AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DIVISION OF CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE TO GRANT CERTAIN EASEMENTS TO THE TOWN OF BROOKFIELD
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to authorize forthwith the granting of certain easements to the town of Brookfield, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
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 sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the commissioner of fish and game, may grant 6 easements to the town of Brookfield for the reconstruction of the Fiskdale road, state highway route 148, bridge. The easements are shown as: (i) parcel X-S-2, to construct and maintain slopes and to construct a new guardrail; (ii) parcel X-S-5, to construct and maintain slopes; (iii) parcel X-E-2 for the layout, alteration, construction and maintenance of a sidewalk; (iv) parcel X-E-5, for the layout, alteration, construction and maintenance of a sidewalk; (v) parcel X-D-2, to construct flared end section for proposed drainage; and (vi) parcel X-TE-1, to construct and maintain slopes. The easements are shown on a plan entitled “Brookfield, Massachusetts Town of Brookfield Easement Plan Fiskdale Road – Route 148” dated August 9, 2013, revised through August 23, 2013, prepared by Green International Affiliates, Inc., which is on file at the offices of the department of fish and game. The easement areas shall be under the care, custody, management and control of the board of selectmen of the town of Brookfield.
SECTION 2. In consideration for the grant of the easements authorized in section 1, the town of Brookfield shall convey to the department of fish and game for conservation and passive recreational purposes a certain parcel of land described in an order of taking dated April 26, 2012 and recorded with the Worcester south district registry of deeds in book 48964, page 1.
SECTION 3. The relative full and fair market value of the easements described in section 1 and the parcel described in section 2 shall be determined by the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance based on at least 1 professional appraisal. Should the appraised value of the parcel of land conveyed under section 2 be of greater value than the appraised value of the easements described in section 1, the commonwealth shall have no obligation to pay the difference.
SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the inspector general shall review and approve any appraisal conducted pursuant to section 3. The inspector general shall prepare a report of the review of the methodology utilized for the appraisal and shall file the report with the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance. Within 15 days after receiving the inspector general’s report but not later than 15 days before the execution of any agreement or document under this act, the commissioner shall submit the report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight.
SECTION 5. If the town of Brookfield agrees to complete the transactions authorized in this act, costs and expenses associated with the transactions, including any appraisals, surveys and recordings, shall be borne by the town of Brookfield.
Approved, August 5, 2014.