HOUSE  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  No. 4982

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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                           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, September 21, 2020.                         

The committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Bill authorizing the conveyance of easements and conservation restrictions to watershed lands of the city known as the town of West Springfield (House, No. 4917), reports recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting therefor the accompanying bill (House, No. 4982).

For the committee,

AARON MICHLEWITZ.

        FILED ON: 9/21/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4982

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act authorizing the conveyance of easements and conservation restrictions to watershed lands of the city known as the town of West Springfield.

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 special or general law to the contrary, the city known as the town of West Springfield, acting by and through its town council with approval by its mayor, may grant to the commonwealth, acting by and through the department of conservation and recreation, and the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. easements and restrictions through a conservation restriction pursuant to and with the benefits of sections 31 and 32 of chapter 184 of the General Laws in and to all or portions of certain parcels of land owned by the town of West Springfield identified in section 2. The conservation restriction may be jointly granted to and held by the department of conservation and recreation and the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. The grant shall be for conservation and recreational purposes for the general public under Article XCVII of the Amendments to the Constitution of the commonwealth, including the preservation and protection of water resources, wildlife and native habitats, sustainable forest management and passive recreational uses. The property identified in section 2 was acquired for and used previously by the town of West Springfield for watershed and water supply protection purposes.

SECTION 2. The parcels are identified as follows: all the lands, including lands under water, located at the Bear Hole reservoir and Paucatuck brook in the town of West Springfield and city of Holyoke identified by the town of West Springfield assessor as map 3, block 1, lot 1, map 3, block 2, lot 1, map 11, block 1, lots 1 and 2, map 18, block 1, lot 1, map 19, block 1, lots 6 and 7, map 25, block 1, lot 1, map 26, block 1, lot 1, map 26, block 2, lot 1, map 27, block 1, lot 1, map 27 block 3, lots 1 and 2, map 27, block 4, lot 1, map 34, block 1, lot 1, map 36, block 1, lots 5, 6 and 10, map 44, block 1, lot 1, map 45, block 1, lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, map 53, block 1, lot 1 and map 61, block 1, lots 1 and 2 and identified by the city of Holyoke assessor as map 177, lots 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively, meaning to include without limitation such parcels and the lands and water located within the Bear Hole reservoir and Paucatuck brook watershed areas, however such areas may be described.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.