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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2540 FILED ON: 3/13/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2393
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
John C. Velis
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act authorizing the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance to convey
certain parcels of land to the city of Westfield.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John C. VelisHampden and Hampshire 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2540 FILED ON: 3/13/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2393
By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of John C. Velis for
legislation to authorize the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance to
convey certain parcels of land to the city of Westfield. State Administration and Regulatory
Oversight. [Local approval received]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act authorizing the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance to convey
certain parcels of land to the city of Westfield.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
authorize forthwith the conveyance of certain property to the city of Westfield, 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:
1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding sections 34 to 37 of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any
2general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of capital asset management and
3maintenance, in consultation with the commissioner of conservation and recreation, may convey
4to the city of Westfield, for no monetary consideration, the parcels of land described in section 2,
5currently under the care and control of the department of conservation and recreation, taken for
6dike construction on the Westfield river and held for conservation and recreation
7purposes, subject to the requirements of section 3 and 4, and to such additional terms and
8conditions consistent with this act as the commissioner of capital asset management and
9maintenance may prescribe in consultation with the commissioner of conservation and 2 of 3
10recreation. Prior to finalizing the transaction or making the conveyance by this section, the
11division of capital asset management and maintenance may complete a survey of the parcels.
12 SECTION 2. The parcels of land authorized to be conveyed pursuant to section 1 contain
13approximately 13.23 acres and consist of: (a) parcels 1 to 28, inclusive, as shown on a plan
14entitled, “Plan of Land in the City of Westfield, Taken in Behalf of the Commonwealth of
15Massachusetts, Acting by the Department of Public Works, Under Chapter 790 of the Acts of
161949 and Chapter 513 of the Acts of 1939”, Approved May 25, 1950, and recorded in the
17Hampden district registry of deeds in plan book 31, page 27 and 28, being the land taken
18pursuant to an order of taking recorded in the Hampden district registry of deeds in book 2050,
19page 575, and (b) lots 17 and 25 shown on a plan entitled, “Subdivision of Lots A&B shown on a
20plan filed with Cert. of Title No. 500 Registry District of Hampden County, Land in Westfield”,
21dated September 1916, known as plan 5888-A filed with certificate of title number 500 in the
22Hampden registry district of the land court, being the land taken pursuant to an order of taking
23recorded in the Hampden district registry of the land court as document number 13615.
24 SECTION 3. The parcels conveyed to the city of Westfield pursuant to section 1 shall be
25under the care and control of the division of parks and recreation of the department of public
26works of the city of Westfield. The parcels shall be held for conservation and recreation purposes
27and flood protection purposes, including, but not limited to, the construction and maintenance of
28a flood control levee and a recreational trail open to the general public, subject to the reasonable
29rules and regulations of the city, pursuant to article XCVII of the Amendments to the
30Constitution of the commonwealth. 3 of 3
31 SECTON 4. The city of Westfield shall be responsible for all costs associated with the
32conveyances and releases authorized by this act including, but not limited to, any survey,
33recording or legal costs and any other expenses incurred by the commonwealth in connection
34with the conveyance and for all costs, liabilities and expenses of any nature and kind for its
35ownership, use, operation and maintenance, including, but not limited to, the associated flood
36control works under item 7822-01 of section 2 of chapter 790 of the acts of 1949, chapter 513 of
37the acts of 1939 and chapter 91 of the General Laws.