SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2069        FILED ON: 2/10/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2059

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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Resolve establishing a special commission on the reuse of Westborough State Hospital.

Resolved, that a special commission shall be established to foster coordination and planning among municipalities and state agencies on the surplusing and reuse of Westborough State Hospital after its patients are transferred to Worcester State Hospital. The commission shall consist of the secretary of housing and economic development or his designee who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance or his designee; the commissioner of mental health or his designee; the commissioner of youth services or his designee; the commissioner of fish and game or his designee; the commissioner of agricultural resources or his designee; a representative of the Massachusetts Historical Commission; a representative of the department of highways;  two  representatives of the town of Westborough; two representatives of the town of Northborough; a representative of the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission; and a representative of the 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership.

The commission shall: (1) review existing state agency ownership and usage agreements within Westborough State Hospital property; (2) review existing municipal comprehensive plans and zoning; (3) solicit public and agency input on potential uses of the property; (4) identify potential surplus state property; (5) provide information and analysis regarding these fore-mentioned matters to the towns of Westborough and Northborough as may be requested;  (6) work with the planning boards and boards of selectmen of the Towns of Westborough and Northborough in a cooperative planning process to develop and bring proposals for town meeting approval.

The commission shall file its final report with the clerk of the senate and house of representatives not later than 1 year after the effective date of this resolve.