Selectmen approve multiple ordinance updates including housing code, blight and emissions alignment

The board moved through a package of ordinance changes on July 21 and voted to approve final versions after a public hearing process. The changes included a redline revision to Chapter 63 (rental housing code) intended to remove references to specific building codes so the ordinance remains current when state building codes change.

The chair said the redline removes conflicting references to building codes and clarified that the changes were minor in many cases. The board also approved a punctuation correction to Chapter 64 (the blight ordinance) and a change to Chapter 21 to shift regional HRRA voting to a one-town-one-vote model rather than population-weighted votes. Chapter 56 consolidates fee schedules so the board can set and tier fees by severity within state guidelines; Chapter 65 establishes citation hearing procedures and appointment of a citation hearing officer. Chapter 105 was amended to align the town’s mobile-source emissions rule with state law (the allowed idling threshold was reduced in line with state statute). Each motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Board members noted the package was prepared in coordination with the town attorney and outside counsel; the chair thanked staff and counsel for the work. The chair said the changes will be posted with a 31-day period before certain ordinances become effective and that the town attorney may make minor punctuation changes in the publishing process.