Intergovernmental Compact_SampleSAMPLE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMPACT or MOA
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR CONNECTICUT RIVER CLEAN-UP
by and among the Municipalities of Agawam, Chicopee, Holyoke, Ludlow, South Hadley, Springfield and West Springfield, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and other municipalities
or organizations which may approve this agreement.
WITNESSETH:
This memorandum is agreed to by and among the municipalities of Agawam, Chicopee, Holyoke, Ludlow, South Hadley, Springfield and West Springfield, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
and other municipalities or organizations which may approve this agreement for the purpose of working cooperatively to seek federal and state financial assistance and other alternative
funding sources, methods and controls for mitigating the impacts of combined sewer overflows to the Connecticut River.
WHEREAS, the Connecticut River is a natural and environmental resource of great regional and interstate importance, and is a key element in the region's quality of life and economic
prosperity;
WHEREAS, water quality in the lower Connecticut River in Massachusetts is not currently meeting fishable and swimmable standards due to water pollution discharges which include combined
sewer overflows and urban stormwater runoff;
WHEREAS, the significant costs of infrastructure necessary to eliminate combined sewer overflows and improve water quality in the Connecticut River exceed the current fiscal capabilities
of the Connecticut River communities, unless federal and state grants or financial assistance are made available;
WHEREAS, an innovative, regional and intergovernmental approach to improving water quality on the Connecticut River is desirable and will benefit riverfront communities and the region
through enhanced recreational and economic development opportunities;
NOW, THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED that the municipalities of Agawam, Chicopee, Holyoke, Ludlow, South Hadley, Springfield, and West Springfield, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and
other municipalities or organizations which may approve this agreement hereby agree to cooperate to seek federal and state financial assistance and other alternative funding sources,
methods and controls for mitigating the impacts of combined sewer overflows to the Connecticut River as follows:
Section 1. Creation of Connecticut River Clean-Up Committee
The participants shall form a permanent organization to be know as the Connecticut River Clean-up Committee consisting of one representative from each member municipality and one representative
from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC). The municipal representative shall be appointed by the chief elected official in each community. The PVPC
representative shall be appointed by the Executive Director of PVPC. The Committee may invite any other person or organization concerned with Connecticut River water quality issues
to become an associate member, and to participate in committee deliberations, but not to vote.
The purpose of the Committee shall be to increase intergovernmental cooperation to coordinate efforts for Connecticut River water quality improvement. The Committee's function shall
be to help carry out the responsibilities described in Section 2-3.
The Committee may seek, receive and expend funds from municipal or other sources in order to hire a part-time or full-time coordinator to assist it in performing its functions. The
Committee shall clearly identify the responsibilities of the coordinator, which shall include grantsmanship and lobbying for state and/or federal water quality funds, and the proposed
sources of funding for such a position. Any proposal for municipal funding of such a position will be subject to approval by Town Meeting or City Council. An annual contribution, not
to exceed two thousand dollars, will be made by each member municipality and PVPC, toward the coordinator position.
The Committee shall elect officers and shall adopt rules governing its decision-making process, quorum for meetings, frequency and location of meetings, address for purpose of correspondence,
and general operations. Adoption of these rules shall require an affirmative majority vote.
Section 2. Role of the Municipalities, Agencies or Organizations Signatory to this Agreement
The municipalities of Agawam, Chicopee, Holyoke, Ludlow, South Hadley, Springfield, and West Springfield shall have the following responsibilities:
a. To work cooperatively with other riverfront municipalities, agencies, organizations and legislators, including Hartford, Connecticut area officials, to create a partnership to lobby
for state and federal wastewater grant or loan funds for Connecticut River water quality improvement;
b. To prepare joint, intermunicipal or regional applications for wastewater grant or loan funds, working feasible and appropriate;
c. To adopt municipal policies to correct combined sewer overflows as a standard part of road improvement projects, community development block grants or other industrial development
projects;
d. To work cooperatively on educational efforts to build public consensus for Connecticut River clean-up and revitalization efforts;
e. To establish and agree upon a proposed priority list of combined sewer overflow mitigation projects to be addressed in each community and a schedule for implementation;
f. To seek innovative or alternative controls to prevent or mitigate combined sewer overflow (CSO) pollution, and reduce costs and needs for expensive infrastructure construction;
g. To investigate alternative regional funding mechanisms to assist municipalities in financing CSO controls;
h. To establish a Municipal Waterways Improvement and Maintenance Fund, in accordance with Mass. General Laws Chapter 40, section 5g, to be used for cleaning and improvement of waterways;
i. To research the feasibility of a proposal for a ballot referendum question to establish a regional clean water fund or bond to match state and federal water pollution control funds;
j. To designate a voting representative to participate in the Connecticut River Clean-up Committee.
Section 3. Role of Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) shall have the following responsibilities:
a. To assist the municipalities in meeting their responsibilities under this memorandum;
b. To seek from grants or other sources funding to assist municipalities in meeting the cost of hiring a part-time or full-time coordinator for the Connecticut River Clean-up Committee;
c. To designate a voting representative to participate in the Connecticut River Clean up Committee.
Section 4. Amendments
This Memorandum of Agreement may be amended at any time by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Committee.
Section 5. Additional Members of the Committee
The Committee may invite any other person or organization to participate in the Committee as an associate, non-voting member.
The Committee may be expanded by admitting to full membership any abutting city, municipality or organization by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Committee; provided, however, that
such expansion shall only occur at the request and initiation of such abutting city, municipality or organization, and that such city, municipality or organization shall ascribe to this
Memorandum of Agreement
Section 6. Withdrawal from Membership
Any member municipality may withdraw from participation in the Committee upon two months written notice signed by the Board of Selectmen or Mayor, such notice to be given only after
approval of such withdrawals as given by majority vote of the Board of Selectmen or approval of the Mayor of the withdrawing municipality.
Section 7. Authorization/Effective Date
This agreement has been authorized by approval of the Board of Selectmen or Mayor in each municipality, in accordance with Massachusetts General laws Chapter 40, Section 4a, and by vote
of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. This Memorandum will become effective when it is signed by all participating parties.
Mayor, Town of Agawam
Date
Mayor, City of Chicopee
Date
Chairman, Board of Selectmen
Town of Ludlow
Date
Mayor, City of Holyoke
Date
Chairman, Board of Selectmen
Town of South Hadley
Date
Mayor, City of Springfield
Date
Chairman, Board of Selectmen
Town of West Springfield
Date
Executive Director, Pioneer Valley
Planning Commission
Date
Section 8. Endorsement of this Agreement by Other Non-member Municipalities, Agencies or Organizations
Any other municipalities, agencies or organizations may endorse this agreement and shall have the following responsibilities:
a. To work cooperatively with other municipalities, agencies, organizations and legislators to create a partnership to lobby for state and federal wastewater grant or loan funds for
Connecticut River water quality improvements;
b. To work cooperatively on educational efforts to build public consensus for Connecticut River Clean-up and revitalization efforts;
c. Optionally, to designate a non-voting advisory representative to participate in the Connecticut River Clean-up Committee.
Non-voting Advisory Endorsements
Secretary, Mass. Executive Office of
Environmental Affairs
Date
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region One
Date
Chairman, Board of Selectmen
Town of Longmeadow
Date
Chairman, Hartford Metropolitan District Commission
Date
Executive Director, Capitol Region Council of Governments
Date