Live Updates From The Borough Bus Ordinance Meeting

10:37 a.m.: Discussion is winding down a vote may becoming soon.

10:35 a.m.: A number of residents are against the exemptions. The concern seems to be there should an ordinance that works or not one at all.

10:30 a.m.:  Burgess interrupts the discussion to mention a number of people will be leaving to attend another meeting and wants to make sure everyone has a chance to speak and vote if possible.

10:20 a.m.: A borough resident offers an amended ordinance that would make exceptions for the and .

10:16: a.m.: Edward McCreary speaking now says the borough was not made for automobiles let alone busses. Says we have tight traffic problems. “This is our borough.”

10:08 a.m.: Representative from the speaking now says the society supports the rescinding of the ordinance. The historical society is worried that school groups would not have enough time to come to the lighthouse if they have to spend 40 minutes walking to and from the lighthouse. The historical society also says it would make it difficult for the elderly to come to the lighthouse.

10:05 a.m.: Borough Board of Warden & Burgesses speaking now about the ordinance says the intent of the ordinance was never to limit school groups.

10:03 a.m.: Burgess apologizes for the lack of chairs.

10:01 a.m.: speaking on behalf of the asks for some sort of compromise. She is reading excerpts of the . The SBMA says the bus ordinance as it stands now will harm the reputation of the borough and could hurt businesses.

10:00 a.m.: Spike Lobdell, a borough resident and the President of speaks first and asks for the ordinance to be rescinded.

9:58 a.m.: Due to the number of people here Burgess says comments will be kept to three minutes or less. Burgess reminds people not to interrupt the person speaking and says people will only be allowed to speak two times.

9:57 a.m.: Warden Paul Burgess calls the meeting to order and those present in the audience nominate Burgess as the moderator

9:55 a.m.: Looks like we are getting ready to start.

9:45 a.m.: There is some confusion over the length of the buses the ordinance talks about after .

Here is the full text of the bus ordinance:

8. a) No person shall operate any bus over 25 feet in length on any roads south of Broad Street. Buses longer than 25 feet must drop off/pick up passengers at the southeast corner of High Street and Main Street, at Wadawanuck Square, then exit the Borough by turning left onto Main Street, left onto Water Street, and left back over the viaduct.

b) “Specialty Buses” such as trolley buses or mini-buses that are less than or equal to 25 feet in length may drop off/pick up passengers at the designated bus stop on the east side of Wadawanuck Square, at the public dock parking lot, at the parking lot at Stonington Point, or at other locations with permission from the Warden and Burgesses.

c) Specialty vehicles less than or equal to 25 feet in length, transporting residents with special needs, may pick up/drop off where necessary.

d) School buses longer than 25 feet may not travel south of High Street; they will utilize the bus stop on the east side of Wadawanuck Square. A “school bus” is defined in Section 14-275 (a) of the Connecticut General Statutes.

e) The Board of Warden and Burgesses, the Warden, the Borough Police Commissioner, or the Town Police can temporarily suspend this ordinance.

9:36 a.m.: Meeting hasn’t started yet but its standing room only. People are still waiting to sign in for the possible vote.

9:25: a.m.: I've been told the best site is by the reporter (me).

9:20: a.m.: People are beginning to show up for the meeting and are signing in in case there is a vote.

9:00 a.m.: Stonington Borough residents have the opportunity to voice their opinion about the newly enacted at a special meeting of the Borough Warden and Burgesses on Saturday, July 14.

In June the Stonington Borough Board of Warden and Burgesses passed a bus ordinance that bans busses more than 25 feet in length from roads south of Broad Street and school busses more than 25 feet in length are no longer allowed passed . The full text of the bus ordinance is available at the end of this article.

Following the passage of the ordinance a number of groups came out against the ordinance including the and about 100 borough residents that filed a .