Quinn v. Sea Isle City

71 A. 1118, 77 N.J.L. 428, 48 Vroom 428, 1909 N.J. Sup. Ct. LEXIS 202

• Court: Supreme Court of New Jersey
• Decided: February 23, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Yoorhees, J.

This is a certiorari to review an ordinance passed by the common council of Sea Isle City. The municipality is incorporated under revisions of an act entitled “An act relating to and providing for the government of cities of this state containing a population of less than twelve thousand inhabitants.” Pamph. L. 1899, p. 96. The ordinance was passed, sent to the mayor for his approval, who returned it with his veto thereto. Thereupon council, composed of seven members, at its next meeting, with six members present, proceeded to consider the mayor’s objections and reconsider the ordinance at which four members voted to pass the ordinance over the mayor’s veto; one member voted to sustain the mayor’s veto and one member refrained from voting because financially interested in the railway which had an interest in the passage of the ordinance. The mayor declared the ordinance passed over the mayor’s veto.

The act under which the city is incorporated provides that after a veto the council “shall proceed to reconsider the same, and if on reconsideration it shall pass the common council by a vote of two-thirds of all the members it shall take effect.” The vote under review was not a vote of two-thirds of all the members. Crickenberger v. Westfield, 42 Vroom 467; Stephany v. Liberty, &c., Glass Co., 47 Id. 449. Even if it were considered that a member refusing to vote might be counted as voting “aye,” which is not conceded, yet a person disqualified because of interest could not be so counted. Traction Company v. Board of Works, 27 Id. 431; Drake v. Elizabeth, 40 Id. 190.

The ordinance is set aside.