Connecticut Town & City - Fall 2023

Fall 2023

LEAD WITH INTEGRITY

MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION TRACKS AVAILABLE IN: — Nonprofit Management — Public Healthcare Management — State & Local Government

fairfield.edu/MPA

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS President Thomas Dunn, Mayor of Wolcott 1st Vice President Laura Hoydick, Mayor of Stratford 2nd Vice President Michael Passero, Mayor of New London DIRECTORS

Inside this issue...

Jason Bowsza, First Selectman of East Windsor Jeff Caggiano, Mayor of Bristol Mary Calorio, Town Manager of Killingly Fred Camillo, First Selectman of Greenwich Elinor Carbone, Mayor of Torrington Paula Cofrancesco, First Selectman of Bethany Justin Elicker, Mayor of New Haven John A. Elsesser, Town Manager of Coventry Carl P. Fortuna, Jr., First Selectman of Old Saybrook Laura Francis, First Selectman of Durham Joseph P. Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport Matthew Hoey, First Selectman of Guilford Matthew S. Knickerbocker, Town Administrator of Wilton

CCM Convention - There’s No Place Like CT

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Civility In Government: CCM Webinar

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Legal Notice Mandate

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Innovative Ideas

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Early Voting

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CCM 2024 State Legislative Program

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NLC Grants

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CCM Promotions

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CIRMA News

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News from Member Municipalities

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Rudolph P. Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield W. Kurt Miller, Chief Fiscal Officer of Ansonia Edmond V. Mone, First Selectman of Thomaston Maureen Nicholson, First Selectman of Pomfret Michael Rell, Mayor of Wethersfield Brandon Robertson, Town Manager of Avon John L. Salomone, City Manager of Norwich Caroline Simmons, Mayor of Stamford Gerard Smith, First Selectman of Beacon Falls Erin E. Stewart, Mayor of New Britain Mark B. Walter, Town Administrator of Columbia PAST PRESIDENTS Luke Bronin, Mayor of Hartford

Historic Restoration of Waterbury City

Michael Freda, First Selectman of North Haven Neil O’Leary, Mayor of Waterbury Herbert Rosenthal, Former First Selectman of Newtown

CCM STAFF Executive Director, Joe DeLong Deputy Director, Ron Thomas Writer, Chris Gilson Layout & Design, Matthew Ford

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SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 3

There’s No Place Like CT

2023 CCM Convention will be full of knowledge and experiences

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he 2023 CCM Convention at Mohegan Sun will be your ticket to experience what makes Connecticut Towns and Cities so great. You’re going to want to follow that yellow brick road to Mohegan Sun on Tuesday November 28.

Throughout this great state, you’ll find stories about courage, heart and brains from municipalities, businesses, and experts in fields important to you. There’s no place like Connecticut, and there’s no convention like the CCM Annual Convention!

Workshops Workshops remain one of the highlights of our convention, and this year we are adding something new to the mix. Look for our roundtables on topics such as human resources, finance, economic development, municipal law, and communications.

Sponsors & Exhibitors We are happy to announce some special sponsors early this year. So far we have CIRMA sponsoring the pre-Awards dinner reception, Halloran & Sage sponsoring the Municipal Excellence Awards, Bank of America sponsoring floral arrangements, Murtha Cullina sponsoring breakfast, and Titan Energy sponsoring our charging stations. A special thanks to Lockton who is a Platinum MBA sponsor.

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And CCM has got an exciting head start on exhibitors this year. Expect these companies and more: Absolute Auctions & Reality, Aetna, AI Engineers, Aligned Elevator, All Traffic Solutions, Ameresco, Automated Building System Inc, BBG&G Integrated Marketing, BETA Group Inc., CAI Technologies, CLA, Colliers Project Leaders, CTC Building Solutions, Distinctive Tree Care, LLC, Energia, ESRI, Flagship Networks, Fleet Clean New England, Fuss & O’Neill, Gemni Software, Gregory & Howe, Hartford Truck Equipment, Ideal Block, Lockton, Loureiro, Napa Integrated Business Solutions, Nationwide Security Corporation, OpenGov, Pat Munger Construction, Pullman & Comley, QA+M Architecture, Resource Lighting & Energy, RUCKUS Networks, a CommScope Company, Safeware, Inc., Savy & Sons, Silver Petrucelli & Associates, SustainableCT, Tangible Analytics Consulting, Tyler Technology, United Property Restoration, US BENCOR / MidAmerica, VC3, Webster Bank, and Woodard & Curran Be sure to continue to check our website for more sponsors (and other exhibitors) as they come in.

Municipal Excellence Awards The 2023 Municipal Excellence Awards will be once again awarded in four categories, two for cities and two for individuals.

• Three General Entry Awards by Population Size • Innovation In Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Connecticut Certified Municipal Officials The Convention remains a place where municipal officials are recognized for their hard work. Those who have completed their CCMO credits will receive their certificates. The deadline complete your program requirements and graduate at this year’s Convention is Tuesday, October 6, 2023.

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• The Joel Cogen Lifetime Achievement Award • The Richard C. Lee Innovators Award The award recipients will be honored at the Convention, as well as featured in a future issue of CT&C.

#LoCoolGov Youth Scholarship A $1,000 scholarship will be handed out in two age groups to a Connecticut student in a public middle school or high school.

Participants must create their own original work themselves, but may get help from teachers, parents, or friends in the form of ideas. They may also collaborate on projects of no more than three people. All entries are due by

CCM has negotiated a room rate of $149.00 plus applicable state/local taxes. This rate was only guaranteed if you reserve your room by Friday, October 27, 2023.

You will receive the room reservation link in your Convention registration confirmation email.

2023 Safety Precautions Your safety is our priority! At this time, neither masks nor proof of vaccination will be required to attend.

2023 Food Drive We are excited to once again host a food drive as part of the Convention. The food will be donated to the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center in New London. More info coming soon.

To be a part of this fun and informative experience, you can go to www.ccm-ct.org and follow the links to the 2023 CCM Convention Registration Page.

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SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 5

Managing Difficult Public Conversations CCM partners with Braver Angels to foster respectful communication

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t’s no secret that Americans feel more divided by their politics than they have in decades. This growing separation has made public service and politics difficult. In municipal and school board meetings, opeds, and especially on social media, it seems like folks are spending more time being angry than resolving issues. CCM for our part instituted the Civility Pledge last year as a call to action. We have co-also sponsored a civility workshop with the Governor M. Jodi Rell Center for Public Service – University of Hartford.

We are dedicated to helping local governments to promote civil discourse. Even when we disagree on key issues, it is possible to discuss issues respectfully and seek common ground. In our latest effort to promote civility, CCM is partnering with the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), the Connecticut Association of Public-School Superintendents and Braver Angels to present a webinar on “Managing Difficult Conversations” on October 17.

is to “bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic,” envisioning “an America with respectful embrace of political disagreements, where civic friendship flourishes and competing perspectives strengthen our nation.”

With partners on both sides of the aisle, they are asking Americans to practice civility.

Our Civility Pledge, has garnered dozens of signees as well as press coverage from some of Connecticut’s top news outlets. Members pledged “to build a stronger and more prosperous community by advocating for civil engagement, respecting others and their viewpoints, and finding solutions for the betterment of my town or city.” CCM knew that we owed it to members to give them the tools to make this a reality. That is when Braver Angels, on the heels of a partnership with the Westport Library and Connecticut Public Radio, approached CCM to present to our members.

Compromise isn’t easy – just ask Roger Sherman, author of the Connecticut Compromise that gave us our federal government – but it’s the way government usually works. People need to be able to talk to each other and expect that something will come of it. CCM wants to be part of the solution. It’s clear that the will is there with initiatives like the Civility Pledge. What is needed now are the tools to help foster constructive, respectful conversations, even if they are difficult conversations.

Braver Angels is a grassroots movement dedicated to doing on a national level what we hope to achieve with the civility pledge here in Connecticut. Their mission

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On October 17th, Braver Angels will present “Managing Difficult Conversations”, which is geared toward public officials and focused on how to have impactful conversations with folks you might disagree with. The goal is to show people who disagree with you that they have been heard, that you can find areas of common ground or agreement, and share your views in a way that is likely to be heard by the other person. What it is not intended to do is help you persuade someone that they are wrong or help in situations where individuals or groups are prepared to shut down real conversations.

Be on the lookout for an email invite from CCM to participate in this workshop, and for more information, feel free to email Rick Porth at RPorth@ccm-ct.org.

Mandating Print Costs Municipalities Legal Notices have a proper place on municipal websites

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or many years, towns and cities have been asking for some kind of relief when it comes to the publication of legal notices. This long-standing and costly mandate has become outdated in a post-Internet world, where town websites are the new community bulletin boards. CCM has submitted policy proposals on this issue, and, just this past July, conducted a survey among members to find out just how much municipalities say they can save.

Towns and cities have an obligation to their citizens to inform them of governmental actions and issues that will impact them – whether it be a special election or charter revision, the public has a right to know what is going on in their town.

In a post-COVID world, towns and cities, even state and federal government, have shifted to posting all notices and forms online. As we noted in submitted testimony, “the State itself has moved to a paperless system in similar ways – the General Assembly several years ago stopped printing certain bills and legislative documents, and PA 12-92 requires proposed state agency regulations to be places online – on the Secretary of the State’s website – instead of in paper form.”

This is the most logical step for the State, and it follows that it is the next logical step for municipalities as well.

As we argued in the same testimony that “newspapers have had a captive client in municipal government for years and have taken advantage of this mandate by often charging their highest advertising rate for postings,” costing municipalities millions of dollars each year.

In the survey we conducted, respondents told us they spent anywhere from just a few hundred dollars a year to over $50,000 in one case. Many municipal officials qualified their responses by saying that in a normal year, they could spend approximately $16,000 on legal notices; but in a Charter Revision year, it could cost upwards of $40,000.

Additionally, several towns noted the stress of having to meet strict deadlines put in place by having to coordinate with out-of-state business reps and making sure that a newspaper has circulation in their town.

In 2023, it has never been clearer that an individual’s right to access this information would not be hampered by placing notices online on a municipal website.

As we have noted, communities and their residents have adapted to streaming public meetings, submitting online applications, and much more. As a perennial issue, we will need member’s help to support legislation to remove this costly mandate.

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Celebrating The Ingenuity Of Municipalities 2023 Innovative Ideas compiles your best work

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very year, towns and cities make Connecticut work. For our social welfare, for our public safety, Civic Achievements, and achievements in Energy, Environment, Education and more, the municipalities of this state are bursting at the seams with Innovative Ideas. Honoring this tradition, we are excited to bring you our 36th edition of the Innovative Ideas for Managing Local Governments compendium.

Reprinted from the previous year’s issue of Connecticut Town & City, the quarterly magazine of CCM. We developed these stories from many sources, including visits to Connecticut local governments; suggestions from municipal officials; newspapers and magazines in Connecticut and abroad; publications of the National League of Cities; and publications of other state municipal leagues.

There are nearly 80 pages of stories on topics across Civic Achievement, Economic Development, Education, Energy, Environment, Governance, Housing and Infrastructure, Public Safety, Social Welfare, and Technology.

Representing dozens of municipalities, there’s sure to be something for your town or city to pull from when brainstorming ideas.

Whether these stories inspire a project today, or just give you an idea for ten years down the line, it’s clear that the best people to look to for inspiration are your neighbors across the state.

Be sure to check out the issue at: https://issuu. com/ccm_ct/docs/innovativeideas_web If your town or city has an innovative idea that you think would be perfect for a future issue of Connecticut Town & City, send over a news article, press release, or social media post to Christopher Gilson, cgilson@ccm-ct.org.

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SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 9

Early Voting

Munis celebrate civic legislation, concerned about funds and staffing

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ith reports that Connecticut had some of the most restrictive voting laws in the nation and the relaxing of absentee ballot rules during the pandemic, it was only a matter of time before the General Assembly made good on the promise to make voting easier in our state. In June, Governor Lamont signed Public Act 23-5 which created a system of early voting for general elections, special elections, and primaries.

As the Governor declared in his press release on the day he put his signature on the bill, the new law requires 14 days of early voting for general elections, 7 days of early voting for most primaries, and 4 days of early voting for special elections and presidential preference primaries. It will apply to elections and primaries that occur on or after January 1, 2024. Every municipality in the state will be required to establish at least one early voting location and has the option of establishing more.

This timeline was expanded from the suggestion made

by Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, who had initially proposed a 10-day period. Legislators and the General Assembly added the four extra days, following many other states who have similar time frames. Only Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not have early voting.

The hope of course is to get more people to vote. Governor Lamont said, “In today’s economy, it is not realistic to expect every eligible voter to travel in person to one specific location during a limited set of hours on a Tuesday to cast their ballot.”

During the drafting of this bill, municipalities and CCM raised the issue of funding to implement early voting, which the Office of Fiscal Analysis estimated to cost approximately $4.4 million. The adopted budget PA 23-204 only provided $1.8 million which will be used to provide grants up to $10,500 to towns and cities.

While this funding level is clearly short of what is required it will offset some of the costs associated with the 2024 Presidential primary which will be the firsttime early voting is implemented. CCM will work with the Secretary of the State’s Office and legislative leadership to secure additional funding during the 2024 Legislative Session which will convene in February.

Additional concerns raised by local leaders are related to securing the needed staffing to cover the required days of early voting, as towns and cities have faced increasing difficulties in filing job openings in almost all areas of local government.

Secrretary Thomas recently discussed early voting, among other issues, on CCM’s podcast, The Municipal Voice. Please scan the QR code or visit youtube.com/@CCM to watch the episode.

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SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 11

CCM Wins With Member Input

With legislative session over, CCM Policy sets eyes on 2023 policy proposals

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t the end of the 2023 regular session, it was clear that the work that CCM did on behalf of towns and cities made an impact with the General Assembly and the Governor. There were significant increases to municipalities, primarily in the areas of education, that will go a long way toward restraining property taxes.

The most notable of course is the significant, accelerated increases in state k-12 education aid. This totaled $150 million with an additional $25 million in special education excess-cost aid set aside. This is over the $135 million initially proposed in the Governor’s budget. We believe one of the primary factors was CCM’s education aid campaign which we kicked off at the state capitol that urged Governor Lamont and legislators to accelerate these increases and consider the economic factors that are making it harder to deliver on public services like education that are crucial to the future of our state.

All combined, there is an additional $329 million in the state budget for local public education above the current year amount, and all towns that were scheduled to receive a decrease in ECS aid were held harmless.

Other notable state budget items include: • An increase of 3% or $19 million in PILOT funding.

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• $5 million for the Firefighter Cancer Relief Fund, which includes compromise language agreed upon

by CCM and the firefighters.

• $1.8 million for municipalities to implement early voting in FY 24. Each municipality will be allocated $10,500 to help offset the cost of running the Presidential Primary.

No money has been set aside for FY 25.

• $3 million in grants for fire departments to remediate PFAS foam.

• Extends, through FY 25, the municipal grant program for purchasing body and dashboard cameras.

• Delays by one year the changes to the motor vehicle assessment law.

While these highlights are important, there were many more bills that will affect municipalities in the coming year. Thankfully, Public Policy and Advocacy staff prepared their 2023 Annual Report on the General Assembly, which included summaries of 21 pages of bills of importance to towns and cities enacted during this session, with links to the full text of the Public Acts and the Office of Legislative Research (OLR) reports.

This will go a long way toward restraining property taxes for residents and businesses in our 169 towns and cities, as well as maintain and enhance critical local services, most notably local public education.

Looking Ahead CCM has begun the process of developing our legislative program for the 2024 session of the General Assembly.

As a member driven organization, your input is vital to CCM’s efforts in advocating on important topics at the State Capitol. Throughout the month of July, we collected thoughts and opinions from local leaders around the state to help CCM’s policy committees develop positions that are representative of our membership.

There are no doubt areas that will be covered in the forthcoming session – affordable housing, solid waste management, infrastructure, education, finance, alternative energy, broadband access, mandates relief, and property tax reform, the input that was given will be reviewed and organized over the coming months when members will be able to vote on their priorities during the Legislative Committee meeting at the 2023 CCM Convention on November 29.

CCM’s LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEES EDUCATION, APPROPRIATIONS, AND TAXES AND FINANCE Helps develop and establish CCM policies concerning education, municipal expenditures and state and local taxes and finance. Reviews proposed state legislation and proposed state policies regarding, education, tax issues, the relationship of state aid to local property taxes, and other government finance issues. Recommends appropriate legislative and administrative solutions.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND ENERGY Helps develop and establish CCM policies in environmental management in such areas as solid waste, hazardous waste, air quality, energy and broadband accessibility. Reviews the activities of relevant state agencies, boards and task forces. Reviews proposed state legislation and proposed state policies. Recommends appropriate legislative and administrative solutions.

MUNICIPAL LAW AND LABOR RELATIONS Helps develop and establish CCM policies concerning municipal law, municipal powers, legal issues, state mandates, liability, insurance, risk management. municipal personnel and labor relations issues. Reviews and recommends proposed legislation and administrative regulations relating to municipal law, risk management, employee relations and collective bargaining.

LAND USE, TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Helps develop and establish CCM policies in the areas of land use, community and economic development, housing, transportation funding and investment and mass transit issues. Reviews proposed state legislation and proposed state policies. Recommends appropriate legislative and administrative solutions.

PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES Helps develop and establish CCM policies concerning social services, welfare, health issues, substance abuse, public safety, crime control, fire safety and building code enforcement. Reviews proposed state legislation and proposed state policies. Recommends appropriate legislative and administrative solutions.

For additional information on the outcomes of the 2023 Legislative Session or the Policy Committees, please contact CCM’s Public Policy and Advocacy Staff.

SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 13

Promotions You Should Know CCM continues its mission to grow from within

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CM continues to support and grow our team from within. We’d like to announce and congratulate extraordinary staff members on their recent promotions and wish them well on their continued success.

Ron Thomas’ title will be expanded to include Chief Operating Officer (COO). Effective October 1, 2023 Ron’s position will be Deputy Director & COO. This expansion reflects the scope of Ron’s responsibilities and his impact across all functional lines of CCM. Ron will continue to be responsible for assisting the Executive Director in maintaining and directing the daily operations of CCM. Assists in the development and execution of CCM activities, programs, and services; execution of public policy and advocacy services on behalf of member towns and cities. Work involves assisting the Executive Director in the strategic planning; policy formulation; execution of policies, projects, services, programs and activities; performing varied representation and public education activities. The Deputy Director & COO also supervises the Associate Deputy Director and CCM Directors in the execution of CCM services and programs.

George Rafael has been promoted to Associate Deputy Director. In this role George will work with Ron Thomas, Deputy Director & COO, in the development and execution of CCM activities, programs, and services; execution of public policy and advocacy services on behalf of member towns and cities. Analyzes state and federal taxing and spending policies for their effect on municipalities.

Donna Hamzy Carroccia has been promoted to Director of Communications & Education Development. In this role Donna will plan, organize and direct a comprehensive public relations program that builds and maintains a positive image for CCM with the public and advances CCM’s public policy positions. Directs media communications and serves as a spokesperson for CCM. Directs CCM’s education and events programs.

Actively manage member satisfaction with CCM; taking proactive and timely measures necessary to respond to and address membership concerns raised by current members and seeking out and advancing opportunities for potential new members.

Michael (Mike) Muszynski has been promoted to Director of Research & Analytics. In the role Mike will direct the overall operations of the municipal resource program such as labor relations, and research. Directs the maintenance of the resource center, including the compilation of data, information and analysis of public policy issues. Manages CCM’s CTL program and the Research Committee and ensures continued collaboration with the CCM’s Communications Committee.

Marshall (Randy) Collins will take on the role of Associate Director of Public Policy & Advocacy. In this position Randy will assist the Director of Public Policy & Advocacy and the Deputy Director & COO with the developing and managing CCM’s representation on state and federal issues. Serves as a senior lobbyist before the General 14 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | SEPTEMBER 2023

Assembly and state agencies. Assists in planning, developing, and managing CCM’s annual state legislative programs and strategies. Analyzes policy on complex issues. Represents CCM on commissions, panels and with external organizations as appropriate.

Zachary (Zach) McKeown has been promoted to Advocacy Manager. In this role Zach Serves as a senior lobbyist before the General Assembly and state agencies. Assists in planning, developing, and managing CCM’s annual state legislative programs and strategies. Analyzes policy on complex issues. Represents CCM on commissions, panels and with external organizations as appropriate.

Korbi Kelly-Banks has been promoted to Member Services and Marketing Manager effective July 1, 2023.

In this role Korbi will provide oversight of CCM events, including the CCM Convention and EMS. Manage CCM’s external training programs and the administration and financial performance of the Municipal Business, CAMA and other non-dues revenue generating programs.

Matthew (Matt) Ford will take on the role of Communications & Design Specialist. In this position, Matt will design and produce graphic art and visual materials for print and other visual media. Ensures that layout and design is aligned with CCM’s brand and standards and follows all best practices. Assists and supports the development and implementation of the communications, marketing and sales programs for CCM. Christopher (Chris) Gilson has been promoted to Sr. Communications Associate. In this role, Chris will prepares and designs brochures and other key materials highlighting CCM core services and non-dues income producing products and services for existing and prospective municipal members, corporate partners and other key audiences. Designs and produces sales and marketing material for existing and new CCM products and services. Works with Director of Communications & Education Development on the creation of sales and marketing plans on strategies to retain existing members and attract new members.

Savannah Blantz has been promoted to Member Services Administrator. In this role Savannah will work with Korbi Kelly-Banks, Member Services and Marketing Manager, coordinating and supporting CCM member programs and services.

Derek Watson has been promoted to Programs and Services Administrator. In this role Derek will administer assigned Municipal Resource and Service Center programs and services and serves as an administrator of the association management software system for CCM. Please join us in welcoming Anthony Diaz to CCM. Anthony will be working with Max Friedman in the position of Research Analyst. In this role Anthony will conduct research, compile data, and anlyzes information on a number of topics relating to local government.

Congratulations to all!

SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 15

CIRMA Cusano Retires After Almost 40 Years (And a Whole Lot of Claims)

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fter dedicating thirty-seven years of his life to caring for CIRMA members and their injured employees and families, Lou Cusano retired from his career as a CIRMA’s Workers’ Compensation Claims Specialist.

In 1986 Lou joined CIRMA as an Outside Claims Adjuster.

After handling over 5,000 workers’ compensation claims spanning almost 40 years, he’s seen it all. A revered subject matter expert known for his big heart, Lou meticulously handled CIRMA’s most complex, high-exposure, and catastrophic claims.

“Lou’s expertise, leadership, and mentorship can never be replaced.

He was one of the most influential, impactful employees to ever work at CIRMA. I will miss his friendship, loyalty, and guidance. Lou was always there when we needed him. If there were a CIRMA Hall of Fame, Lou would be a unanimous first-ballot inductee,” Mike Wampold, Vice President of CIRMA Workers’ Compensation Claims, shared.

To fully appreciate his countless accomplishments, it’s important to understand the important job Lou dedicated his career to fulfilling—the role of a Claim professional. CIRMA Claim professionals are exceptionally dedicated individuals who truly care about doing what’s right when things go wrong.

The claims role has even been revered on the silver screen in the 1944 American classic crime film Double Indemnity (based on the novel by James M. Cain) when the determined tritagonist Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) vehemently shares his immense pride in being an expert in the claims field—a “Claims Man.”

Lou embodied the spirit of CIRMA’s mission, continuously going above and beyond for our members, injured employees, colleagues, and communities.

While serving thousands of injured employees throughout his tenure at CIRMA, Lou has helped countless people and their families navigate some of their most difficult times. To many, Lou was more than their Claim professional or fellow colleague. He was their trusted advocate. A caregiver they could confide in—an understanding friend.

In Lou’s eyes, they were family. And family always came first. “I truly enjoyed all of my 37 years at CIRMA. I always felt respected and appreciated. The people are what made it special for me,” he reflected.

16 | | CONNECTICUT 2 CONNECTICUTTOWN TOWN&&CITY CITY | | AUGUST SEPTEMBER 20232023

Sensational Hollywood novellas aside, the role of a Claim professional is critical to fulfilling CIRMA’s mission and delivering on the organization’s promise to protect its members, their employees, and the communities they serve.

David Demchak, CIRMA President, and Chief Executive Officer, added, “For almost a halfcentury, CIRMA Claim professionals like Lou Cusano have helped countless Connecticut communities recover from some of the most significant, life-altering events and devastating losses while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our members, working tirelessly to make them whole again. Lou embodied the spirit of CIRMA’s mission, continuously going above and beyond for our members, injured employees, colleagues, and communities. We wish him all the best in his retirement.”

CIRMA CIRMA Welcomes New Staff Central to CIRMA’s success is its employees We’re excited to welcome this impressive group of professionals to CIRMA. It’s our staff who help create our innovative solutions and

deliver on the promises we make our members, every day.

The CIRMA team makes a difference,” said David Demchak, President and Chief Executive Officer of CIRMA.

Brendan Clifford is the newest addition to CIRMA’s Business Intelligence team as a Business Analyst. In his new role, Brendan performs business analysis processes to ensure data integrity through report development, monitors business activities for improved organizational outcomes, and provides analytical and reporting Brendan Clifford support to business units throughout the organization. Brendan joins CIRMA with experience in delivering client implementations, ongoing enhancements, and critical software support.

He received a Bachelor of Administration in Economics from the University of Connecticut.

Alexander Waite will be working as a Help Desk Support Specialist with CCM/CIRMA’s Information Technology team. Alex provides various levels of computer-related support, including troubleshooting hardware and software issues. He is responsible for maintaining the organization’s local area network, servers, and telephone Alexander Waite system. Alex graduated from Lasell University, earning his Bachelor of Computer Science with a concentration in Cyber Security.

Jenna Goldman recently joined CIRMA’s Liability Claims team as their newest Senior Litigation Specialist/ Team Lead. In her new role, Jenna will apply over ten years of litigation experience and provide her technical expertise in managing complex liability claims. She received her Juris Doctor from New England Law School and is a member of the Massachusetts and Connecticut State Bars.

If you’re tired of the typical and ready to make a difference, CIRMA has a place for you.

Visit CIRMA.org to explore our latest career opportunities and learn more about CIRMA’s competitive benefits packages.

Jenna Goldman

CIRMA 2024 Excellence in Risk Management Awards Each year, CIRMA’s Excellence in Risk Management Awards program celebrates members who have demonstrated sustained and notable distinction by building dynamic teams of risk management champions. The four award categories are: • Substantial Impact on Total Cost of Risk • Establishing Risk Management as an Organizational Priority • New and Innovative Risk Management Initiative • Sustained Risk Management Program Four deserving recipients will be awarded at our Annual Meeting of Members in January. Each awardee will receive a handsome crystal award and a $2,500 Risk

Management Grant from CIRMA. Winners will also be featured in an issue of Connecticut Town & City magazine.

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SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 17

CIVIC AMENTITIES A Safe Space

New Haven’s Union Station provides lactation room for mothers

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nyone with a baby knows that little ones don’t care what time it is when they get hungry. At the first sign of hunger pangs, your infant will let you know that it is time for them to eat with cries and fussiness. For parents who take their babies on the go with them – simply for travel or in their day-to-day commute – this can sometimes be disruptive. The New Haven Breast/ Chest Feeding Task Force has been working to increase the places that parents feel comfortable feeding their children, and through their work have opened a private lactation room in Union Station.

The need for safe spaces to feed children are crucial to increasing rates of breast/chest feeding.

While each family might have their own needs, organizations like the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition have set the goal of ensuring that “breastfeeding is seen as the

normal and preferred method of feeding infants and young children.” Studies have shown that children who are not fed formula have a lower risk of infections and illnesses, and have significantly lower healthcare costs.

it’s door, and it contains privacy screens and a changing table for the inevitable diaper change. While not associated with the room’s main purpose, they note that the room will also have space available for individuals to pray as well.

Despite these benefits, there are still racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in breast/chest feeding rates that the task force says is due to a number of “structural barriers, inequities, and institutional racism.”

The room on the second floor of Union Station will make private feeding more accessible to those who are breast/chest feeding, ensuring a safe environment. Even the term chestfeeding is designed to make all those who feed their baby using human milk feel comfortable.

There are still many barriers to helping new parents on the journey that is raising children – much of which stems from not knowing laws that aim to protect women during pregnancy, and afterwards when beginning to breast/chest feed or pump. It’s clear that the goals of the task force are to create more public spaces like that in Union Station in New Haven, as well as helping local businesses with breast/chest feeding-friendly policies. It is often said that children are the future, and in those early days, supporting children means supporting the parents who will be raising them.

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CIVIC AMENITIES

Big Funds For Seniors

State shares millions in grants with municipalities

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n an continued effort to put the American Rescue Plan Act funds to best use, Governor Ned Lamont and Aging and Disability Services Commissioner Amy Porter announced that they will be designating $9 million in funding to support upgrades and enhancements at senior centers statewide.

The $9 million is the larger part of a $10 million fund awarded to the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services that have been allocated specifically to municipalities for facility improvements and programming.

According to the press release from the State, these can cover “a variety of capital improvements”: including air and HVAC systems, lighting, accessibility features, vehicle acquisition, maintenance; and include the acquisition of program registration software, web design renovation capability, extended senior center hours, special or focused entertainment.

The funds come in two forms, a base of $5000, and an allocation based 2020 census data.

“Connecticut’s cities and towns do a great job supporting older adults through the operations of their senior centers,” Governor Lamont said in the release, “Which provide incredibly valuable services to many residents statewide. Being able to expand that crucial support through upgraded facilities and modernized services keeps older adults actively involved in their communities and connected to local services.”

20 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | SEPTEMBER 2023

At last years CCM Convention, Groton’s Thrive 55 won a Municipal Excellence Award for the work the town does through their senior centers, and what they are able to do for seniors even beyond the senior center doors.

Commissioner Porter said, “Our senior centers are valued hubs that foster both independence and community support. The Department of Aging and Disability Services is pleased to see not only direct funding for senior centers to continue that charge, but also a way to engage and connect these centers at a coordinated state level. Our State Unit on Aging has worked hard with our partners to find ways to engage older adults with information, assistance, socialization, educational programs and so much more.”

The remaining million-dollar award will go to statewide senior centers and services, as well as media campaigns to promote engagement at senior centers.

To obtain funding, municipalities must develop a plan and submit it, along with an application, to the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services’ Unit on Aging. Applications will be accepted through June of 2024. More information for municipal officials is available online at portal.ct.gov/ADS-SeniorCenterARPA. An informational session on submitting the Beneficiary Information Form (BIF) is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0Hr04Cuslk

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

Getting Social

New London looks to go big with social media

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f you asked any municipal employee, who knows the most about their town, they will undoubtedly tell you the folks at town hall are the experts. And while, towns and cities contract out for all manner of things, social media is one of those things that needs experts in order to make use of.

That’s why New London is looking into expanding their social media capabilities with more internal input or “going big” with a third-party service.

From an article in the New London Day, reporter John Penney writes about an interesting exchange that took place at a City Council meeting in early August. As discussion pertaining to the renewal of a third-party contract ensued, President Reona Dyess is quoted as saying “go big or go home.”

To which, Director of Economic Development and Planning Felix Reyes responded: “I’m just not used to someone saying they want to increase something.”

It’s no surprise that this conversation would be taking place now, in the year 2023. Social media isn’t just the place to do advertising, sometimes it’s the only place for towns and cities to effectively advertise within the constraints of a town budget. On sites like Facebook, you can buy short advertising campaigns for as little as $20, meaning that you can micromanage campaigns, or you can go all out and buy advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube, and more.

The question is whether or not your

town has the budget for a social media staffer, let alone department, to adequately keep up with the trends and potentially go viral, or leave that up to a third-party professional. For the past two years, New London has partnered with Socialike, a New London-based media service according to the Day. New London has a big reason to look into this now – as City Councilor Akil Peck notes, the Coast Guard museum will be a big attraction.

With the right social media campaigns, it can be a huge boost to economic development. Reyes noted that the town now has thousands of followers, but that can be raised

22 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | SEPTEMBER 2023

exponentially with the right strategy.

Social media isn’t going anywhere – despite whatever Elon Musk is doing with Twitter on any given day.

Facebook’s first generation users are in their late 30s and have been on social media sites for nearly two-decades now (probably more if you count early sites like Friendster, Myspace, and LiveJournal). If they haven’t left yet, they won’t be likely to any time soon. Like New London, this is a conversation worth having, what Reyes calls “a good problem.”

If towns and cities across the state are wise, it’s a good problem that should go viral.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

A Future Vision

New Milford imagines what riverfront can be

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conomic development works a lot like the famous movie quote from Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come.” Sometimes, the most important part of economic part is the vision – especially if you have a space you know that would be perfect for it. In New Milford, that space is the riverfront areas that the town hopes will be a boon to the local economy.

With several years of work behind them, starting in 2016 when they said a “large-scale natural gas power plant was proposed for the town-owned Century Brass location”, the town of New Milford is inching ever closer to realizing a new and exciting riverfront area. Back in 2020, they wrote in their New Milford’s Riverfront Revitalization Plan that they are going to “reimagine one of [their] untapped resources – the Housatonic Riverfront and its connections to [the] historic Village Center business district.”

New Milford Mayor Pete Bass recently joined the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave show on the I-95 Morning Show to talk about what he imagined his town could look like in 10 years if plans got underway: “You’d come over Veteran’s Bridge into Downtown, you’d be making a left to go on Young’s Field Road and what currently is the green space which has the tennis courts and the skate park and the ball fields, you’d have the ball fields we’re going to be moving those to a state-of-the-art community ball field. […]

Then, down there you will hopefully have a splash pad that will convert to an ice-skating rink in the winter time. They’ll be a band shell down there so we can do live performances by the river. […] We’d expand the skate park, expand the basketball and tennis courts there as well and they’ll also be a lot of green space for people to be able to relax and enjoy the view of the riverfront and all of the wonderful activities that would happen in that area. Then, right next to the green space is the Public Works area, we’re actually in the process of moving those that whole facility over to Century Brass which is about half a mile down the road and freeing up all of that area so we can redevelop all of that. We want to make it really where it kind of attaches to the downtown area as well so that you have a true relationship with the river to downtown which is what we all want. That is kind of what we would see, hopefully in 10 years.”

More than several towns have taken this approach – from Middletown which has taken back riverfront areas to New Haven which is also endeavoring to reassess the use of their waterfront areas along Long Wharf.

Projects don’t just happen – they take the work of the town employees, residents, businesses, and more.

But they always start with an idea and a vision. Then comes the building, and as we know, if you build it, they will come.

SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 23

EDUCATION The Education section of CT&C is sponsored by

www.gatewayct.edu

How to Support Afterschool Programs in Your City

By Brandis Stockman

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or years, afterschool programs have kept youth safe, inspired them to learn, provided enriching opportunities, and helped working families. Today, during a time when many youth and families are struggling to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, these programs are needed more than ever. Despite this high need, many youth don’t have access to high-quality afterschool programs, particularly those living in underserved communities. According to the recent America After 3PM report, unmet demand for afterschool programs has skyrocketed. For every child in an afterschool program, three are waiting to get in – this equates to over 25 million youth across the country.

Research indicates that youth attending high-quality afterschool programs show gains in academic performance, school day attendance, behavior, and mental health. This can, in turn, impact high school graduation rates, post-secondary degree attainment, career opportunities, community health and wellness, and financial well-being. And voters agree that afterschool programs can have a significant impact in communities – support for afterschool programs is at an all-time high, with 81% of voters in 2022 reporting that expanding access to programs should be a priority.

NLC has supported city leaders in bringing afterschool programs to their communities for over 20 years. If you aren’t sure where to start, would like more information about existing program collaboration and sustainability, would like to learn about some of the related research, and are interested in hearing about ways to fund these programs in your community, join NLC and the American Institutes for Research in an upcoming webinar, “How to Support Afterschool Programs in Your Community”. This webinar will discuss what the terms “high-quality” and “comprehensive” afterschool programs refer to and how to bring or expand access to these programs in your city. Of particular interest to many city leaders will be hearing from the Honorable Mayor Jeff Silvestrini of Millcreek, Utah, who will discuss his approach to implementing a citywide system of youth programs on a limited budget.

24 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | SEPTEMBER 2023

In addition, city leaders can support afterschool programs by signing on as an ally or by pledging to the Engage Every Student initiative, a bold call to action from Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to provide high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs for every child who wants to participate.

Cities can also host or support Lights On Afterschool events in recognition of the importance of afterschool programs nationwide.

City leaders have a vital role to play in helping their community’s youth recover from the pandemic, and supporting high-quality afterschool programs can pave a path forward toward a promising future for all residents.

About the Author Brandis Stockman is the Senior Program Specialist, Education and Expanded Learning for the Center for Leadership, Education, Advancement & Development at the National League of Cities.

A New Path Forward

EDUCATION

Danbury schools experiment with new high school model

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or generations, students have been told that they have to do good in school so they can go to college and get a good job. But not every job needs a four year college, some career pathways have accreditation, some can take you through real world experience. So what does a good school system do?

It prepares you for the career path you want, not just a single proscribed pathway. That is what Danbury Public Schools is doing as it rebrands it’s high schools as The Academies of Danbury.

From their website, they said that “Danbury Public Schools high school model will transition into the Career Academy Model with its first cohort of students starting fall of 2023.” But that does that mean?

Students in their freshman year will learn about the different academies – currently at the Danbury West Campus and Danbury High Main Campus. They are Emerging Technologies and Entrepreneurship, Scientific Innovation & Medicine, Information & Cybersecurity, Professional & Public Service, Art, Engineering & Design, and Communication & Design. There are 19 careers across these six pathways, so students won’t be shoehorned into too general a category, while not being overly specified either.

After this period, students complete “a pathway selection process” that will then be reviewed by an outside agency, where they will be assigned to their academy for the next year. If they find that it is not a good fit for them, they will be allowed to change their pathway at the end of their sophomore year depending on the availability of space. Each academy will have between 425 to 450 students.

This is a novel concept for the Danbury and the state, according to the Danbury News Times, but for that transition, Danbury has brought on Brent Dean in late 2022. He comes to Connecticut from Nashville, Tennessee where he was an academy coach for five years. He will be the primary contact person and liaison between local businesses and community-based organizations and the schools’ secondary education leaders, according to a press release.

These links between businesses and the school is the key to this whole idea. As Connecticut looks to keep more of its future generations in state, it will need to say to businesses and organizations that it will have the students to fill those jobs. With this first in the state experiment, Danbury is leading the pack in setting the career pathway for its future generations.

SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 25

ENERGY A State Of Transition

Newtown is bringing homeowners into the fold

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s with other articles in this issue, it’s become an overwhelming fact that we are in a state of transition from the old world to the new. In every way, technology is changing the way we do things and we are increasingly relying on electricity as a source of power.

In many ways, we’ve written about how municipalities are putting solar panels on schools, or investing in microgrids, or even offshore wind. But Newtown is among several towns to participate in PowerSmart to help them utilize their own power generating capabilities.

According to the website, “PowerSmart is the newest community-based clean energy campaigns,” which they say is “Solarize + Storage.” It’s the same basic technology as Solar Panels and Batteries, but a little bit more. During the day, the sun creates power, which the batteries store and allow you tot use even at night when there isn’t any sun – or as they note, when the grid goes down – but they’ll also add to the grid.

Participants agree to have their batteries partially drawn down by Eversource during peak demand times in summer and winter, according to info on the website, and in exchange they will be paid quarterly based on the amount of electricity that is drawn from their systems. There are safeguards in place for emergencies like the aforementioned power outages.

26 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | SEPTEMBER 2023

Homeowners can enroll in this program with systems they currently have, or by enrolling in the Energy Storage Solutions program that is administered by the CT Green Bank, Eversource, and UI. Currently only 28 towns and cities are participating in the program.

From an article announcing this partnership in the Newtown Bee, local Sustainable Energy Commission Chair Kathy Quinn said that the town is seeing about nine building permits for solar panels and related infrastructure per month. This isn’t surprising, as the town itself has achieved 84 percent of its municipal energy consumption through solar, according to figures in the article.

It’s an important piece of the puzzle to integrate families to the greater community energy structure. Even if not every household utilized this program, there’s still a chance that in the event of a power outage, a family up the road can come charge their phones or just watch tv and hang out at the house of a family that connects with PowerSmart. Thanks to Newtown and the other 27 towns in this partnership, residents will have the tools to help make the changes for a more stable tomorrow.

ENERGY

HVAC Upgrades

The Key to a Healthy and Sustainable Future for Connecticut Schools Article provided by: Resource Lighting + Energy, Inc.

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oor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has continued to create an unhealthy learning environment in public schools throughout Connecticut. As temperatures continue to rise, wildfires worsen air quality, and heavy rains create moisture that encourages mold growth, it is increasingly important to upgrade Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve IAQ and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

According to S.B. 423, An Act Improving Indoor Air Quality in Public School Classrooms: “By June 30, 2026, schools would be required to maintain indoor temperatures between 68 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit (the same temperature range that OSHA recommends for office buildings) and relative humidity levels between 20 to 60 percent” (CEA, 2022).

HVAC upgrades are necessary for many CT schools to meet the proposed temperature and humidity restrictions and to ensure that students are provided with a learning environment where they can thrive. If HVAC-related problems, such as older systems that have damaged vents or sealed vents that prevent proper circulation of fresh air, are not addressed, this “can lead to indoor air quality problems and mold” and even cause “schools to adjust their schedules temporarily” (GAO, 2020). These adverse impacts of outdated HVAC systems and poor IAQ are already the reality for many schools in Connecticut. For example: In 2021, two New Haven schools closed permanently because of poor air conditions (Zuckerman, 2022).

The state’s largest teachers’ union says each year more educators are filing workers’ compensation cases related to air quality issues in their schools (Staples, 2022).

Teachers are repeatedly reporting classroom temperatures exceeding 80, 90, and even 100 degrees Fahrenheit (CEA, 2022).

It has become necessary for teachers to relocate classrooms or even send students home from school because of unbearable classroom temperatures (CEA, 2022; Zuckerman, 2022) In addition to improving IAQ, upgrading outdated HVAC systems helps to create a more sustainable future.

Older HVAC systems are often less efficient than newer models, meaning that they use more energy to heat and cool buildings. Upgrading to newer, more efficient systems can help to reduce energy consumption, therefore lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, by transitioning to HVAC systems that are powered with electricity, such as heat pumps, buildings can eliminate on-site fossil fuel usage and even utilize renewable energy to power these systems.

By updating HVAC systems, we can “improve student performance including addition skills, number comparison, and reading and comprehension” and “reduce absenteeism due to lung diseases such as asthma” (American Lung Association, 2023). Now is the time to help students reach their full potential and build a brighter, more sustainable future for Connecticut.

REFERENCES American Lung Association. (2023, January 1). Indoor air quality (IAQ) guide for schools. Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/clean-air/at-school/iaqguide Connecticut Education Association (CEA). (2022, July 21). Teachers speak up in support of bill to set air quality, classroom temperature standards.

Retrieved from https://cea.org/teachers-speak-up-in-support-of-bill-to-setair-quality-classroom-temperature-standards/ Government Accountability Office (GAO). (2020). Air quality in schools: EPA needs to take additional steps to help schools address air quality concerns.

Report No. GAO-20-494. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Staples, W. (2022, January 24). Survey: One-third of Connecticut school districts don’t have enough money for air quality programs. Retrieved from https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2022-01-24/survey-one-third-of-connecticutschool-districts-dont-have-enough-money-for-air-quality-programs Zuckerman, R. (2022, January 26). CT criticized for denying dozens of school air quality grants. Retrieved from https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/ ct-criticized-denying-dozens-school-air-quality-18152966.php

SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 27

ENVIRONMENT

Before The Flood

Towns work together to save future

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ith recent flooding around the country, towns and cities in highrisk areas need to begin assessing areas of need. The Towns of Clinton, Westbrook, and Old Saybrook along with the Borough of Fenwick, have come together to create the 4 Shore Resiliency Website to help them develop a Coastal Resiliency Plan with input from the local community.

These communities are located at the nexus of Long Island Sound and the Connecticut River, making them “highly vulnerable to the risks associated with climate change,” according to a press release on the subject. They note that the frequency of coastal storms, dangerous flooding, and irregular patterns have made preparation an absolute necessity.

Together, they applied for a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Long Island Sound Futures Fund which they ultimately received to develop the regional resiliency plan. According to the press release:

“A local Executive Committee comprised of representatives from Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, and Fenwick has been formed to guide and oversee the development of the regional Resiliency Plan, and a team of consultants (Colliers Engineering & Design and Anchor QEA) were recently hired to draft the Plan and provide technical expertise throughout the planning process. When complete, the Four Shore Coastal Resiliency Plan will include a comprehensive assessment of risks associated with sea level rise and future storm events, a shared vision for the future, and recommended strategies and projects to ensure the long-term sustainability and well-being of the local community and the surrounding region.”

The release notes that working together will allow them to tackle projects that will have broader benefits than outcomes possible with small-scale ones proposed by just one town, or even one property owner.

Ultimately, what makes this proj-

28 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | SEPTEMBER 2023

ect different than a run-of-the-mill study is the website www.4ShoreResiliency.com, that seeks community input in the effort. The public can submit feedback, learn about upcoming events, and even use an interactive map “to identify community assets and show how flooding and erosion have impacted the local community.” This is one of the first steps in the process relies on the people who know their community best – the people who live, work and play in that area.

In addition to the website, the communities will be holding several in-person meetings.

It is said that the best time to start a project was 10 years ago, the second-best time is today. For those that saw the flooding from Vermont down to Connecticut over the past summer, it makes this old adage more immediate. Preserving our environment, our homes, the places where we work and play is going to be crucial in the face of unprecedented weather patterns.

The 4 Shore Resiliency Plan shows the power in working together.

It’s Getting Hot In Here

ENVIRONMENT

Groton shows that sustainability is the cool thing to do

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t seems as though every week brought another unseasonably warm day. In early September, just as classes began, schools around the state had to close because temperatures hit over 100 degrees on the heat index. With this trend likely to stick around, towns and cities are going to have to prepare for the side effects of heat. This past July, the Town of Groton held an informational public meeting on planning for extreme heat.

Hosted by Megan Granato, the Groton Sustainability and Resilience Manager and led by Clare McCarthy, a Sustainability Fellow, the presentation was delivered in two parts – defining extreme heat and how Groton is vulnerable to this, followed by ways that towns and cities can combat the effects of heat. She started off with a pretty devastating factoids ripped from the headlines – by most climate scientist estimates, earth experienced its hottest day on record this past July. In Arizona, hospitalizations were up to pandemic levels. And even here in Connecticut, Jason Aldean was forced to cut a concert short due to heat.

After covering topics like heat waves, heat index, wet bulb temperature, she got into the impacts of heat on health. Approximately 700 people die from heat alone in the United States, but in just the Ledge Light Health District, nearly 12,000 people had heat related visits in 2022 alone. This can be due to any number of heat-related illness, she said, dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke being prime among them.

But also, mental and behavioral health are affected as well – with one slide saying that “heat stress [is] associated with anxiety, suicide rates.” When it’s not producing effects in humans, it’s affecting the world around us. Roads fail and vehicles overheat, there are blackouts, longer pest seasons, and greater impacts on agriculture.

Concerningly, the amount of days over 90 increases dramatically from 3 to near 100. To put this in perspective, some projections are suggesting that in the bestcase scenario, Groton’s climate will be like Baltimore’s by the end of the century. In the worst case, it’ll be more like Birmingham or Austin’s.

Cities around the state and country are already looking for ways to adapt. Cooling centers are a major help for folks who cannot afford to be running air conditioning units all day, and there’s even utility assistance for residents. Towns and cities can also adopt hot weather protocols, like making buildings efficient or having lighter sidewalks that reflect heat better.

What matters for towns like Groton and the rest of the state is being prepared. Like predicting a hurricane, there is some variance to the trajectory, but experienced meteorologists know pretty generally where the storm is going to go. We don’t know if Connecticut is going to be hotter like a Baltimore or if we’re going to have to prepare for Texas heat by the end of the century. But we do know that we have to be prepared.

SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 29

GOVERNANCE Playing It Safe

Ridgefield takes top spot as “Safest City”

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hat does it mean to be the safest city in America? According to Neighborhood Scout, you can ask Ridgefield, Connecticut, as they ranked as their safest city in America for the first time ever.

Beating out Franklin, Massachusetts for the top spot, Ridgefield took the top spot on the list with an overall crime rate of 1.9 per 1,000 population – making it safer than 92% of U.S. Cities. While several towns in the Northeast did make the list alongside these two, only five Connecticut towns were selected among the “Safe 100.” They included Wallingford, Cheshire, Greenwich, and New Milford, in order of appearance.

The ranking takes cities with 25,000 or more people and uses FBI data to give each a ranking by “Total Crime Rate.” While this list is not meant to shame any city

that does not end up on the list, it’s also important to note that the site is frequently asked why certain “dangerous cities” end up on the list. They respond that “Some cities have reputations for being dangerous that are not supported by crime statistics.”

Commenting on the declaration to Patch.com, First Selectman Rudy Marconi noted that Ridgefield has been a quiet town “for many, many years,” continuing that “The police do an excellent job. Understanding situations and discussing situations and not necessarily taking the hard position, ‘You broke the law, that’s it, period, you’re under arrest.’”

As noted in the Patch article, most of the cities on this list benefit from the low population threshold.

Ridgefield itself just “squeaked by” with 25,011 residents, just 11 more than the population threshold. According to their figures, the median

This is Leroy

population of towns in the top 100 is 32,000, and only Carmel, Indiana made the list as a city with a population over 100,000.

No matter what, at the end of the day creating a town is something that is done collectively.

First Selectman Marconi said that Ridgefield is a lot of “Young people raising their families in a town that appreciates respect.” It’s not just cops or residents or town workers, but everyone working together.

There will always be more work to do, but it’s important to celebrate successes like these to show that it is possible to make our state the best it can be. In Ridgefield, First Selectman Rudy Marconi says it’s about respect – and that is true in every town and city in this state.

When we remember to respect each other, we respect ourselves and our towns.

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8/2/22 9:32 AM

Microgrants, Big Impact

GOVERNANCE

Stamford helps small orgs beautify the city

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owns and cities are in charge of running things, of course, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are passive actors like the great Wizard of Oz. Municipal governments play an active role in their communities, and in many communities, the CEOs have the chance to support local organizations or businesses through microgrant programs. Recently, Mayor Caroline Simmons of Stamford announced the recipients of her city’s 2023 Mayor’s Community Microgrant Program.

Joined by the Director of Partnerships and Community Engagement Janeene Freeman and several community members and recipients, Mayor Simmons announced the 21 organizations that would each receive a grant award of between $1,150 and $8,000. In total, the Community Microgrant Program had $75,000 available for distribution toward specific projects aimed at improving the quality of life across Stamford’s neighborhoods, according to a press release from the city.

There were 31 applications.

A microgrant is a “small, one-time only, cash award given to community groups and others for short-term community projects,” according to a resource from the University of Kansas. And they have far reaching benefits: “When used correctly, they can engage citizens in creative community betterment efforts, and generate real accomplishments citizens can take pride in.”

The highest recipient was Pollinator Pathways, which received $8,000 to install pollinator gardens across three parks – Chestnut Hill, Cove Island, and Kosciuszko Parks. Several projects fell under the banner of beautification, many involving planting trees or native plants. Other projects include three murals, one at the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, one at Hart Magnet School, and one for Liberation Programs.

“I want to congratulate all the recipients of the 2023 Mayor’s Community Microgrant Program,” Simmons said in the release. “Each of the recipient organizations create opportunities to enhance their neighborhoods and invest in projects that not only benefit our City but build connection and community with others. I am excited to see and visit these projects in the coming months and I want to thank the countless volunteers for all the time and work they put into each of their projects.”

These kinds of projects may not be a new bridge or a new housing project, but each small act of civic pride is the testament to the ability of organizations to make a difference in people’s daily experience in town.

Thanks to leadership like Mayor Simmons in Stamford, these micro projects are going to make a big difference.

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GOVERNANCE New Haven Is One Of Eight

City gets grant through National League of Cities partnership

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ne of CCM’s most important non-municipal relations is with the National League of Cities (NLC). Throughout the pandemic, they stuck by our members in championing our fight for additional ARPA funds. They have been essential partners in programs like CCM CARES and CARES in Action.

So we were happy to find out that one of our very own members had been chosen to participate in their Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant program.

In a press release sent to CCM

by NLC we were informed that “through a competitive application process,” New Haven, Connecticut is one of just eight cities that will participate in the grant program which disperses more than $100,000 “to support local initiatives designed to improve the economic mobility of their residents.”

The release continues: Funds awarded to the cities will be used to launch or expand solutions in one of three key areas: creating quality employment opportunities for residents, providing equitable support to strengthen or start small businesses, or helping residents connect with services or public benefits.

“We know that the economic vitality of a city is directly linked to the economic stability of the people who live there,” NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony said. “Through this program, NLC is thrilled to work with this group of eight incredible communities to advance economic mobility for all of their residents.”

The other municipalities include Dallas, Texas; Gaithersburg, Maryland; Honolulu, Hawaii; Nashua, New Hampshire; Redmond, Washington; Redwood City, California; and South Bend, Indiana; and include projects on include increasing outreach and engagement

activities to ensure more residents connect with Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and financial services, as well as expanding small business support offerings so small businesses have access to online markets, training, and commercial space that help them grow.

Each of the eight selected cities will receive grants of up to $15,000, along with coaching from NLC and peer learning opportunities via NLC’s Economic Mobility Peer Network, to accelerate each municipality’s efforts to test innovative solutions that advance residents’ economic mobility. NLC will showcase the new or expanded initiatives grantee municipalities will implement at an Economic Mobility Convening before NLC’s City Sum-

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mit conference in Atlanta, Georgia, this November.

“Much like municipalities are members of CCM, we are members of NLC,” CCM Executive Director and CEO Joe DeLong said, “And just as each of you finds value in our organization, we find value in theirs through their various programs, educational opportunities and support. It is excellent to hear that one of our members in New Haven has successfully won grant funding against tough competition, I’m sure.”

The Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant program and Economic Mobility Peer Network are made possible with the continued support of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 33

PUBLIC SAFETY New Tech: Good, Bad, Or Just New? License plate readers a new tool in public safety toolbox

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echnology is meant to enhance every aspect of our lives – from how we connect with each other to how we work.

Crucially, technology continues to show us that it can help keep us safe in quite possibly the most dangerous area we all share – the roads. From lane assist technology, back up cameras, and more; new features are added all the time to make the driving experience safer and easier. But when things get out of line, our local police also have new technology to keep the public safe. Here are a few examples: Glastonbury recently installed over a dozen Automated License Plate readers throughout town. Although these readers are not necessarily a new technology, they have seen increased acceptance around the state and country. According to the Glastonbury Police General Codes, this grabs a license plate through sophisticated tech, and cross references it again a “hot list.” This includes stolen cars, vehicles owned by persons of interest, and vehicles associated with AMBER Alerts. In order to avoid system abuse, only authorized users have access to the system, and a query is not actionable in several cases. For instance, it will allow information to be accessible for a warrant, but not for people on supervised release.

This tech has been adopted by the New Haven Police Department as well, which aims to curb “street takeovers.” These takeovers have become more common; throughout the state, drivers will be familiar with a scene of dirt bikes and quads holding up traffic by driving erratically through city streets. Chasing these crowds will be useless because of the numbers of riders, and departments like New Haven typically have a no-chase policy anyway. In addition to the license plate readers, the city has also adopted the Starchase GPS launcher (which CT&C has written about previously)

According to the Glastonbury Police General Codes, this grabs a license plate through sophisticated tech, and cross references it again a “hot list.”

in concert with drone technology.

The goal is to minimize the risk to the general public and find the suspects later, at a safer time.

Perhaps the most controversial new tech that will be in Connecticut is the Red Light and Speed Cameras. While some disagree with its usage, other towns and cities are ready to install them as soon as they are able. This shouldn’t come as a shock, over 300 people died on Connecticut roads in 2022, according to figures cited in the Hartford Courant. Distracted driving is certainly an issue here, but it

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doesn’t take a physics degree to understand that coming to a stop from 50 mph is harder than coming to a stop from 25 mph. Hartford is one of those towns and they plan on implementing the tech by 2024 at the earliest.

Municipalities and local police departments will continue to use all the tools at their disposal to keep their residents safe. As technologies, new and old, prove their worth by allowing us to safely monitor our roads, it’ll be more surprising if the technology doesn’t spread.

Putting Out (EV) Fires

PUBLIC SAFETY

Training is held for emergency responders fighting EV fires

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hile we celebrate new technologies and the way they can afford to make our world a better and safer place. We must also acknowledge the risks that sometimes come with the same new technologies. In the same way that there were no automobile accidents before the rise of automobiles, there were no electric vehicle fires before the recent rise in technology (not counting the earlier models from the 19th century). That’s why, recently, the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition and the Capitol Clean Cities Coalition came together to offer fire safety training for EV fires.

According to the release 24 first responders from around Connecticut attended the first of three EV safety trainings on June 17th. The kickoff training was held at and in conjunction with the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks.

Topics covered included An introduction to HEVs/EVs, basic electrical concepts and hazards; HEV/EV vehicle types; Batteries and systems; Initial response actions – including vehicle identification, immobilization and disabling procedures; Extrication operations; Battery breaches; Vehicle submersion; Vehicle fires; Post incident handling of vehicles and incidents involving charging stations; Connecticut specific responses, including best practices documents for EVs, fixed energy storage and micromobility devices as released by the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control.

Paul Norwood, director of training at the Connecticut Fire Academy, said in the release electric vehicle fires present a unique challenge to firefighters. “Electric vehicles have hit the market so quickly and the technology is also changing so quickly, it’s very hard for the fire service to keep up with those changes so we can be prepared for any instance,” Norwood said.

In separate reporting by the CT News Junkie, they noted a single instance in Hamden where a new all electric transit bus caught fire spontaneously. While no one was hurt, it was a difficult process to put the fire out, and was allowed to “burn out” away from other vehicles. Unlike non-electric vehicles – which you might remember carry gallons of flammable liquids just to run – EVs batteries cannot be cooled off and managed in the same way that a gas fire can just be put out.

Of course, this isn’t to say that we should halt the adoption of a new technology. In fact, EVs are often safer in crashes precisely because they are less likely to catch fire. According to Kelley Blue Book, data shows that 25 out of every 100,000 EVs caught fire over a certain period, while 1,530 gas powered cars caught fire in the same period. But that doesn’t stop the risks associated in the rare case that it does. Our local firefighters need to be prepared, and it’s better to learn now, than to wait for 2035 when all gas-powered cars will not be sold in the state.

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SOCIAL WELFARE Strike A Pose

Yoga In Our City is expanding with help from Sustainable CT

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t CCM we love to share great stories about our friends, and with the Sustainable CT partnership with Yoga In Our City, we get to support two of our friends. This past August, the two organizations successfully crowdfunded over $15,000 to continue to bring Yoga to Connecticut towns and cities which take place in 22 parks across the state, and enable them to expand its reach to more communities across the state.

This effort was made possible by the Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund, a CT&C favorite.

Sustainable CT provides opportunities for grant funding through its Community Match Fund program to help communities promote economic well-being and enhance equity, all while respecting the finite capacity of the natural environment. The program is designed to support all Connecticut municipalities, regardless of size, geography, or resources. Sustainable CT empowers municipalities to create a high collective impact for current and future residents.

Over the summer, Yoga In our City ran a dedicated crowdfunding page

with a goal to raise $7,500 from donors, with a top match of $7,500 from Sustainable CT. In total, the two raised $15,106 including one major donation from the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity (another CCM partner in Representation Matters).

As we’ve learned from their episode of the Municipal Voice, Yoga In Our City is a mental and physical wellness program that currently holds over 700 classes aimed at folks of all ages, sizes, and abilities in six cities – Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, New London, Waterbury, and Willimantic. Their hope is to reach even more cities and folks across the state.

“Wellness should not be a luxury.

Every person, every family, deserves opportunities to improve their mental and physical health in a way that is accessible, convenient, and sustainable,” said Thomas Clynch, Founder of Yoga In Our City said in a press release on the fundraiser. “Regardless of your age or skill level, Yoga In Our City is designed for everyone to have a positive and transformative experience.

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We are grateful to Sustainable CT for their partnership and the opportunity to expand our program to continue to create healthier communities in Connecticut.”

“We’re thrilled to support an organization like Yoga In Our City that puts residents at the forefront of creating positive, impactful change in our communities,” said Joseph Dickerson, community organizer, and partnership manager, Sustainable CT. “Like all Match Fund projects, this initiative is community-led and community funded, demonstrating the power of people working together to make change where they live.”

It’s exciting to see success in our communities. When a Sustainable CT Match Fund project is completely funded, it becomes just another proof that when we work together we can make great things happen.

Seeing Yoga In Our City raise funds to expand their efforts to more folks across the state means that more people will benefit from their program moving forward.

For more info about the Sustainable CT Match Fund, visit https:// sustainablect.org/funding

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SOCIAL WELFARE The Bare Necessities West Haven does right by its peers

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espite record low unemployment and a thriving stock market, not everyone feels the benefits of a good economy.

There are many more factors that make it hard for families to make ends meet – inflation for one has impacted everyone’s grocery budgets. Those with children in school might send their kids to school without enough to eat or even have basic necessities at home like shampoo. That’s why a group at Bailey Middle School stepped up for a free pantry for students in need.

Over the past three years, and especially during lockdown, many issues at home became exacerbated for students. The digital divide is one CCM has talked about often in the pages of CT&C. It was other students who decided to start a food pantry for their fellow classmates. While the shortages associated with the early lockdowns have subsided, the need for the pantry remained.

being accepted and appreciated.

Along with photos of fully stocked shelves, she posted an Amazon. com wish list of foods that they were looking for.

concentration, 76% saw decreased academic performance, 62% saw behavioral issues increased, and 47% noticed children getting sick more often.

It should go without saying, but the negative effects of hunger on students is sever. According to No Kid Hungry, “in a pre-pandemic survey, nearly 60% of children from low-income communities said they had come to school hungry, and the majority of those kids admit that it makes school difficult.”

There’s much more that can be done to help families deal with food insecurity, but what the students and teachers are doing at Bailey Middle School is an example of the power of community. Thanks to their efforts, students that are struggling with hunger or lack of basic necessities at home can safely grab what they need, for free, thanks to their peers.

From the teacher’s point of view, they assess that 80% observed the negative impact of hunger on

In 2022, Bailey Middle School opened their Food Pantry with a generous $12,500 donation from Stop & Shop. It is replete with toiletries, your standard shelf stable food items, drinks, as well as treats like cake and brownie mixes for children to bring home and bake.

From a West Haven Voice article late last year, they noted that “Students or parents can go to an administrator and say they’re having trouble affording food that week, and the administrator will bring them to the pantry where they can shop and fill a bag with essential items.”

The pantry is maintained by the Bailey Interact Club with guidance from Dina Jones, Stacy Reynolds Sutton and Molly Alexis, according to a social media post by Jones, a teacher at the school. She noted that with school starting soon, donations to stock the pantry were 38 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | SEPTEMBER 2023

The pantry has cleverly set-up an Amazon Wishlist of needed items that people can donate.

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Derek Watson at 203.498.3035 or dwatson@ccm-ct.org SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 39

TECHNOLOGY Street Scan Will Scan Your Streets Manchester is latest to use CCM partner program

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t seems like everywhere you turn, there is road construction going on. Thanks to one of the largest federal investments in infrastructure, municipalities, counties, and states have been able to accomplish some projects that have been put off for years or even decades. But how does a municipality know which project to tackle first? When it comes to roads, Manchester has chosen StreetScan, a CCM partner, to help them decide.

StreetScan, a Massachusetts-based company, uses vehicle-mounted sensing technology to catalog each street in a given area, assess the damage and health of the road, and evaluate which roads need what repairs.

In some instances, while it might seem counterintuitive, maintaining a newer road might take priority over another road that is near failure. Maintaining new roads can extend their life by several years, while another road near failure might have one year left in it to apply for a grant or to do a comprehensive rebuild of the road or even several roads in the same area at the same time. The point is – you don’t know without the data.

That is one of the primary reasons that CCM partnered with StreetScan. As we say in our partner materials, in

Connecticut’s current economic climate, data-driven decisions continue to play a more prominent role in municipal budgeting. While StreetScan has partnered with over 100 communities, primarily in the New England area, they have saved money for CCM members in the past: Better data means better planning, better planning means better decisions, and better decisions means better costs.

Using proprietary AI technology, StreetScan was able to deliver an overall Pavement Condition Index (PCI) to the Town of Somers which gave them a “data-based structure to move forward with a road bonding package.”

They provide towns with full access to online portals from Streetlogix and a Storymap that will help towns clarify what roads were prioritized and why, which will be especially helpful in sharing with the public.

While nobody likes driving on a busted road, repairing them isn’t as easy at ABC 123. Fortunately, for towns and cities like Manchester, there are companies like StreetScan that have the technology and tools to collect, assess, and evaluate data to be used in a sensible manner that will help them save money in the long term and keep their roads clean and pot-hole free.

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TECHNOLOGY

The Future’s Too Bright

Greenwich and Westport turn off the lights

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ot many people remember the one-hit wonders, Timbuk 3, but many people remember their big hit, “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.” Nearly 40 years ago, they could not have known how true that sentiment would be – that the future is so bright, that we need to do something about it. Both Westport and Greenwich are embarking on plans to deal with what is known as light pollution in our towns and cities.

What is light pollution? National Geographic says that like the pollution we get from burning fossil fuels and creating non-organic materials (e.g. plastics), light pollution is “the excessive or inappropriate use of outdoor artificial light, affecting human health, wildlife behavior, and our ability to observe stars and other celestial objects.” Many people will be familiar with nighttime overhead photographs of famous locations, where you can make out large urban centers simply by their glow.

What most people don’t know is that this is not only incredibly harmful to sleep regulation, but can have far reaching negative health impacts. According to the National Geographic site, light pollution can inhibit melatonin production which can result in “sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress, anxiety, and other health problems,” most concerning is a link between reduced melatonin levels and cancer.

But it’s not just humans. Birds and insects are often confused by artificial light, causing problems with

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migration. While it may be hard to see the immediate impacts of moths being drawn to a light, these issues have far reaching effects that can end up interfering with our ability to sleep (birds waking up earlier) or eat (less pollinators like birds and bees means less food).

So towns and cities like Westport and Greenwich are starting to react. It starts with regulation of lights on buildings. The state has implemented regulations of lights on state buildings, and Westport would begin by prohibiting certain kinds of lights, while Greenwich wants to use technology to enforce when lights are on. IN an article from the Greenwich Time, Planning Director Patrick Larow said that “A big part of this regulation is to use technology — light sensors, motion sensors, that type of technology — so lights aren’t on all night.”

As we draw closer and closer to the 150th anniversary of the electric lightbulb, we must ask ourselves how much light is too much light. Without the lightbulb, we might not have had so much technological advancement as we have seen in a century and a half – can you imagine a space flight without them – but if we are seeing health drawbacks, we can also ask what simple changes can be made to help. As Westport and Greenwich have shown, sometimes it’s a few simple things to start, see what works and what doesn’t, so our children won’t have to be like that other 80s one-hit wonder, Corey Hart, and wear their sunglasses at night.

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• This program is no cost to CCM-member municipalities and no cost to taxpayers. There are no limits on the use of the card – no income limits, no age requirements.

Even some pet prescriptions are covered for medications that also treat a human condition.

• Average savings for CT residents has been 50%, with some participating towns and cities showing an average of 70% savings.

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The Prescription Discount Card Program Is Saving Residents In Participating CCM-Member Towns And Cities Millions Of Dollars In Prescription Costs.

If your municipality is not part of the CCM prescription discount program service and you would like more information, please contact Alison Geisler, at 203-498-3029, or ageisler@ccm-ct.org.

SEPTEMBER 2023 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 43

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