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Ordinance subcommittee advances building-appeals, soliciting and elderly-tax-relief changes to public hearing
Summary
Torrington27s ordinance subcommittee voted to send amendments on building-code appeals, peddling/soliciting rules and criteria for elderly property-tax relief extensions to public hearing, asking staff to coordinate enforcement language with the police chief and include a reversion clause for fee changes if state law alters publication requirements.
Diane, chair of the ordinance subcommittee, opened the meeting and moved through a package of proposed ordinance changes affecting building-code appeals, peddling and soliciting rules, and property-tax relief for elderly homeowners.
Speaker 3 said the Chapter 85 amendment would require municipalities to appoint a local board of appeals to hear building-code appeals "to give both the appellants and the city more local review" and to avoid the state codes and standards committee process, which can take months to years. The proposed local board would be required, under the draft language, to hear and resolve appeals promptly (the memorandum cites a 10-day resolution window for municipal boards under the model language).
On Chapter 158, the subcommittee considered language to modernize the city27s soliciting and peddling ordinance to address unwanted solicitation near outdoor dining and in high-traffic locations. Speaker 3 described the proposal as prohibiting unwanted solicitation of money, food, beverages or other items within certain regulated areas, including within 50 feet of ATMs and payment kiosks; the draft caps fines at $250 and is modeled on an existing Middletown, Conn., ordinance. Diane and other members requested that the police chief or a designated enforcement official review the draft to ensure the enforcement language aligns with patrol practice before the public hearing.
On Chapter 187, corporate counsel27s draft would add criteria under the local elderly homeowner program to clarify when late-extension requests are excusable. The memo recommends that extensions be limited to extenuating medical or incapacitating circumstances supported by a physician or appropriate documentation, aligning local practice with Office of Policy and Management (OPM) guidance. Tax assessor Stacy Maldonado told the committee that past exceptions have typically been for medical reasons and that adding explicit criteria would make outcomes more predictable and defendable.
The subcommittee voted to move each amendment to public hearing; the committee also agreed to include language that allows fee adjustments to revert if state law removes newspaper-publication requirements. The mayor and staff were asked to help coordinate dates and public notices for the hearings.
Next steps: the ordinances will be noticed for public hearing (the mayor27s office will set dates) and staff will incorporate enforcement and reversion language requested by the committee.
