Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 71.djvu/56

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PUBLIC LAW 86-23-APB. 23, 196T

[71

STAT.

and through a common and joint agency of said two states; now, therefore "The said Commonwealth of Massachusetts and State of New Hampshire do hereby enter into the following compact, to wit:— "ARTICLE I.

"The principal purposes of this compact are:—(a) to promote interstate comity among and between the signatory states; (&) to provide adequate storage capacity for impounding the waters of the Merrimack river and its tributaries for the protection of life and property from floods; (c) to provide a joint or common agency through which the signatory states, while promoting, protecting, and preserving to each the local intei^st and sovereignty of the respective signatory 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. uARTICLE II.

"There is hereby created The Merrimack River Valley Flood Control 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 ValleVj 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 determined from time to time by the law of each of said states, respectively, by which they are appointed. A member of the commission may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the hnv 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. "The compensation of members of the commission shall be fixed, determined and paid by the state which they respectively represent. All necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties shall be paid from the funds of the commission. "The commission shall elect from its members a chairman, vicechairman, clerk and treasurer. Such treasurer shall furnish to the commission, at its expense, a bond with corporate surety, to be approved by the commission, in such amount as the commission may determine, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties. "The commission shall adopt suitable by-laws and shall make such rules and regulations as it may deem advisable not inconsistent with laws of the United States, of the signatory states or with any rules or regulations lawfully promulgated thereunder. "The commission shall make an annual report to the governor and legislature of each of the signatory states, setting forth in detail the operations and transactions conducted by it pursuant to this compact. "The commission shall keep a record of all its meetings and proceedings, contracts and accounts, and shall maintain a suitable office, where its maps, plans, documents, records and accounts shall be kept, subject to public inspection at such times and under such regulations as the commission shall determine.

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