By JEFF EPSTEIN
[email protected]
WEST WINDSOR, Vt. — West Windsor is about to implement two ordinances that will go into effect in February, and has enacted a new junk ordinance effective in March.
Burglar alarms
The burglar alarm ordinance was adopted on Dec. 10, 2018 and will go into effect Feb. 10. It requires owners of burglar alarm systems to register them with the Windsor Police Department when they are installed.
The ordinance also specifies that neither the police nor the towns of Windsor or West Windsor are obligated to respond to any burglar alarm.
The owner of a burglar alarm system is held responsible for its maintenance and can be fined for any false alarm activation.
A first offense would not be charged a fee under the terms of the ordinance, but subsequent offense would be charged civil penalties up to $500 a day and a waiver fee up to $400 a day.
If necessary, the select board has the authority to start a civil suit against the owner to get the burglar alarm disabled or removed.
Speed limits
Also taking effect Feb. 10 are speed limit reductions on certain local roads. The speed limit on Hotel Road, Coaching Lane and Harrington Road has been reduced to 30 mph.
The speed reductions were approved in December 2018 by the select board.
Junk ordinance approved
The select board approved on Monday a new junk ordinance that takes effect March 28. It states its purpose as regulating abandoned motor vehicles, salvage yards, or any other junk.
The ordinance makes it unlawful to store or abandon four or more junk vehicles anywhere in West Windsor. But any property owner can complain about unauthorized junk vehicles on their property and can have them towed away.
Anyone who wishes to run a salvage yard within the light industrial/commercial zoning district is required to obtain a Certificate of Approved Location from the select board and obtain a State Salvage Yard Certification. They have to be fenced in and meet other requirements.
Any violation of the junk ordinance can be sanctioned at $100 per day civil penalty for the first offense and waiver fee of $50. Subsequent offenses are have increased penalties up to a civil penalty of $500. The maximum waiver fee is $400.
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