AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DISTRICT TO OPERATE A REGIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS AND DISPATCH CENTER FOR THE CITY KNOWN AS THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN AND THE TOWNS OF NORFOLK, PLAINVILLE AND WRENTHAM.
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. (a) The city known as the town of Franklin and the towns of Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham may, through their respective town council and boards of selectmen, enter into a written agreement for the purpose of establishing a district to construct, equip, operate and maintain a consolidated regional public safety communications and dispatch center. The written agreement shall provide for the management of the district by a board of directors to be comprised of the chief administrative officer of each member town. The agreement shall set forth the financial terms and conditions of membership of the district and the powers and duties of the board of directors and shall provide for the operation of a regional public safety communications and dispatch center and any other matters not incompatible with law.
(b) The district shall be deemed to be a public entity and shall have the power to sue and be sued, but only to the same extent and upon the same conditions that a city or town may be sued.
(c) The district shall be a public employer and may employ personnel to carry out the purposes of the district and may establish the duties, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment of personnel.
(d) The district may borrow money, enter into long-term or short-term loan agreements or mortgages and apply for state, federal or corporate grants or contracts to obtain funds necessary to carry out the purposes of the center.
(e) The district may enter into contracts to provide services to non-member municipalities and private parties.
(f) The board of directors may enter into contracts for the purchase of supplies, materials and services and for the purchase or lease of land, buildings and equipment as deemed necessary.
(g) The board of directors shall adopt an annual operating budget and shall have the authority to assess member municipalities for their share thereof and to employ all available legal remedies and other lawful means to collect said assessments.
(h) The board of directors shall establish and manage a fund to which all monies contributed by the towns, and all grants and gifts from the federal or state government or any other shall be deposited. The board of directors shall appoint a treasurer who may be a treasurer of 1 of the towns. The treasurer, subject to the direction and approval of the board of directors, may receive, invest and disburse all funds of the district without further appropriation. The treasurer shall give bond for the faithful performance of the treasurer’s duties in a form and amount as fixed by the board of directors.
(i) Notwithstanding section 16 of chapter 30B of the General Laws, section 3 of chapter 40 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, any member city or town may sell, lease or license to the district any emergency communication center facility or building and any land appurtenant thereto or used in connection therewith or any other land or other property useful for the purposes of the district and any such city or town may authorize such sale, lease or license. In case of a sale, the price and times of payment and the method by which the cities and towns, other than the selling city or town, shall be assessed for such payment shall be set forth in the written agreement establishing the district or an amendment thereto; provided, however, that no payments shall be made which shall extend over a period in excess of 25 years. In the case of a lease or license, the rental or license may be for a term not in excess of 25 years, and may contain provisions for the extension of the lease or license for an additional term or terms not in excess of 25 years, at the option of the board of directors.
(j) The written agreement establishing the district may make provision for the method of termination of the district and may also provide procedures for the addition of new member cities or towns or for the withdrawal of cities or towns.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, July 22 , 2013.