AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF ROCKLAND.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Article VI of the charter of the town of Rockland, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 6.07 There shall be a capital planning committee comprised of 7 voting members, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the board of selectmen, 2 by the finance committee, 1 by the school committee, and 2 by the moderator. When first constituted the board of selectmen, the finance committee and the moderator shall each appoint 1 member for a 3-year term and the school committee 1 member for a 2-year term. The board of selectmen, the finance committee and the moderator shall each appoint 1 member for a 1-year term. Thereafter, following the annual town meeting, appointments to the committee shall be made by the the same appointing authorities so as to provide for overlapping 3-year terms. Two members of the committee may also be current members of the finance committee. The town administrator and the town accountant shall be non-voting ex-officio members.
(b) The capital planning committee shall study proposed capital projects and improvements involving major recurring and non-recurring tangible assets and projects which (1) are purchased or taken at intervals of not less than 5 years; or (2) have a useful life of at least 5 years, and; (3) cost over $50,000. All officers, boards, departments, and committees, shall, by October 1 of each year, give to the capital planning committee, on forms furnished by the capital planning committee, information concerning all anticipated projects requiring town meeting appropriation during the ensuing 5 years. Using the revenue and expenditure projections prepared by the town administrator, the capital planning committee shall consider the relative need, impact, timing and cost of these expenditures and the effect each will have on the financial position of the town. An appropriation shall not be voted for a capital improvement request by the department, board, or committee unless the proposed capital improvements is considered in the committee's report or the committee shall first have submitted a report to the town meeting explaining the omission.
(c) The capital planning committee shall prepare an annual report recommending a capital improvement budget for the next fiscal year and a capital improvement program, including recommending budget for the next fiscal year and capital improvement program, including recommended capital improvements for the following 4 fiscal years. The report shall be submitted to the board of selectmen for review and recommendations.
(d) The capital planning committee's report and the board of selectmen's recommended capital improvement budget shall be published and made available in a manner consistent with the distribution of the operating budget.