Section 14. The financial liability, referred to in section eleven, of each city and town for the suppression of public nuisances named in section eleven shall be determined annually by the commissioner, who shall notify the city manager or town manager in cities and towns having such a manager, otherwise the mayor in cities and the selectmen in towns, on or before January first of his determination. The determination of liability shall be based upon the last preceding valuation of the city or town made for the purpose of apportioning the state tax, and shall set forth an amount for the control of the Dutch elm disease and the beetles which spread said disease, and an amount for the suppression or control of the other public nuisances named in section eleven, the total of which shall not exceed in any year one fifteenth of one per cent of said valuation. In determining the said financial liability, the commissioner shall consider the degree of infestation or infection, the area involved, the location of the municipality in relation to its neighbors, the number and specie of public and private shade trees and the location and size of woodland and swampland areas therein.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation
Section 1 - Director of the Division of Forests and Parks; Duties
Section 2 - Bequests and Gifts; Forestry Trust
Section 3 - Forest Wardens; Payment for Investigations; Conventions
Section 4 - Annual Report of Commissioner of Natural Resources
Section 7 - Labor on State Forests
Section 8 - Entry Upon Land to Control and Suppress Public Nuisances
Section 12a - Suppression of Public Nuisances on Land Under Control of Commonwealth
Section 15 - Certified Itemized Statements of Expenditures
Section 25 - Suppression of Foliage-Destroying Pests Within City and Town Limits
Section 26a - Removal and Destruction of Trees Infected With Dutch Elm Disease
Section 26e - Notice of Positive Diagnosis of Dutch Elm Disease; Condemnation of Tree
Section 30 - Forest Fire Observation Towers; Erection and Operation
Section 31 - Control and Management of State Forests; Regulations
Section 32 - Appropriations for Necessary Expenses
Section 34 - Rules and Regulations Relative to Use of State Forests; Enforcement
Section 35 - Acquisition of Land for Forestation by Towns
Section 37 - Duties of Local Forest Wardens
Section 39 - Contributions by Cities or Towns
Section 40 - Forest Cutting Practices; Declaration of Policy of Commonwealth
Section 41 - State Forestry Committee; Members; Forest Cutting Practices and Guidelines
Section 43 - Forest Cutting Practices; Failure to Give Notice
Section 44 - Forest Cutting Practices; Exempted Cuttings
Section 46 - License to Harvest Forest Products
Section 47 - Licensing of Foresters; Definitions Applicable to Secs. 47 to 50
Section 48 - Licensing of Foresters; Violations; Penalty
Section 49 - Licenses of Foresters; Revocation; Suspension; Fees
Section 50 - Forester Licensing Committee; Membership
Section 51 - Forest and Wood Products Institute; Advisory Board