Pursuant to C.G.S. § 7-148, the Town
of Clinton hereby creates a Park and Recreation Commission which shall
consist of seven members who shall be electors and taxpayers of said
Town, shall hold no salaried municipal office, and who shall serve
without compensation. Not more than four of such members shall be
of the same political party.
Within 10 days after the effective date of this
ordinance, the Board of Selectmen shall appoint four members to serve
on said Commission for a term of four years and three members to serve
for a term of two years, and biennially thereafter members of said
Commission shall be appointed by said Board to serve for a four-year
term. Any vacancy on such Commission shall be filled for the unexpired
portion of the term by the Board of Selectmen.
[Amended 8-5-2009]
The Commission shall elect a Chairman and a
Secretary from among its members and shall adopt rules and regulations
for the transaction of its business. Such Commission shall cause to
be prepared and filed with the Town Clerk a copy of the minutes and
records of each meeting held within seven days after the date of such
meeting.
For the purpose of promoting the health, general
welfare and comfort of the community, and of providing adequate entertainment
and recreation, such Commission shall establish, maintain, and improve
parks, playgrounds, play fields, recreation areas, bathing beaches
and public gardens on land owned or controlled by the Town and suitable
for such purposes and shall conduct and provide for recreational activities
as, in its judgment, will best serve the interest of the community.
The management, care and supervision of such facilities shall be in
charge of such Commission. The Town may appropriate money, acquire
by gift or devise real property or any interest therein, or allocate
land to which it holds title for the purposes of such Commission.
The Commission may accept, receive or solicit money, supplies, equipment
or other personal property and may accept gifts or bequests necessary
or incidental to its purposes.
[Amended 8-5-2009]
The Commission shall recommend to the Board
of Selectmen some suitable person properly qualified in training and
experience as Director of Parks and Recreation. The Commission shall
have the power to employ such other personnel as the Commission deems
necessary to perform its functions. The compensation of such personnel
shall be fixed by the Commission and subject to appropriations duly
made therefor.
The Commission shall have the authority to establish
reasonable charges or fees for the use of facilities under its control.
No such charges or fees shall become effective or be established until
after a public hearing held in relation thereto at which hearing Townspeople
shall have an opportunity to be heard. Notice of the time and place
of such hearing shall be published in the form of a legal advertisement
appearing in a newspaper having a circulation in the Town of Clinton
at least three days prior to such hearing.
The Commission shall have the authority to enter
into such contracts and agreements as may be necessary or proper to
carry out its purposes and objectives.
The Commission shall prepare in budget form
an itemized estimate of the cost of maintenance of recreational facilities
for the ensuing year and shall submit such estimate to the Board of
Finance not later than one month preceding the annual budget meeting
of the Town or at such time as the Board of Finance may direct. The
funds so appropriated may be expended by and in the discretion of
the Commission. Such Commission shall prepare an annual report for
inclusion in the Annual Town Report which shall provide a summary
showing the total cost of maintenance of recreational facilities,
the amount received from other sources, and the net cost to the Town
of the maintenance of recreational facilities.