N.J. Stat. tit. 27, ch. 17

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-1 County boulevards authorized; construction and maintenance; connecting roads

L.1888, c. 274, p. 397 (C.S. pp. 4503 to 4511, s.s. 194 to 215), entitled "An act to authorize the board of chosen freeholders of any of the several counties of this state to lay out, open, construct, improve and maintain a public road therein," approved April seventh, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, saved from repeal together with supplements and amendments and supplements to supplements thereto; approved on the following dates: March 4, 1891 (L.1891, c. 42, p. 79; C.S. p. 4512, s.s. 216 to 218); April 14, 1891 (L.1891, c. 187, p. 363; C.S. pp. 4513 to 4515, s.s. 219 to 221); March 11, 1892 (L.1892, c. 61, p. 104; C.S. pp. 4515 to 4518, s.s. 222 to 229); March 27, 1893 (L.1893, c. 261, p. 454; C.S. pp. 4518, 4519, s.s. 230 to 232); March 27, 1893 (L.1893, c. 262, p. 457; C.S. p. 4513, s. 219); Passed March 19, 1896 (L.1896, c. 56, p. 93; C.S. pp. 4519, 4520, s.s. 233 to 235); April 16, 1896 (L.1896, c. 184, p. 272; C.S. pp. 4520 to 4524, s.s. 236 to 249); March 29, 1897 (L.1897, c. 42, p. 114; C.S. pp. 4525, 4526, s.s. 251 to 255); March 24, 1899 (L.1899, c. 151, p. 335; C.S. pp. 4521 to 4524, s.s. 242 and 244 to 247); April 1, 1902 (L.1902, c. 65, p. 227; C.S. pp. 4529, 4530, s.s. 272 to 275); April 1, 1902 (L.1902, c. 68, p. 233; C.S. p. 4525, s. 250); March 31, 1903 (L.1903, c. 94, p. 141; C.S. pp. 4530, 4531, s.s. 276 to 278); April 2, 1908 (L.1908, c. 69, p. 107; C.S. pp. 4531, 4532, s.s. 279 to 282); April 5, 1920 (L.1920, c. 86, p. 179; 1924 Suppl. s. 179-281); March 10, 1921 (L.1921, c. 39, p. 66; 1924 Suppl. s. 179-221a); April 8, 1921 (L.1921, c. 243, p. 764; 1924 Suppl. s.s. 179-215a, 179-215b); March 11, 1922 (L.1922, c. 121, p. 216; 1924 Suppl. s. 179-279); March 15, 1922 (L.1922, c. 249, p. 508; 1924 Suppl. s.s. 179-215c to 179-215f); March 12, 1923 (L.1923, c. 37, p. 74; 1924 Suppl. s. 179-279). [This act as supplemented provides for the construction, in counties adopting the act by referendum, of a public road extending through the county in any direction. It further provides for the condemnation of land for, and the maintenance and widening of such public road and authorizes the construction and maintenance of branch roads connecting therewith. Supplemental acts regulate the laying of pipes of various kinds beneath the surface of the road, the construction of sidewalks along such road and assessments for benefits therefor.]

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-2 Boulevard commissioners; election and term

In a county where a road has been or shall be built under the provisions of an act entitled "An act to authorize the board of chosen freeholders of any of the several counties of this state to lay out, open, construct, improve and maintain a public road therein," approved April seventh, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight (L.1888, c. 274, p. 397), or any act supplementary thereto or amendatory thereof, there shall be elected at large in the county three commissioners to be known as "boulevard commissioners of the county of " , who shall hold office for three years from the first Monday in December after their election and until the election and qualification of their successors.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-3 Commissioners; nomination and election

The commissioners elected and holding office in a county where a road has already been completed under the above entitled act are hereby continued for their respective terms. The commissioners first to be elected in a county in which a road shall hereafter be completed under the above entitled act shall be elected at the general election next following its completion. The proceedings touching the nomination and election of all such commissioners shall conform in all respects to the method of nominating and electing members of the general assembly. They shall be voted for on the same ticket, but in order to secure minority representation on the board, no voter shall at any election vote upon his ballot for more than two commissioners, and upon the canvass of the election the three persons receiving the highest number of votes for such position shall be declared elected, and the county clerk shall, on their qualification, give to each a certificate of his election and qualification. Until the first election and qualification of the commissioners, the board of chosen freeholders shall control, maintain and repair such roads as heretofore.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-4 Oath and bond filed

27:17-4. Before entering upon the duties of his office each commissioner shall take an oath to perform well and truly the duties of his office to the best of his skill and ability, and shall give a bond to the county, conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties, the amount of which shall be fixed and the bond approved by a judge of the Superior Court. The oath and bond shall be filed in the office of the county clerk. Amended 1953,c.27,s.23; 1991,c.91,s.305.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-5 Commissioners supersede freeholders in certain matters

All the duties which, by the act entitled "An act to authorize the board of chosen freeholders of any of the several counties of this state to lay out, open, construct, improve and maintain a public road therein," approved April seventh, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight (L.1888, c. 274, p. 397), or any supplement thereto, devolve on the board of chosen freeholders, touching the maintenance, lighting, repair, or control of such road, shall thereafter devolve exclusively upon the boulevard commissioners when elected, and all permits to open the road, disturb the surface thereof, or to lay sewers, drains, water, gas, or other pipes therein, shall be granted and all ordinances for the regulation and use of the road shall be passed by the commissioners, and not by the board of chosen freeholders.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-6 Commissioners; organization; officers; compensation

The commissioners shall meet for organization at noon on January first next succeeding the date of their election and elect from their number a president and a secretary, who, in addition to the duties herein prescribed, shall perform the duties usually performed by such officers. Each member shall receive as full compensation for all services to be performed under the provisions of this chapter the sum of four thousand five hundred dollars per annum, to be paid by the county treasurer in equal monthly installments out of the moneys appropriated to the use of the commissioners for the maintenance, lighting and repair of the road. The president and secretary shall be subject to removal at any time by a majority vote of the commissioners.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-7 Annual requisition for funds; control of funds

On or before January first, in each year, the commissioners shall make a requisition in writing on the board of chosen freeholders of the county, for the moneys necessary to enable the commissioners to carry out the purpose of this chapter. The board of chosen freeholders shall cause the amount to be raised and collected in the same manner as money for other county purposes and the moneys thus raised shall remain a fund in the hands of the county treasurer to be used for such purposes only, and to be drawn, on warrants signed by the president and secretary of the commission, and the board of chosen freeholders shall have no control over the fund.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-8 Commissioners; use of county property; employees

The commissioners shall be entitled to the use and possession of all property and plant of the county used for maintaining, lighting and repairing such road and may employ such agents, servants and employees as they may deem necessary for the proper performance of the work to be done under this chapter, and may fix their compensation which shall be paid out of the fund appropriated for the used of the commission as hereinbefore provided. During the first year in office of the commissioners, where the board of chosen freeholders shall have appropriated a sum for the maintenance, lighting and repair of such road, exclusive of salaries or compensation to employees, the board of chosen freeholders shall, if required so to do by the commissioners, pay such salaries and compensation for services, leaving to the commissioners the fund so appropriated by the board of chosen freeholders for the specific purpose of maintaining, repairing and lighting such road to be disbursed by the commissioners for those purposes.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-9 Transfer of funds to commissioners

Upon the election and qualification of the first commissioners elected in any county the board of chosen freeholders shall transfer to the account of the commissioners, in the hands of the county treasurer, the moneys appropriated by the board for the maintenance and repair of such roads, or the unexpended balance thereof.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-10 Contracts for maintenance, lighting or repair

If the commissioners determine to maintain, repair or light such road, or any part thereof, by contract, proposals therefor shall be published for two weeks in at least two of the newspapers in the county, to be selected by the commissioners. The contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, who shall furnish satisfactory security for its performance, to be approved by the commissioners.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-11 Annual report

The commissioners shall annually on or before the first Monday in May file in the office of the clerk of the board of chosen freeholders, a report in writing containing a statement of the disbursements made by them during the fiscal year.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-12 Construction of certain sections

Sections 27:17-2 to 27:17-11 of this title shall apply to all roads, branch or connecting roads constructed, or to be constructed, or in course of construction under the act entitled "An act to authorize the board of chosen freeholders of any of the several counties of this state to lay out, open, construct, improve and maintain a public road therein," approved April seventh, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight (L.1888, c. 274, p. 397), or any acts supplementary thereto or amendatory thereof, and also to all roads constructed, or to be hereafter constructed, as extensions to such roads, branch or connecting roads, where by law such extension road is to be constructed under the terms of the act aforesaid, or acts supplementary thereto or amendatory thereof.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-13 Counsel to boulevard commission

The counsel to the county shall act as counsel to the commissioners without extra or additional compensation.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-14 Vacancies; how filled

If a vacancy occurs in the office of boulevard commissioner the governor shall forthwith appoint a resident legal voter of the county to the position thus made vacant, to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-15 Repair of road and lighting plant

The boulevard commissioners may put and keep the road and the lighting plant connected therewith in good repair and condition.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-16 Additional appropriation; requisition; taxation or bond issue

If the appropriation made in any year by the board of chosen freeholders for the repair of the road and the lighting plant connected therewith shall be insufficient, in the judgment of the boulevard commission, to put and keep them in proper condition, it may from time to time make requisition in writing on the board of chosen freeholders for the money necessary to enable it to put and keep such road and lighting plant in good repair. The board of chosen freeholders may cause the money to be raised and collected wholly or partly by taxation, or may in its discretion, issue bonds for that purpose in an amount not to exceed fifty thousand dollars.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-17 Bonds; use of proceeds; control of funds

The moneys derived from the sale of bonds shall be turned over to and remain as a fund in the hands of the county treasurer, to be used only for the purpose of putting and keeping such road and lighting plant in good repair and condition, and shall be drawn upon warrants signed by the president and secretary of the boulevard commission. The board of chosen freeholders shall have no control over such funds, but shall raise them in the manner hereinbefore provided upon the requisition of the boulevard commissioners.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-18 Roads affected

Sections 27:17-15 to 27:17-17 of this title shall apply to the repair of all roads, branch or connecting roads, constructed or to be constructed, or in course of construction, under the act entitled "An act to authorize the board of chosen freeholders of any of the several counties of this state to lay out, open, construct, improve and maintain a public road therein," approved April seventh, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight (L.1888, c. 274, p. 397), or any act supplementary thereto or amendatory thereof, and all roads constructed or to be constructed as extensions to such roads, branch or connecting roads, where by law such extension road is to be constructed under the terms of the act aforesaid, or acts supplementary thereto or amendatory thereof.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-19 Insurance for drivers of vehicles; payment of premiums

The boulevard commission may in its discretion cause liability insurance to be issued by an insurance company approved by it, and pay the premium thereon, to protect any of its employees operating a vehicle owned by the county or the commission, against all claims for personal injuries or property damage by whomsoever sustained, arising from or caused by such vehicle while operated in the business of the commission.

N.J. Stat. § 27:17-20 Insurance premiums; amount included in annual budget

The board of chosen freeholders, upon requisition by the boulevard commission, may provide the necessary funds to pay the premiums for such insurance by general taxation, and include the amount thereof in its annual budget.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026