Inordinate Ordinances Nos. 1 & 2

Burlington city government has struggled balancing community well-being and permitting reasonable individual freedom since it first organized itself as a city in 1865. Sometimes, it has not got the balance quite right.

Recurring posts will feature a selection of outdated and, to today's standards, inordinate ordinances from Burlington's past. They are presented completely unaltered from their original publication in Burlington's Annual Reports, which contained new or revised ordinances written each year through the 19th century.

An Ordinance in relation to Ball Playing upon the Public Parks, Commons or Streets.

It is hereby ordained by the City Council of the City of Burlington, as follows:

Sec. 1. No person shall play at ball, or at any game of chance or skill upon any of the public parks, commons or streets in this city; and any person convicted thereof shall forfeit and pay for each offense a sum not less than 1 dollar nor more than 10 dollars.

Approved, June 6th, 1871



An Ordinance in relation to the Removal from the Streets and Sidewalks of the City, of Thistles, Weeds, etc.

It is hereby ordained by the City Council of the City of Burlington, as follows:

Sec. 1. Annually, between the 15th and 30th days of June, and the 1st and 15th days of September, it shall be the duty of all owners, or occupants of any land adjoining any street or highway of the city to cut down, and remove therefrom, to the centre of such street or highway, all thistles, weeds, or other noxious* vegetable growth, which may be a nuisance or injury to the community.

Sec. 2. Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than one dollar, and not more than 5 dollars, for each and every offense.

Approved, February 3d, 1873


Notes:

*Noxious- 1. Harmful to living things; injurious to health 2. Harmful to the mind or morals; corrupting
(From The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition, 1996).


References:

Government and Officers of the City of Burlington, Vermont. Sixth Annual Report of the City of Burlington, Vermont. Burlington, Vermont: R.S. Styles, Steam Book and Job Printer, 1871.
Government and Officers of the City of Burlington, Vermont. Eighth Annual Report of the City of Burlington, Vermont, with the Amended Charter, and Ordinances. Burlington, Vermont: R.S. Styles, Steam Book and Job Printer, 1873.