[Amended 9-12-2020 ATM by Art. 19]
Members shall be appointed for a term of three
years. Initially, however, the members shall be appointed by the Select
Board Members as follows: one Select Board Member's appointee to a
one-year term; two members, one from the Finance Committee and one
from the Conservation Commission, to two-year terms; and two members,
one from the Planning Board and one Select Board Member's appointee,
to three-year terms.
[Amended 9-12-2020 ATM by Art. 19]
The Land Committee shall function as follows:
A. All potential acquisitions of land, improved or unimproved,
by the Town for conservation or municipal needs will be referred to
the Select Board. The Select Board and the Land Committee will jointly
determine whether the potential transaction fits within the Town's
long-range priorities and plans and will outline the required due-diligence
process. If approved, the Land Committee shall be involved in all
phases of the proposed acquisition from this point on.
B. The Land Committee will obtain from the owner, or from other available sources as may be necessary, all pertinent information regarding the real estate in question. The Land Committee will perform a due-diligence process, as required, for each potential acquisition. This due diligence will consist of, but is not limited to, appraisals by an independent licensed appraiser and a land use plan by a registered engineer, as reviewed by the Planning Board and Conservation Commission. A title search and an environmental profile study may be required as specified in Subsection
D below. Other steps may be added at the discretion of the Land Committee, as deemed necessary. The Select Board and the Land Committee may agree to waive or modify these requirements depending on the particular real estate involved.
C. The Land Committee will render written and oral recommendations
to the Select Board Members, with copies to the Finance Committee,
Planning Board, Conservation Commission and Capital Budgeting Committee.
The report will be submitted in a timely manner, providing adequate
time for review and recommendation prior to potential Town action.
The Land Committee's report will include the reasons for said recommendation
and shall include a review of all appraisals and data supporting such
appraisals and any other information deemed necessary by the Land
Committee.
[Amended 9-12-2020 ATM by Art. 19]
D. If the Town votes to acquire land recommended by the
Land Committee, the Select Board will authorize the Land Committee
to purchase services to conduct an examination of the record title.
The Select Board will also authorize the Land Committee to purchase
services, to conduct an environmental profile study (i.e., Chapter
21E), when it is deemed necessary by the Land Committee and the Select
Board, to ensure the satisfactory condition of the property before
authorizing the acquisition of the real estate in question.
E. The Land Committee will request an annual budget which
will be used in part to cover the cost of appraisals, title searches
and environmental studies as specified above, and for any other services
necessary to carry out its obligations as set forth in this bylaw.
The Land Committee, when authorized by the Select Board, will have
the authority to contract for such services.
F. The Land Committee will report its activities to the
Select Board on a regular basis, or as requested by the Select Board.
G. The Land Committee shall schedule, post and conduct
meetings in accordance with MGL c. 39, § 23B, the so called
"Open Meeting Law." Written minutes shall be taken, a copy of which
shall be made available in the Select Board Members' Office.
[Amended 9-12-2020 ATM by Art. 19]