[Adopted as Arts. 7, 14, 15, 17, 18, 29 and 31 of the 1981 Bylaws]
[Added 4-28-2003 ATM, approved 10-16-2003]
A. 
There shall be a Conservation Commission for the Town in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 8C ("§ 8C"), for the promotion and development of the natural resources and for the protection of watershed resources of the Town.
B. 
The Conservation Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Select Board for terms of three years in accordance with the provisions of § 8C.
C. 
The Conservation Commission shall make and publish from time to time such rules and regulations as it deems necessary and shall cause the same to be printed in suitable form for public distribution.
D. 
The noncriminal disposition of violations of any rules or regulations promulgated by the Conservation Commission is hereby authorized in accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 40, § 21D ("§ 21D").
(1) 
"Enforcing person" as used in this Subsection D shall mean any police officer of the Town, any member of the Conservation Commission and any other Town employee designated by the Conservation Commission an enforcing person.
(2) 
An enforcing person taking cognizance of a violation of any rule or regulation hereunder may, as an alternative to instituting criminal proceedings, give the offender written notice to appear before the Clerk of the District Court having jurisdiction thereof for the noncriminal disposition thereof in accordance with § 21D. The provisions of § 21D are incorporated herein by this reference.
A. 
There shall be a Council on Aging for the Town in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 8B.
B. 
The Council on Aging shall consist of 11 members appointed by the Select Board for terms of three years arranged so that the terms of no more than four members shall expire in any year.
C. 
The Council on Aging shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) 
To identify the total needs of the Town's elder population;
(2) 
To educate and enlist support and participation of all citizens concerning these needs;
(3) 
To design, promote or implement services to fill these needs or coordinate existing services in the Town;
(4) 
To promote and support any other programs for the elderly in the Town;
[Amended 5-29-2013 STM, approved 10-8-2013]
(5) 
To cooperate with the State Department of Elder Affairs or its successor state agency; and
[Amended 5-29-2013 STM, approved 10-8-2013]
(6) 
To be cognizant of federal and state legislation concerning funding, information exchange and program planning designed to promote better community planning for the elderly.
[Added 4-23-2007 ATM, approved 8-16-2007]
A. 
There shall be a Disability Access Commission for the Town in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 8J, which was accepted by the Annual Town Meeting of April 26, 1993.
B. 
The Disability Access Commission shall consist of seven regular and two alternate members appointed by the Select Board. A majority of the Commission members, including a majority of the regular members, shall consist of people with disabilities, one regular member shall be a member of the immediate family of a person with a disability, and one regular member shall be an elected or appointed official of the Town. The terms of regular and alternate members shall be three years and arranged so that the terms of 1/3 of the members expire each year. Upon the expiration of the term of a member, that member or a successor shall be appointed to a term of a duration which is consistent with the foregoing provisions of this subsection.
[Amended 5-29-2013 STM, approved 10-8-2013]
C. 
In the case of the absence, inability to act or conflict of interest of a regular member, or in the case of a vacancy on the Commission until the vacancy is filled in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 8J, the Chair of the Commission may designate an alternate member to serve.
D. 
The purpose of the Disability Access Commission shall be to provide for the full integration and participation of people with disabilities in the Town of Belmont.
E. 
The Disability Access Commission shall have all of the powers and duties of disability commissions established pursuant to MGL c. 40, § 8J.
A. 
There is established under the Historic Districts Act, MGL c. 40C, a Belmont Historic District Commission consisting of seven members to be appointed by the Select Board, including one member, where possible, from two nominees submitted by the Belmont Historical Society; one member, where possible, from two nominees, one of whom shall be submitted by the chapter of the American Institute of Architects covering Belmont and one of whom shall be submitted by the Boston Society of Landscape Architects; and one member, where possible, from two nominees of the Board of Realtors covering Belmont. One or more of the foregoing shall be a resident of an historic district established in Belmont pursuant to the Historic Districts Act. The Select Board shall also appoint three alternate members of the Commission.
[Amended 4-22-1991 ATM, approved 6-3-1991]
B. 
There is established under the provisions of the Historic Districts Act, as amended, an historic district to be known as the "Wellington Historic District," bounded as shown on a map entitled "Plan Showing Wellington Historic District, Pleasant Street, Belmont, Mass.," dated December 16, 1971, prepared by the Town Engineer, which shall be a part of this bylaw.
C. 
There is established under the provisions of the Historic Districts Act, as amended, an historic district to be known as the "Richardson Farm Historic District," bounded as shown on a map entitled "Plan Showing Richardson Farm Historic District, Washington Street, Blanchard Road, and Glenn Road Belmont, Mass.," dated March 15, 2013, prepared by the Town Engineer, which shall be a part of this bylaw.
[Added 4-29-2013 ATM, approved 10-9-2013]
D. 
Thaddeus Frost House Historic District. There is established, under the provisions of MGL c. 40C, as amended, an historic district to be known as the "Thaddeus Frost House Historic District," bounded and described as shown on the map entitled "Plan Showing Thaddeus Frost House Historic District, 291 Brighton Street, Belmont, Mass.," dated February 7, 2018, prepared by the Town Engineer, which shall be a part of this section.
[Added 4-30-2018 ATM, approved 9-5-2018[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This article also redesignated former Subsections D through I as Subsections E through J, respectively.
E. 
The Commission established hereunder shall have all of the powers and duties of the Belmont Historical Commission, as provided in MGL c. 40, § 8D, and, upon the establishment of the Commission hereunder, the former Belmont Historical Commission shall cease to exist.
F. 
The Commission shall have all of the powers and duties of an historic district commission and all of the powers and duties of an historical commission (and may in the exercise of any of the powers and duties accept money gifts and expend the same and, subject to appropriation or receipt of such gifts, employ clerical and technical assistants or consultants), and the aforesaid powers and duties shall include without limitation the following:
(1) 
To conduct a survey of Belmont buildings for the purpose of determining those of historic significance, architecturally or otherwise, and pertinent facts about them, acting in collaboration with the Planning Board and the Belmont Historical Society to the extent either may from time to time be able to undertake such work, and to maintain and from time to time revise detailed listings of historic sites and buildings in Belmont and data about them appropriately classified with respect to national, state or local significance, to period or field of interest, or otherwise;
(2) 
To propose from time to time as it deems appropriate the establishment, in accordance with the provisions of the Historic Districts Act, of additional historic districts and changes in historic districts;
(3) 
To determine an appropriate system of markers for selected historic sites and buildings not already sufficiently marked, to arrange for preparation and installation of such markers and to arrange for care of historic markers;
(4) 
To arrange for preparation and publication of maps and brochures and descriptive material about Belmont historic sites and buildings, arrange for convenient walks or tours, or otherwise;
(5) 
To cooperate with and advise the Planning Board, the Highway Department and other Town departments in matters involving historic sites and buildings;
(6) 
To cooperate with and enlist assistance for Belmont from the National Park Service, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, and other agencies, public and private, from time to time concerned with historic sites and buildings; and
(7) 
To advise owners of historic buildings in Belmont on problems of preservation.
G. 
The Commission may recommend to the Select Board as needed appointment of advisory committees of historians and persons interested in architecture or other arts or in historic restoration or preservation to assist in a manner comparable to the National Park Service Advisory Board or Consulting Committee.
H. 
The Commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its business not inconsistent with the provisions of the Historic Districts Act, the provisions of MGL c. 40, § 8D (the Historical Commission Act), or this section, as the case may be.
[Amended 5-29-2013 STM, approved 10-8-2013]
I. 
When taking action under the provisions of Section 11 of the Historic Districts Act,[2] the Commission shall make its determination within 45 days after the filing of the application for a certificate of appropriateness or hardship or such further time as the applicant may in writing allow.
[2]
Editor's Note: See MGL c. 40C, § 11.
J. 
In case any subsection, paragraph or part of this section is for any reason declared invalid or unconstitutional by any court, every other subsection, paragraph or part shall continue in full force and effect.
[Amended 5-29-2013 STM, approved 10-8-2013]
A. 
The Planning Board established under MGL c. 41, § 70, shall consist of five members who shall be appointed by the Select Board; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the Select Board, pursuant to Section 7 of the Zoning Bylaw, to appoint an associate member for the purposes set forth therein.
[Amended 11-8-2010 ATM, approved 12-16-2010]
B. 
In the performance of its duties prescribed by law, the Planning Board shall from time to time confer with the Select Board, the Inspector of Buildings, and any other Town board or committee which the Planning Board determines would be able to provide information or assistance to it.
[Amended 5-29-2013 STM, approved 10-8-2013]
A. 
There shall be a Recreation Commission consisting of nine members appointed by the Select Board.
B. 
The Select Board acting as the Board of Park Commissioners shall be responsible for the operation of the Recreation Department and shall appoint a Director of the Department.
[Amended 4-27-2009 ATM, approved 10-1-2009]
C. 
The Commission shall be responsible for the establishment of policies for the use of all playgrounds and recreation facilities of the Town which are not under the control of the School Department. The Commission and the School Department shall cooperate to the end that optimum use may be made of all of the Town's recreation facilities.
[Amended 4-27-2009 ATM, approved 10-1-2009]
D. 
The Commission shall be responsible for the formulation of Recreation Department policy in the areas of:
(1) 
Facilities and maintenance;
(2) 
Recreation programs; and
(3) 
Long-range planning.
E. 
The Commission shall establish such reasonable fees for use of any recreation facilities and programs as it deems to be consistent with recreation policy.
F. 
The Commission shall prepare an annual budget for the Recreation Department to be submitted to the Select Board for approval on a schedule to be established by the Select Board.
G. 
The recreation revolving fund established pursuant to MGL c. 44, § 53D, shall be subject to annual authorization by a vote of the Annual Town Meeting.
[Added 6-14-1993 ATM, approved 8-20-1993]
H. 
Pursuant to MGL c. 45, §§ 5 and 14, and this section, the Select Board, acting in its capacity as the Board of Park Commissioners, and the Recreation Commission are authorized to jointly promulgate such rules and regulations for the use and government of all public parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers within the Town of Belmont as they deem necessary.
[Added 4-27-2009 ATM, approved 10-1-2009; amended 5-29-2013 STM, approved 10-8-2013]
(1) 
Violation of any rule or regulation adopted under Subsection H shall be punished by a fine of $100 and may also be enforced by noncriminal disposition as provided in MGL c. 40, § 21D ("§ 21D"). The penalty under said § 21D for such violation shall be $50 for each offense.
(2) 
An enforcing person taking cognizance of a violation of any rule or regulation adopted under Subsection H shall give the offender a written notice to appear before the Clerk of the District Court having jurisdiction thereof for the noncriminal disposition thereof in accordance with the provisions of § 21D. The provisions of § 21D are incorporated herein by this reference.
(3) 
"Enforcing person" as used in Subsection H(2) shall mean any police officer of the Town and any other Town employee designated by the Board of Park Commissioners or the Recreation Commission as an enforcing person.
[Amended 4-28-2003 ATM, approved 10-16-2003]
A. 
There shall be a Water Advisory Board consisting of three members appointed by the Select Board in a manner consistent with Article 1 of this chapter.
B. 
The Water Advisory Board shall serve as the principal advocate for Town actions, policies, operational management, financial practices and capital investments that will result in the sustained provision of high-quality water service. In carrying out these responsibilities, the Water Advisory Board, acting in an advisory role to the Select Board, shall:
(1) 
Oversee the preparation of a Water Capital Plan that identifies system capital needs, prioritizes and schedules projects and specifies methods of financing and implementing the Water Capital Plan. Preparation and implementation of the Water Capital Plan shall provide for the coordination of projects with the work of other public agencies and private utilities. The Water Capital Plan shall be effective upon its adoption by the Select Board and approval by the Capital Budget Committee. The Water Capital Plan shall be reviewed and revised not less than every five years;
(2) 
Recommend to the Select Board the scope of work for any professional engineering work relating to preparing or implementing the Water Capital Plan. The Director of Public Works shall consult with the Water Advisory Board on the selection of a professional engineer;
(3) 
Advocate for actions, consistent with the priorities of the Select Board, to implement the Water Capital Plan in the annual Town budget process and for such other programs and activities that in its judgment will enhance the quality, efficiency or effectiveness of the water service;
(4) 
Serve as the steward of the financial condition of the Belmont water system by recommending rates, charges and fees for water services provided by the Town that will fully recover the cost of providing water services and that are fair and equitable. In carrying out this responsibility, the Water Advisory Board shall annually examine the revenue requirements of the water function. During the annual Town budget process it shall make specific recommendations to the Select Board for a revenue structure that will be adequate to provide for the financial needs of the water function in the next fiscal year;
(5) 
Establish policies for the adjustment of bills by the Director of Public Works due to disputes, hardship or error. These policies shall be effective upon approval by the Select Board. In addition, the Water Advisory Board shall serve as the appeals board for citizens aggrieved by the implementation of adjustment policies by the Director of Public Works unless the Select Board votes to assume this responsibility;
(6) 
Develop and monitor a cost allocation plan for indirect and overhead costs and any other charges that are charged to the Town's Water Special Revenue Fund. Develop and monitor a cost recovery plan to secure payment from non-water functions for the use of equipment and labor funded by the Water Special Revenue Fund. The cost allocation plan and cost recovery plans shall be effective upon approval by the Select Board. Indirect and overhead costs shall not be charged to the Water Special Revenue Fund in a manner inconsistent with the cost allocation plan recommended by the Water Advisory Board and approved by the Select Board. Equipment and labor funded by the Water Special Revenue Fund shall not be utilized for non-water functions until a cost recovery plan has been recommended by the Water Advisory Board and approved by the Select Board; and
(7) 
Prepare an annual report in order to inform and educate the citizens of Belmont about the physical and financial condition of the water system. The annual report shall include comprehensive information on the income and expenses of operating the water function, the effect of the cost allocation and cost recovery plans on the Water Special Revenue Fund, the status of the Water Special Revenue Fund, progress in implementing the Water Capital Plan and other information the Water Advisory Board deems relevant to citizen understanding of the water system. This report shall be included in the Annual Town Report.
C. 
All of the duties and responsibilities of the Water Advisory Board shall be carried out in consultation with the Director of Public Works. The Director of Public Works shall provide reasonable clerical and professional staff support to the Water Advisory Board in the execution of its responsibilities.
D. 
The Water Advisory Board shall assume additional responsibilities from time to time as may be determined by the Select Board.