AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL FUND FOR RECAPTURED FUNDS FROM DEMOLITION LIENS OR RELATED GRANTS IN THE TOWN OF ATHOL.
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) Notwithstanding section 53 of chapter 44 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the town of Athol may establish a special fund for the deposit of any proceeds to the town of Athol from funds recaptured through demolition liens and state or federal grants or local appropriations for such purpose after February 1, 2015. Interest earned on the fund shall be treated as general fund revenue of the town. Any balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall carry over to the next fiscal year and thereafter if not then expended for the purposes set forth in this act.
(b) Proceeds from the fund shall be used at the discretion of the town manager, in consultation with the Athol vacant and abandoned building committee or its successor, without further appropriation, to secure, clear, make safe or demolish, together with any associated costs, properties considered unsafe, dangerous or unfit for human habitation under applicable building or health codes.
Expenditures shall not be made and liabilities shall not be incurred in excess of the balance of the fund.
The town manager shall annually report to the board of selectmen on the total amount of receipts and expenditures for the fund for the prior fiscal year and for the current fiscal year through December 31 or such later date as the board of selectmen may, by vote, determine, together with such other information as the board of selectmen may, by vote, require.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, July 14, 2016.