went further than the ordinance, and was anything more than a guaranty that the work should conform to the requirements of the ordinance, and no one would doubt the power of the common council to - prescribe the quality of the work to be done by an ordinance; and yet, if the contract had stopped there, it can hardly be doubted that the contractor would be liable to the city to keep and make good to the city the conditions of the warranty that no repairs thereto shall be required in five years after its completion. The covenant, therefore, to keep in repair for five years is not an independent obligation, but only a guaranty of the quality of the work contracted to be done. In this respect we think it essentially different from the contract under consideration in People v. Maher, supra, and that this case does not come under the condemnation of that decision. We are therefore inclined to the opinion that there was a substantial compliance with the provisions of the charter by the common council in the construction of the pavement in question, and that the provisions of the charter under which they proceeded are ■ not unconstitutional. Nor do we see any error in the admission or rejection of evidence by the referee, for which this judgment should here versed.

The remaining, and perhaps most difficult, question in this case, is as to the liability of the defendant to assessment for the paving of corner lots. The defendant was originally the owner of all of these lands,. including the lands by it dedicated to and accepted by the plaintiff for public streets. If this dedication and acceptance are to be considered ■as absolutely divesting the defendant of title or interest in the lands •dedicated, and investing the plaintiff with the absolute title in fee of the streets, then it would be difficult to see how the defendant can be ■said to be an abutting owner as to these corner lots. But if the abutting owners of these streets on either, side are deemed to own to the -center of the street, subject only to the easement of the public for the purpose of a street, then such abutting owners become abutting owners -of these corner lots, and are liable as such for this local improvement. The fact that no legislation has been directly enacted to meet this question, which has often been raised, and yet does not appear to have been judicially settled, in this state, leads to the conclusion stated by the learned referee, as follows:

“It may justly be said that the charter was enacted in view of the presumption -that each owner’s title and ownership extend to the center of the intersecting -streets. ”

We are inclined, therefore, to the conclusion that for the purpose of this local improvement the defendant was an abutting owner to the corner lots'for which this assessment was made.

We see no error in this case for which this judgment should be reversed. Judgment affirmed, with costs.

PUTNAM, J., concurs. HERRICK, J., dissents.