Connecticut Town & City - February 2020 by Connecticut Conference of Municipalities

February 2020

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, Michael J. Freda First Selectman of North Haven 1st Vice President, Luke A. Bronin Mayor of Hartford 2nd Vice President, Jayme J. Stevenson First Selectman of Darien DIRECTORS Elinor Carbone, Mayor of Torrington Thomas Dunn, Mayor of Wolcott

Inside this issue...

Justin Elicker, Mayor of New Haven John A. Elsesser, Town Manager of Coventry Laura Francis, First Selectman of Durham Joseph P. Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport Barbara M. Henry, First Selectman of Roxbury Matthew Hoey, First Selectman of Guilford Laura Hoydick, Mayor of Stratford Catherine Iino, First Selectwoman of Killingworth Matthew S. Knickerbocker, First Selectman of Bethel Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor of East Hartford Curt Leng, Mayor of Hamden W. Kurt Miller, First Selectman of Seymour Rudolph P. Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield

U.S. Census: Make CT Count

Brandon Robertson, Town Manager of Avon

Governor Lamont’s State Budget Proposal

John Salomone, Town Manager of Norwich

Healthy Towns & Cities

PFAS: Water Contamination

Michael Passero, Mayor of New London

Scott Shanley, General Manager of Manchester Erin E. Stewart, Mayor of New Britain Mark B. Walter, Town Administrator of Columbia PAST PRESIDENTS Neil O’Leary, Mayor of Waterbury

CCM Podcast: Live From the Capitol

CIRMA News

Town News

Susan S. Bransfield, First Selectwoman of Portland Mark D. Boughton, Mayor of Danbury Herbert C. Rosenthal, Former First Selectman of Newtown HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS Leo Paul, Jr., Former First Selectman of Litchfield CCM STAFF Executive Director, Joe DeLong Deputy Director, Ron Thomas Managing Editor, Kevin Maloney Layout & Design, Matthew Ford Writer, Christopher Gilson

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Making Sure the Count Counts Help shape the future of Connecticut

ou may have noticed that we have been talking about the Census a lot lately, but that’s because so much depends upon this count. Federal infrastructure, education, and public safety funding; representation in Congress and the state legislature; and even economic development all rely on the data collected. That is why we at the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) have created a plan of action and developed materials for you to use to make sure every resident is counted. The Census Bureau is dealing with constrained budgets, distrust in government, informal living arrangements, a mobile population, increasingly diverse populations, and rapidly changing technology. Because each and every person living in America at the time the Census takes place must be counted, they need help from towns and cities who are time and again ranked as the most trusted level of government. While they have instituted many changes to help overcome these challenges — for the first time ever, the U.S. Census Bureau will accept responses online and by phone — they still need the help of the elected officials closest to the people. And CCM wants to help our local officials guarantee a successful count. CCM built our plan of action to make sure our communities are well-informed and can share that info with their residents. CCM has urged towns to: • Inform residents that the census is easy and protects their data • Create or join a local Complete Count Committee • Partner with trusted voices and influential leaders who are committed to increasing census participation • Educate residents on the importance of completing the census • Participate in Point in Time Counts of those experiencing homelessness • Help with recruiting for census jobs Each town or city can create their own Complete Count Committee (CCC), and serve as state and local “census ambassador.” These committees are whatever a municipality needs them to be. They can include outreach to rural areas without physical mailboxes, or partnering with organizations in areas where English is not a primary language.

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This is important in communities that might be leery of filling out a governmental form. The census does not reveal personal data and federal law protects responses — info will not be shared to any agency or court, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security, and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. In fact, all Census Bureau staff take a lifetime oath to protect personal information. Many of you have seen the work we’ve been putting out on social media. We’ve created badges for you to share with the residents that follow your pages on Facebook or Instagram. There will be downloadable posters in English and Spanish for you to put up in your town halls. There will be booklets on best ideas, one for community outreach and one for local officials like yourself. The Census Bureau also says that issuing a simple news release announcing your support of the 2020 Census initiatives and activities will help. They suggest sharing the release with local media and offering interviews to discuss the importance of the 2020 Census, and going further, inviting a Census Bureau Regional Director to help. In the coming weeks, we will be sharing videos from the national Census and local leaders on best practices that you can use in your town or city. Municipal leaders are the most trusted government officials, and you can use that trust to get good information out to your residents. In this most critical time, between February and April, they offer a list of initiatives to bolster support for response, including: adding a census message during meetings, providing information on federally funded programs that have benefitted the community, saturate public access areas with easy-to-read and understandable census information, and asking elected officials in the community to speak out and encourage completion of the census. The Census is crucial for municipalities. The state uses data from the Census to make projections about school districts, health statistics and emergency preparedness. The Educational Cost Sharing formula uses census data. It allows the state to target public health interventions and public safety planning for vulnerable populations. And municipalities need to know this information to make accurate predictions on things like housing and transportation needs. The data will not be revised in

1. AWARENESS POSTERS - CONFIDENTIALITY

Explains that census responses are safe and confidential. Print on 11x17 paper to display in municipal buildings.

a few months or a few years, the next Census wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be until 2030, so an undercount can affect municipalities for an entire decade. $11 billion in federal resources came to our state this past year based on census figures. That money represents over 55 different federal programs including SNAP, Housing Programs, and Community Development Block Grants. Connecticut sends more money to Washington than it gets back, so making sure the Census is accurate is paramount to maintaining the funding that the state and municipalities receive. The Census is at the heart of good economic development. Businesses make all kinds of decisions for retail and manufacturing placement based on population data, so it is in municipalitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; best interest to make sure they are ensuring a full and accurate count. Like elections, the Census an exercise in civic participation and, arguably, as important. Because they only happen every ten years, it increases the need for full participation when it happens. Our plan of action and suite of resources ensures that we not only properly communicate the importance of the 2020 Census, but that we make sure that all Connecticut residents are on board. A full account helps provide the financial resources and essential data to improve the lives of residents, and foster economic development. We are all in this together, the Census is counting on it. For those who are interested in more information, there are plenty of resources. CCM, as mentioned, has provided materials in English and Spanish for you to share on social media, or you can print out for your message boards around town. Census.gov is a wealth of resources for towns, and is the primary means of getting correct, verified, and truthful information about the Census.

<https://www.ccm-ct.org/sites/default/files/files/Poster_ About_Confidentiality_Option1.pdf> <https://www.ccm-ct.org/sites/default/files/files/Poster_ About_Confidentiality_Spanish.pdf>

2. SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGES & GRAPHICS

Through your social media channels, you can help shape your community. Download these images and graphics and share them with your social networks. General Connecticut and municipality-specific graphics available.

<https://www.facebook.com/pg/ccm.forct/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2611608645789224>

3. PSA VIDEOS

Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are an effective way to educate the public about the importance of the 2020 Census and why participation matters. You can share these on your website, on social media, and more! <https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhz-zKYsPHaZVrYk-YpOXElokvzsy9UgT>

If you are looking to speak to someone directly, you can contact the New York Regional Office. The phone number is 212-584-3400 or 1-800-991-2520, and the e-mail is New.York.Regional.Office@ census.gov.

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 5

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Governor’s FY21 Budget Proposal Lamont maintains and expands state aid in proposal

t’s not unusual to wait with bated breath for the Connecticut budget update. It seems even with a strong national economy, there’s a lot of uncertainty when it comes to the budget. That is why CCM is commending Governor Ned Lamont for maintaining and expanding state aid commitments to towns and cities in his proposed FY21 Budget. During this all-important time local governments are relying on the state for predictability. As municipalities are proposing budgets of their own, the governor’s budget allows them to feel confident in holding steady. This is strengthened by an increase of $74 million in municipal aid over FY20. Governor Lamont addressed this in the State of the State address: “I have heard from school principals, city and town leaders, small businesses and families – all saying – ‘finally, we can now plan for our future.’” The Education Cost Sharing grant is a major driver of the $74 million dollars of growth. In the Governor’s proposed budget, ECS makes up just over $40 million in the change, although that money is still bound by

the formula the divvies up the grant. This means that while some towns are seeing a total grant increase, some towns can see a decrease in funds. In terms of non-education aid, major increases are proposed for Distressed Municipalities Grants ($7 million) and Grants for Municipal Projects ($16 million). In addition, $30 million would be added for the Small Town Economic Assistance Program. Most towns and cities can feel assured by this budget, but that is no reason to rest on our laurels. It is crucial that towns and cities continue to have a seat at the table with the Governor and state legislators this session to ensure adequate levels of state aid, to fight against unfunded state mandates, and to encourage regional sharing. And throughout the session, CCM will continue the work of our Property Tax Reform Commission. The commission will be working on more extensive policy proposals that CCM will be taking to the public using a comprehensive, grass-roots approach.

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The Strength of Healthy Towns and Cities Michael Freda, First Selectman of North Haven and CCM President

n the coming Short Legislative Session, it is crucial that municipal leaders and state legislators continue to address the immediate 2020 concerns of Connecticut towns and cities. The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities’ (CCM) state legislative program makes sure that towns and cities will continue to have a seat at the table, ensuring adequate levels of state aid for towns, fighting against unfunded state mandates, and encouraging regional service sharing. CCM’s member town and city leaders developed, vetted and approved the short-term state legislative program at the end of 2019. With the full support of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities, this program takes seriously the success of not only our towns and cities, but also our regions and the state as a whole. Our members know that healthy municipalities are the key to a thriving Connecticut, and they carry with them the knowledge of what their residents want and what works best for them. As an example, towns and cities should be able to continue to enter into service sharing agreements and allocate resources in an efficient manner. While all types of regionalism might not be right for all cities and towns, there should not be any roadblocks for communities that want to pursue increase service sharing in their municipalities. There is still room for revenue diversification in the face of inadequate funding. One source could be allowing municipalities the option to negotiate user fees, or establish additional voluntary PILOT programs for public services provided to properties qualifying for a tax exemption under CGS 12-81 and not reimbursed by existing state PILOT programs. Another would be to allow any town or city to establish a Stormwater Authority to offset the costs of implementing the current MS4 General Permit. Right now we need to be looking at any and all options to end the opioid epidemic, and it’s an area where municipalities need to work more closely to the state in an effort to determine more precisely the help we need from the state. One example to help enhance our efforts to combat this harmful epidemic would be to designate a state ombudsman for drug abuse and control policy tasked with coordinating efforts to enhance and examine sustainable funding streams to support substance abuse prevention, education, and recovery efforts. We are looking forward to working with the Governor and General Assembly on the future of transportation and infrastructure in our state. It’s clear that the residents of Connecticut want a bi-partisan plan to repair and enhance our current network. CCM members want to make sure that we maintain the funding for key municipal transportation and infrastructure grants, such as TAR, LoCIP, and LOTSIP. Towns and cities must 8 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2020

maintain their roads and bridges at the same time that the state does. This is not an either/or situation because delays as we have seen in the last two years have stalled many projects. As the session and year unfolds, CCM will be working on more extensive policy development through a comprehensive, grass-roots based property tax relief initiative. Our Commission on Property Tax Reform is built with the fact that our per-capita property tax burden in Connecticut was almost twice the national average in FY 16. It is income-blind and profit-blind; the single largest tax on residents and businesses in our state. CCM created the 2020 legislative program with one specific goal in mind: to improve the everyday life for every resident of Connecticut. Our local leaders are invested in the health and growth of our great state and we are totally aligned with those members of the House and Senate in sharing this vision. We will continue to work closely with our state legislators working toward the same goals. The road to a stronger, more viable Connecticut is through its towns and cities. Strong communities create places where people want to live and where businesses want to grow.

Water Contamination

PFAS can have toxic repercussions for years

ur modern world is built on the back of innovation, but the persistent rush towards the future has had many unintended consequences. One of those is the proliferation of untested technologies that seem miraculous at first glance, but eventually reveal a more dangerous side. Attorney Paul J. Napoli and Water Hang, President of Toxics Targeting spoke to CCM members about one of the most nefarious: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Created by corporations such as 3M and DuPont, PFAS were used in everything from food packaging to carpets to clothing to make things durable and non-stick. Teflon is an inert Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), a subset of PFAS. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to PFAS over certain levels may result in adverse health effects, including developmental effects to fetuses during pregnancy or to breastfed infants, cancer, liver effects, immune effects, thyroid effects and others. PFAS can enter the blood stream through food, drinking water, and the biodegradation of products that contain these chemicals. And once they are in, they

Perfluorooctanoic Acid

are there forever, earning them the name “forever chemicals.” While non-stick pans and carpets are mainly the concern of the domestic home, PFOAs have entered the municipal realm as they are also used to make Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF). These foams work so well in preventing fire because of their ability to cover large areas of fire without spreading fuel. According to the Department of Defense, they use the foam because “on ships and on aircraft, the close proximity of people, fuel, and munitions can be especially dangerous. AFFF works by quickly by spreading out over the surface of the fuel, depriving the fire of oxygen, quickly extinguishing even large fires.” These chemicals in addition to being on ships and aircraft, have become a staple of municipal fire departments. Because of the known hazards, training happens often, increasing the chances of spreading the chemical. But the effectiveness was an incentive that many could not ignore. For instance, it is still required by the Federal Aviation Administration. Many will remember the crash of the historic B-17 plan that killed

seven in 2019. Over 25,000 gallons of AFFF was used according to a report from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. That pales in comparison to the accidental release of 40,000 gallons of AFFF released in June. This caused fish that live in the river to have higher concentrations of PFAS downstream from the release of AFFF than upstream, while predatory fish had higher overall concentrations than bottom feeders. Because of this, they issued a warning not to eat fish caught between Route 75/Poquonock Ave to the Connecticut River. In 2019, Governor Ned Lamont created the Connecticut Interagency PFAS Task Force to address the problems created by chemicals leeching into our waters. Their final action plans recommendations were to test public drinking water, set a maximum contaminant level, identifying and evaluating sources of human exposure, minimizing occupational exposure, establishing limits for PFAS in consumer products and standards for cleanup, developing a GIS database that identifies and establish public outreach team. Many municipal fire departments currently have stocks of AFFF, and the action plan discusses the possibility of “financial assistance for the establishment of a take-back program to safely dispose of AFFF and thereby prevent future releases.” PFAS were once the wave of the future. Every household had a non-stick pan and fire departments around the country were using AFFF to control fires. But now we know the harmful effects of these chemicals and waters around the country might have trace amounts of PFAS. The question is how much is harmful and who is going to be the ones to pay for the remediation. And what new chemical will be the wave of the future to help us cook our eggs and stop our fires.

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 9

Live from the State Capitol!

The Municipal Voice went live in the heart of state government

n one of the most exciting productions CCM has worked on to date, The Municipal Voice came to audiences around the state live from the Capitol Building on February 5, the first day of the short legislative session. Our guests on this special included Michael Freda, First Selectman of North Haven and CCM President; Luke Bronin, Mayor of Hartford and CCM’s First Vice President; Themis Klarides, House Minority Leader; Paul Formica, Senate Deputy Minority Leader; Steve Cassano, Deputy Senate President; and Robert Godfrey, Deputy House Speaker as they talk about the topics important to towns and cities including our 2020 legislative program, property tax reform, tolls, recreational marijuana, and sports betting. As legislators went into session, they saw CCM members advocating for towns and cities and talking with their peers. We want to make sure that municipalities were top of mind as this legislative session is sure to pack in plenty of debate in a short amount of time.

portion of income tax stays in that local community. And that puts a lot of pressure on communities.

Here are some key highlights from our discussion:

On the Budget

Michael Freda, First Selectman of North Haven, CCM President:

Themis Klarides, House Minority Leader:

So I think the biggest thing is minimizing the volatility. People don’t want to keep looking over their shoulders to say when is the next property tax increase coming. So by creating stability and analyzing areas where there can be some efficiencies, I think it’s critically important for the residents to understand that there won’t be a spike in property taxes. Luke Bronin, Hartford Mayor, CCM First Vice President: There are a couple different components. Connecticut is unusual in its reliance on the property tax to fund local government. Most states, a portion of sales tax, a

We’ve been fighting very hard for many years for that municipal aid. Particularly when the former governor was trying to put the teacher’s pension on towns and cities. That was one of our biggest challenges that year, and we were successful, which means that towns and cities were successful. Paul Formica, Senate Deputy Minority Leader: We know that Property Tax implications that cities and towns have are a direct result of commitments that the state’s budget fails to keep. We want to make sure that we keep those partnerships, make sure that [municipali-

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ties] are kept whole, I think that’s the biggest thing that we can do. Steve Cassano, Deputy Senate President: I’d like to focus on duplication. We have towns that have five or six fire departments. It raises the costs of doing business in municipalities and it’s killing them. We have to start thinking about consolidating some of those services. Robert Godfrey, Deputy House Speaker: The whole focus of the economy is moving from suburban orientation to city orientation. We don’t have the big cities like Providence and Boston, certainly not New York, but to attract jobs and job seekers, especially young, we’ve got to turn that around.

FOIA: Meeting Definition

CCM submits amicus in support of Meriden in Supreme Court case

aws require a clarity of language that makes plain how our government should run, what is legal, and what recourse there is if a given law is not followed. Many court decisions are made on this understanding of clear language, often called “Plain Language,” which is apolitical. For laws like the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the language of the law is still being adjudicated as in the case of the City of Meriden vs. the Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC), where CCM will be submitting an amicus in support of the city.

means of electronic equipment, to discuss or act upon a matter over which the public agency has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power.”

The background of the case is that four leaders, from both parties, as well as the retiring Meriden city manager began to discuss a search for a new city manager. The group arrived at a consensus to submit a resolution for action by the full council at their next meeting. The key here is that the leadership group did not meet a quorum and no adjudicative action took place during their discussion.

CCM is submitting an amicus in support of the City of Meriden as the case has risen to the level of Supreme Court, and will like set precedent for all Connecticut municipalities regarding whether particular gatherings should be deemed a meeting under the FOIA.

This follows in line with the Connecticut General Statutes which says that a meeting is: Any hearing or other proceeding of a public agency, any convening or assembly of a quorum of a multimember public agency, and any communication by or to a quorum of a multimember public agency, whether in person or by

After a reporter filed a claim with the FOIC, the city argued that the leadership gathering was not a meeting because it had failed to meet the above definition, specifically that it failed to meet a quorum and the discussion did not merit a proceeding. The FOIC determined that this was in fact a meeting, violating the FOIA, but that was overturned in Appellate Court in the city’s favor.

Current precedent regarding this issue has been set by Windham v. Freedom of Information Commission in 1998. CCM provided an amicus brief in this case, as well, in support of the municipality. The Supreme Court’s decision will depend on a definition of the word meeting, whether a quorum was met. It’s important to define the rough edges around laws like FOIA, so that we have a better understanding of the law.

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 11

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Consistency that towns and cities can count on

CM’s goal is to offer towns and cities a great return on investment — and part of that equation is making sure that we are sensitive to the fiscal challenges facing all municipalities. As part of our “early reading,” members will again see no increase in CCM dues for FY 2020-21, marking 10 out of the past 11 years. With the Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes underfunded and the Town Aid Road grants not being released, among many other uncertainties in budgeting for your town, CCM works hard to remain consistent. We continue to be very sensitive to these fiscal challenges, and sometimes that means that we have to do more without asking for more. Our unparalleled services – from our top-flight, effective advocacy and invaluable research and information services, to our free training, energy savings, drug testing, labor relations, discount prescription drug program, grant finder service, executive search service and much more – we ensure a return on investment that exceeds your CCM member dues. First Selectman of North Haven and CCM President Michael Freda said that it’s always better to be advocating from an organization that is financially well run. “We’re tremendously cohesive and right now we are clicking at all levels of the organization,” he said, “ In this coming year we will continue to focus in on using our tremendous resources and presenting ourselves with a high level of professionalism and a high level of integrity.” Finally reaching full membership in 2019, we must stick together under the CCM banner to deliver a strong clear message on behalf of Connecticut local government. CCM Executive Director Joe DeLong said that “seeing what CCM is able to accomplish on behalf of our members shows that not only can we be consistent in our message, but we can deliver top-level services in a fiscally responsible manner. “We come together for one common mission – to improve the everyday life for every resident of Connecticut. We recommend no dues increase because we believe it will allow us and our members to accomplish just that.” On behalf of all of us at CCM, we look forward to working hard on your behalf in the coming year to protect the interests of your local government and your taxpayers. We thank you for your continued support. Please contact Kevin Maloney, Director of Communications and Member Relations, at (203) 710-3486 or kmaloney@ccm-ct.org at any time with questions or concerns.

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Putting Data On The Map

New CCM Consortium gives GIS tech to municipalities.

nstead of asking what areas of technology have changed, it might be simpler to ask what areas of technology have not changed?

Though Geographic Information Systems (GIS) may not be as old as cartography itself, adapting data to the digital landscape has transformed the ability of users to input and retrieve information from simple maps. That’s why CCM is proud to announce the CCM GIS Consortium. About the Consortium: GIS technology provides local government with tools to increase internal efficiency, advance citizen engagement, and improve the delivery of services. Whether you are implementing GIS from scratch, or expanding existing capacity, the CCM Consortium can help you use spatial technology to better serve your internal departments and your community. This service will do three primary things: assist Consortium members in assessing GIS needs and providing GIS database access and views; assist Consortium members in using basic GIS data services and views; and provide access to tiered levels of services, including, but not limited to, GIS needs assessments, development, aggregation, or maintenance of GIS data, access to online GIS views and data, and GIS consulting services. According to Flo Analytics, CCM’s experienced GIS consultants, the benefits of a GIS system for local governments is that “leveraging spatial technology saves time and money, increases efficiency, and provides you with the ability to make more informed decisions.” This service has already seen success in Washington, where the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) partnered with Flo Analytics for their own consortium. AWC’s Special Projects Coordinator Andy Meyer discussed the barriers that some municipalities feel when approaching this kind of technology: “We heard that it was daunting for a lot of cities to

get access to GIS services and resources with the traditional approach, which is usually working with a GIS consultant from an engineering firm. Cities may know this technology is out there. They may know how the technology can be applied, particularly in the infrastructure arena. But there are so many other ways that the technology can really be used to help a city deliver its services and provide help and benefits to its community members. We saw folks struggling with the “how.” How do we access it? How do we afford it? How do we understand how it fits together with our other systems? The GIS Consortium makes it easy to answer those questions.” That is evident in Sammamish, WA, where the Consortium helped create a tool that shares information about development that’s happening in their community. The GIS Consortium helped the city merge systems so city planners and public works staff now have a development activity map that is updated in “real time” as projects come into the system. With so much development happening in towns and cities across Connecticut, one could see how having this kind of tool would be helpful. For those that saw the episode of The Municipal Voice with experts on global warming, they suggested that the primary thing to do is to gather asset data. That will assist towns and cities as they assess the need for new projects or how to approach repairs on existing structures. The CCM GIS Consortium hopes to provide members with a cost-effective, low barrier way to access Geographic Information Systems services and capabilities. There are many uses to be found for good quality data, whether you’re using it to assess assets or share projects with the community. Whether you are implementing GIS from scratch or expanding, the CCM GIS Consortium can help you use spatial technology to better serve your community.

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FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 13

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Comprehensive Coverage This program covers all testing associated with DOT regulations, plus the services of a medical review officer, substance abuse professional, training, record keeping, and more. For more information contact Beth Scanlon, (203)946-3782 | bscanlon@ccm-ct.org.

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The Data and GreatBlue Research Team

CCM has partnered with GreatBlue Research to provide market research

CM has partnered with GreatBlue Research to provide market research to CCM members, school districts and local public agencies. Based right in Glastonbury, this organization helps municipalities conduct custom qualitative and quantitative market research. It might sound out of sorts for a town to do market research — they aren’t selling anything after all — but GreatBlue argues that “market research can help drive strategic planning efforts for municipalities as well as the development and implementation of new programs and services.” GreatBlue offers some examples where municipalities need the public’s opinion on a particular issue: • Are your residents satisfied with their overall quality of life in your community? Resident satisfaction surveys help municipalities understand residents’ views of the community as a whole by gathering opinions about such things as: municipal services and programs, quality of public schools, road conditions, environmental quality, dining/entertainment options, and more. • Do community members’ opinions align with current policy or future policy changes? Community assessments help town officials align policies with overall community sentiment to maximize the potential of approval.

• How do economic development efforts impact your community? What roles do factors such as budgets, taxes, and infrastructure and job creation play? Resident and business assessment studies tell you how your community as a whole weighs these factors and more to help guide decision-making processes for community growth. • Are your communication efforts effectively reaching the desired population of your community? Community awareness and perception studies uncover the community’s overall knowledge of messaging efforts, and identify the preferred communication mediums (i.e. city’s newsletter, website, social media). They offer a full suite of research solutions, including an on-site call center, branded online surveys, focus group facilities in Cromwell. They have worked with esteemed research outlets at Sacred Heart University and The Hartford Courant. So if you have a query that you believe would benefit from objective, reliable polling, GreatBlue Research will be there to assist you in collecting, analyzing, and delivering sound data. If you are interested, please contact Andy Merola at CCM – amerola@ccm-ct.org or 203-498-3056.

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Connecticut • Massachusetts • Maine • New Hampshire • Rhode Island • Vermont FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 15

State Of Preparedness EMS is Coming Back This Spring!

CM along with the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), will be hosting the Connecticut Emergency Management Symposium (EMS) on April 30 at Aria Banquet Hall in Prospect. The symposium, which takes place every spring, is the premier Emergency Management conference in Connecticut, attracting hundreds of local public safety officials from around the state. It is the only statewide municipal government event of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind that offers a full day of informative workshops, interactive discussions, networking opportunities, and vendors showcasing relevant products and services. Last year, the Symposium offered sessions about Industrial Fire, ESF Response to Severe Weather, Tracking Public Health, Debris Management, Power Outages, Federal Assistance, School Security, and Cyber Security Initiatives by experts in their field letting you bring the most up-to-date info back to your towns. There were dozens of vendors displaying the newest tech in Emergency Management along with trusty names that have always been there. The exhibit hall is still being filled up, but there will be representatives from CCM, DEMHS, DPH, CIRMA, Everbridge, JP Magu-

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ire Associates, Marcus Communications, Post University, Sacred Heart University, ServiceMaster Restore, Specialized Data Systems, Inc., and more! This is a once a year opportunity to hear from the best minds in emergency management, to network with colleagues in the same fields, and to see the latest offerings from dozens of vendors. Registration is now open for municipal, state, and local officials. Be sure to register early as attendance is limited. As an added bonus, for our CCMO officials, EMS is three hours towards your certification. For more information, and to register online, visit: https://www.ccm-ct.org/spring-symposium

CIRMA CIRMA + Our Members Better, Together.

Thank you for putting your trust in CIRMA. FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 17

CIRMA A Memorable Annual Meeting of Members CIRMA celebrates landmark financial and operational achievements

onnecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency, CIRMA, held its Annual Meeting of Members on January 31, 2020, with record attendance. CIRMA Staff, strategic business partners, and hundreds of municipal, local public agency and Department of Education leaders from across the State of Connecticut had the opportunity to celebrate successes, network, and explore emerging trends through intimate workshops and broader venue keynote presentations. Jayme Stevenson, First Selectman of Darien and Chairman of the CIRMA Board of Directors, presided over the Business Meeting and the election of the new CIRMA Board Members. Delivering Value, Over Time David Demchak, President, and CEO reported on CIRMA’s strong financial and operational performance for the 2018-19 year. Demchak also provided five-year cumulative results which embody the carrier’s strong, long-term financial strength and peak operational performance: Members’ equity reached $177M, up $88.4M over the last five years. Total gross premium came in at a steady $94.5M. Assets accounted for an all-time high of $402M, up $84.2M over the last five years. Also, for the third consecutive year, CIRMA declared a $5M Member Equity Distribution to its members, totaling an impressive $30M distributed over the past nine years. “Our consistent and successful long-term financial strategy continues to deliver unmatched value and stability for our members,” stated Demchak. Providing Stability in an Unstable World “We understand your need for budget certainty,” David Demchak told the audience. CIRMA’s rate stabilization programs and long-term rate dependability are excellent examples of what differentiates CIRMA in the marketplace. Approximately 160 members, accounting for nearly $42.2M in premium, participated in CIRMA’s rate sta-

From left: Jayme Stevenson, First Selectman of Darien, Chairman of the Board, CIRMA; David Demchak, CIRMA President & CEO.

bilization programs in 2018-19. Demchak also revealed CIRMA’s workers’ compensation and liability-autoproperty rate adjustments for 2020-21: • -3% Workers’ Compensation pool • 0% Liability-Auto-Property pool Operational Excellence CIRMA continues to make thoughtful investments in core operations that advance how they do business and the products and services they deliver. The Underwriting team introduced new and innovative products and services with expanded coverage and stable pricing. And CIRMA’s dedicated Claims Team continued to achieve deep savings for its members.In 2018-19, CIRMA saw approximately $27M in medical cost management savings for the year, while improving injured employee claim experience through innovative platforms such as CIRMA’s Surgery Concierge program. The Risk Management Team engaged the highest number of employees, over 15,000, in training and education programs, and provided 7,500+ hours of consultative services to CIRMA members.

CIRMA Welcomes New Staff Eileen Silva will be working with Betsy Trudeau and Fiona Porto in the position of Underwriting Technical Associate. Eileen, a resident of Middlebury, has over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry with a focus on large commerical and several lines of insurance. Prior to joining CIRMA, Eileen held the position of Member Services Specialist for ConnectiCare, Inc.

Eileen Silva

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Esther Rodriguez will be working with Ellen Dion in the position of CIRMA Accountant. Esther, a resident of Rocky Hill, received an Associate degree in Accounting from Westcheser Community College located in Valhalla, NY. She has over 15 years of experience in accounting and finance. Prior to joining CIRMA, Esther held the position of Expense Analyst for U.S. Electrical Services in Middletown, CT.

Esther Rodriguez

CIRMA CIRMA Names 2020 Risk Management Champions Demonstrating outstanding leadership in risk management IRMA celebrated four of its members as part of the organization’s Excellence in Risk Management Awards Ceremony at CIRMA’s Annual Meeting of Members on January 31, 2020. Empowering CIRMA members to better manage risk is the touchstone of CIRMA’s mission. CIRMA members’ risk management achievements have played a significant part in creating the financially strong, stable, and innovative organization that CIRMA is today. Pamela Keyes, CIRMA’s Vice President, Risk Management and Business Analytics,

said, “An effective risk management program takes strong leadership, commitment, support, local champions, and perseverance.”

Town of Clinton Police Department

Town of Columbia

Substantial Impact on Total Cost of Risk

Sustained Risk Management Programs

Town of Vernon

Town of Madison

New & Innovative Risk Management Initiatives

Establishing Risk Management as an Organizational Priority

John Sadlon will be working with Ellen Dion in the position of Statutory Accountant II. John, a resident of Branford, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Central CT State University. He has over 25 years of experience in finance and investment accounting. Prior to joining CIRMA, John held the position of Investment Accountant for Prime Advisors.

Award recipients were recognized for their innovative problem solving, excellence in and commitment to risk management, and success in fostering long-term organizational change to successfully and effectively protect the communities they serve. CIRMA presented a risk management grant of $2,500 to each of the four award recipients.

John Sadlon

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 19

CIVIC ACHIEVEMENT Print Survives To Tell Another Story

Inaugural MEA winner, Better Manchester celebrates 10th anniversary

ere at Connecticut Town and City, we celebrate the power of the written word to communicate innovative ideas from throughout the state. According to the Scientific American, reading still offers advantages that technology has not been able to replicate, which is why after a scare in the past decade, the industry is starting to level out. And it’s also why we want to continue to praise Better Manchester Magazine, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Better Manchester is the official publication of the Town of Manchester and Manchester Public Schools, and is run by the town’s Department of Leisure, Family, and Recreation, whose director, Christopher J. Silver, serves as editor-in-chief. In his editor’s message, he says that the magazine was developed in response to a recommendation from the Children, Youth and Family Master Plan at a time when the nation was reeling from an economic crash and when morale was low. “By taking a strength-based approach,” he says, “the publication would keep the community inspired by and working toward a vision of a better future — a community where all children, youth and families would have the opportunity to thrive.” In 2016, Better Manchester took home an inaugural Municipal Excellence Award in the Population 3 category, for towns and cities over 40,000. In their submission, they say that all content is researched,

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written, edited, and laid out in-house by staff from departments around town and the public school district, which allows them to keep the cost down. And while there is a budget for artwork, they also have an agreement for their annual Neighborhoods and Families art series to license three pieces of work at no cost for one-time use in the magazine. It’s clear that the magazine has not only survived, but thrived, being published both online and in print, directly mailed to all 28,000 households in Manchester. It is a space where Manchester is able to talk about “revitalizing the community and creating a sustainable future,” as Silver says. “We investigate the Town’s new incentives for attracting businesses and investment to the downtown district,” he wrote, and “we also have a story about how the school district is partnering with businesses and institutions throughout Manchester to give students internships and other valuable personalized learning opportunities.” In 2020, with media trying to come at you on your phones, on your tvs, and your computer screens, seeing a newspaper or magazine is a welcome reprieve. It’s one of the best ways to tell your story, not only the successes, but the attempts at making home a better place. For 10 years, Better Manchester has succeeded in this goal, and we’d like to wish them another great 10 years.

GOVERNANCE 19th Amendment Commemoration Stratford celebrates 100 years of women’s suffrage

020 marks the 100th anniversary of one of the most important steps to a full democracy: the ratification of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. The Town of Stratford will be recognizing this momentous anniversary with events held throughout the year honoring Stratford women who helped change the course of history. Mayor Laura Hoydick, along with the Stratford Historical Society, will host monthly presentations highlighting these notable women, ranging from Suffrage-era activists to present-day civic and community leaders. Already in January, the town began their town council meeting with a commemoration of Vivianna Snowden (aka Anna Oliver) by Mayor Hoydick’s daughter, Paige. Snowden was the first American woman to graduate from a theological seminary and a pioneer Methodist Episcopal Church preacher and pastor. Though she moved around the country, her family had ties to Stratford and upon her passing, Snowden left money to her nieces and the suffrage movement.

The Stratford Library will examine the book, “Olive, Again” by Elizabeth Strout at 12:00 p.m. on March 25th. They will also be hosting activities for children including bingo, crafts, and a Girl Power celebration. “Recognizing this centennial provides an unparalleled opportunity to celebrate a milestone in our republic, both nationally and here in town,” Mayor Hoydick said. “For more than one-hundred years, Stratford has seen strong passionate, capable female leaders. The stories being presented are remarkable.” This is part of a larger, nationwide effort to recognize the work of the Suffragists and all those who worked tirelessly to enfranchise half of our nation. They include people

who you many never have heard of, to people like Katharine Hepburn, mother of the actress with the same name. Democracy is so important to all Americans as our chosen form of electing our leaders, and a true democracy is one where every person has the right to vote. The 19th amendment ratified 100 years ago was a great step towards attaining that government. Other events are being planned and will be announced on the town’s website at www.townofstratford. com/19thamendement. Additional information for events happening around the state can be found at www.votesforwomenct.com.

Events have already been announced for late February and March, which is also Women’s History Month. At the end of February, they are partnering with the Baldwin Center and Stratford Lifelong Learners to host “Votes for Women,” a presentation showcasing Connecticut women who fought on a local, state, and national level for women’s right to vote. It is being presented by the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame and will be held on Tuesday, February 25th from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 21

EN TE AV

A MIN L R

NEW HAVEN TERMINAL, INC.

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

NEW H

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORPORATE

Distribution Centers Grow With E-Shopping South Windsor adds two new distribution centers as part of new trend

ith Amazon growing every day, it’s hard to underestimate their influence on consumer culture. Amazon Prime’s free 2-day delivery has forever changed the landscape of internet shopping, which turned from something you can do for only certain items (books) to the only place you buy anything (Amazon owns Whole Foods which offers online ordering). Distribution centers are becoming a more and more important cog for industries as diverse as Coca Cola and Home Depot, both of which have projects in South Windsor. The Coca-Cola plant will be a 200,000 square foot Class A warehouse and distribution center. This new building was created with an over $42 million dollar investment from the Coca-Cola corporation according to figures in the Hartford Courant, and they will be bringing in manufacturing and bottling of a new type of can for the company, which the Courant says they are currently buying from another company. Home Depot, the home improvement giant, is working on a distribution center to better facilitate “next-day or even same-day delivery,” per sources in the Hartford Business Journal. They say the full 46-acre property will hold a 421,000 square foot distribution center that will deliver not only to stores, but directly to consumers. Both facilities have the ability to bring in hundreds of workers, but required a tax-abatement as incentive. Even with the abatement, sources show that the estimated tax benefit for the Home Depot location is nearly $300,000 over the vacant property tax revenue. The warehouses mirror the recent development of the North Haven Amazon warehouse. Their goal is to be able to begin offering same-day delivery in much greater numbers to a wider array of households. The National Retail Federation said that many consumers, with Millennials leading the pack, are expecting not only free shipping, but free two-day delivery. Having warehouses throughout the country will allow companies to keep costs of delivery down.

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This trend shows no sign of slowing down, let alone stopping. As digital-first children grow up feeling comfortable with purchasing items, or even groceries, online, then companies are going to have to respond. This provides an opportunity for towns like South Windsor who had the space to allow businesses like Coca-Cola and Home Depot to build the facilities they need to accomplish this. They will bring in hundreds of jobs and can even add to the tax rolls.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A Three-Year Overnight Success Ansonia’s revitalization proves that Economic Development takes time

conomic Development does not happen overnight. It is often a slow process, like a train, it needs to build momentum before it’s properly up to speed. And that means that towns and cities that stick to a plan are often rewarded. Three years into “Ansonia Recharged” and the town is seeing not only businesses come in, but positive press, which ultimately leads to more investment. The headline in New Haven Biz, an industry magazine covering southern Connecticut, said that “new businesses get a charge out of Ansonia.” The growth mainly came out of restaurants on Main Street, which was designated an opportunity zone in 2018. Just two years later, Main Street is known as “restaurant row” with diverse cuisines, “including Asian fusion, Polish, Costa Rican, Peruvian, Spanish, Italian, Latin fusion, Thai, and American.” Several other projects will add to the renovation of the downtown Main Street area, which includes a re-use of the Farrel Corp. building into the Ansonia Police Department and the Joseph A. Doyle Senior Cener and a nearby public/private recreation complex. They will additionally be demolishing the Ansonia Copper & Brass Co. site.

“This is a game changer for the downtown.” - Mayor Cassetti

All of this adds up to an attractive place to live and do business. Not surprisingly, the New Haven Register is reporting that the town might be seeing the “biggest development the city has seen in a half-century.” Shaw Growth Ventures are looking to invest $14 million around Main and East Main Streets to create 400 market-rate apartments as well as street level retail. This type of building has grown in popularity after waning for many decades. Mayor Cassetti is quoted as saying “this is a game changer for the downtown. […] It’s about time the city got out from owning those properties and putting them back on the tax roll.” The town is helping the investors by exempting property taxes for six years according to the article, which will go some ways to helping them clean up and rehabilitate the properties. For towns like Ansonia, rebuilding can seem like an impossible project. But what the Mayor and his economic development team is proving is that it just takes time. First the restaurants open up where there is opportunity, and then some businesses decide to move into town, and with a little patience and hard work, suddenly a company wants to add 400 apartments and retail into your town. It’s an overnight success that took three years to happen. FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 23

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Urban Renewal Creating a Model City for the 21st Century

t is hard to say just what went wrong. The economy was the best it has ever been, a growing middle class was settling down after the Great Depression anchored by the victorious United States GI coming home from the war front. The Baby Boom created a need for housing and infrastructure like no other time in American history. But cities struggled. The neighborhoods bearing William Levitt’s name grew into towns, complete with shopping centers and schools for the newly affluent to attend, and we started calling them suburbs. This was all supported by Eisenhower’s grand plan to connect America in the same efficient manner he saw in Germany during the War. The suburbs and highways go hand in hand, feeding people into the city where the jobs were, and getting them out to their homes with the new cars they could afford. Unfortunately that left many cities empty at night. Those in charge of City Planning had to do something to stop the tide of people leaving the city. In New Haven, that person was Ed Logue. His Urban Renewal amounted to a mixed bag of developments — he would tear down one neighborhood only to work to put affordable housing in the middle of another — all under the guise of suburbanization. Under their stewardship, New Haven was the Model City, the shining example of what a city can be and do. Perhaps his most famous project was the Chapel Square Mall, the former home of CCM, which aimed to mimic the allure of suburban retail. Now, in 2020, New Haven can be said to be going through an Urban Renewal Renewal. No longer are city planners looking to put highways everywhere nor are they modeling themselves on the suburbs. After the larger part of a century, it appears that New Haven has made its way back to being a city again, the only question is how, and can it once again be the Model City, and this time for good?

ou can hardly pass by a block in New Haven that doesn’t have some form of construction. Whether it’s a Wendy’s fast food restaurant, a medical research center, or a five-star hotel, the city has become a large construction site. According to figures put together by the New Haven Independent, the city is already put out 150% more building permits than they had last year at the same time. There are several factors pushing this growth, but the tax incentive has been one of the largest influences on investment in the Elm City. At the end of 2019, the city’s Board of Alders once again extended the tax assessment deferral program. The belief is that investors might balk at opportunities 24 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2020

Mayor Richard Lee and Frank O’Brion of the Redevelopment Agency examine plans for the Oak Street Connector

in the City where improvements will grow the assessed value of a property. Per the city: “In order to encourage the fullest development of property and to encourage investment in New Haven’s existing commercial and residential building stock, the City Wide Assessment Deferral Program freezes the property tax assessments on certain eligible properties at pre-construction or pre-rehabilitation values and then phases in the taxes assessed on the improvements over a period of five years.” The question that should be on everyone’s minds is: is it working? Figures recently reported in the New Haven Register suggest that it is. According to their numbers, the grand list of taxable properties increased from $6.591 billion to $6.64 billion, a total of $33.2 million in increases, while exemptions from all of the buildings that qualify for the tax assessment deferral program increased from $609 million in 2018 to $624 million. From early reports, it appears that the grand list is growing, at a faster pace than the exemptions are, according to Mayor Elicker, who is now overseeing much of this growth in his first year as mayor. The Alexion building at 100 College Street is starting to phase out in their tax deferral, going from $57 million to just under $68 million, according to the Register. The Winchester Lofts, Novella Apartments, Union Apartments, and College Square Apartments all increased their assessment under the tax deferral.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT New Haven houses about 30,000 fewer people than it did when Ed Logue was tearing down neighborhoods, but people are filling up housing opportunities quicker than they could put buildings up. Locals driving by the new Audubon Square apartments might see bikes and furniture on balconies — the sure signs of tenants moving in. The hope is that these buildings provide just the first wave of new inhabitants in the Elm City. And with a slew of new residents, economic development isn’t too far behind. In different parts of the city, infrastructure is being planned out to meet the demands of a growing population. When CCM moved to Long Wharf in 2018, it was a momentous occasion for us. Chapel Square was our home for many years, but the future for us is in the Harbor District, which is what planners imagine calling it in the future as Long Wharf transforms from a sleepy harbor to a vibrant and diverse area. The four other districts include the Gateway, Innovation, Market, and Parkway districts that planners insist will have their own distinct feel. With Ikea, Jordan’s Furniture, and Long Wharf Theatre already boasting locations within this zone, developers say there are over 100 acres that can be developed. The New Haven Boat House coming online in the past year, and the Marcel Breuer’s famous Brutalist Pirelli Building being converted into a hotel, it’s hard not to imagine this area growing. But New Haven’s development isn’t about falling into many of the traps that city planners did in the middle of last century. A plan like the Long Wharf plan aims to not only build but to connect to the disparate areas to the North, East, and West. The Downtown Crossing Development Plan is aimed almost exclusively at reconnecting neighborhoods that were split by earlier attempts at development. Coming through the Oak Street connector, it feels like a completely different city than it was even five years ago, with Alexion and Gateway Community College greeting you in all their modern splendor.

That development is currently in Phase 2, which aims to reconnect Orange Street and South Orange Street. One of the main features of this phase is adding more and more bike infrastructure to the area to allow for safe passage to Long Wharf and Wooster Square, allowing cyclists to easily get from downtown (or even Westville) all the way to the opposite side of town on safer bike lanes. On Dixwell, the New Haven Independent reports that there’s an “ambitious planned $200 million redevelopment” that will bring a “new performing arts center, banquet hall, grocery store, museum, office complex, daycare center, retail storefronts, and 150-plus apartments and townhouses to the neighborhood.”

f you were to boil down the essence of this new Urban Renewal period, you could say that New Haven is learning how to be a city again. Connecticut has no shortages of suburbs who are all very good at doing what they do, so there’s no reason why our cities should try to mimic that. All of this economic growth is happening because cities are made up of interconnected neighborhoods, each with a distinct feel and flavor: Dixwell is not Chapel Square is not Long Wharf is not Wooster Square, but New Haven is all of them at the same time. Building each of them up distinctly is a lot harder than building them all up together. That starts with providing the housing that goes with this kind of growth. With the upcoming Census that will report on accurate population figures, it seems likely that the city will see some kind of increase to fill all of these apartments, although perhaps not to its previous height. One detraction to all of this is that New Haven needs more affordable housing. The city’s deferral program has been in place for nearly 50 years itself, but the 2019 version of the program speeds up the rate of the phase-in unless the developers commit to at least 10% of the building meeting affordable housing standards. Ed Logue’s vision for the Model City was one that was for everyone. And while many of his ideas have gone out of style, that one seems forever.

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 25

EDUCATION The Education section of CT&C is sponsored by

Cool To Be Kind

North Haven elementary school named nicest place in CT

f you were to get the Readers Digest version of Clintonville Elementary School in North Haven, you might find out that it’s the Nicest Place in Connecticut and one of the Nicest Places in America 2019. Nominated by Ginny Caroleo, a special education paraprofessional, she says that in the two years that she’s worked at Clintonville, she’s “discovered a school that embraces kindness.” For that reason it was chosen as the nicest place in Connecticut, and was in the running for the nationwide honor, which ultimately went to Columbiana, Ohio. She describes events like Special Person Day, when students choose someone special to write about. One child chose the student to whom she is assigned, while another boy chose her to write about for her ability to “stay calm and patient in stressful situations.” Students and families participate in the Saint Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that funds childhood cancer research in honor of a student who suffered from brain cancer. For four years they have found participants willing to shave their heads and sponsors who were willing to donate if they went through with it. Over 54 parents and students shaved their heads this past year, raising over $27,000. Other good works come from the teachers and staff, like the Laps for Lion Heart event when a teacher and the principal run laps in a pink tutu to raise funds for breast cancer. At a time when bullying seems like a national problem, it seems like Clintonville has an antidote. The Editors of Readers Digest in their write-up say that “the students at this elementary school go out of their way to make sure everyone feels included.” That goes beyond Caroleo’s student and those they fundraise for, but to the camaraderie and community that is found in working together. Nicest Places was created to find the stories “that prove that America is full of nice people trying to do right by each other.” In the official rules, they describe it as “a place where the people believe in kindness, civility, and each other, neighbors help each other out, and strangers are welcomed as friends.” 26 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2020

Dozens of kids at Clintonville shaved their heads to raise money for cancer research.

Stories like this are some of the most important that you can share, because in a time when everything feels divided and the news doesn’t always look so bright, you are reminded of the good that lives in Connecticut’s and America’s towns. Any day is a good day to recognize the wonderful work these children and their teachers and parents are doing for fellow students and the community at large.

EDUCATION

Career Opportunities

Wallingford becomes a STEM town to put students in pipeline

allingford is one of Connecticut’s largest manufacturing centers; figures from the U.S. Census Bureau put the town ahead of Bridgeport, Waterbury, and New Haven in terms of value produced. With that kind of output, there’s a lot of jobs to fill. Towns and cities would be best served if their own students were in the pipeline to get those jobs. In 2018, Mayor Dickinson declared Wallingford a STEM town to do just that. STEM has come up in the pages of CT&C before, but for those that don’t know, it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Despite having originated in the 1990s, it grew in popularity throughout the 2000s and 2010s in conjunction with the growth of tech jobs throughout the country where it became shorthand for the kind of curriculum that would help students land jobs in the future. Creating the STEM Town Steering Committee, Wallingford brought together all parties to make sure they were putting kids on the track, “expanding awareness of and readiness for STEM careers” and “to increase personal success in careers and community vitality.” The town began working with the Department of Economic Development and local businesses to create the HUBCAP manufacturing employment pipeline program. Through this program, Wallingford schools, businesses, and municipal offices have partnered together to bring manufacturing career opportunities to graduating students, underemployed residents or those looking for a career change. The Superintendent of Wallingford Public Schools, Dr. Salvatore Menzo, was awarded as a Champion for Industry by ThomasNet for his work taking “a once-conventional public school system and transform[ing] it into a diverse, collaborative part-

Dr. Salvatore Menzo (center) with Wallingford students

nership with local manufacturers to develop hands-on educational programs that deliver career skills, both technical and soft, for students and local residents.”

cation, it means parents, students, social services, the mayor, faith institutions – all of those different groups and businesses working together to solve a problem.”

Dr. Menzo told ThomasNet that teachers spend the summer meeting with local businesses on how to best prepare students for success.

As a town with such a large manufacturing output, Wallingford businesses need a steady pipeline of individuals ready to take those positions. Wallingford students need a path that will set them up to be successful in the future. With the leadership of Mayor Dickinson who declared Wallingford a STEM town and Dr. Menzo for delivering on that, there will be plenty of career opportunities in the future.

“I’m so fortunate – and our town is so fortunate – to have businesses who are willing to take our hands and continue this journey together.” And when asked about what it is that makes this curriculum successful, Dr. Menzo says that it’s a community impact: “It means edu-

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 27

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ENERGY

The Magic School Bus

Benefits of electric school bus fleets explored in Fairfield

s more and more cities adopt fuel efficient vehicles for their fleets, they have been finding that the drawbacks of this emerging technology is almost non-existent. Even police have found uses for electric vehicles like the Tesla, which offers superior power to even some fueled vehicles. With the successes of these fleet cars, the question is what is the next step? At the Fairfield Green Wheels Expo, the future might be school buses.

One often cited drawback to electric vehicles is that they are limited by their “tank,” which is an array of batteries. But towns that have begun implementing electric bus fleets, whether for school districts or for general transit have not found that problem.

Held by the Sustainable Fairfield Task Force (SFTF), the Green Wheels Expo brought in an electric school bus from the City of White Plains, NY, built by the Lion Electric Company and operated by National Express Transit according to the press release.

“In 2014, Seneca, SC became the first city in the world to launch an all-electric bus fleet. The buses have outperformed heir diesel equivalents in fuel maintenance costs and exceeded expectations regarding charging time, range, and battery life.”

Why change the technology for school buses? Unlike electric school buses, there are many drawbacks to diesel school buses. One obvious to any person who has driven behind a school bus is that diesel buses exhaust is toxic stuff. A powerpoint held on the SFTF website says that there are over 40 known cancer-causing organic substances in diesel exhaust and the chemicals include Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Benzene, Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, Acrolein, 1,3-butadiene. This does not produce an environment conducive to a child’s health as they are exposed to these noxious gases in the vehicle whether or not the windows are open. Compare this to the fact that electric vehicles do not produce gases of this nature.

In fact, the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, Enivornment America Research and Policy Center, and Frontier Group released a joint report on towns and cities across the country that say almost the exact opposite.

“In 2015, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources tested electric school buses in three school districts across the state. The vehicles produced significantly fewer harmful emissions than diesel school buses, had no difficulties with range, and cold weather did not affect their performance. Fuel cost savings were smaller than expected, however, mainly due to unmanaged charging of batteries and high electricity demand charges. All three school districts chose to keep their buses after the pilot.” It’s pretty clear that there are advantages to electric school buses, and towns that can look into them should look at the financial benefits, but also the health and environmental benefits.

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 29

GOVERNANCE Vota Aqui

Groton introduces dual language ballots for future elections

T&C has written before about the importance of voting. It is the cornerstone of our democracy. And yet only three elections reached even 80% of eligible voters, and those happened in the 1800s. One barrier is language, and the town of Groton is beginning to offer dual language ballots in hopes of capturing a larger amount of voters.

of the group is higher than the national illiteracy rate. This information comes from the Census Survey, which is taking place this year.

America is one of the few countries that does not have an official national language. And according to the Census Bureau, over 20% of people speak a language other than English at home, and almost 10% say they speak English less than very well.

In some cases, people will be allowed to assist minority language speakers in translating the ballot. This is also true of the visually impaired in filling out ballots when audio ballots are not provided. The primary concern is this leaves individuals vulnerable to voting incorrectly.

This creates unfortunate barriers for people who have the right to vote. In fact the United States Department of Justice said that “citizens of language minorities have been effectively excluded from participation in the electoral process.” That is why there was a Language Minority Provision added to the Voting Rights Act by Congress. They have a formula that determines whether or not a jurisdiction is required to provide information in the minority language. The triggering figure is if the number of United States citizens of voting age is a single language group within the jurisdiction is more than 10,000, or is more than five percent of all voting age citizens, or on an Indian reservation, exceeds five percent of all reservation residents; and the illiteracy rate

According to information from the New London Day, over 30 languages are being spoken in the area. The guidelines set out by the Department of Justice make it clear which minority languages must be covered.

Throughout the years there have been many efforts to make English the national language, but those efforts have not been passed into law. Currently dual ballots are being used in Bridgeport, East Hartford, Meriden, New Britain, New Haven, New London, Waterbury, and Windham. Groton is voluntarily adopting dual ballots. Any decision by a municipality to provide easier access to voting can generally be regarded as a good one. In a country that is as diverse and young as America is, it’s no surprise that we have nearly 350 languages spoken in this country. It’s important that people who have the right, can vote.

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http://ccm-ct.org 30 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2020

Change Starts At Home

GOVERNANCE

On our podcast Mayor Florsheim offered an optomists take on CT

hile politics on the national level garner the most attention from network news and television shows, the real work and change comes from the local level according to Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim. On a recent episode of the Municipal Voice, we discussed the role towns and cities will play in the coming years, but also how that will change as Mayor Florsheim is one of just two millennials holding a top elected office in any Connecticut municipality. His attraction to municipal work came from his time with Senator Chris Murphy’s office as a community organizer, something he brings with him to the mayor’s office. “You have to go in with an organizer’s mindset, rather than a policy mindset,” he said referring to the work he’d like to get done in town. “We have to think big. It’s why municipal government was interesting to me. This is where things are happening.” But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t challenges. Like so many other places in Connecticut, Middletown has a cost-ofliving problem that he’d like to rein in. “When it comes to property tax, energy costs, utility costs, it’s an expensive state to live,” he said. And some of that stems from the way things are at the federal level and even the state level. During the budgeting process, Middletown has to grapple with the Payment-inlieu-of-taxes (PILOT) being “chronically and historically underfunded.” Part of the reason he decided to create a Middletown Complete Count Committee to support the upcoming census was to ensure they’re not missing crucial funding opportunities from the federal government. Florsheim’s plans for Middletown are big. When talking about local

politics, he invokes the Green New Deal, Participatory Budgeting and getting everyone in on it, Shared Services and Regionalization, and the developments he wants to see. And he sees municipalities as leading the way: “it’s local jobs, it’s local projects, local businesses. The work is already being done. The cities and towns have to be the entities that lead the way on this.” Speaking to a recent op-ed that Florsheim wrote for the Hartford Courant, he says that pessimism about the state is a self-fulfilling prophecy. That’s why he tries to bring a positive outlook to what can be accomplished. “You’re in this line of work to get things done, to help people,” he said, “even if it’s fixing a pothole, that’s meaningful to people’s lives.” And he sees Connecticut as a place where people do want to move and

want to stay. He names himself, a transplant from the Midwest, as someone who has decided to call Middletown home. He notes that people are being priced out of places like Boston and New York, so smaller cities have to stay “laser-focused” on cost. And that making a city like Middletown a better place to live as well as do business can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, a virtuous rather than vicious cycle. That change starts at home. “I want to put it into people’s minds that there are people who like living here. There are young people moving in.” “When you see the other side of the fence, maybe it’s not always greener,” he said, “We have challenges, but they become less existential, less immutable.”

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 31

HOUSING Cost Savings Through Renovation

East Lyme takes advantage of old building’s strength to keep down budget

onnecticut towns and cities are under tight budgets when it comes to completing projects. While nearly every municipality has had a budget explode because of some unknown factor, most would probably prefer it if there were some savings on initial projections. One project in East Lyme has that potential after seeing nearly a quarter of a million dollars just by asking the state for a waiver. Back in February of 2019, the residents of East Lyme approved the purchase of the Honeywell office building and for renovations to turn that into a public safety facility complete with both police and hospital amenities. According to a report from the New London Day, the plan is for a “30,000 square-foot facility, which sits on 17 acres on the far western

side of town and will be renovated, will consolidate the town’s dispatch center, fire marshal’s office and emergency operations center, which currently are housed in Flanders, with police operations.” The surprise savings in the budget come from the kinds of services that will be housed in the building. According to state requirements, buildings that house police and hospital facilities must be able to withstand 145 mph winds. But after reviewing the situation, the town and the architects decided to ask the state for a variance. The case presented said that the building was already able to withstand 135 mph winds. A quote in the Day from Town Building Official Steve Way said that the building “is never going to take the direct wind from a hurricane. It’s just not. It’s

32 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2020

physically in a spot where it can’t.” After some deliberation, the state agreed to the waiver, which is now a quarter of a million dollars that can be spent elsewhere in renovations. While this savings helped, there was still a wish list of items that the project’s leaders had hoped to get into the budget, according to a separate report in the CT Examiner, but not everything would be possible. These include things like a sally port and detention cells, which is estimated to be around $733,000. Every dollar is essential when it comes to municipal projects like the public safety building in East Lyme. Having a good solid plan and taking advantage of unexpected savings when possible can go a long way towards not having a project’s budget slip too far out of reach.

HOUSING

Changing The Federal Funding Equation Kent applies for CDBG funds to repair affordable housing

ne of the most important statistics that has been shared in the run up to the 2020 census is that Connecticut is a donor state. For every dollar we pay in federal taxes, we receive less than three quarters back according to governing.com, which will be exacerbated by the State and Local Tax Cap. That’s why it’s important to apply for federal grants where applicable, like Kent has with the Community Development Block Grant. Administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program offers grants to states and local governments on a formula basis. According to the federal website, this is one of the longest continually run programs at HUD. The Kent Board of Selectmen, working with Kent Affordable Housing, put out a request for proposal on both the application for and administration of the CDBG if the application is successful. The Town is seeking funds to provide physical upgrades and improvements at the 24-unit South Commons affordable housing complex. The specific grant that Kent is looking into is the Small Cities CDBG, whose purpose “is to develop smaller communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities principally for low- or moderate-income people.” Funds received from this grant can be used to acquire, construct, reconstruct, or install water and sewer facil-

ities, sewage treatment works, and other such facilities. These funds can also pay for administrative costs such as planning and related activities, data gathering, surveys, detailed architectural or engineering studies, and administrative activities such as budgeting and proposal writing. The South Commons complex was built to offer quality apartments for families earning 25 to 60% of the area median income in Litchfield County, with rents ranging from $300 to $1300. It was built 15 years ago by Kent Affordable Housing and the Community Builders, and the age of the structure is what initiated the calls for the grant. In the New Milford Spectrum, Virginia Bush-Suttman, president of Kent Affordable Housing says that they worry about deferring maintenance since the apartments have been successful and beneficial to Kent as a whole. They are looking for $1 million to make the necessary repairs, and the application is due in April. Unfortunately, HUD says that the demands for grants far exceed the available funds. Applications are ranked according to national standards, and applicants are funded based on the final ranking after considering state criteria. While it doesn’t appear that the state will be able to drastically change the equation by receiving more money in federal dollars, we can make small dents by applying for the grants that we know are there.

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 33

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PUBLIC SAFETY The Public Safety section of CT&C is sponsored by Emergency Resource Management. Learn more at: http://ermanagement.com

A Test of Being The Best

Bethel Police Department receives CALEA re-accreditation

ith the success of CCM’s Connecticut Certified Municipal Official (CCMO) program and Sustainable CT, it’s obvious that the urge to learn and keep working towards goals never stops for public officials. That is also true of our Public Safety officers. Late last year, the Bethel Police Department earned its second Law Enforcement Accreditation Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). According to their website, “the purpose of CALEA is to improve the delivery of public safety services by maintaining a body of professional standards that support the administration of accreditation programs.” Police Departments such as Bethels can voluntarily apply for accreditation by meeting “an established set of professional standards.” These include: comprehensive and uniform written directives that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities; reports and analyses to make fact-based and informed management decisions; preparedness to address natural or manmade critical incidents; community relationship-building and maintenance; independent review by subject matter experts; and continuous pursuit of excellence through annual reviews and other assessment measures. In June of 2019, representatives from CALEA conducted a site based assessment of the Bethel Police department to find out if the BPD was in compliance and up to standards, and at that time the community

was invited to offer comments to the assessment team during a public session. After this assessment period, it was determined that Bethel had lived up to the high standards of their organization Accreditation lasts for four years and Bethel had already achieved this in 2015, 2011, and 2007. According to the Danbury News Times, only 19 other municipal departments in the state have achieved this honor. The benefits touted by CALEA include increased community advocacy, staunch support from government officials, stronger defense against civil suits, reduced risk and liability exposure, and greater accountability within the agency, and police chiefs from around the country speak to these benefits as the roadmap to running a successful department. Chief Wayne McCoy of the Blue Springs, MO Police Department said that “accreditation is a test of being the best. […] Through our CALEA Accreditation process, we focus on being the agency that provides consistent quality service over time and anticipates the future.” Now that Bethel Police Department has received its 2019 re-accreditation, it too can look forward to the future of law enforcement and public safety, and it can do so knowing that it carries with it the best practices and highest standards.

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 35

PUBLIC SAFETY Know The Signs, Save A Life

Greenwich PD shares PSA for best practices if you see an overdose

cross the United States, the opioid crisis persists even as we learn more about how this awful epidemic began. CCM recognizes the great lengths that municipalities have already gone in addressing this problem, but have included it in our 2020 policy program in recognition of the need for assistance from every angle. The Greenwich police department has aided those efforts by releasing a Public Safety Announcement in early January called Recognizing Opioid Overdose and What to Do. In this release, they acknowledge that this epidemic needs a “multi-pronged strategy” in order to truly solve this problem. This includes “providing life-saving efforts in the field; connecting users to addiction services; arrests of those manufacturing and distributing drugs; and education.” Education has been primarily important because the drugs are often initially prescribed by medical professionals. Per Greenwich PD, the “misuse or abuse includes taking these medication in higher doses than prescribed, for a purpose other than that for which it was prescribed, or taking a medication that was prescribed for another person or obtained off the streets.” It’s also important for people to learn not only the warning signs of addiction and common risk factors, but also the steps that you should take if you recognize an overdose. This includes more common actions such as calling 911 and supporting the person’s breathing, but also more specialized resuscitative services like administering naloxone, which often requires some training.

work from municipalities and public safety officials, there is evidence that inroads are being made. Reaching out to the public as the Greenwich police did will only continue to educate the public and may save lives. Below are the risk factors, signs of an overdose, and actions that should be taken if you see an overdose that were shared by the Greenwich PD. Common Risk Factors for Opioid Overdose: • Mixing opioids with other drugs, particularly alcohol or sedatives • Resumption of use after a period of abstinence from opioid use, such as a release from a rehabilitation center • Elderly persons may forget that they already took their medication and accidentally re-take the same medication • Younger age, specifically the teens or early 20s exposed to peer pressure or a social environment where there is drug use. Signs of an opioid overdose: • Face is extremely pale and/or clammy to the touch • Body is limp • Fingernails or lips have a blue or purple cast • Vomiting or making gurgling noises • Cannot be awakened from sleep or is unable to speak • Breathing is very slow or stopped

There have been training sessions over the years from the Department of Health and the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service teams held at the Greenwich library as a public service, and Greenwich police have been carrying Narcan. Although, naloxone can prevent an immediate death, it’s still important to get an overdose victim to an emergency center for continued care.

• Heartbeat is very slow or stopped

It might be easy to say that there seems to be no end in sight for the opioid crisis, but as the epidemic is being tackled by the medical community, education in schools,

• Lay the person on their side once they have resumed breathing

36 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2020

What should I do if I see an overdose? • Call 911 immediately! • Support the persons’s breathing • Administer naloxone (Narcan) if you have it

• Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives

PUBLIC SAFETY

A new initiative involving UConn researchers aims to improve recovery odds for people who have survived opioid overdoses.

A Helping Hand

Waterbury introduces innovate plan to stem opioid crisis

he opioid crisis has taken far too many lives. In 2017 alone, nearly 50,000 people fell victim to overdose in the United States according to the Centers For Disease Control. Each town and city has been looking for ways to handle this crisis in a humane way that deals with opioid addiction and saves lives. The city of Waterybury has recently received grants to launch the Waterbury Warm Hand-Off program that aims to increase the number of users in treatment and decrease the number of deaths. In a release from the city, they said that approximately 300 non-fatal overdoses occur per year in the City of Waterbury. The utility of the Warm Hand-Off program is that first responders will be able to link these victims directly to treatment and will include evaluation by experts from the University of Connecticut. The program was made possible by nearly one-million in grant dollars from state and federal sources. $770,000 was awarded to the city from the Connecticut Department of Public Health to deliver outreach and linkage to treatment for a 29 month period beginning June 1, 2020. The money will go directly to the Warm Hand-Off program as well as additionally monies to the Waterbury Health Department HIV Prevention Program.

And additional $150,000 was awarded to the city by the White House’s U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy. This portion of the grant funds the evaluation by UConn, specifically the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy. Waterbury was one of only 14 grants awarded nationally. “We believe that Waterbury first responders will be the first in the state to deploy a behavioral health agency directly from the field by means of the 911 dispatch to ensure that opioid overdose victims are linked to the substance abuse treatment and mental and medical health services that they obviously and desperately need,” Waterbury Mayor, Neil O’Leary said in the release. “Additionally we believe that the Waterbury Warm Hand-Off program may prove within a year or two to be a potential model for the state to follow.” As the opioid crisis gained attention, education has helped stem the crisis where it stands, but that doesn’t mean that the fight is over until that 50,000 figure becomes zero. It requires continual innovative thinking and policy that will help towns and cities come together with the police, public safety officers and individuals make it happen.

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 37

SOCIAL WELFARE Tattoo You

Meriden lifts ban on tattoo and piercing businesses in city

elieve it or not, but the history of tattooing extends beyond Generation X. In fact, it goes back perhaps 6000 years from Polynesia to Ireland, there is evidence that humans have been creatively marking their skin throughout known history. In Meriden, they recently voted to end their long-standing prohibition on tattoo and body piercing shops. Stigma had surrounded the art form for decades in America. Clinton Sanders, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Connecticut wrote the essential book on tattooing, “Customizing the Body: The Art and Culture of Tattooing.” In it he argues that because of an implied connection with a seedy underbelly, they lost their connection with the original meanings as signifiers of culture or even just beautification. But that slowly began to change especially as military servicemen began to wear tattoos. Heroes coming home naturalized the tradition. The trend broke through with Generation X and Millennials. Estimations in the early 2000s suggested that about one in ten people had a tattoo, by 2020, nearly three in ten people had a tattoo. In the Record Journal, City Planner Renata Bertotti echoed that statement, saying “I think most of why

it was prohibited has to do with [negative stigmas around tattoos], which may have been true in the past, but every single woman in my class has a tattoo.” Many people who get tattoos often go on to get more. A full third of people get a second tattoo, with the average number of tattoos being four according to a study done by Ipsos polling. That means that there is plenty of demand for tattoo shops. It is also a burgeoning creative field. Joe Capobianco, one of the most celebrated tattoo artists internationally, maintains a shop in New Haven called Hope Gallery. Featured in dozens of industry magazines for his artwork, he rose to fame on the TV show Best Ink, which aired on Oxygen TV. Because of his acclaim, artists like him can have year’s long waiting lists for customers, and he’ll also travel the country to do “guest spots” at other tattoo shops. The City Council vote to allow tattoo shops from opening in Meriden was 9-1, suggesting that still not everyone is on board with tattoos. But the art form, thousands of years old, doesn’t look like it is going anywhere. More and more people are getting tattoos for different reasons, and no longer are they associated explicitly with a criminal element.

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

Grant writing and researching • RFP drafting • Project management Operational reviews • Change implementation • Organizational studies Strategic planning • Finance and budgeting • Purchasing Facilities management • Temporary staffing Contact Andy Merola: 203 498-3056, or amerola@ccm-ct.org for additional information. 38 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2020

Mister Peabody’s Park

SOCIAL WELFARE

Sherman forms committee to consider Dog Park in town

o one in Connecticut needs to defend public spaces. Our greens are often the backbones of our communities — celebrations are held there, it’s where the Christmas tree and other holiday decorations go, summer concerts in the bandstand. They are a great place for people to congregate. Right now, Sherman is looking for people to serve on committee for a park that will be used by decidedly smaller residents: dogs. In November of last year, a small exploratory committee was formed to provide input on a dog park to go into Sherman, according to the Danbury News Times. As of right now, there are a few off-leash dog parks in proximity to Sherman, but there are no locations in town where people can bring their pet friends. The impetus for such a plan can be the fact that more and more dog owners feel comfortable bringing their dogs to parks and other areas off-leash. And while their dog might be well-behaved, they may interfere with a guide dog, or prevent others who are scared of dogs from using the park. The benefit of an off-leash park is that it is a safe place where dogs can safely run without fear of disturbing anyone who doesn’t want to be disturbed. Are dog parks really that popular that every town needs one? According to a poll done by the National

Recreation and Park Association, 91% of Americans “believe dog parks provide benefits to the communities they serve.” From a generational split, they remain least popular with baby boomers, of which only 89% think they are good for communities. From the Shorenstein Center at Harvard University, there is a cited study that said that by 2015, dog parks were one of the fastest-growing segments of municipal parks, with an over 20% increase in the five years beforehand. They cite a study that found that “pets serve as avatars, allowing owners to meet people and navigate space through their pets,” and thereby strengthening the community. They argue for further research on the relationship between dogs as avatars and stigmatized communities such as those experiencing homelessness and the disabled. Additionally, they found that the dog owners are great resources for committees that will aid in things like park maintenance and pet overpopulation. If Sherman decides to add a dog park, it will surely be a thing to celebrate. With benefits described by the National Recreation and Park Association and others, it means that it will be a place loved by people who love their dogs.

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 39

TECHNOLOGY The Technology section of CT&C is sponsored by Digital BackOffice. Learn more at: www.digitalbackoffice.com

An Award Winning System Reaches Out Stonington’s Autism Safety System is adopted by Groton

hen we gave Stonington a Municipal Excellence Award for their Autism Safety System in 2017, one of the measures was applicability: can other towns and cities learn from this project? Are the ideas adaptable to a wide range of towns/ cities in CT? The answer here is yes, as the town of Stonington has agreed to share the system with the City of Groton. The Citizens with Autism Safety System or CASS is an opt-in system where family members submit a form with their loved one’s vital information. Included is a photo, specific conditions, and pertinent information related to their autism. In the MEA submission, they noted that “Every person on the autism spectrum is different, so listing each person’s individual traits, triggers, likes and dislikes gives first responders the necessary information they need to approach, interact with and bring a missing person with autism to safety.” First responders, including police officers, were instrumental in developing the system. They had introduced Autism Law Enforcement Coalition training to the town, which is what sparked the project. With help from the IT department, Human Services, the Autism Speaks organization and former First Selectman Rob Simmons, a map based app was developed by New England Geosystems that identified the participants as well as sharing last known locations. The app also provides the locations of any lakes, streams, water features and even swimming pools because many on the autism spectrum are attracted to bodies of water, which then pose as drowning risks. At the beginning of the year, the Groton police began using the Blue Envelope, which aims to help police communicate with drivers on the autism spectrum. It offers guidance to those with autism on how to interact with police in a safe manner. Pointers include keeping your hands on the steering wheel until otherwise directed, and letting the officer know that you have a blue envelope.

40 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2020

According to a release on the Groton Police Department’s Facebook page, the department has held “Touch a Truck” event for children with autism to explain the program to their parents and allow them to opt-in to the system. With one out of every 59 children being diagnosed on the spectrum, the need for programs like CASS and Blue Envelope are becoming increasingly evident, and was an idea that we felt had merit back in 2017. When we lauded Stonington for the CASS service, we knew that this program had value that can be applied to other towns and cities throughout the state, and the adoption of CASS in Groton shows that to be true.

TECHNOLOGY Oh, The Places You’ll Go

Wilton’s Library Learning Commons are a model of adapting to the future

s a society, we have come to recognize the importance of an education. In 2017, we reached a milestone where 90% of Americans 25 and older had completed high school according to Census data, compared with only 24% in 1940. What’s left is the question of what makes a good education and how to adapt to modern technology. Wilton Public Schools is offering one solution with their Library Learning Commons (LLC).

Digital Citizenship might be the newest category on that curriculum. What might be termed etiquette in the real world, Digital Citizenship takes a look at how one acts in a digital first world. Bullying and trolling, even invasions of privacy are all issues that have been contended with as the internet has evolved. And Digital Identity management is a crucial skill because more and more often are employers looking at social media profiles when considering candidates.

These spaces are not so different from libraries of yore — they have books and librarians — but they have thought about what will be important to the students of today and tomorrow. They see themselves as a place that “provide a comprehensive program of instruction, rich collections of print, online and “making” resources, as well as provide support for the district’s implementation of the Ready-Access Digital Learning Program.”

Students at all grade levels take lessons on Digital Citizenship in the LLC during the first month of school, while students in 6th grade take a full digital literacy course.

For Generation Z and the generation after them who will be entering middle school in the coming years, a full set of tech resources will not only be useful, but essential to their education. The LLC incorporates 5 curriculum strands according to their website: Research and Inquiry; Digital Citizenship; Literature Appreciation; Tech Operations; Collaboration, Communication, and Innovation.

One can argue endlessly over what books a student should read, how to most effectively teach to STEM, but one thing is for sure: digital tools will be part of the educational landscape for the foreseeable future. Wilton’s Library Learning Commons have become a place that has adapted to the times and are teaching students the valuable lessons for Digital Citizenship while still being libraries.

Wilton Public School says that “the foundational skills that will prepare the K-12 students to be effective, responsible and creative users of all types of information and tools will also prepare them well for their college work as well as career.”

FEBRUARY 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 41

TECHNOLOGY Next Generation Tools

Digital BackOffice manages network security for Trumbull Public Schools

rumbull Public Schools was one of 373 nationwide school districts placed on the 2019 College Boards 9th annual AP® district honor roll for significant gains in student access and success. Reaching these goals shows that Trumbull Public Schools is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for Advanced Placement. The Trumbull PS Technology department is responsible for providing and maintaining approximately 9,000 units of hardware necessary for students to become engaged learners. “Maintaining a high level of service with a secure technology infrastructure is important to academic achievement in 21st century schools”, said Jeff Hackett, district technology manager. ‘The Trumbull PS Technology Department has been proactive in providing a variety of security enhancements, upgrades and device management tools to maintain a complex network with minimal outside assistance.” The district selected Palo Alto Networks and Milford, CT. based, Digital BackOffice, to enhance digital security at the network perimeter and on the endpoint devices. “DBO provides us with a single point of contact for all network problems, changes and trouble-shooting”, said Mr. Hackett. “We have experienced how each new device or application can expose the district to cyberattacks and ransomware. HVAC and energy controls are now connected to the school network resulting in a significant savings to the district but also introducing potential security risks. The powerful detection capabilities inherent in the Palo Alto platform prevent attacks from compromising user and IOT devices or worse.”

42 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2020

The Digital BackOffice network operations center has visibility into all the network intersections, network data traffic and perimeter security. The DBO team provides the Trumbull district with experienced network engineering talent and is a trusted advisor that understands the unique K-12 education infrastructure needs.” The Trumbull Public School district operates an enterprise wide area network connecting ten (10) buildings with a high-speed, gigabit fiber-optic network also managed by Digital BackOffice. Over 7,300 users access educational, business office applications and the internet from a variety of endpoint devices, including many wireless users on personal computers. Managed security service providers, like Digital BackOffice, offer a single point of contact, a local help desk, 24x7 monitoring and expertise in securing the network from cyber-attacks, malware, hacking and ransomware. User education is important, but prevention and frequent policy adjustments are the key to a robust cyber-security strategy. Effective prevention requires next generation tools, experience, training, process controls and a security partner prepared to take responsibility for actively managing network security. Contacts: Dale Bruckhart, V.P. Public Sector Marketing, Digital BackOffice, 203-874-5545 Ext. 118. Email: daleb@ digitalbackoffice.com Jeff Hackett, Technology Manager, Trumbull Public Schools, 203-452-4312 Email: hackettj@trumbullps.org

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Connecticut Town & City - February 2020

Articles inside

Urban Renewal

Water Contamination

The Strength of Healthy Towns and Cities

Making Sure the Count Counts