Branford’s 2021-’23 Representative Town Meeting (RTM) completed its last meeting on Oct. 11 at Branford Fire Headquarters. Following the municipal elections on Tuesday, Nov. 7, the elected members of Branford’s 2023-’25 RTM will pick up the reins at the first meeting of the new term, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.

The Oct. 11 meeting included a unanimous voice vote approving an ordinance to establish the Town of Branford Fair Rent Commission, as required by state statute. Language of the ordinance had been reviewed in committee and was last revised in June.

The RTM passed the ordinance based on the 3-1 vote of the RTM Rules and Ordinance (R&O) Committee recommending approval of the full RTM.

Committee member Rep. Peter Black (R, District 3) noted that R & O had a long discussion regarding the revised ordinance language at its September meeting and voted to leave the language as it was.

Black also provided a brief committee minority report to the full RTM ahead of the vote on Oct. 11.

“In general, this has the potential to be a major unfunded mandate,” Black said. “It’s a whole new regulatory process, similar to Inland Wetlands. A lot will depend on how we execute it.”

As written in the ordinance, the purpose of the Town of Branford Fair Rent Commission is “...controlling and eliminating excessive rental charges for housing accommodations of any type within the Town, and to carry out the purposes, duties, responsibilities, and all provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S) pertaining to fair rent commissions, as the same may be amended from time to time.”

The commission will have seven regular and three alternate members who are residents and electors appointed by the Board of Selectmen to serve four-year terms. Of the seven regular members, there will be at least one landlord and one tenant, as well as at least one landlord and tenant among alternates, and there will always be equal numbers of landlords and tenants serving.

The ordinance goes on to state the commission will receive “...complaints, inquires and other communications concerning alleged excessive rental charges and alleged violations, including retaliation, of [C.G.S.] in housing accommodations of any type except those rented on a seasonal basis, within its jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall include mobile manufactured homes and mobile manufactured home park lots.”

The language further clarifies that “seasonal basis means housing rented for a period or periods aggregating not more than 120 calendar days in any one calendar year.” It also stipulates that “rental charge includes any fee or charge in addition to rent imposed or sought to be imposed upon a tenant by a landlord and includes any charge already in effect.”

The commission will also participate in any Town studies and investigations regarding rental housing. The commission will also conduct hearings on complaints or requests for investigation.

RTM Members Thanked

Two Republican RTM members who are not running for re-election—14-year member Marc Ricco (R, District 6) and 10-year member Edward Prete (R, District 6)—stood to share their respective thoughts and thanked their colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

RTM Moderator Dennis Flanigan (R, District 5) also thanked parting RTM member Donald Conklin (R, District 5) for his years of service to the RTM.

Ahead of calling for adjournment of the Oct. 11 meeting, Flanigan also thanked the members of the 2021-’23 RTM for their service.

“As moderator, I would like to thank all of the RTM members who have served and help make this town the great town it is. And for the new members, I wish you a lot of luck,” said Flanigan.

The full Oct. 11 RTM meeting was live-streamed by BCTV and can be viewed at BCTV on Facebook.