HOUSE DOCKET, NO.                 FILED ON: 12/27/2022

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5445

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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December 27, 2022

To the Honorable House of Representatives,

Pursuant to Article LVI, as amended by Article XC, Section 3 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I am returning to you for amendment House Bill 4902, “An Act authorizing the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance to convey a certain parcel of land to the city of Fitchburg”.  

House Bill 4902 authorizes the Commissioner of DCAMM to convey the former Superior Court property to the city of Fitchburg.  The city of Fitchburg has indicated that it intends to market the property for redevelopment.   I support the productive reuse of properties that are surplus to the needs of the Commonwealth.  However, this bill requires the Commissioner to confirm that the Commonwealth owns the property as a condition of the sale to the City.  This is inconsistent with how the Commonwealth typically sells property.  

Accordingly, I recommend amending the bill by striking the last sentence of Section 1 of the bill and inserting the following language in place thereof: 

The property shall be conveyed by deed without warranties or representations by the commonwealth.

Respectfully submittee

Charles D. Baker,

Governor