SEYMOUR — An ordinance prohibiting people from smoking pot in public places and saluting town residents who go above and beyond to make Seymour a better place were some of things that had the Board of Selectmen talking about at its Feb. 1 meeting.
Here are some of the meeting highlights:
Marijuana Ban?
The Board of Selectmen is considering a ban that would prohibit people from smoking or consuming marijuana in public places, which includes all town-owned property, as well as banning smoking pot in outdoor sections of restaurants in town. A public hearing to air the proposed ordinance has been scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Feb. 15, and will likely be held via Zoom. The selectmen will vote on the ordinance following the hearing, and if approved, the new ordinance would take effect in 30 days.
The board’s ordinance committee developed the proposal in response to a new state law that legalized recreational marijuana on July 1, 2021. Several other towns, including Beacon Falls and Ansonia, passed similar ordinances.
The proposed ordinance, in part, prohibits smoking and consumption of recreational pot on town property, including but not limited to town sidewalks, parks, fields, playgrounds, municipal buildings, etc. It also aims to ban smoking pot in outdoor sections of restaurants located in town.
Individuals found in violation of the ordinance, if approved, will face a $50 fine and businesses will be fined $1,000.
State law now allows people age 21 and over to legally possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana on their person, and a maximum of five ounces in a locked container in their home or car.
First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis said the town already has a ban on smoking tobacco products on town and school property in place.
Kudos for a Job Well Done:
Selectman Fred Stanek told his fellow board members he’d like to do something to salute residents who volunteer their time to make the town a better place. Stanek said he’d like the town to create two annual awards- a community service award and a governmental service award- similar to the Board of Education’s annual awards program where residents, coaches, students, teachers and others are feted for their various contributions.
Stanek said he’d also like to see the awards named in honor of or in memory of Seymour residents who’ve made significant contributions to the community. The school board awards are named on behalf of the late, longtime Seymour super-sports fan John Gallagher, late, longtime teacher Vincentina Kobasa, late, former Superintendent of Schools Tom Petruny and late, former Board of Education Chairman David Brumer.
Stanek said he’ll draft some criteria for the awards and bring it to the board’s next meeting.
Stanek said award winners would receive recognition and a plaque.
Showcasing Town Businesses:
Sheila O’Malley, the town’s new economic development consultant, would like to showcase town businesses using the Strand Theater on Main Street as the backdrop. O’Malley said she’d like to see a monthly event held at the Strand, where groups of residents from seniors to youth groups would be invited to get a better feel for what some of the town businesses have to offer. Such events could target families for example, by showing a favorite Disney movie free of charge on the Strand’s silver screen, and offer gift card giveaways to local businesses.
“We want to spotlight the resources and businesses we have downtown and around town, and what better way to do that than focus it around the community theatre?” O’Malley said.
O’Malley also envisions a “red carpet” style event at the Strand where area businesses participate in an Open House format to again showcase their stuff.
O’Malley said federal incentive funds the town received under the American Rescue Plan Act could be used to help stage such events.
“I’m looking at this as a way to bring people to town, where we help strengthen the downtown environment and showcase the businesses that are there,” O’Malley added.
