AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSIONER OF CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE TO CONVEY CERTAIN LAND TO THE TOWN OF FOXBOROUGH FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT USE.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to forthwith authorize the transfer of certain parcels of land in the town of Foxborough, 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 general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the department of agricultural resources, may convey a certain parcel of state-owned land in the town of Foxborough to the inhabitants of the town of Foxborough for the purpose of housing a fire sub-station and all appurtenances associated with a fire station. The parcel: (i) contains approximately 2.5 acres; (ii) is located adjacent to 32 Commercial street; and (iii) is a part of the parcel as shown on the town of Foxborough assessors map 121, parcel 3446. The exact boundaries of the parcel shall be determined by the commissioner based upon a survey. The use of the proposed parcel shall be restricted to the construction of a fire department sub-station and all appurtenances associated with a fire station or firefighting. This parcel shall be conveyed by deed without warranties or representations by the commonwealth. The Town of Foxborough shall acquire the property thereon in its present condition.
SECTION 2. The consideration for the parcel described in section 1 shall: (1) be the full and fair market value of the parcel for the use authorized by this act, as determined by the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance based upon an independent professional appraisal and including the conditions set forth in section 1; and (2) the transfer to the department of agricultural resources of an interest in land or funding for the acquisition of land or an interest therein equal to or greater than the value of the highest appraised value as determined pursuant to clause (1); provided, that the land or interest in land shall be acceptable to the department of agricultural resources; and any land or interest in land, whether conveyed by the town of Foxborough or acquired by the department, shall be permanently held and managed for agricultural and natural resource purposes by the department. If the value of the land or interests in land being conveyed to the commonwealth exceeds the appraised value, neither the division of capital asset management and maintenance nor the department of agricultural resources shall have any obligation to pay the difference to the town of Foxborough. Any monetary payments paid to the commonwealth as a result of the conveyances or grants authorized by this act shall be deposited into an expendable trust within the department of agricultural resources to be used to acquire new agricultural preservation restrictions, pursuant to the rules and guidelines of the department.
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the inspector general shall review and approve the appraisal required pursuant to section 2. The inspector general shall prepare a report of such review of the methodology utilized for the appraisal and shall file the report with the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight. Thirty days before the execution of a deed for the conveyance authorized in this act or any subsequent amendment thereto, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance shall submit the proposed deed or amendment and a report thereon to the inspector general for the inspector general’s review and comment. The inspector general shall issue such a review and comment within 15 days after receipt of the proposed deed or amendment. The commissioner shall submit the proposed deed or amendment, and the reports and the comments of the inspector general, if any, to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight at least 15 days before execution of the deed or amendment.
SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the town of Foxborough shall be responsible for all costs and expenses of the transaction authorized in this act as determined by the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance including, but not limited to, the costs of any engineering, surveys, appraisals, title examinations, recording fees and deed preparation related to the conveyance of the parcel identified in section 1 and all costs, from liabilities and expenses of any nature and kind for its ownership.
SECTION 5. The deed or other instrument conveying the parcel identified in section 1 to the town of Foxborough shall provide that if the parcel ceases at any time to be used for the purposes set forth in this act, the title to the parcel shall, at the election of the commonwealth, revert to the commonwealth.
Approved, August 9, 2018.