[Adopted 3-17-2009 by Ord. No. 09-83]
There is hereby established authorization to appoint a School Building Commission, which duties will be to oversee the construction and/or renovations of all school buildings erected under contract by the City of Chicopee. The purpose of the School Building Commission shall be to both monitor and assist in the application for funds and advise and assist in the construction of a school building and/or renovation project.
All buildings constructed for use by the City of Chicopee School Department or any of its departments and any renovations to existing school buildings where the total contract price totals $2,000,000 or more. Each such school project shall have a separate Building Commission.
A. 
Upon the solicitation of request for a proposal in connection with a bid for construction of any project requiring a Commission in accordance with § 16-113, the Mayor shall appoint a total of 13 members, as follows:
(1) 
A member of the Chicopee School Committee.
(2) 
The Chicopee Superintendent of Schools.
(3) 
The Chicopee Inspector of Buildings.
(4) 
Director of Maintenance for School Department.
(5) 
School principal of the subject school.
(6) 
A member who has knowledge of the educational mission and function of the facility to be built or renovated.
(7) 
A member of the City of Chicopee Finance Committee.
(8) 
Members of the community with architecture, engineering and/or construction experience to provide advice relative to the effect of the proposed project on the community and to examine building design and construction in terms of its constructability. [See 963 CMR 2.10(3)(b).]
(9) 
The City Council shall recommend five appointments to the Mayor from Subsection A(8).
(10) 
The Mayor shall appoint one member from Subsection A(8).
B. 
All appointments by the Mayor to the School Building Commission must be submitted to the City Council for confirmation by a majority vote of seven except for Subsection A(1) through (7).
A. 
As soon as practical after his or her appointment to the Building Commission, the Superintendent of Schools shall call an organizational meeting to elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman, who shall be chosen by a majority vote of the members present and voting. The Secretary shall be hired by a majority of members present and voting. The Mayor shall appoint legal counsel to attend all meetings of the Commission as requested by the Chairman.
B. 
The Chairman or Vice Chairman shall have the duty of calling all regular meetings of the Commission upon 48 hours' notice posted according to law. His duties shall include presiding over meetings of the Commission and all functions traditionally given to a Chairman. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman shall serve in that capacity. The Secretary shall record the minutes of each meeting and shall be responsible for transmitting all minutes and documents received by the Commission to the City Clerk upon the dissolution of the Commission. A special meeting of the Commission shall be called upon written request of nine members.
C. 
The Commission shall have the duty to oversee the school construction project and shall elect a Bills Committee, which members shall review all incoming bills and vouchers and recommend approval for payment to the full Commission. An affirmative vote of nine members of the Commission shall be required for approval of the bills, and at least four members must sign the bills, which will then be presented to the City Auditor.
The Commission shall have the power to act from the time of its appointment and shall cease to exist, or any member shall be removed, upon one of the following conditions:
A. 
When the building or project is finally accepted by the City; or
B. 
Upon a direction or order of the Mayor, who shall then transmit the termination notice to the City Council. The procedure for termination under this section shall be held in accordance with § 16-117 of this article.
A person shall cease to be a member of the Building Commission upon removing his or her residence from the City of Chicopee or for any of the reasons specified in § 16-116. In the event that a person is to be removed, he or she shall be notified, in writing, by the Mayor and given the reasons for such removal. The person will, upon a request in writing, not later than seven days after receipt of such notice of removal, be given a hearing upon such reasons for removal, said hearing to be held by the City Council within 15 days from the request for said hearing. An affirmative vote of nine shall be required before the removal becomes final.
Each member of the School Building Commission shall, upon appointment, be given a copy of this article and also a copy of MGL c. 30A, §§ 11A and 11A 1/2, and MGL c. 39, §§ 23A and 23B (Open Meetings Law).