OCR Text |
Show MERRIMACK RIVER COMPACT 203 comprehensive flood control system, will remove from the tax rolls of local governments of the State of New Hampshire such property as is acquired by the United States and may work other hardships against the people of New Hampshire; and Whereas, It is highly desirable that any flood control dam and res- ervoir constructed by the United States in the Merrimack river valley have the approval of the State of New Hampshire and the Common- wealth of Massachusetts and that the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts benefiting from construction of such dam and reservoir make reimbursement for such loss of taxes and for such hardships; and Whereas, A comprehensive system for the prevention of destruc- tive floods and for water resources utilization in the Merrimack river valley can best be accomplished by cooperation between the Common- wealth of Massachusetts and the State of New Hampshire and by and through a common and joint agency of said two states; now, therefore The said Commonwealth of Massachusetts and State of New Hamp- shire do hereby enter into the following compact, to wit:- ARTICLE I The principal purposes of this compact are:-(a) to promote in- terstate comity among and between the signatory states; (b) to pro- vide adequate storage capacity for impounding the waters of the Merrimack river and its tributaries for the protection of life and prop- erty from floods; (<?) to provide a joint or common agency through which the signatory states, while promoting, protecting, and preserv- ing to each the local interest and sovereignty of the respective signa- tory states, may more effectively co-operate in accomplishing the object of flood control and water resources utilization in the basin of the Merrimack river and its tributaries. ARTICLE II There is hereby created The Merrimack River Valley Flood Con- trol Commission, hereinafter referred to as the commission, which shall consist of six members, three of whom shall be residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, one of whom shall be a resident of the Merrimack Valley, and three of whom shall be residents of the State of New Hampshire. The members of the commission shall be chosen by their respective states in such manner and for such term as may be fixed and deter- mined from time to time by the law of each of said states, respec- tively, by which they are appointed. A member of the commission may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the state from which he shall be appointed, and any vacancy occurring in the commission shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the state wherein such vacancy exists. A majority of the members of each state shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, the exercise of any powers or the performance of any duties, but no action of the commission shall be binding unless at least two members from each State shall vote in favor thereof. |