[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Bethlehem 2-20-2018. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The regulation of special events and the supervision of such events are hereby declared necessary for the protection of the health, property, safety and welfare of the residents of the Town of Bethlehem pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes, § 7-148 (c)(7)(H).
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the terms "special events" and "special event" shall mean any public gathering of more than 1,500 persons assembled at one time for one particular event. The terms "special events" and "special event" shall not be interpreted to include the normal day-to-day operation of existing commercial enterprises. The terms "special events" and "special event" shall include, but not be limited to, fairs, shows, exhibitions, bazaars, flea markets, carnivals, and concerts.
A. 
No special event shall be held without a valid license.
B. 
Applications for such licenses shall be made to the Board of Selectmen not later than 90 days before the starting date of the special event; forms to be supplied to the applicant for that purpose.
C. 
Public notice of each application disclosing pertinent facts concerning the event shall be given by the First Selectman within seven days after the application is received by publication in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the Town of Bethlehem. The cost of such notice shall be borne by the applicant.
The application for such a special events license shall contain the following information under oath:
A. 
Name(s) of applicant(s): if a partnership, names of all partners; if a corporation, club or association, names of officers.
B. 
Residence addresses and phone numbers of applicants.
C. 
Age of applicant(s); if a corporation, club or association, date organized and state of incorporation or formation.
D. 
Applicant(s) type of business or activity.
E. 
Whether applicant(s), or if a corporation, club or association, officers, have ever been convicted of a crime.
F. 
Description of the special event to be held.
G. 
Location where the event will be held.
H. 
Anticipated maximum number of persons who will be assembled at one time for the special event. No persons in excess of this number shall be permitted within the confines of the location of the special event.
I. 
Plot plan or sketch of facilities for the special event and written plans demonstrating adequate planning to meet local, state and other applicable standards for:
(1) 
Parking.
(2) 
Traffic.
(3) 
Food services.
(4) 
Drinking water.
(5) 
Toilets.
(6) 
Lodging.
(7) 
Fire prevention.
(8) 
Fire protection.
(9) 
Refuse disposal, including the name of the refuse hauler, the number and size of the disposal containers that will be in use.
(10) 
Law enforcement.
(11) 
Emergency evacuation; and
(12) 
Emergency medical services.
J. 
The facilities for the special event shall be subject to review by the First Selectman, Commanding Officer Troop L, Connecticut State Police Troop L Litchfield, Fire Marshal, Building Official, Chief of Bethlehem Fire Company, Chief of Bethlehem Ambulance, Director of Health and the Recycling Official of Bethlehem within 48 hours of the time that the special event will begin.
K. 
Dates and hours of each special event must be specified, and no license shall be valid for more than three consecutive calendar days.
The Board of Selectmen shall investigate the character and record of the applicant(s) and the proposed location of the special event described in the application and shall not approve said application or issue a license unless the Board of Selectmen finds that the applicant(s) are over 21 years of age and do not have a criminal record, and that the business or activity in such location is a bona fide and lawful one and will not be detrimental to public health, safety and welfare. The Board of Selectmen, in granting or denying the license, shall consider each of the sections of this chapter as well as all other valid concerns of the residents of the Town of Bethlehem brought before them during the 10 to 14 days following the public notice concerning the application. In any case of the denial or refusal to grant or renew a license, the Board of Selectmen shall notify the applicant(s) of its proposed action and reason therefor and set a day and place for a hearing thereon, giving the applicant reasonable notice in advance thereof by certified mail and an opportunity to be represented by counsel at such hearing. The Board of Selectmen shall not issue a license to any event, entity or person which has not paid outstanding fees from prior events.
Any license granted pursuant to the terms of this chapter may contain such conditions as deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Selectmen, including, without limitation, the posting of a cash security bond in accordance with the provisions of § 114-8 below and the provision of police, traffic control, emergency medical services, sanitary and other services for the protection of public health, safety and welfare.
A license shall be issued by the Board of Selectmen in the name of each applicant. The license fee shall be $100.
The Board of Selectmen may require a cash security bond to be deposited with the Town of Bethlehem prior to the issuance of a license. Said bond will be held to ensure the Town of Bethlehem does not bear any costs associated with the event. The amount of the bond shall be fixed by the Board of Selectmen. Following the event, the Town shall refund the balance of such bond to the applicant(s) minus any costs incurred by the Town of Bethlehem arising from or related to the special event. The bond shall not be released until the applicant(s) has documented to the satisfaction of the Board of Selectmen that all amounts owed for police, fire, services and emergency medical services, and all tipping fees for solid waste, including, without limitation, recyclables, generated by the special event have been paid in full.
A license may not be transferred by the licensee(s) to any other person, corporation, partnership, club or association.
Each licensee shall pay all costs required to provide for public health, safety and welfare, including but not limited to costs for police, fire services, emergency medical services and the total cost of solid waste collection and removal and recycling, including, without limitation, all tipping fees. The licensee shall pay any and all tipping fees charged to the Town of Bethlehem in addition to the fees paid for refuse collection and hauling.
The First Selectmen shall have the power to revoke any license issued hereunder for cause, after due notice. Cause shall be deemed to include, but shall not be limited to, false information in the application for a license knowingly given, failure to show good intent to comply with the conditions under which the license has been granted, any violation of this chapter or conviction of a crime subsequent to the issuance of the license.
Any person, corporation, partnership, club or association violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be fined not more than $100 for each offense.
Each separate provision of this chapter shall be deemed independent of all other provisions herein, and if any provision of this chapter shall be declared invalid, all other provisions thereof shall remain valid and enforceable.