Ordinance Committee advances BET ex‑officio option and narrows sidewalk snow‑and‑ice timing

The Norwalk Ordinance Committee unanimously moved two relatively narrow items forward on June 21: an ordinance to allow a city council member to be appointed as a non‑voting ex‑officio member of the Board of Estimate & Taxation, and a clarification to the city code that requires property owners with sidewalks to remove snow and ice within 24 hours after the cessation of a weather‑related event.

Committee members said the BET change formalizes a voter‑approved charter revision and allows council members to take part in BET discussions (without a vote). On the snow‑and‑ice item, staff and members clarified that enforcement and any fee schedule would be handled administratively by Public Works and the Public Works subcommittee; the ordinance committee’s change only sets a clearer 24‑hour removal timeline to replace vague 'reasonable time' language.

Both items were approved by voice vote to move to the full council or to public hearing and were recorded as unanimous in committee. No members requested additional public comment at the meeting.