Sec. 13a-37. Determination of boundaries. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 13a-37. Determination of boundaries. If, in the opinion of the commissioner, the boundary lines or limits of any state highway have become lost or uncertain, he may cause a map or maps of such highway to be made and may reestablish such boundary lines or limits as, in his opinion, they were originally established. Said commissioner shall, by written notice to the selectmen of the town in which any such highway is situated and to each known adjoining proprietor on any such highway, by registered or certified mail to the last-known address, give a description of such boundaries or limits as reestablished and file with the town clerk of such town a copy of such map or maps which shall clearly define the lines of such highway and the bounds thereof. The lines, boundaries and limits so defined shall be the lines, boundaries and limits of such highway, unless any person or town claiming to be aggrieved thereby has taken an appeal to the Superior Court within sixty days from the filing of such map or maps, and said court has, after full hearing, found and determined new lines for such highway and rendered judgment defining the same. If said commissioner is unable to prove the location of any such boundaries or limits, he may purchase or condemn such right-of-way over land adjoining the traveled portion of the highway as is, in his opinion, necessary for highway purposes under the provisions of part IV of this chapter, or may make written agreements with the owners thereof concerning such lines, such agreements to be executed in the manner required for deeds and recorded in the office of the town clerk in which such land is located by the commissioner. Said commissioner shall mark such boundaries or limits by a uniform and distinctive type of marker. The expenses, costs and fees of the commissioner for legal, engineering or other services, land damage or other damages in reestablishing or locating such boundary lines shall be paid from the funds received from the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2230; 1958 Rev., S. 13-110; 1961, P.A. 162; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 38; 1971, P.A. 870, S. 102; P.A. 76-436, S. 328, 681.)

      History: 1961 act provided agreements between commissioner and owners be written, executed in manner of deeds and recorded in town clerk's office; 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; 1971 act substituted court of common pleas for superior court, effective September 1, 1971, except that courts with cases pending retain jurisdiction unless pending cases deemed transferable; P.A. 76-436 substituted superior court for court of common pleas, effective July 1, 1978.

      See Sec. 13a-39 re selectmen's authority to define bounds of highways.

      Necessary width of highway for tree planting discussed. 6 CS 5. Burden on commissioner to prove true location of lost boundary line. 7 CS 135. Cited. Id., 436. "Appeal" from reestablishment of lost boundaries. Id., 516. "Adjoining proprietors" does not include estate administrator. 11 CS 39. Compared with section 13a-73 (b) (formerly section 13-145). Id. Cited. 27 CS 472.