Ansonia Aldermen passed five new local laws earlier this month, including one enhancing prohibitions on where “sexually oriented” businesses could open in town.
Other laws passed by the Aldermen establish a new policy for scrapping city property and how the proceeds of scrap sales are handled; savings accounts for the city to put aside money for employee claims and retirement benefits; and a process by which companies who owe the city back taxes can perform municipal work.
Aldermen approved the new laws unanimously, so they will take effect after being published twice in a newspaper.
Adult Businesses Restricted Further
The city already had an ordinance on its books prohibiting “adult-oriented businesses” from locating within 1,000 feet of any church or school, or within 500 feet of a residential zone.
Now parks, public buildings and recreation areas have been added to the “not within 1,000 feet” list.
Aldermen considered adding restaurants to that list as well, but decided not to after the city’s corporation counsel, John Marini, advised against it because adding parks, public buildings and recreation areas already makes it all but impossible for any prospective adult business to find an acceptable location.
“I don’t really think it’s needed given the prohibited areas as they are, how expansive those are,” Marini said during a meeting of the Aldermen’s ordinance subcommittee June 8. “It doesn’t seem to be needed.”
The new law also puts in place an annual licensing procedure in the unlikely event that an adult business does find a place to open within city limits.
In addition to sex toy shops, porno theaters and strip clubs, the law would cover escort agencies, massage parlors, “nude model studios” and “sexual encounter establishments.”
Click here to read a previous story about the sex business law.
Local Companies Can Pay Off Tax Bills With City Work
Another new ordinance passed last week allows local businesses who owe the city money in the form of back taxes or blight or sewer liens to pay it back by doing work for the city.
An ordinance on the books prohibits companies from obtaining construction permits if the company owes back taxes or has liens on its property for blight fines or sewer fees.
But the new law creates an exception allowing such companies to obtain permits if they’re doing work for the city, the Water Pollution Control Authority, the Housing Authority, or the Board of Education.
The city would then deduct the cost of the work from the amount the company owes to the city, which is allowable by state law.
Marini said at the June 9 Aldermen’s meeting the new law was prompted by “two big priorities” for Mayor David Cassetti’s administration: “We want to collect taxes, and we want to give incentives for Ansonia businesses.”
For instance, the city recently asked for estimates to repair the Eagle Hose Hook & Ladder building at the corner of Main and East Main streets, which was damaged last month when a truck backed into it.
Companies from Ansonia, Oxford, and Shelton submitted quotes.
The Ansonia company — Teodosio & Sons, of Riverside Drive — was the low bidder, at $8,600, minus a 10 percent credit the city gives local bidders, for a “total bid price” of $7,700.
But the company also owes the city nearly $40,000 in back taxes, according to the city’s online tax database.
Aldermen waived the requirements of the old ordinance so the company could do the work, but the new law will allow the city to apply payments to local firms directly toward a company’s tax bill.
Note — the city will only pay a $700 deductible for the Eagle Hose work, with its insurance company picking up the rest of the tab.
City officials said they didn’t write up the new law just because a local company that owes taxes was bidding for a job.
“It’s actually an issue we’ve been thinking about for the past six, seven months,” Marini said.
The motivation was to make the city more “business-friendly,” he said.
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Joan Radin, who represents the Fifth Ward, wondered whether the wording of the law — saying the city “may,” not “shall,” withhold payments from companies to apply to unpaid taxes and fees — was too “wishy washy.”
The Seventh Ward’s David Blackwell Jr. suggested that in cases where a local contractor that owes the city money is doing work for the city, the city either reimburse the company for materials or supply the materials itself.
“Businesses have been hit hard, very hard,” Blackwell said, adding that the city should be “flexible” in such cases.
Charles Stowe, a First Ward Alderman, worried such “flexibility” could lead to lawsuits.
Patrick Henri, who represents the Sixth Ward, then called for a vote on the law, which passed unanimously.
“I don’t think Ansonia’s paving any new ground here,” Henri said.
Scrap Policy, Donations
Aldermen on Tuesday also established a written scrap policy governing how city departments dispose of scrap metal and other surplus equipment.
Under the new ordinance, a department head must ask the mayor for approval to dispose any materials deemed scrap, then receive three estimates from scrap dealers or prospective purchasers, selling to the highest bid.
The city’s policy on scrapping hasn’t always been clear to employees.
Items scrapped for more than $1,000 or more would need approval from the Board of Aldermen.
Another ordinance passed by the Aldermen Tuesday specifies that the proceeds of scrap sales will go to the city’s general fund, after which a department head can request that the mayor then transfer the money back to a line-item in the department’s budget.
The same policy will be followed for donations to a specific department.
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Workers’ Comp, Retirement Savings Accounts
Another ordinance established “savings accounts” to put aside money for workers’ compensation claims and another account to put aside funds representing built-up sick and vacation time payable to employees when they retire.
The city’s comptroller, William Nimons, recommended the new accounts, according to meeting minutes.
The idea is to build up the accounts over time and to make payments easier to track.
The ordinance also prohibits the city from using the funds in the accounts for other purposes.