Town of Barton v. Town of Sutton

• Decision Date: 23 January 1919
• Parties: TOWN OF BARTON v. TOWN OF SUTTON
• Court: Vermont Supreme Court

106 A. 583

93 Vt. 102

TOWN OF BARTON v. TOWN OF SUTTON

Supreme Court of Vermont

January 23, 1919

Special Term at St. Johnsbury, April, 1918.

ORIGINAL PETITION for the discontinuance of a highway extending through two towns lying in different counties. Heard on the commissioners' report at the Special Term of Supreme Court at St. Johnsbury, April, 1918. The opinion states the case.

Motion overruled.

Frank D. Thompson for the petitioner.

W W. Reirden for landowners.

Present WATSON, C. J., POWERS, TAYLOR, and MILES, JJ.

OPINION

TAYLOR

This is an original petition to this Court, brought in the name of the town of Barton by its selectmen, seeking the discontinuance of a highway extending from a point in the town of Barton, Orleans County, to a point in the town of Sutton, Caledonia County. A citation was issued to and served upon one of the selectmen of the town of Sutton but no appearance in opposition to the petition was entered in Court until after the hearing before the commissioners. As between the parties of record the proceedings were not of an adversary nature. On the motion of counsel for the town of Barton commissioners were appointed who have made their report. Certain land owners resisted the petition at the hearing before the commissioners and have appeared in Court in opposition to the acceptance of the report. The hearing here was on the report and exceptions thereto.

We do not reach a consideration of the merits of the case. On the petition being brought to our attention for the first time at the hearing, a defect, apparent of record reaching the jurisdiction of the Court, is discovered. The proceedings were brought under what is now G. L. 4452, which, so far as material, provides that an application to discontinue a highway extending into two or more towns in different counties shall be made to this Court, which shall have the same power and shall proceed in the same manner as the county court when the towns lie in the same county. The statute regulating the proceedings in county court then provided: "When the public good requires a highway to be laid out, altered or discontinued, extending into or through two or more towns in the same county, seven or more freeholders of such towns, or the vicinity, may apply to the county court; and such court, by commissioners appointed for that purpose, may make inquiry, and render judgment, as when the highway is located in only one town; and the same proceedings shall be had, except that the notices shall be given to the selectmen of each town." V. S. 3873 (G. L. 4453).

The procedure to be followed in laying out or discontinuing a highway is wholly statutory and the method prescribed must be substantially complied with or the proceedings will be void. 13 R. C. L. 50, 62. The statute requires that at least seven freeholders of the vicinity affected shall join in the petition to the court having power to act. Such a petition is essential to the court's jurisdiction. Hewes et al. v. Town of Andover et al., 16 Vt. 510; Howe et al. v. Town of Jamaica et al., 19 Vt. 607. See Kent v. Village of Enosburg Falls, 71 Vt. 255, 44 A. 343. That the town is not a proper petitioner is shown by the fact that the statute makes it a necessary party defendant. See Drown et al. v. Town of Barton et al., 45 Vt. 33.

The fact that the intervening landowners have not raised the objection does not alter the situation. Jurisdiction cannot be conferred by consent where it is not given by law. Whereever a defect in the proceedings fatal to its jurisdiction is brought to the attention of the Court, it must be considered; and the Court does not wait for the parties to object but acts of its own motion. Roberts' Vt. Digest. c. 655; Page v. Page's Admr., 91 Vt. 188, 99 A. 780; State v. Shappy, 79 Vt. 306, 65 A. 78.

Petition...