[Added 12-18-1978; amended 6-2-1986 by TOR-86-13; 1-19-1999 by TOR-98-8]
In accordance with MGL C. 82, the Town of Agawam
hereby adopts the following procedure for the acceptance of streets
within the town as public ways, whereupon the responsibilities for
those streets so accepted by the Town Council shall thereafter rest
with the town as set forth in the Massachusetts General Laws and town
ordinances.
There is hereby established a Street Acceptance
Committee, which shall be the agent of the Town Council, as defined
by the Massachusetts General Laws, for purposes of holding public
hearings, making recommendations to the Town Council and otherwise
processing petitions for street acceptance. The Committee shall be
comprised of three Councillors appointed by the Council President,
and the Superintendent of the Department of Public Works. The terms
of the Councillors shall be coterminous with their Town Council terms.
Owners of land in the town may petition the
Town Council for the acceptance of a street as a public way by filing
with the Town Clerk a petition bearing the signatures of at least
75% of the owners of lots abutting the way as indicated by the records
of the Office of the Assessor. The Superintendent of Public Works
may, with the approval of the Mayor, petition the Town Council for
the acceptance of a street as a public way without the requirement
of a petition bearing the signatures of any abutting owners. The Planning
Board may petition the Town Council for the acceptance of a street
within an approved subdivision as a public way without the requirement
of a petition bearing the signatures of any abutting owners.
The Street Acceptance Committee may adopt, with
the approval of the Town Council, regulations and forms for the street
acceptance process. Such regulations shall be available to the public
in the Office of the Town Clerk.
