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Council adopts change allowing first‑class mail for community preservation notices, ordinance effective immediately
Summary
Council voted 7‑0 to adopt Ordinance No. 22936 amending Chapter 42 to permit first‑class mail as an option for notice of violation under the Community Preservation Ordinance; staff said first‑class mail reduces costs and improves resident response while certified mail remains available when proof of receipt is needed.
The Town Council on March 25 unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 22936, amending language in Chapter 42 (Offenses and Abatement of Public Nuisances), Article 8, Division 2 (Community Preservation Ordinance), Part 3 (Administration and Enforcement) to add first‑class mail as an authorized method for delivering notices of violation.
Ava, a town staff member who has overseen Community Preservation implementation, told the council the Community Preservation Ordinance has been in effect since July and has been used for more than half a year. She said the ordinance originally required in‑person service or certified mail, and that court rules permit first‑class mail as an alternative. "Certified mail would still be used when needed, when we would need proof of receipt. But for the most part, first class mail would suffice to notify people of violations," she said, noting the cost difference (first‑class postage about $0.73 vs. certified mail about $9) and that certified mail sometimes goes unclaimed at the post office.
Councilmember Jim Torgerson, who said he voted against the original ordinance at study session, asked whether first‑class mail would achieve the same results as certified mail; Ava replied from her code‑enforcement experience that first‑class mail often gets better resident response and that certified mail would remain available for cases expected to go to court.
Councilmember Torgerson moved to accept item 10 as written; Councilmember Koprowski seconded. The council voted 7‑0. Staff clarified at the meeting that the ordinance includes an emergency clause so that the amendment takes effect immediately upon adoption rather than waiting 30 days.
Ending: The change reduces recurring postage costs for Community Preservation notices while preserving certified mail when proof of receipt is required; the ordinance was adopted 7‑0 and is effective immediately.
