In short, an "ordinance" is just a local town law. "Enacting" an ordinance means creating a new one, changing an old one, or getting rid of one entirely.

Here is how a town law goes from an idea to an official rule, step-by-step:

Step 1: The Power to Make Laws

The Board of Selectmen (Bethel's main governing board) has the authority to create, change, or eliminate town laws. These laws must focus on keeping the town safe, healthy, and orderly, and they can never conflict with Connecticut state laws or the Town Charter.

Step 2: Warning the Public & Hosting a Hearing

Before the Board can pass a new law, they must listen to what the public thinks.

• The 10-Day Notice: At least 10 days before the public meeting, the town must publish the entire text of the proposed law as a legal ad in a local newspaper (or another legally approved platform).

• The Public Hearing: The Board must hold at least one public meeting where residents can voice their opinions, concerns, or support.

Step 3: The Clock Starts on the Vote

Once the public hearing is over, the Board of Selectmen cannot sit on the idea forever. They have a strict 30-day window to take action and vote on whether to pass the law.

Step 4: Telling the Town It Passed

If the Board votes to pass the law, they have to notify the town.

• The 10-Day Summary: Within 10 days of passing the law, they must publish a summary (synopsis) of the law and its official start date in a local newspaper.

• Making it Official: The Town Clerk writes the law down in the town's official record book.

• Note on Changes: If the Board made major changes to the law after the public hearing, they can choose to publish the whole text again instead of just a summary.

Step 5: The Law Becomes Active

A newly passed law does not start immediately. It officially goes into effect on the 31st day after its summary was published in the newspaper.

Exception: The only way it doesn't take effect is if town residents start an official legal process (like a petition or referendum) to block or overrule it.

The "Oops" Rule: Fixing Typos Later

If the town notices a purely technical error after the law is passed—like an obvious typo, a formatting mistake, or an accidental omission that doesn't change the actual meaning of the law—they can fix it quickly.

• At least two members of the Board of Selectmen must vote to fix the typo.

• The correction is published for the public to see.

• The fixed version becomes official 15 days after it is published.

The ordinance changes follow. The first document shows a "redline" version based on how the ordinance appears in the Bethel Town Code. The second is a version including all the changes. Note that there can be small format changes when the code is officially published. There are three chapters being repealed: Chapter 9 Golf Authority, Chapter 38 Amusement Devices, and Chapter 52 Dumpsters.