The Borough of Jim Thorpe is authorized to enter
into an Intergovernmental Agreement of cooperation (the "Agreement")
by and among the Boroughs of Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Parryville and
Weissport, and the Townships of East Penn, Franklin and Mahoning,
as authorized by the Act, to create the Lehigh Canal Recreation Commission to jointly
manage and maintain the Lehigh Canal Park. This Agreement is conditioned
on all municipalities participating in their proportionate share in
the costs of managing and maintaining the Lehigh Canal Park.
The purposes of the Agreement are:
A. To provide a seamless experience for Lehigh Canal
Park users, ensuring consistent maintenance for all stretches of the
park;
B. To maximize the efficient use of finances and resources
from each park community;
C. To establish a means for cooperative joint management
of the intermunicipal park;
D. To establish the Commission in accordance with the
Intergovernmental Agreement of Cooperation. The Commission shall be
responsible for organizing, supervising, administering, managing,
maintaining and operating the park and its facilities for the residents
of the respective municipalities and shall direct the administration
of the park management pursuant to the Intergovernmental Agreement
of Cooperation and all amendments thereto;
E. To deed the park property to each municipality respectively,
and authorize the Commission to jointly manage the park property;
F. To provide jointly an annual contribution of a minimum
of $2,000 to cover annual expenses;
G. To set forth rules and regulations for the park;
H. To establish cooperative law enforcement in the park;
I. To allow for the addition of new municipal participants
as the park is developed.
The park shall be managed and maintained by
the Lehigh Canal Recreation Commission. Each municipality shall have
one vote, as delineated in the Agreement. The Commission shall direct
the administration of the park management and maintenance programs
and related activities pursuant to this Agreement and all amendments
thereto.
The Commission shall be empowered to enter into
contracts for policies of group insurance and employee benefits.