[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Harwich
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-12-2009 STM by Art. 13]
Pursuant to Chapter 80 of the General Laws of Massachusetts,
the Board of Selectmen may establish a betterment program whereby
those properties that benefit directly from the dredging of inner
harbors or rivers in the Town of Harwich shall be assessed their proportionate
share of the project's total cost. Once the Board of Selectmen
has declared that it is prepared to begin the permitting process for
the particular dredging operation, the betterment program may be initiated
by a petition signed by the direct abutters that are entitled to the
dredging permits that cover a majority of the area to be dredged.
The Town will be considered a direct abutter for any Town-owned dock
space or mooring fields as well as for the channels. The Board of
Selectmen will determine the appropriate cost for each abutter, including
the Town, based on the percentage of the total dredged volume (not
area) covered by the specific abutter's dredging permit and/or
volume covered by the Town's permit and will cause the appropriate
assessment based upon the actual volumes dredged to be applied to
individual tax bills annually pursuant to said Chapter 80. The Board
of Selectmen is hereby authorized to enact regulations to carry out
the purposes of this bylaw.
