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Public Open Spaces in Fairfield... WHAT'S DIFFERENT NOW?
Now permitted: carrying and discharge of loaded firearms; hunting;
Now permitted: disturbance, injury, or destruction of wildlife and wildlife habitats.
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| Brett Woods Conservation Area |
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Subsequent to a public hearing[1] on November 19, 2009, the Town of Fairfield Conservation Commission voted to amend rules governing use of public open spaces. Changes were made to §10, §24, and §26 of: Fairfield Beaches, Waterways, Channels, Marinas, Parks, Fields, and Open Space Areas Owned and Operated by the Town of Fairfield: Rules and Regulations
CLICK HERE FOR PDF COPY of Original Rules and Regulations
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| CLICK TO OPEN & PRINT a copy |
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Regulation Changes per Conservation Commission Public Hearing on 11/19/2009 (changes are bold/underlined).
Section 10.
(a) Loaded firearms are prohibited on any town beach, marina, park, or open space except when carried by law enforcement officers in the execution of their duties.
(b.): Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) of this section, loaded firearms on any open space area are permitted when performed pursuant to a permit issued by the Fairfield Conservation Commission.
Section 24.
(a) No stone or other missiles shall be thrown or rolled from, into, within or upon any park or open space area. (This section does not prohibit the use of a ball in designated playing areas.)
(b) Hunting, trapping, and discharging of firearms on or into any park or open space area is prohibited. Hunters crossing open space to gain access to State property may proceed through that open space only with an unloaded firearm.
(c): Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (b) of this section, hunting and discharging of firearms on any open space area are permitted when performed pursuant to a permit issued by the Fairfield
Conservation Commission.
Section 26.
(b) No person shall destroy, injure or disturb any form of wildlife or its habitat on any Town beach, marina, park or open space excluding fishing, shellfishing, and related activities.
(c): Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (b) of this section, such activities may occur to wildlife and its habitat on any open space area when performed pursuant to a permit issued by the Fairfield
Conservation Commission.
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| Barbieri Open Space |
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LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING.
[1.] Footnote: A legislative public hearing is required prior to Committee voting on substantive matters before local government agencies. A public hearing constitutes an important element of thoughtful and professional public process, and is essential to ensure integrity and transparency of government debate and rule-making. The purpose of such a hearing is so that the public has confidence that government is aware of their opinions, and to offer the pubic (constituents of the government) an opportunity to contribute to the legislative process, particularly in matters of comprehensive land use and management. This would be most especially so, for actions involving land use and management which affect metrics for ordinary public safety and general public welfare.
The clear function—and public expectation—of such a hearing, is to integrate public commentary into government decision-making. Commentary, evidence, exhibits, or written statements submitted during a public hearing are anticipated to be given a reasonable level of dignity; they become part of the municipality's permanent record of the process, and must be available for subsequent public review.
Throughout prior meetings, the Chairman and other Commission members stated that no decisions regarding re-introduction of hunting as a recreational opportunity in Fairfield public open spaces would be made prior to a public hearing: assuring that they would accord public sentiment its due weight of significance. Nevertheless, it was observed that the proposed amendments to the Open Space Regulations were drawn in advance of and collapsed into discussion at the same meeting at which a vote was to be taken; and that the Agenda for that November 19, 2009 meeting—written in advance of the public hearing—states: “Amendment of the Open Space Regulations Regarding Hunting.” (To view that agenda, click the link immediately below).
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| Pine Creek Marsh |
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CLICK HERE for PDF,
Conservation Commission Agenda: 11/19/2009
The document referred to as
“see attached” under Item II “Public Hearing” is the text which appears above and in the printable image to its right: reformatted & now distributed by the Conservation Commission
to the public (if requested).
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| Pickerel Pond |
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