HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 461        FILED ON: 1/13/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1720

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John C. Velis

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act providing for transfers of land in Westfield.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 461        FILED ON: 1/13/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1720

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2840 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act providing for transfers of land in Westfield.

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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and maintenance, in consultation with the Chief Medical Examiner and the Commissioner of the Department Of Public Health, may transfer to the Chief Medical Examiner a parcel of land and improvements thereon and easements appurtenant thereto in the city of Westfield to the office of the chief medical examiner for the construction of a regional facility for the use of the Chief Medical Examiner.  The parcel is currently in the care and control of the Department of Public Health and is located on the westerly side of East Mountain Road north of the Western Massachusetts hospital.  The parcel contains approximately 7.7 acres of land and is improved with a storage building having an address of 240 East Mountain Road.  The exact boundaries of the parcel and any appurtenant easements shall be determined by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance based on a final survey. The transfer agreement may provide that the existing storage building and other buildings on the parcel may continue to be used by the Department of Public Health until they are no longer needed by said department.

SECTION 2.   Upon construction of the regional facility referenced in section 1, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance may assume the control and supervision of the management, repair, and maintenance operations of the facility and other improvements to the extent agreed upon between the Commissioner and the Chief Medical Examiner, with the approval of the Secretary of Administration and Finance.  Upon approval of any such agreement, the Secretary of Administration and Finance shall forthwith file a written notice with the Comptroller and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means, specifying the scope of the authority so granted to the Division and the duration thereof. Where the Commissioner has assumed such control and supervision, the Commissioner shall make quarterly reports to the Secretary of Administration and Finance on the status of such maintenance, management and repair operations so assumed.  

SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Youth Services and the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, may transfer from the Department of Public Health to the Department of Youth Services a parcel of land for the use of the Department of Youth Services.  The parcel is located on the easterly side of East Mountain Road at the intersection of Springfield road in the City of Westfield.  Said parcel consists of approximately 3.6± acres of land and is improved with the facility known as the Hampden County Secure Detention Facility which is being used by the Department of Youth Services.  The boundaries of said parcel shall be determined by the Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance based on a survey.

SECTION 4.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Commissioner of the Division Of Capital Asset Management And Maintenance, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department Of Youth Services and the Commissioner of the Department Of Public Health, may transfer from the Department Of Youth Services to the Department Of Public Health an unimproved  parcel of land in the City of Westfield consisting of approximately 3.0± acres adjacent to the easterly boundary of the parcel described in section 3 and adjacent to the southerly side of property of the Western Massachusetts hospital.  The parcel shall be used for public health purposes.  The boundaries of said parcel shall be determined by the Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance based on a survey.