a. Upon the council’s review of the elements of fine arts to be incorporated in such structure or group of structures, the council may determine that such selection or selections shall be made by means of public competition. The contract to be let by such competition shall be in fixed amount made public prior to the competition; but no such competition shall be held for the award of a contract of less than $2,500.00.

b. The council shall set the terms of the competition, and shall provide that the artist submitting the design most in accord with the architect’s intentions and most in keeping with the style and design of the building, and who, from his designs or other materials submitted pursuant to the rules of the competition, appears most able to execute the work in a satisfactory manner, shall be awarded the contract for which the competition is held.

c. In any such competition, the council may provide, within the limit of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for the purpose, for the award of prizes to competitors other than those awarded contracts as a result of the competition, on the basis of the artistic qualities of their designs. Such prizes may be awarded when, in the judgment of the council, it is necessary or desirable in order to encourage a sufficient number of artists to enter the competition so as to provide an ample field of choice in selecting an artist to be awarded a contract.

d. In connection with any competition authorized under this section, the council shall take such steps as are within its power to assure that notice of such competition will be effectively publicized so as to attract competitors; and to that end it is authorized to expend such funds as may be appropriated or otherwise made available to it for that purpose.

e. No expenditure authorized under subsection c. or d. of this section shall be made from or charged to the 1 1/2 % allowance provided for in section 3 of this act.

L.1978, c. 117, s. 5.