(1) The Towns of Franklin, Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham may, through their respective town council and boards of selectmen, enter into a written agreement for the purpose of establishing a district to construct, equip, operate and maintain a consolidated regional public safety communications and dispatch center. The written agreement shall provide for the management of the district by a board of directors to be comprised of the chief administrative officer of each member town. The agreement shall set forth the financial terms and conditions of membership of the district and the powers and duties of the board of directors and shall provide for the operation of a regional public safety communications and dispatch center and any other matters not incompatible with law.
(a) The district shall be deemed to be a public entity and shall have the power to sue and to be sued, but only to the same extent and upon the same conditions that a city or town may be sued.
(b) The district shall be deemed to be a public employer and may employ personnel to carry out the purposes of the district and may establish the duties, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment of personnel
(c) The district may borrow money, enter into long or short-term loan agreements or mortgages and apply for state, federal or corporate grants or contracts to obtain funds necessary to carry out the purposes of the center.
(d) The district may enter into contracts to provide services to non-member municipalities and private parties.
(e) The board of directors may enter into contracts for the purchase of supplies, materials and services and for the purchase or lease of land, buildings and equipment as deemed necessary.
(f) The board of directors shall adopt an annual operating budget and shall have the authority to assess member municipalities for their share thereof and to employ all available legal remedies and other lawful means to collect said assessments.
(g) The board of directors shall establish and manage a fund to which all monies contributed by the towns, and all grants and gifts from the federal or state government or any other shall be deposited. The board of directors shall appoint the treasurer who may be a treasurer of one of the towns. The treasurer, subject to the direction and approval of the board of directors, shall be authorized to receive, invest and disburse all funds of the center without further appropriation. The treasurer shall give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in a form and amount as fixed by the board of directors.
(2) Any member city or town is hereby authorized to sell, lease or license to the district any emergency communication center facility or building and any land appurtenant thereto or used in connection therewith or any other land or other property useful for the purposes of the district, and any such city or town may authorize such sale, lease or license accordingly, notwithstanding the provisions of section three of chapter forty, section 16 of chapter 30B or any other provisions of law to the contrary. In case of a sale, the price and time or times of payment and the method by which the cities and towns other than the selling city or town shall be assessed for such payment shall be set forth in the written agreement establishing the district or an amendment thereto; but in no case shall payments be made which shall extend over a period in excess of twenty-five years. In the case of a lease or license, the rental or license may be for a term not in excess of twenty-five years, and may contain provisions for the extension of the lease or license for an additional term or terms not in excess of twenty-five years, at the option of the district board of directors.
(3) The written agreement establishing the district may make provision for the method of termination of the district and may also provide procedures for the addition of new member towns or for the withdrawal of towns.
(4) This act shall take effect upon its passage.
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