The Legislative Council heard from police and land use officials during its December 3 meeting, as the one-year mark passed on implementing local firearms and blight ordinances.

Newtown Police Captain Joe Rios and Director of Planning George Benson each spent a few minutes reporting to the council on how the ordinances are working, and responding to whether either or both ordinances need further refining by council members.

After meeting with Police Chief Michael Kehoe and doing some research on the firearms ordinance rollout, Capt Rios told the council, "The ordinance is working well for us."

Through the months-long process of developing the ordinance, Council Chair Mary Ann  Jacob called 13 meetings and a public hearing to gain insight from local firearms users, as well as from those who sought further restrictions on the use of firearms in town.

The ordinance process started when Police Commission Chairman Paul Mangiafico and Police Chief Michael Kehoe met with Legislative Council members in May 2012 to discuss firearms issues, explaining that there was a need for an updated firearms ordinance.

(The Borough of Newtown has a 1985 ordinance that prohibits any recreational discharge of firearms within its borders.)

Ordinance Stipulations

The ordinance states that no person shall discharge a firearm before 8 am or after sunset. Also, any person who wishes to discharge a firearm must notify local police by phone of their intent to discharge a firearm 15 minutes prior to beginning such activity.

Fifteen minutes after the time of the phone call as recorded in the Newtown Police log shall begin a four-hour window in which such activity will be allowed on the subject property each day.

Among other restrictions in the ordinance are new safety provisions seeking to have any outdoor shooting activity overseen by the owner of the property on which the discharge is taking place, a guest of the owner who is present, or have written permission from the property owner.

The ordinance stipulates that, preferably, at least one experienced and certified gun handler be present at all times when shooting is occurring.

Captain Rios said that balancing residents' Second Amendment rights regarding the ownership and use of firearms in Newtown is a "hot topic." In reviewing the police department's data at the one-year mark, Capt Rios said dispatchers received about 55 calls notifying an intent to do shooting on applicable private properties in town.

The ordinance does not apply to certain law enforcement or military activities, as well as shooting at specified gun and sports clubs in town.

Capt Rios told the council that some time after shooting notification calls come in, a sergeant or other qualified officer is sent to the area to monitor activities and ensure safety.

He said there have been only two incidents since the ordinance was implemented where individuals were not in compliance with the new rules, and no citations were issued after educating the property owners about the ordinance.

He said his department uses the towns satellite mapping system (GIS) to determine shooting is occurring beyond the required 500-foot limit from neighboring property lines. Capt Rios said his department is not recommending or requesting any changes to the ordinance, and that he will continue to monitor how the year-old ordinance is working.

"It's nice to know what we did is working for those who want to shoot, and for those who have safety concerns," Ms Jacob said.

Blight Enforcement

Planning Director Benson told the council his department has used the blight ordinance in ten situations since it was implemented.

"In most cases [property owners] demolish the building involved," The planning director said, "and we'll be in court with a couple."

Mr Benson said those pending court cases involved property on Underhill Road and on Main Street. He, like the police, said most residents are motivated to comply once the stipulations of the new ordinance are explained.

"It's working very well for us," he said.

A vacant, deteriorated building on Church Hill Road that town officials long considered to be an eyesore was one of the highest profile buildings demolishedsince the municipal anti-blight ordinance was enacted.

In May, workers using heavy equipment demolished the decayed 2,840-square-foot wood-frame structure at 57 Church Hill Road, which formerly was the location of Apex Glass.

Also, after numerous attempts under the ordinance to get owners to act, a Danbury firm hired by the town demolished a Great Hill Road house that was heavily damaged by a June 2011 fire of undetermined origin.

That demolition eliminated previously hazardous conditions at the property including open foundations and a partially filled swimming pool. The presence of the wreckage had drawn concerns from people living in the neighborhood.