West Virginia Code 20-5-15 – Authority to enter into certain operational contracts; terms and conditions; necessity for legislative notice and public hearing before certain facilities are placed under contract
(a) The director may enter into a contract with a person, firm, corporation, foundation or public agency for the operation of a commissary, restaurant, recreational facility or other establishment within the state parks and public recreational system, for a duration not to exceed ten years, but the contract may provide for an option to renew at the director’s discretion for an additional term or terms not to exceed ten years at the time of renewal: Provided, That an operational contract for the operation of Prickett’s Fort by the Prickett’s Fort Memorial Foundation, Inc., funded by an appropriation for the specific purpose of such operational contract is exempt from the provisions of article three, chapter five-a of this code. Prior to initiating of a contract for the operation of a state park lodge, cabin, campground, gift shop, golf facility, including pro shop operations, or ski facility, the director shall submit written notice of the specific location subject to the contract to the Legislature by letter to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Delegates.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 20-5-15
- Agency: means any branch, department or unit of the state government, however designated or constituted. See West Virginia Code 20-1-2
- Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Director: means the Director of the Division of Natural Resources. See West Virginia Code 20-1-2
- Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
- Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
- Person: except as otherwise defined elsewhere in this chapter, means the plural "persons" and shall include individuals, partnerships, corporations or other legal entities. See West Virginia Code 20-1-2
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(b) Prior to initiating a contract for a previously state-operated state park lodge, cabin, campground, gift shop, golf facility, including pro shop operations, or ski facility, the director shall conduct a public hearing to be held at a reasonable time and place within the county in which the facility is located. Notice of the time, place and purpose of the public hearing shall be provided as a Class II legal advertisement in accordance with the provisions of section two, article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code which notice shall be given at least for the first publication twenty days in advance of said hearing.
(c) Any contract entered into by the director shall provide an obligation upon the part of the operator that he or she maintain a level of performance satisfactory to the director and shall further provide that any contract may be terminated by the director in the event he or she determines that the performance is unsatisfactory and has given the operator reasonable notice of the termination.