Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-02-18
ESTABLISHMENT Oh PARKS.
n New Law Providing for the Main
tenance and Beautifyfng of Parks
waters of KitO Colorado.
The governor has approved and signed
the following bills:

The following bills
COUNCIL BILL NO. 7.
An act to encourage the establishment,
development and maintenance of parks
in towns and cities in the territory of
New Mexico and to provide for their con-
troll and government.
Be it enacted by the legislative assem-
bly, of the territory of New Mexico.
Section THAT hereafter in the terri
tory of New Mexico, the city council of
any of the cities, and the board of
trustees of any of the towns and villages,
at the first regular meetings following
the organization of said boards shall APP
point three competent persons as COM
to be known as the park
commissioners, who shall serve as fol-
lows: One for one year, one for two
years and one for three years. Said
commissioners shall cast lots to deter
mine the period of their respective
terms of service, and thereafter there
shall be appointed annually by the city
council and the trustees of the various
cities and towns of the territory one park
commission. Said park commission
when appointed shall meet within ten
days from date of appointment and
organize by the election of one of its
members as president, one as secretary
and another as treasurer.
Sec. at shall be the duty of said
park commissioners, when so appointed
and organized, to take charge of all the
public parks owned by their respective
cities and towns, and they shall have alb
solute control of the same, for the use
and benefit of the people, and shall
authorize the expenditure of all moneys
in the development of said parks, beauti-
flying and maintaining the same, and
make all needful rules and regulations
for the use and care thereof.
Sec. 3.--The president of said commits
sion shall preside at all meetings of the
commission, shall sign all papers connect,
cd with the management of the park, all
contracts for the work, and all warrants
for the payment of moneys. 1t shall be
the duty of the secretary to keep a com
plete record of all doings and acts of the
commission in reference to the parks
under its control. 1t shall be the duty O.
the treasurer to keep all moneys ant
funds which may in anywise come into
the hands of the park commissi
and for the purpose of the park develop
ment or care, and he shall give bond tt
the town or city, the amount of which
shall be fixed, and the bond approved BY
the board of trustees, or by the council
and it may be increased or decreased b!
said board at any time when in its judg
ment the same may be necessary; he shall
keep a correct account of all moneys hell
by him and all moneys paid out by thu
commission, and shall every six month
make full and complete report to tn
CITY council or board of trustees of al
moneys received by him and all money
expended by the commission.
Sec. 4.-No person shall be eligible t.
appointment as member of said parl
commission who does not reside within
the town or city where he is to serve a
such commissioner.
Sec. 5.--The members of the park com
mission shall, during their term Of OF
fee, be exempt bat not disqualified iron
Jury service in all the courts of the terri
tory, and shall not be liable for poll o
road tax, and they shall serve and per
form the duties of said commissioner
without compensation.
Sec. 6.-For the improvement and car
of parks in towns and cities in the terri
tory nf Now Moaioo, in addition to tn
vided by law, there may be levied b
trustees or council and collected by tn
proper autho rity, annually, tax not {
exceed one-haf mill upon all taxabl
property within any incorporated tow
or city; provided that no park is to hav
any benefit of the public funds who
may be raised in any way for the improve
ment, development, and care of parks
the title of which has not been oonveye
absolutely to the town or city where tn
same is located for the benefit of the pee
pie of said town or city; and provide
further, that all parks to receive the benz
fit of any of the provisions of this LAY
shall be conveyed to the cities or townl
Sec. ANY member of the park com
mission herein provided, may be RI
moved by the city council or board o
trustees for cause shown by a majority G
the board; provided that the council G
board of trustees shall fill by appoint
ment any vacancy that may occur in an
park commission by death, resignatio
or removal.
Sec. s.--Any town or city through it
council or board of trustees may acquir
BY purchase, gift or donation, any prop
erty for park purposes within or withou
the city or town limit; provided tina
property for park purposes shall not
purchased by any board, except upon pc
tition of tax payers representing a ma
jority of taxes paid upon property with
in the town or city limit; provided ful
ther, that in case of gift or donation t
any town or city of property for par
purposes the council or board of trustee
is authorized to pay all expenses Q
transfer or conveyance and the examina
ton of title; provided that whenever
park or property therefor is SO acquired
the same shall come Immediately unde
the control of the park commissioners.
Sec. 9.-The park commissioners here
in provided shall not for any purpose e1
pend greater sum in any one year tina
the amount actually paid into the treas