(a) Each municipality in which an aquifer protection area is located shall authorize by ordinance an existing board or commission to act as such agency not later than three months after adoption by the commissioner of regulations for aquifer protection areas pursuant to section 22a-354i and approval by the commissioner of mapping of areas of contribution and recharge areas for wells located in stratified drift aquifers in the municipality at level B pursuant to section 22a-354d. The ordinance authorizing the agency shall determine the number of members and alternate members, the length of their terms, the method of selection and removal and the manner for filling vacancies. No member or alternate member of such agency shall participate in any hearing or decision of such agency of which he is a member upon any matter in which he is directly or indirectly interested in a personal or financial sense. In the event of disqualification, such fact shall be entered on the records of the agency and replacement shall be made from alternate members of an alternate to act as a member of such commission in the hearing and determination of the particular matter or matters in which the disqualification arose.

(b) Not more than six months after approval by the commissioner of mapping at level A, pursuant to section 22a-354d, the aquifer protection agency of the municipality in which such aquifer protection area is located shall adopt regulations for aquifer protection.

(c) At least one member of the agency or staff of the agency shall be a person who has completed the course in technical training formulated by the commissioner pursuant to section 22a-354v. Failure to have a member of the agency or staff with training shall not affect the validity of any action of the agency and shall be grounds for revocation of the authority of the agency under section 22a-354t.

(d) Any municipality may establish, by ordinance, a fine for violations of regulations adopted pursuant to section 22a-354p, provided the amount of any such fine shall not be more than one thousand dollars and further provided no such fine may be levied against the state or any employee of the state acting within the scope of his employment. Any police officer or other person authorized by the chief executive officer of the municipality may issue a citation to any person who commits such a violation. Any municipality that adopts an ordinance pursuant to this subsection shall also adopt a citation hearing procedure pursuant to section 7-152c. Any fine collected by a municipality pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the general fund of the municipality or in any special fund designated by the municipality. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to agricultural uses, provided such uses are following best management practices.

(P.A. 89-305, S. 8, 32; P.A. 95-218, S. 6; P.A. 07-85, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 95-218 amended Subsec. (b) to change “well” to “aquifer protection area” for consistency in the text; P.A. 07-85 added Subsec. (d) re fines.