Letter: Town Should Work Harder for Taxpayers To Resolve ‘Sober House’ Issue on West Road

The town of New Canaan has taken the position, regarding 909 West Road, that local zoning regulations, health code statutes governing rooming houses, inspections, etc. are not available to towns due to the ADA and anti-discriminatory housing laws that are in place at the state and federal level for sober houses and other similar businesses. I am confused—isn’t the role of the town administration to protect and represent the interests of its residents? When the town was made aware of the circumstance, indeed the town responded, contacted the town attorney, etc., and decided there was nothing the town could do. No effort was made to find a solution, to go further to try and protect the taxpayers.