Martha Marx

SENATOR MARX JOINS PASSAGE OF BILL TO FIGHT BLIGHT

Tonight, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London), joined the Senate’s passage of legislation seeking to fight blight. The bill expands communities in which blighted property receiverships can be used; expands state and local authority to regulate blight; and increases fines for blight, as well as littering, among a number of other changes.

In February, Sen. Marx testified in front of the Planning and Development Committee in support of the legislation alongside New London Mayor Michael Passero, noting that the bill would provide direct aid to New London in addressing vacant and blighted buildings. The bill was also introduced with the support of New London State Representatives Christine Conley and Anthony Nolan.

“New London is booming, but we have issues with vacant, condemned and blighted buildings in our main downtown areas,” said Sen. Marx. “This bill won’t just help New London with this issue, but communities around the state. It’s going to help clear up blight that’s holding back local economies, Main Streets and businesses. I’m excited to see it become law.”

House Bill 6892, “An Act Concerning Municipal Blight Ordinances And The Fine For Littering,” makes changes including: Expanding the communities in which abandoned and blighted property receiverships can be used by including any community with a population of at least 15,000; Expanding state and local authority to regulate blighted commercial properties in addition to residential ones; Increasing maximum daily penalties municipalities can assess for blight from $100 to $1,000 for repeat offenders; Increasing maximum state littering fine from $199 to $500; Eliminating certain notice requirements to lienholders when a municipality remediates or orders a property to be remediated under certain maintenance-related violations if that property has been cited at least three times in a year; Eliminating a requirement that mortgagees and lienholders participate in rent receivership proceedings to determine whether a receiver should be appointed.

Prior to this bill’s passage, current law provides a judicial process to appoint receivership to rehabilitate and dispose of abandoned properties in municipalities with populations of at least 35,000.

The bill previously passed the House by a vote of 108-43 in May, the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 30-7 in May, and the Planning and Development Committee by a 20-1 vote in March. It now heads to Governor Lamont’s desk to be signed into law.