RTM approves tax abatement ordinance

The RTM approved an amendment to the tax abatement ordinance on Monday night, which will give the Board of Finance a definitive role in the approval of tax abatements for affordable housing projects in town.

The vote was originally brought to the town's legislative body at its January 25 meeting, but the final decision was postponed until this week as the role of the town's Board of Finance was reconsidered.

The original ordinance included the Board of Finance in an advisory role; the newly amended version states that contracts between the town and landowners must be "forwarded to the Board of Finance ... prior to consideration of any contract by the RTM."

The amended ordinance grants the First Selectman the ability to "enter into contracts for the town with owners of low- and moderate-income housing, granting abatement, in whole or in part, of the taxes on the real estate used for such low- and moderate-income housing," with the approval of the RTM.

The BOF will then make a recommendation, which will be advisory in nature and shall be forwarded to the RTM within 30 days, according to the ordinance.

Both the Planning, Zoning & Housing Committee and the Finance and Budget Committee, headed by John Van der Kieft and Bruce Orr, respectively, recommended the RTM vote in favor of the ordinance on Monday.

"The consensus still felt Board of Finance should have advisory role, but having the Board of Finance have a role in the approval process is acceptable," Orr told his fellow RTM members at the meeting.

Murry Stegelmann, chairman of the BOF also spoke in favor of the amendment.

"This is just another potential way that we could encourage this kind of development," Stegelmann said. "We like the fact that it requires a consensus among the bodies in town: Planning & Zoning Commission; Board of Selectmen; RTM; and the Board of Finance."

Stegelmann said including the BOF in the approval process would be appropriate because "we're talking about significant financial expenditures and liabilities of up to 39 years, which is way beyond stuff we usually undertake."

More than 60 of the 65 members in attendance voted in favor of the ordinance.