[Adopted 10-26-1992 STM
by Art. 14 (Ch. 8, Art. I, of the 2007 Code)]
The Conservation Commission of the Town of Palmer is hereby
authorized to:
A. Establish a comprehensive management plan for all of the real and
personal property under its care, custody and control. This management
plan shall be in writing and may from time to time be amended. The
plan shall describe the manner in which real and personal property
under the Commission's care, custody and control may be used, developed,
leased, restricted or made or maintained available for recreational
and conservation use.
B. Operate, maintain and manage the property under its care, custody
and control and to sell forest or agricultural products derived from
said property to the extent described in the comprehensive management
plan and consistent with its mandates pursuant to the provisions of
MGL c. 40, § 8C.
C. Enter into contracts to carry out the purposes set forth in this
article. The contracts authorized hereunder shall not be subject to
and shall be exempt from the provisions of Chapter 30B of the General
Laws.
[Amended 3-13-1995 STM
by Art. 32]
A. Notwithstanding
the provisions of MGL c. 44, §§ 53 and 53A, any income
received from leasing or from the sale of forest or agricultural products
by the Commission shall be deposited by the Commission in a special
fund in the office of the Town Treasurer as custodian; provided, however,
that the total income received from leasing and from the sale of forest
or agricultural products by the Commission shall not exceed $10,000
in any fiscal year. Said Treasurer may invest and deposit the funds
so held in the same manner and with the same limitations as described
in MGL c. 40, § 8C, and any income derived therefrom shall
be credited to the fund. The funds so deposited into this special
account shall be available to the Commission without further appropriation
to maintain and improve land and property under its control, to purchase
and acquire real property or real property interests, including restrictions
affecting land use, and for any other purpose for which the Commission
may otherwise expend funds pursuant to the provisions of MGL c. 40,
§ 8C, or any other special or general law.
B. Such purposes
may include, but are not limited to:
(1) Land surveys, recording fees and costs, plant and wildlife surveys,
marking of trees or areas for cutting, management surveys and mapping.
(2) Improvements to its property, including trail establishment or improvements,
parking, road improvements for roads on its real property, trash,
rubbish and garbage pickup, improvements to the environmental quality
of its property, protection and development of wildlife and plant
habitats, protection and development of soils and restoration of historic
sites.
(3) Purchasing legal or other professional or consulting services which
it deems useful to achieve or further the purposes of the Commission.
The Commission may receive and accept gifts of funds from any
source and appropriations from the Town of Palmer for deposit into
the special fund described herein.
[Amended 7-11-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-12]
The Town Accountant shall annually audit the special fund and
shall submit a copy of the audit to the Town Manager. The audit shall
be printed in the Town of Palmer Annual Report.
This article is intended to expand and not to limit the powers
and authority of the Palmer Conservation Commission and shall not
be construed to limit or deny the Commission any rights, power or
authority otherwise granted by any special or general law or ordinance.