[HISTORY: Adopted by the Special Town Meeting of the Town of Griswold 11-14-2006.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to the authority of C.G.S. § 7-131r, there is hereby
established the Griswold Open Space Land Acquisition Fund to be used solely
for the purposes of the preservation of open space, the acquisition of land
(or any interest in land, including but not limited to easements and development
rights, associated surveying and legal fees) to be used for open space, parks,
playgrounds, natural resource protection, recreational or agricultural purposes.
This fund is continuous and shall not lapse at the close of the municipal
fiscal year, and the fund shall not be accessed by any Griswold public official
and/or employee for any purpose other than the herein stated purpose.
There shall be deposited into the Open Space Land Acquisition Fund such
sums as the Town may from time to time appropriate for that purpose. There
shall also be deposited into the fund all payments received as fees in lieu
of the provision of open space pursuant to subdivision regulations adopted
by the Planning and Zoning Commission under the authority of C.G.S. §§ 8-25a
and 8-25b, and any other funds acquired by the Town, whether by gift, bequest,
grant or otherwise, for the purposes to be served by the fund. By separate
action annually, the Board of Selectmen may also transfer to the Open Space
Land Acquisition Fund any unexpended funds from any Planning and Zoning budgeted
funds remaining at the end of the fiscal year, and any Inland Wetlands and
Watercourses and Conservation Commission budgeted funds remaining at the end
of the fiscal year.
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint an Open Space Land Acquisition
Committee to consist of the following seven members: two members of the Planning
and Zoning Commission as selected by the Planning and Zoning Commission, two
members of the Inland Wetlands Watercourses and Conservation Commission as
selected by the Inland Wetlands Watercourses and Conservation Commission,
all four members to have initial terms of two years each and then subsequent
terms shall be three years each; and one member each from the Economic Development
Commission, Board of Recreation, and Board of Selectmen, as selected by the
Board of Selectmen, and these three members shall have terms of three years
each. The Open Space Land Acquisition Committee shall elect its Chairperson
and a Secretary and shall meet periodically, but not less frequently than
biannually. Its charge shall be to identify and/or review potential acquisitions
of land or interests in land for open space, natural resource protection,
recreational or agricultural purposes, to make recommendations to the Board
of Selectmen regarding acquisition of such land and other proper uses of the
Open Space Land Acquisition Fund and to perform such other tasks relating
to the use and administration of the fund as the Board of Selectmen may direct.
Appropriations from the fund for the purposes for which it is created
shall be made upon the recommendation of all of the following commissions
or committees: the Inland Wetlands Watercourses and Conservation Commission,
the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Open Space Land Acquisition Committee,
and the Board of Selectmen; and, where the proposed appropriation is for the
purpose of acquiring land (or any interest in land, including but not limited
to easements and development rights), upon review by the Planning and Zoning
Commission pursuant to C.G.S. § 8-24, by any Annual or Special Town
Meeting after due warning.
The Open Space Land Acquisition Committee is also authorized to direct
the Griswold Planning and Development Department and Town Planner, upon the
approval of the Board of Selectmen, to research and/or apply for any state
or federal grants and/or matching funds which may be available, for the purpose
of acquiring land for the preservation of open space, the acquisition of land
(or any interest in land, including but not limited to easements and development
rights) to be used for open space, parks, playgrounds, natural resource protection,
recreational or agricultural purposes.
