I thought we had enough people to cover this. If you can contribute to
this project, please respond to Mr. King ASAP.
Thanks.
--
-Time flies like the wind. Fruit flies like a banana. Stranger things have -
-happened but none stranger than this. Does your driver's license say Organ
-Donor?Black holes are where God divided by zero. Listen to me! We are all-
-individuals! What if this weren't a hypothetical question?
steveo at syslang.net
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 11:08:42 EST
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Code Enforcement Task Force
I am taking the liberty of writing to a number of people who have expressed
concern to me about the need to create a more coherent and comprehensive
policy for employing the regulatory powers of the Town as they relate to land
use. Different boards and departments of the Town have jurisdiction over
different aspects of our land use plan and policies including the Planning
Board (subdivisions, site plans, off street parking plans); the Building
Department (Zoning By-law, Building Code, Building Permits, Nuisance By-law);
Board of Selectmen, Street Opening Permits. Parking Regulations); Zoning
Board of Appeals (restrictions and conditions included in variances and
special permits); Board of Health (health and safety regulations).
Similarly, these different bodies operate under their own statutory and Town
By-law schemes and may exercise different powers granted under their
respective enactments. Some of those powers include: the revocation of
permits; imposition of fines and penalties of both a non-criminal and
criminal nature; the resort to surety or cash bonds to secure compliance; and
civil law suits to recover damages for noncompliance or to obtain court
orders requiring specific performance of undertakings made to the Town.
It seems to me that it is important for residents and these Town agencies to
be aware of their respective powers and duties and how they work, or may be
used in relation to each other to promote effectiveness and consistency. This
coordination is especially important where there may be concurrent or
overlapping jurisdictions that should be used in a mutually supportive way.
The Board of Selectmen authorized the creation of a code enforcement task
force to review the nature and sources of local authority and to promote
compliance with the Town's land use regulations regardless of the source of
the regulation or the role of individual agencies. We advertised for persons
interested in serving on this task Force. Despite the concerns that had been
expressed to me and to at least one other member of the Board the response
was disappointing. Frankly, if the folks who are concerned about these issues
will not come forward to take up this opportunity when offered, they cannot
expect the town officials to become proactive in this area in these times
when town funds and personnel are being stretched to cover simply "routine"
responsibilities.
I urge you to volunteer for this assignment and to do so promptly - today -
by emailing the Town Manager ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) with a copy to me
([EMAIL PROTECTED]) telling him of your willingness to accept appointment and
a brief summary of the reasons for your interest. In addition, if you know
of others who are concerned about these issues please forward this to them
and urge them to step forward in their own self interest and on behalf of the
Town. The Board will be discussing this matter this evening and I hope we
will be able to get this committee up and running. I, myself, am willing to
work on this Task Force after my term as Selectman expires on April 1.
