Sec. 22a-498. Creation of stormwater authority. Members. Purposes. Powers. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 22a-498. Creation of stormwater authority. Members. Purposes. Powers. (a) Any municipality selected by the commissioner to participate in the pilot program established pursuant to section 22a-497 may, by ordinance adopted by its legislative body, designate any existing board or commission or establish a new board or commission as the stormwater authority for such municipality. If a new board or commission is created, such municipality shall, by ordinance, determine the number of members thereof, their compensation, if any, whether such members shall be elected or appointed, the method of their appointment, if appointed, and removal and their terms of office, which shall be so arranged that not more than one-half of such terms shall expire within any one year.

      (b) The purposes of the stormwater authority shall be to: (1) Develop a stormwater management program, including, but not limited to, (A) a program for construction and post-construction site stormwater runoff control, including control detention and prevention of stormwater runoff from development sites; or (B) a program for control and abatement of stormwater pollution from existing land uses, and the detection and elimination of connections to the stormwater system that threaten the public health, welfare or the environment; (2) provide public education and outreach in the municipality relating to stormwater management activities and to establish procedures for public participation; (3) provide for the administration of the stormwater management program; (4) establish geographic boundaries of the stormwater authority district; and (5) recommend to the legislative body of the municipality in which such district is located the imposition of a levy upon the taxable interests in real property within such district, the revenues from which may be used in carrying out any of the powers of such district. In accomplishing the purposes of this section, the stormwater authority may plan, layout, acquire, construct, reconstruct, repair, maintain, supervise and manage stormwater control systems.

      (c) Any stormwater authority created by a municipality pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may levy fees from property owners of the municipality for the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section. In establishing fees for any property in its district, the stormwater authority may consider criteria, including, but not limited to, the following: The area of the property containing impervious surfaces from which stormwater runoff is generated, land use types that result in higher concentrations of stormwater pollution and the grand list valuation of the property. The stormwater authority may reduce or defer such fees for land classified as, or consisting of, farm, forest or open space land.

      (d) The authority may adopt municipal regulations to implement the stormwater management program.

      (e) The authority may, subject to the commissioner's approval, enter into contracts with any municipal or regional entity to accomplish the purposes of this section.

      (P.A. 07-154, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 07-154 effective June 25, 2007.