[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Winchester as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted by the Board of Selectmen 9-7-1999; amended 3-2-2005; 9-15-2008 (§ 176 of the prior compilation)]
The following procedure shall be followed whenever it is proposed to sell, lease, abandon or grant an easement concerning Town-owned property.
Upon the request to purchase Town-owned property, the Board of Selectmen shall review the request and make a determination that the sale of the property is in the best interest of the Town. Such a review may require the potential buyer to submit an appraisal for the Board's consideration or any other document the Board deems appropriate.
Upon making a finding that the sale would be in the best interest of the Town, the proposed sale shall be referred to the Planning and Zoning Commission, which shall review and report back to the Board as required by C.G.S. § 8-24 within 35 days of the submission of the proposal. Failure of the Planning and Zoning Commission to report back to the Board within 35 days shall be taken as approval of the proposal. A disapproval of the proposal by the Planning and Zoning Commission shall contain the reasons therefor. The disapproval, however, shall not prevent the Board of Selectmen from continuing with the process to seek approval of the proposed sale.
In addition to the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Board of Selectmen may refer the proposed sale to any of the following agencies: Assessor, Inland Wetlands Commission, Department of Public Works, Winchester Land Trust, Chief of Police, Economic Development Commission, Winchester Housing Authority, Recreation Department, Planning and Community Development Office. Each agency shall report back to the Board of Selectmen within 35 days of the submission of the proposal. Failure of any agency to report back to the Board within 35 days shall be taken as approval of the proposal. A disapproval of the proposal by an agency shall contain the reasons therefor. The disapproval, however, shall not prevent the Board of Selectmen from continuing with the process to seek approval of the proposed sale.
After the agencies render their reports, or after the passage of 35 days if no reports are submitted, the Board of Selectmen shall instruct the purchasing agent to place the sale of the property out to bid and shall notify in writing all abutting owners of the proposed sale.
In awarding the bid the Town may consider, in addition to price, the following:
A. 
Whether bidder abuts the proposed parcel.
B. 
Whether the bidder will merge the proposed parcel to make it more conforming to Planning and Zoning Regulations.
C. 
Whether the bidder is current with all taxes and user fees due to the Town of Winchester.
D. 
Whether the proposed bidder is a tenant or occupant of the property.
E. 
The proposed and likely use of the proposed property.
F. 
Any other reasons the Board feels best promote the well being of the Town, including long-term use potential for the Town, the economic benefits or loss for the Town, the environmental value and the aesthetic value of the subject premises.
Upon the opening of the bid, if the Board of Selectmen decides to accept the bid, it will schedule a Special Town Meeting, to be held not less than 30 days nor more than 45 days after the opening of the bid, to act on the proposal. Notice of the hearing shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in such municipality where the real property that is the subject of the hearing is located at least twice, at intervals of not less than two days, the first not more than 15 days or less than 10 days and the last not less than two days before the date set for the hearing. The municipality shall also post a sign conspicuously on the real property land that is the subject of the public hearing.
An affirmative vote of a majority of those electors attending the Special Town Meeting shall be sufficient to approve the sale.
The buyer must take title to the property within 45 days of the vote of the Special Town Meeting unless granted an extension by the Board of Selectmen. Should the buyer not take title to the property within 45 days and the Board of Selectmen not grant an extension, then the Board may accept the next highest competent bidder or may re-bid the property as it deems in the Town's best interest.
The buyer must pay all closing costs of the Town, including but not limited to attorney's fees and broker commissions.
[Adopted by the Board of Selectmen 1-17-2012 (§ 193 of the prior compilation)]
Proposals for naming or renaming Town-owned facilities, including but not limited to buildings, other structures, rooms, parks, fields and roads, shall be presented to the Board of Selectmen and contain the following:
A. 
The current name and location of the subject property.
B. 
History of the current name (if applicable and known).
C. 
If the facility is to be named for a person or organization, a statement describing that person's or organization's impact upon the Town.
D. 
A petition supporting the naming signed by not less than 50 voters of the Town of Winchester.
Upon receipt of the information, the Board of Selectmen shall vote to reject the proposal or to appoint a Naming Committee, which shall serve only for the time necessary to examine the proposal. The Naming Committee shall, at a minimum, include the primary petitioner, the Town Manager and a Selectman. The Board of Selectmen may appoint additional interested individuals to serve on the Naming Committee, but the Naming Committee shall not have more than five members. After being appointed, the Naming Committee shall gather additional information, which shall include:
A. 
The financial impact of the proposed change, including costs such as new signage, stationery, legal fees, contract revisions, and public notices and possible revenues such as grants, fees or in-kind services.
B. 
An implementation schedule.
C. 
Any other information deemed appropriate and relevant by the Board of Selectmen.
After compiling the required information, the Naming Committee shall present the information to the Board of Selectmen, which, upon review of the material, shall vote to reject the proposal or to schedule a public hearing.
Following the public hearing, the Board of Selectmen shall, after considering public comments, vote to reject the proposal or to schedule a vote at a Special Town Meeting to be held within 30 days. Notice of the meeting shall be made by publication in a newspaper at least seven days before the meeting.
Those persons appearing on the latest official list of the Registrar of Voters shall be eligible to vote at the Special Town Meeting.
Once named, a Town-owned facility may not be the subject of another naming proposal for at least 10 years from the date of the Special Town Meeting approval.
No facility shall be named for any racial, ethnic or religious group or organization. Facilities should not be named for individuals still living, except as deemed worthy of such recognition by the Board of Selectmen due to outstanding contributions to the Town. No facility shall be named in such a way as to cause confusion with other facilities similarly named.