Related RSAs
Chapter 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns
Trust Funds - Section 31:22
31:22 Trustees. – All such trusts shall be administered by a board of 3 trustees, unless a town at an annual or special town meeting votes that such trusts shall be administered by a board of 5 trustees. In towns with a board of 3 trustees, one trustee shall be elected by a ballot at each annual town meeting for a term of 3 years. In towns with a board of 5 trustees the 2 additional trustees shall be appointed initially by the selectmen, one for one year and one for 2 years. Thereafter all trustees shall be elected by ballot at the annual town meeting to replace those whose terms expire. The term of each trustee shall be 3 years. Vacancies shall be filled by the selectmen for the remainder of the term. In cities said trustees shall be chosen and hold their office for such term as shall be provided for by city ordinance. Trustees shall organize by electing one of their number bookkeeper, who shall keep the records and books for the trustees, and shall require a voucher before making any disbursement of funds from said trusts.
Trust Funds - Section 31:19
31:19 In General.q
- Towns may take and hold in trust gifts, legacies, and devises made to them for the establishment, maintenance, and care of libraries, reading-rooms, schools, and other educational facilities, parks, cemeteries, and burial lots, the planting and care of shade and ornamental trees upon their highways and other public places, and for any other public purpose that is not foreign to their institution or incompatible with the objects of their organization.
- Towns may authorize the board of selectmen, or town council if there is one, to accept such trusts without further action by the town.
- Such authority to accept shall continue in effect for one year from the date of town meeting or action by the town council. The authority to accept trusts may be granted for an indefinite period, in which case the warrant article or vote granting such authority shall use the words, "indefinitely'' or "until rescinded'' or similar language.
Trust Funds - Section 31:19-a
31:19-a Trust Funds Created by Towns.
- A town may at any annual or special meeting grant and vote such sums of money as it deems necessary to create trust funds for the maintenance and operation of the town; and any other public purpose that is not foreign to the town's institution or incompatible with the objects of its organization. The town may appoint agents to expend any funds in the trust for the purposes of the trust. An annual accounting and report of the activities of the trust shall be presented to the selectmen and published in the annual report.
- Trust funds created pursuant to this section shall be revocable by majority vote of the legal voters present and voting at any annual meeting, unless the vote creating the trust expressly provides that the trust shall be irrevocable, and upon revocation the trustees of trust funds holding the account for said trust shall pay all the moneys in such fund to the town treasurer.
- Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any trust fund created under this section shall be subject to the same provisions concerning custody, investment, expenditure, change of purpose, and audit as are reserve funds established under RSA 34:1, 34:1-a, 35:1 or 35:1-c. The legal validity of such a fund properly established shall not be affected by its designation as a "trust,'' "reserve,'' "capital reserve,'' or any other designation.
- The local legislative body may authorize the acceptance of privately donated gifts, legacies, and devises to be utilized for the same purposes as a trust fund created under this section; provided, however, that such gifts, legacies, or devises shall be invested and accounted for separately from, and not commingled with, amounts appropriated under paragraph I, and shall be subject to the custody and investment provisions applicable to trust funds accepted under RSA 31:19.