Connecticut Town & City - February 2016

February 2016

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

OFFICERS President, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor of Danbury 1st Vice President, Susan S. Bransfield, First Selectwoman of Portland 2nd Vice President, John A. Elsesser, Town Manager of Coventry

Inside this issue...

CCM hosts meeting with other municipal groups, page 12

DIRECTORS Luke A. Bronin, Mayor of Hartford Joseph P. Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport Catherine Iino, First Selectwoman of Killingworth Neil O’Leary, Mayor of Waterbury Curt Leng, Mayor of Hamden W. Kurt Miller, First Selectman of Seymour Scott Shanley, General Manager of Manchester Re-elected to CCM’s Board are: Robert M. Congdon, First Selectman of Preston Michael Freda, First Selectman of North Haven Deb Hinchey, Mayor of Norwich Toni N. Harp, Mayor of New Haven

4 Rudolph P. Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield 5 Leo Paul, First Selectman of Litchfield Lisa Pellegrini, First Selectman of Somers 6 R. Scott Slifka, Mayor of West Hartford 8 Mark Walter, First Selectman of East Haddam Steven R. Werbner, Town Manager of Tolland 14 Barbara M. Henry, First Selectman of Roxbury

PAST PRESIDENTS Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager of South Windsor Herbert C. Rosenthal, former First Selectman of Newtown HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS Elizabeth Paterson, former Mayor of Mansfield Stephen Cassano, Selectman of Manchester

Gov’s Budget Proposal Legislative Priorities CCM Media Campaign Day on the Hill NLC 2016 Congressional City Conference

Regular Features 10 Executive Director’s Message 11 CCM Municipal Job Bank 15 Q&A - Grant Writing 16 CIRMA News

CCM STAFF

29 Municipal Ethics

Executive Director, Joe DeLong Deputy Director, Ron Thomas Managing Editor, Kevin Maloney Layout & Design, Matthew Ford Production Assistant, Joan Bailey Writer, Christopher Cooper Editorial Assistant, Beth Scanlon

THE BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE OF MUNICIPALITIES

Connecticut Town & City © 2016 Connecticut Conference of Municipalities

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 3

Gov’s Budget Proposal

CCM is working with Governor and Legislators to advance proposed state budget, as it affects towns and cities

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ince taking office, Governor Malloy has demonstrated strong support for municipal aid, refusing to shift the state’s fiscal problems onto municipalities. Given new municipal revenue sharing initiative adopted during the 2015 legislative session, which is funded through a dedicated stream of receipts from Sales Tax revenue, the Governor is proposing that some of the current grants for municipal aid be subject to the same level of across-the-board reductions faced by state agencies. However, the Governor has held the line on critical ECS grants by maintaining the same ECS funding level as in FY 2016.

CCM is continuing to examine the budget proposal, and will provide further information once the proposal has been more thoroughly analyzed.

Another proposal of the Governor, HB5055, would allow the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to require motor vehicle owners to register such vehicles — even if they owe property taxes. It is estimated to cost communities well over $40 million per year.

The Governor’s recommended budget maintains capital funding for several municipal grant programs and sustains commitments to retirement contributions and health service costs for teachers as well as debt service for the support provided to municipalities for school construction.

CCM’s staff analysis of the proposed state budget also shows that: •

Most towns and cities will see some type of increase in state aid overall; and virtually every community is being held harmless from cutbacks in state aid overall. The new revenue that towns receive from the sales tax helps ensures this.

•

Overall, there are cutbacks in numerous state aid programs, including state payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and local public education grants, although there are no cutbacks for the State’s largest grant to towns — the Education Cost Sharing Grant.

•

The Governor proposes a personal property tax exemption for businesses with total personal property valued at less than $10,000.

This would affect 46 percent of all businesses, and deprive towns of significant property tax revenues.

•

The Governor also called for reforming the process for the “implementer” bill for the state budget to bring back greater transparency and avoid unvetted state law. His proposal mirrors one of the key recommendations presented in the final report from the Project B.E.S.T Summit organized by CCM, CBIA and CT AFL-CIO.

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OPM Secretary Ben Barnes addressing the CCM Legislative Committee’s February meeting in North Haven.

Legislative Priorities

2016

This year our priorities focus on working together for Connecticut’s social and economic future

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s the Connecticut General Assembly continues its first few weeks of the 2016 legislative session, CCM is ready to work with the Governor and lawmakers on key municipal issues including mandate reform, the municipal spending cap, and blight.

CCM is meeting with key lawmakers to seek champions who will support these issues which are critically important to the social and economic health of our communities and residents.

“Connecticut’s challenging times present opportunities for significant changes that will improve the quality-of-life of our state,” said Mark Boughton, Mayor of Danbury and CCM President. “This is the time to reinvigorate the State-Local partnership – because our hometowns and the State need each other now more than ever. Municipal and state leaders can work together to make government more efficient at all levels and ensure the continuity of local public services.”

Mandates CCM has long-fought the ever-increasing burdens that come with unfunded state mandates and we continue to maintain that State leaders can increase the fiscal health of towns and cities across Connecticut by enacting a statutory prohibition against new unfunded state mandates on towns.

City and town leaders also want to amend the State’s Municipal Employee Retirement System. The proposal would maintain a defined benefit plan for current employees, but change the plan for new employees to be part of a town plan, instead of the state plan.

Municipal Spending Cap

It is essential that policymakers understand how the spending cap will be affected by various things, including unfunded state mandates, and we will be working to ensure lawmakers have and understand that information.

CCM believes the cap should be repealed but failing that, we at least need to delay implementing the spending cap until 2020. Otherwise, we need to amend exemptions to the spending cap to address issues like increased state fees, additional state regulations, and state aid cuts from the previous year.

Municipalities with Town Meeting forms of government should be exempted from the cap.

Towns should be allowed to override the spending cap with a 2/3 vote of their legislative body. Arbitration awards in union contracts should be excluded from the exemptions to the cap.

Blight A meaningful way to improve the quality of life in communities in every corner of the state is by stepping up the fight against blighted properties.

Towns and cities should be allowed to place blight liens on any single or multi-family home with unpaid blight fines and be allowed to establish additional requirements for banks to maintain foreclosed properties.

Municipal leaders also need the State to expand mental health programs for hoarding and be relieved of having to store the possessions of evicted tenants.

Towns can also better battle blight if a revolving loan fund for property owners to remediate blighted properties was created and if a dedicated blight court for municipal actions against blight was established.

The 2015 session brought a measure of property tax reform designed to help relieve the burden on local taxpayers, but it was accompanied by an onerous and ill-defined spending cap.

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 5

CCM Media Campaign

CCM message on municipal aid aims to focus on collaboration

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he impact of state aid — or lack of — on local property taxes is spelled out simply, humorously and yet seriously in a YouTube video that’s part of the rebranding and aggressive statewide media campaign CCM launched in advance of the start of the legislative session.

The 3 ½-minute animated video – which has been viewed over 10,000 times on YouTube and the CCM website, as CT&C went to press — delivers an easy-to-understand overview of how the consequences of decisions in Hartford, such as unfunded mandates and reductions in municipal aid, always wind up at the doorstep of the local taxpayer.

“When State leaders choose to cut our refund on top of already underfunding public education by 600 million dollars,” the narrator says, “The General Assembly is really passing on a property tax increase. They’re just hoping we get lost in the smoke and mirrors.”

CCM is promoting the video through a targeted advertising campaign using tracking technologies on sites most visited by adults 35-64 who are likely voters

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and homeowners. Additional placement on the Web includes sites related to news, real estate, and personal finance. The video can also be found on municipal websites and through municipal social media platforms.

A 30-second video on CCM’s advocacy on behalf of taxpayers is geared toward the general public to raise awareness about CCM. That shorter video began airing on the state’s major TV stations in January and will run through February. Spots were placed on morning, evening, weekend morning, and late news.

CCM Executive Director Joe DeLong said the campaign is intended to highlight CCM’s non-partisan advocacy for local property taxpayers and “to better explain the big part CCM plays at the state level regarding issues affecting such taxpayers.”

That message is also central to a series of blog posts

by DeLong and guest contributors. DeLong’s January 19 blog titled, “What CCM Means by Collaborating for the Public Good” highlights the importance of forging strong partnerships for effective public policy.

“Whether Democrat, Republican, or Independent, or live in a suburban, rural, or urban community, CCM explores public policy objectives for the common good,” DeLong wrote. “CCM is the catalyst in ensuring that the collective aspirations are met. We strive for a stronger education system, for safer streets, for quality jobs, and for better opportunities to efficiently meet the needs of taxpayers.”

Behavioral targeting uses information collected from an individual’s web-browsing behavior to select advertisements to display. This technology helps CCM get our message in front of the right audience.

As evidence of that, DeLong pointed to the BEST – Bringing Every Stakeholder Together – event that CCM co-sponsored with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) and the state AFL-CIO. The event, he noted, provided an opportunity “to remove political barriers and focus on common solutions to help propel Connecticut forward. The work of the summit’s participants resulted in the recommendation of over 20 key policy proposals for state leaders to consider.”

CCM’s rebranding campaign — complete with its statewide media push — is on its way to driving home the importance of how the largest nonpartisan, statewide association of towns and cities is an advocate for local taxpayers everywhere.

“We are not divided,” DeLong wrote, “but united in the trust and common goals to make Connecticut a better place.”

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 7

Towns to advocate local priorities at CCM’s annual “Day On The Hill” at State Capitol

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CM’s annual “Day on the Hill” at the State Capitol in Hartford is always a busy day with a big turnout of municipal officials. More than 70 local mayors, selectmen, town managers, and other officials turned out last year for an issues-laden morning discussion with top legislative leaders. This year, CCM will be taking a different approach by making it more open and inclusive by encouraging all state legislators to attend.

the Hill events where only legislative leaders attended.

While the day-of details are still being determined, the change in venue and format will hopefully engage the legislature at a greater level regarding various municipal issues.

Save The Date!

March 1, 2016

The event will start off with an informal legislative breakfast being held in the Old Judiciary Room of the State Capitol between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM. This will be an opportunity for CCM members to enjoy coffee and breakfast while discussing important legislative issues impacting towns and cities with their delegation members, various committee leadership, and legislative leaders. This deviates from prior Day on

8 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2016

Following the breakfast, CCM will host a press conference to highlight important priorities and legislative issues.

CCM is encouraging all members to attend this important event. As this is a critical legislative session, the opportunity to have discussions with legislators will help advance the efforts of CCM. Before attending, contact your legislative delegation members to inform them of the event. While CCM will be making formal invitations, your contact with them and explaining that you will be there, will reiterate the importance of the event and that their attendance would be appreciated.

Spring Emergency Management Symposium

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ach spring, CCM co-sponsors the Connecticut Emergency Management Symposium, a much anticipated event that attracts hundreds of local public safety officials and others responsible for responding to mass emergencies.

The Symposium is the only statewide municipal government event that offers a full day of informative workshops, interactive discussions, networking opportunities, and dozens of vendors showcasing relevant products and services at the all-day trade show.

Save The Date!

April 28, 2016 The 11th Annual Connecticut Emergency Management Symposium is taking place on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at the Radisson Hotel in Cromwell.

Co-sponsored by CCM, the CT Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, DEMHS, and the CT Department of Public Health, DPH, the event grows larger each year and is FREE for municipal, local, and state officials! Attendance is limited to the first 400 registrants and registration is required.

You can register online at ccm-ct.org or to purchase a booth space contact Kevin Maloney kmaloney@ccm-ct.org or (203)498-3025 for more information.

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FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 9

A M E SSAGE FRO M TH E

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Public Policy and Advocacy

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eveloping, influencing and advocating for effective public policy by working collaboratively with our member towns is one of CCM’s most important missions.

The staff of our Public Policy and Advocacy Division works with our member officials to advocate municipal positions and to help us speak with one voice – at the legislature, at the education funding discussions, at wherever an issue important to our municipalities is at stake.

Each of our four Divisions — Government Relations, Public Policy and Advocacy, Member Services, and Communications and Member Relations — plays a critical, interconnected role in achieving our goal of championing municipal interests.

The last several issues of CT&C have featured one of our Division Directors outlining the services and programs of their division and their goals and plans for new or enhanced services over the next year. In this issue, CCM Deputy Director Ron Thomas and Advocacy Managers, Michael Muszynski and Randy Collins, outline the programs and goals of the fourth division — Public Policy and Advocacy — and what the division plans to achieve over the next year.

Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director

Member input, thorough preparation essential in forming public policy

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ners and aggressive marketing, CCM advocacy will continue to strongly represent the best interests of our members in both Hartford and Washington.

We began to frame policy issues immediately after the last legislation session and continued that work throughout the summer. The past six months have been marked by thoroughly engaging members for their input and ideas most important to our communities. In August, we distributed a legislative survey to solicit recommendations and enhanced that process through the Town Liaison program.

During September and October our policy committees met, discussed, and recommended legislative concepts for our annual program while our advocacy staff researched and developed legislative proposals.

In the final three months of 2015, our Legislative Committee and board thoughtfully discussed those legislative proposals and ultimately approved the annual Legislative Program. Once we published the program in advance of the first day of session, CCM staff distributed it to all legislators and began meeting with leadership to continue building strong relationships and to ensure that policymakers would have a clear understanding of the issues throughout the session.

The process also included broader policy outreach.

We made sure that municipal associations (see related story) were included in policy committees. We reached out to other CCM groups, such as the Urban Caucus and other working groups, for additional input.

Our direct advocacy this session means we will continue to be the eyes and ears of members – in our efforts to provide wall-to-wall coverage. We review bills to determine their impact on your community, closely following their progress through the bill tracking system. CCM staff monitors all hearings and meetings, prepares testimony and coordinates with members who will present the testimony. If a municipal leader is unavailable, CCM staff is more than ready to testify on your behalf.

ong before the gavel banged open the 2016 General Assembly session, CCM was busy building our platform of public policy, one that we fully expect to resonate loudly and clearly with one voice – your voice.

Lobbying efforts include drafting committee and legislative memos, vote counts and the all-important oneon-one conversations with lawmakers. CCM advocacy events during the session, such as “Day on the Hill”, will help amplify our members’ message.

It has always been your voice that helped shape public policy and together with our rebranding effort, part-

But our role doesn’t end when the session does. We will maintain a year-round presence at the Capitol.

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CCM’s relationship with state agencies continues to further our policy priorities. We participate in numerous working groups and task forces.

During election years, we help develop candidate bulletins that focus on municipal issues and we support members’ services in year-round workshops and conventions.

The importance of communicating all of this to our members – clearly and regularly – cannot be overstated. And we have many tools in the box to help get that done, including: •

Advocacy Guide

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Issuing specific Bulletins to members

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Legislative Committee and Board meetings

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Legislative Alerts

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Reports (Capitol, Mandates, Priority Bill list)

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Annual Report of the General Assembly

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Targeted phone calls and emails to members

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Council of Government meetings

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Town visits

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Meetings with Associations and other groups

With increased frequency of certain reports and prioritized alerts, CCM is enhancing member outreach. Part of our outreach and education is aimed at helping members strengthen their own outreach efforts and engagement with their lawmakers. We want to ensure that you are armed with the most correct and succinct information to pass along to your delegation.

As you can tell, CCM staff has been preparing long before the first day of the legislative session. And although the 2016 session may be the “short” one, you can be certain that we have gone to great lengths to help ensure that it will be a successful one.

CCM JOB BANK Current Listings: Civil Engineer TOWN of GROTON, CT

Town Manager ENFIELD, CT

Economic Development Director NEW MILFORD, CT

Director of Planning RIDGEFIELD, CT

Regional Program Assistant NECCOG

Risk Management Consultant CIRMA

Underwriter - Commercial Line CIRMA

Vice President of Claims CIRMA

Ron Thomas, CCM Deputy Director Michael Muszynski, Advocacy Manager Randy Collins, Advocacy Manager

To place or view an ad, please visit the CCM Municipal Job Bank at http://ccm-ct.org

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 11

CCM Meets With Municipal Associations To Coordinate Legislative Priorities

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CM again convened its annual major coordinating meeting in mid-January with over 30 key representatives of municipal associations from across the range of town-hall department directors, as well as key organizations representing boards of education.

The intent of the meeting was to share and discuss each organization’s legislative agenda for the 2016 General Assembly session and to ensure a coordinated effort – led by CCM as the umbrella organization on advocacy for all the groups.

All the groups agreed that the overarching priority for the legislative session is to do no harm to towns and cities and their municipal departments regarding the current level of state aid and not to impose any unfunded state mandates on towns and municipal departments, including education.

Organizations that participated include the CT Youth Services Association, CT Association of Public School Superintendents, CT Association of Urban Superintendents, CT Association of School Business Officials, CT

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Association of Boards of Education, CT Animal Control Officers Association, CT Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions, CT Recreation and Parks Association, CT Public Employer Labor Relations Association, CT Association of Housing Code Enforcement Officials, CT Association of Zoning Enforcement Officers, CT Association of Street & Highway Officials, CT Association of Housing Code Enforcement Officials, and CT Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Also, CT Government Finance Officers Association, CT Building Officials Association, CT Economic Development Association, CT Federation of Planning & Zoning Agencies, CT Town Clerks Association, CT Association of Municipal Attorneys, CT Association of Registrars of Voters, CT Library Association, Government Management Information Sciences, Public Purchasing Association of CT, Public Risk Management Association CT Chapter, CT Local Administrators of Social Services, CT Association of Directors of Health, CT Career Fire Chiefs’ Association, and CT Fire Marshals’ Association.

CCM Freezes Member Dues Again Now even more value for your dues dollar

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or the sixth year out of the last seven, CCM is freezing membership dues at the current level for the next year so CCM members will again have a zero percent increase in their annual dues. Here is the text of the memo sent in January to member CEOs and finance directors from Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director and Ron Thomas, CCM Deputy Director: “CCM is again pleased to announce that THERE WILL BE NO [0%] CCM DUES INCREASE FOR FY 2016-17.

The dues amount you are paying CCM for this fiscal year will remain the same for next fiscal year. CCM is taking this action to continue to be very sensitive to the fiscal challenges facing our towns and cities. This also will mark the sixth year out of the last seven that CCM members have had a zero percent increase in their annual dues. CCM has learned to do more with less.

“With the State’s on-going fiscal challenges, it is more important than ever that towns and cities stick together under the CCM banner to present a unified message on behalf of Connecticut local governments.

“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 158 member municipalities. We come together for one common mission – to improve everyday life for every resident of Connecticut.

fective advocacy and invaluable research and information services, to our free training, 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 2016 to protect the interests of your local government and your taxpayers. Thank you for your continued support of CCM. “

“CCM’s unparalleled services — from our top-flight, ef-

CCM Annual Convention

November 14-15, 2016 at Foxwoods Resort Casino

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he best just got better and the biggest just got bigger. The CCM Annual Convention — will now be two jam-packed days of all things municipal with the largest audience of local government leaders in Connecticut — because CCM is changing the Convention to a multi-day format.

For the first time ever, CCM is holding the Convention at a destination location — Foxwoods Resort Casino.

The two-day 2016 Annual Convention promises to be bigger and better in every way. For the first time, the CCM Annual Convention will have partners, including chambers of commerce, the Connecticut Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives (CACCE), and other community stakeholders.

So clear your calendar now for CCM’s Annual Convention and Exposition on November 14-15, 2016!

You will still be able to network with a wide range of professionals in municipal and state government and

the business community, learn cutting edge management skills in two dozen workshops and explore the exhibit hall filled with 150 vendors ready to provide solutions for your municipal challenges. But now you’ll be able to do it for two days!

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 13

The National League of Cities’ 2016 Congressional City Conference March 5-9, Washington, D.C.

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ach year, more than a thousand municipal leaders from towns and cities across the nation attend the NLC’s Congressional Cities Conference, which provides town leaders the opportunity to discuss how federal policy issues impact local communities and outline municipal priorities for federal action.

The conference provides an opportunity for local elected officials to meet with Congressional and Administration officials on issues affecting the state/federal relationship. With the Congressional session just getting underway, the conference gives attendees the chance to tell their senators and representatives what is important in their own communities.

Municipal leaders will hear directly from policy makers and thought leaders on the issues that matter this election year. Attendees will get up to speed on the federal policies that affect towns and cities, the latest funding opportunities, and emerging practices while becoming informed about infrastructure, public safety, community resilience, and federal regulations.

Local leaders need to stay up-to-date on the latest government and political news affecting towns and cities and attendees will hear directly from Administration officials about the federal laws that will impact their communities.

The conference will include a wide range of cutting-edge, public policy and municipal-management workshops including: •

Federal Agency Round Robin - small group discussions with Administration officials

•

Revitalizing Brownfields – hear from Congressional leaders about modernizing the EPA’s Brownfields program

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Federal Advocacy 101 – learn how to advocate for your town or city

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NLC Executive Director Clarence Anthony at the 2015 Congressional City Conference.

•

Safe Streets: The Vision Zero Action Plan - hear from experts who have successfully implemented Vision Zero policies

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Five Years of Funding: The New Transportation Bill – discuss what the FAST Act means for cities and towns

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The City’s Role in Climate Change – discuss the Administration’s Clean Power Plan

Special activities for Connecticut municipal officials include a breakfast meeting with Connecticut’s Congressional Delegation inside the U.S. Capitol building; strategic meetings with Congressional members to talk about municipal priorities for federal action; a policy caucus to plan for meetings with CT’s U.S. Senators; and a CCM-sponsored dinner meeting for Connecticut municipal delegates.

& QA

Grant Writing How should municipalities approach grant writing?

The first step is finding out who will handle your grant writing needs, what types of grants are available to your municipality, and which of those grants would meet your municipality’s needs. Large municipalities tend to have an in-house grant writer or administrator to apply for grants. Smaller municipalities may assign grant-writing duties to other employees. Some municipalities also contract out for grant-writing.

What types of grants are available to municipalities?

There are a number of State and Federal Grants available to municipalities. Grants, such as the Small Towns Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) and Community Development Block Grant, can be used for a wide array of projects. Some examples include economic community development projects, such as rehabilitating commercial structures, infrastructure construction and repair, recreation, and solid waste disposal projects. Connecticut State agencies that commonly administer grants to municipalities include the Office of Policy and Management, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Department of Agriculture.

What are the most common pitfalls in grant writing?

The most common pitfall for municipalities applying for grant funding is failing to allocate enough time to complete the application and provide all necessary documentation to the grant administrator by the grant announcement deadline. Many grants require a great deal of research and supporting documentation of need and qualification for the grant. When municipalities attempt to file a rushed application in order to meet a deadline they often disqualify themselves by omitting required documents or filing an incomplete application.

Diligent research into the grant’s purpose and application process is key. This will ensure that you do not waste time applying for grants for which your municipality may not qualify. Being thoroughly informed of, and properly complying with, administrative requirements will help speed up the decision-making process on your grant application, getting you the funds you need in a more timely fashion. A list of key contacts, including the individual or office with decision-making authority on your grant, as well as administrative staffers who will help move your application along in the process, will be a handy tool.

Where can I get more information on grants?

CCM is now able to offer our member municipalities a significantly reduced rate for the GrantFinder service provided by EfficientGov - the leading provider of information to municipal organizations in the United States. This service will be of great help to you and your municipality in your search for funding of projects. For more information on this service, please visit http://www.ccm-ct.org/grantfinder-tool.

What are some suggestions for applying for grants?

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 15

CIRMA CIRMA’s 35th Annual Meeting of Members Building on success, looking forward to continuing stability

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avid Demchak, CIRMA President and Chief Executive Officer, reported on the success of CIRMA and its members at its 35th Annual Meeting in January. Over 200 municipal and school leaders attended the event. Highlights include: •

Aggregates rate need for the upcoming 2016-17 year are 0.0% and 0.0% for the Workers’ Compensation and Liability-Auto-Property pools—the second consecutive year of zero increase in rate-need for both pools. The average rate need for the pools has been held well below 1% for past six years.

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Total Premiums increased 5.4% to reach $91 Million in 2014-15, a new high. Total Assets reached $326 million, also a new high.

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Total membership increased to 386 in 2014-15, another new high; the five-year average renewal rate exceeded 99%.

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A $2.5 million Members’ Equity Distribution was declared in 2014-15 and delivered in July of 2015, bringing the total Equity Distributions to $11.5 million in five years.

•

CIRMA broke records in the development and delivery of high quality services and programs. Over 5,500 member employees participated in CIRMA training and education programs in 2014-15 and its new E-Learning Center was launched. CIRMA’s CIRMAcare™ program delivered outstanding care and cost containment services to members. Total managed care savings was just over $21 million, representing a reduction in rate need of about 25%.

The results show that CIRMA has the financial strength to deliver value and rate stability year after year.

“CIRMA’s financial strength and balanced growth allows it to absorb market volatility, while continuing to provide stable, pricing, and value-added programs,” noted Demchak. He also noted that 2014-15 saw reductions in the frequency and severity of losses in both pools. The reductions were especially notable in light of the recent growth in membership and reflects the successful implementation of risk management best practices by CIRMA members.

Demchak also reported that CIRMA’s organizational and operational strength and expertise continues to grow. In 2014-15, CIRMA completed a major milestone with the launch of new automation systems, providing improved communication, efficiencies, and data management for better decision-making by CIRMA and its members.

A look forward CIRMA is pursuing organizational change to ensure that it remains strongly positioned and ready to meet 16 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2016

David Demchak adresses over 200 municipal and school leaders at CIRMA’s 35th Annual Meeting.

its members’ needs. Demchak described CIRMA’s multi-year, organizational-wide strategic initiatives in place to improve the members’ experience. The initiatives include new coverages for Drones and Cyber Risk, a managed care expansion, new analytical reporting tools for members, a new capital management systems, new risk management products and services, and professional development goals.

The significance of CIRMA’s achievements for the year lies not in its outstanding numbers, but in the tremendous value that CIRMA is able to deliver to its members. Its growth in membership and financial strength enable CIRMA to provide long-term rate stability.

CIRMA’s program development expertise enables it to deliver sophisticated services and improved tools that address new trends.

These value-added coverage programs and services help CIRMA members to reduce liability, contain costs, while providing them the financial security and capacity they need to provide a broader range of services to their communities.

CIRMA is a unique organization dedicated to meeting the diverse risk management and insurance needs of Connecticut’s municipalities, public schools, and local public agencies. At a time of increased market volatility and uncertain state funding, the year 2014-15’s achievements help ensure that CIRMA is strongly positioned to serve its members, helping their communities to grow and thrive long into the future, a value beyond price.

View the President’s Report at www.cirma.org

CIRMA New CIRMA Board Members

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IRMA’s Board of Directors and Committees play an important role providing direction, guidance, and oversight for CIRMA’s operations and for the development of services focused on the unique needs of CIRMA members.

Barbara Henry

Every year at its January Annual Meeting of Members, CIRMA members elect a new Board of Directors for the year. Barbara Henry, First Selectman of Roxbury and CIRMA Chairman of the Board, put forward the nominees for 2016 for a voice vote during the business meeting portion of the event.

The newly elected board members for 2016 are: Mark Boughton, Danbury Susan Bransfield, Portland Robert M. Congdon, Preston John Elsesser, Coventry Matthew B. Galligan, South Windsor Toni Harp, New Haven Barbara Henry, Roxbury Catherine Iino, Killingworth – New 2016 Curt Leng, Hamden – New 2016

Leo Paul, Litchfield Lisa Pellegrini, Somers Herbert C. Rosenthal, Newtown Scott Shanley, Manchester – New 2016 Mark Walter, East Haddam Steven Werbner, Tolland

Pamela Keyes named Vice President for new Risk Management & Business Analytics unit

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uilding on CIRMA’s data analytics and risk management strengths, Pamela Keyes has been named Vice President for Risk Management & Business Analytics, a new core functional unit within CIRMA. Keyes will lead the planning, developing, directing, and implementing of risk management services and the coordination and delivery of all business analytics programs and strategic automation initiatives.

Keyes has over 30 years’ experience in Property & Casualty coverage in both the municipal and commercial markets. She joined CIRMA’s Workers’ Compensation Claims team in 1997, rising to Claims Manager in 2002. In 2005 she led CIRMA’s award-winning iVOS implementation, and in 2012 she became the Business Analytics Manager, leading CIRMA’s data analysis function to ensure consistency and integration between all core operations. Most recently, Keyes led the implementation of CIRMA’s state-of-the-art Predictive Modeling program for improved claims management. Keyes is a graduate of Sacred Heart University and a certified Business Analyst.

Worker’s Compensation Online Reporting

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ith the launch of the Netclaim online claims reporting portal back in 2013, CIRMA set a big goal: full online for all non-catastrophic Workers’ Compensation claims.

By moving away from phone reporting, CIRMA estimates a cost savings of over $100,000 each year. However, with online reporting the real savings comes from having more accurate claims information

18 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2016

promptly reported to CIRMA. As of February 2016, the number of registered reporters has grown from 154 to 1,590 and online reporting rates have tripled.

Now more than 85% of claims are reported online.

In addition to claim cost savings to CIRMA members, the intuitive and user friendly web portal reduces that amount of time required to report a claim by the member. CIRMA urges its Workers’ Compensation members to register all of their claims reporters to report online.

Contact sgaffney@ccm-ct.org to register.

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Some Assembly Required

January 4, 2016

By Dale Bruckhart, V.P. Public Sector Marketing, Digital BackOffice

W

ith the Christmas season behind us and the frustration of assembling gifts left under the tree still fresh in mind, let’s take a look at purchasing information technology (IT) when “some assembly is required”.

Public bidding is of course required by statute to ensure that our tax dollars are spent judiciously and legally. IT bid documents and specifications are prepared by business managers, purchasing agents, technology directors, consultants, attorneys or they may be a collaborative effort by all. The business terms and conditions are often standard, but the hardware and software descriptions and specifications are often quite detailed with brand, model and part numbers provided for easy pricing and response.

Why do many IT bid specifications end with “Quote Installation and Configuration” and provide zero or little detailed description of the expectation, qualifications or metrics for the installation?

Some requests for proposal do require the winning bidder to show proof of hardware or software resale authorization by the manufacturer or certification, but differentiating qualified IT vendors 20 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2016

requires more than a certificate. Here are several suggestions which may improve the procurement process, separate qualified from unqualified vendors and improve the performance and reliability of your network infrastructure.

Provide Logical Network Design Goals with the Bid Specifications

Don’t expect the winning vendor to configure network IT infrastructure hardware such as switches, routers, firewalls, and servers unless you have provided prospective bidders with the logical network design objectives and the IP addressing scheme as a component of the equipment specifications. Without the details on what’s expected of the winning bidder the vendor will often assign a junior, less experienced engineer to a job to lower the cost of labor. That means on the job training for the assigned technician, potential cost overruns or worse. If the existing or new logical network design does not accommodate the new network hardware, legacy network hardware, applications or address concerns about security and growth, the installation of network components may result in complete network failure or recurring network problems.

Bid specifications should provide bidders with the logical network design details and implementation plan parameters for minimizing network downtime and recovering from a potential network failure.

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Better yet, contract for the logical network design separately or engage a qualified consultant or managed service provider to review the logical network plan, IP addressing scheme and the implementation plan.

What does “installation” mean?

Equipment installation may include some or all of the following but don’t assume that the bidder knows what you expect or need, so spell it out. The last item is critical to every installation and should be required on every IT bid request. If the engineer/vendor leaves your site without providing this information you may be locked out of accessing the equipment in the future to make changes.

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Removing equipment from packaging and mount in existing cabinet, rack or shelf.

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Providing aforesaid cabinet, rack or shelf.

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Assembling optional modules, power supplies, or interfaces on the equipment.

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Configuring equipment with a name and IP address provided by buyer.

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Connecting patch cords between equipment and data cabling infrastructure.

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Connecting equipment power supplies to buyer provided power source preferably an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

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Loading or updating the Operating System on the equipment.

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Configuring the equipment according to the aforementioned logical network design and acceptance plan.

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Removing and/or disposing of obsolete equipment.

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Pre-staging and/or burn-in of equipment on the bench or offsite.

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Project acceptance and as-built documentation to include a network diagram, IP addresses, OS version, passwords, serial numbers, current equipment configuration, start-up test results, warranty status, technical contact and business contact information.

On large, complex projects a project manager may be needed to coordinate the installation with the owner’s representative, the technology department, tradesman, the internet service provider, etc.

Don’t assume a project manager is included with every installation.

Is the equipment manufacturer or the bidder going to support the IT infrastructure installation and/or the post-installation?

Equipment manufacturers provide warranties ranging from 90 days to lifetime, and maintenance contracts with a variety of coverage options and prices. The project contract and acceptance, however, is often between the buyer and the systems integrator or equipment

reseller. In fact, the manufacturer may not support equipment that has been improperly configured, installed unsafely or in a manner which conflicts with industry protocols and standards. When a network is made up of components from multiple manufacturers, finger pointing between vendors may exacerbate network installation problems and potential failures.

A detailed acceptance plan needs to be included with the bid specifications to ensure that the network is working properly and that equipment has been installed according to the logical network design and the manufacturer or industry best practices. The acceptance plan should spell out the process for testing every device, application and operating system with the new network equipment preferably in a manner which will not affect the production environment.

Look for experience, depth, references and consider managed services.

Administrators can expect infrequent network service interruptions, because IT infrastructure is complex, susceptible to power outages, equipment failure, human error and external network factors. Setting a network service level goal and response time expectation raises the bar for employees, budgets and vendors. Managed service providers may own and lease back some portion of the network infrastructure including equipment, technical support, logical network/security administration, and refresh the network components every 60 months with an SLA. Managed network infrastructure services will alter IT budgeting and procurement practices as the IT industry moves towards managed/cloud services and longer term agreements.

Equipment resellers are not managed IT service providers. Managed IT service providers add value with experienced employees and trouble-shooting processes, network operation facilities to support your service level goal 24x7, network management software tools and the ability to manage the logical network infrastructure remotely as well as on-site. If you have any doubt about a vendor’s claims, check out the references, visit the vendor’s network operations center or request a SOC report.

Choosing the right vendor to install, configure and manage your network infrastructure is critical to the delivery of 21st century electronic communications. Providing detailed installation and configuration requirements in bid specifications will significantly improve the quality of IT services and ultimately network infrastructure performance.

Dale Bruckhart is Vice President for Public Sector Sales & Marketing, Advanced Corporate Networking, d.b.a, Digital BackOffice. He can be reached at 203-874-5545 Ext. 118 or by email at daleb@digitalbackoffice.com. Visit the website at www. digitalbackoffice.com

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 21

CIVIC AMENITIES Game Changer

All-purpose turf field coming to Guilford

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uilford officials are turning a temporary parking lot at the high school into a synthetic turf athletic field, a project targeted for completion in time for the 2016-17 school year.

With the price tag expected to be under $1 million, the field will be used as an all-purpose practice field for the high school and will also be available for town use.

Mary Beeman, a member of the high school building committee, said the field will be roughly the size of a soccer field but can be used for a variety of sports.

“Gym classes and just about any field sport will be able to use the field for practices and games,” she said, “perhaps excluding javelin, discus, and shot put, which will most likely be held on the lower natural turf field, between the new artificial turf field and the existing football stadium.”

While practices on grass fields are often canceled due to rainy conditions, the synthetic surface will allow sports teams to practice despite the weather. Committee member Scott Pickney says Guilford athletes will now have the same “edge” as other schools with similar fields.

The field will have a layer of cushioning material beneath the turf for safety. One thing the field will not have, however, is lights. The building committee took into account neighbors’ concerns about light pollution.

“We are trying our best to be sensitive to the homes across the street from the school,” Beeman says, noting the committee is looking into lighting alternatives for other parts of the campus. “Some of us on the committee are hoping we can either change out fixtures, or add shades to re-direct the light.”

“There are other towns that are already practicing for lacrosse and they can do that because they have multiple turf fields,” Pickney says. “It’s a huge advantage over a lot of towns.”

22 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2016

First Steps

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Ridgefield has big designs on walkable neighborhood

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he results of an online survey and an intense three-day public planning discussion, or charrette, are in. Ridgefield residents envision the Branchville section of town as a quaint, walkable district with restaurants and apartments.

The neighborhood spans parts of Redding and Wilton and is located along the Norwalk River. Town Planner Betty Brosius says development is prohibited within the floodway and therefore residential units must be elevated.

To get there, however, the town must tackle some basic needs, such as lack of sewers and building near a flood plain.

“Business and retail uses may be permitted in the flood plain if certain flood-proofing measures are taken during construction, which might then allow residential uses on the second floor,” Brosius said.

Consultants, hired with a federal grant managed by the Western Connecticut COG, recently presented those findings and more on how best to develop that section of town, which lies along Route 7 and is served by the Danbury-Norwalk branch of Metro-North.

“We’re trying to do a study that helps Branchville find its future destiny,” said John Chew, COG project manager.

The study was eligible for a federal grant because of the neighborhood’s status as a railroad stop and its findings can help the town secure future federal and state dollars for road and streetscape improvements.

Providing enough sewer capacity presents another hurdle. The nearest sewage treatment plant is in Redding’s Georgetown section and capacity there is currently allocated to property that will be developed in the next 10 years, Brosius said.

Despite the initial hurdles, First Selectman Rudy Marconi sees the vision as becoming a reality in 10 to 15 years.

“On the sewer, part of our effort is to find out what if we did an on-site system,” Marconi said. “Branchville has tremendous potential to become an even better community than what it is today.”

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 23

GOVERNANCE Green Conservation

Town takes steps to protect iconic Bethlehem Green

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ethlehem’s picturesque Town Green, like the centers of countless towns and villages large and small throughout New England, has been a focal point and gathering place for centuries of residents and visitors.

Now the Board of Selectmen has taken steps to protect the Green by approving formal regulations governing its use. Following the rules proposed by the Historic District Commission last November, the new guidelines include limiting the use of the Green and its gazebo to individuals or nonprofit organizations — with preference given to residents of Bethlehem — and prohibiting alcohol and open fires on the Green for any event.

In addition, applications for use of the Bethlehem Town Green must be submitted to the town clerk four weeks in advance of proposed events and approved applicants will be responsible for cleanup. If the cleanup is deemed

insufficient by the town, the applicant may be billed.

The Bethlehem Green has been the center of the community for more than two hundred years. The historic community center surrounding the green, with its town government buildings, churches, and 18th- and 19th-century houses, is one of the most iconic historic districts in Connecticut.

The Bethlehem Green Historic District encompasses approximately 70 acres with 36 historically significant structures including six 18th-century Greek Revival homes In the immediate vicinity of the green as well as the imposing, 3-1/2-story, clapboard house built by the Rev. Joseph Bellamy in 1760 which stands at the top of the green.

The Bethlehem Green Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Legal Beagles

Darien stepping up enforcement of unlicensed dogs

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arien is hounding dog owners to get their pets licensed. After nearly 20 percent of the 2,370 dogs on record had expired tags by the end 2015, Animal Control officials planned to begin ticketing owners early this year.

Connecticut law requires that dogs six months and older be licensed in their towns by June 30 of each year. Animal control officials send reminders and follow-up letters to owners to urge them to get their dogs licensed. But sometimes that isn’t even enough.

“Having a license is like a get out of jail free card”

“This is kind of the final warning to get the dogs licensed,” Animal Control Officer Chip Stahl said. “I know people are busy during the summer and I don’t just bust out writing tickets but it is important.”

And it can also be expensive for the owners. Fines for failing to license can add up with an initial $75 fine for an unlicensed dog and a $136 fine for failing to get a rabies vaccine. Dogs that are unlicensed and found roaming are impounded at a kennel in Norwalk. To spring Fido, owners are then faced with paying a $15 impound fee plus $35 a day for boarding.

Owners also run the risk of being arrested if they fail to pay or don’t show up to court when fined. Once fined, owners have 10 days to register the dog.

24 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2016

It’s a lot less costly to pay the $8 fee for a spayed or neutered dog and $19 for an intact dog. But for those folks who haven’t done it yet, they’ll be hearing from Darien Animal Control soon.

“It’s a time-consuming job to ensure all the dogs are licensed but it’s important to make sure all dogs are licensed,” Stahl said. “Having a license is like a get out of jail free card because if I find a licensed dog I can get them back home where they belong and have an assurance their shots are up to date.”

GOVERNANCE

Madison Makeover

New website keeps the conversation going

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s Winter Storm Jonas blew up the coast last month, alerts from the town of Madison were evidenced by a bright red flashing light on the town’s new website.

The makeover, which offers more interactive features, went live just days before the storm. By clicking on the flashing icon, citizens could quickly learn of all the closings, cancellations, and rescheduled events.

First Selectman Tom Banisch says the new website is designed to be more engaging and user-friendly and will enhance transparency. Residents now have the ability to create an online profile that allows them to subscribe to email and text message notifications for news, events, and meeting reminders.

A website message soliciting visitors to create a profile invites them to “Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.”

The website will also have the capability for users to watch certain meetings on demand. The website, in a sense, will allow the town to have an ongoing conversation with residents and business owners. Banisch said he is excited about the possibilities and engaging the public.

“I want to do a newsletter,” he explained. “Like a Constant Contact email service kind of thing so people can opt in for that or opt out if they want and hopefully I’ll be able to get the word out to a lot of people about a lot of things that are going on in town.”

In this day and age of e-commerce, town officials are also hopeful that more features will be added to allow citizens to obtain some permits online.

“So instead of having to come in here, you can just go online, apply for it, pay for it, and then the process starts,” Banisch said.

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 25

ENERGY

Shining Examples Three towns turn to solar for a greener future

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hat nature provides, the town of Easton is embracing – specifically solar power.

The recent installation of 950 solar panels in a field near the elementary school is expected to provide about half of the schools electricity needs.

“Farming the sun” as officials say makes great sense especially in this farming community.

“What intrigues me is the ability to get electricity from nature,” said Clean Energy Task Force Member Carroll Brooke.

Using more clean energy sources has been in the works since the town signed the Clean Energy Municipal 26 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2016

Pledge to cut municipal energy usage by 20 percent by 2018. The new solar farm is an important step in reaching that goal. Brooke says the project will account for 15 percent of the town’s total energy use. Since 2012, Easton has reduced energy usage by 8 percent.

The town did not forge ahead with the project without some indication that it would be successful. There was already a test strip of solar panels at the school that the town received as an award from the state.

Rather than add more panels on the roof as originally planned, the nearly 130 acres surrounding the school, including a large open and sunny field, proved to be a “beautiful spot” to install the solar farm, officials say.

ENERGY “The strip has demonstrated that the site is much more productive than anticipated,” Brooke said.

Once fully operational, the electricity generated from the solar farm will power the school’s system and any excess will feed back into the grid. The school will be able to get credit on its electricity bills.

First Selectman Adam Dunsby praised the work of the Task Force and others in moving the project from “dream to reality.”

“The project will meet half the school’s electricity needs at a price that’s less than we pay now, and that will be fixed for the next 20 years,” Dunsby said.

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airfield will soon be soaking up some rays and bringing in some savings. The town recently approved leases for five solar-energy projects which will install solar panels on the roofs of town-owned buildings throughout town, a win-win that will cost the town nothing while saving local taxpayers about $28,000 each year in electricity costs.

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orth Haven is one of many Connecticut towns now ready to reap the benefits of solar energy because it was also one of the first.

A solar installation is underway at a long-empty landfill in town and by spring it will be generating power and providing energy to one of the town’s biggest electricity users — its sewage treatment plant.

“This is a project we started working on about three and a half years ago,” said First Selectman Michael Freda. “At the time we entered into the contract, we were one of only three or four municipalities in the state that moved forward with this.”

“Now other municipalities are looking into it,” he said.

“It’s a wonderful way to establish more solar power and offset energy costs and save the taxpayers a significant amount of money over the long term.”

The panels are expected to save $1.2 million over the life of the 17-year contract.

Freda said identifying underutilized or dormant land space in town and finding a productive use for it has been a top priority and the old town landfill which was shut down decades ago was identified as part of that process.

“What intrigues me is the ability to get electricity from nature,” -Clean Energy Task Force Member Carroll Brooke

The solar arrays at the Riverfield School, the maintenance building at the H. Smith Richardson Golf Course, the Jennings Road fire station, the Fairfield Woods Branch Library, and the town’s trash transfer station will be installed for free by solar-energy contractors who in turn will receive federal tax incentives. In addition, the town has agreed to buy electricity at a reduced rate for 20 years.

One concern local officials heard from residents about the project related to the impact of the installations on the integrity of the roofs of the various buildings.

Assistant Public Works Director Ed Boman said roof systems are not installed if the roof itself cannot be warrantied, unless the town already has plans to repair the roof. Boman explained that none of the five projects penetrate a building’s roof while Town Attorney Stanton Lesser said he believes the leases “are in the town’s best interests and would have no impact on existing roof warranties.”

As part of the town’s ongoing efforts to go green, Fairfield also recently approved an $18,000 Clean Energy Communities Program grant to lease an electric vehicle, purchase two electric charging stations from United Illuminating, and buy LED lightbulbs which save on energy costs.

The town negotiated a power purchase agreement that locked power costs over a 1520 year period at a price that is much cheaper than current utility rates.

The new solar array will produce 0.384 megawatts, but the town’s goal is to eventually create a one-megawatt operation at the landfill.

“My longer term goal is to increase this site to a one-megawatt facility, and the goal beyond that is to expand beyond one megawatt,” Freda said. “The by-product of those goals will be to create more virtual meter networks to other buildings that the town owns to offset energy costs and save taxpayers’ dollars.”

The Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) is located next to the former landfill so it made sense to use the power there.

“The treatment plant is a tremendous energy user because it accepts sewage from across the town and then transfers that into clean water and there’s a great deal of energy expended during that process,” he said, “So the solar park will be metered to the Water Pollution Control Authority to help offset some of those energy costs.”

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 27

ENVIRONMENT The Little Trail That Could Rails becoming trails in Portland

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n old rail line is getting a new life in Portland as the steering committee established to develop the Air Line trail through the town is moving forward with plans to open about twomiles of the route to public access.

The trail is part of the old New York and New England Railroad that once provided service from New York to Boston before low ridership forced its closure and the eventual abandonment of the line in the 1960s.

The State then developed the right of way as a bridle path and in recent years other towns along the trail have developed sections for walking, hiking, and biking and developed portions of the trail now dot the trail route from East Hampton to Thompson.

In 2014, The Portland Board of Selectmen appointed a committee to “organize, guide, and support a larger group of citizen volunteers in activities to build public support for the Air Line trail and develop specific plans for trail access.”

The steering committee and a group of volunteers in Portland Mech-Jacobson Ad:Layout 1

Jacobson

3/3/14

have been working with local officials to develop their sections of the trail with the goal of connecting to the East Hampton section. The town has also been working with Eversource on an access agreement to develop more than two miles of the trail.

The agreement with Eversource would allow the town to put down a base of crushed stone and stone dust to make the trail safer and more accessible and it would protect Eversource from claims filed by those who might injure themselves 8:13 AM

while using the trail.

“We have the template of an agreement,” said First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield.

The steering committee recently conducted a four-mile roundtrip public hike to introduce residents to the Portland section of the trail.

Volunteers led the hike, which was designed to provide information about the trail and gain public input about its future.

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HOUSING Out With The Old

Old Saybrook adds affordable housing stock with new residential development

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t has been addition by subtraction on North Main Street in Old Saybrook where a former motel has been demolished to prepare the 10.8 acre site for the construction of a new residential rental development called Post and Main.

a diverse community for young and old, providing senior citizens a chance to live independently in the towns where they have lived their whole lives, and providing young families opportunities to live in towns where they may have been raised.

Now that the trees and brush have been cleared, a development of eight three-story buildings comprised of 186 one- and two-bedroom apartments will begin to rise on the parcel. Because the development is in a town-designated Incentive Housing Zone (IHZ), twenty percent of the rental apartments will be set aside as affordable units.

Eighty percent or 149 of the 186 new apartment units will be rented at market rates while twenty percent — 37 of the 186 units — will be designated as affordable housing.

Local officials have long recognized the many benefits affordable housing brings to communities including the development of a strong and diverse workforce, social and economic integration, and the provision of housing options for entry-level and service sector workers as well as public sector professionals like teachers, firefighters, and police officers.

An adequate stock of affordable housing also ensures

Rents for the affordable units will be determined by a formula established by state statute and are dependent on the local Area Median Income (AMI) as calculated by the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The new development is near the Old Saybrook Train Station and shares a property line with the State Department of Transportation’s new train station parking lot, which will provide the new renters with convenient commuting options.

MUNICIPAL ETHICS DILEMMA

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ou are a publications specialist and web content developer for your city. A neighboring municipality asks if you would be interested in a sole source contract to develop brochures for a public outreach campaign. You accept the offer because you can perform the work on your own time in the evenings. Is there an ethics problem?

“The individual would be performing the work on his or her own time and own equipment and in most cases, there are provisions allowing municipal employees to have second jobs. The publications specialist should nonetheless consult with town human resources staff regarding any disclosures or other requirements for accepting outside employment. Public employees are rightfully held to very high standards and appearances are very important.”

Josh Howroyd Former Mayor of Manchester

HERE’S A NEW DILEMMA!

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ou handle public events for your municipality and are responsible for all of the town’s audio visual equipment. On Friday night you take home a town-owned public address system to use at a friend’s wedding on Saturday, saving her $300 in rental costs. You bring it back to work on Monday morning, but have you crossed the line of ethical behavior?

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 29

TECHNOLOGY Likes & Tweets

Canterbury enhancing connection to citizens

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anterbury town officials are hoping to be a lot more “social” in 2016 as they seek to spread the word to citizens about events, programs, and other important town news.

Greater use of social media and a regular newsletter are some of the ideas under consideration. The new methods would complement the information already on the town’s website, which has been a central site that offers a calendar of meetings and other information.

“We want to create another tool to let people know what’s going on. We’re a very small town and we want to be able to reach out and get more people involved,” Selectman Chris Lippke said.

Like many municipalities, Canterbury does have a Facebook account, but Lippke says it doesn’t get used frequently. He says other technological tools may be better in this case.

“If you can get an email in an inbox or a text into a phone, that’s the most effective way,” he said.

First Selectman Roy Piper says he’s heard concerns from residents who tell him they often hear about an event after the fact. A newsletter could be issued every few weeks and would feature all current local programs and events, Piper said.

“We have our standard website, but some people would like to see some more modern uses. We also want to reach out to younger members of the town and really increase community involvement with everyone,” Piper explained.

Kathleen Hart, a town library official, says the library has greatly enhanced its traditional outreach of brochures and newspaper notices with social media and website. Facebook, she says, remains a viable and popular option and has urged the town to consider increasing its use.

“So many people use different elements and some feel more comfortable using different systems and only get information in that way,” Hart says.

Christmas Tree Cops

Manchester police officers lead with their heart to help widow

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he spirit of giving was alive and well in Manchester over the holidays as members of the police department pitched in to keep tradition alive.

“We’re just doing it because it’s the right thing to do,” Hughes said. “We didn’t want to see the farm end like that and see all her hard work go to waste.”

When personal tragedy prompted a local Christmas tree farm owner to shut down the operation after 30 years, officers were moved to help. Lynn Steele, recently widowed when her husband Arthur died in a bulldozer accident in September, made the painful decision to cease operations before the Christmas season. The couple had operated the farm since 1985 and with his passing and her limitations due to multiple sclerosis, it seemed the farm’s 30-year run was about to end.

The “Christmas tree cops” ran machines that vibrated debris off blue spruce trees. They ran the trees through a baling machine and hoisted them, neatly bound, onto customers’ cars. The officers worked from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, collecting $50 a tree and turning over all the cash to Steele.

That’s when Officer Dan Doyon and others stepped in. Doyon saw the “closed” sign and spoke with Steele, learning that despite her disability she was still managing to trim trees and do other farm work from her motorized wheelchair. Doyon was impressed with her tenacity and enlisted some of his colleagues to help.

For the next few weeks, Doyon, Sgt. Marc Hughes, and Officers Christina Krawec and Jason Carbone learned the basics of Christmas tree harvesting and processing. Steele helped guide them and gave them pointers. They also learned from videos.

30 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2016

And their volunteerism didn’t stop there. They also planned to enclose the ramp that Steele uses to enter her home because the open ramp becomes very slippery in wet weather.

After so much adversity, their generosity helped lift Steele’s spirits.

“I’ve hit some low points,” Steele said, “but things like this give you a reason to keep going.”

Earning His Eagle

VOLUNTEERS

Scout takes motto to heart with land trust kiosk

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Boy Scout in Winchester has put his money where his motto is – with a little help from his friends.

“Do a Good Turn Daily” is one of the mottos of scouting and Cassius “Cash” Pac has combined that ethic with his lifetime love of the environment to complete his Eagle Scout project by designing and building an information kiosk at the entrance to a local field on Winchester Land Trust property near Winchester Lake.

Making his Eagle Scout project one that would benefit the land trust and local residents who use its lands was a case of doing what comes naturally for Pac, who as a child frequently played near a brook on Winchester Land Trust property, according to Land Trust President Jennifer Perga.

Teaming up with the Land Trust was also a natural fit because one the Trust’s key missions is to educate the public about natural resources in the area.

Pac, who is senior class vice president at The Gilbert School, worked with Gilbert’s CAD and construction teacher to design the kiosk which provides trail maps and directions to other Winchester Land Trust properties in addition to marking the entrance to the field.

Once the design was complete, Pac’s friends, family members, and band members (Cash is the drummer) got involved with fundraising efforts to purchase materials and the carpentry required to build the kiosk.

Perga recently invited state Rep. Jay Case, R-63, and Winchester Mayor Candy Perez to view the kiosk with Pac, and Case presented a General Assembly Official Citation congratulating Cash on his accomplishment.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank among Boy Scouts, achieved by only about 7 percent of members. To reach this rank, Pac had to earn 21 merit badges, be active in the troop, and “live by the principles of the Scout Oath.”

Actions may speak louder than words. It sounds like Pac has chosen the right words — and deeds — to live by!

Before he could start banging nails for his project, Cash banged the drums with his band to raise the neccessary funds.

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 31

EDUCATION Roll Call

New Haven engages community to combat school truancy

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eeping students on track to graduate starts early – very early. And it begins by keeping them in school.

In New Haven, city and school officials are making progress through an initiative dubbed “Attendance Matters.” Launched this past fall, the campaign targets two main causes of chronic truancy – health and transportation.

“One of the things that we are trying to do is make sure that everyone attends school — students and teachers,” Mayor Toni Harp says.

“It’s important that we let parents know that attendance is important, and let the kids know that we will do everything we can to keep them in their seats.”

A student who is out of school, Harp says, is out of the community.

That’s why the “Attendance Matters” initiative was launched as a community-wide effort. Organizers included educators, clergy members, and citizens. The mayor says the push to make New Haven, “The City that Reads” requires input from all sectors of the community “in getting all of our students in school and fully engaged.”

New Haven’s efforts are in line with a statewide strategic action group formed in 2011 to curb chronic truancy. The 30-member group, which is supported by the state Department of Education, is making inroads. A recent report card from the group showed that chronic absenteeism has dropped from 11.5 percent in 2013 to 10.7 percent in 2014. That means that approximately 4,000 students are no longer considered chronically absent.

The New Haven initiative teams with health providers, clergy, and nonprofits to educate students and their families about the importance of attendance, especially in the lower grades. Early identification of students who are chronically absent triggers outreach and intervention.

At the start of the campaign, New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Garth Harries reported that 25 percent of younger public school students are chronically absent 10 percent of the time. That equates to missing one day of school every two weeks or in the adult world, one day of work every two weeks.

“That is not a standard that anyone would succeed in in a career and life,” he said.

The Next Step

Trumbull readies students for success

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fter high school, the sky’s the limit. That’s the picture Trumbull officials try to paint every year for students contemplating their future.

The town’s third annual College and Career Readiness for Success Forum brought together experts from all fields, alumni, and current students to discuss the opportunities that await and how best to leverage them. The forum was sponsored by the Board of Education, the Trumbull Business-Education Initiative, and the Trumbull ACE Foundation, a local scholarship organization.

Trumbull Schools Superintendent Gary Cialfi said the point of this year’s forum was to show students that “there are many paths to success,” noting that one of the panelists didn’t go to college and is now a successful businessman.

“The panelist took entrepreneur classes while at the high school with his eyes set on taking over his dad’s business,” Cialfi said.

School officials say the forum is just as beneficial for middle-school students as it is for upper classman on the cusp of adulthood. This year’s forum included a lot of peer discussion to help prepare the younger stu-

32 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2016

dents for success in higher education and beyond.

“It’s great for middle-schoolers to get the exposure to current high school students and recent graduates,” Cialfi said. “There’s so much available.”

Dr. Donald Gibson, dean of the Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University and Tom Tesoro, the human resource officer at Standard Motor Products were among the featured speakers. They discussed what they look for in a college student or job candidate.

Gibson told students that it’s OK if they don’t know at this moment what they want do with their lives. He said he had no idea in high school what he was going to turn out to be. He stressed that what employers look for today hasn’t changed much over the years – good communication skills, ethical character and judgment, and critical thinking.

Tesoro underscored academic excellence and said a high GPA is more important than where a student attained it.

“I’d rather have a 3.0 from UConn than a 2.0 from Harvard,” he said.

EDUCATION Back To School

Griswold to offer more higher ed opportunities for staff

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mployees of the town of Griswold could soon have more opportunities for higher education thanks to a pending agreement between the municipality and Post University, an educational partner of CCM. Based in Waterbury, the private university has satellite centers in Meriden, Danbury, and Wallingford and offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

Discounted courses and various career development services would be available for Griswold employees and their families.

Griswold First Selectman Kevin Skulczyck said discussions between the town and Post began shortly after the university partnered with CCM in 2015. Skulczyck says the goal is to help foster a well-educated, in-demand workforce in the region.

“With this opportunity for advancement, they can find themselves with a better future,” Skulczyck said.

Under the agreement, town employees would be able to take courses at a discount, use the university’s career services department and take advantage of its internship program. Officials expect to glean even more

opportunities as the partnership develops, including establishing another satellite branch in town.

As an education partner with CCM, Post is providing a 10 percent tuition grant to municipal staff and their immediate families for courses offered both online and on campus. The wide range of undergraduate degree offerings include accounting, business administration, emergency management, finance, legal studies, psychology, sports management, and more. The school offers graduate degrees in business administration, education, accounting, public administration, human services, and science in quality, improvement, and innovation.

Non-degree certificate courses are also offered and include alcohol and drug counseling, non-profit management, entrepreneurship, and professional counseling.

Griswold currently has a graduate campus program with Sacred Heart University and officials say the Post agreement is intended to complement that as well as other educational opportunities in the region.

“It’s one more option in the age of digital learning,” Schools Superintendent Paul Smith says.

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 33

PUBLIC SAFETY Bigger And Better

Bethel voters approve funding for new police station

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ethel voters recently approved at referendum $13.5 million in funding for a long-discussed new police station in town. The measure to construct the proposed 26,000 square foot facility — which is more than twice as large as the existing one — passed by a nearly two-to-one margin.

“This is a massive showing of support for the police,” said First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker.

Supporters of the project maintained that the existing police station, which was built in 1974, is too small, that it floods during heavy rain, and that it is no longer compliant with environmental regulations.

“This is a huge win for Bethel,” Police Chief Jeffrey Finch said.

Local officials say raw sewage has backed up into the building at least three times in recent years, and that the station also has cancer-causing asbestos. In addition, police say they have had to interview victims in the same area as prisoners are processed and store records in an outside storage building or inside the shooting range.

Artist’s rendering of the proposed new Bethel Police Department, seen from the lower level.

The police department houses 37 officers and 12 civilian employees.

Scott Perry, a former member of the Public Site and Building Committee who was involved in the early stages of the plan, said the project needed to be built before the price tag goes up. He said the initial estimate for the same facility about 10 years ago was $8.5 million.

“The longer we keep putting this off, the more that building is going to cost us,” Perry said.

The new public safety complex will be built on townowned land near Bethel High School.

Central Savings

Danbury consolidates, upgrades 911 dispatch center

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anbury’s efforts to consolidate its 9-1-1 communications center, using civilian operators, upgraded technology, and managed services is expected to save the city at least $1 million each year.

The city partnered with IXP Corporation in 2014 with the intent of upgrading and staffing their 9-1-1 Communications Center. Services included certifying civilian 9-1-1 telecommunicators and having 9-1-1 calls received in a consolidated center. Previously, all 9-1-1 calls had been answered by a city firefighter at the Danbury Fire Department. If the call was a police matter it was transferred to the Danbury Police Department. If a medical response was needed, the call was transferred to the Danbury Medical Center.

Presently, all 9-1-1 calls are received by a consolidated center in the police department which eliminates

unnecessary delays in dispatching.

Mayor Mark Boughton says the center will provide the city “with significant financial savings and provide greater service to the public.”

Cost-saving factors include a reduction in overtime costs for both police and fire department personnel and reduced operational costs from operating two dispatch centers.

The city is anticipating more 9-1-1 grants from the State of Connecticut due to the consolidation.

Additionally, the center has the ability to offer regional services to neighboring communities and provide them significant savings on dispatch costs.

Each 9-1-1 dispatch console at the police department is equipped with an eight-monitor display setup that uses the most up-to-date dispatching technology.

34 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2016

Using civilian dispatchers, which are hired locally, relieves city police officers and firefighters, returning them to their core duties and putting critical personnel back out in the field. Danbury can now put three more police officers on patrol, per shift, because of the consolidation effort. Most of the 9-1-1 telecommunicators have training in firefighting, law enforcement or Emergency Medical Services.

Both city officials and IXP believe the transition to managed services was completed quickly and professionally. Danbury’s emergency services contract with the Princeton, New Jersey based IXP is for a three-year, fixed price agreement.

As the new 9-1-1 center was integrated into the community last year, Fire Chief TJ Wiedl described it a “tremendous wow factor” as to how it would benefit the community.

PUBLIC SAFETY Rapid Response

Greenwich police host crisis communication workshop

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n this day and age of swift social media, “no comment” doesn’t cut it anymore.

That was one of the take-home messages at a recent crisis communication seminar hosted by the Greenwich Police Department. Funded by the federal Department of Homeland Security, the seminar brought together more than 35 public emergency and communications professionals.

Reassuring the public quickly and accurately has become paramount because of all the many informational outlets now available. Waiting for the morning newspaper is, well, yesterday’s news. Mobile devices and the 24-hour news cycle is the new norm.

Greenwich Police Lt. Kraig Gray is the Department’s communications contact and he said the town was pleased to offer the seminar for both the town’s use and its regional emergency response partners.

“Greenwich police are firm believers in training, to be as prepared as we can for whatever comes,” he said.

The two-day seminar included courses from instructors with the Roger Williams (RI) University criminal justice program and it addressed various crisis scenarios.

Some of the scenarios included an active shooter and a prison riot. Participants were then asked to create news releases, social media posts, and answer questions at a mock news briefing.

“It’s talking about how to put out a cohesive message across all different types of media, including press releases, and speaking on camera,” Lt. Gray said. “The quality of instruction from Roger Williams has been excellent.”

In addition to police officers, officials from Greenwich public schools and the town Health Department also participated.

“Social media, particularly Twitter, has really changed the way government agencies – particularly law enforcement – communicates in a crisis,” said Roger Williams instructor Amy Kempe.

Tough Choices

Cost shifting has some towns rethinking resident trooper program

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he reaction to the state shifting the bulk of the cost of the resident state trooper program to towns has resulted in a variety of reactions.

Lisbon First Selectman Tom Sparkman says his town doesn’t have a choice but to keep the program. In Norfolk, the First Selectwoman explains that the costs to continue it were too steep and her town has opted out. Montville is in the process of establishing its own police force.

Across the state, small towns are rethinking, reducing, and in some cases, eliminating the program all together after the legislature shifted the cost to towns from 70 percent to 85 percent. So far, nine positions have been eliminated statewide.

In Lisbon, the loss of the program would be devastating, Sparkman says. Resident Trooper Michael Browning has intimate knowledge of the town, knows the residents, and the business owners. The small town of 4,338 budgeted $125,000 to cover all costs of the program this year.

“Removing the program is not anything I’ve considered,” Sparkman says. “We’ll do what we can to make sure the resident state trooper program stays in the town of Lisbon. That may require cuts to the town budget elsewhere or tax increases.”

Sparkman was among several eastern Connecticut officials who met recently with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) to discuss the possibility of lowering costs.

“There’s no solution yet,” says Sprague First Selectman and State Senator Cathy Osten. She says it was encouraging that municipal officials learned that DESPP has no plans to abandon the program.

In Norfolk, the $185,000 price tag was too much for the small town of 1,700 people. As a result, voters approved disbanding it at the Town Meeting last May. “To date, there have been no problems that have occurred,” Norfolk First Selectwoman Susan Dyer says.

“It’s now a wait-and-see if things change at all. But it’s too early to determine the long term effects.”

Sharing a trooper is another option for some towns as Roxbury and Bridgewater have done since 2014. Griswold First Selectman Kevin Skulczyck says his town may go that route and share a trooper, but leaving the town without coverage is not prudent.

“There’s no better deterrent to crime than having that police presence there,” Skulczyck says.

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 35

SCHOOL SAFETY Best Practice

Wethersfield implementing ID protocol in schools

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tudents and staff are adapting nicely to Wethersfield’s new ID screening protocol, part of a series of safety measures the school system has been implementing.

Visitors were already required to wear ID badges. The new protocol, which began at the start of the current school year, now requires students, teachers, and staff to wear ID badges at all times.

“What it does is it really identifies people as belonging in that venue,” Schools Security Director Harold Even said. “Who doesn’t belong in that venue becomes easier to identify.”

A former police officer, Even says that the use of ID badges for all members of an organization is a security “best practice.”

In addition to more quickly spotting unauthorized people, the system also makes it easier for school officials to take headcounts during fire drills or other emergency incidents.

Officials say the newer measures have been part of the district’s ongoing efforts to make schools safer.

Enhancing school safety, says Wethersfield Schools Superintendent Michael Emmett “has been our mantra for years.”

It is also in keeping with other nearby school districts.

Newington has required high school students and staff to wear visible ID since 2003. Officials there say it has now become part of everyday life.

Wethersfield also enhanced its visitor ID protocol at an elementary school by using a system that makes a badge from a visitor’s driver’s license or other forms of ID. At the same time, that information is checked against a national sex offender data base. The school district has no plans, however, to require elementary school children to wear badges.

“At an elementary school level, an unauthorized visitor is going to be easy to identify,” Even said.

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SENIOR CITIZENS Going Old School To Build New Housing Tolland uses grant money to create more senior housing olland is renovating a former school building into senior housing, a project that will provide 37 new apartments for elderly residents including 33 one-bedroom units and 4 two-bedroom units.

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decade of senior facility conversions. “The great thing about this project is that it takes a community liability and turns it into a community asset using somebody else’s money,” he said.

The building has needed substantial repairs since it was conveyed to the town by the Board of Education including a new roof, a heating system, and interior renovations.

The 37 apartments will range from 590 to 1,140 square feet and four of the units will be fully-handicapped accessible. The other 33 will be adaptable units that can be altered as needed if greater is access required.

Tolland officials explored a variety of potential alternative uses for the structure including a magnet school, but none advanced and the town ultimately determined a conversion to elderly housing represented the highest and best – as well as the most cost-effective – use of the building.

Officials said the conversion project will cost considerably less than new construction, noting that the adaptive re-use of an existing building represents “low-impact” construction because the building’s existing frame is being used.

Town Manager Steven Werbner said the town and Access Community Action Agency agreed to have Access apply for and administer a $5 million grant to construct the project, including management of the facility.

Access President and CEO Peter DiBiasi said the project would be the agency’s first school conversion in a

The project is receiving grant funding from the State Department of Housing and a low-interest loan from the Connecticut Housing Authority, as well as Connecticut Housing Finance Authority federal tax credits.

Construction is expected to start during the 2016 construction season and the project should be completed in about a year. The town hopes folks will be living in their new apartments by the middle of 2017.

“The great thing about this project is that it takes a community liability and turns it into a community asset using somebody else’s money.”

- Peter DiBiasi

FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 37

REGIONAL COOPERATION Can You Hear Me Now?

Northwest Hills COG to study enhanced cell service

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xpanding cell phone coverage and improving Internet service throughout northwestern Connecticut is the focus of a study that has drawn the strong support of the Northwest Hills COG. COG members have unanimously endorsed an application for a $200,000 state regional incentive grant that would fund a feasibility study in all 21 member municipalities.

“I think this whole concept has fantastic potential - fleshing it out through a feasibility study, looking at the economics are exactly what’s needed, because the idea of doing something like this is very exciting,” said Barkhamsted First Selectman and NHCOG Chairman Don Stein.

Sharon Selectwoman Jessica Fowler was among the members of the NWCONNect initiative who recently brought the proposal before the COG. Fowler explained that the rural character of the region is prompting some Internet providers to balk at connecting homes to existing fiber

optic networks. The cost to connect could be prohibitive and there may be not enough subscribers to make it profitable.

“The incumbent carriers don’t want to build out here. It’s not part of their business plan,” said Fowler. “So what you’re seeing right now for internet connection and probably, really, for mobile, is probably what you’re going to get. It’s not really going to get much better.”

NWCONNect member Kim Maxwell, a telecommunications professional, told COG officials that in some areas service could be improved by mounting cell antennas on utility poles connected to a fiber optic network.

The study will ultimately recommend business models that would enhance services to residents, allowing for broadband Internet, and improved cell coverage. Some towns currently have limited service and there are parts in the small town of Washington that have none at all.

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

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ew trees were planted along a town road in Kent as part of an effort to replace trees that had been removed because of declining health or other reasons in recent years. The Kent Conservation Commission reached out to town residents to offer them an opportunity to purchase new trees at a significant discount and local volunteers planted eight trees along the street with expertise and guidance from a local greenhouse.

Newtown residents had an opportunity to learn about native trees and shrubs at a free presentation sponsored by the Town and Country Garden Club in February. The program explored the world of native plants with an emphasis on underutilized garden forms, ornamental qualities, and cultural details of plants.

The Branford Healthy Smiles Program and local dentists in Branford and East Haven recently offered free dental services to Branford or

AROUND TOWN East Haven children 21 and under who are uninsured or underinsured. The Branford Healthy Smiles Program is a local collaboration that provides oral health education, support, and improved access to dental services for all individuals within the community.

The American Dental Association (ADA) launched the umbrella Give Kids A Smile program nationally in 2003 as a way for dentists to join others in the community to provide dental services to underserved children.

Salisbury is moving forward with some of the proposals put forth by the Lakeville Community Conservancy for sprucing up local parks, but assured residents that there would be no major changes made at Corner Park, also known as the Town Green. First Selectman Curtis G. Rand said residents he’s talked to oppose topographical alter-

ations at the park and other than plantings, pots, and benches at the site and the removal of an old and unhealthy tree, they would like the park to “remain as is.”

Tobacco will be prohibited around the new Storrs Center in Mansfield after the Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance to ban the use of tobacco products in the area.

The ban will take effect within 21 days of the ordinance’s publication in a locally circulated newspaper.

The Stratford Public Safety Dive Team, comprised of 11 members of the Stratford Police and Fire Departments, participated in cold water dive training in Beaver Dam Lake in mid-January in order to be certified in “dry suit” diving competencies. The Combined Police Fire Public Safety Dive Team was created with grant funding from the United States Department of Homeland Security.

CCMTRAINING The Nuts and Bolts of Being a Supervisor March 8, 2016 Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, Monroe Comprehensive RFPs and RFQs March 15, 2016 Milford City Hall FOIA for Boards, Commissions, and Committee Members March 22, 2016 Brookfield Town Hall Creating Social Success for Your Municipality!

March 23, 2016 Torrington City Hall

Drug & Alcohol Testing Regulations March 30, 2016 Thornton Wilder Auditorium, Hamden Municipal Meetings and Parliamentary Procedure April 5, 2016 Burlington Town Hall The Nuts and Bolts of Being a Supervisor April 13, 2016 Madison Town Hall

Full schedule at: http://ccm-ct.org FEBRUARY 2016 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 39