Pennsylvania Act 1919-320 — EMPOWERING CITIES TO TAKE LAND FOR ERECTION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Act text

EMPOWERING CITIES TO TAKE LAND FOR ERECTION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
                  Act of Jul. 8, 1919, P.L. 783, No. 320              Cl. 11
                                  AN ACT

     Empowering cities to take, purchase, or condemn property, and to
        appropriate money for the erection thereon of public
        auditoriums, libraries, memorial buildings, and monuments;
        and providing for their operation and maintenance.

        Compiler's Note:  Section 4701 of Act 317 of 1931 provided
            that Act 320 is repealed insofar as it relates to third
            class cities.
        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That cities shall have power
     to take, purchase, or acquire through condemnation proceedings,
     property for the purpose of erecting thereon public auditoriums,
     public libraries, public memorial buildings, and monuments.
        Section 2.  Cities, by order of council or commissioners,
     shall have power to appropriate money, from the public funds or
     by issuance of bonds according to existing law governing the
     issuance of such bonds, for the erection, on said property
     taken, purchased, or acquired through condemnation proceedings,
     public auditoriums, public libraries, public memorial buildings,
     and monuments. Cities shall also have power to appropriate
     moneys for the operation and maintenance of such public
     auditoriums, public libraries, memorial buildings, and
     monuments.
        Section 3.  All proceedings for the assessment of damages for
     property taken under the provisions of this act shall be had in
     the same manner as is now provided by law for the taking of
     property for public improvements in such cities.
        Section 4.  Cities shall have power to donate ground thus
     acquired for a public library to any library association
     provided said association will furnish the funds for the
     erection of the library building the plans of which are approved
     by the city, but only in such cases where the said library
     association is by its by-laws and charter compelled to put back
     into the property any surplus earnings from the operation of
     said library. Cities, by order of council or commissioners, may
     contribute from time to time towards the operating support of
     such library a sum not to exceed fifty per centum (50%) of the
     annual operating maintenance of said library.
        Section 5.  Cities, in the case of public auditoriums, may by
     order of council or commissioners charge a nominal rental for
     the use of said auditorium. All moneys derived from rental of
     said auditoriums shall first be devoted to the maintenance of
     said auditorium, and any annual balance accruing therefrom shall
     be turned over to the city funds for the maintenance of public
     parks and grounds.