§ 241. Proceedings in court. Whenever two or more adjoining towns which, under the provisions of this chapter shall be liable to make or maintain any bridge whether in the same or different counties, three freeholders in either of such towns may, by petition signed by them, apply to the town board in each of such towns, to build, rebuild or repair such bridge, and if such town boards refuse to build, rebuild or repair such bridge within a reasonable time, either for want of funds or any other cause, such freeholders, upon affidavit and notice of motion, a copy of which shall be served on the supervisor or town clerk of each of said towns at least eight days before the hearing, may apply to the supreme court at a special term thereof, to be held in the judicial district in which such bridge or any part thereof shall be located, for an order requiring such town boards to direct the town superintendents to build, rebuild or repair such bridge, and the court upon such motion may, in doubtful cases, refer the case to some disinterested person to ascertain the requisite facts in relation thereto, and to report the evidence thereof to the court. Upon the coming in of the report, in case of such reference, or upon or after the hearing of the motion, in case no reference shall be ordered, the court shall make an order thereon as the justice of the case shall require. If the motion be granted in whole or in part, whereby funds shall be needed to carry the order into effect, such court shall specify the amount of money required for that purpose, and how much thereof shall be raised in each town.

Terms Used In N.Y. Highway Law 241

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Bridge: means a structure including supports erected over a depression or an obstruction such as water, highway, or railway, having a track or passageway for carrying traffic or other moving loads and having an opening measured along the center of the track or roadway of more than twenty feet between under croppings of abutments or spring lines or arches, or extreme ends of openings for multiple boxes and may include multiple pipes where the clear distance between openings is less than half of the smaller contiguous opening. See N.Y. Highway Law 230
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.