Last Update: 022505

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Berlin 1-27-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-1. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 18-1. Purpose.

The purpose of the Parks Commission shall be to:

1. Advise the Mayor and Council on the provision of quality recreational facilities for the citizens of Berlin without regard to age, physical ability or economic circumstance.
2. Assist in the provision of well-designed and maintained park facilities that will be utilized to improve the quality of life of citizens through the provision of a variety of recreational, educational, and cultural activities.
3. Develop and coordinate cooperative working relationships town officials and staff, local and state public agencies and civic clubs with a common interest in the development of public recreational facilities.
4. Assist the Mayor and Council in the planning and provision of recreational facilities to meet current and projected needs through recommendations for land acquisition, facility development and funding sources.
5. Assist the Town in maximizing the public use and appeal of existing public recreation facilities through the development of a comprehensive program of facility maintenance and management.

§ 18-2. Establishment; membership; vacancies; quorum; meetings.

1. The Mayor and Council do hereby create a Commission to be called the "Berlin Parks Commission," hereinafter referred to as the "Commission."
2. The Commission shall consist of five voting members appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the Council and such other ex officio members as shall be deemed necessary by the Commission itself from time to time for the ad hoc purposes of obtaining expert advice or volunteer services for individual projects or programs. Of the five voting members, three shall be appointed for two-year terms and two shall be appointed for a one-year term. Thereafter, all members of the Commission shall be appointed for terms of two years. Members of the Commission are eligible for reappointment.
3. No less than three of the voting members of the Commission shall reside within the corporate limits of the Town of Berlin, as those corporate boundaries shall exist at the time of the members’ appointments. Ad hoc or ex officio members may be residents of any area, so long as, in the discretion of the Commission, they demonstrate a commitment to the best interest of the parks within the Town of Berlin.
4. Any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor with the consent of the Council for the unexpired term of the particular position. It is the express intent of the Mayor and Council to have a majority of voting members representative of residents of the Town of Berlin at all times, thus appointments to fill vacancies must maintain at least three residents.
5. The members of the Commission shall serve without monetary compensation, except for the reimbursement of bona fide personal expenses that may be incurred in the course of conducting officially sanctioned business.
6. Three voting members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and a vote of three voting members shall control the action of the Commission.
7. The Commission shall meet at least six times per calendar year, with additional meetings as necessary in the discretion of a majority of the voting members. The absence for three meetings of any member of the Commission during the calendar year without excuse shall create a vacancy on the Commission.

 § 18-3. Bylaws; officers.

1. Bylaws.
1. This chapter shall serve as the bylaws for the Commission.
2. The Commission shall establish its own rules of order and procedures, subject to the approval of the Mayor and Council, and not otherwise inconsistent with the terms of this chapter.
3. A copy of the bylaws shall be kept on file with the Administrative Director, and any amendment proposed thereto shall be presented to the Mayor and Council for approval prior to its adoption and effectiveness.
2. The officers of the Commission shall consist, at a minimum, of a Chairperson, Secretary and Safety Director. Such other offices and standing or ad hoc committees may be created by the Commission at its discretion for the purposes of carrying out its duties and responsibilities under the provisions of this chapter.

§ 18-4. Powers and duties.

1. The Commission shall be advisory in nature, and all plans, programs and funding applications shall be submitted to the Mayor and Council for approval prior to implementation or submission to any funding agency.
2. The Commission will consider, evaluate, advise and recommend to the Mayor and Council on any matter relating to the following:
1. Recreation and parks policies, rules, regulations, programs and finances.
2. The acquisition and disposal of lands and properties related to the community recreation, educational and cultural programs occurring on those lands and properties.
3. The improvement and expansion of public recreational, educational and cultural facilities under the jurisdiction of the Mayor and Council.
4. The maintenance of parks and facilities.
5. The future plan for recreation and parks development needs outlined in the Berlin Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 107, Zoning, or other applicable sections of the Berlin Code relating to recreation and parks.
6. The coordination of publicly sponsored activities and events held in or involving public park facilities or privately sponsored activities which are open to the public.
7. The seeking of funds, through public and private sources, to establish, develop or improve public parks and recreation facilities within the corporate limits of the Town of Berlin as those boundaries may be amended from time to time.
3. The Commission will establish, through its own procedures, monthly safety inspections of existing parks facilities and report its findings to the Administrative Director for corrective action needed to ensure public safety in the public parks.
4. The Commission will develop and submit to the Mayor and Council an annual park improvement plan prior to the adoption of the annual budget on July 1 of each year.
5. The Commission may hold such public hearings and solicit public input as may be necessary to develop an adequate representation of all Berlin citizens in the planning and development of parks and recreational facilities.
6. The authority for any final approval, direction to staff or policy decision shall rest with the Mayor and Council or, at the Mayor and Council’s direction, with the Administrative Director or other officially designated representative of the Mayor and Council.