2014 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 15 - Navigation and Aeronautics
Chapter 263 - Harbors and Rivers
Section 15-26a - Five Mile River Commission. Harbor superintendent.

(a) There shall be a Five Mile River Commission consisting of two electors from each of the towns of Norwalk and Darien. Each such member shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of nominees to be submitted by the legislative body of each such town or by the board of selectmen in the case of a town in which the legislative body is a town meeting. Members shall serve for a term of four years from the date of his appointment and until his successor has been appointed and qualified. Such members shall not be compensated for their services as such but shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses.

(b) The Five Mile River Commission shall have regulatory jurisdiction over the use of said river. Said commission shall concern itself with the navigation, pollution and conservation of said river and its drainage basin. It shall be the responsibility of said commission to bring to the attention of the appropriate federal, state or local authorities any and all violations of federal, state or local law brought to its notice which in any way affects said river. In addition said commission shall propose for ratification by the legislative bodies of the towns of Norwalk and Darien such regulations and procedures as it deems necessary for the control of moorings and for safe and orderly navigation. The commission may, with the consent of said legislative bodies apply to the appropriate federal authority for the designation of the Five Mile River estuary as a “special anchorage area”.

(c) The Five Mile River Commission shall appoint by majority vote a harbor superintendent. Said superintendent shall serve at the commission’s pleasure and shall, subject to the approval of the commission, receive an annual salary established and paid by the member towns. He shall have such authority as the commission may delegate.

(d) Said commission may contract for the services of such professional and clerical personnel as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(e) The town of New Canaan, upon majority vote by its legislative body, may, at any time, become a member of the Five Mile River Commission, in which event two electors of said town shall be appointed to the commission as provided in subsection (a) of this section.

(1971, P.A. 805, S. 1–4; 1972, P.A. 277, S. 2, 3; P.A. 94-59, S. 3.)

History: 1972 act removed members from New Canaan from commission in Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (e) re terms upon which New Canaan shall become member; P.A. 94-59 added provision that appointments shall be made by the board of selectmen in the case of a town in which the legislative body is a town meeting.