Connecticut Town & City - February 2018

February 2018

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

OFFICERS President, Neil O’Leary Mayor of Waterbury 1st Vice President, John A. Elsesser Town Manager of Coventry

THE BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE OF MUNICIPALITIES

2nd Vice President, Michael Freda First Selectman of North Haven

900 CHAPEL ST., 9TH FLOOR, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-2807

DIRECTORS Luke A. Bronin, Mayor of Hartford Tom Banisch, First Selectman of Madison Robert M. Congdon, First Selectman of Preston Joseph P. Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport Toni N. Harp, Mayor of New Haven Barbara M. Henry, First Selectman of Roxbury Matthew Knickerbocker, First Selectman of Bethel Catherine Iino, First Selectwoman of Killingworth Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor of East Hartford Curt Leng, Mayor of Hamden W. Kurt Miller, First Selectman of Seymour Rudolph P. Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield Leo Paul, First Selectman of Litchfield Scott Shanley, General Manager of Manchester Jayme J. Stevenson, First Selectman of Darien Erin Stewart, Mayor of New Britain Daniel Syme, First Selectman of Scotland Michael C. Tetreau, First Selectman of Fairfield Mark B. Walter, Town Administrator of Columbia Steven R. Werbner, Town Manager of Tolland PAST PRESIDENTS Mark D. Boughton Mayor of Danbury Matthew B. Galligan Town Manager of South Windsor Herbert C. Rosenthal former First Selectman of Newtown Susan S. Bransfield First Selectwoman of Portland

Inside this issue...

4 6 10 11 12 15 18 21

This Report is Still Different Federal Tax Reform’s Impact on CT CT Emergency Management Symposium Fighting Against the MBR CCM’s Connecticut Charity Triple Crown CCM Membership Hits Milestone CIRMA News News from Member Towns

HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS Elizabeth Paterson, former Mayor of Mansfield Stephen Cassano, Selectman of Manchester CCM STAFF Executive Director, Joe DeLong Deputy Director, Ron Thomas Managing Editor, Kevin Maloney Layout & Design, Matthew Ford Writer, Jack Kramer

Connecticut Town & City © 2018 Connecticut Conference of Municipalities

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 3

This Report Is Still Different

CCM sets out path for game-changing issues in 2018 & beyond

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he 2018 General Assembly session sees CCM continuing to work with state legislators on both sides of aisle to advance key elements of CCM’s comprehensive public policy plan first brought forth in 2017. The plan remains the best state-local legislative path forward for towns and cities in 2018 and beyond.

CCM is urging General Assembly leaders heading up critical committees to continue to assess and seek avenues for action on numerous comprehensive proposals put forth by the plan that represent significantly new and different thinking by Connecticut local leaders, emphasized Neil O’Leary, Mayor of Waterbury and CCM President.

CCM’s State-Local Partnership Panel released a report in 2017 which developed statewide policies that govern the delivery and financing of municipal services. It recommended a package of proposals that lays the foundation for a vibrant and sustainable future for Connecticut towns and cities. Panel recommendations are divided into three sections -- shared services; cost containment, and municipal revenue diversification. The panel was comprised of 21 municipal CEOs. “We have all seen a thousand reports over the years on tax reform,

regionalism, mandates, property tax relief, etc. Well, this report still is different,” emphasized O’Leary. “It’s remains different because it puts forward new recommendations that haven’t been made before. It’s also different because it is backed by a group of local elected officials from both parties – and from the suburbs, rural areas, and urban areas.

In other words, while not everyone agrees with every idea, everyone DOES agree that, as a body of work, this report deserves to be at the heart of robust state legislative action in 2018 .”

Here are some key examples from the nearly 40 new municipal tools that the report calls for: • Removing service sharing arrangements as a subject of collective bargaining; state law should be changed so that interlocal agreements or service sharing contracts involving two or more municipalities will override any participating municipality’s charter.

• Allowing municipalities to establish service districts to perform and deliver specified municipal or educational services.

• Allowing general government more control over education expenditures and boards of education; and amending the Municipal

Employee Retirement System (MERS) to establish an additional retirement plan for new hires.

• Create a labor relations task force to systematically review and recommend updates for Connecticut’s municipal labor laws and dispute resolution processes.

• Expanding the sales tax base by repealing 10% of the exemptions for selected consumption categories; reducing the state sales tax rate by 0.75% to 5.60%; and levying a statewide local sales tax at the rate of 1%.

• Revenue generated as a result of implementing any or all of the recommendations should not be considered an increase in a municipality’s ability to pay for purposes of collective bargaining.

• Changing state law and permit municipalities to require on-going fees for the use of the public rights of way.

• Requiring property owners of properties subject to state PILOT reimbursement to pay the difference between the state’s statutory PILOT rate and the amount towns actually receive in state PILOT payments, up to 20 percent of the mill rate.

• Other meaningful mandates reform.

“This report’s provisions would make new revenue available to cities and towns where there were few or no options for that revenue before,” New Haven Mayor Toni N. Harp said. “As it stands, Connecticut municipalities have only one revenue tool available to them – the property tax – and it is an exceptionally regressive tax. Cities and towns need additional options to underwrite the necessary services they provide.”

4 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

The CCM report and its policy recommendations are driven by such key facts as: • Connecticut local governments are not as large as other states. In 2016, state and local government employment as a percentage of private sector employment ranked 41st compared to other states.

• Excluding education, local general government expenditures in Connecticut rank 50th out of all states, as a percentage of total taxable resources.

Local education spending ranks 25th.

• State and Federal payments to local governments are lower

in Connecticut than in most other states.

“Governments in Connecticut stand at a crossroads,” said O”Leary. “For over a decade prior to the Great Recession, governments in the state benefited from a strong economy and stable revenues. But this stability has depended crucially on the local property tax and reliable and adequate state aid. The lack of diversity in revenue sources and uncertainty at the state level are now eroding the capacity of local governments to meet their obligations to the public.”

“The detailed proposals clearly show that town and city leaders can think outside the box and offer real changes that will benefit Connecticut taxpayers across the State,” John Elsesser, Town Manager of Coventry, emphasized.

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SALT Deduction Reduction Implications Connecticut braces for impact of federal tax reform

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here is no way to sugarcoat the fact that the recently passed sweeping federal tax reform will adversely impact a majority of taxpayers in Connecticut.

Connecticut is among a handful of states, such as California, New York, and New Jersey, or so-called hightax states, that analysts say will wind up paying more under the plan.

The reason?

Currently, taxpayers who itemize their deductions (meaning they don’t take the standard deduction) can deduct what they’ve paid in certain state and local taxes. That deduction includes state and local property, income and sales taxes.

Anyone who itemizes can deduct their property taxes, but filers must choose between deducting their income taxes or deducting their sales taxes. Most choose to deduct their income taxes because those payments generally exceed sales tax payments. Residents of states with high income taxes – i.e. Connecticut - generally opt to deduct their state and local income taxes if they itemize.

Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, objects to the tax bill on the House floor.

Residents of states with high sales taxes (Louisiana, Texas, and others) generally opt to deduct their sales taxes if they itemize. However, property taxes and income taxes – not sales taxes – are the primary drivers of the (State and Local Tax) SALT deduction.

Connecticut residents take the second-highest average deduction for state and local taxes. 41.04% of

Connecticut returns included a SALT deduction in 2014 – the last available statistical year. The average size of Connecticut deductions for state and local taxes was $18,939.72.

While the SALT deduction mostly impacts taxpayers with incomes over $100,000, lower-income individuals would still be affected indirectly. A recent report from the Tax Policy Center found that changing

THE STATES WITH THE HIGHEST AVERAGE DEDUCTION FOR STATE AND LOCAL TAXES State

Percent of Filers Who Deduct State and Local Taxes

Average Size of Deduction for State and Local Taxes

New York

34.14%

$21,038.02

Connecticut

41.04%

$18,939.72

New Jersey

41.00%

$17,183.33

California

33.86%

$17,148.35

Washington, D.C.

39.19%

$15,452.40

Massachusetts

36.73%

$14,760.99

Illinois

32.34%

$12,877.51

Maryland

45.04%

$12,442.78

Rhode Island

32.83%

$12,138.75

Vermont

27.41%

$11,843.95

6 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

the SALT deduction could lead to a change in revenue for local and state governments. In response to the fact that people are paying more in federal taxes, those governments could choose to decrease their local tax rates. This would leave them with less to spend on government-sponsored programs and services.

Governor Malloy’s Relief Proposal The Governor’s FY19 budget adjustment proposal contains two specific provisions to protect Connecticut residents and employers from the negative effects of the federal tax law that was adopted by Congress late last year and signed by President Trump.

Under the federal law, hundreds of thousands of residents will see a tax increase, property values could decrease significantly, and 13 million more Americans will become uninsured. Currently, 41.04 percent of Connecticut residents claim the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, averaging $18,939.72 and putting the state second in the country (behind New York’s average of $21,038.02). In total, the Republican tax bill is expected affect 171,118 taxpayers claiming $10.330 billion in federal tax deductions.

Specifically, Governor Malloy’s plan would, among other things propose: 1. Allowing municipalities to create charitable organizations that support town services, in conjunction with a local property tax credit, will allow our cities and

towns to continue to provide services while reducing individuals’ federal taxes.

2. To avoid a General Fund revenue loss, Connecticut will not adopt federal tax changes related to accelerated depreciation and asset expensing.

3. A new revenue-neutral tax on pass-through entities, fully offset by a personal income tax credit, will prevent Connecticut’s small business owners from being targeted by the federal tax law.

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MCS assists CCM members, their school districts and local public agencies with a full complement of essential services, including:

Grant writing and researching • RFP drafting • Project management Operational reviews • Change implementation • Organizational studies Strategic planning • Finance and budgeting • Purchasing Facilities management • Temporary staffing Contact Andy Merola: 203 498-3056, or amerola@ccm-ct.org for additional information.

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 7

NLC Congressional City Conference

CT municipal leaders to assess federal-local issues at March gathering

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ore than 25 Connecticut municipal leaders are expected to be among the more than 3,000 leaders in attendance at the National League of Cities (NLC) 2018 Congressional City Conference which will take place in Washington, D.C. from March 11-14.

Registration for the 2018 Congressional City Conference is now open, register today! There are also pre-conference NLC University Seminars taking place March 10-11.

The conference is the largest gathering of local elected officials and staff in the country, and is designed to offer exceptional educational and networking opportunities to increase the effectiveness of local leaders.

NLC is a bipartisan organization focused on connecting officials to local government solutions, and the conference attendance reflects this fact. In terms of local government size, small towns to large cities and everything in between are represented. This diverse attendee base will maximize your opportunities for sharing ideas and solutions to bring home and implement in your community.

There are several reasons you should attend:

Peerless Networking Opportunities Outside of the sessions, there will be countless opportunities for you to meet and build relationships with other local elected officials, staff, and experts from all over the country who may serve as key contacts for both present and future initiatives in your community. The opportunity to make valuable connections at this conference is consistently stated by past attendees as one of the greatest assets.

Develop National Municipal Policy Policy and Advocacy Committees form the basis for NLC’s advocacy on matters of interest to municipal governments before Congress, the courts, and federal agencies.

Committee members include local officials from towns and cities across the country who are committed to discussing and influencing federal policy that has a direct and profound impact on local government operations.

The policy committees are: • Community and Economic Development

Informative Workshops

• Energy, Environment and Natural Resources

The conference will include sessions and learning opportunities where you can gather tangible takeaways to bring back home on a variety of topics important to your community, such as economic development, infrastructure, sustainability and the environment, leadership, public safety, and topics around improving outcomes for youth and families in your community.

• Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations

8 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

• Human Development • Information, Technology, and Communications • Public Safety and Crime Prevention • Transportation & Infrastructure Services

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Local Officials (LGBTLO) • National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) • Woman in Municipal Government (WIMG)

Meeting With The Connecticut Congressional Delegation CCM is sponsoring meetings with Connecticut U.S. Senators and Representatives. The meetings present a unique opportunity to discuss federal issues of concern to your community with the Congressional Delegation.

CCM Dinner – Interface With Fellow Connecticut Municipal Officials Constituency Groups Constituency Groups are groups and networks within the National League of Cities’ (NLC) membership which share common interests and concerns. They have been established over the years to reflect the diverse interests and backgrounds of NLC’s membership, and they work collaboratively with NLC to contribute to leadership development, policy formulation, advocacy, and program activities.

NLC’s constituency groups are: • Asian Pacific Municipal Officials (APAMO) • Hispanic Elected Local Officials (HELO)

CCM is arranging a dinner for Connecticut delegates (dutch treat) on Monday, March 12 at 7 p.m. The dinner presents a great opportunity to discuss federal issues of concern to Connecticut towns and cities with Connecticut municipal officials.

Connecticut Mentors CCM will connect you with seasoned Connecticut NLC conference attendees, who will help you get the most out of the conference for your community. Connecticut has municipal officials in key NLC leadership posts.

Come to the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference to learn, advocate and network!

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 9

CCM EMS Spring Symposium Emergency planning – save the date!

T

his year’s Connecticut Emergency Management Symposium, the only statewide municipal government gathering that offers a full day of events designed around ensuring safety measures are topnotch in every town and city, will be held on April 4 at the Radisson Hotel in Cromwell.

Each spring, CCM along with the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), attract hundreds of local public safety officials and others responsible for responding to mass emergencies.

The event offers a full day of informative workshops, interactive discussions, networking opportunities, and vendors showcasing relevant products and services.

• Current Local Deliverables and Deadlines —Rolling out the “Blue Sheet” • Grants Update In between workshops, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with dozens of vendors who will showcase the latest products and services during the all-day trade show, including representatives from the following companies: • CCM

• Norcom CT

• DEMHS

• Northeast Generator Co.

• DPH

• Post University

• CIRMA

• ProPac

• Eversource

• QuikClot

• Higgins Corporation

• Sacred Heart University

The annual event traditionally includes workshops and presentations on cutting edge emergency strategies, planning, issues and information. The content and schedule for this year’s event is still being planned.

• Hunt Public Safety

• ServiceMaster Restore

• Johnson Controls

• Telrepco, Inc.

• JP Maguire

• University of New Haven

Last year’s event included:

• Marcus Communications

• Verizon Wireless

• As Hurricane Season Approaches: Hurrevac Next Generation and This Year’s Forecast

• Nexgen

• And more!

• Mass Fatality Exercise, Plan and Family Assistance Center Annex

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn the latest in emergency management trends, network with your peers and colleagues, and make new connections with vendors.

• Communications—Everbridge Emergency Notification Sytem, FirstNet Update • Current Emergency Management Initiatives (Crumbling Foundations, Drought, Avian Flu, State Hazard Mitigation Plan, School Security) • Cybersecurity Initiatives and Status in Connecticut • Opioid Crisis and Response in Connecticut 10 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

More details will be announced shortly. In the meantime, registration is now open for municipal, state, and local officials. Be sure to register early as attendance is limited to the first 400 registrants. Attendance at this event earns you three credits toward your CCMO certification.

For more information and to register online visit: http://www.ccm-ct.org/2018-ems

Mandate Releif Focus: MBR CCM will continue the fight

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every other local employee, and property taxpayers must pay the price for this mandate and the chronic state underfunding of preK-12 public education.

The MBR is the State’s way of forcing towns and cities to make up for state underfunding preK-12 education.

“This outdated policy should be repealed, especially for non-Alliance District towns, and it is an issue that we pledge to our member towns and leaders to make a priority,” said Joe DeLong, CCM executive director.

he Minimum Budget Requirement (MBR) — a statutory requirement that each town appropriate at least the same amount for education as it did the previous year — will once again be an issue that the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities will lead the fight to repeal for non-Alliance district towns in this year’s General Assembly session.

School boards, superintendents, and teachers unions support the MBR against the wishes of municipal CEOs who lobby hard for the State to meet its funding obligation to towns and cities.

But municipal leaders – and CCM leaders argue that the MBR lets the State off the funding hook.

In an era of frozen or reduced state aid and rising education costs, municipal leaders argue that the MBR is unfair to residential and business property taxpayers.

Governor Malloy has proposed eliminating Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funding for 30 communities, but the MBR and other education mandates would remain in place. It also means every other local public service,

Recent changes to the MBR have helped, municipal leaders concede, but they add that they have not gone far enough.

Since 2013-14, the legislature has simply adopted set dollar amounts of aid for each town. It did the same thing for several years before 2013-14 by overriding the formula and simply adopting the same numbers year after year.

But a plan that spends a lot of money and is not entirely irrational is still not a rational plan, CCM argues despite the recent Supreme Court decision on CCJEF. Municipal leaders’ argument is simple: If the legislature can adopt principles and then ignore them, the state cannot be said to have a formula at all.

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 11

CT Charity Triple Crown Be at the starting gate on April 11

J

oin us for CCM’s inaugural charity event! We look forward to welcoming all CCM members (municipal and business) as well as the fabric of our communities, and our local, municipal, and state officials and guests.

Not only will this be a night of fun and relaxation, but all proceeds will go to three outstanding organizations: Channel 3 Kids Camp (providing a year-round camp facility for individuals ages 3-25), Homes for the Brave (providing housing, vocational training, and life skills coaching to help individuals leave homelessness behind), and The Village (providing a full range of behavioral health treatment for children and youth, foster care and adoption, and community support services for children and their families).

This evening event will be held at the Hartford Club on Wednesday, April 11 at 6:00 p.m. Attendees will have a chance to bid on a wide array of unique items during a silent auction, mingle with others, and enjoy plenty of Triple Crownthemed activities.

Each $75 ticket includes Triple Crown-themed hors d’oeuvres, access to the silent and live auctions, entertainment, and networking, all while contributing to the three great local Connecticut charities.

But we need your help to ensure this event is as amazing as possible. Help us keep expenses down by becoming a partner, making a financial contribution or providing food, linens, flowers, etc. We’re also looking for items with values of at least $100 for our guests to bid on. Items could include everything from event tickets to spa packages.

Items will be listed on CCM’s website for attendees to peruse prior to the event. Higher-end items will be placed in the fast-paced live auction. These items, too, will be able to seen in advance of the event on CCM’s website.

We invite partners to sponsor this event, which we hope will become

R aci n g

Ba

ck !

T e t RI AP L 11, 2 o G i v ord, c 018 •h a rtf

an annual philanthropic event focused on the Connecticut’s whole statewide community. Sponsorships levels are: • Win: $5,000. This exclusive sponsorship level includes 20 tickets to the event; targeted marketing; prominent signage at the event; inclusion on CCM’s website, social media platforms, and app; and early entrance to the event.

• Place: $2,500. This sponsorship level includes seven tickets to the event; targeted marketing; prominent signage at the event; inclusion on CCM’s website, social media platforms, and app; and early entrance to the event.

12 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

• Show: $1,000. This sponsorship level includes two tickets to the event; targeted marketing; prominent signage at the event; inclusion on CCM’s website, social media platforms, and app; and early entrance to the event.

For more information about this special event, you can contact Shari Fiveash, CCM’s Director of Member Services at 203-498-3041 or sfiveash@ccm-ct.org or Jenn Cruz, Education and Events Program Administrator at 203-498-3073 or jcruz@ccm-ct.org or visit http:// www.ccm-ct.org/ct-triple-crown.

We hope to see you in your best Derby hat and attire on April 11 as we Race to Give Back!

CCM understands how meaningful professional development can be. Continuing education is not only important for your current position, but also to your career path. Under the advisement and direction from experienced staff at Trinity College, the Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) was developed.

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FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 13

CCM – Once Again – Won’t Hike Dues In fiscally uncertain times, members can count on CCM

U

nderstanding that just like the towns and cities it serves, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities has to do more with less. CCM has announced that once again it will not be increasing dues for members this year.

This will be the eighth time in the last nine years that CCM has not increased dues. (The one time CCM did increase dues, it was by one percent.)

“CCM is not increasing dues,”, said Neil O’Leary, Mayor of Waterbury and CCM President, “to continue to be very sensitive to the fiscal challenges facing our towns and cities.”

“With the continuing severity of the State’s fiscal conditions, now more than ever the power of our collective is of paramount importance. Towns and cities must stick together under the CCM banner to present a unified message on behalf of Connecticut local governments,” O’Leary added.

CCM is the state’s largest nonpartisan organization of municipal leaders, representing towns and cities of all sizes from all corners of the state, with 168 member-municipalities of the 169 towns and cities in our state.

CCM Executive Director Joe DeLong emphasized: “We come together for one common mission – to improve everyday life for every resident of Connecticut.”

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CCM’s unparalleled services — from our top-flight, effective advocacy and invaluable research and information services, to our free training and energy savings, drug testing, labor relations, discount prescription drug program, grant finder service, bank card services, telecom cost reduction, and much more to come — ensure a return on your investment that far and away exceeds your CCM member dues.

CCM looks forward to working hard on your behalf in 2018 to protect the interests of your community and property taxpayers. Thank you for your continued support of CCM.

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14 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

Virtually Every Town, City on Board!

CCM approaches major membership milestone

T

he state’s largest, nonpartisan organization of municipal leaders, CCM, now has 168 of the 169 towns and cities in Connecticut as members.

of 36,000 headed by First Selectwoman Vicki Tesoro; and the town of Sherman, with a population of 3,600 headed by First Selectman Don Lowe.

With Derby, Trumbull, and Sherman recently joining CCM, the organization is on the verge of holding the claim to having all 169 municipalities on board – for the first time in the history of CCM.

Over the last three years, CCM membership has risen from 155 towns to almost every single town and city in the state of Connecticut.

CCM shares best practices and objective research to help its members govern wisely. CCM advocates at the state level for issues affecting local taxpayers. And CCM pools its buying power to negotiate more cost-effective services for our communities.

And the Town of Woodstock is actively considering joining.

The latest members are Derby, a city with a population of 13,000 headed by Mayor Richard Dziekan; Trumbull, a town with a population North Canaan

Hartland

Colebrook

Salisbury

Granby

East Granby

Barkhamsted Simsbury Goshen

Sharon Cornwall

Avon

Farmington Morris Washington

New Milford

Plymouth

Don Lowe, First Selectman of Sherman

Wolcott

Southbury

Oxford

Seymour

Redding

Shelton

Derby Orange

Easton

Trumbull

Andover Windham

Columbia

Plainfield

Scotland

Hebron

Canterbury

Marlborough

Sterling

Sprague

Lebanon

Voluntown

Franklin Lisbon East Hampton

Colchester

Bozrah

Norwich

Griswold

Preston

Durham

Salem

East Haddam

Haddam

Ledyard Chester

New Haven West Haven

North Haven

Killingworth North Branford

East Haven Branford

North Stonington

Montville

Guilford Madison

Deep River

Lyme Essex

Old Saybrook Clinton Westbrook

Waterford East Lyme

Old Lyme

Groton New London

Stonington

Milford

Weston Stratford Bridgeport

Wilton Fairfield

New Canaan

Brooklyn

Chaplin

Hamden

Woodbridge

Ansonia

Monroe

Coventry

Glastonbury

Cromwell

Bethany

Newtown

Killingly Hampton

Middlefield

Wallingford

Beacon Falls

Ashford

Bolton

Meriden

Prospect Naugatuck

Brookfield

Pomfret

Mansfield

Portland

Cheshire

Middlebury

Willington

Vernon

Rocky Hill

Berlin

Putnam

Eastford

Tolland

Manchester

Middletown

Waterbury

Bethel

Ridgefield

Southington

Watertown

Bridgewater

Danbury

Plainville New Britain

Thompson

Ellington East Windsor

East Hartford Hartford

Wethersfield Newington

Woodbury

Roxbury Sherman

Bristol

Thomaston

Bethlehem

New Fairfield

West Hartford

Burlington

Union

Stafford

Woodstock

South Windsor

Bloomfield

Harwinton

Litchfield

Warren

Windsor

Canton

New Hartford Torrington

CCM was founded in 1966 and celebrated its 50th anniversary of service to towns and cities in 2016.

Enfield

Windsor Locks

Winchester

Federal representation is provided

by CCM in conjunction with the National League of Cities.

Somers

Suffield

Norfolk

Canaan

Kent

CCM is governed by a board of directors that is elected by member municipalities. Our board represents municipalities of all sizes, leaders of different political parties, and towns/cities across the state. Our board members also serve on a variety of committees that participate in the development of CCM policy and programs.

Westport Norwalk

CCM Members As of January 29, 2018

Stamford Greenwich

Darien

Vicki Tesoro, First Selectwoman of Trumbull

168 Members - Over 99% of Connecticut’s Population

Richard Dziekan, Mayor of Derby

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 15

Successes To Build Upon

CCM 2017 Annual Report lays out a significant return on investment

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he fiscal and other challenges facing the state of Connecticut dominated the headlines in 2017. Things moved so fast that it was hard to keep track of all the developments impacting the towns and cities that CCM represents.

In our effort to help in that regard, we invite you to review CCM’s 2017 annual report – which goes into depth to highlight the issues that dominated the year and will have an impact on property taxpayers in your city and town for years to come.

Inside the report, you’ll see some of the key items we focused on, including:

Public Policy & Advocacy With the State facing a $5 billion biennial budget deficit, the state budget agreement spared towns and cities from the draconian cuts set to roll out under the Governor’s Executive Order and included several structural reforms that municipalities have been advocating for years. No major mandates were enacted, including a proposal that municipalities contribute one-third to the Teachers’ Retirement Fund.

These accomplishments are due to persistent outreach efforts by municipal leaders to their state legislative delegations and to their residents, which helped shape the debate and influence legislators’ decision-making.

Government Finance & Research One of the bedrock services of CCM, the staff provided critical government information to members throughout a 10-month long, unprecedented state budget crisis; while not dropping the ball on answering and completing over 700 requests for information from municipal officials.

Communications and Member Relations CCM pushed for targeted advertising buys on social media — primarily on Facebook and Twitter — to more deeply engage the public and other key stakeholders in CCM’s key state-local legislatives issues, as highlighted in CCM’s ground-breaking public policy report “This Report Is Different.” And while CCM’s Town Liaisons visited each of our members on site, they also met in the evening with the town councils or boards of selectmen in nearly 25 communities.

Member Services CCM’s Annual Convention again brought more than 1,000 local and state government leaders and business executives together for two days of educational 16 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

workshops, collaborative discussions, and networking opportunities at the Foxwoods Resort. And CCM’s first-ever #LoCoolGov contest encouraged middle and high school students to think deeply about the value of local governments. Student winners were provided scholarship funds. The contest will be an annual event.

New CCM services for towns 2017 saw CCM enter the municipal market with several new services for towns. Here are just a two examples: CCM’s Municipal Consulting Service & Executive Search assists CCM members, their school districts, and local public agencies with a full complement of essential consulting and executive recruitment services; and CivicLift creates an online community engagement infrastructure for towns and cities of all sizes.

There is much, much more inside the full CCM report, so please review it at your leisure. Read the report on your computer or mobile device at: https://issuu.com/ccm_ ct/docs/annualreport2017_web. Or download a printable version of the report at: http://www.ccm-ct.org/ sites/default/files/files/AnnualReport2017_web2.pdf

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CIRMA Highlights of CIRMA’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Members Strong financials, claims services, value-added programs; rate stability

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IRMA’s 2018 Annual Meeting was the largest ever: over 240 CIRMA member municipal and public school leaders and CIRMA strategic alliance partners attended the event on January 26 in Rocky Hill.

David Demchak, President and CEO of CIRMA described how CIRMA’s financial and operational achievements exceeded the previous year’s strong results and continue to enable CIRMA to deliver outstanding value to its members.

Financial Results CIRMA’s total gross premium for the 2016-17 was $97 million, a $4 million increase; the highest premium level in CIRMA’s history. CIRMA’s growth of premiums is attributable to its 100% retention rate and 15 new members. Total assets were $365 million, a new high.

CIRMA’s investment portfolio produced a solid investment income of $6.1 million for 2016-17, supporting the growth and stability of CIRMA’s Members’ Equity program and 2017’s $5 million Equity Distribution, the largest in CIRMA’s history. CIRMA’s financial strength backs its rate stability, its promise to pay claims, value-added programs, and its Member Equity Distribution program.

From left: Barbara Henry, First Selectman of Roxbury, Chairman of the Board, CIRMA; David Demchak, CIRMA President & CEO.

Rate Indications for 2018-19 “We understand your need for budget certainty,” said David Demchak. “CIRMA’s rate stabilization programs and long term rate stability are excellent examples of what makes CIRMA unique. Almost 165 members, with nearly $50 million in premium, participated in CIRMA’s Rate Stabilization Programs in 2016-17. For 2018-19, CIRMA’s rate need is right where its members expect, sharing in CIRMA’s continued success: • -5% Workers’ Compensation pool rate need • 0% Liability-Auto-Property rate need Operational Highlights CIRMA’s Claims operation achieved a reduction of $4.2 million in losses and claim expenses, savings that directly benefit CIRMA’s bottom line.

Over 10,000 municipal employees participated in CIRMA’s risk management training and education programs, a new milestone.

Strategic Initiatives “We’ll continue to do what we do best, and what drives the most value to our members: executing our mission,” said David Demchak. CIRMA’s strategic goals include expansion of its E-Learning Center, development of new

18 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

CIRMA members elect its 2018 Board of Directors. CIRMA welcomes new Board Members: Tom Banisch, First Selectman of Madison, Matthew S. Knickerbocker, First Selectman of Bethel; John Salomone, City Manager of Norwich; Daniel D. Syme, First Selectman of Scotland; Michael Tetreau, First Selectman of Fairfield risk management tools, expansion of the rate stabilization programs, and expansion of the CIRMAcare network. CIRMA will continue to build its human resources with internship and college recruitment programs.

CIRMA’s claims system, data warehousing, and telemedicine initiatives will enhance CIRMA’s member experience. A new capital management model will provide the tools and framework to manage, monitor, and measure its equity utilization. The model will help assure CIRMA’s equity alignment with its risk levels, and identify reinsurance strategies. All of these initiatives will enable CIRMA to provide value, expertise, innovation, and market stability long into the future.

CIRMA “Helping members build better, safer communities to live, learn, and work in.”

With low, stable rates & value-added programs!

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Contact CIRMA’s Underwriting team today to request a Workers’ Compensation and Liability-Auto-Property quote for 2018-19. Learn more about how our wide range of value-added programs and services help build better, safer municipalities and public schools at www.CIRMA.org.

2018-19

CIRMA

2018 Excellence in Risk Management Awards

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mpowering CIRMA members to better manage risk is a cornerstone of CIRMA’s mission. CIRMA’s Excellence in Risk Management Awards program was established to honor the achievements of CIRMA members that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in risk management. New to the program this year was the presentation of a $2,500 risk management grant to each of the four award recipients.

By using risk management programs, the four recipients created sustained reductions in total loss costs, built a culture of safety through innovative approaches, and enhanced the well-being and safety of their employees and their property. Each of these four risk management programs honored this year helped build better, safer communities.

Town of East Lyme

Simsbury Public Works Department

Substantial Impact on Total Cost of Risk

New & Innovative Risk Management Initiatives From left: David Demchek, President & CEO, CIRMA; Pam Keyes, Vice President Risk Management & Business Analytics; Julie C. Wilson, Chairman East Lyme Safety Committee; George Tammaro, Risk Mananagement Services Manager, CIRMA.

From left: Pam Keyes, CIRMA; Thomas Roy, Director of Public Works, Simsbury

Town of Glastonbury

City of New London

Sustained Risk Management Programs

Establishing Risk Management as an Organizational Priority From left: David Demchek, CIRMA; Pam Keyes, CIRMA; Richard Johnson, Town Manager, Glastonbury; George Tammaro, CIRMA.

From left: David Demchak, CIRMA; Pam Keyes, CIRMA; Steven Fields, Chief Administrative Officer, New London; George Tammaro, CIRMA.

Please visit www.CIRMA.org homepage, to view the 2018 Excellence in Risk Management Awards video.

20 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

Cow Clique

AGRICULTURE

Ellington dairy farm expands and wants all to see

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uilding a 350,000 square-foot dairy barn and milking parlor that houses thousands of cows in a relatively visible part of town is naturally going to focus a lot of public attention on the operation.

And that is why Oakridge Dairy in Ellington is so intent on opening its doors to its neighbors in a variety of ways to try to prevent negative perceptions from forming about the enormous facility that opened in June.

“We’re surrounded by people and they want to know what we’re doing here and where their food comes from,” company CEO Seth Bahler said. “So we’re trying to be as transparent as possible and educate the public about modern farming.”

The farm did exactly that in late October, when they held a one-day open house that drew more than 2,000 curious visitors, who toured the farm on guided hay wagons and were treated to hot apple crisp and fresh cold milk.

“It was a tremendous success,” Bahler said, adding that the event served as a template for future plans that call for perhaps 100,000 annual visitors to the farm, which was founded by Adolph Bahler more than 120 years ago and is considered the largest dairy in Connecticut.

average cow gives about 80 pounds daily, and some up to 140 pounds.

Each rotation of the carousel takes about 10 minutes, and when done the cows step off the platform by themselves.

Their body-temperature milk is run through a cooler housed in the milk room just off the carousel, and immediately pumped into one of three tanker trucks that make daily trips to Guida’s milk plant in New Britain.

“It’s going in at 100 degrees and coming out at 37 degrees and within two minutes it’s out of the cow and onto the truck,” Moser said.

“We don’t store any milk at the farm at all.

That’s fresh.”

After each milking, cows return to the gigantic freestall barn, where they feed on hay and corn grown on nearly 3,000 acres the farm owns or leases. Bahler said the barn has developed its own social structure.

“There are cliques in there,” he said with a laugh. “A lot of cows like to hang out with the same cows every day.”

The walls of the barn are equipped with 180 large ventilation fans for climate control.

Finishing touches are now being put on a major part of those plans — a viewing room outfitted with an array of large windows that overlook an automatic milking carousel that is the heart of the operation.

Manure is cleaned out of the 600-foot-long alleys by a large vacuum truck that is constantly making the rounds. Liquid is separated and used as crop fertilizer, which is stored in a 5-acre lagoon on a hillside above the barn.

Powered by five electric motors that rotate the milking platform on Teflon wheels running on a circular metal track, the carousel holds 72 cows at a time.

Solids are converted into bedding, now known in the business as “fiber,” which is changed every day. The overall goal of the operation is “cow comfort.”

It runs virtually 24 hours a day, only shutting down three times daily for the system to be washed and sanitized.

“Happy cows make lots of milk,” Bahler said, using one of the farm’s main branding slogans that appears often on its website and Facebook page, two more tools being used in the farm’s public-relations efforts.

Milked every eight hours, each cow is first given an application of anti-bacterial orange iodine foam to the teats, which is wiped off a few seconds later by another worker using a bright green microfiber towel.

“Every cow has her own towel,” which are laundered in machines installed near the carousel, facilities director Dave Moser said as he supervised the operation.

A third worker then attaches the vacuum milking unit. A digital flow meter mounted beneath each milking station displays exactly how much milk each cow is producing, and the milking unit automatically shuts down and drops off when she is done.

“We know how much each cow is giving every day and it all goes into a database,” Moser said, noting that the

Getting the herd to its happy place, however, was a slow, months-long process after being moved from its former home in open-sided barns just down the road.

“Change is hard for cows,” Bahler said. “It took them quite a while to adjust.”

Now that the operation is running smoothly after about two years of planning and construction, the farm is readying for its next expansion to about 3,000 cows

by December 2018.

“A lot has gone on here in the past two years and we thank the community for their understanding and patience,” Bahler said. “It’s been a huge undertaking.”

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 21

AGRICULTURE Farms Want In On Beer Craze

Local farmer works with zoning officials in North Branford

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llowing farm breweries to operate in towns, which would include manufacturing and brewing of beer, retail sale of beer, tasting rooms, and events has been the subject of public hearings recently in front of the Planning and Zoning Commission in North Branford.

ed regulations that the towns of East Lyme and North Stonington used to regulate similar facilities.

Alexander DeFrancesco, of DeFrancesco Farm in North Branford, has been very active in the movement of planting hops for beer in Connecticut.

Nina Frattori, who is an event coordinator, testified she has planned events at venues like what is being proposed in other similarly zoned areas. She said some towns have placed limits on noise and timeframes.

DeFrancesco said since the state legislature passed legislation allowing the brewing of beer under a manufacturing permit on a farm, it has been his intention to do so.

DeFrancesco said he has worked with Town Planner Carey Duques on making sure his plan would work with town regulations in mind.

Zoning officials have discussed DeFrancesco’s plan at both the November and December meetings.

At the December meeting, Planner Duques distribut-

DeFrancesco said while he wants to have the beer operation and farm-to-table dinners at the farm, the family also wants to maintain the farm as an agriculture-based operation.

Zoning member William Galdenzi expressed concerns about whether wedding events would be suitable for a residential zone, even though it would be held on a farm.

Fellow PZC member Frances Lescovich said she would be opposed to weddings because it would then be a commercial event.

Two residents said they were concerned about the increase in traffic the operation might bring to the surrounding neighborhood.

CCM Municipal Training Calendar

22 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

CIVIC AMENITIES

Disc Golf Is “Hot” Guilford on board

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uilford zoning officials recently approved the construction and opening of an 18-hole disc golf course at the 30-acre Peddlers Park property at its most recent commission meeting.

The disc golf course was approved after a lengthy public hearing at which concerns were raised about the safety and environmental damage the course could bring.

But commissioners were swayed by town officials’ presentation of the benefits of the project.

Parks and Recreation Director Rick Maynard said the disc golf course would be a “great addition to the park.” He said it will be minimally invasive and self-maintained.

He said overall it would pose very little cost to the town as it will be privately funded by sponsors and donors.

The plan entails expanding the current parking lot to 20 cars and some small trees will have to be removed for expansion. Eagle Scouts will be building an information Kiosk and tee boxes for the course.

Craig Smollen, of Trumbull, an avid disc golf player, donated his time to design the course. He said he initially looked at Bittner Park for the course but decided Peddlers Park was the better fit due to terrain and location.

Smollen said the course has been designed to stay out of wetlands areas and that the plan includes taking down trees that are 8 inches in diameter in the fairways. Asked by the commissioners the average length of a fairway, Smollen said 100 to 300 feet.

Smollen was asked by the commission if a nine-hole course could be built but he replied that 18 holes is preferable to the average player.

David Grigsby, president of the Guilford Land Conservation Trust, submitted a letter in objection to the disc golf course.

He said the conservation trust “is concerned with the safety and overall impact a disc golf course may have on the thousands of hikers and mountain bikers who use these trails to access and enjoy Westwoods yearround.”

His letter continues: “As we understand matters, the discs used in disc golf are specialized, of smaller diameter, sharper edge, and made of denser materials than the frisbees one might see tossed around the green. A cursory Internet search quickly brings up examples of hikers or walkers injured, in some cases quite seriously, by errant disc shots.”

The commission heard from nine other residents who were opposed to the course; three other residents who were in favor.

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 23

EN TE AV

NC

A MIN L R

NEW HAVEN TERMINAL, INC.

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The Economic Development section of CT&C is sponsored by New Haven Terminal, Inc. Learn more at: www.nhterminal.com

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORPORATE

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Millions For Transit, Development, Jobs Projects aim to make Connecticut a more attractive place to live

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leven projects in towns and cities across Connecticut will receive $15 million in funding under a competitive grant program that supports transit-oriented development and responsible growth in the state and is targeted at boosting economic activity and creating jobs.

The grants come under the state’s Responsible Growth and Transit-Oriented Development Grant Program, which is administered by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) and relies on a combination of funding from the Responsible Growth Incentive Fund and the Transit-Oriented Development and Pre-development Fund.

“Transportation isn’t just about cars, trains, and buses — it’s about building vibrant communities and continuing to make Connecticut a more attractive place to live, visit, and do business,” Governor Dannel Malloy said. “Today’s grant awards will build upon the smart, targeted investments we have made in recent years, which have already led to significant growth in transit-oriented development across the state.”

“I am pleased to move forward with these important and worthwhile investments,” OPM Secretary Ben Barnes said. “Until recent years, Connecticut ignored forward-looking projects to foster growth in our local economies. These grants will strengthen our cities and the state and, more importantly, will do so responsibly.”

Earlier this year, OPM released a Request for Applications for the grant program, and the State Bond Commission approved a total of $15 million to be used, comprised of $5 million from the Responsible Growth Incentive Fund and $10 million from the Transit-Oriented Development and Pre-development Fund. Following that, OPM, with input from other state agencies, reviewed, rated, and ranked each of the proposals.

The following projects were approved to receive the grants: Berlin – Property Acquisition for Transit-Oriented Development: $536,884 to acquire property at 861 Farmington Avenue and the rail spur property adjacent to the Berlin Steel site. These acquisitions are intended to assist in environmental cleanup efforts underway by the town and to expand redevelopment opportunities in the vicinity of the train station.

24 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

Clinton – Wastewater System Design for the Former Unilever Factory: $55,000 to design an on-site wastewater disposal system for the former Unilever Factory property, a 300,000 square-foot facility on 25 acres directly adjacent to the Clinton Train Station, which serves Shore Line East. This funding will enable the surveying, testing, design, and engineering of a wastewater disposal system intended to facilitate a transit-oriented development-style redevelopment of the property.

East Windsor – Planning for Storm-Water Management and Village Center Redevelopment in Warehouse Point: $123,800 to develop a storm-water management plan and establish new zoning recommendations and other guidelines to promote the village-style redevelopment in Warehouse Point. The resulting storm-water master plan will inform land use and zoning recommendations intended to promote village-scale improvements based on conventional complete streets and smart growth principles. A portion of this funding is dedicated toward providing public workshops and additional outreach to keep citizens informed throughout the process.

Madison – Bradley Road Pedestrian Improvements: $200,000 to construct pedestrian infrastructure improvements along Bradley Road extending from the train station to Wall Street, including new sidewalk construction, sidewalk widening, accessible curb ramps, and marked crosswalks. Madison received a 2016 Responsible Growth and Transit-Oriented Development Grant award for improvements to the Tunxis Walkway, and the small section of Bradley Road connecting the walkway to the train station. These two grant awards, combined with other improvements, will create a contiguous sidewalk network in a large portion of Madison Center and the area surrounding the train station.

New Britain – Columbus Boulevard Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements: $1,999,500 to continue with Phase VII of the city’s planned, multi-phased redevelopment of the business district area adjacent to the downtown CTfastrak station. This phase will extend pedestrian infrastructure improvements along a portion of Columbus Boulevard and Chestnut Street, including sidewalks, lighting, and way-finding.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Norwalk – East Avenue Transit-Oriented Development Plan: $125,000 for analysis and development of a Transit-Oriented Development Plan for the area surrounding the East Avenue rail station. The planning study will analyze existing conditions, opportunities, and constraints in order to develop a clear framework and vision for the future of the area, and establish guidelines for design and development.

Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments – Regional Bike and Pedestrian Plan: $239,050 to develop a unified pedestrian and bicycle improvement plan for the region that identifies and incorporates local planning needs, as well as each municipality’s contribution to the broader network. In addition to bike and pedestrians planning, this project will include a focus on integrating these modes with the local transit network. Activities shall include, but are not limited to, existing conditions analysis and data collection, public outreach, and the development and publishing of a final report.

Stratford – Complete Street Technical Design: $450,000 to complete the technical design of complete streets improvements along a portion of Main Street from Barnum Avenue, south to East Broadway. This project is one of several identified as high-priority in the town’s 2017 Complete Streets Plan, and is intended to enhance access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. Upon completing the technical designs, the town will be positioned to begin implementing the necessary improvements. Approximately $250,000 of the total grant award will be set aside to cover costs associated with any environmental contamination discovered within the project boundary.

Wallingford – Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Facilitation Project: $175,000 to fund the planning and engineering design for pedestrian improvements along North Colony Street and Hall Avenue, including sidewalk, streetscape, and traffic-related changes. The project will evaluate various options and costs for improving pedestrian connectivity between the downtown and the new train station, including the development of conceptual engineering designs, cost estimates, and a final report summarizing preferred alternatives. This study will build on the recommendations of the town’s recently updated Plan of Conservation and Development and recently completed Transit-Oriented Development Plan.

Winchester – Downtown Improvements: $601,224 to fund planning and construction improvements in downtown Winsted. A portion of this funding will be used to design and construct upgrades to Whiting Street to address chronic flooding, pedestrian connectivity, parking, and traffic calming. The remainder of the funding will be used for the study and technical design of pedestrian and traffic improvements in the Bridge Street/Depot Street/Main Street area.

Windsor Locks – Main Street Transit-Oriented Development Implementation, Phase II: $1,847,400 for the construction of a retaining wall and surface parking lot intended to support the redevelopment of three parcels in the Main Street Commercial District, across from the new train station. This grant will build on the state’s previous investment in transit-oriented development within Windsor Locks, as well as the town’s continuing efforts to position these properties for redevelopment in line with the town’s new transit-oriented development-inspired Main Street Overlay Zone regulations.

Stratford will use their grant to finish plans for complete streets improvements.

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 25

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT New Vision For Greenwich Pitched

Zoners try to strike a balance between development and preservation

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reenwich zoners have been listening to pitches recently to make the downtown area a more retail-based attraction.

“So what’s happened to the town’s population to have dropped in this one census tract?” he said. “It means that the population sprawled. It sprawled into midcountry, it sprawled into north Cos Cob during all of those years ... We have to find a way to repopulate our downtown because the population left the downtown.”

One of the biggest proponents, Joe Tranfo of the Benedict Court Development Company, recently appeared before the Planning and Zoning Commission to make his direct pitch for a more walkable downtown, As a result of the shift, downtown stores switched more indoor meeting places, a new public park, more from catering to local residents to catering to a differaffordable and moderate-income ent demographic, he said. housing, and one with more parkPlan relies on incentive-based “That’s how we became a reing and rooftop gardening. gional center, and nobody really zoning — changing zoning “For years now I have been asliked that it happened,” said Berg. rules to give developers tax “(Retail) all went upscale so the sembling parcels of land on Benedict Court and Benedict Place in or other advantages if they middle class of Greenwich was downtown Greenwich,” Tranfo told no longer shopping on Greenbuild specific projects or the commissioners. “The question wich Avenue. What I like about follow specific guidelines. before us is, ‘what will become of this project is we repopulate the them?’” downtown.”

“Believe it or not,” he said, “my first conversation was with (former First Selectman) Jim Lash and (former Town Planner) Diane Fox somewhere between 2006 and 2007. I remembered imagining what this could be.”

The commissioners had their own take on some of the suggestions.

Tranfo’s plan relies on incentive-based zoning — changing zoning rules to give developers tax or other advantages if they build specific projects or follow specific guidelines.

Zoning attorney Ted O’Hanlon said commissioners had the option to grant special permits for the incentives instead of changing the statutes to accommodate Tranfo’s vision.

His target is the section of downtown Greenwich that spreads around Greenwich Avenue, up Railroad Avenue, and along central Putnam Avenue.

In exchange for providing what he calls “public benefits,” developers could take advantage of bonuses like taller buildings or extra interior space allowances.

The main condition, he said, would require a developer to own one acre of land in the zone in order to take advantage of the incentives.

The changes he proposes would work to his advantage, he admitted to commissioners. He is working on his own development plan for the properties he owns on Benedict Court and Benedict Place.

Tranfo has won some over.

Peter Berg, Chairman of the RTM Land Use Committee, spoke in favor of making big changes to central Greenwich. He said the population in one section of central Greenwich has decreased 46 percent since 1960, according to census data.

“Benedict Place is an example,” Berg said. “Residential turning into all kinds of offices, lawyer’s offices … the town’s population has been roughly 60,000. It barely changed more than 1,000 since the 1970s.

26 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

“If we do not approve something, is that appealable?” asked Commissioner Andy Fox. “I noticed there is no fluff in there for the commission to turn down a ‘benefit.”

They also wanted a better description of exactly what streets, properties, and public areas would fall into Tranfo’s designated incentive zone, and what benefits would be available to developers for which projects.

Chairman Richard Maitland said some of the property in Tranfo’s incentive zone was residential and he wanted to know who would be affected and how.

“My knee-jerk reaction is, ‘What if we turn down something beneficial for the community?’” said Commission Secretary Margarita Alban. “Our job is not only preservation.”

The meeting ended with the commissioners saying they would study the plan but needed more information.

“This is the first of, I think, many conversations,” said the Tranfo’s architect, Mark Sardegna. “What’s been presented before you is a very complex incentive-based zone. We’ve been staring at it for a couple of years.

“Retail is changing right now,” he said, “and we are seeing it across the country. If anyone tells you right now that they know what retail will be five years from now, they’re lying. People are shopping with their thumbs, not their feet, and it’s changing urban retail across the country.”

EDUCATION The Education section of CT&C is sponsored by Gateway Community College’s GREAT Center.

Learn more at: www.gatewayct.edu/Great-Center

Excellence In Education

Wallingford’s Erin Berthold named “Teacher of the Year”

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rin Berthold, a first-grade teacher at Cook Hill School in Wallingford, has been named the 2018 Connecticut Teacher of the Year. The announcement took place at Cook Hill School, where she has taught for the last 11 years.

“We are thrilled that Wallingford Education Association member Erin Berthold is the 2018 Connecticut Teacher of the Year,” said CEA President Sheila Cohen.

“Erin will be a passionate and enthusiastic ambassador for the teaching profession. Her love for her students and her profession is infectious. She is always thinking up new ways to engage and motivate her students, and she excels at creating a positive learning environment to help her students soar. Erin recognizes that the key to engaging students in the classroom is drawing upon their imaginations, making connections, and fostering critical thinking.”

“Students benefit socially, emotionally, and academically when teachers and families work as a team,” “Erin joins a list of inspiring educators throughout our state, and she will be an excellent representative of our profession,” said David Bosso, president of the Connecticut Teacher of the Year (TOY) Council and the 2012 state TOY. “Like every year, there were impressive candidates at each stage of the selection process.

Congratulations to Erin!”

Berthold was recognized by Cook Hill Principal Kristine Friend for her “thirst for knowledge, passion for children, and creative out-of-the-box thinking.” Colleagues characterized her as diligent, dependable, and collaborative, and students described her as “funny,” “loving,” and “very smart.”

Berthold is the first Wallingford teacher ever named state teacher of the year—a fact that surprised her. “I can think of many people right within this school who also deserve this honor.”

With dual certification in elementary and special education, Berthold holds a master of science in teaching

and a bachelor of science in digital media. She incorporates art, technology, and graphic design into her students’ learning experiences and believes strongly that teachers not only educate but also motivate. She also values open communication and collaboration with her students’ families.

“Students benefit socially, emotionally, and academically when teachers and families work as a team,” she says.

Berthold was one of four finalists selected for this top honor. Fellow CEA members also recognized as finalists this year were LeAnn Cassidy (Regional School District 15), Martha Curan (Madison), and Courtney Ruggiero (Westport).

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 27

EDUCATION Opening Minds And Shaping Futures West Hartford educator wins Milken award

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est Hartford High School English teacher Anna Capobianco prepares students with communications skills to use language effectively and present persuasively, but she was momentarily at a loss for words when her name was called out as Connecticut’s 2017 Milken Educator Award recipient.

Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley surprised Capobianco before 1,400 cheering “Warriors” and visiting dignitaries at William H. Hall High School in West Hartford.

Connecticut Commissioner of Education Dr. Dianna Wentzell joined West Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Moore in recognizing the outstanding teaching efforts of Capobianco during the secret announcement at an allschool assembly.

Capobianco is the only Milken Educator Award winner from Connecticut in 2017, and the first from the West Hartford Public Schools district since 1998. Capobianco is among up to 45 honorees who will receive this national recognition and unrestricted $25,000 cash prize for 2017-18.

Whether it’s piloting a new Advanced Placement course, developing teacher guidelines for implementation of Google Classroom, or inspiring colleagues to adopt “Nonfiction Fridays,” Capobianco engages students, parents, and faculty to reach high standards and exemplary outcomes. Anna works hard to ensure her students explore complex topics and examine perspectives by reading literary and informational texts and writing expository essays.

The Milken Educator Awards, hailed

by Teacher magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching,” has been opening minds and shaping futures for 30 years. Research shows teacher

quality is the driving in-school factor behind student growth and achievement. The initiative not only aims to reward great teachers, but to celebrate, elevate, and activate those innovators in the classroom who are guiding America’s next generation of leaders. Milken Educators believe, “The future belongs to the educated.”

“Anna Capobianco has a great capacity for instilling and precipitating excellence because of the enduring partnerships she creates with each student. She focuses on individual student learning opportunities that optimize their personal improvement, and students repeatedly credit her for their academic growth,” said Jane Foley. “She is a ‘leader from behind’ in the classroom, on campus, and in the district. We applaud her commitment to education and look forward to the continued impact she’ll make as an outstanding Milken Educator.”

“Anna Capobianco has high expectations for all of her students and helps them rise to their potential,” said Commissioner Dianna Went-

28 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

zell. “She recognizes the importance of taking every student from where they are to where they can be through effective instruction, academic support, and family engagement. Ms. Capobianco is a teacher leader who is highly respected for her ability to inspire those around her to strive for excellence. We congratulate Ms. Capobianco, Hall High School, and West Hartford on this well-deserved honor.”

“We are thrilled and so proud that the Milken Family Foundation has chosen to honor Anna this year,” said Superintendent Thomas Moore. “As hundreds of her students will no doubt attest, they got it right! Anna is an educational superstar.”

“The reason Anna is such an outstanding educator is she never forgets to put the student first,” said Hall High School Principal, Daniel Zittoun. “She knows how to make her students take ownership of their learning and have them be the stars.”

EDUCATION

Bienvenido

New London opens arms to hurricane victims

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he city of New London is among the many towns and cities in Connecticut that have helped families uprooted from their homes by the devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico find new homes.

The district has welcomed 51 students from Puerto Rico as of the beginning of 2018, and officials expect that number to increase to 100 over the next few months.

The New London school board already is working with a budget that has barely weathered several rounds of cutbacks without having to resort to layoffs. The district’s answer has been to shift around available resources.

The Board of Education voted last week to allow the district to scrape together $172,313 from all of its schools and central office budgets and direct the money to pay for new educators in the schools with the most need. Interim Superintendent Stephen Tracy said administrators identified the cuts and made a sacrifice to support the entire district.

New London High School has 17 new students from Puerto Rico. There are five at Harbor and one at Winthrop. Nathan Hale is the only school without a new student from Puerto Rico.

Families tend to follow where others already have gone. It also helps the comfort level to know that Jennings Principal Jose A. Ortiz is a native of Puerto Rico and speaks the language.

The state Department of Education has been providing guidance to school districts regarding the enrollment and educational rights of displaced students but has no funding to offer.

“We are, however, working closely with the Governor’s office and members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation to advocate for federal funding through the

disaster relief package’s Hurricane Education Recovery account and to request that the U.S. Department of Education provide funding on an emergency basis to ensure that districts will be able to obtain the fiscal support needed to cover the costs of serving and educating displaced students,” a statement reads.

And while the New London school district has been able to stave off any cuts to personnel in order to accommodate the new students, the influx raises other concerns.

School board Vice President Manuel Rivera brought up two of them at a recent school board meeting: Is the influx impacting class size, and is the district in jeopardy of running afoul of state compliance requirements?

The district’s magnet schools each must maintain 25 percent of their student population from outside the district or risk losing a portion of its state magnet funding. The answers at this point are unknown.

The 51 new students from Puerto Rico are just a portion of the 209 students in New London who have enrolled since the school year began. Rivera, who is the former school superintendent, said the budget, before it was cut back, was built to accommodate just 170 new students.

Tracy said he had spoken to the commissioner of the state Department of Education, who was sympathetic but made no promises.

“I think she understood we should not lose magnet school funding because we’re taking in youngsters who came to us in this way,” Tracy said.

School board President Mirna Martinez said, “They’re here, they’re our kids, and they are welcome.”

“We want to know from the state that they are being supportive, not counting against us,” she added.

As of Feb. 2, Connecticut school districts had registered 1,846 new students from Puerto Rico, victims of Hurricane Maria.

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 29

EDUCATION Financial Literacy

The language we don’t understand

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he lack of understanding how money is made, spent, and saved is a common challenge not only for those in countries with emerging economies, but for Americans who find themselves lost in an ever-changing economic climate.

With the average student loan debt at $49,000 and a median household debt of $16,000, it is evident that many of our citizens are lacking the financial literacy skills and understanding how to overcome the burden of excessive debt. Cumulative consumer debt in the United States has surpassed $1.3 trillion.

According to the Financial Educators Council, the average person lacks the basic financial knowledge needed to make qualified financial decisions. However, unlike other subjects taught in school, financial literacy requires an adjustment in daily financial behaviors and sufficient knowledge to make confident financial decisions. These decisions include how to generate, invest, spend, and save money.

A recent national Implementation of Community-based Financial Literacy Programs in the U.S. survey was conducted among 496 community-based organizations (CBOs) — university extensions, community colleges, credit counseling agencies, immigrant/refugee services, government agencies, libraries, churches, social services, and other local nonprofits—that are engaged in financial literacy counseling and education.

While the availability of finance education has become more accessible in recent years, the issue is less about the availability of information than it is about the effective delivery of information. At Gateway Community College in New Haven, for example, financial literacy courses are offered free of charge through sponsoring organizations like the Guardian Life Insurance Company who offer for-credit and non-credit courses, conferences, and educational events supported by volunteer, expert financial pro-

fessionals dedicated to the cause.

In most cases, the courses are community focused and free of charge.

The survey concluded that, “Financial literacy is absolutely essential for every individual and family.

Consumers who are able to make informed financial decisions and respond wisely to financial challenges are more likely to make the most of limited resources, avoid excessive debt, accomplish important goals such as homeownership, and avoid becoming victims of unfair business practices and fraud. Financial literacy is so tied to personal well-being that many experts consider it as important as learning how to read and write.”

Civic, financial, educational, and community organizations have an important role to play in ensuring that financial education programs are available and understandable.

All members of the community deserve the tools they need to lay a stronger financial foundation for the future.

CCM Job Bank

Current Listings: Police Chief SIMSBURY, CT

Building Official STAMFORD, CT

Director of Public Works

“A little bird told me about a job you might be interested in.”

PORTLAND, CT

Assistant Town Manager/ Finance Director WATERTOWN, CT

Jobs posted to CCM’s Job Bank can also be found on twitter @CCM_ForCT

To place or view an ad, please visit the CCM Municipal Job Bank at

http://ccm-ct.org 30 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

ENVIRONMENT Charging Ahead

Fairfield a leader in EV market

F

airfield’s role as a leader in the electric vehicle (EV) market was delivered on a global stage on December 1, 2017 by Fairfield’s own EV experts: Scott Thompson, Chairman of Fairfield’s Clean Energy Task Force (CETF), and Jim Motavalli, a CETF member and nationally known writer who specializes in the greening of the auto industry via a presentation at United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York City.

Thompson and Motavalli spoke at a forum on EVs sponsored by NGO Sustainability with the missions of Costa Rica and Germany to the United Nations. NGO Sustainability is a non-profit organization that consults with the United Nations on sustainable development and renewable energy topics.

Consumers Responding to EV Benefits Consumers are strongly responding to the proven benefits of EVs, including the exhilarating driving experience, time, and money savings, and zero carbon emissions, Thompson told the forum. By the year 2022, EVs will cost the same as their internal-combustion counterparts, without any incentives, which should spark a strong liftoff in sales.

EV buyers already have many purchase options, with more than 30 EV models currently available in the U.S., Thompson said. “With federal tax credits and state rebates enhancing the ongoing cost efficiency of EVs, there is no question that for most consumers an EV purchase will be a very attractive proposition financially, as well as a chance to tangibly support a more healthful environment,” he said.

“Tomorrow’s cars will be electric, connected and, above all, extremely safe, and change is happening fast,” said Motavalli, citing a RethinkX report predicting that although 40% of cars in 2030 will still have

internal-combustion engines, they will by that time represent just 5% of the consumer miles driven.

“Tomorrow’s self-driving cars will also likely be electric,” he said, because of synergies with charging and compatibility with onboard computers. Companies will move from managing drivers to managing fleets of electric vehicles, he added. And it’s critical, he said, that autonomous vehicles be shared, rather than continuing our 100-year practice of private ownership. “If self-driving cars are shared and on the road most of the time, instead of intermittently as with individually-owned cars today, the overall fuel savings will be very dramatic,” Motavalli said.

Supporting EVs in Fairfield Focused on “localizing” the global EV opportunity, Fairfield’s Clean Energy Task Force (CETF) is actively supporting both current and

future EV ownership by residents.

The CETF has spearheaded the town-wide installation of the highest density of EV charging stations in southwestern Connecticut, with more installations planned. The CETF also has facilitated leasing of EVs by Fairfield’s municipal government, and organizes Fairfield’s annual “EV Showcase,” an event designed for residents to view the newest EV models and learn about the current state of the technology.

First Selectman Mike Tetreau said, “I commend the dedicated and forward thinking members of the CETF for the incredible strides they continue to make for our town.

I especially wish to thank Scott Thompson and Jim Motavalli for representing Fairfield at the UN and sharing their expertise with the world on our strong commitment to a more environmentally sustainable community that others can use as a model.”

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 31

ENVIRONMENT Rocky Top Saved!

Enviromental group scores a victory in Hamden

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n 18-acre, wooded ridge that is open to the original Connecticut Blue Trail System in Hamden has been spared from development thanks to the efforts of a determined environmental group in town.

The Hamden Land Conservation Trust has become the permanent stewards of Rocky Top. The effort to save the acreage from development was led by the Save Rocky Top Neighbors led by Tim and Roberta Mack, who stayed the course during the years this beautiful woodland was threatened by development.

Also helping in the effort was the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, especially CFPA Land Conservation Director Lindsay Suhr, who helped make it possible for the Hamden Land Conservation Trust to become the permanent stewards of the property.

Left to right: HLCT President Jim Sirch, Rocky Top Neighbors leaders Roberta Mack and Tim Mack, and CFPA Land Conservation Director Lindsay Suhr

Timber!

Combating the Emerald Ash Borer in Housatonic State Forest

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he Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Forestry Division is nearing completion of a timber harvest at Housatonic State Forest in Sharon. The work, being performed by Maple Ridge Lawn LLC out of Litchfield, was planned in preparation for the impending arrival of emerald ash borer (EAB) in town.

The harvest, which began near the end of 2016 and has not been in operation during wet ground conditions, is nearly complete and expected to wrap up in the spring of 2018.

EAB is an Asian insect accidentally introduced near Detroit, Michigan and discovered in 2002. It has since spread to nearly half the country and is considered the most destructive forest pest in America.

The invasive insect has no effective natural control and threatens the continued existence of all ash species in North America. EAB was first discovered in Connecticut in 2012 in Prospect and Naugatuck. While not known in Sharon yet, it has been discovered just several towns away and is well-established in Litchfield County.

To help mitigate the loss of ash, Forestry officials decided to plan a pre-salvage in three forested areas, totaling 78 acres, where ash is prominent in the Sharon Mountain Block of Housatonic State Forest.

32 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

The goal is providing for public safety while not simply targeting ash trees, but planning sound science-driven practices to produce a healthier and more diverse forest, including control of invasive plants, removal of non-native trees, and thinning out other trees of all species with health or long-term integrity issues. DEEP hopes to convert the areas to “uneven-aged” management in the long run, to increase forest and wildlife habitat diversity.

As part of this operation, roadside trees are also being cut along 6-1/2 miles of Sharon Mountain Road and Clay Beds Road within the state forest to reduce current and future public hazards, as well as to remove trees encroaching too closely to the road bed and drainage structures, making maintenance and passage more difficult.

The DEEP Forestry Division implements between 700 and 1,000 acres of timber harvests across Connecticut annually from its 170,000 acres of state forests.

Broad objectives are to produce healthier and more diverse forests that can sustainably provide products and habitat for wildlife that are of most local and global concern, while reducing the chances for catastrophic losses from storms and pests that would adversely impact forests of all the same types or ages.

GOVERNANCE The Governance section of CT&C is sponsored by Kemp Consulting, LLC, a National Speaker Service.

Learn more at: www.rogerkemp.org

Roger L. Kemp, MPA, MBA, PhD

National Speaker

Getting Ansonia The Most For A Buck Public Works Superintendent has a knack for savings

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e’s only been on the job for two years but Ansonia Superintendent of Public Works Mike D’Alessio has already saved the city tons of money through his innovative thinking.

D’Alessio’s forward thinking initiatives have, by those who he reports to, saved Ansonia taxpayers nearly $100,000.

For instance, instead of having an outside company haul residents’ curbside leaves each fall out of town for disposal, D’Alessio lets the leaves decompose, and over time turns them into rich loam that’s spread throughout the city’s landscape.

And all those Christmas trees no longer take up space in costly containers as they are trucked out of town after the Christmas holiday season is over.

That’s because D’Alessio dug out an old tub grinding machine, sitting idle on the Public Works grounds on North Division for 10 years.

D’Alessio and his crew fixed the machine, which now grinds those Christmas trees, tree branches, brush, and debris and transforms them into mulch D’Alessio no longer purchases.

And that’s not all.

Another example of D’Alessio’s money-saving skills came when instead of junking three old Public Works vehicles, he auctioned them off for parts. The sale brought in $14,000, enabling D’Alessio to purchase a roadside machine to cut overhanging tree branches and brush that were causing sight-line issues along city roads. Money for that machine was not in the budget.

“I feel better knowing I’m not wasting money,” D’Alessio says modestly. “I work hard and it has been paying off.”

It’s been noticed.

Mayor David Cassetti has been thrilled by D’Alessio’s performance.

“Mike has been an asset to the City of Ansonia,” Cassetti said. “He is a former business owner like myself.

That means that we want city departments to operate efficiently and effectively and that is what he is doing for Public Works.”

Superintendent Mike D’Alessio (left), and Public Works’ December Employee of the Month, Lou Maida.

D’Alessio, who manages a $4 million budget and a crew of 22, keeps coming up with new ways to save money.

Previously during the busy winter plowing season, the public works trucks were washed using metered water the city pays for.

No longer. D’Alessio discovered a better way. Wastewater that has been treated and pumped into the nearby Naugatuck River at the Water Pollution Control Authority, which shares the site with Public Works, is now used to wash the trucks, at no cost.

“Washing our trucks with WPCA water instead of using metered water saves us at least $3,000 to $4,000 a year,” D’Alessio said.

D’Alessio took over as head of Public Works in December 2015. He managed two rubbish removal companies, a pizzeria, a deli, three Dunkin Donuts, and a painting business. D’Alessio applies his business know-how to his daily routine, whether it’s something as simple as switching paper vendors to find a lower price or making sure employees switch off lights every time they leave a room.

D’Alessio had a good teacher. His father, Michael D’Alessio, Sr., was head of public works for Ansonia for a decade-and-a-half. His uncle, Bill LaRovera, also held the same job back in the 1960s.

Ansonia is lucky to have him.

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 33

GOVERNANCE Nobody “Hipper” Than Waterbury The Brass City promotes itself through videos and song

T

hese days, when there are so many competing mediums pulling for a scant minute of the listeners’ attention, you have to be creative when you are pushing your message.

Waterbury has taken that point to another level.

Not only has the city come up with a social media campaign promoting the strengths of the city to its residents, potential residents, businesses, and visitors — it even has a song on its city website bragging about the Brass City!

To listen to the catchy tune, just go to the city of Waterbury’s website, where you also see the Mayor and CCM President Neal O’Leary and other city leaders talking about the strengths of what the city has to offer.

Here’s the link: http://www.waterburyct.org.

You’ll also see this marketing message prominently displayed on the website.

“Welcome to Waterbury, Connecticut, a city that’s going places. We are blessed with a highly skilled workforce, a robust infrastructure, and manufacturing companies that have re-invented themselves to adapt to the new economy.

“We have an administration that sees the future and knows how to manage change. Our healthcare providers are cutting edge and our service professionals are busy. Our neighborhoods are thriving with new schools and businesses are being motivated to come to town.

“But our real gift to the region is the cultural flavor that

remains in the neighborhoods established by our early immigrants, which gives Waterbury its diverse personality, rich traditions, and highly engaged people.

“And with our community leadership and vision, we will not settle to just be the ninth largest city in New England but our goal is to become the largest ‘hometown’ anywhere.”

Better Budgeting

Woodbridge budget presentation second to none

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nce again the Town of Woodbridge has earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the national nonprofit Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

The budget presentation award is based on how well the Town’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications device.

In a letter to the Town about the budget award, GFOA states, “This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and represents a significant achievement by your organization.”

The Town’s audit was judged by an impartial panel to determine if it met the program’s high standards, including a “spirit of full disclosure” to communicate the Town’s financial story. These awards “reflect the commitment of the governing body

34 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting,” GFOA states.

The certificates of recognition were presented to the Town’s Director of Finance Tony Genovese. Board of Finance Chairman Matthew Giglietti added, “This budget award is particularly important because well-presented budget documents help residents understand how their Town is being managed and what happens with their tax dollars.”

PHILANTHROPY Everybody Loves Raymond (Mackowski) Valley towns receive huge philanthrophic gift

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he Valley Community Foundation (VCF), which distributes hundreds of thousands of dollars to local nonprofits, has received a $1.4 million gift courtesy of the estate of Ansonia native Raymond P. Mackowski.

VCF was the named beneficiary for Mackowki’s estate.

VCF was established in 2004 to support local nonprofits and promote philanthropy in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton.

Mackowski passed away in March 2016. He included VCF as a beneficiary to his estate in memory of his parents, John and Amelia Mackowski.

“We are honored and sincerely grateful to receive such a substantial bequest from Mr. Mackowski,” said Sharon Closius, VCF president and CEO. “Something powerful happens when you name a charity in your estate plan. You create a legacy that tells future generations what causes mattered to you, which will inspire future generations to make a difference in their own way. As stewards for the Valley’s philanthropic endowments, we look forward to honoring Mr. Mackowski’s intent throughout our community for many years to come.”

The many nonprofits that have benefited from VCF funds run the gamut from the Derby Historical Society, to providing bus transportation to the David Humphrey’s House enabling Valley students to step back in time, to Ansonia Middle School where low-income students get exposed to college campuses.

VCF spokesman John Ready said the funds are unrestricted, meaning they can be used in multiple ways for grant-making. Valley nonprofits can apply for funding ranging from $250 and above. Ready said VCF anticipates requests from basic needs organizations, workforce development organizations, early childhood education, and organizations serving the aging population.

Mackowski’s nephew Richard Mackowski said his uncle was always willing to help.

“He was a private man, but he enjoyed life to the fullest,” said Richard Mackowski. “He was ready to help anyone in the community. He gave much of his time and talent to helping others. He was just a good man.

That’s really the best way to put it.”

Raymond Mackowski dedicated more than 30 years of his life as a volunteer at Yale-New Haven Hospital, was a member the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus, a lifelong communicant of St. Joseph Church in Ansonia, and was a devoted history buff, according to his family. He loved swimming, painting, and metalworking in his spare time.

VCF Board of Directors Chairman Alan Tyma expressed gratitude for the gift.

Raymond Mackowski left his estate, which totaled more than $1.4 million, to the The Valley Community Foundation.

“The VCF Board of Directors collectively felt the most prudent way for this generous gift to have a lasting local impact was to place this fund on the Foundation’s spending policy and treat it like an endowed fund at the Foundation,” said Tyma. “Investment goals are to generate enough income to respond to the community’s current charitable needs and to provide for the long-term development and well-being of the Foundation’s endowment.”

Attorney Christine Curtiss of the firm Cohen and Thomas said when Raymond Mackowski came to the office to work on his will, he had given much thought to making a gift to the Valley through VCF. Curtiss put him in touch with VCF’s staff to work out the details of his philanthropic intentions.

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 35

PUBLIC SAFETY The Public Safety section of CT&C is sponsored by Emergency Resource Management.

Learn more at: http://ermanagement.com

Police-Community

Relations are changing in a positive way in cities throughout America

by Roger L. Kemp, PhD

T

he public services being provided by Police Departments to citizens in our nation’s cities are changing rapidly. This is due to the changing ethnic composition of our society, the national enhancement of police services, the greater use of new technologies by our Police Departments, and the increasing diversity of Police Departments that is taking place to reflect the citizens that are being served with their public police services.

Some of these evolving best practices are highlighted below. Depending upon the nature of these service changes, the funds needed to implement them, and the staffing required to do so, many of these changes can be implemented directly by the Chief of Police, while other changing services might require approval of the City Manager, and possibly the city’s elected officials, especially if additional funding is required.

The evolving best practices of Police Departments in America are highlighted below. ➢Increasing ➢ public outreach to citizens by Police Officers is rapidly taking place via social media, video applications, and other digital technologies. ➢Police ➢ Departments are developing “Police-to-Citizen” (P2C) websites to empower citizens with information about their community’s Police Department services. This information is made available for citizens to access 24-hours a day, every day of the year, on their personal computers. ➢Police ➢ Departments are starting to use the nation’s “Wireless Emergency Alert System” (WEAS) to solicit citizen feedback on recent crime incidents, and to encourage citizens to help facilitate the location of the person(s) that caused them. ➢Police ➢ Departments are increasingly using “Encrypted Radio Systems” (ERS) so that criminals can’t use their personal I-Phone applications to monitor a Police Department’s emergency response to a citizen’s local “911” call-for-service. ➢The ➢ increased use of “Domain Awareness Systems” (DAS), primarily surveillance cameras used to moni36 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

tor school entrances and downtown intersections, as well as other important locations, is on the increase.

The general usage of such digital surveillance technologies are increasingly being developed and applied by Police Departments nationally. ➢➢Police Departments in some cities are developing “Coffee with a Cop” or “Pizza with the Police” programs, to provide citizens with the opportunity to get to meet their local Police Officers at a local coffee shop or pizza parlor, and to personally get to know them. ➢The ➢ improved diversity of many Police Departments is taking place in cities throughout our nation so that their workforce can properly reflect the evolving ethnic composition of their respective communities. ➢More ➢ Police Departments are requiring their Police Officers to wear and to use body cameras so that they can take instant video pictures of crime incidents. Citizens can also videotape such incidents on their cell phones for immediate transmission and dissemination. ➢Many ➢ Police Departments are increasingly holding “Police-Community Forums” (PCF) for the first time ever to help educate their citizens about the services that local Police Officers provide, and to answer any questions that the citizens may have about these services. Many of these programs are being provided annually, and sometimes even more frequently. ➢Some ➢ cities with public linear trails have a “Hike with a Cop” program so that their citizens can have an opportunity to informally meet and to personally get to know their Police Officers. ➢Many ➢ Police Departments are requiring their Police Officers to use non-lethal weapons when they respond to selected crime scenes. The type of weapons that they have available depends upon the type of crime that is being responded to. These Police Officer operational guidelines are usually called “Use of Force Policies” (UFP). ➢School ➢ Resource Officers (SROs), only a few years ago, were primarily assigned to high schools. Now SROs are being assigned to all local public schools —

PUBLIC SAFETY elementary, middle, as well as high schools. Students (and teachers) throughout a community personally benefit from such police service programs. ➢Police ➢ Officers, typically SROs, in their city’s public schools, are increasingly providing anti-drug educational programs and services to the students. Such programs, which are also sponsored by a school’s administration and its teachers, have been on the increase in recent years in public schools throughout America. ➢Many ➢ Police Departments are also holding workshops for school officials, parents, and students on the use of social media so they can instruct and guide young students on the appropriate use of available Internet resources. Some departments are even holding “Social Media Awareness Nights” (SMAN) to facilitate this educational process. ➢More ➢ and more Police Departments have “Ride with a Cop” Programs, to help educate citizens on the types of police services that are being provided to them by the Police Officers in their community. ➢More ➢ and more Police Departments are also holding a “Citizens Police Academy” (CPA) to properly educate their citizens on the types of police services that are being provided in their community. ➢There ➢ is an increase in the number of Neighborhood Police Officers (NPOs) that are assigned to work with citizens to help reduce crime in their city’s respective neighborhoods. The number of neighborhood associations in cities throughout the nation is on the increase, as well as are the number of Police Officers that are being assigned to work with them. ➢Police ➢ Departments are also increasingly forming Neighborhood Initiative Units (NIUs), so their Police Officers can get to know the citizens that they serve, such as business persons, homeowners, and renters, in their neighborhoods. This program facilitates the formation of NIUs, which are similar to neighborhood

associations in other communities. ➢There ➢ is an increasing number of Police Department neighborhood sub-stations in cities everywhere to help deal with and resolve neighborhood police issues, and to work with local merchants and citizens to help accomplish this goal. ➢There ➢ is a trend to create, and/or expand, the number of “Police Explorer Programs” (PEPs) to help educate and train young students on police services, who may wish to become Police Officers in the future. These are great programs for young people who are thinking about possibly joining a Police Department later in their life. ➢Many ➢ Police Departments are holding annual “Public Safety Festivals” (PSF) in municipal parks and open spaces to help educate their citizens on their police programs and services, as well as how they can access and use these services throughout the year. ➢There ➢ are more “Police Bike Patrols” (PBP) and “Police Walking Patrols” (PWP) in downtown neighborhood areas in cities throughout the country. Such police services make Police Officers more visible to local merchants and citizens, as well as commuters, in their inner-city areas. ➢Police ➢ Departments are increasingly working with their local housing authorities to ensure that U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rules and regulations that govern the use of Section 8 housing are being enforced. These rules preclude, and can be used to force out, any tenants that would qualify as criminals under the Section 8 Housing Act. ➢Police ➢ Department officials are enhancing their department’s working relationship with higher levels of government — counties, states, as well as the federal government. They are seeking police technical support, and available police program grants, when such programs are available. continues on page 38

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 37

PUBLIC SAFETY continued from page 37

➢Some ➢ Police Departments have created “Safe Exchange Zones” where citizens can pick-up items that are purchased online from a stranger in the area.

Many Police Departments are making portions of their parking lots available for this purpose, where Police Officers are present, the parking lots are illuminated, and citizens can feel safe during such a pick-up process.

programs.

These state-of-the-art best Police Department practices represent many new and evolving police-community services that are being developed and implemented

by Police Departments in cities throughout America in recent years. Police Chiefs, as well as their respective administrative staffs, and their Police Officers, are continually working together to build an improved police-community network to assist them in relating to, educating, and receiving information from, the citizens that are being served by their police services. Their goal is to improve the type of police services that they are providing to their citizens.

• National Association of Police Organizations – NAPO (www.napo.org/)

Our nation’s many municipal law enforcement officials — The Chiefs of Police, their Administrative Staffs, and their Police Officers — should be congratulated for their ongoing efforts to achieve these admirable police service goals in Police Departments throughout our nation’s local governments.

• National Sheriffs’ Association – NSA (www.sheriffs. org/)

National Internet resources are listed below that contain additional and advanced information about these dynamic and evolving police-community public service

• International Association of Chiefs of Police - IACP (www.theiacp.org/) • International City/County Management Association ICMA (www.icma.org/) • National Association of Counties – NACO (www. naco.org/)

• National Association of School Resource Officers – NASRO (www.nasro.org/) • National Association of School Safety & Law Enforcement Officials – NASSLEO (www.nassleo.org/) • National Crime Prevention Council - NCPC (www. ncpc.org/) • National Criminal Justice Association - NCJA (www. ncja.org/)

Roger L. Kemp, MPA, MBA, PhD, ICMA-CM, is a career city manager having worked in and managed the largest council-manager government cities in CA, CT, and NJ — on both coasts of the US during his public service career. Dr. Kemp is a Professional in Residence, Public Administration Program, at the University of New Haven. Roger is also a professional speaker. He can be reached via e-mail at rlkbsr@snet.net.

Safe Project Launched in Coventry

Police and school officials collaborate to protect special needs persons

C

The information families provide police, by filling out an easy-to-use form, helps police locate family members quickly.

As a police department, Coventry police know that there are members of their community who have special needs. With those needs comes the possibility that police intervention may be needed to quickly locate a lost or missing person.

Knowing things like nicknames or sights or sounds that may excite or frighten the person can be very valuable.

Having this information will save time in the event that a family member wanders. It would take several valuable minutes to obtain all the pertinent information from a distraught parent or family member at the time of the emergency.

oventry Police Department and the Coventry School District are working together to initiate PROJECT SAFE RETURN.

The mission of this project is to ensure the quick and safe return of persons who have wandered from home and family.

Police officers in Coventry desire to have a positive outcome with those persons that they interact with.

The goal is to have as much information in advance about your family member, along with a picture, to ensure a quick and safe return of the family member.

38 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2018

It can also enable police to have a more positive interaction with the person.

PROJECT SAFE RETURN will reduce the time to gather this information, because police will already have it at their fingertips.

New Home For Newtown Seniors

SENIORS

Thorough planning and private donations move project forward

T

he Town of Newtown recently broke ground for the Newtown Community Center and Senior Center.

The Center is being built on the Fairfield Hills Campus on Simpson Street across from the Municipal Center.

Rain Garden

Pav

The community center project represents more than two years of planning to create space that will serve as a vibrant and multi-generational hub for Newtown’s residents.

After the December 14 Sandy Hook tragedy where 26 children and adults were killed at Sandy Hook DumpsterS Elementary School, General Electric (GE) generously donated $10 million towards construction as well as an FUTURE additional $5 million towards operational costs (to be PARKING spread across 5 years at $1 million/year).

The Town is contributing $5 million towards the construction. In addition, during the April 25, 2017 budget referendum, Newtown residents approved another $3 million to build a Senior Center. The Senior Center is being added as an additional wing to the Community Center.

As a result of months of research and resident input, the new 45,860 square foot building will include separate community center and senior center areas.

GREE

Traffic Calming

Bike Racks

Fire Pits*

Patio

Water*

Fire Access Patio Rain Garden

Amphitheater*

Promenade

GREEN

Pavilion /Band She

The separate senior center, representing 9,450 square feet, allows the seniors to move out of their current space in Sandy Hook. This new facility will cater to the programs and activities of Newtown’s seniors, providing space for these programs to be enhanced and expanded to meet the growing needs.

NEWTOWN COMMUNITY & SENIOR CENTER

The community center’s facilities, totaling approximately 35,210 square feet, will meet the needs of many, if not most, residents and will include a dedicated arts and craft room, six multi-purpose activity rooms to accommodate activities ranging from music to group gatherings, along with a full-size kitchen, an approximately 5,000 square foot banquet room, a 6-lane 25-yard pool, a zero-entry activity pool, and outdoor connections to the surrounding area of the Fairfield Hills campus.

MB

MUNICIPAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATE GOLD

The Community Center will be run through a new Community Center director with assistance from the quality staff from the Parks and Recreation department. A search for the director has been launched.

Oversight for the Community Center will be at the direction of a new Community Center Commission.

BL Companies • CDM Smith Inc. Celtic Energy • The ECG Group Fuss & O’Neill • GZA Associates Menefee Associates Consulting, LLC PowerSecure, Inc. • RealTerm Energy Sertex LLC • Tanko Lighting

CCM appreciates their support and commitment to CCM and its members.

FEBRUARY 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 39

Trail

NARCAN ® Nasal Spray Use: NARCAN® (naloxone hydrochloride) Nasal Spray is an opioid antagonist indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression. NARCAN® Nasal Spray is intended for immediate administration as emergency therapy in settings where opioids may be present. NARCAN® Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care. For more information on Narcan call 844-4NARCAN or visit narcannasalspray.com Contracted Products NDC #

Description

69547-035302

NARCAN Nasal Spray

®

Manufacture

UOM / Package

Qty / UOM

Contract Price

Adapt Pharma

4mg Nasal Spray

2

$75 per pack

Program & Pricing Eligibility: The $75.00 Public Interest Contract Price is being made available by Adapt Pharma in an effort to provide affordable access to Narcan for entities that serve the public interest with limited funding. Public Interest Pricing is available to U.S. Communities participating agencies that have signed participation documents for Premier’s Medical Surgical and Pharmaceutical Group Purchasing Program and by purchasing Narcan directly from Adapt Pharma. Purchasing direct from Adapt is subject to terms and conditions including but not limited to credit evaluation, product returns limitations and no recourse to 3rd party public or private insurance. No freight charge when purchasing a minimum of 48 units.

Narcan is just one product in a comprehensive program to reduce the costs of medical products used by participating agencies. If you cannot meet the minimum order requirements, Narcan will be available through certain Premier authorized pharmacy distributors, at a higher price point. Premier customer service representatives can put you in touch with the appropriate representative.

Accessing the Agreement: The following steps are required to gain access to the Adapt Pharma agreement.

• Participating agency must be registered with U.S. Communities Cooperative Purchasing Program.

• Participating agency must also be a member of Premier’s group purchasing program for Medical Surgical and Pharmaceutical products. For more information, click here. o To join, access the Premier website on the U.S. Communities website or go directly to the Premier registration site. o Once the electronic registration is completed you must download, complete, sign, and submit a Facility Authorization & Vendor Fee Agreement ("Exhibit A") to premierreach@premierinc.com to become a member.

• To purchase directly from Adapt Pharma exclusive distribution partner, Smith Medical Partners, the following is required: • Set up an account by calling 855-798-6483. Provide the following information to the representative: o Name of Buying Entity o Email Address and Phone Number o State Medical/Pharmacy License • Logistics Information: o Orders ship the same day o Packages are sent via UPS (no freight charge with a minimum purchase of 48 units) o Order cut-off time is 5 p.m. Central Time Zone.

• Setting up pricing and establishing accounts with all entities should take less than 14 days.

For Further Questions: Call 877.981.3312 or email uscommunities@premierinc.com

www.uscommunities.org/premiermedical