May 11, 1857. Superintendents to be appointed. Ibid. Duties of superin- South Free Bridge shall be hereafter called SECT. 2. There shall be elected annually, on the first Monday of February, or within sixty days thereafter, by concurrent vote of both branches of the city council, a superintendent of each of the bridges named in the preceding section. Each of said superintendents shall hold his office for one year from the first Monday of April in the year in which he shall be elected, and until his successor is elected and qualified. They shall be removable at the pleasure of the city council, and vacancies may be filled at any time for the remainder of the term. They shall receive such compensation as the city council may from time to time determine. SECT. 3. It shall be the duty of each superintendent to take charge of the bridge of which he is chosen superintendent, by night and by day, and cause the draw thereof to be opened at all times, when required for the free passage of vessels, and to cause the same to be closed forthwith, and with all possible expedition, not permitting more than one vessel to pass at any one opening of the draw, unless the bridge shall be free of passengers while the draw is up; in which May 11, 1857. case he shall use his discretion as to the number of vessels to be permitted to pass, prior to the closing of the draw; and it shall also be within his discretion, to permit any vessel to pass through the draw, against the tide, when the wind is favorable. And each superintendent shall see that the bridge of which he is superintendent, and the abutments and wharves connected therewith, are at all times in a safe and satisfactory condition, and free from all incumbrances; that the lamps thereon are well lighted, that the railing and planks are in good order, and the snow and ice removed from the sidewalks in winter; subject, at all times, to the authority, control, and direction of the board of aldermen for the time being, relative to the duties hereinbefore expressed, and also relative to any other duties respecting said bridges and wharves, and the abutments connected therewith, which the said board of aldermen may, from time to time, order and prescribe. intendents. SECT. 4. The several superintendents above Assistant supernamed may appoint their assistant superinten- Ibid. dents, subject to the approval of the committee on bridges, and no assistant superintendent shall be authorized to act as such until his appointment is duly certified by the committee on bridges to the board of aldermen. And said assistant superintendents shall be compensated for their services out of the salary of the superintendent whose assistant he is, unless otherwise provided by the city council. Penalties for injur- SECT. 5. Any person or persons who shall deface, break or injure either of said bridges or wharves, or shall unnecessarily open or obstruct the passage of either of the draws of said bridges, or shall make fast to such bridge, guard, or pier, any vessel, scow, raft, or float, or shall allow any vessel under his charge to pass through the draw without the consent of the superintendent of such bridge, shall, upon conviction thereof, pay a fine not less than three dollars, and not exceeding fifty dollars. STATUTES. BUILDINGS. City council to have care of In county of Suffolk, public 3. Board of aldermen to provide 4. Aldermen may take land for a 5. Shall file description and state- 7. Injury to school house, church, 8. Injury to houses by tar, oil, &c. 10. Penalty. 11. Livery stables in maritime 12. Penalty for unauthorized erec- ORDINANCES. Public Buildings. 1. Committee on public buildings to be appointed. 2. To have care and custody of 3. To lease buildings belonging to same. 6. Proposals for work to be sealed. Not to be disclosed till contract is made. Proviso. 7. Contracts exceeding fifteen hundred dollars to be in writing, and signed by the mayor. Not to be altered unless, &c. 8. City council may authorize contracts for repairs or alterations without advertising, &c. 9. Expenditures not to exceed appropriations. 10. Purchases of land for erecting buildings to be made under direction of committee. 13. To give bond. Condition of 14. To have care and custody of 15. Superintendent of public build- 17. No building or land appurte- 12. Superintendent of public buildings to be elected. partition walls to be put up 11. Certain buildings excepted from preceding section. STATUTES. of city property by city council. ante, § 39. 1. The city council of the city of Boston shall have the care Care and custody and superintendence of the public buildings, and the care, custody and management of all the property of the city, with power to See Charter lease or sell the same, except the common and Faneuil Hall. And the said city council shall have power to purchase property, real or personal, in the name and for the use of the city, whenever its interest or convenience may in their judgment require it. folk, public buildings to be provided 2. In the county of Suffolk, the court houses, jails, house of In county of Sufcorrection, fire-proof offices, and all other necessary public buildings for the use of the county, shall be provided by the city of by Boston. Boston, at its own expense. G. S. 17, § 6. Board of alder 3. The board of aldermen, among other powers and duties men to provide for of county commissioners, have authority to provide for the erect erecting and re buildings. pairing county G. S. 17, § 16. Aldermen, as county commis may take land for ing and repairing of court houses, jails, and other necessary public buildings, within and for the use of the county.1 1 4. The board of aldermen of the city of Boston acting as county sioners of Suffolk, commissioners for the county of Suffolk, are hereby authorized and empowered to take and hold by purchase or otherwise, so much land as they may deem necessary, for the purpose of erecting thereon a court house by the city of Boston, for the use of the county of Suffolk, and for a court house yard for the same. a Court House. 1867, c. 306. Shall file descrip- Mayor to sign. 5. The board of aldermen shall, within sixty days from the time when they shall take any parcel or parcels of land under this act, file in the office of the register of deeds for said county, and cause to be recorded, a description of the land so taken, as certain as is required in a common conveyance of land, with a statement of the purpose for which it is taken; which description and statement shall be signed by the mayor of the city; and the city of BosLiability of city for ton shall be liable to pay all damages that shall be sustained by any person or persons by reason of the taking of such land as aforesaid; such damages to be ascertained and determined in the manner provided for ascertaining and determining damages in case of the laying out, altering or discontinuing of ways within the city of Boston; but the provisions of chapter one hundred and seventy-four of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and sixtysix, shall not be applicable to any proceedings under this act. damages. Stat. 1866, c. 174, not to apply. Proceedings when public buildings are to be erected. 1852, c. 266, § 4. Wilful injury, &c., 6. No erection, alteration, or repair of any court house, jail, house of correction, fire-proof office, or any other building for the purposes of the county of Suffolk, shall be made by the mayor and aldermen of the said city, except as herein provided, to wit: whenever the mayor and aldermen shall by vote declare that such erection, alteration, or repair is necessary or expedient, they shall make and record an estimate of the expense thereof; and if such estimate shall exceed the sum of five thousand dollars, a copy of the said vote and estimate shall be sent to the common council for its concurrence, rejection, or amendment; all acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act are repealed.2 7. Whoever wilfully and maliciously, or wantonly and with 1 By chapter 411, acts of 1869, cities and towns were authorized to take land for building or enlarging the town or city hall. 2 This act was accepted by the citizens of Boston, November 8, 1852. An act relating to stables and bowling-alleys, passed May 24, 1851, c. 319, § 1, and to be in force, provided the city council should accept the same, in sixty days, was not so accepted, but in 1853, c. 362, the same act was revived, and accepted by the city council December 5, 1853. It was re-enacted, in part, by the Gen. Stats. c. 88, § 32. See Sect. 11, post. |