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Council asks staff to draft code-enforcement ordinance and to research e-bike regulations
Summary
Council directed staff and legal counsel to draft a code-enforcement ordinance creating a dedicated position to handle civil nuisance matters and to circulate proposed language; staff was also asked to compile e-bike ordinances from peer towns for council review.
Council members spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing a proposed code-enforcement position to handle civil nuisance matters and to reduce police involvement in noncriminal enforcement. Jeff (council member) said a dedicated code-enforcement officer "can enforce the civil side of things, taking the police away from it," and councilors agreed an ordinance should set out the role, enforcement powers and procedural safeguards.
Legal counsel and staff said they had drafted proposed language and would circulate it to council members for redlining and comment. Council members emphasized the need for clear procedures, backup coverage if the officer is absent, and careful drafting to avoid legal problems other towns faced when civil ordinances were over-enforced.
Separately, the council directed staff to research e-bike classifications and examples from other municipalities and return with draft ordinance options; the legal advisor noted multiple models in use and suggested the council identify its preferences for classification and permitted locations.
Next steps: staff and legal to circulate a proposed code-enforcement ordinance for redlines and compile sample e-bike regulations for the next meeting.
