Connecticut Town & City - Spring 2024

Hubbard Park, Meriden

President Laura Hoydick, Mayor of Stratford

1st Vice President Michael Passero, Mayor of New London

2nd Vice President W. Kurt Miller, Chief Administrative Officer of Seymour

DIRECTORS

Arunan Arulampalam, Mayor of Hartford

Jason Bowsza, First Selectman of East Windsor

Jeff Caggiano, Mayor of Bristol

Mary Calorio, Town Manager of Killingly

Fred Camillo, First Selectman of Greenwich

Elinor Carbone, Mayor of Torrington

Paula Cofrancesco, First Selectman of Bethany

Justin Elicker, Mayor of New Haven

Carl Fortuna, Jr., First Selectman of Old Saybrook

Joseph P. Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport

Matthew Hoey, First Selectman of Guilford

Matthew Knickerbocker, Town Administrator of Wilton

Rudolph P. Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield

Edmond V. Mone, First Selectman of Thomaston

Maureen Nicholson, First Selectman of Pomfret

Brandon Robertson, Town Manager of Avon

John L. Salomone, City Manager of Norwich

Caroline Simmons, Mayor of Stamford

Gerard Smith, First Selectman of Beacon Falls

Lori Spielman, First Selectman of Ellington

Erin E. Stewart, Mayor of New Britain

Mark B. Walter, Town Administrator of Columbia

PAST PRESIDENTS

Thomas Dunn, Mayor of Wolcott

Michael Freda, First Selectman of North Haven

Executive Director, Joe DeLong

Deputy Director, Ron Thomas

Writer, Chris Gilson

Layout & Design, Matthew Ford

CCM STAFF

Letter From The Executive Director & CEO

When Winter Turns To Spring

We may joke about the weather here in Connecticut – a cold dreary winter, a few days of spring, then right into the dead heat of summer – but there’s something pleasant about those few days. The winter with its early sunsets gives way to warmer days and blossoms on the tree. You endure the cold to get to spring. That’s more than hope, that’s certainty. And in just two short months of working on the 119K Commission, I am no longer just hopeful that we are going to make a difference, I am certain of it.

Why am I certain that we are going to make a difference in Connecticut’s Unspoken Crisis? Because in a lot of ways we already have. As I wrote in op-eds and in these pages prior, when we first embarked upon this journey, we were always asked what was next. What is CCM going to do about this issue? It seemed like maybe a ‘gotcha’ question at the time, but it wasn’t. Through the roundtables we heard the full scope of the issue from experts around the state, and we learned an immense deal about this issue. Not only were we enlightened, but dozens of people who showed up at all six events and thousands watched from home. It turns out the next step was obvious – let’s put our collective minds to this and hear real solutions.

When we kicked this Commission off in March, you couldn’t be too sure of what the response was going to be. The first indication that this was going to be a success was immense media coverage we received from nearly every paper of record in the state as well as TV and radio coverage thanks to our communications team. Thousands of you visited our website, 119KCommission.Org, within days of launch.

But really, it was our first event at Hillhouse High School that we knew that disconnected youth struck a chord. Over 130 people showed up to an event on

this issue on a Tuesday night. When people are taking time out of their busy lives to show up for something – a bill, a sporting event, anything – that’s how you know it’s important. More so was that over three dozen people submitted testimony for the evening, 30 signed up to deliver their testimony in person, and the rest submitted their testimony via our website.

That momentum built even in a more rural town like Mansfield, where dozens of people came out to join the conversation, and hear from the experts Angel Cotto (Youth Action Hub), Jackie Santiago Nazario (COMPASS Youth Collaborative), Stacey Violante Cote (Center for Children’s Advocacy), Lucy Freeman (Inspirica Inc.), Michelle Conderino (Open Doors), and Vanessa Liles (PT Partners).

Seeing this response is like seeing those first few buds on the trees or noticing that the sun is starting to set later and later in the day. On this commission we say that there are 119,000 reasons to hope, 119,000 reasons to act, and through just two months you all have shown that you are inspired to think critically and respond thoughtfully; to be resolved to make a difference for disconnected youth. It reminds me that winter always turns to spring, without fail. And, for me at least, that is more than hope.

Joe DeLong CCM Executive Director & CEO

Love Your Town; Work For It

New

Too many towns and cities are experiencing the same difficulties. Anyone who already works in local government knows the benefits of a municipal career, but more importantly, one that matters. CCM has heard from you, our members, and we felt the best way to help was to not only shine a light on the incredible employees that already make Connecticut a great place to live, but to tell prospective employees that local government isn’t just a job, it’s a career that matters. It all comes together in a project we’re calling the Municipal Career Center.

Over the next few months, we will be premiering a series of videos for our Municipal Career Center that we shot with 14 different municipal employees in a variety of roles. From town manager to IT to executive assistants, fire departments and more, every interviewee from across the state all had a similar message: they love their jobs.

They will be hosted on a website CTMunicipalCareers. Com that reimagines our current job board with a suite of new offerings. Our landing page will greet you with three options; the first will take you to our video series, the second to our job board, and the third will be resources on how to look great as an applicant, either through accreditation programs or resume builders. The job’s board is among our most visited pages on

our website currently, so we hope that this will further drive our message home to people who don’t already work in a municipality.

And that is a key facet of this project: the messaging to the public that careers in municipal government directly impact their home. Our tagline is “Love your town; work for it,” which carries a double meaning. If you already love your town, you should work for it to help make it the great place that you love. And working for your town is a way of showing love to it and the people there.

CCM is currently working with possible sponsors to help us spread the word on this all-important project. We are looking to invest in sharing these videos to social media platforms, and if possible, to commercials through outlets like YouTube.

We want our members to know that we are investing in this issue because we know the rewards of local governance. Every member of the community in Connecticut relies on some member of the municipal workforce on a daily basis. Police, Librarians, and Finance Directors all play a critical role in our daily lives. The Municipal Career Center is just one piece of the puzzle, and will need your support to help reinforce that jobs in your town are more than that, they are careers that matter.

EMS ‘Netts’ An Incredible Event 2024

IEMS reached new heights for well-attended event

t was a day that left many attendees feeling like they saw the future of EMS, the Connecticut Emergency Management Symposium that CCM has held with the Connecticut Division of Emergency and Homeland Security (DEMHS), the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) for years. This year was different because it was held at Camp Nett in Niantic through the participation of the Connecticut National Guard.

While the day opened with the usual remarks, the hosts held the workshop sessions in different tracts this year. This means that the day was jam-packed with learning like it had never been before. There were 15 total workshops ranging in topics from Community Outreach and Service Dogs to the standby important updates on Opioids and the NWS Presentation on the 2024 Hurricane Forecast (it’s looking like it might be a heavy year for hurricanes).

In addition to our co-hosts, we’d like to thank our sponsors, Everbridge, Eversource, and Tetra Tech. A special thanks goes out to the many vendors who attended the day. Some of whom had brought their big equipment out to the main field thanks to the larger space provided by Camp Nett.

And most importantly, we’d like to thank the U.S. Armed Forces, and especially those in the Connecticut National Guard for being such great hosts. They even arranged to have helicopters from the Army and the State Police show up.

Thank you to all who attended and we hope to see you next year.

CCM Goes to Washington CT

Delegates attend the NLC Congressional City Conference

In March, CCM and local leaders throughout Connecticut descended upon our nation’s capital as part of the National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional City Conference (CCC). The annual event brings together over 3,000 local leaders from around the country to learn about emerging issues, network with other local leaders, interact with federal agency officials, and bring the local voice to Capitol Hill.

The conference highlighted how in the divisive environment of national politics; local government has the ability to seek non-partisan solutions by focusing on core problems rather succumbing to ideological roadblocks. Attendees emphasized how local government can serve as laboratories in experimenting with solutions to emerging problems, in particular how local leaders can best shape the country’s infrastructure over the next 100 years. However, in order to do so greater coordination and integration with federal partners is necessary, and the conference allowed one avenue to enhance that collaboration.

A highlight of the conference was President Biden attendance and speaking to members about achievements made to support local communities. He also spoke about future investments to assist local leaders and investments made to improve the country’s infrastructure.

As tradition with the CCC, CCM hosted specific events for Connecticut attendees. This included a CCM dinner, which afforded local leaders the opportunity

to network and discuss emerging issues occurring throughout the state. In addition, CCM coordinated a meeting with Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy to discuss specific issues.

Among the topics discussed was the progress of the federal budget and its particular impact on Connecticut. Specifically, the senators emphasized that Connecticut has received $138 million in direct spending (i.e. earmarks), and specifically how a significant portion of the funding is intended to be directed towards “green” projects which highlight sustainability. Their respected offices have coordinated with CCM, local leaders and other partners to explain the application and review process.

In addition, the conversation weaved in general topics such as workforce development, housing, infrastructure - in particular hardening cyber security infrastructure. The senators also explained that the federal government is pursuing additional housing vouchers through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, as well as how additional funding is available for brownfield remediation through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They also explained efforts to protect youth in online safety through the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).

This annual trip continues to be a great and productive opportunity for Connecticut’s local leaders to bring their voice to Washington, all in an effort to build municipal laboratories in seeking positive change.

Maximizing Efficiency

The

Benefits of Integrated ERP Software for Municipalities

In the digital age, efficiency is the cornerstone of success for any organization, including municipalities. With the myriad of tasks, departments, and services they oversee, managing operations seamlessly and effectively is challenging. This is where Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software steps in as a game-changer.

ERP software integrates various functions and processes across an organization into a single system, providing a centralized platform for data management, communication, and decision-making. This reduces or eliminates the manual data entry or importing/exporting functions that are often found in disparate systems. For municipalities, the adoption of integrated ERP software brings about a host of efficiencies that streamline operations and enhance service delivery to residents.

By implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software system, municipalities can achieve numerous benefits. One significant advantage is the centralized data management that ERP software provides, consolidating data from various departments into a unified repository. This eliminates silos and allows for seamless access to information across different functions, leading to improved decision-making and efficiencies. Furthermore, ERP software streamlines processes within municipalities, automating tasks in areas such as finance, human resources, collections, and assessor administration. By enabling integrated workflows and reducing manual tasks, efficiency is enhanced, errors are minimized, and staff can focus on more strategic initiatives.

Financial management is also improved with ERP systems, offering robust capabilities for budgeting, cash management, accounting, and reporting. Real-time visibility into financial data allows municipalities to

Welcome Amber

make informed budget decisions, track expenditures effectively, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Senior Vice President Rob Raymond, who represents Zobrio, Inc, a provider of ERP solutions said, “transparency and accountability are crucial in governance, and integrated ERP software helps maintain transparency by providing stakeholders with access to pertinent information such as budget allocations and spending patterns. Residents can stay informed about service delivery metrics, fostering trust and accountability within the municipality.”

Moreover, ERP software aids in better resource allocation by providing a comprehensive view of resources and demand across departments. Data-driven decision-making helps optimize resource utilization, improving operational efficiency overall.

Residents can also benefit from ERP software through publicly available modules for interaction with the municipality. Director of Sales & Marketing, Daniel DeTuccio, who represents Quality Data Service, Inc. (QDS), a provider of ERP solutions said, “having an ERP system facilitates effective engagement, ease of payment for taxes and fees, and ultimately enhances overall satisfaction with municipal services.”

Scalability and flexibility are key features of ERP systems, allowing municipalities to adapt to changing operational needs as they grow and evolve. Whether accommodating new departments, integrating third-party applications, or expanding services, ERP software can scale alongside the city to ensure longterm viability and efficiency.

By streamlining processes, reducing manual labor, and improving resource utilization, municipalities can achieve significant cost efficiencies over time, resulting in a positive return on investment.

CCM Hires Member Services Assistant

Please join us in welcoming Amber Knight to CCM.  Amber is working with Korbi Kelly Banks in the position of Member Services Assistant.  In this role Amber will assist in the coordination and support of CCM member programs and services as well as assists the Member Services and Marketing Manager in planning and holding CCM and partner events. Amber, a resident of New Haven, joins CCM with over 9 years of customer service and event planning experience.  In her spare time Amber enjoys playing the violin and spending time with family and friends.

2024 Legislative Recap

2024 legislative session came down the stretch

The 2024 Legislative Session adjourned on May 8 and for the first time since 2009 the General Assembly did not reopen the budget to implement changes for the second year of the biennium budget. Adopted spending in the current budget is estimated to be between $500-$600 million over budget, but budget safeguards have created a fiscal cushion of around $1 billion, which was higher-than-expected due to increased income tax and capital gains tax returns. Despite the expected budget surplus, the fiscal guardrails, renewed last year by the legislature, restricted the ability to adopt increased spending of that money.

In lieu of re-opening the budget, the legislature adopted two budget stabilization bills:

• HB 5523 Allocations of Federal American Rescue Plan Act Funds and Provisions Related to General Government, Human Services, Education and the Biennium Ending June 30, 2025; and

• HB 5524 Adjusting Bonds of the State and Concerning Provisions Related to State and Municipal Tax Administration, General Government and School Building Projects.

These two bills, among other things, authorized the use of the remaining federal Pandemic Relief Funding amounting to approximately $370M. The funds were allocated to provide one time assistance to higher education $120 million, non-profit providers $50 million, mental health services $50 million early child care $20 million and municipal aid $40 million. The $40 million in municipal aid was provided to 12 towns and cities to provide one-time assistance to offset reductions in motor vehicle reimbursements due to local revaluations.

With the Legislature forgoing formal changes to the adopted FY 24 and FY 25 adopted budget, municipal aid remains at levels adopted in 2023 with no major changes to municipal aid funding.

Among the changes included in the budget and revenue stabilization bills are the allocation of the $150 million in Education Enhancement Funding which was approved in the adopted budget to allocated as follows: ECS: $73.7 million; State Charter Schools: $9.1 million (including seats); BOE magnet schools: $13.5 million; RESC magnet schools: $36.8 million; AgriScience (ASTE) programs: $7.1 million and other K-12 education priorities: $2.7 million.

In addition to the budget stabilization bills, other key areas that CCM advocated on behalf of towns and cities included:

Taxation of Motor Vehicles

HB 5172 AAC the Assessment of Motor Vehicles for Property Taxation was intended to address concerns with provisions included in Public Act 22-118, which made several changes regarding the assessment and taxation of motor vehicles. Municipalities will be unable to implement the required changes and will neg-

atively impact local budgets and the delivery of local services and many commercial motor vehicle owners and businesses would see their property taxes go up if the legislature does not get fixed. While HB 5172 passed the House it was not adopted in concurrence by the Senate and died on the House calendar at the close of session.

CCM has continued to work with the Governor’s office and legislative leadership after the adjournment of session and to address this critical issue. CCM has requested a Special Session which has been tentatively scheduled for June 26th and 27th.

Housing

HB 5474 Omnibus Housing Bill – A major initiative of the General Assembly, omnibus housing bill provides incentives for towns to establish middle housing ‘as of right’ within their communities. Middle housing is defined as duplexes, triplexes or quadplexes. For each middle housing unit built, a 1/4 point will go towards a municipality’s 8-30g goals and moratorium. The middle housing units do not need to be deed restricted.

The bill also enables municipalities to license shortterm rentals, assess fines for zoning violations and to increase penalties for blight.

In addition, it provides for a summary review for the conversion of vacant nursing homes into multi-unit dwellings as long as they are within the same footprint of the existing structure and the property is not completely demolished.

Other provisions include additional data collection reporting requirements to DECD, a study of the design review process, limits intervenor status for affordable housing projects and bases the valuation of a property that is 100% affordable by net rental income rather than the property tax.

HB 5390 AAC Transit Oriented Communities (TOC)This bill would prioritize state discretionary funding for towns that opt to create a transit-oriented district (TOD) of reasonable size and conform to the zoning requirements listed in the bill. The bill also requires developments with ten or more units located within a TOC to either deed restrict a percentage of the units for a certain time period or make payments to an affordable housing development fund established by the TOC. While this bill passed the House along a largely party line vote, it was not acted upon by the Senate before the session adjourned. CCM continues to advocate to the legislature to focus on implementing the Municipal Redevelopment Authority (MRDA), which has been created to facilitate the development of the state’s TOD policy and is a voluntary program which towns and cities may opt in to access funding and resources within MRDA. Currently $60 million has been authorized by the legislature to implement MRDA, but it has not been allocated by the Bond Commission yet.

Education

In addition to preserving the $150 million for Education Enhancement funding, CCM worked with legislative leaders to complement the work being done with CCM’s 119K Commission to address at-risk and disconnected youth. Legislation was passed to (1) establish data sharing agreements between local and youth service bureaus (HB 5347) and (2) to expand access to free buses before and after school to help increase student access to after school activities (HB 5524) in the cities of Hartford and New Haven. CCM will continue to advocate for increased bus funding in other communities during the 2025 legislative session.

Environment

CCM’s Task Force on Solid Waste led by President Mayor Laura Hoydick proposed legislation to (1) require DEEP to conduct a waste characterization study which has not been done since 2015, and (2) to increase truck weight limits for vehicles hauling municipal solid waste. We successfully secured the funds for the waste characterization study as part of HB 5524, and will continue conversations with DOT this summer to address their concerns over needed changes to federal law and impacts to infrastructure to accommodate increased truck weight limits.

Labor

HB5279 – Line of Duty Death Designations - clarifies that in the instance of a firefighter or police officer death caused by a pulmonary embolism or cerebrovascular incident (e.g. stroke), either on duty or 24 hours after, the fire or police chief shall have the authority to determine whether the death was within the line of duty. Municipalities have until October 1, 2024, to designate through ordinance an alternative individual or entity to declare a line of duty death. The designation cannot be used to establish a presumption for workers compensation benefits.

SB 328 AAC Permanent Partial Disability Benefits and Pension Offsets - This bill would have placed a costly unfunded mandate on towns and cities by circumventing the collective bargaining process. The bill would have prohibited pension offsets regarding permanent partial disability benefits under workers’ compensation laws. The bill passed the Senate, but CCM was successful in holding the bill in the House.

It was another successful year legislatively and it was due to the advocacy of municipal leaders. Your collective voice ensured that municipal interests were heard at the Capitol and were at the forefront of deliberations occurring at the State House. Thank you for your continued support of CCM.

NLC Turns 100 National League inspires us at CCM to keep up the good work

BY: Clarence E. Anthony

On December 12, 1924, at 9:30 a.m., 10 municipal leaders from across the country sat down together at a table in Fraser Hall at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. Invited by John Stutz, the executive director of the Kansas Municipal League, the ten founders of the new Association of American Municipal Organizations set out with a big goal: to create a league that would provide services to our nation’s city officials.

99 years ago today, at that first official meeting, Stutz provided a report proposing to establish an official municipal association for the United States. Those ten delegates approved that report, Stutz was elected as the new organization’s full-time executive secretary, and the institution that would soon become NLC was born.

Every once in a while, in my current role as the CEO and Executive Director of NLC, I like to take a moment to think back about what it must have been like to be one of those ten founding leaders, 99 years ago. The truth is, while a lot has changed over the last century, a lot has also stayed the same in America’s cities, towns and villages. Stutz, along with the other leaders who convened in Fraser Hall, called that first meeting to order because they were struggling with many of the same issues we’re still dealing with today.

For example, in 2020, NLC’s member cities banded together to seek recovery strategies and federal support in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. In 1924, the Spanish flu epidemic was still in very recent memory, with community leaders actively working to find ways to reinvigorate their communities and bring their local economies back.

Just as city leaders are thinking about how we can bridge the digital divide and expand access to broadband in our communities, back then, these leaders were experimenting with the use of wireless telegraphs and commercial radio to communicate with and better serve their residents.

Today, our municipal officials are concerned with electric buses and downtown congestion – in 1924, local leaders were thinking about how cars and the newly invented automatic traffic signal could transform transportation in their cities.

The Association of American Municipal Organizations was founded as a novel way for leaders in city government – from across the entire country – to connect on their common challenges, to share new ideas with one another, and to take the solutions back to their communities to make them even better.

Those leaders who convened in Fraser Hall wanted cities to have an impact. They wanted one unified voice to represent local leaders in Washington, D.C. – to drive change and influence, both in the federal govern-

ment and in communities across America. Today, our organization is so much more than any of those initial delegates probably ever could have imagined. Today, there are former NLC members who now walk the halls of Congress, who lead federal agencies, who sit in presidential cabinets – guided by their roots in local leadership. We have NLC members who are leaders in the corporate and nonprofit sectors today – who keep the perspectives and priorities of America’s cities, towns, and villages top of mind, because of their lived experiences in local government.

Today, NLC is a reputable brand, a trusted space for local leaders to convene, and a go-to resource for all things municipal government. We represent over 2,700 members and are the unified voice of our nation’s 19,495 municipalities – from metropolises like New York City to my own tiny hometown of South Bay, Florida. We stretch from coast to coast and have an engaged and diverse membership, with people of color, women, and LGTBQ+ leaders serving at the highest levels of our NLC leadership.

Our organization has achieved a lot, but we’re nowhere near done. Over the next century, we will continue looking forward, striving to make more progress, building better communities, and delivering on our consistent mission: to relentlessly advocate for, and protect the interests of, cities, towns, and villages – by influencing federal policy, strengthening local leadership, and driving innovative solutions.

As I imagine, they believed back in 1924, and as you’ll certainly hear me say today, local leaders are the ones who get the work done. On this 99th anniversary, it is an honor for me and for all of the members of the National League of Cities to carry this remarkable legacy forward.

MUNICIPAL LAW GROUP

Kari L. Olson Chair kolson@murthalaw.com 860.240.6085

Nan M. Birdwhistell nbirdwhistell@murthalaw.com

Patricia L. Boye-Williams pboyewilliams@murthalaw.com

Proloy K. Das pdas@murthalaw.com

Michael J. Donnelly mdonnelly@murthalaw.com

Jodie L. Driscoll jdriscoll@murthalaw.com

Salvatore G. Gangemi sgangemi@murthalaw.com

Julie A. Lavoie jlavoie@murthalaw.com

Alfred E. Smith, Jr. asmith@murthalaw.com

Joseph D. Szerejko jszerejko@murthalaw.com

Nicholas W. Vitti, Jr. nvitti@murthalaw.com

Municipal Grant Bootcamp Free Program To Help Munis With Grants

We understand that for many Connecticut towns and cities, it may be administratively burdensome to coordinate federal infrastructure grants. To assist our members, CCM continues to partner with the National League of Cities (NLC) on a FREE program that will help you address this common challenge. I’m reaching out to encourage your community to participate in NLC’s Local Infrastructure Hub that is designed to help municipal staff learn to develop and submit winning grant applications for IIJA funding.

Theses free trainings are designed for towns and cities, with no prior grant-writing experience, help secure funding in areas like bridge investment, solid waste infrastructure for recycling, brownfields, and efforts to increase connectivity in communities. Communities that participated in these trainings in the past have collectively secured more than $200 million.

From their website, they say that in addition to live learning sessions, participants will receive access to templates, example submissions, and other supports. During the Bootcamps, the Local Infrastructure Hub will also provide participants with access to subject-matter experts, data resources, office hours, individualized coaching sessions, and peer-to-peer learning to engage with experts and other

applicants from peer cities going through the same program. Each bootcamp is comprised of eight modules tailored to a specific type of grant. While the specifics of each bootcamp will vary, here is a general outline of the eight modules:

1. Setting the Table: Municipalities will be assigned to peer cohorts and will be guided through the process of how to complete an asset map for their community.

2. Engaging the Community: Using the asset map, towns and cities will learn and refine how they build and execute a community engagement strategy.

3. Data Driven Decision Making: Municipalities will learn how to utilize data to understand problems, test and define solutions, ground applications in data, and ensure their grant applications will achieve the desired outcome/s.

4. Demystifying Capital Stacks and Budgeting: Participants will learn how to refine and assemble a complex capital stack and budget for grant applications.

5. Federal Administration Priorities: Participants will be provided guidance on how to align their grant application with broader federal priorities.

6. Writing a Strong Grant Narrative: Municipalities will be provided with templates and guidance on how to write winning grant applications that are tailored to the metrics and policy priorities behind specific grant opportunities.

7. Package, Submit, and Tell Your Story: Municipalities will receive help navigating the grant submission process and work with their chief executive on how to plan for post-submission advocacy and communications.

8. Long Term Capacity Building: Municipalities will develop plans for compliance, communicating with the public about the transformational impact of the project, and organizing to attract future investments.

These Bootcamps will provide communities with the tools and guidance they need to build a robust, competitive federal grant application.

Register for participation in the HUB at www.LocalInfrastructure. org/application-bootcamp   Registration ends May 15.

If you have any specific questions regarding this program, please Katie Dailinger of NLC at dailinger@ nlc.org

CIRMA ‘Meets the Moment’ at 2024 Annual Meeting of Members

Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency, CIRMA, held its 44th Annual Meeting of Members on January 29, 2024, in Hartford, Connecticut. CIRMA, Connecticut’s leading public-sector insurance provider, continues to advance its mission inexorably and with poise—an accomplishment that underpinned the event’s theme which showcased CIRMA’s longstanding ability to meet the moment for its members.

“Our mission and values propel our ability to serve and protect our members at any moment. We pay what we owe, achieve optimal outcomes, and lead meaningful and transformative change. We are rooted in our communities—the communities our members serve, and we prepare early and respond deliberately to their needs and the emergent trends that keep them up at night.”

David Demchak, CIRMA President and CEO, commented during the event.

Mr. Demchak shared CIRMA’s outstanding financial and operational performances as part of the President’s Report presentation. Over the last five years, the organization retained over 98% of its membership. Members’ Equity increased by $56.7 million over the previous five years, totaling $234 million. Total assets increased by $40.4 million over the past five years, reaching $443 million. CIRMA also achieved over $124M in medical cost savings for its members through CIRMA medical care and cost management programs.

Delivering on its promise to provide stable and competitive rates to its members, CIRMA’s average rate need over the past five years was a -3.20% decrease in workers’ compensation and a .10% increase for auto-liabilityproperty. These rates outperformed the industry and ensured that CIRMA members received world-class insurance programs at deeply competitive price points over the long term.

Attendees also enjoyed learning about the latest best practices and points of view on emerging topics from industry thought leaders and a slate of informative and inspiring speakers. Also featured at the event was

CIRMA’s Excellence in Risk Management Awards Ceremony, where some of Connecticut’s best and brightest risk management champions were recognized. The following 2024 Excellence in Risk Management Awards and Recipients were announced at the event:

• Substantial Impact on Total Cost of Risk Award: Town of East Windsor

• Establishing Risk Management as an Organizational Priority Award: Danbury Housing Authority

• New and Innovative Risk Management Initiative Award: Town of Canton Police Department

• Sustained Risk Management Program Award: Manchester Public Schools

Award winners were celebrated for their creative problem-solving, excellence in and commitment to risk management, and success in fostering long-term organizational change within their communities. This year’s four deserving awardees received a handsome crystal award and a total of $10,000 in risk management grants from CIRMA.

See why our 2024 winners were selected!

CIRMA will host its next Annual Meeting of Members event on January 31, 2025.

From Left: Christopher Arciero, Police Chief; Andrew Schiffer, Captain; and Jonathan Phelps, Patrolman; Town of Canton Police Department; Matthew Knickerbocker, Wilton Town Administrator; In Front: Leo

CIRMA Welcomes New Employees

CIRMA is excited to welcome the following team members to its vibrant and committed community. “It’s our staff who help create our

innovative solutions and deliver on the promises we make to our members, every day,” said David Demchak, President and Chief Executive Officer of CIRMA.

Christopher Barone

Christopher Barone is the newest edition to CIRMA’s Underwriting Department in the position of Underwriting Business Analyst. In his new role, Chris is responsible for performing analysis of underwriting requirements, development of functional specifications, and implementation and support of Underwriting business applications. Chris graduated from Trinity College earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science. He joins CIRMA with over 20 years of project management and business analyst experience.

Karla Carrillo-Castillo recently joined CIRMA’s Finance Department in the position of Accountant. In her new role, Karla performs the daily and monthly activities related to CIRMA’s self-insured members. Her responsibilities include the collection of information to support all funding requirements, bank reconciliations and data necessary to produce financial reports.

Karla received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Western Connecticut State University. She joins CIRMA with over five years of accounting and finance experience.

Amara Del Franco joins CIRMA’s Workers’ Compensation Claims team as their newest Claims Assistant. In her new role, Amara provides clerical, administrative, and technical support to CIRMA’s Workers’ Compensation Claim staff.

Amara received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Connecticut. She joins CIRMA with over ten years of medical, administrative, and business office experience.

Alexander Eimutus recently joined CIRMA’s Underwriting Department in the position of Underwriting Technical Associate. In this role, Alexander performs specific tasks related to CIRMA’s underwriting process, including data collection and analysis as well as provide support and customer service to CIRMA members.

Alexander received a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Bryant University. He joins CIRMA with over five years of customer service and finance experience.

Katie Parrott is the newest edition to CIRMA’s Liability Claims Department in the position of Liability Claims Representative Trainee. In her new role, Katie provides municipal claims handling and investigations of varying complexity for several lines of businesses.

Katie received an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Northwestern Connecticut Community College. She joins CIRMA with over thirteen years of customer relations experience.

Karla CarrilloCastillo

Alexander Eimutus

Katie Parrott

Amara Del Franco

CIRMA Announces New Board Leadership

Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency, CIRMA, recently announced that Old Saybrook First Selectman Carl P. Fortuna, Jr. was elected Chairman of CIRMA’s Board of Directors, and Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone was elected Vice Chairman, effective March 28, 2024.

First Selectman Fortuna formerly served as Vice Chairman of CIRMA’s Board of Directors since 2021. Outgoing Chairman of the Board Matthew Knickerbocker will continue to serve on CIRMA’s Board of Directors, the Executive Committee of the Board, and the organization’s Claims Advisory Committee. Knickerbocker, Wilton Town Administrator, joined CIRMA’s Board in 2017 and has held the position of Board Chair since 2020.

David Demchak, CIRMA President and CEO, said, “We would like to express our deep appreciation for Matt and his outstanding leadership during his tenure as Chairman of CIRMA’s Board of Directors. Matt has been instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation, pushing boundaries, and embracing new ideas that have allowed CIRMA to thrive.”

Turning to the appointment of First Selectman Fortuna, David Demchak said, “Carl’s extensive leadership experience, coupled with his deep municipal operations background and finance and legal expertise, make him the right choice to lead our board today. As outgoing vice chair, standing executive committee chair, and an operations and underwriting committee member, the depth and breadth of his experience have enriched our performance as a board and organization over the years. I am confident that his leadership will ensure CIRMA maintains its reputation as a trusted partner to its members while providing unmatched insurance, risk management, and claims, products, services, and expertise and continuing to deliver on its track record of sustainable, profitable growth and consistent value creation for all its stakeholders.”

Elinor Carbone, Mayor of Torrington, Connecticut, was elected Vice Chairman of the CIRMA Board of Directors.

Mayor Carbone brings a broad set of municipal leadership experience to CIRMA. She is currently serving her third term as Mayor after being elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017 and 2021, respectively.

“The breadth of Mayor Carbone’s experience means she’ll be an effective advisor while serving as Vice Chairman. Since she joined CIRMA’s Board of Directors in 2019, she has been providing valuable strategic perspective, and we look forward to working with her in his new role. CIRMA’s standing as a market leader has never been more apparent, and Mayor Carbone will play a key role in our continued success,” said CIRMA President and Chief Executive Officer David Demchak.

Mayor Carbone has served on CIRMA’s Executive Committee of the Board of Directors since 2021.

Matthew Knickerbocker, former Chairman of CIRMA’s Board of Directors, was honored at CIRMA’s Annual Meeting of Members in Hartford on January 29, 2024.

Carl P. Fortuna, Jr.

First Selectman, Old Saybrook Chairman, CIRMA Board of Directors

Elinor Carbone Mayor, Torrington Vice Chairman, CIRMA Board of Directors

CIVIC AMENITIES

No Big Deal

Tolland finds a unique way to raise big funds

Bigfoot, Bigfoot, where art thou Bigfoot? The mysterious creature is among the Glawackus and other mystical creatures rumored to make Connecticut their home. And while most of the state is well settled, there are pockets of the unknown that may be home to the cryptids of all sorts. These preserved tracts of land can be host to many creatures, not just cryptids. This is a big part of the reason why the Tolland Conservation Commission sold Bigfoot Trapping Licenses.

The one-time hunt took place on April 6, and invited all those with the proper licenses to tour the Luce Conservation Property to hunt for Bigfoot as well as Unicorns. All proceeds from the sale of the licenses did go to the Conservation Commission to maintain and preserve these areas.

Unfortunately, there is no ancient legend of Bigfoots in the Tolland area – unless former Municipal Voice guest, Jeff Belanger of New England Legends, has any to share – so Tolland also went about to make sure that one existed. Open through March 11 of this year, the Tolland Conservation Commission held a writing contest for the “The Legend of the Tolland Bigfoot,” to ensure that there would be a real fake story to pass down. It was open to all ages and read on the day of the hunt.

Reports that a bigfoot was awake and angry – presumably after a winter hibernation – could not be verified as real, but footage was shared to the Tolland Conservation Commission facebook page, for folks that might be interested.

The Tolland Conservation Commission and Conservation Corps are dedicated to these properties, and since 2000, they have been “crucial in the conservation of hundreds of acres by helping to raise $6million through referenda that enabled the town to purchase land or development rights.” Stating further that “they’ve made it possible for future generations to know what it’s like to walk in the woods, see deer or turkey, or look across an open field.” No mention of Bigfoot or Unicorns, which can be seen as plausible deniability.

According to one members Reddit post, “the license is for trap-and-release only… these are endangered creatures after all, so if we catch any of you grilling up unicorn steaks, there’s gonna be hell to pay with the State authorities (plus the glitter gets stuck in your teeth).” No matter the healing properties of Unicorn blood or the untold riches from catching the first verified Bigfoot in America, what matters is the preservation and conservation of their natural territories. Thanks to these hunting licenses, the cryptids that call Tolland home will be able to sleep a little better at night.

The one-time hunt took place on April 6, and invited all those with the proper licenses to tour the Luce Conservation Property to hunt for Bigfoot as well as Unicorns.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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

Football: The Other Kind

Bridgeport is next location for Soccer league expansion

Once upon a time, Connecticut was the hopeful new location for a football team that was sure to bring in millions of dollars of economic development; a deal that was alas, not to be. Although a story that is often told in the annals of “what could have been,” Connecticut is finally getting a football team – so to speak. Perhaps not the kind of football you’re thinking of unless you are one of the seven billion plus people who don’t live in North America, but for us, we can say that Connecticut is getting a soccer team.

Bridgeport is set to be one of five expansion locations for the growing Major League Soccer affiliate system – NEXT Pro. With hopes to start playing by 2025, the team has been branded the Connecticut United Football Club, and will be joined by Carolina Core FC, Cleveland, Jacksonville FC and Chattanooga FC, pending approval by the U.S. Soccer Federation according to their press release.

A stadium will be built for the team to play on Bridgeport’s waterfront. Utilizing the existing Shoreline Star Greyhound Park, the new stadium will be repurposed for professional soccer games.

The city has been adding unique attractions left and right over the past several years in order to attract businesses and residents to enjoy the city. The concerted effort has been paying off, leading to a virtuous cycle of economic development. According to figures from NBC Connecticut, the development of the stadium and the team is “ex-

pected to generate $4.5 billion over the course of 25 years, and create over 2,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs.”

“Bridgeport is in the midst of a renaissance,” Mayor Joe Ganim said in the release, “Rebranding from an industrial city to now the capitol of arts and entertainment of Connecticut. I am proud to announce that MLS NEXT Pro will join that landscape in providing entertainment opportunities for Bridgeport residents and the region at large.”

The team has deep roots already in Connecticut without playing a single game. Not only are they planning on scouting in the state for homegrown players, but the founding partner, Andre Swanston, is a longtime Connecticut resident and UConn alum. If the team plays anything like the teams of his alma mater, they will be sure to be a winner.

Each year, it seems that soccer grows more popular in the United States. While it is not likely to usurp the “football” moniker from our NFL anytime soon here in North America, the league’s expansion shows no signs of stopping. And that’s a good thing for Bridgeport, who keeps rolling on it’s virtuous cycle, and it’s a good thing for Connecticut, one that is united in its love for sport.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Spread The Word

West Haven and the state look to energize campaigns

It’s hard to say what a good slogan will do for you. Just after two years, the State announced that it was ducking the “Find Your Vibe” slogan that carried the state through a majority of the pandemic for a new slogan called “Make It Here.” Nearly concurrently, the City of West Haven announced that they too had a change of heart and proposed “Miles of shore and so much more” to reinvigorate their economic development.

The state is of course promoting the state as a whole and not just any one town or sector, as it launches the campaign in April to last through the end of summer. The slogan had been soft launched in October of last year showing and “spurred by research that found only 50% of residents are proud of the state and only 21% would recommend the state to others.”

Anthony Anthony – who had humorously assured an assembled CCM Leg Comm meeting that that was in fact his name – said “The ‘Make It Here’ campaign was designed to help Connecticut stand taller than our regional peers and inspire greater pride among our residents. By shining a light on the state’s underlying identity that has always been present, we’re telling a more authentic story about Connecticut today, and better showing where we’re headed tomorrow.”

So too is the proposed West Haven campaign. It would not shock anyone in the city if the only thing an outsider knew about West Haven was its miles of public beaches. And while that is great for the shore, the city’s Economic Development Commission wants to insist on the “And so much more” part as well.

Mayor Dorinda Borer said in an article from the New Haven Register that she wanted to engage a professional firm for a slogan, but had not heard about the idea from the Economic Development Commission. They had proposed it as part of a larger economic development plan, but had not been instituted in any official capacity as of yet.

West Haven will still be revolutionary with its motto of “nil desperandum,” according to the Register article, with Thomas Painter watching British ships approach the shore. But “never despair” is not a selling motto, and apparently “Still Revolutionary” wasn’t for the state either. A good motto is worth its weight in gold –Just Do It, I’m Loving It, America Runs on Dunkin – but you have to have the goods to back it up. West Haven and the State are betting that they do.

One Milford

New program engages students in community EDUCATION

In 2024, four years after the Black Lives Matter movement took off in earnest, towns and cities are still grappling with how to respond to the need for a sense of belonging for all. It’s recognized that this is all important in general society, but this kind of culture shift is more important than ever for our children who deserve the tools to succeed. “One Milford,” was created in order to foster that community and give students the right tools to be active and engaged members.

This was shown through an apt metaphor in the October 2023 presentation of One Milford: “Every good gardener knows that if your veggies aren’t growing, you need to make sure that the right conditions are in place. They must receive sufficient water, adequate sunlight and fertilizer, and you must be attentive to pest control. In our classrooms, the essential conditions are safety, inclusion, belonging and social and emotional support. When these conditions are present, children thrive – and they learn.”

These initiatives, led by Marisa Acampora, the Instructional Supervisor of Equity and Engagement for the Milford Public Schools, noted what this means for Milford and what this does not mean as well. It is, she presented, “building relationships that communicate respect and dignity” as well as “Identifying when factors exist that are not supporting an inclusive climate, naming the problem and collectively solving it.” IT is not “prioritizing the success of any one person or group,” or “Promoting blame or shame of any person or group.”

Still, as recently as early April 2024, CT Insider was running articles about “The backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion.” While it focused mostly on the business world, there have been instances in Connecticut public schools that have shown that the need for equity and inclusion training is needed even in school age children.

The American Psychological Assocation states that “an important goal in diversity education is helping students recognize their biases. Whether they are implicit or explicit, biases stem from reliance on common cognitive heuristics that help people navigate their complex social world.” In other, simpler, words, “they are part of being human.”

Students who are given the tools to navigate being human are likely to be perceived to be more successful than those who are not. In a less contentious example, think of how a student who has learned manners is perceived when they say “please” and “thank you” versus a student who has only learned to demand what they want.

In Milford, that education is going to help them foster “One Milford,” that is a Milford that already exists, one that is for everyone. It is foundationally very American to believe that America is a melting pot – which we describe elsewhere in this issue – and through this program students will learn not only that that is true, but why it is true and why that’s important.

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Minds Over Yonder

Strategy aims to bring student focus back to education

Most people experience the same problem in 2024: there is a task to be done, but instead of washing dishes or reading that dusty book, you end up scrolling through TikTok or Facebook Marketplace. The world of our smartphones can be all-encompassing, and all too distracting. What for adults can be a minor distraction, for children can be a disruption in their education. Waterbury is considering adopting measures to get student’s eyes off their phones and back on the chalkboard.

The ubiquity of smart phones is part of the problem. Children as young as elementary school age have their own personal devices. Teachers report that students are distracted by the phones, text throughout class, and in some cases, even plan meetups during class. Of course, this behavior is not conducive to learning, but just how harmful this behavior is has hardly yet to be studied in depth.

But what little we know is already concerning. A recent UNESCO study suggested that it takes upwards of 20 minutes for students to refocus after becoming distracted by a cell phone. In an era when phones ping at an alarming rate with notifications from social media, email, and text messages, this means that students might not be paying attention in class at all. On the opposite side of this study, “Removing smartphones

from schools in Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom was found to improve learning outcomes.”

The solution for so many is the Yondr bag; a simple pouch with a magnetic closure. They are often used by artists and comedians who want to cut down cell phone usage during shows. The success of the product is the simplicity of it. Students place them in the pouch in the morning and take them out at the end of the day.

Torrington became the first school system to implement Yondr bags in 2022. After initial protests by students and some parents, the school district has called it a major success. With figures cited in a Republican-American article from March of this year, they stated that cellphones in class have dropped by 95% and distractedness has declined by 80% as measured by teachers, supporting the UNESCO data.

At a time when connection is so critical for students, anything that breaks their learning is a threat to their future. Locking up cell phones was not just highlighted during Governor Lamont’s recent State of the State address, but was one of his biggest applause points. As noted in a separate Republican American article, finding just $40,000 to ensure that Waterbury students pay attention and have a chance to succeed is no small price.

ENERGY

More Solar Panels?

What was once innovative is now just good practice in Branford

Within Connecticut Town & City, we often end up tracing trends from one project to dozens – so many, sometimes, that the idea ceases to be innovative and becomes a standard operating procedure. Putting solar panels on schools is one such idea. The large flat roofs on most public schools are perfect locations for solar panels, and so naturally, one, then another, two more, three, five, eight, and soon many, many more. While these projects are no longer innovative, there is still room for innovation – that is the ease of installing and paying for them. It’s an easy win, and no wonder that Governor Lamont and the State Legislature are finally asking how to make it easier to install.

Governor Lamont, who appeared at Mary Tisko Elementary School in Branford said that right now, just about 300 public schools in Connecticut have solar panels, just under two per municipality. He wants to push those numbers up with a bill that will encourage schools to install solar and increase the reimbursement for schools that do.

As has so often appeared in the pages of this magazine, the figures of savings are borderline incredible. The Branford school is expected to save $200,000

over the next 20 years alone. In some towns and cities where solar is being placed on multiple buildings, the savings reach into the millions over the projected lifetime of the installation. But there are issues with how the state manages solar installation.

According to House Bill 5052, the state’s non-residential solar program has caps on the quantity of solar generation that can be installed each year. It’s even better if the state can align its mandates with funds –in his memo on the bill, the Governor says that “This bill aligns school building project funding with existing energy program initiatives so communities can capture state funds for renewable energy efficiency at the same time they are renovating or constructing their school, without those communities being penalized for aggressively seeking outside funding.”

Municipalities are often leading the way. Towns and cities have been installing solar on their schools for years – you don’t get to 300 schools without making it a trend. Branford’s Tisko Elementary is just one of hundreds of schools that are going to save hundreds of thousands of dollars thanks to these installments. In a way, it’s time to open up the flood gates on these improvements and let municipalities save money.

Mustering Up Energy

Geothermal energy competes with the sun

It might not be a shock, but one of the funny side effects of the most recent solar eclipse was that the production of solar energy dipped a little. Of course, no sun means no solar energy created; even on rainy days, the production of energy decreases. But what if there was a renewable energy source that could be consistently relied upon? A majority of the members of the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting noted an energy source that will never dip: The Earth.

With a nearly 85% vote, the RTM urged much of the rest of the town to look into Geothermal energy, which has had years of development since first implemented over 100 years ago. But what is Geothermal exactly? It’s the process of harvesting the natural heating properties of the Earth. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Earth has several zones: The crust (which we live on), the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core which is made of molten iron. The inner core is as hot as the sun, over, 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, but even the mantle-crust boundary reaches about 392 degrees F.

Geothermal Energy doesn’t even have to drill miles deep to take advantage of this property. Just under

the surface, maybe 10 to 15 feet deep, the temperature of the soil remains at a consistent 50 to 60 degrees F. So whether it’s deep in winter or in the dog days of summer, the soil temperature is always moderate. Geothermal energy takes advantage of this consistency to bring heat in when it’s cold and dump heat in the ground when it is hot. This makes it among the most reliable forms of energy production, and for the most part, it is pollution-free.

Of note, one school in the Greenwich system is already on geothermal energy, but the system began to fail after “years of misuse,” according to one CT Insider article. It was those underground “wells” that perhaps failed.

Despite this, upgrades even in the last two decades have improved this technology greatly. And while our oldest – and arguably, technically, only, - energy source, the sun, produces enough power for solar fields to power the entire world, it’s battery storage that is holding it back. Earth needs no battery storage because the internal temperature will always be warm. Its worth it for Greenwich and all other towns to look into Geothermal energy.

Environmentalism Is Now

Norwalk strengthens relationship to environment

Environmentalism isn’t just a concept – it is the very real way in which we relate to the world around us.

In much the same way that America at the time of its founding was enraptured by naturalism and deism in which they viewed the natural order and its impact on human reason; we are now enveloped in an era where we view our human impact on the natural order. For many, being green is a way of understanding and responding to that relationship – which is why it’s a big statement when a municipality aims to be the greenest in Connecticut as Mayor Rilling said Norwalk will be.

This past March, the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency issued a draft of their first Sustainability and Resilience Plan (SRP), which they said in a press release is a “Roadmap that builds on the City’s sustainability and climate resilience efforts while placing Norwalk on a fast track to becoming the greenest city in Connecticut.” The goal of the SRP is to identify “new ways the City can enhance climate resilience efforts while addressing critical gaps to effectively build a pipeline of viable sustainability projects at the City level.”

Many times, a project roadmap or a statement can ring hollow or empty without the follow through to back it

up. But the goal and repeated statement that Norwalk intends to be the greenest city in the state of Connecticut says that they mean it. Mayor Rilling repeated this claim in the press release, and said, “it’s our responsibility to take a proactive approach by implementing the steps in this Sustainability and Resilience Plan on behalf of our children, grandchildren, and future generations and that’s exactly what we’re doing.” Those steps include not just more green canopy and more Transit Oriented Development to wean people off of cars, but longer term goals as well.

And this is what we mean when we say environmentalism isn’t just a concept. It isn’t just a belief, but an acknowledgement that humans have an inextricable relationship to the natural world, an idea that has a long history amongst our political leaders stretching back to the Founding Fathers. Norwalk is taking the correct steps to navigate a world with an understanding that we play an important role in making our own environments. But Norwalk is just one municipality, there should be 169 municipalities all gunning for the title of the Greenest Municipality in Connecticut.

Bus Down To Electric Avenue

Electric bus fleets are next wave, Branford leads the way

The benefits of electric vehicles has long been expounded in the pages of CT&C, but mostly in terms of fleet vehicles like cop cars or the economic benefits of electric vehicle charging stations that can be used by the public. But one area that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago was an all-electric school bus fleet. Branford Public Schools looks to be one of the first school districts to change all of that.

Just this past March, Branford Public Schools teamed up with Zum to outfit their district with school buses that run on battery power. The 10-year contract will see the district completely transition their fleet over the first half of the contract, which barring any other districts that cross the finish line before 2030, will be the first district with a 100% electric school bus fleet. This project follows behind other electrified vehicle implementations – New Haven currently has several CTTransit buses, for instance – but the push for electric school buses is relatively new. Back in 2021, a handful of buses were implemented in Middletown, and a few others were being used in New Britain. Just this past January, Connecticut received a grant for 50 buses to be split between Hartford Public Schools and Technical High Schools.

In a press release, Zum said that they are “Leading the charge for safe, efficient, equitable and sustainable student transportation nationwide,” going on to say that they offer “higher wages and modern benefits for drivers and staff,” giving them access to advanced training and certification programs.

While there’s no doubt that electric vehicles spew less toxic gas than the traditional internal combustion engine, there’s always a question of reliability when it comes to new technologies. But one concern that came up in a Board of Education meeting was the reliability in cold weather conditions. Zum provided a document with comparisons to Wenatchee, Washington and Frederick, Maryland showing comparable weather patterns and the viability of the fleet.

Because they are quite unlike your average passenger EV, school buses are an unknown. In a FAQ document, Zum states that savings possibilities of early adopters are hard to identify, but grants for this work might not always exist, so you can take advantage of it now or not. Branford chose to take advantage of the time. Within five years they will be a first in Connecticut, but in all likelihood, not the last.

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GOVERNANCE

How To Think About Systems Change

Adapted from NLC’s Citiespeak Blog

While it’s easy to understand how someone’s personal decisions or behaviors can impact their health, it’s often harder to visualize how systems can influence individual and community health outcomes. As a result, conveying the need for “systems change” can be challenging.

Even when people do understand the impact of systems on individuals, they can find the problem overwhelming, even insurmountable.

Still, city leaders know that helping constituents and partners understand the impact of systemic influences is essential to making progress toward addressing root causes and advancing health equity. As Ali Abazeed, Inaugural Director of the Dearborn Public Health Department and participant in NLC’s Cities of Opportunity Action Cohort, recently observed: “Health communications is an intervention in and of itself. We have to do a better job communicating what we do.”

To support city leaders in this goal, we are debuting a series of communication tools at this year’s Cities of Opportunity Solutions Forum. The Plain Talk tools take concepts and terms essential to the work of health equity and offer tips on how to communicate them simply and effectively. The tips are based on current communication research and best practices.

For example, here are three Plain Talk suggestions for introducing the concept of “systems change:”

1. Start small. If you start by talking about big systems that are related to how a city functions—like the economic system or infrastructure system—it can overwhelm people. Instead, identify a smaller system that people can easily understand. The metaphor of a school is helpful.

a. “A system is basically a group of parts that are connected for a bigger purpose, like a school, where the purpose is learning.”

2. Then focus on the role of people—both as creators of the system and as being impacted by the system.

a. “People— parents, teachers, principals, school boards, students—create and influence the school system. They’re also influenced by it. Since it’s all connected, we have to consider whether it’s working for everyone. If it’s not, we need to figure out why. And any change we make to this system can impact people— and in different ways.

3. Admit that system change tackles complex problems! Again, people can get overwhelmed by the idea of “transforming the system.” Stress the need for time, patience, collaboration, open communication, research, and planning. Use “yes, and…” language instead of “Yes, but…:”

a. “Yes, it’s going to take time, and we’ve already made a smart change that’s going to directly impact people.”

“Americans see systems as opaque, intransigent, unwieldy … For many, it’s how they see systemic racism—we can see it, we can know it’s wrong, but we feel deep angst because we believe it’s too big for us to solve.”

- The Communications Network

The Times They Are A-Changin’

Plainville institutes the four-day workweek permanently

In a continuing sign of the changing times, the Town of Plainville is, well, changing times. After a successful six-month pilot program, the town has announced that it is officially adopting a four-day work week for certain municipal departments.

Offices in the Municipal Center, the Recreation Department, and Youth Services department will all be operating on a four-day schedule with the permanent hours of Monday – Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This works out to be 37 hours of open time for these departments, which is the same as it was before they adopted the shortened week. According to the IRS, the legal full-time hours start at 32 hours.

In addition to the longer hours, the press release from the town says that they will be looking to “expand online services.” These areas include paying taxes and applying for building and fire permits. In fact, many people have come to

expect more things to be offered online in order to avoid having to go anywhere, especially after social distancing during the pandemic.

“We are excited to officially implement the four-day work week schedule following the success of our pilot program,” said Town Manager Michael Paulhus. “This forward-thinking approach reflects our commitment to better serve both our residents and employees, enhancing their experience with the Town of Plainville.”

Several services are not going to be impacted by these changes. They include the Senior Center, the Library, Public Safety (Fire, Police, EMS), Public Works, Trash & Recycling Collection and Transfer Station, Parks, and summer camps, Berner Pool, Splash Pad, and other recreational programs.

Plainville is not the first town to adopt a four-day workweek, but it is part of a growing trend. Each time a town or city adopts this new schedule, another report is released suggesting how popular the idea is

among employees and the benefits for the organization or company that adopts them. A 2023 Morning Consult survey said that nearly 90% of workers in the United States would be interested in this type of schedule.

The MIT Sloan Review wrote about one case study: In one of the largest studies of the four-day workweek, 61 companies in the UK trialed the schedule and found that the “four-day workweek significantly increased job satisfaction, improved work-life balance, and reduced employee stress. The results also showed improved product quality and customer service, and a significant reduction in absences and sick days.”

It is hard to argue that the idea isn’t spreading. Towns and cities, whole states, whole countries are doing trials of the four-day workweek and finding pretty much the same results wherever they go – it simply works. The Town of Plainville is taking that next step and making it a permanent addition.

HOUSING

Connecticut’s Next Biggest City?

New Haven makes efforts to make housing attractive

The need for housing remains an all too pressing issue for the State of Connecticut. In order to attract people to stay here, there must be places for people to live, better yet if they were affordable. But just as much as building new housing is going to be a key facet of increasing housing, the flipside is maintaining the housing stock we do have. In New Haven, they are looking to “review and strengthen” their ability to do just that.

In early April, Mayor Elicker announced a comprehensive review of the cities Livable City Initiative (LCI), that they hope will help the “department’s housing code-related processes, services, and engagement with tenants and landlords.” According to their press release, approximately 70% of New Haven residents are renters.

Nearly thirty years old, the department began in 1996 “as a response to population loss amid spreading blight,” according to a New Haven Independent interview with former Executive Director Arlevia Samuel, it noted that “the flight of 7,600 residents in just five years brought the population down to 122,000, which the number of vacant buildings soared to 786.”

“Ensuring our residents have affordable, safe, and high-quality housing is a top priority. While LCI has taken significant steps to improve and expand its services in recent years, there is a lot more we can and must do to ensure the department is operating as innovatively, effectively, and efficiently as possible so that we’re meeting the increasing demands of

our city’s growing population and expanding housing stock,” said Mayor Elicker.

Housing has been a priority for Mayor Elicker who has said as recently as March of this year that New Haven will be the biggest city by 2034. There have been 1,900 new units in New Haven over the past few years according to Elicker, and another 3,500 planned. The city reached a high of 160,000 residents in the 1950s, but by 2000 it was lower than it had been in 100 years.

Former Mayoral Candidate Liam Brennan is running the review. “With this effort, Mayor Elicker and the City of New Haven are bringing a real sense of urgency and innovation to the critical work of housing code enforcement, anti-blight efforts, and landlord licensing. The significant investments and initiatives made over the last year, as well as those proposed in the new budget, demonstrate a genuine commitment to transforming LCI into a more highly effective agency that ensures all New Haven residents have access to safe, affordable, and high-quality housing,” said Brennan.

The Mayor also proposed creating a new Office of Housing and Community Development within the Economic Development Administration to allow LCI to focus on this work, but the budget will not be adopted until the first Monday in June. Until then, this work will at least help the city preserve the housing they have, and making sure that people know what housing is out there. New Haven might not yet be the biggest city in Connecticut, but if it keeps building, there’s no telling what the future will hold.

Check The Record

New program in Bethel will keep your property safe

Ahouse is the biggest purchase a family is likely to make. So, of course you want to get it right. You do your due diligence on lenders and the home itself. But what happens after that? The possibility of fraud happening is never zero, and in the 21st century there are tools that will make you believe that you are working with credible people. So what are homeowners to do? Stay vigilant for one, but also hope that your town or city is working with a fraud detection agency like the Town of Bethel is working with Property Check.

The new service, offered by Cott Systems, is touted as “fighting back against property fraud.” Bethel said in a press release that “this 24/7 service allows residents to sign up on the Cott Systems’ RECORDhub website to receive notifications when official documents are recorded on their property.”

They define property fraud as occurring when someone “forges your identity, transfers your property into their name, and records the document.” This scam will give the appearance that you have transferred your property to this individual, even if you haven’t, and perhaps without even knowing about it.

Bethel Town Clerk assured residents that while they have never received a fraudulent deed, they are offer

ing this as a “higher level of security.” She went on to say that “In this day and age, with the prevalence of identity theft, anything I can do to prevent that from happening, I will gladly sign up for.”

This free service for residents alerts enrolled individuals when a record is created or modified with a matching name or address. It is an opt-in service, meaning that individuals must sign up to protect themselves with this Property Check. A representative from the service suggested signing up with multiple name variations as well as spouse’s names just in case of a slight variation.

While cases of successful fraud remains low, a report from real estate professionals cited in BusinessWire suggested that 54% of real estate professionals reported having experienced at least one seller impersonation fraud attempt within the past six months, while a higher 77% said they’ve seen an increase of fraud attempts.

The old adage “An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure,” is relevant in many situations. With property

PUBLIC SAFETY

Burning Down The House

Milford aims to spread the word about electric fires

One of the most oft-cited lessons from the movie Jurassic Park is from Jeff Goldblum’s Dr. Ian Malcolm who cautions on moving forward without thinking about complications. Scientists are so preoccupied with whether they could that they didn’t stop to think if they should, he says. While we may not have to worry about dinosaurs, Milford’s Fire Marshal is cautioning about moving forward blindly with electric vehicle infrastructure in an ordinance that bans charging stations in underground parking garages.

In what is being cited as perhaps a “first in the country” ordinance by News 12 Connecticut, in early February of this year, the Milford Ordinance Committee nearly unanimously passed the fire prevention measure that states “it shall be unlawful for any person, organization, or entity to install, operate, or maintain an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station within any underground parking garage located within the boundaries of the City of Milford.”

The reasoning is easy: while electric vehicles may not catch on fire more frequently than gas vehicles, the fires are much more difficult to put out. We’ve written about special training offered for firefighters when dealing with EV fires, and one of the most common tactics is to

just let it burn. One can see how that might be an issue if the car is parked on a charger underground.

Cited in the News 12 piece on the ordinance, Assistant Chief Chris Waiksnoris said that “We are not looking to limit electric vehicles from underground parking garages. We are just trying to remove the charging portion of that, and bring it to the exterior structure.”

If this truly is a “first in the nation” ordinance, the City doesn’t want it to be the last. “We have reached out to the state and other local municipalities saying, ‘Hey, this is what we did for our city, if it fits the demographics of your city, feel free to use this going forward,’” said the First Marshal Stephen Rable, also in the News 12 piece.

This is no reason to stop thinking about Electric Vehicles and how they will impact our future. It’s a small step to make sure that they are safe. To bring us back full circle to Jurassic Park, it was just over 100 years ago that humanity put all of their weight behind the internal combustion engine using fuel that was nothing but the left over biomatter of long-gone dinosaurs. Perhaps if they had access to a time machine that could watch this movie, they would have never started with gas-based engines.

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PUBLIC SAFETY

Pay Attention

Towns pair up with DOT and NHTSA for safer streets

It hasn’t even been 20 years since the first true smartphone – the ubiquitous iPhone – was released. And in that short time, they have become our constant companions, even when they shouldn’t. Like when we’re driving, for instance. Towns and cities across the state like West Hartford have paired with the Department and Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in April for Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

For anyone paying attention, pun intended, distracted driving has become an issue of astounding magnitude. Dangerous and deadly, people have begun to casually use their cell phones while they are driving. According to the NHTSA, over 3,500 people in 2021 alone were killed by distracted driving, or nearly 10 people every day of the year. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In a post about their participation in National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the West Hartford Police Department gave these tips to drivers on their social media page:

• When you get behind the wheel, be an example to your family and friends by putting your phone away. Texting and driving is not safe behavior.

• If you struggle to ignore your phone notifications, activate the “Do Not Disturb” feature or put your silenced device in your vehicle’s trunk, glove box, or back seat until you arrive safely at your destination.

• If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location. Once you are safely off the road and parked, it is safe to text.

• Give control of your phone to your passenger. Let them respond to calls or messages.

• Never engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.

The more information you have, the better choices you can make. Bottom line: it’s NEVER okay to drive distracted.

• Even when hands-free, do not stream or watch movies or videos.

• If you see someone texting while driving, speak up. Tell them to stop what they are doing because it is dangerous. If someone catches you texting while driving and tells you to put your phone away, put it down.

• Remember, when you get behind the wheel, Put the Phone Away or Pay.

The last bullet is a reminder that texting while driving is still an illegal activity. During several days in the month of April, the town of West Hartford as well as other

town and cities participating will be “looking for drivers who choose to ignore Connecticut’s hand-held mobile electronics laws.”

While the adoption of smartphones was swift, so was the rise of distracted driving. And until the next great technology – self-driving cars – is finally realized in a safe and effective manner, it will still be unsafe and illegal to operate your phone while you operate your vehicle. West Hartford says Put the Phone Away or Pay.

SOCIAL WELFARE

America250

Make sure you join in on the celebrations

America’s 250th anniversary is just over two years away. And preparations are already underway on how towns and cities can join in on the party. America250 was organized at the Federal and State level to get municipalities the resources to throw a big bash to ring in 250 years of independence.

From the CT250.org website, the commission says “Events surrounding the commemoration of the 250th will take a variety of forms, from celebratory to analytical to commemorative, and will involve people with a variety of backgrounds and beliefs.” They are asking that events align their values with the proposed themes – Tell Inclusive Stories; Power of Place; Doing History; and For the Common Good.

As people reflect on 250 years of our young country, for the first theme they want people to not only reflect the values that make this country so great, but to be more inclusive of people who have traditionally been excluded from the narrative: women, free and enslaved African Americans, Indigenous people, immigrants, people with disabilities, the poor, and many others.

Connecticut being the Constitution State and one of the founding colonies, we are well positioned for the second and third themes. There are few places in America that have as much rich history, as much power of place as Connecticut.

Gov. Lamont signed Executive Order No. 22-2 establishing Connecticut’s Semiquincentennial (250th) Commission.

In order to facilitate these events, there will be Planning and Capacity Grants available through CT Humanities up to $25,000 and $9,999 respectively. According to the CT Humanities site, the former will be awarded to support the research, planning, and development of humanities projects, such as exhibitions, public programs, and interpretive digital media, while the latter will support consultant-led projects to help organizations strengthen their internal operations and ability to bring the humanities to the public.

The first deadline has already passed, but the next application deadline is November 1, 2024.

Celebration is an important part of being American. It is said that the first July 4th fireworks celebration took place in 1777, just one year after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was George Washington himself who said, the establishment of our new Government seemed to be the last great experiment for promoting human happiness. Through celebration we can reflect on what we have accomplished in 250 years and what we can do to continue to elevate those inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

How To Fight Loneliness A connection epidemic hits Connecticut SOCIAL WELFARE

While CCM through the 119K Commission has been focusing on disconnected and at-risk youth, there has been a sister epidemic of loneliness that has gripped the nation. U.S. Senator Chris Murphy has put Connecticut at the head of the movement to tackle loneliness, and Governor Lamont and Lieutenant Governor Bysiewicz have taken steps to bring the conversation closer to our homes with a new commission. Like with disconnected youth, connection begins in our local communities, so towns and cities will have a major role to play in fighting loneliness.

This conversation was sparked by a report from the Surgeon General called “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” The implications of using language like the word “epidemic” here show that loneliness affects our health and well-being, even if it doesn’t seem like it would be that serious. Lt. Governor Bysiewicz said in a statement that this is on the same level as “public health crises like tobacco addiction, AIDS, drunk driving, obesity, and gun violence.”

The Social Connection Campaign started by the Governor’s Office will have a three pronged approach: Facilitate collaboration on an inter-agency basis to identify opportunities to foster greater social connection; Raise awareness of existing and new efforts by State Agencies that improve social connection; and Work with partners beyond state government (federal, municipal, nonprofit, private, grassroots orgs and the public) to identify gaps, opportunities, and ideas related to improving social connection.

Municipalities, of course, play an integral role in this. In a key part of the Surgeon General’s report, entitled “Strengthen Social Infrastructure in Local Communities,” it says that “Decisions about the layout of

Just some of the data in the U.S. Surgeon

our cities, from the usability and reach of public transportation to the design of housing and green spaces, have direct effect on social interaction in a community.” Not only do towns and cities foster interaction by their very design, but many community programs have a “powerful role” in creating communities of connection.

Loneliness is a topic that will likely stick with us for a long time.

It will be a common refrain that despite having tools to keep us more connected than ever to more people than ever, it’s becoming clearer every year that there is no replacement for real and true human interactions. How we solve this epidemic is not clear, but it is a subject that towns and cities across Connecticut should continue to think about, or to start thinking about if they haven’t already.

General’s advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community.

TECHNOLOGY

Digital Navigators

Mansfield Librarians help navigate the web, technology

It’s hard to expound on the multitude of ways that libraries are incredible places. In a day and age where there are less and less places to go to just hang out, libraries are one of the last places where you’re allowed to just sit without the expectation that you have to pay to be there. Add to that the plethora of services that are offered in libraries and you have a winning combination. From cakes pans and music instruments, to DVDs and even seeds to start a garden, libraries can be a box of the unexpected. In Mansfield, they recently started up the Digital Navigators that will help residents with technology needs.

The service which is available to patrons of the Mansfield Library will help those with technology service needs in a variety of ways:

• Internet Service

We can help you find affordable, broadband internet service and apply for aid programs you may be eligible for to reduce the costs of those services

• Device Procurement

We can meet with you to demonstrate the use of many different devices to assist you in making purchasing decisions

• Digital Skills Training

We teach basic digital skills related to a wide variety of devices and applications through one-on-one or group sessions

• Technical Support

We can help solve technical issues you may be having with your devices or with the publicly available devices at the Mansfield Public Library Digital Navigator John Cropp said that “Systems Librarian Kaithlin Epling brought Paul Velazquez and I on board in January and we have met with quite a few community members over the past three months.”

If you were wondering if the program was successful, he went on to say that “Paul and I visit a local 62+ community every other week and the appointment lists for those visits are usually full. We also have several regulars that we work with at the library and we have seen an increase in the number of walk-in requests for assistance and of patrons scheduling appointments.”

Some people will always prefer the feel and experience of reading physical books, and it’s highly unlikely that libraries will be getting out of the book industry. But e-readers have shown that they are not just a passing fad, but a real market, and as we know smart phones and personal computers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. This service isn’t one you would have likely thought of as being hosted in your local library, but a welcome one indeed. Mansfield residents are sure to benefit – if they can just get their computers running well enough to email.

Putnam Municipal Complex

Newington Town Hall &

Beardsley Library

TECHNOLOGY

Interactúa con tu ciudad

Meriden facilita el uso de su sitio web en cualquier idioma

It does not need to be said that America is unlike many other countries in the world. So many facets of American daily life are unique. Among them is the fact that America is a melting pot of people from all those other countries, as well as a Native population that give our state its name from the Mohegan-Pequot language. To this day, many people still speak their native tongues, whether Italian, Tamil, Spanish, Arabic or Polish, a multitude of tongues could be heard in Connecticut Towns and Cities. And that’s why Meriden added a new feature to their website through Google to allow translation into any number of languages.

According to the USA.gov website, the United States has never formally adopted an official language, although it is widely understood that English is the most common language spoken in the States. But

over 350 languages are spoken in the US, according to the Census Bureau.

That was exactly the impetus behind City Clerk Michael Cardona’s request to make the changes to Meriden’s website, as well as forms and applications. According to a CT Insider article, Cardona has been in the process of translating city forms into Spanish, which is the second most spoken language in Meriden.

The immediate benefit is obvious – you are eliminating a barrier to entry into municipal services and opening up your government to residents regardless of their chosen language. It often goes unsaid, but English is a very difficult language to learn because the language itself is a melting pot – Hound is a Germanic word, Canine is a Latin word, and Dog is of unknown origin; and

that’s just one animal. So folks who have learned English as a second language, even with proficiency, still feel more comfortable in their first language.

Using the translation is seamless. Clicking a button on the website brings up a menu of languages, and once its selected, it only takes a second to translate the entire website. According to the CT Insider article, there will be other features and changes that will be coming to the Meriden website.

Since this nation is truly a melting pot, we should make it accessible to all who want to participate the way that Meriden is doing, starting even small with just a website. Whether you speak English, Spanish, Mandarin, or Farsi as your first language, you should be able to access and understand what is going on in your hometown.