The Board shall have the general power to perform all acts necessary to acquire and develop sites and facilities and to conduct such programs as are generally understood to be park recreation functions. In addition to all other powers necessary to achieve the general objectives of the Board, the Board shall have, for park and recreation purposes, the power and duty to:
(A) Exercise general supervision of and make regulations for the Department and establish rules governing the use of the park and recreation facilities by the public.
(B) Provide police protection for its property and activities, either by requesting assistance from state, city, town, or county police authorities, or by having specified employees deputized as police officers. Such deputized employees, however, shall not be eligible for police pension benefits or other emoluments of police officers.
(C) Make contracts and leases for facilities and services, but shall have no authority to contract with a person, corporation, or private agency for the operation of a park recreation program, except as hereinafter provided.
(1) To lease any buildings or grounds belonging to the town, city, or county within the limits of any park, for a period not to exceed 25 years, to a private person, firm, or corporation.
(2) Such lease shall authorize the lessee to provide upon the premises educational, research, veterinary, or other proper facilities for the exhibition of wild or domestic animals in wildlife parks, dining facilities, a bathhouse, skating facilities, dancing facilities, or those amusement rides for children and adults generally found in amusement parks, including, but not in limitation thereof, a merry-go- round, a roller coaster, a ferris wheel, miniature trains, automobiles, airplanes, and dodgem cars; provided, that no lease for more than one year shall be made, except to the highest and best bidder, after notice of such lease shall have been given by at least one publication in some newspaper of general circulation published in such city, town, or county, which publication shall have been made at least one week before the date of such lease.
(3) The provisions of this division shall apply only to cities, towns, or counties which border on Lake Michigan.
(D) Acquire and dispose of real and personal property.
(E) Exercise the power of eminent domain under the authority of any laws generally made available to towns and municipalities for this purpose.
(F) Appoint such administrative officers of the department as are necessary, to fix their duties and compensation, and delegate authority to perform ministerial acts in all cases except where final action of this Board is necessary.
(G) Establish standards and qualifications for the appointment of all personnel, fix their compensation, and approve their appointments without regard to political considerations.
(H) Contract for special and temporary services and for professional assistance.
(I) Make recommendations and an annual report to the Town Council for the town, concerning the operation of the Board and the status of park and recreation programs within its jurisdiction.
(J) Sue and be sued collectively by its legal name according to the town, “Town of Long Beach Park and Recreation Board;” service of process being had upon the president of the Board; but no costs shall be taxed against the Board or its members in any action.
(K) Invoke any legal, equitable, or special remedy for the enforcement of the provisions of this subchapter, or the Board’s own action thereunder.
(L) Prepare and submit an annual budget in the same manner as other departments of the town government as prescribed by the State Board of Accounts.
(Ord. passed 9-8-75)