WILTON — Voters at the Monday’s annual town meeting will consider articles in a $2.9 million budget, decide whether to adopt new ordinances and put aside money for a townwide property revaluation.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. June 10 at the Academy Hill School cafeteria. Selectmen will provide a barbecue for residents at 5:30 p.m.
This year, babysitting will be available during the meeting for a donation, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said. Three students from the babysitting class at Forster Applied Regional Technology Center will provide the service.
Although budget requests total $2.9 million, an increase of $31,687 over the current budget, no extra taxes will need to be raised, Irish said. Estimated revenues and voter approval for use of money from the undesignated balance can cover the budget increase.
The amount does not reflect any changes from state revenue sharing, she said. The town doesn’t know what the state will do, but selectmen propose covering any decreases with undesignated funds.
Four new ordinances will be presented, along with a request to amend the zoning ordinance to include building demolition permit standards.
The Solid Waste Management/Recycling Ordinance updates and replaces the town’s Landfill Recycling Ordinance. It continues the Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee, encourages recycling and establishes fees for disposal of nonrecyclables.
Although police have received few complaints about fireworks, the consumer fireworks ordinance spells out places and conditions in which fireworks can be set off.
A permit from the Fire Department is required on “high” fire danger days as rated by the National Fire Danger Rating System, and no use is permitted on on “very high” or “extreme” days.
Because 75 percent of police complaints come from a half dozen residences, a proposed disorderly property ordinance was developed, James Black of the Ordinance Committee recently told residents.
Under the ordinance, a property, be it a house, tent site, gravel pit or field, where police are called to four times within a month is flagged as a disorderly property, he said. The owner is notified and given a chance to take action. Fines are charged for more than four visits.
A proposed building and property maintenance ordinance provides a minimum standard for the exterior condition of buildings within the downtown village, commercial and residential 1 zones of town.
Voters will also consider setting aside money for four years to cover a townwide property revaluation, with field work starting in 2014. The amount requested is $56,250 over four years to cover the $225,000 cost.
Taxpayers will not see a change in their tax bills until 2016, which is nine years since the last revaluation, she said. The work will be finalized and meetings with residents held before a new tax rate is set.
Although concerns have recently been raised about funding the Wilton Free Public Library, Irish pointed out that the amount in the budget is about the same as last year.
Although selectmen and the Finance Committee voted to not recommend the amount, voters can move to approve the amount of $108,650 requested in the article, she said.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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