[Amended 7-15-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-40]
A. 
There shall be a Board of Park Commissioners.
B. 
There shall be a division of the City known as the "Parks and Cemeteries Division," to be under the charge of the Board of Park Commissioners.
The Board of Park Commissioners shall consist of at least seven members, who shall be appointed by the Mayor. One member shall be familiar with recreation, one shall be familiar with veteran's affairs, and one shall be familiar with tourism, and there shall be four other members who have no connection with or commitment to such activities.
The Board of Park Commissioners shall have and exercise all the powers and duties conferred by law upon boards of park commissioners in cities, and also the powers and duties of playground commissioners appointed under authority of MGL c. 45, § 14, and shall have all duties conferred by law regarding public cemeteries under authority of Acts of 1902, c. 244, and all other laws thereunto appertaining. The Board of Park Commissioners shall be responsible for all recreational facilities and programs and shall be responsible for trees under the Massachusetts General Laws.
The Board of Park Commissioners is authorized to appoint such assistants as may be necessary to assist it in promoting the Armory facility and to perform such other duties as may be required.
The Board of Park Commissioners shall have charge of the maintenance, control and regulation of the use of the recreational facilities, parks and playgrounds, and cemeteries, together with all buildings and fixtures contained therein, in addition to all trees, shrubs and grass on public ways and median strips.
The Board of Park Commissioners shall annually, in the month of February, submit a report to the City Council covering in detail its activities for the year ending December 31 preceding, and showing the various expenditures for recreational facilities, cemeteries and trees.