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State Rep. Laura Dancho Praises Stratford—s New Trash-Container Procedure, Urges Ordinance to Curb Street Takeovers
Summary
At the Sept. 9 Town of Stratford public forum, State Representative Laura Dancho commended the town—s new trash-container procedure and urged the town to pursue a local ordinance to deter recent street takeovers, citing related state legislation and asking town committees to take it up.
State Representative Laura Dancho praised the Town of Stratford—s newly implemented trash-container procedure and urged town leaders to pursue a local ordinance to address recent street takeovers at a public forum on Sept. 9.
Dancho, speaking during the town—s public comment period, said the trash-container change —reduces weight, keeps the trash covered during weather events, and —is of great benefit to not only our environment and our tax dollars,—— and that it improves employee health and safety. "I just wanna take a moment to commend this council for enacting the new trash container procedure," she said.
On public-safety concerns, Dancho reported incidents she described as street takeovers on East Main, Barnum Avenue and Nichols Avenue. She said those gatherings "block roads, endanger residents, prevent emergency vehicles from moving through, and terrorize anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in the middle," calling them "an example of dangerous lawlessness."
Dancho referenced state-level bills she said are intended to give municipalities additional enforcement tools. She identified one as "House Bill 54 13" and another she recalled as a senate bill she pronounced as "3 37." According to Dancho, the House bill passed unanimously in the House but did not reach the Senate calendar during the short session. She summarized the bills as allowing municipalities to impose penalties on organizers and participants and to confiscate, impound, sell, or destroy vehicles involved in a takeover.
"We must provide our law enforcement personnel the tools to make it known that this activity is not going to be tolerated here," Dancho said, and asked the town—s public safety and ordinance committees to consider a local ordinance. She said she intends to pursue the matter with the town administration and through the committees.
No formal motion or vote was recorded at the forum; the public comment period concluded and the moderator adjourned the forum after Dancho—s remarks.
The next procedural step Dancho requested was review of a local ordinance by the public safety committee and the ordinance committee; no timeline or draft ordinance was provided during the forum.
