There is hereby established a Capital Planning Committee consisting
of the Director of Municipal Finance, two members of the Finance Committee
annually chosen by it, and two members appointed by the Selectmen
from among the registered voters of the Town, who shall be appointed
for a term of two years on a staggered basis so that one such member's
term expires each year. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired
term in the manner of the original appointment. The Capital Planning
Committee shall annually choose a chairman and such other officers
as it deems appropriate.
It shall be the duty of the Capital Planning
Committee to develop a long-range capital planning program to serve
as a guideline for capital improvements in the Town with an eye towards
ensuring the maintenance of its public infrastructure and planning
for new capital improvements. The Capital Planning Committee shall
be specifically concerned with physical facilities such as land, buildings,
or other structures, as well as pieces of equipment requiring a relatively
large investment and having a relatively long useful life. The first
capital plan covering the fiscal years 2009-2014 inclusive shall be
submitted to the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee at the same
time as the submission of the fiscal year 2009 annual budget and shall
take effect, once approved, on July 1, 2008. The first capital plan
and an updated five year plan shall be submitted each year as aforesaid,
and included in the Warrant for consideration by the Annual Town Meeting.
The Committee will meet as often as necessary to review capital needs
and requests and to update the plan. The Committee shall also recommend
appropriate methods of financing the proposed capital improvements
and shall summarize in more general terms the major improvements anticipated
during the five-year period. Guidelines for the planning process,
defining what constitutes a capital improvement for the purposes of
this by-law, specifying minimum cost and useful life of capital improvements
to be considered in the plan, the proportion of the total budget to
be devoted to outstanding and current capital projects, and any restrictions
of methods of financing, shall also be established on the recommendations
of the Capital Planning Committee.
[Added 5-22-2012 ATM, Art. 28]
The Committee shall study proposed capital projects and improvements
involving major non-recurring tangible assets and projects which:
1) Are purchased or undertaken at intervals of not less than five years;
2) Have a useful life of at least five years; and
3) Cost over $10,000.
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All officers, boards and committees, including the Selectmen
and the School Committee, shall, by November 1st of each year, give
to the Committee, on forms prepared by it, information concerning
all anticipated projects requiring Town Meeting action during the
ensuing six years. The Committee shall consider the relative need,
impact. timing and cost of these expenditures and the effect each
will have on the financial position of the town. No appropriation
shall be voted for a capital improvement requested by a department,
board or commission unless the proposed capital improvement is considered
in the Committee's report or the Committee shall first have submitted
a report to the Board of Selectmen explaining the omission.
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[Added 5-22-2012 ATM, Art. 28]
The Committee shall prepare an annual report recommending a
Capital Improvement Budget for the next fiscal year, and a Capital
Improvement Program including recommended capital improvements for
the following five fiscal years. The report shall be submitted to
the Board of Selectmen for its consideration and approval. The Board
shall submit its approved Capital Budget to the Annual Town Meeting
for adoption by the town.
[Added 5-22-2012 ATM, Art. 28]
Such Capital Improvement Program, after its adoption, shall
permit the expenditure on projects included therein of sums from departmental
budgets for surveys, architectural or engineering advice, options
or appraisals; but no such expenditure shall be incurred on projects
which have not been so approved by the town through the appropriation
of sums in the current year or in prior years, or for preliminary
planning for projects to be undertaken more than five years in the
future.
[Added 5-22-2012 ATM, Art. 28]
The Committee's report and the Selectmen's recommended
Capital Budget shall be published and made available in a manner consistent
with the distribution of the Finance Committee report. The Committee
shall deposit its original report with the Town Clerk.