Public Comment Sought On Arts, Tax Exemption And Pet Ordinances

By John Voket

If you think Newtown should have greater support for the arts, that veterans should enjoy greater local tax benefits, or if you have ever stepped in a mess left by someone else’s pet, the Legislative Council wants to hear about it. Next Wednesday, November 15, at 6:30, the council has scheduled public hearings on three recently proposed ordinances.

During the 60-minute hearing at the Booth Library community room, council members will listen to public comments on a proposal to enact an Amendment to Ordinance 64A, the Supplemental Veteran’s Property Tax Exemption, a Newtown Pet Control Ordinance, and an ordinance establishing The Newtown Cultural Arts Commission.

If input is favorable, the council will likely rule on the adoption of those new ordinances by month’s end. According to Francis Pennarola, the council’s Ordinance Subcommittee chairman, The Cultural Arts Ordinance will enable the establishment of a Cultural Arts Commission.

“Once established, the municipality, through the Cultural Arts Commission, can seek state funding and pursue other resources to add to the cultural life of our town,” he said.

The proposed amendment to the Veteran’s Ordinance is consistent with state statutes and will result in increased tax relief for eligible veterans,” Mr Pennarola said.

“We felt it was the appropriate step to taken given the sacrifices our veterans have made. We hope to make living in the town a little more affordable,” he added.

Mr Pennarola defined the pet ordinance as “a work in progress.”

“This proposal had its origins in a request from the Fairfield Hills Authority,” he said. “We came up with a comprehensive proposed ordinance covering all town properties. I have had some feedback that suggests we may have gone too far, but I believe we need to hear from all interested people.”

The subcommittee chairman said that sometimes municipalities have to legislate to accomplish what should come naturally as good neighbors.

“The Pennarolas have a dog and live in a neighborhood with lots of pets. People there keep their animals under control and clean up after them,” he said. “My goal is to bring out the good neighbors in all of us. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way, and hence the proposed ordinance.”

The formation of an official Cultural Arts Commission has been a protracted process for such a seemingly innocuous panel. The original ordinance proposal was submitted to the council in January after more than a year of research and an exhaustive report generated by an ad-hoc committee exploring the possibility of forming a permanent body.

Pending its adoption, the ordinance establishing a Cultural Arts Commission will clear the appointed panel to “stimulate, facilitate, coordinate and cooperate with existing organizations for the development of the arts.” The commission is intended to serve as an information center and focal point in the community for activities in the arts.

The ordinance draft stipulates the first selectman, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, will appoint nine members. Those individuals are expected to have a broad interest, understanding, and appreciation of cultural activities.

Among the duties and responsibilities of the formal commission, once approved and appointed, will be to create an initial survey of the cultural and artistic resources of the Town of Newtown, including but not limited to, a survey of the arts by each subject deemed to be of significance by the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission in carrying out its duties.

The revision in the language of an existing ordinance providing a veteran’s tax benefit, if approved by the council, would expand the benefit that currently allows a tax exemption of up to $10,000 in property, or ten percent of the total assessed value of one’s property, whichever is higher.

Language in the Pet Control Ordinance states that “dogs and cats must be maintained and controlled at all times by a leash when those animals are present in town parks or public facilities.”

The wording suggests that any other type of animal would be banned from any park or public area. The ordinance also maintains that any pet owner bringing his/her animal onto town property is responsible for the cleanup and disposal of any waste in an “environmentally sound manner.”

The subcommittee expanded the original scope of coverage to add exceptions for dogs training off leash in obedience classes, as well as qualified companion and service dogs. If approved, violations would fetch graduating fines of $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second, and $99 for each occurrence thereafter.

The hearing will be followed by a Legislative Council meeting at 7:30, but the agenda does not reflect consideration or possible action on the ordinances from the hearing.