Town of Townsend, MA Chapter 127 Town Properties Committee

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Townsend 4-29-1997 ATM by Art. 20; amended in its entirety 12-20-2018 STM by Art. 27. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 127-1 Basic charge.

The Board of Selectmen shall annually appoint a seven-member committee to be known as the Town Properties Committee (TPC) charged with advising the Board of Selectmen with maintenance, acquisition and sales of all Town-owned properties.

§ 127-2 Membership and appointment.

The seven-member Town Properties Committee (TPC) shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen shall first appoint the five members as follows: one member of the Planning Board, one member of the Finance Committee, one member of the Board of Assessors, one member of the Conservation Commission and one member of the Highway Department. If a member of any board, committee, commission or department declines an appointment, then the Board of Selectmen may substitute a member from the public-at-large. In making such substitution, the Board shall consider the recommendation of the respective board, committee, commission or department declining the appointment. The remaining two members shall appointed from the public-at-large. All members of the TPC shall be annually appointed or reappointed on or before the last week of June.

§ 127-3 Property inventory.

The Board will maintain a standing inventory list of Town-owned real estate and personal property. Such inventory will be annually updated with each Town department notifying the Committee of newly acquired and recently disposed of property. The Committee will annually furnish the Town Accountant with an updated inventory listing.

§ 127-4 Property maintenance proposal and budget.

The TPC will prepare for the Board of Selectmen an annual property maintenance proposal and a proposed budget.

§ 127-5 Property acquisitions and sales.

TPC is charged with assisting the Board of Selectmen in reviewing all proposals for the acquisition or sale of real estate. Within 90 days after receiving written notification by the Board of Selectmen of a proposal to acquire or sell real estate, the TPC will report back to the Selectmen with a report containing recommendations as follows:

A. The property's strategic value to the Town;

B. The findings of any appraisals prepared to determine the property's worth;

C. Findings of site visits, engineering studies, and environmental assessments;

D. A post-acquisition management plan to ensure ongoing property maintenance;

E. Proposed language for Town Meeting articles; and

F. Suggested means for funding the acquisition.

§ 127-6 Advisory role.

The role of the TPC shall be advisory only and shall not supersede the role or duty of any other board or officer empowered by statute.