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Health & Fitness

New Law Will Protect Zoning Enforcement Officers, Help Them Better Serve Communities

New Law Will Protect Zoning Enforcement Officers, Help Them Better Serve Communities

A new law signed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and one that I championed will improve neighborhoods by empowering zoning enforcement officers (ZEOs) to do their job without the threat of triple damages as a civil penalty.

House Minority Leader Larry Cafero (R-Norwalk), state Rep. Chris Perone (D-Norwalk) and Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia welcomed news of the law, which goes into effect Oct. 1. The new law will allow local ZEOs to be more aggressive in issuing citations for flagrant zoning violations, resulting in more enforcement, better adherence to the law and, by extension, higher property values.

It is unfair and counter-productive for ZEOs to do their work under the threat of having to pay triple damages out of their pockets if a civil lawsuit arises. I have heard complaints that under previous law, ZEOs held back on enforcement out of fear of litigation. I fought for this law because it changes that dynamic and empowers ZEOs to more aggressively go after absentee landlords and help residents reclaim neighborhoods that suffer from blight.

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Under previous state law, zoning enforcement officers in Connecticut were liable for triple damages if they issued a citation “frivolously or without probably cause” against a landowner. The new law makes ZEOs liable only for actual damages, and only if they are found to have issued a citation “maliciously or wantonly.”
“Local enforcement officials will be better able to do their jobs and properly enforce ordinances that result in stronger communities without fear of frivolous reprisals,’’ Rep. Cafero said.

“This law provides a level of fairness for zoning officers that I have encouraged for years; I appreciate the bipartisan efforts of our elected officials for correcting an old inequity,” said Mayor Moccia. “The legislation will allow zoning enforcement officials to do their job without the fear of legal retaliation. This will allow better implementation of zoning regulations and a healthier work environment for those employees charged with enforcing the rules.”

Find out what's happening in Norwalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I believe zoning enforcement officers should not be subject to an additional penalty that is not applied to building inspectors, sanitarians, or wetland enforcement officers," said Rep. Perone. "Our existing law is shortsighted and burdensome because the increased exposure to zoning enforcement officers has had an adverse effect on ZEOs’ activities. The net result has stymied the efforts of municipalities from putting in place needed citation ordinances.”

The new law ensures that ZEOs are subject to the same liability as other municipal officials and employees.

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