Ordinance Panel Expects

A Busy Spring

By Steve Bigham

This is expected to be a very busy spring for the ordinance committee of the Legislative Council, which will hold its next meeting February 22. The agenda includes 12 to 14 requests for new or revised ordinances.

According to Committee Chairman Will Rodgers, the pending ordinance work can be split into three categories: existing ordinances that need some technical revisions, past-proposed ordinances that need to be acted upon, and newly proposed ordinances.

Among the existing ordinances requiring revisions are the anti-littering ordinance, a no-thru truck ordinance and an alarm ordinance.

Past proposed ordinances still being discussed are an underground oil tank ordinance, a noise ordinance, and an adult establishment (porno shop/strip joint) ordinance.

Newly-proposed ordinances requiring discussion are a tax credit for persons operating vehicles equipped for the disabled and a tax credit for Newtown’s volunteer ambulance and fire personnel. Both of these proposals came about following the passage of an enabling state law, which gave towns the option to give tax credits for these two categories of people.

The ordinance committee is also expected to take a close look at a proposed ordinance for elderly tax relief. A committee headed by Jim MacNaughton is currently studying the plan, but has been slowed over questions brought up by the town’s tax assessor and tax collector.

Mae Schmidle has proposed a land trust ordinance, which, if approved, would empower the town to create a non-profit land trust.

An illegal sign ordinance, proposed by Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Daniel Fogliano, would give the town some “teeth” to go after violators, short of going to court. The P&Z is also seeking the creation of a local parking ordinance. Currently, there are state statutes that empower Newtown police officers to hand out tickets. However, there is no incentive for the town to push these enforcements since all the revenue from these infractions goes to the state, Mr Rodgers said.

With a newly revised scenic road ordinance now in place, the ordinance committee expects newfound interest from local neighborhoods. Zoar Road has reportedly filed an application seeking scenic road status.