Bristol Council adopts sewer ordinance; several municipal code changes set for first reading

The Bristol Town Council adopted Ordinance 2025‑9 on Dec. 10, updating several code sections governing sewer operations and pretreatment standards. Councilmembers said the update helps keep the town and its treatment plant in compliance with state requirements and protects wastewater infrastructure.

Councilmember Smoebi (identified in the record) characterized the ordinance as necessary to "protect us and our treatment plant moving forward." The ordinance was originally introduced Sept. 10 and advanced to a second reading with public comment period satisfied; on Dec. 10 the council adopted it on a voice vote.

At the same meeting, the council advanced three other items as first readings: Ordinance 2025‑16 (Chapter 16 — motor vehicles, stopping/standing/parking), Ordinance 2025‑17 (Chapter 8 — boats, docks, waterways; Prudence Ferry off‑season parking), and Ordinance 2025‑18 (amusements, shows, entertainment and related liquor-license application items). For Ordinance 2025‑18, councilors discussed whether the days-of-week/hours language should be added to the ordinance text; town staff advised that the application and existing local ordinance govern hours and that the first reading would move forward to the public hearing/second-reading process where details can be debated.

Votes and next steps: Ordinance 2025‑9 was adopted on second reading. The three first-reading items were constituted for first reading; they will return to the council for subsequent consideration and public comment as required by procedural rules.