Thomson v. Mayor of Boonville

Wagner, Judge, delivered the opinion of the court. The facts in this case are briefly these : The plaintiff was in 1869, the owner of and in possession of a lot situated on the south side of Spring street, in the city of Boonville, on which there were valuable improvements. By an ordinance entitled “an ordinance in relation to the survey of the City of Boonville and the establishment of a grade therein,” approved December 10, 1867, the g’rade was established on Spring-street, in front of plaintiff’s lot, but the surface of the street remained the same, there being no cutting, grading or change in the street until two years thereafter. In 1869 it was deemed expedient to change the grade fronting on plaintiff’s property, and the council appointed three of its members to determine the grade, and the work was done under their di [283] rections. By their order the grade was materially altered, and the street was cut down deeper than the ordinance of 1867 warranted. It was to recover the damages alleged to have followed from this alteration in the grade, by the committee, that this action was brought. In accordance with the instructions of the court plaintiff recovered a verdict. By defendant’s charter the mayor and councilmen had power, by ordinance, to regulate, pave and improve the streets, which authority was pursued in fixing the grade in 1867. This was the mode pointed out in the charter and the only legal mode by which the subject could be acted on. The charter is the power of attorney granting the authority and the manner prescribed in it must be carried out. It required the passage of an ordinance — a legislative act by the mayor and councilmen — to accomplish the object, and that was a power that could not be delegated or committed to other hands. The grading, therefore, under the assumed authority1- of the committee, was done without any legal justification. But it does not thence follow that the defendant is liable. It could only1 be held bound when it attempted in its legal capacity to exercise an authority1 not warranted. Here was no such attempt by1 its law making power. No binding ordinance, or even resolution was passed to that effect. The council acting without the concurrence of its co-ordinate branch, the may- or, attempt to give power by a mere appointment to a committee to do what could only be done by an ordinance passed in regular form. No authority was granted and no liability rested on the city in consequence of the action of the committee. There is no principal standing behind the committee to shield them. They may be responsible as trespassers but the city is not. Wherefore the judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded. The other judges concur.