Waterfront Commission (cont'd)
Section 2. The Commission may study the waterfront, the tidal waters and the pier facilities within the Town of Stonington and make recommendations and reports concerning the same to the Selectmen, and such other municipal, regional, state and federal authorities as may be required, or deemed desirable by the Commission, and shall administer in conformance with the provisions of this Act and the regulations of the Commission, such waterfront areas, tidal waters and pier facilities as may be designated by the Selectmen or the legislative body of the Town of Stonington.
Section 3. Annually, during the month of July, said Commission shall meet and elect a chairman, vice-chairman and secretary of the Commission. Regular and special meetings of the Commission may be called by the chairman or vice-chairman in the absence of the chairman, or by the secretary upon the written request of a majority of the members of the Commission. Adequate notice of all meetings shall be given to the members of the Commission prior to all regular and special meetings. At all meetings of the Commission four (4) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The Commission may enact by-laws, not inconsistent with any other provisions of this Act, for the conduct of meetings and general operation of the Commission.
Section 4. The Commission, after public hearing as hereinafter defined, by a majority vote of those commissioners present at such hearing, may enact regulations for the administration and operation of the areas administered by said Commission pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of this Act.
Any regulation so enacted shall become effective on the date specified by the Commission but not prior to the publication of such regulation in a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town of Stonington and the filing of a copy thereof in the Office of the Clerk of the Town of Stonington, except that no criminal or punitive sanctions shall obtain for the violation of any such regulation unless such criminal or punitive sanctions have been first ratified by the legislative authorities of the Town of Stonington.
A public hearing for the purpose of this Act is hereby defined as a public assembly warned by the publication of a notice of the time, place and subject matter for consideration in a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town of Stonington at least five (5) days before the date of such hearing. Such assembly shall be open to the public and all persons having an interest therein shall be entitled to speak and present evidence and exhibits for the consideration of the Commission. Any person convicted of a violation of any regulation, enacted under the provisions of this section and ratified by the legislative authority of the Town of Stonington, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each violation.
Section 5. The Commission may by majority vote of those present and voting at a meeting called for such purpose enter into agreements, which include contracts, leases, grants of concession and licenses, with respect to the use of the areas administered by the Commission pursuant to the provision of Section 2 of this Act. No such agreement of more than one (1) years duration shall be entered into or granted without a prior public hearing as defined in Section 4 of this Act. The decision of the Commission with respect to said agreement, together with a copy of the same, shall be filed in the office of the Stonington Town Clerk for public inspection, and notice of the filing hereof, shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation of said Town of Stonington. No such agreement of more than five (5) years duration shall become effective until fifteen (15) days after the date of such publication and filing. Two hundred (200) or more persons qualified to vote at the Town Meeting of the Town of Stonington may within such fifteen (15) day period by written petition filed with the Town Clerk, request that said agreement or grant be ratified by the legislative body of the Town of Stonington. Upon filing of such petition, the Clerk shall forthwith notify the Selectmen who shall cause a Special Town Meeting to be convened within twenty-one (21) days. The filing of such petition, in proper form with the Town Clerk shall stay the effective date of such agreement pending ratification or rejection by the Town Meeting called for such purpose. If said Town Meeting fails to ratify said agreement it shall be null and void. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, the Commission may enter into agreements authorizing with the areas of its jurisdiction, the processing of fish which shall be limited to the filleting and freezing of fish for human consumption.
Section 6. The Town of Stonington may appropriate money to said Commission and may provide for the construction and maintenance of docking and other facilities for commercial fishing vessels and pleasure craft in the Town of Stonington to be administered by the Commission under the provisions of this Act. The Commission may hire and employ personnel and consultants to carry out the provisions of this Act and the administration of the areas designated under the provisions of Section 2 of this Act. All money received by said Commission shall be turned over to the Treasurer of the Town of Stonington within thirty (30) days of its receipt. The Commission shall submit an annual budget and report for inclusion in the annual report of the Town of Stonington. Such annual report shall be in addition to any other reports submitted by the Commission pursuant to Section 2 of this Act.
Section 7. The Town of Stonington by majority vote of its legislative body, may amend the provisions of this Act, not inconsistent with the provisions of any other public or private law.
Section 8. The Waterfront Improvement Commission established by vote of the Town Meeting of the Town of Stonington on June 13, 1966 is hereby dissolved one (1) day after the effective date of this Act.
Adopted June 6, 1967
Amended Section 4 December 17, 1968
Amended Section 3 January 23, 1979