HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2516        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 961

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James M. Kelcourse

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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 to support Plum Island coastal resources.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2516        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 961

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 819 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act to support Plum Island coastal resources.

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 city of Newburyport is authorized to impose and collect a surcharge for motor vehicle parking in the parking facilities located in the area known as “Plum Island Point” in the northeastern section of Plum Island in the city of Newburyport, provided that said city and the department of conservation and recreation shall enter into an agreement for the joint collection of said surcharge and any parking fee charged by the department.

SECTION 2. Pursuant to the provisions herein, the city of Newburyport may impose a surcharge of a specific amount pursuant to section 1 by a vote of the city council thereof and approval by the mayor, provided that upon such decision the city shall establish and set up on its book a Plum Island Resource Fund, into which shall be deposited any and all proceeds from such surcharge.

SECTION 3. Any modification to the amount of the surcharge imposed pursuant to this act shall be made with the approval of the mayor and the city council, not later than May 1 of the year in which it is to take effect.

SECTION 4. Subject to appropriation by the mayor and city council, amounts shall only be expended from the Plum Island Resource Fund for the purposes of restoring and protecting dunes, shorelines, beaches, infrastructure and property, and for the permanent, temporary and interim measures to achieve such purposes on Plum Island, provided, however, that the funds may be expended from said fund for regional or intermunicipal efforts for such purpose.

SECTION 5. The department of conservation and recreation shall study the feasibility of transferring the ownership and control of the parking lot described in section 1 to the city of Newburyport, and such study shall include all relevant aspects of such a transfer, including but not limited to value, compensation, public access and public safety.  The results of said study, together with any legislative recommendations, shall be filed with the clerks of the house and senate, and the clerk of the city of Newburyport, not later than six months following the passage of this act.