Town Council Approves Ordinance Changes

By Adam Swift

The town council unanimously approved seven recommended changes from the Winthrop Ordinance Review Committee at its meeting last week.

The majority of the ordinance changes revolved around language changes and additions to existing ordinances. An eighth recommendation for a new ordinance prohibiting the use of electric bicycles and motorized scooters on natural surface trails and town parks was kept in committee for further review.

“I know they are working on that to try to get some ordinances around that that support that, so that will be coming back shortly, hopefully,” said Town Council President Jim Letterie.

The revised ordinances that were approved by the council included revised language for traffic definitions, street sweeping, public notifications, construction and replacement of sewers, and meter tampering.

One new ordinance was approved by the council concerning the removal of lead and required materials for water services in new construction.

To comply with DEP regulations, the new ordinance reads that a continuous copper water service must be installed at the owner’s expense from the basement of the new home to the Town’s water main in the street. For all “Full Gut” renovation projects a continuous copper water service must be installed at the owner’s expense from the basement of the home to the town’s water main in the street.

If a full copper service already exists prior to the “full gut” renovation, it will be the homeowner’s obligation and responsibility to prove that lead no longer remains within the service line in order to close out the permit requirements and obtain a full occupancy status.

At last week’s meeting, public works director Steve Calla suggested the ordinance also apply to all requests for new Accessory Dwelling Units, also known as in-law apartments.

Precinct 3 Councilor Joseph Romano successfully amended the ordinance to include that stipulation.

In other business, the council voted in favor of a council rule change that allows an item to be placed on the agenda if the same matter is submitted by at least four councilors prior to the deadline for submissions to the agenda for the following week’s meeting.

Another potential change to the council rules stating that other than amendments, to existing motions, no business shall be considered by the town council unless there is a majority vote of the council to waive this rule was tabled to get legal clarification from the town attorney.