Engineering

Here are some of the services the Engineering Department provides.

• Issue driveway permits and inspect their construction
• Issue road excavation permits and inspect the restoration
• Inspection of sanitary sewer building connections
• Technical review of site plans and subdivision plans that are submitted to various town commissions
• Providing review of on-going erosion and sedimentation control installations
• Providing staff support to the Inland Wetlands Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission
• Providing final site inspections on site development and subdivision construction
• Act as liaison between the State and Town in securing and administrating State and Federal funds for road and bridge projects
• Conduct surveys to establish street lines or Town of Vernon property lines and easements
• Provide assistance to Vernon residents regarding wetland issues
• Oversee reconstruction projects of Town roads and bridges

Notice to contractors doing business with the Town of Vernon Engineering Department

All contractors performing work within the Town of Vernon right of way shall be required to purchase an annual Contractor’s License from the Vernon Engineering Department. In order to obtain a license, every contractor must show proof the following:

1. Insurance in the following amounts:
Commercial General Liability

• Each Occurrence: $1,000,000
• Personal/ Advertising Injury Per Occurrence: $1,000,000
• General Aggregate $2,000,000
• Product/Complete Operations Aggregate: $2,000,000
• Fire Damage Legal Liability $ 100,000

Automobile Liability

• Each Accident: $1,000,000
• Hired/Non-owned Auto Liability $1,000,000

Workers’ Compensation/Employers Liability

• Workers’ Compensation - statutory requirement set forth by the State of Connecticut

This insurance certificate must be on file in the Engineering Department and must remain valid throughout the licensing period.

2. A Permit Bond in the amount of not less than $10,000.
This permit bond shall be on file with the Engineering Department and shall remain in full force for at least 12 months from the application date of last permit issued. Contractors may use the Town of Vernon permit bond forms, or use another surety form satisfactory to the Town Engineer.

Note: The insurance and bond requirements specified above are revised from those required of contractors currently holding licenses and bonds with The Town of Vernon. The revised insurance and bond requirements will be required the next time your annual Town Contractor’s License is renewed.

3. A valid State of Connecticut License for the applicable work proposed which shall be on file with the Town’s Engineering Department.

Licenses are valid from January 1st to December 31st. You may purchase one at the Engineering Department. Each contractor will have their own separate license number.

After obtaining a license, the contractor may then apply for a permit to perform the specific work. As with the licenses, the permits may be obtained and paid for at the Engineering Department. The permits may be mailed in as long as there is a check included for each permit. Checks for the licenses and permits may be made out to the Town of Vernon.

During their meeting on February 2, 2010, the Vernon Town Council adopted the following fees for licenses and permits.

Driveway Permit, $50.00 each

Road Excavation Permit, $100.00 each

Sidewalk Excavation, $100.00 each

Town Contractors License, $100.00 per year

Map Copies 24-inches by 36-inches, $5.00 per sheet

8.5-inch by 11-inch copies, 50 cents per sheet

Mail-a-Map, FEMA Flood Zone Map, No Charge

Apply for all permits

• Stormwater Management Plan - Annual Report (2020)

• Stormwater Management Plan - Annual Report (2019)

• Stormwater Management Plan - Annual Report (2018)

  • BMPs for Auto Shops
  • BMPs for Property Owners
  • BMPs for Restaurants

• Stormwater Information Links

• Draft Copy – 2017 MS4 Stormwater Management Plan
• Draft -- 2021 MS4 Stormwater Management Plan
• Draft -- 2022 Stormwater Management Plan

DRAFT of Stormwater Management Plan Annual Report for 2021
Comments welcome. To comment on the draft plan, please contact Town Engineer David Smith at dsmith@vernon-ct.gov.

Downloadable Town of Vernon Regulations

• Driveway Regulations
• Curbs, Sidewalks and Street Excavation Regulations and Specifications
• Subdivision Regulations
• Inland Wetland Regulations

Q: Where is my sewer connection and who is responsible for repairs?

A: If your house is connected to sanitary sewers, it is connected to the Town sewer main in the street by means of the house sewer lateral. The Town has records of where the sewer lateral is connected at the main sewer in the street but most likely has no records of where the lateral runs to the house.  If you are the property owner, you are responsible for installation and any maintenance or replacement of the lateral sewer from the house all the way to its connection to the main within the roadway.

 

Q: I have a septic system. Where can I find information regarding its location?

A: You may get information regarding your septic system from the North Central Health District at (860) 872-1501.

 

Q: Can the Town locate my property line?

A: The Town does not perform work on private properties for private entities, but we may have information in our records to assist in determining the property lines. You should contract with a private surveying company to survey your property lines.

 

Q: Who do I contact if I have questions or concerns about my water service?

A: Connecticut Water Company owns all the water lines in Vernon. They can be reached at 860-623-3355. If you are on a private well, you may get information about your well from the North Central Health District at (860) 872-1501.

 

Q: Who do I contact if I have questions or concerns about my gas service?

A: Eversource Energy owns all the gas lines in Vernon. They can be reached at 1-800-989-0900.

 

Q: When should a contractor call for an inspection?

A: The Engineering Department requests a 24 hours notice, so we have time to schedule all inspections.

 

Q: How can I find a contractor to get some work done on my property?

A: The Engineering Department can supply you with a list of licensed local contractors who can perform driveway, utility and site work.

 

Q: I’m planning to reconstruct my driveway. Do I need a permit from the town? If so, where do I get it?

A: Yes, a permit is required for any work performed on your driveway. Have your driveway contractor come in to the engineering office and take out a driveway permit. The fee for each permit is $50.

 

Q: I have a sump pump in my basement. Can I tie it in to the catch basin in front of my house?

A: Yes. Your contractor must take out a permit at the Engineering Department. The fee for this permit is $100.  After it is approved, you will also be required to execute a hold harmless agreement which holds the town harmless in the event the town’s drainage system backs up into your property. This hold harmless agreement can be obtained at the Engineering Department.

 

Q: Can my neighbor drain roof drains onto my property?

A: Your neighbor should not perform actions that could cause damage to your property. If your neighbor does cause damage to your property, then you may have recourse. Unfortunately, the Engineering Department would not be able to help since there is no ordinance which prohibits this kind of action on private property. This action would be a private civil matter between you and your neighbor.

Link to Main Street Bridge project page

Phoenix Street Bridge, 2012

West Main Street Bridge, 2014

NEMO’s Low Impact Development, An Environmentally-friendly Alternative to Conventional Urban Development

Town of Vernon’s LID Checklist for Site Plan Review

Town of Vernon’s Planning and Zoning Regulation Section 13.9 addressing the LID requirements

Town of Vernon Plan of Conservation and Development page 37 addressing the topic of Low Impact Development

Town of Vernon –Low Impact Development Stormwater Quality Manual- Feb 2013

For information related to Watershed Management and Water Quality, please go to https://www.riversmartct.org/.   Developed originally for the communities in the western part of Connecticut, the material presented and the links provided are very useful to towns across Connecticut.  Items such as low impact development techniques, non-point source pollution and other water resource related information is presented in a clear and easily read fashion.  This information is geared to help Interested individuals as well as agencies better understand the interesting world of Watershed Protection.

All interested individuals are encouraged to take the River Smart CT pledge to protect local and state wide watershed natural resources.  The pledge can be found at https://www.riversmartct.org/pledge.

GIS Information

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) integrates hardware, software and data for capturing, managing, analyzing and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.

What can GIS do for you?

• Address Information
• Property Ownership
• Census Data
• Property Information
• Distances/Mileage
• Property Location

And more…

Interactive mapping applications

• GIS Map Viewer
• Property Notification (Generate Abutters List)
• GIS Property Record Card Application
• CRCOG Regional GIS Viewer

Stock map collection

• VERNON STREET MAP
• VERNON VOTING DISTRICTS MAP
• VERNON ZONING MAP
• VERNON WETLANDS MAP

GIS links

• CT DEP GIS Site
• CT ECO
• UConn CLEAR
• Northeast Arc Users Group (NEARC)
• New England Chapter of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (NEURISA)

• Residential Foundation Only As Built Requirements
• Multi-family Residential and Commercial Industrial Site Plans and New Road as built requirements (effective July 1,2022)
• Final Residential As Built Requirements