[Amended 11-5-2002]
A.
The town may acquire real and personal property within
or without its corporate limits in fee simple or any lesser interest
or estate, by purchase or lease, by condemnation for public use or
by gift or devise, and may hold and manage the same; and may also
take, hold and manage the same in trust for any non-religious charitable
use.
B.
Acquisition of real estate for a purchase price in
excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) shall be approved by voters
at a Budget Public Hearing/Financial Referendum, unless purchased
with funds, in part, provided by government and/or non-profit agencies,
or with previously approved bond funds or if acquired by grant, gift
or bequest.
[Amended 11-7-2006]
[Amended 11-7-2006]
The town, by ordinance enacted by the council
specifying at least generally the terms, conditions, manner of sale,
lease or change in use, and describing at least generally the particular
property to be sold, leased, conveyed or have its use changed, may
from time to time sell, lease, convey or use for any other public
or municipal purpose or purposes, or for any purpose whatsoever (subject
to approval by vote of any Budget Public Hearing after special mention
has been made and notice given of the proposal in the warrant issued
for the warning of that meeting), any real estate or interests therein
owned by the town which have been purchased, acquired, used or dedicated
in any manner for municipal or other public purposes, whenever, in
the opinion of the Council and the Budget Public Hearing, said real
estate or interests therein have become unsuitable or have ceased
to be used for such purposes. In the same manner the town may sell,
lease or convey any real estate or interests therein held in its proprietary
capacity and not dedicated or devoted to public use.
[Amended 11-8-1988; ratified by Town Council 2-10-1992; 11-7-2006]
By like ordinance of the Council but without
vote of the Budget Public Hearing, the town may authorize the sale,
lease, change in use or other disposition by the Administrator or
any officer or department, of personal property whether used for municipal
or other public purposes or held in its proprietary capacity.
[Amended 11-8-1988; ratified by Town Council 2-10-1992; 11-7-2006; 11-2-2010]
The Council by ordinance or by general or special
rule may from time to time authorize, or grant any elected or appointed
official, commission, committee or board of the town power to authorize,
such incidental use of the real and personal property of the town
for conventions, tournaments, performances, meetings and other business,
social and recreational events as has been granted in the past or
may hereafter be desirable, and as may reasonably contribute to the
public use, service or welfare of the people, and which the Council
or other town body finds will not interfere with any essential business
or function of the government for which that property may be held.
The Council, or designated official or other town body under authority
of the Council, may from time to time grant or retain priorities in
use for inhabitants of the town or for certain organizations or public
uses, may establish rules and regulations and fix charges for the
various use and users or, subject to any expenses being within an
appropriation of the Financial Referendum, may omit the charge for
such use; provided, however, that no use shall be granted for purely
private purposes without charge.
[Amended 11-5-1996]
Property held by the town for charitable uses
shall be held, administered and disposed of in the name of and on
behalf of the town, by the body now or hereafter entrusted with said
administration, or if none is specified, then by the Council, in accordance
with the terms of the gift and the laws of the state with respect
to property held in charitable trusts.
Public highways not owned by the town in fee
simple absolute may not be sold, but may be abandoned in accordance
with the laws now or hereafter in effect on such abandonment.
