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Legal Notice -- Town of Putnam
The following ORDINANCE was approved at the Special Town Meeting held on December 16, 2019, and shall become effective twenty-one (21) days after date of publication. The Town of Putnam Anti-Blight and Citation Assessment Ordinance adopted May 16, 2013, is hereby repealed in its entirety and there is substituted therefore the 2019 Revised Anti-Blight Ordinance.
Dated at Putnam, Connecticut
this 19th day of December 2019
Sara J. Seney, Town Clerk
TOWN OF PUTNAM
ANTI-BLIGHT AND CITATION ASSESSMENT ORDINANCE
Sec. 1. Declaration of policy.
(a) This article is enacted pursuant to the Municipal Powers Act of the Connecticut General Statutes and general police powers including those set forth in Connecticut General Statutes 7-148(c)(7) and the Town Charter. This article is intended to be enforced as a blight ordinance, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes 7-148(c)(7)(H), and, because the town has determined that blight is a significant nuisance to the town, as a nuisance ordinance, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes 7-148(c)(7)(E).
(b) It is hereby found and declared that there exist in the Town of Putnam a number of blighted properties and that continued existence of blighted properties constitutes a continuing nuisance and contributes to the decline of neighborhoods, and results in a deleterious effect upon residential, commercial and industrial properties. Further, it is found that the existence of blight adversely affects the economic wellbeing of the town and is inimical to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Town of Putnam. Moreover, many of the blighted properties may be rehabilitated, reconstructed, demolished, cleaned up, groomed, maintained, returned to satisfactory condition or reused to provide decent, safe sanitary housing or commercial facilities. Such rehabilitation, reconstruction, demolition, clean-up or reuse of the most egregious examples of blighted and nuisance properties would eliminate, remedy and prevent the adverse conditions described.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
For the purposes of this article, the following words, terms and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
BLIGHTED PROPERTY: Any building, structure or parcel of land, including single family or multi-family residential, commercial or industrial, whether occupied or vacant, in which at least one (1) of the following conditions exists:
(a) The condition of the building, structure or parcel of land constitutes an unsafe structure and poses a serious or immediate danger to the safety, health or general welfare of the community as certified by the Building Official or Fire Marshal;
(b) It is not being adequately maintained, as determined by the following factors: missing or boarded windows or doors; collapsing or missing walls, roof or floors; seriously damaged or missing siding or the building is otherwise dilapidated; a structurally faulty foundation; physical hazards, rodent harborage and infestation, improper storage of garbage, trash, rubbish, grocery carts, tires, hubcaps; contains abandoned motor vehicles in violation of the Town of Putnam abandoned vehicle ordinance, or is a structure which has suffered damage due to fire, natural disaster or otherwise which damage would require substantial repair if such substantial repair is not commenced within sixty (60) days of the incident causing the damages or if such repairs once commenced are substantially abandoned for a continuous period of 30 days;
(c) It is adjacent to a sidewalk, for which the property’s owner, agent, tenant or responsible person is responsible to maintain in a safe condition for the use of the public or if the sidewalk is in violation of any ordinance in the Town of Putnam or the Putnam Special Services District regarding maintenance of sidewalks, and its sidewalk is in any way obstructed by or littered with any substance, including trees, bushes, overgrowth, leaves, gravel, dirt, rubbish, garbage, bulky waste or trash which would in any way impede or imperil public travel upon said sidewalk or render it unsafe or unsightly; or
(d) It attracts or harbors vectors, rodents, insects, vermin and disease-carrying animals.
(e) Dilapidated. Any building or structure or part thereof that would not qualify for occupancy or which is an unsafe structure, and any dwelling unit or units which is unfit or unsafe for human habitation or is unsafe for persons walking around it or nearby it.
(f) A property occupied by a structure intended for human occupancy in which grass, weed or brush is allowed to reach and maintain a height of 18 inches or greater and which situation continues for 20 days or longer. Property maintained in its natural state, gardens, ornamental plantings and property subject to conservation easement shall be exempt from this provision.
(g) A property occupied by a structure intended for human occupancy which contains two or more dead, decayed, diseased or damaged trees which constitute a hazard or danger to adjacent premises, the occupants of the subject premises or adjoining public property including sidewalks and roadways.
CITATION HEARING OFFICER: The Mayor of Putnam shall appoint one or more citation hearing officers, other than police officers or Town employees or persons authorized to issue citations, to conduct hearings authorized by Connecticut General Statutes 7-152c. The town shall institute a citation hearing procedure pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes 7-152c and act in accordance with the procedures set forth therein. Hearing officers are authorized to issue assessments regarding blight citations in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes 7-152c.
CITATION ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS: The citation enforcement officers are any police officer of the Putnam Special Services District or any state police officer exercising his jurisdiction outside the Putnam Special Services District and within the Town of Putnam, the Building Official of the Town of Putnam and his or her assistant, the Zoning Enforcement Officer of the Town of Putnam and his or her assistant, the Fire Marshal of the Town of Putnam and his or her deputy and when special circumstances require, any other person designated by the Mayor as a citation enforcement officer.
EXEMPT PROPERTY: Any building or structure undergoing remodeling being diligently conducted and pursued under an active building permit would only be exempt during such remodeling period.
Sec. 3. Creation or maintenance of a blighted property prohibited.
No person, firm or corporation, no owner, agent, tenant, operator, possessor of real property, and no other person responsible for the care, maintenance and/or condition of real property, shall cause or allow any blighted property, as defined in section 2, to be created, maintained or continued.
Sec. 4. Enforcement.
(a) Notice of Violation and Opportunity to Correct
Prior to issuing citations for violation of this ordinance such citation enforcement officer shall mail written notice to an owner, agent, tenant or other person responsible for any violation at the last known address of the person on file with the tax collector. If the notice is mailed only to one (1) of the responsible persons, it shall in no way be or be construed to be a release of any other responsible persons nor evidence that any other person is responsible. If there is more than one (1) responsible party identified in the order, the responsibility for complying with the notice shall be joint and several. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the notice shall state the violation(s) of this article and, when necessary for the health and safety of town residents, the citation enforcement officer may require abatement within twenty-four (24) hours from the time of notification or immediately as may be necessary. If the person fails to correct the violations or fails to provide notice to the town of his or her intent to correct the violations set forth in the order to abate within a reasonable period of time, and if any violation continues unabated after twenty (20) days from the date such order to abate is served or if the person fails to correct the violations as set forth in the notice of violation, the town may issue an enforcement citation as specified in this article.
If a Town ordinance sets a specific time for compliance such as the time for the removal of ice and snow removal from sidewalks, the specific time for compliance set by that ordinance governs and is not extended by this ordinance. No notice of violation and opportunity to correct is required prior to issuing citations related to the failure to remove ice and snow from sidewalks.
(b) If the owner, agent, tenant or responsible person fails to correct the violations within the time stated by the citation enforcement officer and the notice provided in part (a) of this section may take any action necessary to abate the nuisance as authorized by law and shall invoice the persons for its costs and expenses.
(c) Any person who is a new owner or a new occupant may request an extension which will be granted for good cause shown to a date determined by the citation enforcement officer. For the purpose of this section “new owner” means any person or entity who has taken title to a property within thirty (30) days of the notice and “new occupant” means any person who has taken occupancy of a property within thirty (30) days of the notice.
Sec. 5. Notice of Citation Providing Uncontested Period to Pay Fine
If a person fails to correct a violation after notice of violation is provided pursuant to section 4, the citation enforcement officer may issue a notice by mail to the person’s last-known address on file with the tax collector stating the allegations regarding the violation of this ordinance and the amount of a fine of $100 per day. The notice shall provide a date by which an uncontested payment of the fines can be made to the town. Payment of such fine, penalties and costs shall be made to the Office of the Mayor. An uncontested payment shall be inadmissible in any proceeding, civil or criminal, to establish the conduct of such person or other persons making the payment.
Sec. 6. Citation and assessment hearing procedure.
(a) Notice of citations and right to hearing on requested assessment.
The citation enforcement officer at any time within twelve (12) months after the expiration of the time to make an uncontested payment of the amount of the fine pursuant to the notice issued under Section 5 of this article may send a citation notice that an assessment is being sought from a citation hearing officer for one or more of the citations were the subject of one or more notices issued under section 5. The notice shall be sent by regular mail to the last-known address of the person on file with the tax collector and shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:
(i) The allegations of the violation or violations stated in the each of the citation notice or notices issued pursuant to Section 5 for which an assessment is sought.
(ii) The amount of the fines that the citation enforcement officer is requesting the citation hearing officer to impose as an assessment, which amount is $100 per day of violation of this article.
(iii) The fact that the person may contest his or her liability before a citation hearing officer by delivery in person or by mail of a written notice to the Office of the Mayor within ten (10) days from the date of the notice of citation.
(iv) That failure to request a hearing will result in an assessment and judgment entered against the person cited, and,
(v) That judgment may issue without further notice.
(b) A person receiving the notice of citation and right to a hearing may admit liability and pay the amount sought as an assessment. Payment of such fine shall be made to the Office of the Mayor. An uncontested payment made prior to the imposition of an assessment pursuant to part (c) of this section shall be inadmissible in any proceeding, civil or criminal, to establish the conduct of such person or other persons making the payment.
(c) Assessment by default. If the person receiving the notice issued according to part (a) of this section does not deliver or mail a demand for hearing within ten (10) days of that notice to the Office of the Mayor, the person shall be deemed to have admitted liability and the citation enforcement officer shall certify such person’s failure to respond to the citation hearing officer. The citation hearing officer shall thereupon enter an assessment in the amount of the fines requested by the citation enforcement officer and shall follow the procedures set forth in part (e) of this section for filing the assessment with the court. If the person requests a hearing, is notified of the date, place and time of the hearing in accordance with part (d) of this section but fails to appear at the hearing, the citation hearing officer may enter an assessment by default against him upon a finding of proper notice and liability under the applicable statutes or ordinances based on evidence presented at the hearing. The citation hearing officer shall thereafter follow the procedures as set forth in part (e) of this section for filing the assessment with the court.
(d) Hearing by citation hearing officer. Any person who requests a hearing within the time specified in this article will be given written notice of the date, time and place for the hearing, which shall be held not less than fifteen (15) nor more than thirty (30) days from the date of the mailing of the notice, subject to reasonable requests for good cause shown for continuance or postponement by an interested party. The original or a certified copy of the notice of citation and right to hearing issued pursuant to part (a) of this section shall be filed with the citation hearing officer, shall thereafter be retained by the Town, and shall be deemed to be a business record within the scope of Section 52-180 of the Connecticut General Statutes, and shall be considered evidence of the facts contained therein. The accused shall have the right to request the issuing citation enforcement officer to be present at the hearing and such individual shall in fact be present at the hearing if so requested. At such hearing the accused may appear and present evidence on his or her own behalf and municipal officials may present evidence in support of the requested assessment. The hearing officer shall conduct a hearing in the order and form and with such methods of proof as he or she deems fair and appropriate. The rules regarding the admissibility of evidence shall not be strictly applied, but all testimony shall be given under oath or affirmation. The hearing officer shall announce his or her decision at the end of the hearing. If he or she determines that the person is not liable, he or she shall dismiss the matter and enter the determination in writing accordingly. If he or she determines that the person is liable for the violation, he or she shall forthwith enter an assessment against the person as provided by this article and shall thereafter follow the procedures as set forth in part (e) of this section for filing the assessment with the court..
(e) Notice of assessment and entry of judgment. If the assessment is not paid as of the date of its entry, the citation hearing officer shall send by first class mail a notice of the assessment to the person found liable and shall file a certified copy of the notice of the assessment with the Clerk of the Superior Court facility designated by the Chief Court Administrator within the boundaries of the Judicial District in which the municipality is located, together with the applicable court entry fee. The certified copy shall not be filed with the court until after the expiration of the thirty-day appeal period set forth in part (f) of this section and must be filed within twelve (12) months of the assessment. A certified copy of the notice of assessment shall constitute a record of assessment and the Clerk of the Superior Court, in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-152c (f) shall enter judgment in the amount of such record of assessment and the court entry fee against such person in favor of the municipality. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Connecticut General Statutes, the citation hearing officer’s assessment, when so entered as a judgment shall, have the effect of a civil money judgment and a levy of execution on such judgment may be made without further notice to such person.
(f) Appeal. There shall exist a right of appeal in favor of any person against whom an assessment has been entered pursuant to the provisions of this article. An appeal shall be instituted within thirty (30) days of the mailing notice of such assessment by filing a petition to reopen assessment, together with an entry fee in an amount equal to the entry fee for a small claims case pursuant to Section 52-259 of the Connecticut General Statutes at a superior court facility designated by the Chief Court Administrator, which shall entitle such person to a hearing in accordance with the rules of the judges of the Superior Court.
Sec. 7. Citation and assessment penalties arising from violations of other municipal ordinances.
The following ordinances shall be enforceable by citation pursuant to the provisions of Section 7-148 of the Connecticut General Statutes, in addition to any other penalties contained in the respective ordinances and the respective amounts specified as fine or penalty pursuant to the procedures set forth in this ordinance:
(a) The Town of Putnam Sidewalk Ordinance Governing Snow Removal and Sidewalk Maintenance
(b) The Town of Putnam property identification ordinance
Sec. 8. Recording of lien.
After judgment is entered by the Superior Court imposing an assessment in accordance with section 6 of this article, the unpaid assessment constitutes a lien upon the real estate in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes 7-148aa, and each such lien shall be recorded, continued and released as provided for therein.
Sec. 9. Nonexclusive remedy.
This article is intended to provide an additional enforcement mechanism to the appropriate municipal officials of the Town of Putnam. The provisions of this article are in addition to and not in derogation of or serve as a restriction upon any other available remedy to the town or any municipal official including but not limited to judicial proceedings seeking injunctive or punitive relief.
Dec. 26, 2019
Legal Notice
Town of Putnam
Zoning Commission
The Town of Putnam Zoning Commission held a meeting on December 18, 2019, at 7:00 P.M. at the Putnam Town Hall, located at 126 Church Street, Putnam, CT. The following action was taken:
Docket # 2018-10: Rawson Materials, Madilyn Smith— Request for a Special Permit for gravel removal consisting of 43,000 cubic yards. Properties located at 10, 38, & 52 Cady Road. Town Assessor’s Map 34, Lots 77, 78 & 79. Zoned AG-2. WITHDRAWN BY APPLICANT
Patricia Hedenberg,
Chairman
Dec. 26, 2019
Legal Notice
PUBLIC NOTICE
Pomfret Registered Democrats are hereby notified that a caucus will be held on Tuesday, January 7th, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., at Grill 37, 37 Pomfret ST, Pomfret Center, CT for the purpose of accepting nominations and voting for the Pomfret Democratic Town Committee membership and transact any other business that may properly be brought before the caucus.
Raymond E. Wishart Jr.,
Chairman
Pomfret Democratic
Town Committee
Dec. 26, 2019
Legal Notice
Town of Pomfret
Notice is hereby given that a certified copy of the audit of the Pomfret Fire District for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, prepared by Daniel R. Santos, CPA, LLC, 179B Hartford Pike, Dayville, Connecticut 06241, was filed in the Office of the Town Clerk of Pomfret on December 18, 2019. In compliance with the requirements of section 7-394 of the Connecticut Statutes, said audit is on file for public inspection in said office at Five Haven Road, Pomfret Center, Connecticut.
Dated at Pomfret,
Connecticut
This 18th day
of December 2019
Cheryl A. Grist,
Town Clerk of Pomfret
Dec. 26, 2019
Legal Notice
TOWN OF PUTNAM WPCA
WATER/SEWER COLLECTIONS
The January 2020 billing of water and/or sewer taxes for the Town of Putnam WPCA is due and payable without penalty by February 3, 2020, with the Town Revenue Collector.
Payments made after February 3, 2020, are delinquent and will be subject to an interest charge for both water and sewer at 1.5% per month or $2.00 minimum whichever is higher, according to Connecticut State Statute SEC. 12-146.
Mail must be postmarked no later than February 3, 2020, to avoid interest charges.
Online payments can be made at the Town of Putnam website – www.putnamct.us after January 1, 2020.
REVENUE WINDOW HOURS:
Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 AM — 4:15 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:45 PM
Friday 8:00 AM – 12:45 PM
Town Hall closed January 1 and 20, 2020
For your convenience, feel free to use our new drop box option located outside the Putnam Town Hall!
Dec. 26, 2019
Jan. 2, 2020
Jan. 30, 2020
Legal Notice
Town of Putnam
Putnam Special Services District
East Putnam Fire District
West Putnam District
COLLECTOR OF REVENUE
(860) 963-6800
The second installment of taxes, due to the Town of Putnam, Special Service District, East Putnam Fire District, and West Putnam District on the Grand List of October 1, 2018, is due and payable on January 1, 2020, through February 3, 2020.
Payments made after February 3, 2020, will be subject to an interest charge of 3% (1½% per month) or $2.00 minimum per Town and $2.00 minimum per District (where applicable); whichever is higher, according to Connecticut State Statute, SEC. 12-146.
Mail must be postmarked no later than
February 3, 2020, to avoid interest charges.
Current bills may be paid online at www.putnamct.us
For your convenience, feel free to use our new drop box option located outside the Putnam Town Hall!
Supplemental Motor Vehicle bills will be due in full during January.
Supplemental Motor Vehicle bills are for vehicles registered between October 2, 2018, and July 31, 2019.
If anyone is having financial problems, please contact our office anytime. We will be glad to work with you on a payment arrangement.
Have a happy and healthy holiday season.
Window Office hours:
8:30am – 4:15pm Monday through Wednesday
8am-5:45pm Thursday
8am-12:45pm Friday
Town Hall Closed Jan. 1, 2020 and Jan. 20, 2020
Dec. 26, 2019
Jan. 2, 2020
Jan. 30, 2020
Legal Notice
Tax Collector’s Office
Town & Fire District
of Pomfret
Legal Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of the Town and Fire District of Pomfret that the Supplemental Motor Vehicle and second installment of Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills on the Grand List of October 1, 2018, are DUE AND PAYABLE January 1, 2020.
The last day to pay without penalty is February 3, 2020. Per State Statute, interest will be charged at 18% annually (1.5% per month), with a minimum charge of $2.00 per entity (the Town and Fire District are separate entities) on all delinquent payments postmarked February 4, 2020, or later.
Make all checks payable to Pomfret Tax Collector and mail to: Pomfret Tax Collector, 5 Haven Road, Pomfret Center, CT 06259. If a receipt is desired, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. For more information or to pay online, go to www.pomfretct.gov.
Tax Office Hours are: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Town Hall is closed on Fridays. If you have any questions, please call 860-974-0394. The Town Hall will be closed January 1, 2020, and January 20, 2020.
Pamela N. Gaumond,
CCMC
Tax Collector
Town & Fire District
of Pomfret
Dec. 26, 2019
Jan. 2, 2020
Jan. 30, 2020
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