Tax Abatement Ordinance Hinges on RTM Vote

Monday evening saw the Board of Selectmen formally endorse the Darien Tax Abatement Ordinance for Low and Moderate Income Housing as amended to include the Board of Finance. Ratification of the proposed legislation now hinges approval from the Representative Town Meeting; the legislative body is due to vote, up or down, on March 15.

The proposed ordinance and amendment, which some consider a constructive tool—a means of helping developers get expensive affordable housing developments off the ground when rents are particularly low—came before the previous Board of Selectmen at the request of the Darien Housing Authority as it relates to the redevelopment project at Allen O'Neill.

Prior to Monday's meeting, First Selectman Dave Campbell's board had yet to vote on the amended ordinance—a move Selectman David Bayne described as "important to send a definitive message to the RTM."

The vote was unanimous and came without discussion.

The proposed legislation has been the source of much debate. Where some consider the ordinance a constructive affordable housing tool that will allow the town to discuss abatement requests as and where necessary, others say it is unprecedented for a small Connecticut town like Darien to adopt said legislation; moreover, some say that the latest amendment, which gives the Board of Finance more than an advisory role, may weaken the power of the RTM as the town's legislative arm.

"That could pressure us to be a rubber stamp," said Elisabeth Bacon (District II) at a recent RTM Rules Committee.

RTM Moderator Karen Armour (District VI) said that where Town Counsel has amended the proposed ordinance to include the Board of Finance's "more than advisory" role, the RTM will vote on the ordinance and subsequent amendment to avoid confusion.

"We've done it as an amendment, so that people don't say, 'Oh, it's changed again,'" said Armour.

The RTM Rules Committee have finalized the March 15 agenda to include the proposed ordinance and amendment.