Council Endorses Ordinances, Land Purchase, CIP

By John Voket

The Legislative Council moved through a busy agenda January 21, voting to modify existing ordinances on fire lanes and an Elderly Tax Relief program, as well as sending a proposed noise ordinance to the state Department of Environmental Protection for mandatory review.

Newtown Tax Collector Carol Mahoney, who attended to explain the initiative, said the council’s approval would give seniors more relief for their real estate tax bills beginning July 2009.

“These changes will provide those with incomes of $45,000 or less a $2,000 tax credit, and a $1,500 credit for those with incomes between $45,000 and $50,000,” Ms Mahoney said in a previous report. “Taxpayers with an income of $55,001 to $65,000 will receive a $1,300 credit.”

The changes will allow those taxpayers with an income between $60,000 and $65,000 to receive a credit also, whereas in past years the income limit was $60,000.

The ordinance change also increases the amount of funding for the tax relief program from $950,000 to $1.2 million, further extending potential benefit availability to those who qualify.

If the amount of requests by qualified taxpayers for the benefit exceeds the new cap, the tax credits can either be prorated proportionately by income level, or the council may increase that $1.2 million cap to provide the maximum benefit for all who qualify.

Proposed changes to the existing fire lane ordinance enhance definition on the authority to designate, establish, and mark such lanes, along with enforcement guidelines, fines, and penalties for violations on the part of property owners who are bound to create fire lanes, as well as those drivers who violate the ordinance by blocking the lanes.

Following a public hearing, where several residents questioned aspects of the proposed noise ordinance related to farm animals and exceptions for snow removal equipment, the council endorsed this first of its kind initiative.

By enacting such a measure locally, the ordinance will provide local law enforcement agencies specific guidelines under which officers can test for excessive noise, and fine offenders. While the state has a noise statute, the creation of a local ordinance specifies how Newtown municipal agencies will conduct monitoring, and standards to enforce noise control within town boundaries.

Since the proposed Newtown noise ordinance is based on an already approved Ridgefield measure, it is expected to also be approved at the state level now that the local council endorsed it for review. The council will revisit the issue for likely passage once the state has issued its ruling.

In other business, the council endorsed several Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) adjustments and sent the plan back to the Board of Finance for mandatory approval. After hearing about suggested changes to several proposed Parks & Recreation projects, the motions made to adjust the CIP accordingly require another pass before the finance board.

The three separate issues approved in the CIP are:

*Adding $350,000 to the 2009-2010 line to implement critical improvements to a department maintenance facility on Trades Lane;

*Splitting a $620,000 capital request in the 2010 fiscal year, and reallocating $300,000 back to 2009 for safety-related improvements to the Dickinson Park tennis facility; and

*Reducing the capital request of $4 million in the 2010 cycle for Phase 1 construction of a proposed recreation/senior center to $3.68 million.

The council also unanimously endorsed directing the Board of Selectmen to fund $280,000 to purchase a 7.8-acre land parcel at 76 Walnut Tree Hill Road for open space.

Town conservation official Rob Sibley said while the acquisition would only potentially block a single residential development, it represents a puzzle-piece that completes a huge swath of contiguous passive recreational space incorporating part of Al’s Trail.