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Local Ordinance Teams(LOT) of CT
Updates
Update from March 09:
LOT headed by Lisa Torre continues to move forward on its goals. Currently almost all local ordinances regarding Massage in CT towns are on this CT Chapter website. Team members are working to provide a summary of each ordinance to make it easy for a therapist to check on requirements for a particular town keeping in mind that many towns do not have local ordinances.
LOT also continues to monitor issues in many area communities. They work to provide some guidance to local therapists throughout the state that are attempting to deal with establishments in their communities that are providing and or advertising massage without licensed therapists providing it. This continues to be a challenging problem throughout the state. The recent meeting with the DPH gives promise to some major education being provided to local towns regarding current statutes. LOT will be involved in the presentation in May to local Health Department officials. The goal of this presentation is to let local departments know what the current law is and how they can use that information to draft appropriate and enforceable ordinances within their communities. This will be a big step for the profession.
LOT also is working to develop a ‘model ordinance’ that towns can look to as they develop or modify their local ordinances. The key to this is that ordinances should regulate the establishment not the therapist as the CT Statute regulates the therapist. With the passing of legislation protecting the term massage many local ordinances are obsolete yet still on the books.
LOT remains a watchdog for the profession but needs all members to step up and keep a watch for questionable activity in our own communities. If a new place opens up in your town the first thing to do is stop in and ask to see the CT license for each person doing massage. If they can not show you this further steps are needed. The first can be to contact your town officials. You can also contact LOT to get guidance in further steps that need to be taken. If you are interested in becoming involved with LOT you can contact Lisa Torre at lot@amtactchapter.org.
Towns that we are currently actively involved with or are monitoring are: Cheshire, Bristol, Milford, North Haven, Orange, Southbury, Simsbury, and Waterbury. Check our website at www.amtactchapter.org/cr_lot.htm for more detailed information on what is happening in these areas.
Successes:
- Closed: Chair Massage business in Brass City Mall, Waterbury. Business was identified, mall administration was notified of state laws regarding massage and the business was eventually closed.
- Closed: Chair Massage business in Milford Mall. Business was identified, mall administration was notified of state laws regarding massage and the business was eventually closed.
- Input given: LOT members met with detective and town council member to give input into the development of a town ordinance for Cheshire. This was in response to the prostitution and human trafficking ring recently shut down in the town.
- Back to the drawing board: Bristol city ordinance to regulate massage parlors goes back to the drawing board after LOT and local therapists speak at ordinance committee meeting on August 6 in Bristol City Hall. Click here for details.
Ongoing activity:
- Cheshire: continue to monitor status of ordinance development. Give assistance to the town as needed. Review ordinance proposal when developed.
- Bristol: continue to monitor status of ordinance development. Provide assistance to town council as requested. Review ordinance proposal when developed.
- Model Ordinance: continue to research local ordinances to find one to be used as model for CT towns as they work to develop new or modify current local ordinances.
- North Haven: Work continues to get compliance to the CT State Licensing Law of businesses offering and advertising massage in North Haven. (Lisa do you want something different here)
- Town Requirements: we are developing a listing of what it takes to open a Massage business in those towns that currently have local ordinances on the books.