(A) The Common Council shall furnish the Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners an office at the municipal building where it may hold its meetings and keep its records. The Board shall have complete and exclusive control and management of all of the properties which shall operate in connection with the public park and recreation systems for the city, and shall have power to employ such persons as, in its opinion, may be necessary for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the property under its control, at such wages or salaries as it shall deem proper, and shall have full control of all employees.
(B) The Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners shall have power to acquire by purchase, lease, or by exercise of the power of eminent domain, such land or lands as it shall determine to be necessary or incidental to the construction, operation, and maintenance of a system of public parks, parkways, playgrounds, athletic fields, stadiums, swimming pools, skating rinks, and other like public recreational facilities for the city.
(C) The Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners is hereby authorized to take title in its name or in the name of the city to all real and personal property acquired by it for the use of the public or useful to the public in the operation, maintenance, or enjoyment of all public parks, parkways, playgrounds, athletic fields, stadiums, swimming pools, skating rinks, and all other like public recreational facilities for the municipality, and shall manage and dispose thereof as, in its opinion, will best serve the interests of the public in carrying out the purposes of this chapter. The city and all other public bodies owning real estate intended to be used for public parks are hereby authorized to convey such realty to the Board to be held by it for such purpose; provided that nothing, herein contained shall be construed as limiting the Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners from going beyond the territorial limits of the city, anywhere within the state, to lease, purchase, or otherwise acquire any real estate for the purposes herein set forth; provided further, that the Board shall have the right to sell and convey only such part of the real estate that it may acquire by gift, devise, purchase, or otherwise, as it may determine to be of no advantage in the operation, management, and maintenance of public parks, parkways, playgrounds, athletic fields, stadiums, swimming pools, skating rinks, and other like public recreational facilities; except that the Board shall have authority and power to make such sales and conveyances of its real estate as may be necessary, desirable, or convenient, to enable the city to obtain the benefits of W. Va. Code Ch. 8, Art. 16, entitled “Municipal Public Works; Revenue Bond Financing”, or any other like act or legislative authorization; and provided further, that under no circumstances shall any of such property be sold or conveyed except by unanimous vote of all of the members of the Board. All deeds conveying the real estate of the Board shall be executed in its official name by its President or Vice President, and shall have its corporate seal affixed and duly attested by its Secretary.
(Prior Code, § 19-5)