Information on this page is updated regularly to keep municipal officials informed of important legislative and state activities affecting cities and towns.
SEWER IMPROVEMENTS Would allow persons who will be assessed for sewer improvements that are not bonded (paid for by the Town in cash from the Capital and Non Recurring Expenditure Fund), to pay on an installment basis, instead of having to pay them in a lump sum.
EXPEDITED CERTIFICATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Would allow licensed professional engineers to certify that work done on economic development projects is done in accordance with state requirements in order to expedite the completion of such projects. This important bill would address a long-standing impediment to economic development.
MUNICIPAL APPLICATIONS FOR STATE PERMITS Would establish reasonable deadlines by which state agencies would respond to municipal land use permit applications.
Such a change would help speed economic development at a time when our economy most needs it.
Among other things, (1) amends PA 09-60 (2-year revaluation delay) to claify that such provisions are effective on passage and (2) makes technical changes regarding tax assessment and appeals.
BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Would make various changes to the remediation statutes in an effort to encourage more entities to take on these types of projects.
MEMBERSHIP ON REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCIES Would require that regional planning agencies (RPAs) comprise municipal chief elected officials or their designees.
SMART GROWTH AND LOCAL PLANS OF DEVELOPMENT Among other things, would require that smart growth provisions in local plans of conservation and development be consistent with those of the state plan (section 4(d)).
The State plan of conservation and development should be informed by local and regional plans, not the other way around.
GREEN CLEAN SCHOOLS Certainly the intention of this proposal, to utilize only “green” cleaning products in schools, is laudable. But this bill would be an unfunded mandate to local and regional school districts.
If there truly is an opportunity for savings, as claimed by proponents, then no mandate would be needed. Rather, with proper education of local officials, purchasing products that would save money and be good for the environment would be obvious. It is because proponents are so insistant on a mandate that CCM does not trust their claims.
This bill has not been to the Environment Committe nor Planning & Development. As the content of this bill falls within both of these commitees jursidictions, before any further action it should be referred to them.
HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP Would allow municipalities the option to participate in the state employee health plan. Municipalities need such options to help combat rising costs of health insurance.
REGIONALISM Would establish a framework for regional cooperation in economic development. Would allow two or more municipalities that join in federal economic development districts and enter into agreements to "promote economic development" to share the revenue from such developments. However the House deleted important provisions that would allow such regional groups (i) to levy a 1% regional hotel tax, and (ii) share a portion of state sales tax revenue, the revenue from which could be used for regional purposes as delineated in the bill. These provisions are vital.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS Would require that at least 1% of all funds expended on roads be used to provide facilities for all users including, but not limited to, bikeways and sidewalks with appropriate curb cuts and ramps, except if the municipal legislative body of the municipalitiy demonstrates with respect to a highway, road or street that: (1) Non-motorized usage is prohibited; (2) there is a demonstrated absence of need; (3) the accommodation of all users would be excessively expensive to the total project cost; or (4) the accommodation of all users is not consistent with the state's or such municipality's, respectively, program of construction, maintenance and repair.
US SENATE VACANCIES Would create a new unfunded mandate on local election officials by eliminating the governor's authority to fill U.S. Senate vacancies by appointment and instead require a special election under most circumstances.
CCM does not have a position on the policy issue. However, according to the fiscal note special elections can cost a city upwards of $75,000 - $85, 000 and small towns in the range of $10,000 - $15,000. Such costs would be unexpected and not budgeted for.
The costs of a special election to fill a statewide seat should be fully paid for by the State.
FORECLOSURE ASSITANCE Requires property owners faacing foreclosure to register with towns in which properties are located. The bill, prohibits towns and cities from enacting other foreclosure-related measures than prescribed in the bill (municipalities with existing ordinances are phased in).
AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR Would require that, (1) there be an of automatic external defibrillator (AED) and school staff trained in the use of such defibrillators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation in all schools during operational hours, school sponsored athletic practices and athletic events taking place on school grounds and during school sponsored events not occurring during operational hours; and that (2) schools and athletic departments develop emergency response plans to address serious incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or similar life threatening emergency while on school grounds.
Section 1(d) includes a provision that does not mandate local and regional school boards of education (BOE) to purchase AEDs if Federal and State funds are not available. It also provides local and regional BOEs the ability to accept donations providing the AED and/or in-kind donations to purchase the of AEDs. We urge you to maintain this provision.
MUNICIPAL OPTION TO DELAY REVALUATIONS Would (i) allow municipalities scheduled to "effect a revaluation" in 2008, 2009, or 2010 to delay the revaluation or phase-in until 2011, and (ii) allow regional revaluations.
CCM urges quick action by the House to insure that municipalities get the information on passage of this bill in time to incorporate that information into budget decisions.
a measure that will increase both costs and burdens for municipalities in that it allows workers compensation cases to be heard by the Appellate Court before a final decision is rendered by the Compensation Review Board.”
