SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2961

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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SECTION 1. Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance may convey to the city of Chelsea for passive recreational purposes certain parcels of land located on the east and south side of Eastern avenue adjacent to the Chelsea river that are currently under the control of the department of conservation and recreation. The parcels are more particularly described on the city of Chelsea’s fiscal year 2019 assessors’ map 15 as: (i) lot 4, containing approximately 36,625 square feet; (ii) lot 5, containing approximately 5,602 square feet; and (iii) the area depicted as the “Chelsea street bridge”, containing approximately 8,000 square feet. The exact boundaries of the parcels shall be determined by the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the city of Chelsea, after completion of a survey.

SECTION 2. The consideration for the conveyance authorized in section 1 shall be an amount equal to the full and fair market value, restricted to passive recreational purposes, as determined by an independent appraisal. The commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance shall submit the appraisal to the inspector general for review and comment. The inspector general shall review and approve the appraisal and the review shall include an examination of the methodology utilized for the appraisal. The inspector general shall prepare a report of the review and file the report with the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance. The commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance shall submit copies of the appraisal, and the inspector general’s report, approval and comments, if any, to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight at least 15 days prior to the execution of any documents effecting the transfer described in said section 1. A deed conveying the parcels shall contain a restriction providing that the parcels shall be used for passive recreational purposes, subject to all applicable laws and regulations. The parcels shall be conveyed by deed without warranties or representations by the commonwealth, subject to existing easements held by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the city of Chelsea shall be responsible for all costs and expenses including, but not limited to, costs associated with any engineering, surveys, appraisals and deed preparation related to any conveyance pursuant to this act as such costs may be determined by the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance.

SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, if the city of Chelsea uses any of the parcels conveyed by the commonwealth to the city pursuant to this act for any purpose other than passive recreational purposes, title to such property shall, upon written notice from the division of capital asset management and maintenance to the city, revert to the commonwealth.”