(A) Pursuant to the authority vested in municipalities under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 8-12a, any person authorized by the Planning and Zoning Commission of the town to enforce the zoning regulations of the town (the person being referred to hereinafter as the Zoning Enforcement Officer) may issue a citation for any violation of those regulations in the manner provided by this subchapter.
(B) The town shall maintain copies of all citations issued pursuant to this subchapter for a period of no less than ten years after the dates of issuance of the respective citations. The copies shall be indexed under the names of the persons to whom the citations were issued. Within ten days after the final disposition of each citation, by payment of the specified fine or by a final decision on any appeal taken pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter, a note shall be placed in the file on, or together with, the relevant citation indicating the nature of the final disposition. If no appeal is taken of a citation issued pursuant to this subchapter, but the specified fine is not paid, a note to that effect shall be placed in the file on, or together with, the relevant citation.
(C) A citation may be issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer either by hand or by certified mail, return receipt requested. If the person named in the citation fails or refuses to accept that mail, the citation may be sent by regular United States mail.
(D) Any person receiving a citation shall be allowed a period of 30 days from his or her receipt of the citation to make an uncontested payment of the fine to the town. If the citation has been sent by regular mail pursuant to the provision in division (C) above, the day of receipt of the citation shall be considered three business days after the date of mailing the citation. For the purposes of this subchapter,
the term BUSINESS DAYS shall include any days other than Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and legal holidays upon which the S.B. Church Memorial Town Hall is closed.
(E) If a person who has been issued a citation does not make uncontested payment of the fine specified in the citation to the town within the time allowed under division (D) above, the Zoning Enforcement Officer shall send a notice to the person cited, informing the person anew:
(1) Of the allegations against him or her and the amount of the fines;
(2) The person cited may contest liability before a Hearing Officer appointed by the First Selectman, as provided in § 157.42(A) of this subchapter, by delivering to the Zoning Enforcement Officer, in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested, within ten days of the date of the notice, a written demand for a hearing;
(3) If the person cited does not demand a hearing, an assessment and judgment shall be entered against him or her;
(4) The assessment and judgment may accrue an additional fine of $150 for each day that the
violation continues; and
(5) The judgment may issue without further notice.
(F) If the person who is sent notice pursuant to division (E) above wishes to admit liability for any alleged violation, he or she may, without requesting a hearing, pay the full amount of the fine, either in person or by mail, to the town. Any person who does not deliver or mail a written demand for a hearing within ten days of the date of the notice described in division (E) above shall be deemed to have admitted liability and the Zoning Enforcement Officer shall certify to the Hearing Officer that the person has failed to respond. The Hearing Officer shall thereupon enter and assess the fines provided for by this subchapter and shall follow the procedures set forth in § 157.44(A) of this subchapter.
(Ord. passed 8-13-2007)