SENATE DOCKET, NO.                 FILED ON: 7/13/2016

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2426

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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Resolve to establish a special commission to consider an appropriate tribute to Nelson Mandela in the City of Boston.

Resolved, that there shall be a special commission to consider the viability of establishing a designed space or facility on the Esplanade, Madison Park high school or another location in the city of Boston to commemorate the visit of Nelson Mandela to the city of Boston in June 1990 and the speech given by him on the Esplanade and at Madison Park high school.

The commission shall consult with the department of conservation and recreation and other relevant state or city agencies and shall engage the people of the city of Boston in the consideration of the importance and value of having a space or facility to commemorate Nelson Mandela’s visit.

The commission shall consider: (i) the universal nature of Nelson Mandela’s message to the city of Boston and to the United States and how to best convey that message through the establishment of the designed space or facility; (ii) the establishment of a design committee and selection process for the design of the space or facility; and (iii) funding options for the designed space or facility.

The commission shall consist of: 2 persons who shall be appointed by the governor; 1 person who shall be appointed by the senate president; 1 person who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 person who shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 person who shall be appointed by the house minority leader; 1 person who shall be appointed by the mayor of the city of Boston; 1 person who shall be appointed by the Esplanade Association, Inc.; 1 person who shall be appointed by The Boston Society of Architects; 1 person who shall be appointed by South Africa Partners, Inc.; 1 person who shall be appointed by the Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston, Inc.; and 4 persons who shall be appointed by the Mandela memorial committee, 1 of whom shall be an architect or design professional. The members shall select a chair and vice chair of the commission.

The commission shall invite the submission of papers and plans from interested parties and receive testimony from experts and the general public.  The commission shall examine designs and the process used to establish comparable spaces in other cities or states and shall submit a detailed report with its proposals and recommendations to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the governor and the mayor of the city of Boston not later than 18 months after the effective date of this resolve.  The clerks of the senate and the house of representatives shall make the report available to the public via the internet.  The appointment of the commissioners shall occur within 60 days after the effective date of this resolve.  The special commission shall dissolve 60 days after the submission of the report.”