Date: Fri 16-Apr-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-ordinance-Rodgers

Full Text:

Council Moves Toward Action On Ordinances

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Legislative Council's ordinance committee is expected reconvene in an

effort to enact a handful of proposed ordinances.

Last May, the committee re-wrote its rules and procedures for creating new

ordinances. That followed chairman Will Rodgers' call for a short-term

moratorium on all new ordinances until a better process could be drawn up. The

new rules are designed to better guide the board through a set of steps as it

sets out to write new laws.

Mr Rodgers was hoping to avoid the kind of problems associated with the

controversial scenic road ordinance, which drew the wrath of residents of

Washbrook Road when their road was denied scenic road status. The Legislative

Council was blamed for its decision, but an incomplete ordinance may have been

the root of the problem, according to Mr Rodgers.

A new, formalized set of procedures is expected to ensure that the experts are

brought into the process of ordinance review early on.

Anti-Litter Rules

An anti-litter ordinance proposal is almost ready to go to a public hearing,

according to Mr Rodgers. The ordinance was drawn up in an effort to curb the

illegal dumping of garbage in Newtown.

The ordinance would empower building officials, the health department, the

zoning enforcement office, and the police to hand out fines for those who

violate the litter law. Some of those town officials were reluctant to take on

that added responsibility, according to Mr Rodgers.

"That went over like a lead balloon," Mr Rodgers explained. "But we smoothed

it over. We explained to them that it is not creating additional duties for

them. We're only giving them this power. We're not expecting them to use it."

The ordinance committee is also expected to take up a proposed "no thru" truck

proposal which would prohibit certain vehicles from traveling on busy

residential roads like Key Rock Road. The ordinance committee has referred

that request to the Police Commission, the town's traffic authority. The state

Department of Transportation (DOT) has the final say on truck restrictions, Mr

Rodgers said.

Oil Tanks

The long-awaited underground oil tank ordinance remains on hold pending action

on proposed state legislation regarding statewide underground oil tank

regulation. If passed by the General Assembly, the regulation would open a

window of opportunity for residents to remove their tanks with only limited

liability if leakage is discovered. The proposed law, to be voted on in June,

would set up a fund to assist residents who find their leaking tanks have

caused tens of thousands of dollars in environmental damage.

"We'll give the state a shot on this one," Mr Rodgers said.

Fire Marshal George Lockwood has for many years been calling for an ordinance

that would require the removal of all underground old tanks 20 years old or

older.

The ordinance committee is also investigating a proposed noise ordinance.

Police Chief James Lysaght has requested the creation of a parking ordinance.

However, the ordinance committee is holding off on any action until getting

more information from the chief.