[HISTORY: Adopted by the Inland Wetlands
and Watercourses Commission 1-16-2008 (Appendix 1 of Ch. 96 of the 1990 Code). Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The objectives and purposes of the Inland Wetlands
and Watercourses Commission of Wethersfield are those set forth in
the Connecticut General Statutes, and those powers and duties delegated
to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission in the aforementioned
Statutes and by the "Ordinance Establishing an Inland Wetlands and
Watercourses Commission" within the Town of Wethersfield, approved
on June 24, 1974.
the Commission shall be known as the "Inland
Wetlands and Watercourses Commission," and may hereafter be referred
to as he "Commission."
The office of the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses
Commission shall be at Wethersfield Town Hall where all Commission
records will be kept. Copies of all official documents, records, maps,
etc., will be filed or recorded in the office of the Town Engineer
when required.
The membership and terms of office shall be
as specified in the above stated ordinance establishing the Commission,
and the aforementioned General Statutes.
A.
The officers of the Commission shall consist of a
Chairman and a Vice Chairman.
B.
The Chairman shall preside at all meetings and hearings
of the Commission and shall have the duties normally conferred by
parliamentary usage on such officers. The Chairman shall have the
authority to appoint committees, call special meetings, and generally
perform other duties as may be prescribed in these rules and procedures.
C.
The Chairman shall be one of the Commission members.
He/she shall have the privilege of discussing all matters before the
Commission and of voting thereon. It is the responsibility of the
Chairman to assure a "Public Comments" item on the monthly agenda,
that such Public Comments be limited as to time and to issues unrelated
to those matters otherwise scheduled for Public Hearing.
D.
The Vice Chairman shall act for the Chairman in his/her
absence and have the authority to perform the duties prescribed for
that office. He/she shall be a Commission member.
E.
The Town staff shall keep the minutes and records
of the Commission and, shall prepare the agenda of regular and special
meetings under the direction of the Chairman, provide notice of all
meetings to Commission members; arrange proper and legal notice of
hearings; attend to correspondence of the Commission, and such other
duties as are normally carried out by a Clerk.
A.
An annual organization meeting shall be held the first
meeting after July first, at which time officers will be elected and
rules and procedures reviewed and be made a part of the annual meeting.
Officers may be elected by a majority vote of members present.
B.
Nominations shall be made from the floor at the annual organization meeting and elections of the officers specified in § A182-5A shall follow immediately thereafter.
C.
A candidate receiving a majority vote of the members
present shall be declared elected and shall serve for one year or
until his/her successor shall take office.
D.
Vacancies in office shall be filled by regular election
procedure as herein specified with terms to run until the next annual
organizational meeting.
E.
Resignations from the Commission shall be in written
form and transmitted to the Town Clerk, who will then forward same
to the executive officer of the community.
A.
Regular meetings will be held at Wethersfield Town
Hall on the third Wednesday of each month, except as may be otherwise
noted in the schedule of meetings on file in the office of the Town
Clerk. In event of conflict with holidays or other events, a majority
may change the date of said meeting at the time the annual schedule
of meetings is prepared for filing with the office of Town Clerk as
set forth in Public Act 723 (1967). The Town staff shall notify the
membership of regular meetings, in writing, not less than 48 hours
in advance of such meeting.
B.
Special meetings may be called by the Chairman, when
such meetings are deemed necessary to the interests and welfare of
the Town, provided notice of such meeting is posted in the office
of the Town Clerk not less than 24 hours prior to such meeting; and
further, emergency meetings may be called without such notice provided
a copy of the minutes of such meeting, adequately setting forth the
nature of the emergency and the proceedings of the Commission is filed
in the office of the Town Engineer not more than 72 hours following
such meeting (Public Act 723, 1967).
C.
A majority of the voting membership of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum, and the number of votes necessary to transact
business shall be a majority of members of the Commission except approval
of minutes which shall be by majority of members present, as otherwise
provided by the Connecticut General Statutes. The notice of such meeting
shall specify the purpose of such meeting and no other business may
be considered except by unanimous consent of the members present.
D.
In case any member of the Commission is unable to
act because of absence, sickness or self-interest, his place shall
be taken by an alternate member selected under the procedure specified
by the Connecticut General Statutes.
E.
All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the
public when in session and shall be open to the public when in executive
sessions when so voted by the majority of the Commission members present
and voting. In accordance with the "Ordinance Establishing an Inland
Wetlands and Watercourses Commission" within the Town of Wethersfield,
all meetings at which decisions are made shall be open to the public.
F.
Unless otherwise specified, Robert's Rules of Order
shall govern the proceedings at the meetings of this Commission.
No members of the Commission shall participate
in any hearing or decision or any matter when he/she is disqualified
for self interest, personal, financial or otherwise. In the event
of such disqualification, it shall be entered upon the records of
the Commission and the place of the member disqualified shall be taken
by an alternate member designated by the Chairman. The Chairman shall
make the final decision as to the disqualification of a member for
self-interest.
A.
Public hearings shall be held on the third Wednesday
of each month, immediately preceding the public meeting, except as
may be otherwise noted in the schedule of meetings on file in the
office of the Town Engineer. In the event of conflict with holidays
or other events, a majority vote may change the date of said hearings
at the time the annual schedule of meetings is prepared for filing
with the office of the Town Clerk in accordance with Public Act 723
(1967).[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See C.G.S. § 1-210.
B.
The Commission may hold public hearings, in addition
to required hearings, when it decides that such hearings will be in
the public interest, provided that notice of any such hearing is posted
in the office of the Town Engineer not less than 24 hours before such
meeting in accordance with Public Act 723 (1967).
C.
All public hearings prescribed by law shall be held
in accordance with the requirements set forth for such hearings in
the "Ordinance Establishing an Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission"
within the Town of Wethersfield, the aforementioned statutes and the
aforementioned Public Act 723 of 1967.
D.
A competent stenographer shall take the evidence,
and/or the evidence shall be recorded by a sound recording device,
at each hearing before the Commission in which the right to appeal
lies to the Superior Court. Proceedings of the hearing shall be incorporated
into the minute book of the Commission to be permanent part of the
record.
E.
To better expedite the proceedings of the hearing
and to cause a better understanding of the issue involved, the Commission
shall have prepared prior to the hearing a hearing agenda and visual
aids for display and presentation during the discussion of the hearing,
if practicable.
A.
The Chairman of the Commission shall preside at the
public hearing. In the event of his absence, the Vice Chairman or
duly appointed Commission member shall act as presiding officer.
B.
The Town staff shall read the legal advertisement
and note the dates and newspapers in which the advertisement appeared.
C.
The Chairman shall prescribe the method of conduct
of the hearing.
D.
It shall be made clear to the public that all comments
must be directed to the Chair, and only after being properly recognized
by the presiding officer.
E.
All persons recognized shall approach the hearing
table in order to facilitate proper recording of comments. Before
commenting on the matter before the hearing, each person shall give
his name and address.
F.
The presiding officer shall assure an orderly hearing
and shall take necessary steps to maintain the order and decorum of
the hearing at all times. The presiding officer shall reserve the
right to terminate the hearing in the event the discussion becomes
unruly and unmanageable.
G.
The show of hands by those persons present shall not
be allowed on any general question present at the public hearing.
The hearing shall be conducted only for the purpose of taking testimony
to be considered in deliberations of the public meeting of the Commission.
Special committees may be appointed by the Chairman
for purposes and terms which the Commission approved.
A.
The Chairman or a duly appointed Commission member
or staff personnel shall act as public relations or publicity director
for the Commission. His/her duties include the preparation of all
news releases to be distributed to the communications media. All information
releases shall reflect the thinking of the majority of the Commission.
B.
In the matter of the press, radio, and television representatives, the Commission shall comply with Chapter 3, Sections 1-19, 1-20, 1-21, of the Connecticut General Statutes, 1958 Revisions, as amended.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said statutes have been transferred or repealed;
see now C.G.S. §§ 1-210, 1-21i and 1-225, respectively.
These rules and procedures may be amended by
a two-thirds vote of the entire voting membership of the Commission,
only after the proposed change has been read and discussed at a previous
regular meeting, except that the rules and procedures may be changed
at any meeting by the unanimous vote of the entire voting membership
of the Commission.
