There is hereby established in the Town of Bethel, Connecticut, a Park
and Recreation Commission consisting of seven members, who shall be electors
of the Town of Bethel, not more than four of whom shall be members of the
same political party, and two ex officio members who shall be the First Selectman
of said Town of Bethel and a member of the Board of Education of said Town
of Bethel, who shall be selected by said Board of Education each year for
a one-year term. Said ex officio members shall have no vote in the proceedings
of said Commission.
The Commission shall have the power to adopt rules and regulations for
the conduct of its meetings. A majority of the members of said Commission
shall constitute a quorum, and said Commission shall hold regular meetings
once a month. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman at any time and
shall be called upon request of any two members.
The powers and duties of the Park and Recreation Commission shall be
exercised and performed as herein provided and in conformity with state law.
A. The Commission shall be charged with the control, development,
management, operation and maintenance of a system of public parks, recreational
areas and facilities and shall be charged with the supervision, development
and maintenance of playgrounds, playfields, swimming pools, recreation centers
and other recreation and park activities, areas and facilities and shall have
the power to expend for these purposes any funds appropriated by the Board
of Finance for such purpose.
B. The Park and Recreation Commission shall conduct and
supervise public playgrounds, playfields, indoor recreation centers and other
recreation areas and facilities owned and controlled by the Town of Bethel.
It shall have the power to conduct any form of recreational or cultural activity
that will employ the leisure time of the people in a constructive and wholesome
manner. It may conduct such activities on properties under its own control,
on public properties with the consent of the authorities thereof and on private
properties with the consent of the owners.
C. The Commission shall have, subject to the approval of
the Board of Selectmen, the power to employ such personnel who are properly
qualified in experience and education in recreational and park work and such
other personnel as it may deem necessary and proper. The salaries of the personnel
shall be fixed by said Park and Recreation Commission.
D. The Commission shall have, subject to the approval of
the Board of Selectmen, the power to cooperate with, sponsor and assist any
privately owned, operated or sponsored park or recreational activity in any
way it may determine to be proper and upon such terms and conditions as it
may determine to be necessary or convenient.
E. The Park and Recreation Commission shall have the power
to conduct outdoor and indoor social and recreational activities and facilities
on the grounds and in the buildings in charge of the Board of Education, subject
to the consent of such Board of Education.
F. The Park and Recreation Commission shall have the privilege
to call upon any other department of the Town government for assistance in
performing its duties, and it shall be the duty of such other departments
to comply with the proper request of said Commission. Any question as to what
shall constitute a proper request for assistance shall be decided by the Board
of Selectmen.
G. The Park and Recreation Commission, subject to the approval
of the Board of Selectmen, shall have the authority to make rules and regulations
governing the use of park and recreational facilities under its control and
supervision and to make reasonable charges for the use of such facilities
as are provided for the amusement, entertainment, refreshment and/or transportation
of the public and may let or rent out privileges and concessions therefor,
but such privileges and concessions shall be subject to the supervision and
control of the Commission.
H. The Commission shall be charged with the control, maintenance
and development of public parks and recreational areas now in existence and
those that may hereafter come into existence and/or be acquired.
I. The Park and Recreation Commission may make, subject
to the approval of the Board of Selectmen, all contracts necessary to carry
out the objectives and purposes of the Commission and shall have such other
powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of
Selectmen, but said Commission shall not, however, expend or enter into any
contract by which the Town shall become liable for any sum which shall exceed
the appropriation for said Commission. Any financial obligation to be incurred
by said Commission over a period of more than one year must first be approved
by the Board of Finance of said Town.
J. Prior to the preparation of the annual Town budget by
the Board of Finance, the Park and Recreation Commission shall submit a detailed
statement of the amount of money which it will require to meet the obligations
thereof and provide for its expenses for the ensuing fiscal year, together
with recommendations for the development of the Park and Recreation Commission
and such recreational facilities as it may deem advisable, and shall prepare
an annual report of its proceedings and expenditures during the preceding
year, and file copies of all the above with the Board of Selectmen and the
Secretary of the Board of Finance.
The Park and Recreation Commission shall cause to be maintained accurate
records of the Commission's work. It shall keep a record of the minutes of
all meetings, procedures and accounts of the Commission, and such record shall
be open to the public.
Said Commission shall be authorized to consider the acceptance of gifts,
donations or devises of land or other personal or real property for park or
recreational purposes and may recommend to the Town the acceptance or rejection
thereof.
All other ordinances, resolutions or parts thereof heretofore enacted
by the Town of Bethel pertaining to any park or recreational commission or
committee in conflict with the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed,
and the Park and Recreation Commission hereby created shall succeed to all
of the rights, obligations, liabilities, contracts, privileges and undertakings
of any previous park and/or recreation commission or committee of the Town
of Bethel.