CT’s New Normal During The Pandemic

CCM continues to work tirelessly for our members

Like all municipalities, CCM had to adapt to a completely new way of getting things done once the landscape changed. But that does not mean the quality of work has diminished, nor has what we can accomplish as experts on key state-local issues. Throughout these past few months, our work has changed, but our priorities did not. We have utilized the strength of our full membership to advocate on behalf of municipalities, and our employees have worked tirelessly in the face of a new normal to make sure we continue to offer the excellent services that you are used to.

One of the key ways that CCM has advocated for municipalities is by bringing the municipal viewpoint to the governor’s office as he issued executive orders. CCM has worked with groups like the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to address the operational aspects of town governments covered in these executive orders.

At the time of writing, we counted 43 different orders that have pertained to municipalities. Executive Order 7C gave municipalities and their boards of education an extension on adopting their budgets as they adjusted to holding meetings remotely.

Holding meetings remotely is something CCM has had to adjust to as well. In addition to our many internal meetings that keep our organization running smoothly, we wanted to make sure there were as little interruption in our trainings as possible.

Our Member Services team in collaboration with our IT department worked tirelessly testing all possible streaming services to make sure that CCM could offer web trainings at the same bar of excellence as our in-person trainings. Through March and April, representatives from 142 municipalities have attended our webinars, with upwards of 400 people registered for a single one. They were held on topics like Executive Orders and Municipal Meeting Technology with 473 views, Essentials for the Municipal Employer with 282 total views, and Addressing Homelessness in the COVID-19 Era with 157 views.

One of the most popular in the series is Connecticut at the Moment, which was an unprecedented collaboration among CCM and the Council of Small Towns, The CT Association of Councils of Governments, Murtha Cullina Law Firm, the Connecticut State Department of Education, the Law Offices of Steven G. Mednick, and Halloran Sage.

Experts took municipal leaders through the executive orders and spelled out the implications for municipalities on a legal basis. All of that information and recordings can be found on our website. In addition to livestreaming webinars, we’ve also made sure that the topic was front and center for our recent episodes of The Municipal Voice. On March 11, very early in the coronavirus timeline, we invited Richard Matheny of the Quinnipiack Valley Health District to discuss everything municipalities should know about in the weeks and months to come.

Our next episode featured Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone on what municipalities were doing in preparation and response. And in April we brought on North Haven First Selectman and CCM President Michael Freda to CCM Chats to talk about the municipal response.

We also began the work on a compilation of Public Health stories that resulted in a compendium of information on what our Public Health Departments and Districts really do, highlighting their great work in this trying time.

As CCM turns its eyes towards the future, we recognize the work that needs to be done.

After we noticed Governor Lamont’s Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group lacked municipal representation, we lobbied for a seat at the table. And we are happy to announce that First Selectman Michael Freda was placed on Community Committee to represent the municipal voice as the state decides how and when it will reopen.

This is in addition to the Long Term Recovery Committee, headed by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. She said “Coordinating these efforts from the ground up at the local level is an important way to ensure inclusion of all community voices in the recovery process.”

CCM’s Michael Muszynski joined an effort by the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS). As the state prepares to recover from the effects of COVID-19, DEMHS has stood up Emergency Support Function (ESF) 14, which will be focusing on long-term recovery.

CCM has been asked to participate in the statewide steering committee of ESF-14 to support and guide the efforts of our regions and local communities as we build coordination around long-term recovery and unmet needs.

Along with CCM, also part of this process will include COST, COGs, ACIR, the Nonprofit Alliance, the Red Cross, United Way/211, the CT Council on Philanthropy, as well as DEMHS regional representatives, the Office of the Governor and Lieutenant and OPM.

On the national level, CCM joined actively with a national coalition of state, county and local government associations to secure additional federal funding from the President and Congress to help municipalities battle the financial fallout and service overloads that have resulted from the coronavirus pandemic.

The coalition includes the National Governors Association, the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the International City/County Management Association, the Council of State Governments and the National Association of Counties. These are the seven leading organizations representing state and local governments at the federal level.

Initial CARES Act funding provided direct funding to only cities with a population higher than 500,000. Our largest city, Bridgeport, only has approximately 150,000 residents. CCM has continued to urge Governor Lamont to fairly distribute revenues received from the initial CARES Act funding with local governments.

Like so many others, we have taken to calling this a new normal. For CCM it is anything but. We are and will continue to be guided by our principles to improve the everyday life for every resident of Connecticut. To share the best practices and objective research to help our local leaders govern wisely. Like our municipal members whose work cannot stop, neither can ours.