[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Suffield 5-27-1965 (Ch. 13, Art. II, of the 1987
Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 12-19-2019]
There is hereby established for the Town a Parks and Recreation
Commission. The Commission shall consist of seven regular members
and two alternate members, all of whom shall be appointed as provided
in the Town Charter. Each regular and alternate member of the Parks
and Recreation Commission shall be a resident elector of the Town
holding no salaried municipal office.
No regular or alternate member of the Parks and Recreation Commission
shall receive any compensation for his services, but necessary expenses,
incurred in the performance of his official duties, shall be reimbursed.
The Parks and Recreation Commission shall, except as provided in § 87-7, provide, conduct, and supervise public playgrounds, athletic fields, recreation centers, and other recreation facilities and activities on any of the properties owned or controlled by the Town, or on other properties with the consent of the owners and authorities thereof. It shall have the power to conduct, or to cooperate with other agencies in conducting, any form of recreation that will employ the leisure time of the people in a constructive and wholesome manner. It shall have the power to sponsor and conduct, or to participate with others in sponsoring and conducting, drives or campaigns for voluntary contributions for the purchase, maintenance and operation, by the Town through the Parks and Recreation Commission, of recreation sites, facilities or programs and for the advancement of the purposes of this chapter. Any funds received by the Parks and Recreation Commission by way of gift, whether solicited or otherwise, shall be held or deposited in the name of the Town and shall be paid out only by the Town Treasurer, within the limits of appropriations duly made by the Town, provided that any gift received for any specified purpose or subject to particular terms or conditions shall be held or expended only for such purpose and subject to such terms and conditions. Gifts of tangible personal property or real property shall be held in the name of the Town and, in the case of real estate, shall be subject to approval by a Town Meeting. The Parks and Recreation Commission shall have the right to reject any gift if, in its opinion, the purposes, terms or conditions thereof are such that it would be inadvisable for the Town to accept the same.
Within 30 days after the appointment of the members of the Parks
and Recreation Commission they shall meet, organize, and from among
the regular members of the Parks and Recreation Commission elect a
Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and a Clerk. Thereafter annually during
the month in which the original Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and
Clerk were elected as provided herein the Parks and Recreation Commission
shall elect from among its regular members a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson,
and a Clerk. Alternate members of the Parks and Recreation Commission
shall not participate in any election of officers of the Parks and
Recreation Commission. In all other matters, when a regular member
of the Parks and Recreation Commission is unable to act because of
absence, illness, or disqualification, he/she shall notify the Chairperson
who shall forthwith designate one of the alternate members to serve
in place of such regular member, and such alternate member shall thereupon
exercise all the powers and duties of such regular member until the
absence, illness, or disqualification of the regular member shall
have been terminated.
Any member of the Parks and Recreation Commission may be removed
by the Board of Selectmen for cause, but upon request of such member,
such removal shall become effective only after public hearing.
A.
The Parks and Recreation Commission shall fix the time and place
for its regular meetings, and may hold such special meetings as may
from time to time be required. The Parks and Recreation Commission
shall keep a record of its proceedings, deliberations, and actions.
It shall make an annual report to the Board of Selectmen which report
shall be published in the annual report of the Town. The Parks and
Recreation Commission shall prepare an annual budget and may request
an annual appropriation which shall be submitted to the Board of Finance
for approval as provided by law.
B.
The Parks and Recreation Commission may, within the limits of appropriations
made for the purpose by the Town, employ clerical and technical assistance
or consultants. It shall have the power to appoint or designate to
act as Superintendent of Recreation such person as the Parks and Recreation
Commission may find is trained and properly qualified for the duties
of the position, and it shall have the power to appoint and designate
such other personnel as it deems necessary or desirable for the proper
discharge of its responsibilities. The presence of four regular members
or, in the absence of proper designation of an alternate or alternates
as provided by the terms of this chapter, the presence of four regular
and alternate members shall constitute a quorum. No resolution or
vote except a vote to adjourn or to fix the time and place of its
next meeting shall be adopted by fewer than three affirmative votes.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit or interfere
with the maintenance and execution by the Board of Education of the
Town of sports or recreational programs or activities for students
attending the public schools of the Town.
No use by the Parks and Recreation Commission shall be made
of any premises in a residence zone which shall create any objectionable
noise or which shall interfere with the peaceable enjoyment of any
adjoining premises, including premises separated from the used premises
by a highway. Any owner of adjoining premises aggrieved by any act
of the Parks and Recreation Commission may appeal to a review committee
composed of the First Selectman, the Chairperson of the Planning and
Zoning Commission and the Director of Health, which committee shall
have power to reverse, rescind or modify any act or decision of the
Parks and Recreation Commission.
