Date: Fri 17-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

HVCEO-legislative-agenda

Full Text:

HVCEO Presents Its Legislative Wish List

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

The Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials (HVCEO) is urging the state

legislature to ensure that local land-use planning remains in local hands and

does not become dominated by Hartford.

The HVCEO, currently chaired by First Selectman Bob Cascella, met with state

legislators from the region last Friday to present its legislative agenda for

the year to come.

The HVCEO reiterated its "vigorous support" for coordination of land-use

planning at local, regional and state levels, which, the board stated, is in

sharp contrast with legislative efforts in 1995 to mandate conformance between

the three levels of planning, with the state plan for land use dominating.

People in Newtown remain concerned about the state's ability, upon request

from developers, to overrule a local decision if it can be proven to the state

that the project would fulfill the town's need for affordable housing.

Seeking State Help

While the discussion on land use goes to the issue of home rule, the HVCEO's

call to restore municipal immunity for injuries on recreational land is, on

the other hand, a request for more involvement from the state.

In the recent Wilton vs Conroy ruling, the state Supreme Court reversed its

1992 ruling that municipalities are entitled to immunity under the

Recreational Land Use Act. Without this immunity, HVCEO members stated, any

accident at a municipal recreational activity could lead to a lawsuit, even if

the facility meets all safety requirements.

The recent decision worries Newtown Parks & Recreation Director Barbara

Kasbarian. The change in the law forced her recently to turn down a request

from a group of skateboarders who wanted to use a piece of town property for

their sport.

The HVCEO also requested more state support in the management of lakes

Candlewood, Lillinonah and Zoar, saying the three lakes serve more than just

the area residents who pay for its upkeep.

The top priority, according to the HVCEO, is better state-local fiscal

relations. The board requested that the tax burdens not continue to be shifted

from the state to the towns. The HVCEO said it opposes the passage of all new

state mandates upon municipalities, funded or unfunded.

The HVCEO also called on better communication and process from the Department

of Environmental Protection (DEP). It also requested continued state funding

for the Housatonic Valley Economic Development Partnership (HVEDP).

The HVCEO board made several other requests for improved state governmental

processes, including fewer state overrides of local decisions, the continued

Freedom of Information exemption of collective bargaining, more sharing

between the state and town of fines received for motor vehicle violations

ticketed by local police, making compliance with lead paint removal laws more

economically realistic, and the authorization to establish penalties for land

use violations.

The HVCEO is made up of elected officials from Bethel, Bridgewater,

Brookfield, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield and Sherman.