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 the provisions of section 53 of chapter 44 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the town of Eastham may establish a special account to be known as the Eastham Promotions Fund into which account shall be deposited certain receipts which comprise a portion of the local room occupancy excise received annually by said town under the provisions of section 3A of chapter 64G of the General Laws as set forth in section 2. Said fund shall be maintained as a separate account in the town treasury.

SECTION 2. For the purpose of establishing that portion of the local room occupancy excise that may be deposited in the Eastham Promotions Fund, the town of Eastham may deposit, commencing in fiscal year 1999, $10,000 from said excise receipts, and the same amount in each subsequent fiscal year, unless said amount is increased by the board of selectmen. All interest earned from said fund shall be deposited in the general fund of said town.

SECTION 3. There is hereby established in the town of Eastham a visitors tourism and promotion services board consisting of five members to be appointed by the board of selectmen as follows: two members nominated by the Eastham chamber of commerce, one member nominated by the Eastham forum, and two members at large. If any of the organizations with nominating privileges hereunder cease to exist or operate, said board of selectmen may appoint in place of such nominees individuals qualified to serve on said visitors services board, as appointees-at-large. Said board of selectmen shall fill any vacancies in said visitors tourism and promotion services board in like manner.

SECTION 4. Said visitors service board shall recommend to the annual town meeting, programs and projects that enhance the beautification, recreational resources, public safety promotional and marketing activities, events, services, and public improvements which are of clear mutual interest to the residents and visitors of the town of Eastham, and which strengthen said town as an attractive center for tourism, conventions, and related purposes of the visitor industry. The cost of such programs shall not exceed the funds available in the Eastham Promotions Fund, and shall be used for public improvements, including beautification, recreational resources, and public safety related to the mutual needs of visitors and residents with the balance available for promotional programs and projects.

SECTION 5. Upon approval of the programs, services and other projects set forth in section 4, the visitors tourism and promotion services board with the approval of the town administrator may expend from said special revenue fund for the uses authorized by town meeting, and may for the purposes of this section designate funds to be expended under the direction of the Eastham department of public works or other town agency as applicable; or obtain competitive proposals or bids for any services, programs or projects to be provided by the town by vendor contracts, all in accordance with the requirements of chapter 30B of the General Laws or any other general law governing public bidding and procurement as may apply to the program or project. Contracts for services, programs and projects authorized hereunder shall be awarded and executed by the town administrator on the recommendation of the visitors tourism and promotion services board subject to compliance with applicable procurement laws of the commonwealth.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect as of January 1, 1999.