By Dana Benson
Save Our Towns/Save Our Schools
Important Business:
Citizen Petition for Special Town Meeting to Make PNZ Elected Voted Down
Discussion of the Sale of Aquarion Water Co.
Regional Natural Hazard Plan Adopted
Ground Penetrating Radar Survey of Cemeteries Approved
Link to recording:
https://vimeo.com/999363682?share=copy
Below is my selective summary of the 8-15-24 Selectman Meeting.
The town’s video and transcript are the official record.
Election of Planning and Zoning:
The Selectmen voted not to call a Special Town Meeting, the one petitioned by the citizens (led by Don Boyce) at this time. The vote was unanimous. The purpose of the petitioned town meeting was to vote to make Easton Planning and Zoning (PNZ) elected. Currently, members and alternates are proposed by the Democrat and Republican Town Committees and appointed by the Selectmen.
The town attorney reviewed the Special Town Meeting petition and advised the Selectmen not to call a meeting because two concepts in the petition’s proposed ordinance language violated state law. The Selectmen have the discretion not to call a meeting if the meeting is to pass an ordinance violating state law.
The petition proposed that the town meeting pass an ordinance to dissolve Planning and Zoning (PNZ) and reconstitute it as an elected commission. State law does not allow this. It requires that as the terms of the appointed members roll-off in the future, those positions become elected. You cannot suddenly go from being appointed to being elected in one year.
The petition also violated state law by proposing the town ordinance be changed so that (PNZ) members could be voted off the commission for “cause.” The town attorney says this provision violates a state law that says a town meeting cannot vote off a sitting commission member.
Dr. Bindelglass is committed to moving forward and making PNZ elected. Here is my rough paraphrase of his comment last night:
I want to emphasize this (the vote not to hold the meeting) is in no way an indictment of the concept of bringing an ordinance change to the legislative body (the town meeting) and potentially approving an ordinance change to make Planning and Zoning elected.
Republican Selectman Sogofsky concurred, saying that a vote on electing PNZ will not be possible until 2025 because of state notice requirements. She said it was premature to call a Special Town Meeting. Sogofsky and D’Addario both said they support electing Planning and Zoning, as does Republican PNZ member Lou DiPietro, who spoke in favor of it.
Bindelglass plans to draft an ordinance and send it to the town attorney for review. He believes that PNZ terms should be four years (shorter than currently), that terms need to be staggered, and that alternates should continue to be appointed by the parties. Alternates attend meetings but only get to vote if a full member doesn’t attend.
Sale of Aquarion:
Dr. Bindelglass discussed the proposed sale of the Aquarion Water Company. EverSource owns Aquarion and announced in March its intention to divest it. The Regional Water Authority (RWA) of CT, a company based in New Haven, is investigating buying Aquarion. RWA serves fifteen towns, and Aquarion serves fifty-nine towns.
The Regional Water Authority (RWA) is a quasi-governmental entity. In June, the CT Legislature approved it to study and consider the possibility of buying Aquarion. The RWA is in the process of doing its “due diligence.”
On their Board, they have a Consumer Protection Advocate who the Governor appoints. In the past, they have publicly supported exempting watershed towns from State High-Density Housing Mandates. If the merger occurred, the executive committee or Board governing the combined company would have five members appointed by Aquarion and six appointed by RWA.
The combined company would fall under a different regulator. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority governs Aquarion. Currently, Aquarion pays Easton about $1,400,000 a year in property taxes. RWA is exempt from taxes. However, they have a program under which they compensate towns called the “Pilot Program” (Payment in Lieu of Taxes).
Dr. Bindelglass has spoken with RWA. Next week, there will be public hearings at which Bindelglass will testify in person or via written testimony. The Public is invited to participate in person or remotely.
Hearing Dates:
Thurs., August 22, at 7:00 p.m.; Tues., August 27, at 10:00 a.m.; and Tues., August 27, at 6:30 p.m.
Location:
Hotel Marcel, 500 Sargent Drive, New Haven
Remote:
A meeting link will be available on the RWA’s website by late Monday.
RWA website:
https://www.rwater.com/learn-more/sustainable-solutions/our-water-sources/
Questions may be submitted in writing by email to:
mailto:[email protected]
Link to Hearing instructions:
https://www.rwater.com/media/4fynb5m3/information-about-august-2024-public-hearings.pdf
Approval of Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan:
The Selectmen voted to approve Easton’s adoption of a Regional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. MetroCog, the organization that does regional planning for Easton’s “CoG,” which includes Bridgeport, Easton, Trumbull, Stratford, and Monroe, developed the plan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency requires this regional plan for responding to natural disasters.
Below is a link to the plan:
https://metrocog-website.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Website+Content/NHMP/NHMP+2024+Update/NHMP+DRAFT+2024-05-29.pdf
Approval of Ground Penetrating Radar Survey:
The Selectmen approved $5,000 for a ground-penetrating radar survey of some of the town’s historic cemeteries to search for artifacts.
