To the Editor;

I am baffled as to why the legislative council is proposing to repeal the fracking and single use plastic ordinances?

The fracking ordinance, primarily dealing with transportation, storage and use of waste materials, passed 12-0 back in 2018. The ordinance requires contractors to sign a statement that says they will not use fracking waste materials while providing their service. The ordinance charges a penalty of $250 per infraction and spells what steps a resident of Newtown can take to protect themselves.

My concern is, if the Connecticut statute that the Legislative Council is putting their faith on to protect our town is ever repealed, we will be left in an unnecessarily vulnerable position. We have a solid, popular ordinance backed by the entire LC when it passed. With all the water wells that hold our drinking water — why even open the door to bringing fracking waste into our town?

Single-use plastic bags have now been banned statewide. However, Newtown’s ordinance goes the extra step, requiring a 10-cent charge on paper bags. The charge is what makes people think twice about incurring the cost and steers them towards reusable bags. That is exactly the behavior the ordinance is meant to elicit. Arguably, discouraging paper bag use is more important than single use plastic bags.

The manufacturing, distribution, and usage carries a larger carbon footprint than even single use plastic bags. We live in a world where everything has become disposable, and we are beginning to feel the effects of that behavior. The bag ban has effectively shown us that there is a more responsible alternative.

In 2018, when the public weighed the pros and cons of this ordinance, those opposing it argued that businesses would move away, that people would shop in other towns rather than pay the 10 cents, or new businesses would not even come into our town. None of that has happened. In the years since the bag ban was passed: businesses have adapted, the 10 cents charged reimburses them if they have to sell paper bags — the money does not go to the town or the state.

Most importantly, people are using reusable bags, our roads are even cleaner because you don’t see plastic bags strewn all over them the way that we used to before the bag ban. To take this away unnecessarily hamstrings one of the strongest and most effective ordinances in the state. Why would we do that?

Four years ago, the people of Newtown garnered legislation that benefits our town. On January 18 at 7 pm there will be a public hearing at the Municipal Center regarding these repeals. I urge our townspeople to go on the town website and write to the Legislative Council to oppose these repeals. Also, to personally attend the meeting on the 18th, lend your presence and your voice to shore up ordinances. These decisions should not be left to a small group to arbitrarily ignore the will of the people.

Alex Villamil

Sandy Hook