[Adopted 5-4-2016]
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes §§ 7-152c, 7-148(10)(A), 7-148(c)(6)(A)(iv), 7-148(c)(7)(F)(iv), and § 262-20A of the Ridgefield Code of Ordinances, the Conservation Enforcement Officer is authorized to issue citations for violations of the Conservation Ordinance of the Town of Ridgefield to the extent and the manner provided by this article. Any such citation may be served either by hand delivery or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person named in the citation. If a person named in the citation to whom notice has been sent by certified mail refuses to accept such mail, the citation may be sent by regular United States mail.
A citation may be issued for any violation of the Conservation
Ordinance and/or Regulations of the Town Ridgefield.
The fine for each citation shall be $250, payable to the Town
of Ridgefield.
A person named in the citation shall be allowed a period of 30 days from the date of his or her receipt of the citation to make an uncontested payment of the fine specified in the citation. If the citation has been sent by regular mail pursuant to the provision of § 24-7 above, the day of receipt of the citation shall be deemed to be three business days after the day of mailing of the citation.
Any person issued a citation shall be entitled to a hearing
to contest the citation. In order to receive a hearing, the person
named in the citation must deliver a written request for a hearing
to the Conservation Enforcement Officer within 30 days of his or her
receipt of the citation. The request must be received by the Conservation
Enforcement Officer within the thirty-day period. The procedures for
hearing, disposition and enforcement shall be as is set forth in the
Connecticut General Statutes, § 7-152c, Hearing Procedure
For Citations, as the same may be amended from time to time.
The First Selectman shall appoint one or more citation hearing
officers to conduct the hearings necessary pursuant to this article,
other than police officers or employees or persons who issue citations,
or employees or members of the Ridgefield Conservation Commission,
to conduct the hearings authorized by this article.
In addition to the remedies set forth in Connecticut General
Statutes § 7-152(c), any unpaid civil penalty or other fine
imposed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and any and all
costs and expenses by the Town for the enforcement of this chapter,
shall constitute a lien upon the violator's real estate from
the date of the recording thereof in the Ridgefield land records.
Each such lien may be continued, recorded and released in the manner
provided for in Connecticut General Statutes § 7-14aa.
If the Hearing Officer determines the violator is liable for
the violation, the Town may cause or take such action as is necessary
to correct the violation. All costs and expenses of such corrective
action shall be a lien upon the real estate of the violator upon the
recording thereof as provided below. The Board of Selectmen shall
cause a certificate of lien to be recorded in the Town Clerk's
office within 60 calendar days after completion of such corrective
action if all costs and expenses thereof are not reimbursed in full.
The provisions of this chapter are in addition to, and not in
lieu of, any other remedies available to the Town under the Connecticut
General Statutes or other/applicable section of the Town Code.
