Politics & Government

Windsor Locks Blight Ordinance in Compliance With State Statute Changes

Windsor Locks town attorney says there is no need for changes to the local ordinance.

 

Windsor Locks' blight ordinance is line with changes to the state statutes, Town Attorney Scott Storms said Tuesday.

Storms told the board of selectmen at its regular meeting that he compared the town’s ordinance and a state statute that went into effect on October 1. Storms said the state statute, Public Act No. 12-146,  gives the town a little more latitude in who authorities have to contact about violations.

The town only has to give notice to the occupant and owner of the property that is violation, Storms said. Town officials no longer have to do extensive title searches to make sure everyone involved with the property, such as lienholders, is contacted.

The act enables the state to impose daily fines not to exceed $250  to any property owner who has been cited for violating a blight ordinance and given reasonable time to remediate the property and has not done so.

“It appears that our blight ordinance accommodates the state statute well,” Storms said. “I don’t recommend any changes.”

Selectman Dennis Gragnolati said he would like to see the town ordinance changed because it has vague passages in it.

First Selectman Steven N. Wawruck Jr. said because Storms’s report was for information purposes only, there was no need for any action from the board of selectmen.


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