Pennsylvania Act 1869-1258 — DOWER IN REAL ESTATE

Act text

A FURTHER SUPPLEMENT

To an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the city of Philadelphia," approved the second of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, creating a board called directors of city trusts.

Section 1. Duties, Rights and Powers of City Vested in Board; Composition of Board

All and singular the duties, rights and powers of the City of Philadelphia, concerning all property and estate whatsoever, dedicated to charitable uses or trusts, the charge or administration of which is now or shall hereafter become vested in or confined to the City of Philadelphia, shall be discharged by the said city through the instrumentality of a board composed of fifteen persons, including the mayor of said city, the presidents of the select and common councils for the time being, and twelve other citizens, appointed as hereinafter provided, to be called directors of city trusts, who shall exercise and discharge all the duties and powers of said city, however acquired, concerning any such property appropriated to charitable uses, as well as the control and management of the persons of any orphans or others, the objects of such charity, to the extent that the same have been or hereafter may be, by statute law or otherwise, vested in or delegated to the said city or the officers thereof. 1869, June 30, P.L. 1276, Sec. 1.

Section 2. Board of Appointment; Vacancies; Removal of Directors

The judges of the Supreme Court, together with the judges of the district court and the court of common pleas of the City and County of Philadelphia, shall form a board of appointment, of which the chief justice of the Supreme Court shall ex officio be president, which shall convene in the City of Philadelphia, at such time and place as the said chief justice shall appoint, within eight weeks from the passage of this act, and select and appoint from the citizens of said city twelve persons to serve during good behavior as members of the before-mentioned board of directors of city trusts, subject, however, to removal as hereinafter provided; vacancies in the number of said directors of public trusts shall be filled from time to time by the said board of appointment; and any director of trusts may be removed from his office by the concurrent vote of two-thirds of the members of the board of appointment. 1869, June 30, P.L. 1276, Sec. 2.

Section 3. Meetings of Directors; Quorum; Officers

Said directors of trusts shall meet every month, and as often as the business entrusted to them may require; a majority of the whole shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; at their first meeting after organization, and annually thereafter, they shall elect from their own number a president, who shall serve until the first day of the following year, and also a secretary, who shall be a salaried officer, and not a member of the board, to serve for the same period; the treasurer of the City of Philadelphia shall be the treasurer of the said directors of trusts. 1869, June 30, P.L. 1276, Sec. 3.

Section 4. Powers and Duties of Directors; Annual Report

The said directors of trusts shall have power to make rules and by-laws for the proper regulation of their business, to appoint as many agents as in their judgment shall be required for the proper discharge of all the duties delegated to said directors, and determine the duties and compensation of all such agents and appointees; also in the name of the said city, and in accordance with the conditions of said charitable trusts, to make all leases, contracts and agreements whatsoever which, in the course of the administration and management of said property, it may from time to time become necessary and proper to make and execute; and it shall be the duty of the said directors of trusts, for and in the name of the said city, to do, perform and discharge, all and singular, whatever acts and duties are or from time to time may become proper or necessary to be done by the said city in discharge of said trust, and to make an annual report thereof to the councils of the city, to the board of appointment, and to the Legislature of Pennsylvania. 1869, June 30, P.L. 1276, Sec. 4.

Section 5. Place for Safe Keeping of Records and Documents; Records and Documents to be Delivered to Board

It shall be the duty of the said directors of trusts, immediately after their organization, to provide a suitable place for the safe keeping of all the title-papers, books of account, records and documents whatsoever, of the said city, appertaining to the property, the care and management whereof, and the trusts and duties, the discharge whereof, for the said city, it is intended to devolve upon said directors of trusts, and thereupon, on notice to the agents and employees of the said city having such title-papers, account books, records and documents in their charge, the same shall be delivered into the custody of the said board of trusts. 1869, June 30, P.L. 1276, Sec. 5.

Section 6. Directors as Agents of City; no Compensation; Interest in Contracts Prohibited

The said directors, in the discharge of their duties, and within the scope of their powers aforesaid, shall be considered agents of officers of said city; but no compensation or emolument whatever shall be received for such services, nor shall any of them have or acquire any personal interest in any lease or contract whatever made by said city, through said directors, or through any agent or employee whatever, appointed by them. 1869, June 30, P.L. 1276, Sec. 6.