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 Compiler's Note: Section 4701 of Act 317 of 1931 provided that Act 320 is repealed insofar as it relates to third class cities.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. |