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March 29, 2024 Rain | 37°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE SHREWSBURY CORPORATION.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:


SECTION 1. It is hereby declared that in the town of Shrewsbury, unused, underused, substandard, undeveloped or underdeveloped areas exist; that each such area constitutes a menace, injurious and inimical to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the town; that each such area constitutes an economic liability, substantially impairing or arresting the sound growth of the town and retarding the economic well-being of the commonwealth; that each such area decreases the value of private investments and threatens sources of public revenue; that redevelopment of each such area in accordance with locally approved community and economic development, capital improvement or other plans, including the town's master plan, for the elimination of such conditions and prevention of their recurrence is necessary to retain existing enterprises, attract new commercial, industrial or residential development, and promote the sound and orderly growth of the town; that the existence of such unused, underused, undeveloped or underdeveloped areas makes persons unwilling or unable to do business in the town; that the menace of such unused, underused or underdeveloped areas is beyond remedy and control solely by the regulatory process in the exercise of the police powers, and cannot be dealt with effectively by the ordinary operations of private enterprise without the aids herein provided; that to prevent a recurrence of such conditions in such areas, the improvement of sites for commercial, industrial or residential uses or for necessary public facilities in the areas, the disposition of property for redevelopment incidental to the foregoing, the exercise of powers by the corporation, and any assistance which may be given by the town or any other public body in connection therewith, are public uses and purposes for which public money may be expended; that the acquisition, planning, clearance, development, rehabilitation or rebuilding of such unused, underused, substandard and undeveloped areas for commercial, industrial, residential, institutional and public facility purposes are public benefits for which public funds may be expended for the good and welfare of the town and the commonwealth.

It is hereby further declared that there exists in the town conditions of underemployment which cause hardship to many individuals and families, wastes vital human resources, increases the public assistance burden, impairs the security of family life, impedes the economic and physical development of the town and adversely affects the welfare and prosperity of its people; that obsolete, inefficient or inadequate public facilities and infrastructure are causing injury to the town's economy; that the unaided efforts of private industry have not provided and cannot provide the necessary sites within the development zone due to problems in the assembly of suitable sites, the provision of adequate public facilities and services, the unavailability of private capital for development and the inability of private enterprise alone to plan, finance and coordinate feasible development projects.

It is hereby further declared that there exists in the town of Shrewsbury a dire need to develop or redevelop public facilities and infrastructure to stimulate and support economic growth; that without such public facilities and services the town cannot arrest the decline of, revitalize, stabilize or expand its economy; that without such public facilities the town cannot develop a sound, vibrant economic base; that the development, management and operation of public facilities in support of economic development are essential to the preservation and enhancement of the town's tax base and economy.

It is hereby further declared that there exists in the town of Shrewsbury a dire need to protect and preserve open space and to develop affordable housing in order to support the objectives of balanced growth; that without sufficient open space and housing affordable to a broad range of incomes, the town cannot develop and sustain a vibrant economic base; and that the protection of open space and the provision of affordable housing are essential to the preservation and enhancement of the town's tax base and economy.

Therefore, a public corporation is necessary to address these and related public purposes. It is the purpose of the corporation created by this act to aid the town, private enterprises and non-profit organizations, and other public agencies in the speedy and orderly development or redevelopment of unused, obsolete, underused or underdeveloped areas, and in the development, operation and management of facilities and infrastructure necessary to support the economic vitality of the town.

SECTION 2. As used in this act, the following words, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, shall have the following meanings:-

"Board of selectmen", the duly elected board of selectmen of the town of Shrewsbury.

"Corporation", the Shrewsbury Corporation established under section 3.

"Cost of a project", all costs, whether incurred before or after the issue of bonds or notes hereunder, of acquisition, site development, construction, improvement, enlargement, reconstruction, alteration, machinery, equipment, furnishings, demolition or removal of existing buildings or structures, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which such buildings or structures may be moved, financing charges, interest prior to and during the carrying out of any project, interest for up to 2 years after completion or estimate completion date of any project, planning, engineering and legal service, administrative expense, the funding of notes issued for capital purposes, such reserve for debt service or other capital or current expenses as may be required by a trust agreement or resolution securing notes or bonds, and all other expenses incidental to the determination of the feasibility of any development project or to carrying out a development project or to placing the project in operation.

"Development area", any area located in the town of Shrewsbury that is suitably zoned for the kinds of activities identified in section 3, including but not limited to research and development, commercial, light industrial and business uses, residential uses whether a principal use or an accessory or incidental use carried out in association with an economic development or an open space and preservation project, or under a land disposition agreement with the town.

"Development project", (1) a project to be undertaken in furtherance of the purposes of this act, for acquisition or leasing by the corporation of land and improvements thereon and the development of the property so acquired; (2) a project to be undertaken in furtherance of the purposes of this act for the rehabilitation or conservation of property, or for the demolition, removal, rehabilitation or addition of improvements whenever necessary to carry out the purposes of this act; (3) a project entailing the construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of infrastructure, public facilities, or both, in furtherance of the purposes of this act; and (4) a project involving a combination of the foregoing types of projects. A development project may include improvements necessary for carrying out the objectives of the project, together with such site improvements as are necessary for the preparation of any site for uses in accordance with locally approved development plans, and making any land or improvements acquired in the area of the project available for redevelopment or rehabilitation by private enterprise, including sale, initial leasing or retention by the corporation for industrial, commercial, business, manufacturing or residential uses contemplated by a development plan. A development project may include the construction by the corporation of any of the buildings, structures or other facilities for industrial, commercial, business, manufacturing or residential uses contemplated by a development plan and the repair, removal or rehabilitation by the corporation of any of the buildings, structures or other facilities located in a development area which are to be repaired, moved or rehabilitated. A development project may also include a preservation project as defined by this act, where limited development of land to be preserved primarily for conservation, farming, forestry, recreation or open space uses may be carried out by the corporation in order to finance the cost of acquiring the land and improvements thereon.

"Development plans", a plan or study, including, but not limited to, a master plan or comprehensive plan, community development or economic development plan, open space and recreation plan, capital improvements plan, or other plan approved from time to time by the Shrewsbury planning board or board of selectmen, which plan shall guide the type, land use, general location, density and other requirements of a development project carried out by the corporation.

"Preservation project", a development project carried out for the principal purpose of preservation or conservation of land, including but not limited to land in forestry, agricultural, horticultural or recreational use when valued, assessed and taxed under chapter 61, chapter 61A or chapter 61B of the General Laws, or a historically significant property, landmark, site or other cultural resource determined by the board of selectmen, where a limited amount of development or redevelopment is necessary to finance the acquisition of land or improvements or to achieve the town's conservation and community preservation objectives. A development project carried out as a preservation project may include residential, commercial, business, research or industrial uses provided that the land is zoned for such uses.

"Town", the town of Shrewsbury.

"Town manager", the town manager of the town of Shrewsbury.

"Town meeting", town meeting of the town of Shrewsbury acting in a lawfully convened session.

SECTION 3. (a) There is hereby established a body politic and corporate to be known as the Shrewsbury Corporation, or by a name designated by the board of selectmen. The corporation shall be a public instrumentality separate from the town, and is not an authority, board or committee of the town. The corporation is empowered to carry out this act, and the exercise by the corporation of the powers conferred by this act is the performance of essential public and governmental functions.

(b) The purposes of the corporation shall be to correct or address the conditions found to exist in the town as set forth in section 1, promote the common good and general welfare of the town, improve the living standards of the citizens thereof by fostering the improvement of their employment opportunities, preserve and protect open space, historic resources and affordable housing, and to develop, manage and operate public facilities and infrastructure necessary to improve the town's economy, focusing on, but not limited to, areas within the development zone, all in a manner consistent with approved economic development plans as defined in section 2. In furtherance of purposes and in addition to the powers conferred on the corporation by the foregoing provisions, the corporation may:-

(1) sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded;

(2) adopt bylaws and rules for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business and to alter the same;

(3) accept, acquire other than by eminent domain, receive and hold by bequest, devise, grant, gift, purchase, exchange, lease, transfer, judicial order or decree, or otherwise, for any of its objects or purposes, any property, both real and personal, from any source, including grants, loans or advances for or in aid of the purposes of the corporation from any federal agency, agency of the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof;

(4) sell, convey, mortgage, lease, transfer, exchange or otherwise dispose of, any property, both real and personal, that the objectives and purposes of the corporation may require, subject to limitations prescribed by law;

(5) borrow money and, from time to time, to make, accept, endorse, execute, and issue bonds, debentures, promissory notes, bills of exchange, and other obligations of the corporation for monies borrowed or in payment for property acquired or for any of the other purposes of the corporation and to secure the payment of obligations by mortgage, pledge, deed, indenture, agreement, or other instrument of trust, or by other lien upon, assignment of, or agreement in regard to all or any part of the property, rights of privileges of the corporation, whether now owned or hereafter to be acquired, said borrowing not to exceed a period of 40 years;

(6) employ consulting engineers, an executive director, superintendents, managers, and such other employees, agents and consultants as may be necessary in its judgment, and to fix their compensation; employees of the corporation shall not be considered employees of the town; but the town and the corporation may in writing agree to allow employees of the corporation to participate in employee insurance, retirement or other benefit programs offered to town employees; in which case, any employees performing non-administrative or managerial work, shall be members of the appropriate municipal bargaining unit;

(7) make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties;

(8) receive and accept from any federal agency, the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof any grants, loans or advances for or in aid of a development project or projects and to receive and accept contributions from any other source of either money, property, labor or other things of value, to be held, used and applied for the purposes for which such grants, loans, advances and contributions may be made;

(9) invest any funds not required for immediate use or disbursement in certificates of deposit or in obligations of the government of the United States or in obligations the payment of the principal of, and interest on, which is guaranteed by the government of the United States; and subject to a specific vote of the board of directors, to invest funds in any fashion in which municipal funds may be invested pursuant to the provisions of chapter 44 of the General Laws;

(10) own and manage real property;

(11) receive assignment of the town's first refusal options in order to continue the forestry, agricultural, horticultural, recreational or open space use of the major portion of any land valued, assessed and taxed under chapter 61, chapter 61A or chapter 61B of the General Laws, where the town has received notification of the owner's intent to sell; but when the corporation accepts assignment of a first refusal option from the town, any development carried out by the corporation in order to finance the cost of acquisition shall be a preservation project as defined in section 2 of this act and all remaining open space shall be protected in perpetuity by a conservation restriction or a donation of the land to the Shrewsbury conservation commission;

(12) make loans to any person, firm, corporation, joint stock company, association or trust located or doing business in the town for the purposes of promoting and developing business, industry, or tourism;

(13) acquire improved and unimproved real estate for the purposes of developing, demolishing, constructing or reconstructing commercial, industrial, residential, institutional, or other establishments thereon, or of developing, redeveloping or constructing public facilities, or for the purpose of disposing of such real estate to others for the development, redevelopment, demolition, construction, operation or management of commercial, industrial, residential, institutional or other establishments, or of public facilities, as the objects and purposes of the corporation may require; but nothing contained herein shall be construed to grant the corporation the power of eminent domain;

(14) acquire, demolish, construct, reconstruct, alter, maintain, sell, convey, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of commercial, industrial, residential or business establishments or other property as the objects and purposes of the corporation may require;

(15) acquire, subscribe for, own, hold, sell, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of the bonds, debentures, notes or other securities and evidence of interest in, or indebtedness of, any person, firm, corporation, joint stock company, association or trust, and while the owner or holder thereof, to exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges of ownership;

(16) make relocation payments to persons and businesses displaced as a result of carrying out a development project under this act, in accordance with chapter 79A of the General Laws;

(17) provide advisory services and technical assistance necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this act;

(18) prepare or cause to be prepared plans, designs, drawings, specifications and estimates of cost for the construction, reconstruction, development, redevelopment, rehabilitation, remodeling, alteration or repair of development projects and from time to time modify such plans, designs, drawings, specifications and estimates;

(19) designate property for development and preservation projects, except that when the property is owned by the town, the designation and use shall have the concurrence of the board of selectmen;

(20) procure insurance against any loss in connection with its property, other assets and operations, and in relation to insuring the payment of principal and interest for bonds issued pursuant to section 9, in amounts and from insurers as it considers desirable;

(21) arrange or contract with the town for the planning, replanning, opening or closing of streets, roads, alleys or other places or for the furnishing of facilities or for the acquisition by the town of property or property rights or for the furnishing of property or services in connection with a development project or projects;

(22) manage or lease any development project, whether owned or leased by the corporation, and to enter into agreements with the commonwealth or the town or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or with any person, firm, partnership or corporation either public or private for the purposes of causing any development project to be managed;

(23) prepare and amend plans to advance economic development goals within the entire development zone and defining necessary development projects to achieve these goals;

(24) establish subsidiary or affiliate legal entities convenient or necessary to advance the purposes of this act;

(25) establish and collect fees for the use of any properties owned or leased by the corporation, or for the provision of infrastructure, facilities, services and amenities;

(26) act with respect to one or more development projects as a corporation organized under chapter 121A of the General Laws;

(27) carry out any other public purposes designated by the board of selectmen; but, in no case shall members of any municipal bargaining unit be laid off, or their regular compensation or other contractual benefits be otherwise adversely effected; and no action shall be in conflict with any existing or future municipal collective bargaining agreement;

(28) borrow money for the purposes of aiding in the construction of equipment required by the commonwealth or United States to abate air or water pollution;

(29) borrow money for the purposes of aiding in the construction of public facilities, infrastructure and utilities necessary for economic development;

(30) apply to the federal government or to the commonwealth for housing and/or economic development assistance grants to carry out the approved economic development projects, to receive and administer such grants, to contract with the commonwealth for financial assistance, to apply for and receive advances for the estimated costs of surveys and plans and administrative expenses in preparation for economic development projects, and to apply for, receive and administer community development action grants, all to the same extent and subject to the same terms and conditions as an urban renewal agency pursuant to sections 53 to 57A, inclusive, of chapter 121B of the General Laws.

(31) do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly granted in this act.

(c) The corporation shall not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office, or publish or distribute any statements with respect thereto. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, neither the directors, officers, nor the corporation, shall participate in any of the prohibited transactions as defined in section 503 of the Internal Revenue Code, nor shall the corporation accumulate income or engage in any activities if the accumulation of income or the activities so engaged in are or would be within the prohibitions of section 504 of the Internal Revenue Code nor shall the corporation be operated at any time for the primary and sole purpose of carrying on a trade or business for profit.

SECTION 4. The principal office of the corporation shall be located in the town of Shrewsbury.

SECTION 5. For the purposes of chapter 30B of the General Laws, the corporation shall be a governmental body. The corporation shall not be subject to section 16 of chapter 30B of the General Laws. Redevelopment or improvement of any property owned by the corporation or leased by the corporation to another party, including design, development, construction and operation, shall be subject to sections 38A to 38O, inclusive, of chapter 30B of the General Laws; section 39M of chapter 30 of the General Laws; and sections 44A to 44M, inclusive, of chapter 149 of the General Laws, when customized improvements exceed the thresholds contained therein, except to the extent that the corporation enters into a ground lease which provides that title to the improvements remain with the lessee. For the purposes of clause Sixth of section 7 of chapter 4 and chapter 66 of the General Laws, the records of the corporation shall be public records. Chapter 31 of the General Laws shall not apply to any person employed or engaged by the corporation under this act. For the purposes of chapter 268A of the General Laws, the corporation shall be considered a municipal agency. The members of the board of directors and employees of the corporation, together with any person who performs professional services for the corporation on a part-time, intermittent, or consultant basis, such as those of an architect, attorney, engineer, planner, or construction, financial, or real estate expert, shall be special municipal employees.

The corporation shall be subject to all local by-laws and regulations of the town, including the zoning by-law, by-laws concerning the protection of foreshores and wetlands in the town, and historic district regulations where applicable. The corporation shall also be subject to sections 23A to 23C, inclusive, of chapter 39 of the General Laws.

SECTION 6. The corporation shall not be subject to chapter 63 of the General Laws, nor shall the corporation be liable for any taxes based upon or measured by income. The securities and evidences of indebtedness issued by the corporation shall be free from taxation by the commonwealth.

SECTION 7. The corporation shall be managed by a board of directors consisting of 7 members appointed by the board of selectmen. The board of directors shall include persons with education and experience in the fields of law, finance, real estate, architecture or planning and local government. Each member shall be sworn by the Shrewsbury town clerk to the faithful performance of his official duties as a director of the corporation. A majority of the 7 members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, but any action of the board of directors shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire board.

The original members of the board of directors shall be appointed within 60 days following the effective date of this act. Of the members of the board of directors first appointed, 1 shall be appointed to serve for a term of 1 year, 1 for a term of 2 years, 1 for a term of 3 years, 2 for a term of 4 years, and 2 for a term of 5 years. All terms thereafter shall be for 5 years. Upon the expiration of the term of office of any member of the board of directors, or any subsequent member of the board of directors, the successor of the member shall be appointed for a term of 5 years. In the event of a vacancy on the board of directors, a successor member shall be appointed to complete the term of service for the member whose term has not expired. Unless reappointed, a member of the board of directors shall not hold office after the expiration of his term. At its discretion, the board of selectmen may reappoint a member to the board of directors of the corporation.

The first meeting of the corporation shall be called by the chairman pro tem, who shall be designated by the board of selectmen when the initial appointments to the board of directors are made. There shall be elected by and from the board of directors a president, treasurer, secretary/clerk, and any other officers considered necessary by the board.

A member of the board of directors of the corporation may be removed by the board of selectmen for malfeasance, misfeasance, or willful neglect of duty, but only after reasonable notice and a public hearing by the board of selectmen, unless the notice and hearing are in writing expressly waived by the member of the board subject to removal.

The members of the board of directors shall not receive compensation for the performance of their duties hereunder, but each member shall be reimbursed by the corporation for expenses actually incurred in the performance of his duties. Every reimbursement shall be open to public inspection from and after the requisition therefor.

The board of directors shall have the powers to set a fiscal year for the operation of the corporation and to make, amend, or repeal the by-laws in whole or in part.

SECTION 8. The board of directors shall adopt a corporate seal for the corporation and designate the custodian thereof. The board of directors shall cause at all times accurate accounts to be kept of all receipts and expenditures of the funds of the corporation; and shall make a report annually to the board of selectmen, containing an abstract of such accounts and detailed information of all receipts and expenditures, including prices paid for property acquisition, contracts for construction of facilities and for the leasing thereof, and such other detailed information as may be helpful. The corporation shall cause an audit of its books and accounts to be made at least once in each fiscal year by certified public accountants and the cost thereof shall be treated as a current expense. Except as otherwise provided for in this act, the corporation shall have the full power to exercise care of its property and the management of its business and affairs. The treasurer shall give bond for the faithful performance of his duties, with a surety company authorized to do business in the commonwealth as surety, in such sum as the board of directors may determine, the premium thereof to be paid by the corporation.

SECTION 9. The corporation, from time to time, may provide by resolution, for the issuance of revenue bonds of the corporation for the purposes of paying all or any part of the cost of a development project or projects. The principal of and interest on the bonds shall be payable solely from the funds herein provided for the payment. The bonds of each issue shall be dated, shall bear interest at the rates and shall mature at the time or times not exceeding 40 years from their date or dates, as determined by the corporation, and may be redeemable before maturity, at the option if the corporation, at the price or prices and under the terms and conditions fixed by the corporation before the issuance of the bonds. The corporation shall determine the form of the bonds, including any interest coupons to be attached thereto, and the manner of execution of the bonds, and shall fix the denomination or denominations of the bonds and the place or places of payment of principal and interest, which may be at any bank or trust company within the commonwealth. In case any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature shall appear on any bonds or coupons shall cease to be an officer before the delivery of the bonds, the signature or facsimile shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes the same as if he had remained in office until the delivery. The bonds may be issued in coupon or registered form or both, as the corporation may determine, and provision may be made for the registration of any coupon bonds as to principal alone and also as to both principal and interest. The corporation may sell the bonds in a manner and for a price, either at public or private sale, as it may determine to be for the best interests of the corporation.

The proceeds of the bonds shall be used solely for the payment of the cost of a development project, and shall be disbursed in a manner and under such restrictions, if any, as the corporation may provide. Before the preparation of definitive bonds, the corporation may, under like restrictions, issue interim receipts or temporary bonds, with or without coupons, exchangeable for definitive bonds when the bonds have been executed and are available for delivery. The corporation may also provide for the replacement of any bonds which shall become mutilated or shall be destroyed or lost. Revenue bonds may be issued under this act subject only to those proceedings, conditions or things which are specifically required by this act.

The corporation may provide by resolution for the issuance of revenue refunding bonds of the corporation for the purpose of refunding any revenue bonds then outstanding and issued under this act, including the payment of any redemption premium thereon on any interest accrued or to accrue to the date of redemption of the bonds and, if deemed advisable by the corporation, for the additional purpose of construction or reconstructing and extensions or improvements of the development project. The issue of the bonds, the maturities, and other details thereof, the rights of the holders thereof, and the duties of the corporation in respect of the same shall be governed by this act insofar as the same may be applicable.

While any bonds issued by the corporation remain outstanding, the powers, duties or existence of the corporation shall not be diminished or impaired in any way that will affect adversely the interests and rights of the holders of such bonds.

Revenue and revenue refunding bonds issued under this act, unless otherwise authorized by law, shall not constitute a debt of the commonwealth or the town, or a pledge of the faith and credit of the commonwealth or of the town, but the bonds shall be payable solely from the funds herein provided therefore from revenues. In the event that the corporation or the town or commonwealth is not obliged to pay the revenue or revenue refunding bonds, then, all the revenue and revenue refunding bonds shall contain on the face thereof a statement to the effect that neither the corporation nor the commonwealth nor the town shall be obliged to pay the same or the interest thereon except from revenues, and that neither the faith and credit nor taxing power of the commonwealth or of the town is pledged to the payment on the bonds.

All revenue and revenue refunding bonds issued under this act shall have and are hereby declared to have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments as defined in section 3-104 of chapter 106 of the General Laws.

SECTION 10. In the discretion of the corporation the revenue bonds or revenue refunding bonds may be secured by a trust agreement by and between the corporation and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within the commonwealth. The trust agreement may pledge or assign the revenues to be received, but shall not convey or mortgage any development project or part thereof.

Either the resolution providing for the issuance of bonds or the trust agreement may contain provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders, including without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions defining defaults and providing for remedies in the event thereof, which may include the acceleration of maturities, and covenants setting for the duties of and limitations on the corporation in relation to the acquisition, construction, improvement, enlargement, alteration, equipping, furnishing, maintenance, operation, repair, insurance and disposition of property, the custody, safeguarding, investment and application of moneys, the use of any surplus bond or note proceeds and the establishment of reserves. The resolution or trust agreement may also contain covenants by the corporation in relation to, among other things: (1) the establishment, revision and collection of such rents and charges for services of facilities furnished or supplied by the corporation as shall provide revenues sufficient with other revenues of the development project, if any, to pay (i) the cost of maintaining, repairing and operating the development project and of making renewals and replacements in connection therewith, (ii) the principal of and the interest on the revenue bonds as the same shall become due and payable, (iii) payments in lieu of taxes, betterment and special assessments, and (iv) reserves for such purposes; (2) the purpose or purposes for which the proceeds of the sale of the bonds will be applied and the use and disposition thereof; (3) the use and disposition of the gross revenues of the corporation from the development project, any additions thereto and extensions and improvements thereof, including the creation and maintenance of funds for working capital and for renewals and replacements to the development project; (4) the amount, if any, of additional revenue bonds payable from the revenues of the development project and the limitations, terms and conditions on which the additional revenue bonds may be issued; and (5) the operation, maintenance, management, accounting and auditing of the development project and of the income and revenues of the corporation.

It shall be lawful for any bank or trust company incorporated under the laws of the commonwealth to act as depository of the proceeds of the bonds or of revenues, and to furnish indemnifying bonds or to pledge securities as required by the corporation. The trust agreement may set forth the rights and remedies of the bondholders and of the trustees, and may restrict the individual right of action by bondholders as is customary in trust agreements or trust indentures securing bonds and debentures of corporations. In addition to the foregoing, the trust agreement may contain other provisions as the corporation considers reasonable and proper for the security of the bondholders. All expenses incurred in carrying out the trust agreement may be treated as a part of the cost of the operation of the development project. The pledge by any trust agreement or resolution shall be valid and binding from the time when the pledge is made; the revenues or other moneys so pledged and then held or thereafter received by the corporation shall immediately be subject to the lien of the pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act; and the lien of the pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the corporation, irrespective of whether the parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any trust agreement by which pledge it is created need be filed or recorded except in the records of the corporation, and no filing need be made under chapter 106 of the General Laws.

SECTION 11. Revenue bonds and revenue refunding bonds issued under this act are hereby made securities in which all public officers and public bodies of the commonwealth and its political subdivisions, all insurance companies, trust companies in their commercial departments and within the limits set by section 14 of chapter 167E of the General Laws, banking associations, investment companies, executors, trustees and other fiduciaries, and all other persons whatsoever who are now or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of a similar nature may properly and legally invest funds, including capital in their control and belonging to them; and the bonds are hereby made obligations which may properly and legally be made eligible for the investment of savings deposits and income thereof in the manner provided by section 2 of said chapter 167E. The bonds are hereby made securities which may properly and legally be deposited with and received by any state or municipal officer or any agency or political subdivision of the commonwealth for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of the commonwealth is now or may hereafter be authorized by law.

SECTION 12. To provide funds for the general purposes of the corporation, including working capital, the corporation may from time to time issue debentures which, unless otherwise authorized by law, shall not constitute a debt of the commonwealth or of the town, or a pledge of the faith and credit of the commonwealth or of the town, and shall be subordinated to all other obligations of the corporation and shall be payable at the time and in installments, if any, as the corporation shall determine, but solely out of the net assets of the corporation; and the holders thereof shall be entitled to interest thereon, but only out of the net earnings of the corporation, and in no event at a rate higher than the rate specified therein.

The debentures may be secured by a trust agreement by and between the corporation and a corporate trustee, which shall be located within the commonwealth and shall be a trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company. The trust agreement shall contain provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the debenture holder. It shall be lawful for any bank or trust company incorporated under the laws of the commonwealth which may act as a depository under the trust agreement to furnish indemnifying bonds or to pledge securities as required by the corporation. The trust agreement shall set forth the rights and remedies of the debenture holders and of the trustee, and may restrict individual right of action by debenture holders. In addition to the foregoing, the trust agreement may contain such other provisions as the corporation may consider reasonable and proper for the security of the debenture holders. All expenses incurred in carrying out the trust agreement may be treated as an item of current expense.

Debentures may be issued under this act without obtaining the consent of any department, division, office, commission, board, bureau or agency of the commonwealth or the town, and without any other proceedings or the happenings of any other condition or things other than those proceedings, conditions or things which are specifically required by this act.

SECTION 13. Any holder of bonds or debentures issued under this act or of any coupons appertaining thereto, and the trustee, except to the extent the rights herein given may be restricted by the trust agreement, may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce all rights under the laws of the commonwealth or granted hereunder or under the trust agreement, and may enforce and compel the performance of all duties required by this act or by the trust agreement, to be performed by the corporation or by any officer thereof.

SECTION 14. Notwithstanding any rule at common law or any authorization, limitation or any general or special law, or any provision in their respective charters, agreements of associations, articles or organization, or trust indentures, domestic corporations organized for the purpose of carrying on business within the commonwealth, including without implied limitation any electric or gas company as defined in section 1 of chapter 164 of the General Laws, railroad corporations as defined in section 1 of chapter 166 of the General Laws, financial institutions, trustees and the town may acquire, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any bonds, securities or other evidence of indebtedness of the corporation and to make contributions to the corporation, all without the approval of any regulatory authority of the commonwealth.

A contribution made under this section to the corporation shall be in addition to contributions authorized by section 12C of chapter 155 of the General Laws and by other general or special law.

SECTION 15. Except as herein provided, rents and charges for services or facilities furnished or supplied by the corporation shall not be subject to supervision or regulation by any department, division, commission, board, bureau or agency of the commonwealth or the town, and if derived from a development project in connection with which revenue bonds have been issued, shall, with all other revenues derived from the development project, except the part thereof necessary to pay the cost of maintenance, repair and operation, and to provide reserves therefore provided for in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or in the trust agreement, but including the part thereof necessary to provide the reserves for the payment of the principal of and the interest on the revenue bonds provided for in the resolution or trust agreement, and including also the proceeds of sales by the corporation of property for, or in connection with, a development project, be set aside at such regular intervals provided for in the resolution or trust agreement, in a sinking fund which is hereby pledged to and charged with the payment of: (1) the interest upon the bonds as the interest shall fall due, (2) the principal of the bonds as the same shall fall due, (3) the necessary charges of paying agents for paying principal and interest, and (4) the redemption price or the purchase price of bonds retired by call or purchase as therein provided.

SECTION 16. The corporation shall be liable in contract and in tort in the same manner as a municipal corporation. The directors, employees, officers and agents of the corporation shall be liable in contracts and tort, in the same manner as municipal employees under the General Laws. The corporation shall indemnify its employees under sections 9 and 13 of chapter 258 of the General Laws as public employees. The property or funds of the corporation shall not be subject to attachment or to levy and sale on execution, but if the corporation refuses to pay a judgment entered against it in any court of competent jurisdiction, the superior court may direct the treasurer of the corporation to pay the judgment. The real estate owned by the corporation shall not be subject to liens under chapter 254 of the General Laws, but sections 28 and 29 of chapter 149 of the General Laws shall be applicable to any construction work by the corporation.

SECTION 17. The corporation shall make reports of its condition not less than annually to the board of selectmen and secretary of state, which report shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the town within 60 days of the close of the corporation's fiscal year. The secretary of state shall make copies of the reports available to the commissioner of insurance and to the commissioner of banks, and the corporation shall also furnish such other information as may be required by the secretary of state from time to time.

SECTION 18. Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, the town, acting by vote of town meeting and upon terms and conditions as determined by the board of selectmen, the town manager, or a board or officer to whom such authority is delegated by town meeting, may convey, by sale or gift, property within a development area, or any interest in such property, to the corporation in aid of the public purposes of the corporation. The town may lease for a term not to exceed 40 years any land or land with improvements owned by the town upon terms and conditions as the town manager shall determine, for public purposes consistent with this act. All leases shall provide that the corporation may not encumber property owned by the town, or the corporation's leasehold interest therein, without approval of the board of selectmen.

The town shall not incur any financial obligation as a result of any action by the corporation, absent a 2/3 vote of town meeting.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the corporation shall establish a maintenance reserve fund from any lease revenues obtained from development projects carried out on publicly owned property, sufficient to meet the expenses of maintaining the projects in a fully operational state, including, but not limited to, routine and non-routine maintenance and the maintenance of any and all improvements. All leases shall also provide that the lease shall terminate in the event that the corporation ceases to use the land for the declared public purpose described in section 1.

SECTION 19. The town may take actions in aid of the corporation in connection with a development project pursuant to the provisions of section 23 of chapter 121B.

SECTION 20. A development project shall not be undertaken by the corporation until the board of selectmen holds a public hearing relating to the project and authorizes the project by an affirmative vote of a majority of the entire board. Notice of public hearings shall be given to the public through a legal notice in a newspaper having a general circulation in the town, published no later than 2 weeks before the hearing date.

SECTION 21. The real estate and tangible personal property of the corporation shall be deemed public property used for essential public and governmental purposes and shall be exempt from taxation by the commonwealth or any subdivision thereof and from betterments and special assessments; but in lieu of the taxes, betterments, and special assessments, the town may determine a sum to be paid to it annually in any year or period of years, the sum in any year not to be in excess of the amount that would be levied at the then current tax rate upon the average assessed value of the real estate, including buildings and other structures, for the 3 years preceding the acquisition thereof, the valuation for each year being reduced by all abatements thereon.

The town may, however, agree with the corporation upon the payments to be made, or the corporation may make and the town may accept the payments, the amount of which shall not in either case be subject to the foregoing limitation.

Nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent the taxation, to the same extent and in the same manner as other real estate is taxed, of real estate sold or otherwise transferred by the corporation pursuant to a development project, or the taxation to the same extent and in the same manner as real estate of the commonwealth is taxed, of real estate acquired by the corporation pursuant to a development project and thereafter leased by the corporation; but real estate so acquired by the corporation and sold or leased to an urban redevelopment corporation or other entity operating under chapter 121A, 121B, and 121C of the General Laws shall be taxed under said chapters.

The corporation and the debentures issued under this act, their transfer and the income therefrom, including any profit made on the sale thereof, shall at all times be free from taxation by the commonwealth or any subdivision thereof.

SECTION 22. The corporation is hereby designated as a community-based development organization for purposes of carrying out community or economic development projects with federal financial assistance.

SECTION 23. The corporation is hereby designated as a non-profit organization that may act as a land trust for purposes of carrying out preservation projects as defined in section 2 of this act and for receiving assignment of the town's first refusal options under chapter 61, chapter 61A or chapter 61B of the General Laws.

SECTION 24. The town may raise and appropriate or may borrow funds for the purpose of granting or loaning funds to the corporation to aid the corporation in carrying out any of its public purposes, including, but not limited to, defraying all or part of the development, acquisition and operating costs of any development project, and for the purpose of acquiring land to convey or lease to the corporation for any development project. Indebtedness of the town authorized and issued under this section shall be payable within 40 years from its original date of issue and shall be exempt from the limit of indebtedness prescribed in section 10 of chapter 44 of the General Laws; but the total amount of indebtedness of the town outstanding at any one time under this section and under clauses (1), (2) and (4) of section 20 of chapter 121B of the General Laws shall not exceed 5 per cent of the town's equalized valuation as defined in section 1 of said chapter 44, notwithstanding section 21 of said chapter 121B, and the approval required pursuant to section 22 of said chapter 121B shall be required before the town incurs any indebtedness under this section which will cause the total amount of its indebtedness outstanding under this section and under clauses (1), (2) and (4) of section 20 of said chapter 121B to exceed 2> per cent of the town's equalized valuation. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 17 of said chapter 44 to the contrary, the town may issue temporary notes for a period not to exceed 10 years in anticipation of money to be derived from the sale of serial bonds or notes authorized by the town under this section, and the town may refund notes from time to time by the issue of other temporary notes from time to time, the period from the date of issue of the original notes to the date of maturity of the refunding notes shall not exceed 10 years, and the town shall not be required to use revenue funds of the town to pay any portion of the principal amount of any such notes or refunding notes that are refunded. Except as otherwise provided in this section, indebtedness authorized and incurred by the town under this section shall be subject to said chapter 44.

SECTION 25. The vote of the town passed under article 2 at its special town meeting held on September 9, 2002, is hereby approved, ratified and confirmed with respect to the authorization therein for the board of selectmen of the town to convey the property described therein to the corporation in aid of the purposes of the corporation, and the actions of the town authorized by the vote, including the borrowing for the acquisition of the property described therein and the conveyance of all or a portion of the property to the corporation by the board of selectmen, may be carried out by the town pursuant to the authority granted in this act.

SECTION 26. The corporation may, upon the affirmative vote of 2/3 of its members, petition for its dissolution by order of the supreme judicial or superior court, in the manner provided in section 11A of chapter 180 of the General Laws.

SECTION 27. If the town shall modify its charter, or if it shall adopt a new charter, then without amendment of this act, those provisions of this act which refer to specific municipal officials or municipal bodies shall be understood, upon the charter change, to refer to those who under such change exercise the same or equivalent functions.

SECTION 28. This act, being necessary for the welfare of the commonwealth and the town and its inhabitants, shall be liberally construed to effect the purpose thereof.

SECTION 29. The provisions of this act are severable, and if any of its provisions shall be held unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of the court shall not impair any of the remaining provisions.

SECTION 30. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved January 1, 2003.