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Flans B. Borstad <br /> June 27, 1997 <br /> Page 3 <br /> governmental operations. Cities;counties, and towns are also authorized to <br /> participate through duly designated representatives in the meetings and activities <br /> of such associations,and the governing bodies of cities,counties and towns <br /> respectively are authorized to appropriate necessary funds to defray the actual and <br /> necessary expenses of such representatives in connection therewith. For purposes <br /> of this section,the governing body of a town is the town board. <br /> From our understanding of the nature of such organizations, it does not appear that chambers of <br /> commerce can be characterized as"associations of a civic, educational.or goverrLmental nature <br /> which have as their pose the betterment and improvement of municipal government <br /> operations"within the purview of this statute,even though their interests may include such <br /> objectives. <br /> .Subdivision 2 goes on to provide that the statute does not affect"any statutory,charter or <br /> common law power of cities"to provide fo:membership and participation in state and national <br /> associations. I am aware of no general statutory or common law power on the part of cities to <br /> provide for membership. <br /> For the foregoing reasons,we conclude that the city lacks statutory authority to purchase <br /> membership in the local chamber of commerce. While it is possible that such authority might be <br /> contained in the City's Charter,your letter does not refer to any such charter provision,and we <br /> do not ordinarily undertake in our opinions to construe provisions of local charters. See OFA. <br /> Atty.Gen.629a,May 9, 1975. <br /> Very tru yours <br /> KENNETH E.RASCHKE, <br /> Assistant Attorney General <br /> (612)297-1141 <br /> KER:lt <br /> nc:2saa2 1 <br /> 41 <br />