[Adopted 4-6-1998]
A.
Creation. The Common Council, the legislative body
of the City of Middletown, a municipality of the State of Connecticut,
hereby creates a public body politic and corporate under the name
and style of the Long Hill Estate Authority. Long Hill Estate shall
be comprised of all lands, and additions thereto, of the former Wadsworth/Cenacle
property.
B.
Powers and responsibilities. Such Authority shall
have the following powers and responsibilities:
(1)
To administer, operate and maintain said Long Hill
Estate, including all structures and land and any adjacent property
owned by the City that is made part of the estate;
(2)
To contract and be contracted with, in order to administer,
operate and maintain said estate;
(3)
To set policy and to make, amend and repeal bylaws,
rules, and regulations not inconsistent with the Connecticut General
Statutes and the Middletown Code of Ordinances to carry out its purposes;
(4)
To use and develop park facilities as authorized by
law only within said park in accordance with a duly approved master
plan, as amended;
(5)
To fix and revise from time to time and to charge
and collect fees, rents and other charges for the use of any project
or facilities thereof on behalf of the City; to pay operating and
maintenance expenses; and to contribute toward repayment of bonds
heretofore or hereafter issued by the City to finance the construction
and reconstruction of facilities within said estate and the principal
of and interest on any obligations the Authority may incur;
(6)
To pay over the net receipts annually in July each
year (gross receipts less operation and maintenance expenses, a reserve
for capital improvements not exceeding 25% of gross receipts for the
fiscal year, and Authority debt service from the operation of the
park) to the Treasurer of the City to be placed in the general fund
of the City;
(7)
To make an annual audit, consistent with the Connecticut
General Statutes and the Middletown Code of Ordinances, of the financial
transactions of the Authority. The Treasurer elected by the members
of the Authority shall be bonded in an amount determined pursuant
to C.G.S. § 7-148, as amended;
(8)
To issue bonds, notes or other obligations as authorized
by C.G.S. §§ 7-130a to 7-130w, inclusive, as amended,
to be paid from the revenues of the Authority.
(9)
To accept loans, grants or gifts from the City or
any other person, government or agency thereof, for the purposes of
the Authority; and
(10)
To appoint or dismiss an executive director and to
adopt an annual budget for the administration of the park under the
overall direction of the Authority, the fiscal year of said budget
to coincide with that of the City of Middletown.
The Common Council of the City of Middletown
shall assume and retain the following powers and responsibilities
for Long Hill Estate:
B.
Approval by majority vote of a master plan, and amendments
thereto, for the development of the park, said plan to designate the
construction, demolition, extension, renovation, or substantial improvement,
excluding routine maintenance, of all structures, lands, lakes, ponds
and watercourses, conservation areas, park and recreational facilities,
public utilities, roads and walkways, and other public facilities.
All improvements to structures shall be compatible with the historic
nature and character of the property. The master plan shall include
the concepts of the site plan of the Wadsworth Mansion Building Committee
for the rehabilitation of the mansion and the stewardship plan compiled
by the Long Hill Estate Stewardship Committee for the use and care
of the park lands. Prior to the adoption of said plan, the use of
the park shall be limited to functions authorized by the Common Council
of the City of Middletown at the mansion and to existing municipal
use of the property, and improvements shall be limited to the restoration
and maintenance of existing and/or historic structures and features,
including the provision of health and safety measures. Approval of
the master plan and amendments thereto shall follow a public hearing
and referral to the Planning and Zoning Commission for review and
report.
[Amended 1-6-2003 by Ord.
No. 01-03]
The article of incorporation of the Authority
are as follows:
A.
The name of the Authority and the address of its principal
office shall be: Long Hill Estate Authority, c/o the Wadsworth Mansion,
421 Wadsworth Street, Middletown, Connecticut.
[Amended 6-1-2015 by Ord.
No. 10-15]
B.
The Authority is created under C.G.S. §§ 7-130a
to 7-130w, inclusive, as amended.
C.
The participating political subdivision is the City
of Middletown, Connecticut.
D.
The members of the Authority, their addresses and
terms of office, shall be as appointed by the Mayor and the Common
Council.
[Amended 1-6-2003 by Ord.
No. 01-03; 6-1-2015 by Ord. No. 10-15]
The Mayor of the City, with approval of a majority
of the Common Council, shall select and appoint the members of said
Authority, which shall consist of nine members. Members shall be selected
from interested citizens with experience and expertise in one or more
of the following fields: natural resource planning and management,
horticulture, historic preservation, arts and culture, the hospitality
industry, finance and real estate management. One of said members
shall be a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Long
Hill Estate. All appointments will be made for a term of three years.
Terms shall be limited to three three-year terms. Officers shall be
a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer who shall serve for a
term of one year. Officers shall be elected by the members of the
Authority.
No member of such Authority may receive any
compensation for his or her services.
The Authority shall remain in existence perpetually
unless terminated by the City.
