(a) Any town, by ordinance, may make local regulations respecting the operation of vessels on any body of water within its territorial limits. Upon adoption, each such ordinance shall be submitted to the commissioner and, if not disapproved by the commissioner not later than sixty days after such submission, shall take effect as provided in subsection (c) of this section. The commissioner may disapprove any ordinance or part thereof that the commissioner finds to be arbitrary, unreasonable, unnecessarily restrictive, inimical to uniformity, duplicative of any state law or regulation or inconsistent with the policy of this part.

(b) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, respecting the operation of vessels on any body of water which lies within the territorial limits of two or more towns (1) when no local regulations exist or (2) when such action is required to establish uniformity in the boating regulations of the several towns. Any town, by vote of its legislative body, and any group of ten or more interested persons may petition the commissioner for the adoption, amendment or repeal of the regulations. The commissioner shall hold a public hearing on each such petition in the petitioning town or in one of the towns which will be affected, giving all interested persons an opportunity to present their views. Notice of such hearing, stating the date, time and place thereof and the substance of the proposed regulation, shall be published at least ten days prior thereto in a newspaper of general circulation in the town or towns which will be affected.

(c) All regulations adopted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall take effect upon their publication and posting as required by § 15-138.