Connecticut Town & City - November 2018 by Connecticut Conference of Municipalities

November 2018

“As governor, I would partner from day one with Connecticut’s municipal leaders to develop structural fixes to our structural problems” — Governor-Elect Ned Lamont Photo Courtesy of John Woike / The Hartford Courant

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

OFFICERS President, Neil O’Leary Mayor of Waterbury 1st Vice President, John A. Elsesser Town Manager of Coventry

THE BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE OF MUNICIPALITIES

2nd Vice President, Michael Freda First Selectman of North Haven DIRECTORS Luke A. Bronin, Mayor of Hartford

545 LONG WHARF DRIVE, 8TH FLOOR, NEW HAVEN, CT 06511

Tom Banisch, First Selectman of Madison Robert M. Congdon, First Selectman of Preston Joseph P. Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport Toni N. Harp, Mayor of New Haven Barbara M. Henry, First Selectman of Roxbury

Inside this issue...

Matthew Knickerbocker, First Selectman of Bethel Catherine Iino, First Selectwoman of Killingworth Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor of East Hartford Curt Leng, Mayor of Hamden W. Kurt Miller, First Selectman of Seymour Rudolph P. Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield Leo Paul, First Selectman of Litchfield Scott Shanley, General Manager of Manchester Jayme J. Stevenson, First Selectman of Darien Erin Stewart, Mayor of New Britain Daniel Syme, First Selectman of Scotland Michael C. Tetreau, First Selectman of Fairfield Mark B. Walter, Town Administrator of Columbia Steven R. Werbner, Town Manager of Tolland PAST PRESIDENTS Mark D. Boughton Mayor of Danbury Matthew B. Galligan Town Manager of South Windsor Herbert C. Rosenthal former First Selectman of Newtown Susan S. Bransfield First Selectwoman of Portland HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS Elizabeth Paterson, former Mayor of Mansfield Stephen Cassano, Selectman of Manchester Executive Director, Joe DeLong Deputy Director, Ron Thomas Managing Editor, Kevin Maloney Layout & Design, Matthew Ford Writer, Christopher Gilson

Lamont Wins Tough Job

What Are Fiscal Notes?

2018 CCM Legislators of the Year

CCM’s New Podcast Program

CCM’s Gubernatorial Debate

Municipal Excellence Awards

CCMO Graduates

News from Member Towns

Kemp Consulting, LLC Advancing Excellence in Local Governments

Roger L. Kemp, MPA, MBA, PhD Credentialed City Manager • Career Adjunct Professor

CCM STAFF

National Speaker

rlkbsr@snet.net

Learn more at: www.rogerkemp.org NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 3

Governor-Elect Ned Lamont Wins Tough Job

“I recognize the significant burden unfunded mandates and property tax exemptions impose on municipalities,” Lamont says

or the first time in eight years, the state of Connecticut will have a new administration. Ned Lamont won in a hard fought battle over Bob Stefanowski, the Republican, and Oz Griebel, who ran as an Independent. Before the election, CCM had asked all of the gubernatorial candidates their views on a number of issues and held the final gubernatorial debate at the 2018 CCM annual convention. Based on the governor-elect’s answers in these forums, we can take a look at Lamont’s priorities and the challenges facing the state and new governor. One of Lamont’s campaign pledges, in addition to avoiding raising income taxes, was to help municipalities curb over-reliance of the property tax and the underfunded Payments-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT). In the questionnaire, he states that he will prioritize “shared services and regional cooperation,” and “champion an effort to properly fund state formula aid to municipali4 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2018

ties.” While the Governor-Elect doesn’t get to the finer details, much of his efforts seem directed at the fact that making sure what is promised to municipalities is given to municipalities. This is most evident in his response to a question on PILOT payments, when he says that he will negotiate the budget transparently to prevent “last-minute raids” on these funds. In these areas, Lamont can be a powerful ally to Connecticut towns and cities. By ensuring the stability of initiatives like PILOT and Education Cost Sharing (ECS), municipalities can be more assured of their budgets without having to worry that the State will pull the rug from under them, allowing them to preserve what Lamont calls the “quality of life and the distinct character of our towns.” This can include service relationships with not-for-profits, an idea that he floated during the final gubernatorial debate that CCM held during our 2018 convention.

As a former board of selectmen member, it’s no surprise that Lamont understands how the chronic underfunding of these programs affects towns and cities: during the debate, he said that “sometimes the federal government will push obligations onto the state, and the state will push obligations onto [the towns].” Lamont will have the challenge to look at issues from both sides now that he is governor, especially when it comes to matters like unfunded mandates, education, and infrastructure. Of note, Lamont says that he wants to “review current mandates and identify which are good public policy, which need to be backed up with state funding, and which should be repealed.” This shows an awareness of the over 1300 state mandates towns and cities face. We urge the Governor-Elect to review the several studies that have examined state mandates, as well as CCM’s list of some of the most onerous mandates, and mandates for reform and repeal. Furthermore, he writes in our questionnaire that he’s found great interest in CCM’s “This Report is Different,” saying that he shares the opinion that Connecticut should be modernizing state IT resources and practices to regionalism to sharing services between town governments and school districts. Aiming to be Connecticut’s next “Education Governor,” Lamont pays special emphasis on not only ECS, but the Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS). On both fronts, taxes play an integral role in funding ECS and TRS. Former U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan singled out over-reliance on the property tax for education as a major culprit in education disparities. Lamont hopes to phase-in a new formula based on need faster than proposed and to increase state funding. It is not clear where those funds will come from. Fully funding ECS has only happened two times, but the funds to support that will need to come from somewhere or efficiencies will need to be found for his promises to become meaningful. Lamont notes that “every child in Connecticut deserves an excellent public education,” and further says that our education system could be critical in making our state attractive to parents. But it is the young and the old that are leaving the state. Many millennials do not have home-buying prospects in the State, especially in larger cities where the young tend to be drawn to. Governor-Elect Lamont will face many challenges: In Connecticut, over 70 percent of roads are in poor to mediocre condition. Unfunded mandates are decimating municipalities’ ability to determine their own path. The same for education costs, the opioid epidemic, the outmigration of crucial populations, maintaining businesses in the state, holding the line on taxes, and ensuring regional efficiencies. Fortunately, he has municipal leaders, his former colleagues, and organizations like CCM who are willing to roll up their sleeves to help resolve the State’s most pressing challenges.

NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 5

What Exactly Are Fiscal Notes?

Little is known about how fiscal notes are devised despite importance

ith the election over, and the House and Senate ready to open the legislative session in just over two months, CCM is ready to start looking at what challenges lay ahead for the state of Connecticut, and how those will affect the municipalities. Unfunded mandates are of particular concern; we released a Candidate Bulletin as part of our 2018 Election Campaign before the midterms. In it we recommend many solutions to these burdensome laws — including repeal of the worst offenders and excluding emergency contingency funds from inclusion when determining municipalities’ ability to pay — but these measures are fighting symptoms rather than the cause. Why do these mandates get passed in the first place if they are so burdensome? It could very well lay in the hands of the fiscal note process. If you aren’t familiar with a fiscal note, that’s because that information often gets lost in the conversation about a bill or amendment, but it’s required on every one that reaches the floor of the House or Senate, or is approved by committee. The Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) gives this brief definition: “a fiscal note is a brief statement of the fiscal impact that a piece of legislation would have on state and local government. The economic or social impact of the legislation is not included.” This definition falls short of explaining what a brief statement is or how the OFA comes to these conclusions of impact on state and local government. Looking to the Connecticut General Statutes does not enlighten the situation much further. Under Sec. 2-24a, the law, quoted in full, states that “no bill without a fiscal note appended thereto which, if passed, would require the expenditure of state or municipal funds or affect state or municipal revenue in the current fiscal year or any of the next ensuing five fiscal years shall be acted upon by either house of the General Assembly unless said requirement of a fiscal note is dispensed with by a vote of at least two-thirds of such house. Such fiscal note shall clearly identify the cost and revenue impact to the state and municipalities in the current fiscal year and in each of the next ensuing five fiscal years.” Elsewhere in the law, Sec. 2-71c to be exact, the statutes mandate that the OFA create the fiscal note, and that municipalities have “two working days to provide the OFA with any information that may be necessary for analysis in preparation of such fiscal notes.” The problem is there is no one methodology for assessing the fiscal impact of a bill, nor is there any statute or law giving a standard procedure. When reaching out to the OFA, Director Neil Ayers said in an e-mail that “given the diverse assortment of proposals that come before OFA, there is no one process that dictates the calculation of a fiscal note. Our analysts rely on a wide variety of resources in analyzing a proposal.”

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UNFUNDED STATE MANDATES:

The Corrosive Impact on Property Taxpayers Even former Director Alan Calandro noted that this ambiguity could be problematic when giving a presentation on Fiscal Notes to the National Conference of State Legislatures in 2014. During the issues portion of his presentation, he noted an increased political environment and external information from various angles. He also noted increased scrutiny and a balance between accounting jargon and verbosity. The way a fiscal note is read and prepared are important. If a fiscal note is too complex, then it is not elucidating the fiscal impact as it should, but if it only gives you a number then that information is ripe to be misunderstood. Calandro noted that the new expectation of the fiscal note process is the answer to what does the fiscal impact mean to municipalities and the state, rather than a number on the page without context. The Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) invited Neil Ayers to discuss fiscal notes at their September meeting, partly due to members noticing that the fiscal impact of bills differing from what was stated in the OFA’s Fiscal Note. This often stems from unquantifiable costs. CCM used, for example, PA 11-232, anti-bullying legislation, did not account for the added cost of changes the board of education had to make to professional development, and the additional burdens to existing emloyees. In an era when many staff are already stretched thin, the OFA would have a hard time accounting for the fiscal impact of these kinds of burdens.

During the course of their meeting, Ayers, along with other members of OFA, elucidated the process to say that fiscal notes do not consider potential secondary or tertiary impacts, but OFA does review grand lists, property tax data, and census data, and wherever incomplete data exists, they contact municipalities to help fill in that information. Some of these secondary or tertiary impacts though are exactly what is becoming a burden to municipalities. CCM Deputy Director Ron Thomas, who is on the commission, noted that CCM does provide information about the fiscal impact of a bill during testimony, but it often doesn’t reach the fiscal note. Despite the difficulty in preparing comprehensive notes on a five day deadline, OFA prepares a fiscal note for every single bill per state statute, and they are up online for everyone to review, usually within 24 hours of them being submitted. But even if the fiscal note suggests that there would be a burden on a municipality in the form of an unfunded mandate that does not mean that it won’t pass before the House or

Senate. This is especially problematic in last-minute amendments that alter the original bill, which might have the effect of rendering testimony pointless. With the upcoming session, it will be important for municipal leaders and the newly elected state legislators to remember that unfunded mandates often pass the buck from the state down to the municipalities, and those mandates only further burden placed on the citizens of all 169 towns and cities in the state of Connecticut, either through loss of services or increased property tax. Because of the elusive nature of fiscal notes and the process by which those numbers are created, there is every reason to request more transparency from OFA and for increased input on the parts of the municipalities that might be affected. OFA should be given more time to complete fiscal notes, and bills should not be pushed through until their impact is understood and agreed upon. If this transparency and collaboration is completed, fiscal notes will go from being misunderstood to a municipality’s greatest asset in the legislature.

CCM Committee Looks To Take Action CCM Pension Committee looks at past to fix future

onnecticut’s pension problems are over a hundred years old when you really think about it. The pension program started in 1917, and at the time, years before the Great Depression, there was no incentive to pre-fund the program. And so from that day forward, the state of Connecticut has carried a burden into the future that has postponed time and again a bill that someone is going to have to pay. CCM has brought together a committee specifically to tackle the big questions around pension liability issues that are set to come to a head in the coming decades. Members have to take on the challenge of solving a problem that has theoretically yet to happen. People familiar with the pension systems know their current funding situation: the State Employees’ Retirement System is funded at 36.9%, the Teachers’ Retirement System is funded at 56%, and the Judges’ Retirement System is funded at 48.4%. The Municipal Employees’ Retirement System fares a little better at 86.1%. Only the Probate Judges and Employees Retirement System fare better. This is obviously a problem

now, but it has the potential to get much, much worse. In agreement struck in 2017 to keep annual pension contributions capped at $2.4 billion per year rather than the astronomical $6.6 billion, the state had to plunk down over $10 billion in obligations after 2032. Pew analysts agreed that this put Connecticut in a better spot to weather the next economic downturn, but did not free them from concerns about the next recession. By June of 2019, the current boom will be the longest upswing in U.S. history, going 10 years without a recession. Committee members will have to keep that in mind as they attempt to find solutions to these problems. This adds another tangle in the knot of pension funding. CCM Members present at the June CCM meeting will remember presentations by Jean-Pierre Aubry of Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research and W. Gordon Hamlin of Pro Bono Public Pensions. Aubry’s presentation warned that many reforms presented have focused

almost entirely on new hires, but because most costs are associated with the years — decades, even — of inadequate funding, you might never catch up to legacy costs. Hamlin pushed the point further by suggesting it would not be fair to reduce pensions to current retirees or force current employers and taxpayers to pay exorbitant fees for past mistakes. The worst move for Hamlin though, was to do nothing at all. Everyone knows that the public pensions are the 800 pound gorilla in the room, meaning that it’s hard to get real traction on the issue. From Pew Research and from the expert presentations, there is an understanding that Connecticut is going to have to act on these now to prevent them from becoming a gargantuan problem later. In that spirit, the CCM Pension committee started meeting this fall to begin discussing the issues surrounding this problem. Committee members hope to have recommendations to bring to the board of directors so that action may finally be taken on this looming crisis.

NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 7

2018 Legislators of the Year Named

Sen. George Logan and Rep. Jason Rojas Lauded at CCM Convention

tate Senator George Logan of Ansonia and State Representative Jason Rojas of East Hartford have been named State Legislators of the Year by CCM at the Annual Convention on October 30 the Foxwoods Resort. The award is unique amongst Municipal Excellence Awards as it is the only award given to non-municipal employees. Senator Logan, who represents the 17th District, is Co-Chair of the Planning and Development Committee and Vice-Chair of the Public Health and Veterans Affairs Committees. He also serves as a member of the Education Committee and the Regulation Review Committee. Representative Rojas covers the 9th Assembly district, which is composed of parts of East Hartford and Manchester. Representative Rojas serves as the House chair of the legislature’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. He is also a member of the Planning and Development Committee. Senator Logan has stressed the state’s need to retain and attract young skilled workers and professionals as well as creating a business-friendly environment to hire them. He also believes that the state budgeting process starts “with the simple concept that we stop spending more than we take in.” He has helped foster the idea in the capitol that action is necessary to reduce burdensome state regulations and taxes. CCM Executive Director Joe DeLong says “Senator Logan is a dynamic leader who exemplifies the strongest commitment to community involvement and the needs of Connecticut towns and cities — both in his district and across the state.” This includes fostering the idea in the Capitol that action is necessary to reduce burdensome state regulations and taxes. DeLong said of Sen. Logan that he was key in “derailing proposed legislation in the 2018 General Assembly session that would have been detrimental to towns and cities and property taxpayers.”

State Representative Jason Rojas Senator Logan has devoted his spare time to various community-based causes that have improved the quality of life for thousands of families. Offering his experience and volunteer time is an essential part of Sen. Logan’s life, including serving as a girls’ basketball coach at Assumption School and as a board member for Griffin Hospital, the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA and Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut. State Representative Rojas’ policy interests include government finance and tax policy, inter-municipal cooperation and education. Jason puts a particular emphasis on constituent service and encourages constituents to contact him with concerns, questions and ideas about how to move our district, communities and state forward. “State Representative Rojas has a deep commitment to his constituents and shows a significant understanding of the needs of the town and city governments in his district as well as across the state,” said Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director. “His work as co-chair of the Finances Committee is critical to municipal interests and he always assesses the local government impact on all legislation that comes before him.”

8 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2018

“Connecticut would not be the great state it is without healthy cities and towns. CCM has been a great partner and advocate for communities throughout Connecticut,” said Senator Logan.

Outside of the legislature, Jason is chief of staff to the president and director of community relations at Trinity College. He also serves on the board of directors of Billings Forge Community Works and Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance, as well as the Board of Trustees of the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford. “I am grateful for this award, and for CCM’s commitment to our state. There’s still much to be done, and I look forward to working alongside CCM in the coming legislative session,” said Rojas.

We Want The Airwaves

CCM breaks out podcast “The Municipal Voice”

nce again, what was old is new again, and just like vinyl records, radio is making a comeback, just in the form of podcasts this time around. Nearly 50% of Americans have listened to podcasts, and about a quarter are monthly podcast listeners. CCM is riding the wave of popularity and joining other municipal leagues across the country with its new podcast, The Municipal Voice. The show will be presented in partnership with WNHH 103.5 FM, and will stream across their actual FM radio waves every other Wednesday at Noon, but it will have a 21st century component in that it will be streaming on Facebook Live, YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, and a handful of other online streaming platforms. After that, the show will live its second life as a podcast streamable on our website through the WNHH SoundCloud page, and wherever good podcasts are found. The Municipal Voice joins Connecticut Town & City and several other initiatives in CCM’s continued outreach as part of our mission to improve everyday life for every resident of Connecticut. Each episode will air under the motto of “Connecting Connecticut’s Municipalities,” and bring you a new interesting story that affects the towns and cities of Connecticut, whether that’s a Mayor or First Selectman coming on to tell us about how a new initiative is helping their residents or an expert coming on to explain how a law could have ripple effects from the state to municipality to citizen.

The presents

Municipal Voice

Our very first episode had CCM Executive Director explaining a little bit about what we do, why we created the 2018 Election Center, and why we felt it is important that every citizen know where politicians stand on issues. Our second episode featured Durham First Selectman Laura Francis talking us through the midterm elections, and what to expect in the coming years with our new leadership in Hartford. Both are available to stream on our website, at www. ccm-ct.org/MunicipalVoice or on the WNHH Soundcloud page. Upcoming show dates are November 21, December 5, and December 19, returning in the New Year before the new legislative session begins. If your municipality has a story you feel would be good for The Municipal Voice, or you would like to be a guest, feel free to e-mail Christopher Gilson at cgilson@ccm-ct.org for more information.

NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 9

Discussion, Dissent, and Debate CCM hosts final Gubernatorial debate of 2018 election season

CM was proud to host the final Gubernatorial debate of the 2018 election season with the Hartford Courant and WTNH as the finale to our annual convention. Along with our Election Center, the debate was part of our mantra that a well-informed electorate is a necessity for a democracy. Oz Griebel, Ned Lamont, and Bob Stefanowski took the stage and answered our questions on how their leadership would influence and affect all 169 towns and cities. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a look at that special event.

Rodney Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council Right: Governor-Elect Ned Lamont chats with debate attendee

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Above, Clockwise: Debate Moderator WTNHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ann Nyberg, Candidate Bob Stefanowski, Panelists Keith Koontz, Daniela Altimari, Joe DeLong, Candidate Oz Griebel; Below: Governor-Elect Ned Lamont

NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 11

And The Awards Go To…

Matt Galligan wins not one, but two Municipal Excellence Awards

ometimes there’s a municipal employee, someone who’s right for their time and place, they fit right in. They excel at their jobs, they make everyone around them better at theirs. Public service is filled with these kind of people simply because it’s in their nature to give. It is in this spirit that CCM created the Municipal Excellence Awards in 2016 honoring individuals and team efforts. Of the six awards, only the Joel Cogen Lifetime Achievement and Richard C. Lee Innovators awards are handed to individuals. But this year is different — not because the awards have changed, but because Matthew B. Galligan won both awards. Because CCM has only given out these awards two times before, it is hard to say that this is unprecedented. It was certainly unexpected, but that isn’t to say that it doesn’t make sense. Matthew Galligan has an impressive track record of service that takes him back over 36 years. Across two states he moved up the ranks from Deputy Director of Finance to Director of Finance to City Manager of the City of Newburgh, NY; landing in two municipalities in Connecticut, for three years in North Branford and an impressive 22 years in South Windsor where he will be retiring at the end of this term. Matt is one of three Town Managers to serve as President of CCM. During his tenure as President, he was a mainstay at the State Capitol and gained a reputation for never backing away from on fight on behalf of towns and cities and their property taxpayers. His accomplishments are many as a leader in municipal innovation. Matt continually dedicates his efforts to “thinking outside the box” and his financial genius never takes a rest, from saving taxpayers’ money to developing strong economic development projects. Thirty years ago, when he was in North Branford, he put together a unique plan to

CCM Executive Director Joe DeLong presents one of two awards to Town Manager of South Windsor, Matt Galligan

save homeowners’ money on their trash pickup. Galligan shifted the trash pickup from being a burden on individual homeowners to the town. This saved about $500,000 a year for the residents by not only including it in their taxes, but also by becoming a deduction on their income tax. Many of his achievements saw an emphasis on regionalism and using a support structure of municipalities to effectively manage problems. While still in North Branford, Galligan was able to negotiate with the Town of North Haven to take sewer waste in their plant to aid the White Hollow section of town where a rash of failing septic systems were devaluing the land. Once that agreement was in place, he was able to fund a project to get the entire White Hollow area on a sewage system by procuring a grant. Once in South Windsor, he continued his spirit of cooperation. He once again looked to neighboring

12 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2018

towns to create a regional dog facility. This became the Tyler Regional Animal Care Shelter, or T.R.A.C.S. for short, and, according to info found on their website, the maintenance, animal care and staffing is covered by the member towns South Windsor, Manchester, and East Hartford, which thereby reduces the overall annual costs to each municipality. He also reduced costs associated with snow removal by partnering with other towns for the purchase of liquid chloride. Within his own town, he collaborated with the Board of Education and the South Windsor Superintendent of Schools to combine services where possible. They had even brought up in conversations the possibility of sharing a litany of services, including finance, technology, maintenance, buildings, and grounds upkeep, but according to the Connecticut Association of School Business Officials, no action had been taken on these measures. That isn’t for lack of trying though.

Galligan has served or continues to serve on boards over the breadth of municipal expertise, including serving on the boards of CIRMA and CCM, where he was president. He is on the boards of the CT Prime Captive Insurance where he has been the president for the last two years, ECHN, and their new Charitable Foundation. He is a member of the International City Managers Association, CT Managers Association, and Government Finance Officers Association. He is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the International Economic Development Council. He holds an NDC certificate for economic development specialists. He is also currently the chairman and serves on the Special Education Task Force created by the legislature to stabilize special education funding through a possible captive insurance program. Most impressively, this list is not exhaustive of his participation throughout his nearly 40 year career. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obvious why Matthew B. Galligan was chosen, not once, but twice by our independent panel

to receive the Joel Cogen Lifetime Achievement and Richard C. Lee Innovators awards. He is the very model of the modern municipal leader, and deserves recognition as such. The Joel Cogen Lifetime Achievement Award is named after CCMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first and long-time Executive Director, and is awarded to those who have shown a lifetime of dedicated service.

The Richard C. Lee Innovators Award is presented by CCM to recognize municipal leaders that have developed unique and creative projects and programs to increase the effectiveness of local government. Innovators are individuals in any area of government who address problems common to municipalities throughout Connecticut in new ways. Mr. Lee was a former New Haven mayor and instrumental in the formation of CCM.

NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 13

Deserving of Recognition

Four Towns Received Municipal Excellence Awards For Good Projects

or the third year, CCM handed out the Municipal Excellence Awards, recognizing innovative projects that have significantly improved the quality of life for citizens, established partnerships, and built community support.

What Torrington did was rely on the entire community from High School Students, Girl and Boy Scouts, fire departments, seniors, contractors, and farms to collaborate on these improvements. First, they built over 70 raised beds, and took on over 50 extra gardeners.

Dozens of projects around the state competed for four prizes: one for municipalities with populations under 20,000, one for populations 20,001 – 40,000, and one over 40,001. There is an additional award handed out for a topical entry, which was “Creative Use of Resources, Partnerships, and Collaborations” this year.

They got the firefighters to use the garden as weekly training exercises for their volunteer youth program which feeds 1,200 gallons of water to the land. 100 yards of stone, a pavilion, outdoor charcoal grills, and picnic tables have already been added with bee hives, a greenhouse, permanent bathrooms and walking trails are to be added.

A First Place prize was awarded to the winner in each General Entry Award category. Each winning project was awarded $1,000 to be put toward its continued implementation and success. A single prize of $1,000 was awarded in the Topical Award category. Towns of all sizes competed against each other in this category. The entries were judged by an independent panel on: How the project or program was organized, administered, and explained; How well it achieved its goals; How well resources, such as grants, budgets, and staff were used; Whether the project could serve as a template for other communities. The four winners this year are Stonington, South Windsor, Norwalk, and Torrington. The awards were sponsored by Halloran & Sage.

Torrington – Topical Entry Winner for Bowman Senior Gardens The Challenge: improve the Bowman Garden Property that was gifted to Seniors of Torrington, and accomplish these improvements on a $0.00 budget. They aimed to increase access to fresh foods, improve food security, increase physical activity through garden maintenance, improve dietary habits, and promote relaxation. Could they do it? Yes.

City of Torrington

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The total cost of the project is estimated to have cost over $100,000, but since 2015 all of the out of pocket expenses have totaled a very small in comparison $14,200, all of which was received through donations. People want to be invested in their community, and given the opportunity, they will show you what great lengths they will go to to make it beautiful and usable for everyone.

Stonington – General Entry Winner for Police Radio Upgrade Project Stonington, in their entry, found themselves asking “how long will any new technology last?” It’s a good question. We had dial-up modems being put in every home, but less than 20 years afterwards, it’s starting to look like all internet will be coming through high speed fiber networks. So when Stonington found themselves with an aging police radio communications system, they had to decide what technology was worth spending money on. To make the situation even worse, the current tech they had was quickly becoming obsolete, with parts no longer being made to replace failing parts. This is where, as Stonington says, the State of Connecticut and their division of Statewide Emergency Telecommu-

Town of Stonington

City of Norwalk

nication – CTS Unit comes in. Instead of risking their entire Capitol Improvement Fund on technology that may or may not be obsolete within a couple of years or sooner, they partnered with CTS, who already manage the entire State of Connecticut Emergency Radio System. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State to take advantage of an existing infrastructure, antenna sites, and years of experience. This partnership came in at great savings for the town of Stonington, and the state gets improved coverage in Southeastern Connecticut. As they mentioned in their entry, “a system like this would never be affordable for a town like Stonington, but through this new partnership, everyone benefits.” When the technology changes, they can rest assured they will have longstanding expertise on their side.

South Windsor – General Entry Winner for Emergency Operations Center The fact of the matter is that weather around the world is becoming more severe as the climate changes. In Connecticut, we have had many severe hurricanes, blizzards, and even tornadoes and at least one earthquake. These natural disasters as well as viral spread were concerns for South Windsor when considering their Emergency Operations Center (EOC). When they looked at their preparedness for one of these emergencies, they realized that their EOC consisted of a single crash cart that had 4 laptops, a printer, fax machine, and a couple of telephones that lived in a closet. It was what they call a cold site — a site that needs time and effort to get running — and what South Windsor wanted was a hot site. They moved out of the police department training room, and into a former Post Office building that the town purchased and made improvements to so that it can now withstand a category 3 hurricane. It has been outfitted with the requisite security features, large main room, kitchen, bathrooms with showers, and staff offices. The aim was that there would be places to eat, shower, and sleep if an emergency necessitated 24 hour staffing.

Town of South Windsor

In addition, the EOC has much more than 4 laptops on a cart. They have 12 tvs, and software that allows the manipulation of content, places for video conferencing, and even speakers in the kitchen and hallways so that staff do not go silent during critical moments. In their application, South Windsor summed it up succinctly: “when success and failure are measured in life and death, not dollars and cents, it’s a responsibility.”

Norwalk – General Entry Winner for GIS Permit & Inspection System The reason why CCM promotes regionalism as much as it does is because so often if one municipality has a problem, then all of them do. Norwalk had such a problem. The city had siloed information and resources across various departments. They noted “30,000 permits, 360,000 inspections and numerous blight cases in the Building Inspection/Code Enforcement Information were not readily available to Planning & Zoning.” Norwalk needed a solution, but so did many other municipalities, so they partnered with 13 other municipalities to find a solution. The way they break it down, they utilized multi-departmental and cross-functional teams from these various towns to break down what was wrong and then streamline the process. In addition to their recommendations, they decided to use MuniCity to provide cloud-based permitting and inspection software. By their estimation, upfront costs notwithstanding, they are saving money left and right while still achieving efficiencies in their programs. They went live with the Building/Code Enforcement and Conservation and Planning & Zoning in 2017. A real time website was introduced in 2018, and Public Works will be converted by the end of this year. The project is working so well that the Health Department is implementing MuniCity by 2019. Not only did Norwalk serve as a model for other municipalities, and not only did it save money doing so, it made living in Norwalk easier by improving the customer service aspect of these services. Building inspections and permitting has sped up because everything is mobile and contained in one silo. NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 15

2018

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On The Job Learning

The first graduates of the CCMO program lauded at convention

here’s no real training like on the job training, but being a municipal official is slightly different than any other job. You need to have a wide variety of expertise and competencies, understanding fiscal, zoning, environmental, and a litany of other issues. With the help of Trinity College, CCM collaborated on the Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) program as a means to educate municipal employees in the best practices of being a local official. With just one year of the program, there have been 10 graduates of the program representing the inaugural class who were lauded at this year’s convention.

together citizens and municipal officials to enhance civic life and developing a vision for your community.

The program is a well-rounded training regimen aimed at teaching municipal officials how to “work collaboratively, solve problems, build partnerships, and work across political and organizational boundaries.” Trainings are led by experts who help officials build the required skills throughout the program.

This year’s graduates include Tom Banisch of First Selectman of Madison; Patricia Bruder, Administrator – Shelton Police Department; Dionne Craig, Assistant to First Selectman – Town of Bethel; Peter Juszczynski, Tax Collector of Windsor Locks; Christine Meiers Schatz, RTM Member of Westport, Patricia Moisio, Tax Collector of Redding, Sandra Pierog, First Selectwoman of Bolton; Robert Scannell, Town Manager of Watertown; Amy Traversa, First Selectwoman of Marlborough, and Thomas Weik, First Selectman of Morris.

It is organized much the same way as an institute of higher education, with hours of education and your choice of classes. You must complete 36 hours of training within two years of applying to the program, with at least six hours of education in each area of competency: Personal Development, Organizational Development, and Community Development. These areas focus on development, learning how to be an ethical leader and effective negotiator. Understanding municipal budgeting; the work place, the role of unions, and personnel laws. And finally, how to bring

18 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2018

Courses include: Ethics, Records Management, Supervisor Training, Drug & Alcohol Testing, Community Branding, RFPs/RFQs, FOIA Boards/Commissions, Public Role as a Partner, Public Safety and Leading for Diversity — not exactly the kinds of classes that get offered at any institution. It is these specialized courses that make the CCMO program so special, and those who graduate from it so laudable.

Each were given two years to complete the program, as noted above, and had completed it in the first year. Maintaining certification means only completing nine hours of study within the following two years. For more information on the program, contact CCM training at ccmtraining@ccm-ct.org or by calling 203498-3037.

It’s Easy Being Green

Sustainable CT hands out first Silver and Bronze level certifications

une 20, 1979 is probably not a day many people remember, but it was a fairly historic day if you ask the right people. It was the middle of the Second Oil Crisis, there was a hole in the ozone layer, and Jimmy Carter had been president for just two years, and in a moment of civic-minded sustainability, an array of solar panels were placed on the roof of the White House. Although the technology was new, Carter understood the need for sustainable measures, and 40 years later he is seen as a pioneer in a sustainable future. It is in this spirit that CCM partnered with the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University with input from municipal leaders to create the Sustainable CT initiative. Sustainable CT aims to help foster that same civic-minded sustainability Carter had shown 40 years ago by providing municipalities with resources and tools to implement sustainable actions. These actions include supporting redevelopment of brownfield sites, providing watershed management plans, supporting arts and creative culture, developing agriculture-friendly practices, and many more. There are a total of 55 actions across 10 categories. When a municipality participates in Sustainable CT, they rack up points for these actions, and are recognized for their work by becoming certified. And in just the first year, a total of 22 municipalities met the challenges and qualified for certification in this program. There were two levels achieved for this first year; Fairfield, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Hartford, and Stamford achieved “silver” certification, meaning they had racked up over 400 points. Another 17 municipalities had completed 200 points worth of actions to qualify for “bronze” certification. They include Bristol, Coventry, Hebron, Madison, Middletown, Milford, New Haven, New London, New Milford, Old Saybrook, Ridgefield, Roxbury, South Windsor,

West Hartford, Westport, Windham, and Woodbridge. “We are excited to recognize the first Sustainable CT certified communities,” said Laura Francis, First Selectman of Durham and co-chair of the Sustainable CT Board of Directors. “These towns have worked hard and shown great leadership in completing many actions that increase sustainability while also savings money, promoting health, and increasing residents’ connection and sense of place.” Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director, praised the municipalities that have shown an interest in the future: “They have built community and local economies. They have equitably promoted the health and well-being of current and future residents, and they respected the finite capacity of the natural environment.” The certifications were handed out as part of CCM’s 2018 Convention. The program is independently funded by the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, the Hampshire Foundation, and the Common Sense Fund, and is administered through the Institute of Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University, who reviewed the certification submissions along with independent experts and partners. “Congratulations to our 2018 certified Sustainable CT communities,” said Lynn Stoddard, Executive Director of the program. “We are eager to share the inspiring accomplishments of all these towns in creating livable, thriving communities. They are also showing that local actions lead to positive statewide impact on our environment, economy, and culture.” Certifications last for three years, but it doesn’t stop the need for continued action. The 2019 certifications are a year away, and many more municipalities will have the chance to say they care about the environment, their citizens, and their future.

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CIRMA

New Insurance Platform for Claims Management, Data and Analytics, and Digital Engagement CIRMA to leverage Guidewire Core, Data, and Digital products to increase business efficiency and enrich user experience.

IRMA has announced that it has selected Guidewire InsurancePlatform™ to replace its existing claim systems and modernize the way we do business, and provide innovation to our members. CIRMA selected Guidewire ClaimCenter™ as its new claims management system along with DataHub, InfoCenter™ for enterprise-wide data management and business intelligence, omnichannel digital service, and predictive analytics. CIRMA will deploy the products to its workers’ compensation and liability-auto-property lines of business. “Guidewire’s product maturity, market share, and track record of successful implementations were important factors in our decision-making process,” said David Demchak, president and chief executive officer, CIRMA. “We are confident that this strategic relationship, with a vendor offering intuitive, forward-thinking products to support our business model, will provide CIRMA with the ability to support our present and future needs, strategic initiatives, and offer a better digital customer service experience to our members. Lastly, we will be able to integrate with best-in-class partners that are a part of the industry-leading Guidewire PartnerConnect™ partner ecosystem.” Guidewire delivers the industry platform that Property and Casualty (P&C) insurers rely upon to adapt and succeed in a time of accelerating change. They provide the software, services, and partner ecosystem to enable customers to run, differentiate, and grow their business. Guidewire serves more than 350 companies in 32 countries.

“Working together, we can build solutions that fit our members needs.”

CASHO Honors CIRMA

he Connecticut Association of Street & Highway Officials, Inc., (CASHO) will present its 2018 Distinguished Service Award to CIRMA at its annual awards dinner on November 17, 2018, in recognition of CIRMA’s support of CASHO’s efforts to make Connecticut’s highways and roads safer. CIRMA has a long and collaborative relationship with CASHO. For over 30 years, CIRMA has provided a wide range of training and education programs tailored for Connecticut Public Works professionals, including sponsorship of the popular Snowplow Safety Roadeo. CASHO is a non-profit association whose mission is to provide public works departments education on matters related to highways and roadways

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Maria Reyes

CIRMA

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Sheraton Hartford South Hotel Rocky Hill, Connecticut

n Help guide CIRMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direction and programs, n Network with other municipal & school leaders, n Expand your professional understanding of risk & new ways to manage it.

CIRMA We Are CIRMA

CIRMA Welcomes New Staff!

IRMA continues to build its business expertise with the addition of new staff. Maria Reyes, a resident of Newington, joins Fiona Porto, Assistant Vice President for Underwriting and Steve Bixler, Vice President of Underwriting, as a Senior Underwriter. Maria Reyes has over 29 years of underwriting experience in commercial lines with a focus on public entities. Anthony Cerra will be working with Lisa Mattei, Senior Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager, as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Representative. Anthony Cerra is a resident of Wethersfield, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from the Central Connecticut State University. Before joining CIRMA, Tony held the position of Claims Representative for The Hartford Insurance Company.

Anthony Cerra

New Awareness Campaigns Safe Driving for Law Enforcement

IRMA, working with its Law Enforcement Advisory Committee, is launching a new awareness campaign on “Defensive Driving for Law Enforcement” in November. Nationally, vehicle accidents are the second leading cause of law enforcement officer fatalities. Last year 41 officers were killed in vehicle-related accidents in the U.S. CIRMA’s new awareness campaign will help reinforce defensive driving practices with a focus on areas specific to law enforcement. Look for training resources and awareness materials for download at www.CIRMA.org.

Fraud Awareness Week November 11-17 is National Fraud Awareness week. Look for CIRMA resources and materials at www.CIRMA.org.

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Maria Reyes

Getting Back Into Plumb

CIVIC AMENITIES

Renovations will preserve historic library for years to come

hen you have a treasure such as the Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton, you aim to keep it for generations to come.

Designed by Charles Beardsley (not to be confused with James Beardsley who donated the land that would become Connecticut’s only zoo) this building is an architectural treasure. It was built in 1895 in what is known as Richardsonian Romanesque style that was so popular at the turn of the century in America. It was outfitted with many high-falutin adornments such as Tiffany stained glass windows and ornately hand carved wood features. When it was donated to the city, by David Plumb, after whom the building is named, it was sure that they spared no expense. And when the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, they said: “The library which the Plumb family gave to the City of Shelton has been steadily used and well maintained over the more than three-quarters of a century since it was constructed. With a modern addition to the north which provides added floor space and more efficient book storage, it continues to serve the community well, providing library facilities in a building which is a distinguished example of late nineteenth century Romanesque architecture.”

Now, more than a century old, the library continues to need those renovations to keep it not only up to date with current needs, but to honor the historical beauty of the building. Some had complained about the building going into disrepair in the recent years, but the Library Board of Directors and Friends of the Shelton Library System worked with the City of Shelton to fund and start renovations. According to the Shelton Herald, they will be renovating the building in phases, with the first phase aiming to repair the floors and ceiling, add cabinetry and outlets, and put in screens and televisions, something they certainly did not prepare for in 1895. The first phase is funded by The Library Board, and will cost roughly $80,000. By restoring the Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton, the Board of Directors, Friends, and the City of Shelton are sending many important messages to the citizens. First, that they will honor our past, and the long tradition of upholding fine examples of architecture. But most importantly, that libraries are important spaces in cities, and places where the public can go and meet, educate themselves, learn together, and more. With the renovations planned to take place over the next several years, they will ensure that Shelton residents will have a beautiful library for another century to come.

NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 23

CIVIC AMENITIES Walking The Line

Torrington makes space for pedestrians

s more and more cities and towns aim to build a diversified transportation, we at CCM have written about bike paths that extend from Long Island Sound to Massachusetts, a train line that connects New Haven to Hartford, and improvements in between. But among the most important infrastructure in the state is the humble sidewalk. While trains, cars, and bikes dominate the conversation, sidewalks are sometimes forgotten. This integral infrastructure is a key factor in pedestrian safety, and that is why Torrington has made it a focus of their infrastructure planning. The Torrington Register Citizen wrote in July 2018 about a development grant that totaled nearly $2 million that the city was awarded by the state to improve safety for pedestrians as part of the 2017 Responsible Growth and Transit Oriented Development Grants. From the article, we learn that there will be “nine pedestrian crossings and nine streetlights along the corridor where the upgrades will be built” extending from Torrington Heights Road to the Big Lots Plaza and will take six months to a year to complete. But that wasn’t the end to their plans. They received a Community Connectivity Grant in the amount of

Here to make Connecticut a healthier place to live, work, and play. connecticare.com

$400,000 to pay for a multitude of projects, including those to upgrade to safer crosswalks. In another article, again from the Register Citizen, Mayor Elinor Carbone astutely notes that “A decade ago, roads were designed to offer the fastest way to get there by car,” but that many of those trends are changing in order to offer a more walkable vision of town. These improvements according to the grant will be towards “Four public parking lots in downtown — at City Hall, Daycoeton and Litchfield streets, Franklin and Center streets and Mason and John streets — lack lighting, directional signage and have hard-to-find crosswalks.” These two projects are a continuation of the already great work the City of Torrington has done to improve sidewalk health. Back in 2016, the Torrington Sidewalk Project widened sidewalks, put in plants, and new lighting with funds coming from the federal government at the time. Whether you’re just going for a nice stroll around downtown or you walk to and from the bus stop to get to work, you recognize that sidewalks are important part of your municipality; and towns and cities must follow Torrington’s lead in recognizing the need for safe pedestrian travel.

Simple Affordable Mobile 311 Accept, assign & resolve resident requests faster. New Britain

Windsor

New Haven

Hamden

Bridgeport

Killingly

Enfield

Wilton

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CIVIC PRIDE Can’t Get It Out Of Your Head New Britain announces winner of jingle contest

ou might have heard that New Britain has a new theme song honoring the heritage and diversity of the Hardware City, but did you know that it was a local resident that wrote it? This past May, Mayor Erin Stewart opened up a contest offering a $1000 gift pack to a resident who crafted the catchiest melody to honor and represent the town of New Britain as part of a branding and marketing campaign “to promote and highlight all that is new and changing in the city.” According to the rules, the jingle would “reflect the community and invoke a feeling of optimism and positive change.” The contest was open to legal residents of Connecticut, whether or not they lived in New Britain, and had to be submitted in a 60 second video with a brief essay detailing the concept and musical style. The only other guideline was that it must utilize the city’s tagline: “Experience the New.” Entries were judged on “creativity, originality, musical performance and adherence to creative assignment.” With all of that in mind, Mayor Stewart announced on September 4 the winner of the contest as local musician Curley Jones. Though he is usually a gospel singer, the jingle is a quick pop jaunt imploring people to “come on, y’all, come on down and see the new in New Britain.” He goes on to mention many of the locations and features that New Britain has to offer like the CT Fastrack and New Britain Bees, which are both popular features of the city’s growth. The jingle is part of a much larger plan that Stewart has enacted in her time as mayor. One facet of that program is an “Experience the New” program book which says that “As you explore the pages that follow, one thing will become unmistakably clear: New Britain is a unique community, full of diverse and deeply rooted cultures and, of course, wonderful people. Our economy, arts, food, and civic life all reflect our breadth of shared experiences and ethnicities, and have made us a stronger and more vibrant community as a result.” The contest, which will have a full premiere later in the year with a polished recording, was a way to include resident pride in the marketing. If there is one thing for sure, it’s a town or cities residents that already know what makes that place so great.

A still from the music video.

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CIVIC PRIDE Stamford Is Perfect!

City achieved a top score on equality index

he Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released its seventh annual Municipality Equality Index (MEI), rating a cities LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law, policy, and services. While the HRC had noted that the MEI had “changed dramatically” for 2018, a record number of cities have recorded perfect scores, 78, up from just 11 when the MEI was first introduced. Among the cities that achieved a perfect score was Stamford. The MEI is scored across five categories: Non-Discrimination Laws, Municipality as Employer, Municipal Services, Law Enforcement, and Leadership on LGBTQ Equality. Points are awarded in each category on criteria such as whether a city has non-discrimination ordinances or a LGBTQ Police Liasion or Task Force. Only 506 cities were judged, which included the 50 state capitals, the 200 largest cities, the five largest cities or municipalities in each state, the cities home to the state’s two largest public universities, and 75 municipalities that have high proportions of same-sex couples. An additional 98 cities were selected by HRC and Equality

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 1/2 2018 MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX SCORECARD

I. Non-Discrimination Laws This category evaluates whether discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited by the city, county, or state in areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations.

Employment Housing Public Accommodations

STATE

COUNTY

0 0

5 5

4 4

0 0

5 5

4 4

0 0

5 5

Of the towns and cities that were rated in Connecticut, only Stamford scored perfectly across all the categories, but a few other municipalities had beat the national average of 58. Hartford was nearly perfect with a score of 91. New Britain and New Haven had scores of 83, and Norwalk had a 71. In a press release noting the increasing success of municipalities to protect their LGBTQ citizens, HRC President Chad Griffing said: “From San Antonio, Texas to Brookings, South Dakota -- this year’s MEI again proves that there are no barriers to municipal LGBTQ equality for a city with dedicated, pro-equality elected officials. Forward-looking leaders across the U.S. are stepping up, protecting their youth from so-called ‘conversion therapy,’ increasing anti-bullying protections, ensuring transgender city employees have access to inclusive health care benefits and protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination in all areas of life.”

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 2/2 2018 MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX SCORECARD

IV. Law Enforcement Fair enforcement of the law includes responsible reporting of hate crimes and engaging with the LGBTQ community in a thoughtful and respectful way.

LGBTQ Police Liaison or Task Force

MUNICIPAL

AVAILABLE

Reported 2016 Hate Crimes Statistics to the FBI

SCORE

22 out of 22

24 out of 30

BONUS Single-Occupancy All-Gender Facilities

BONUS Protects Youth from Conversion Therapy

II. Municipality as Employer

MUNICIPAL

Non-Discrimination in City Employment

7 7

Transgender-Inclusive Healthcare Benefits City Contractor Non-Discrimination Ordinance Inclusive Workplace

AVAILABLE

V. Leadership on LGBTQ Equality This category measures the city leadership’s commitment to fully include the LGBTQ community and to advocate for full equality.

7 7

3 3

Leadership’s Public Position on LGBTQ Equality Leadership’s Pro-Equality Legislative or Policy Efforts

MUNICIPAL

AVAILABLE

8 out of 8

SCORE BONUS Openly LGBTQ Elected or Appointed Municipal Leaders

BONUS City Tests Limits of Restrictive State Law

TOTAL SCORE 94 + TOTAL BONUS 6 =

Final Score 100

28 out of 28

SCORE BONUS City Employee Domestic Partner

COUNTY

CITY

AVAILABLE

Benefits

III. Municipal Services This section assesses the efforts of the city to ensure LGBTQ constituents are included in city services and programs.

AVAILABLE

4 4

SCORE

By offering equivalent benefits and protections to LGBTQ employees, awarding contracts to fair-minded businesses, and taking steps to ensure an inclusive workplace, municipalities commit themselves to treating LGBTQ employees equally.

MUNICIPAL

Federation state group members and supporters.

Human Rights Commission NDO Enforcement by Human Rights Commission LGBTQ Liaison in City Executive’s Office

CANNOT EXCEED 100

12 out of 12

SCORE BONUS Youth Bullying Prevention Policy for City Services

BONUS City Provides Services to LGBTQ Youth

BONUS City Provides Services to LGBTQ Homeless

BONUS City Provides Services to LGBTQ Elders

BONUS City Provides Services HIV/AIDS Population

BONUS City Provides Services to the Transgender Community

+0 +0

+1 +1

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PTS FOR SEXUAL ORIENTATION

PTS FOR GENDER IDENTITY

BONUS PTS for criteria not accessible to all cities at this time.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CITY SELECTION, CRITERIA OR THE MEI SCORING SYSTEM, PLEASE VISIT HRC.ORG/MEI.

All cities rated were provided their scorecard in advance of publication and given the opportunity to submit revisions. For feedback regarding a particular city’s scorecard, please email mei@hrc.org.

hrc.org/mei

EN TE AV

A MIN L R

NEW HAVEN TERMINAL, INC.

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

NEW H

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORPORATE

Hartford Evolving Before Your Eyes Redevelopment happening in phases, changes landscape

rban Planning is not something that changes overnight, especially in the state that is known as the “Land of Steady Habits,” which may or may not be a good thing depending on who you ask. It’s hard to move streets, and in crowded, densely packed urban areas, it’s hard to move buildings. Change will come more in the form of usage – turning old factories into lofts for younger generations is a popular form of this. Connecticut’s capital city, Hartford, is making many of these changes, slowly but surely, and according to some, doing a pretty darn good job of it too. The planning has been going on for years, but the first phase could be said to have taken off in earnest in 2017, just one year ago. Projects like UConn’s Hartford campus and the Dunkin Donuts Park were meant to

make Hartford more of a destination, especially in the downtown areas. It’s hard not to say that they’ve been a resounding success. In our last issue, we wrote about Dunkin Donuts Park receiving the honor of being the best minor league ballpark in America for the second year in a row. It is only the second ballpark to ever win back-to-back, and the only minor league stadium to ever do so (the other was PNC Park where the Pittsburgh Pirates play). With the addition of the New Haven to Hartford train line – which ultimately ends up in Springfield, Mass. – the Hartford to Storrs line, and CTFastrack, access to the city has never been easier. More than 115,000 riders took the Hartford to Storrs line in the first year alone, making it a resounding success, many of the riders were the stu-

dents themselves who are able to pay for the public transportation system through student fees. But once you get there, either for class, or for a ball game, you have to stick around to see what’s actually going on in Hartford. That’s a problem that Lisa Chase, a writer who studies urban design and development recently told New England Public Radio when discussing Hartford’s redevelopment strategy. “When I talk to people about Hartford’s ongoing redesign, I often hear disbelief and dismissiveness,” she said. “Not from residents who live in Hartford, especially young people invested in the fabric of the city, but from the ones on the periphery – people in the city’s inner-ring suburbs.” The problem is that they aren’t engaging with the city, but merely passing through. continues on 28

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT continued from 27

Things like building a ballpark in the north end of town seem counterintuitive to a layperson, but to someone who spends all their time studying the way people interact with cities, it might make perfect sense. Chase explains that “that’s the point – to draw people into and through the city’s neighborhoods. To see the city up close.”

city Hartford is becoming.”

A good takeaway is to invest in the city on the level of people, pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and those in public transportation, rather than as a series of buildings and blocks. This was also a major idea for Jane Jacobs, who rocked the Urban Planning world with her major work, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities.” Chase continues: “I explain the intention behind the city’s new green spaces and walkways is to attract people to walk around the city. Browse in the new university bookstore. Or stroll through the waterfront sculpture park. Sit on a bench under a tree. Be part of the

The Hartford Courant reports that the developer, Carlos Mouta, “envisions two floors of food vendors and other retail outlets in the building he purchased at the turn of the century. A produce section, a test kitchen and an entertainment space complete with a wet bar are in the carefully laid plans for the venture, dubbed the Parkville Market.” There will be a large mix of food vendors cooking up food from around the world, up to 22 permanent outlets that will be open seven days a week all year round.

Becoming is the operative word here, because the projects don’t end with just a baseball park and renewed interest in public transportation. Over in the Parkville neighborhood, they have just broken ground on a food market that is sure to bring in visitors from around the state.

In addition to food, there will be

space on a second floor for all manner of outlets, including coffee shops, spice vendors, and other kiosks like you might see in any mall. Echoing the famous line from Field of Dreams, Mouta told the Courant: “I believe if you build it, they will come,” he said. “I’ve seen it with the 170-plus new market-rate units in Parkville, over 1,000-plus units in downtown Hartford, the Convention Center, Front Street and the Yard Goats.” Dreamed of over a decade ago, Hartford is on the right path to revitalization, first the CT Fastrack, then a ball park, then the UConn campus, then the train. Soon there’ll be markets and trees lining the streets for Hartford residents and visitors to see. As Chase closed in her NEPR segment: “What’s happening in Hartford isn’t accidental. It’s purposeful and thoughtful and exciting. It’s everything urban design should be.”

Home Grown Businesses Winchester looks to grow small businesses

onnecticut is home to many large businesses – pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and military – but the backbone of every town and city in America is small local businesses. The state understanding this has created the Small Business Express Program, but as reported by the Register Citizen of Torrington, only businesses in two towns in Litchfield County have taken advantage of the program as of yet. The Winchester Economic Development Council, wanted to get the word out about this program. Started in response to the need to spur growth and job creation in the state, the small business express program is there “to provide the capital necessary to fuel small business progress. Whether you need an equity investment, capital purchase or working capital, you’ll find Connecticut offers an array of financing programs for small businesses.” According to the Hartford Business Journal, the program over $254 million dollars in loans and grants has received promises to retain over 25 thousand jobs in the state of Connecticut, entirely in the small business

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sector. And among the over 1600 businesses that have received funds from this program, only 55 have gone out of business, which is a rate of .034 percent. Businesses can take out loans and matching grants in order for just about anything their business needs at low interest rates meant to benefit the small businesses. The Register Citizen gives two examples of businesses that have taken advantage of this program: “Accounting and More, LLC in Litchfield, received a $200,000 job creation loan in 2018. It is a business owned by a woman and has one employee. A manufacturing company in Winchester, Dufrance Nuclear Shielding Inc., received a $229,500 job creation loan and a $60,000 matching grant in 2017. It hired 13 employees last year.” This is not the first time that Winchester had promoted this program. According to their press release, they had done a similar presentation in 2013 that resulted in nine jobs being created and over $700,000 in loans being distributed. Winchester understands that the most important part of programs like the Small Business Express Program is knowing that they exist.

EDUCATION The Education section of CT&C is sponsored by Gateway Community College’s GREAT Center. Learn more at: www.gatewayct.edu/Great-Center

If You Could Make It Here

Andover adds makerspace to elementary school

hat many people might not realize about the success of Bill Gates is that he had a leg up on the rest of us. In a story from Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Outliers, Gates’ elementary school in 1975 bought a used computer, a Teletype Model 33, one of the first computers that you didn’t need a computer science degree to operate. The school didn’t purchase the computer because they thought personal computing would change the world, but because they wanted their students to have every available resource to learn. In the same spirit, Andover Elementary has added a makerspace to their school. These spaces are popping up everywhere as the cost for the hardware comes down. Unlike an ordinary teacher-led classroom, these spaces foster creativity and invention amongst students by giving them the tools to discover for themselves with teachers there for guidance. According to an article in the Journal Inquirer, the project had a fairly low budget of just $25,000, and was spearheaded by Kirstina Frazier. She was featured in another article early on in 2018 for winning the state’s outstanding elementary school teacher for her efforts teaching coding to pre-schoolers. The curricu-

lum encourages a focus on learning to learn and solve problems on your own. Principal John Briody said that he hopes to connect what the children are learning in the makerspace back to the classroom. Some of the equipment that was purchased for this space was “circuitry kits, teaching robots, virtual reality goggles, two 3D printers, and a wide array of building supplies and tools.” 3D printers have been particularly popular among makerspaces as they, like computers in the 70s, have seen their cost drop dramatically. In 2010, a single desktop HP printer would cost in the range of $15,000, meaning that buying two printers would have driven the price over the total budget of the entire room. Some of these technologies would have been unthinkable just a generation ago, just as the internet was to that previous generation, but are important for children to have a leg up on the future. Just like Bill Gates back in Seattle in the 70s, these children are preparing for a future world, one that we don’t know what exactly it will look like. While virtual reality goggles, robots, and 3D printers might seem like a lot for elementary school children to be getting their hands on, these children might be creating the next technology to go in the makerspace. NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 29

EDUCATION Four Schools Get Gold Stars

West Haven, Higganum, West Hartford, and New Canaan make the cut

our schools across the state, Forest School in West Haven, Haddam-Killingworth High School in Higganum, University of Hartford Magnet School in West Hartford, and West School in New Canaan, were lauded as National Blue Ribbon Schools. The award has been handed out to over 8,500 schools in over three decades; this years winning schools won the award for the first time. Beginning in 1982, the United States Department of Education (DOE) seeks out exemplary schools every year who demonstrate “that all students can achieve to high levels.” Awards are given in two categories: “Exemplary High Performing” and “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing.” The former schools have their state’s highest high school graduation rates and the highest achieving students (the top 15%) in English and mathematics, measured by state assessments, while the latter have made the greatest advances (top 15%) in closing subgroup achievement gaps in English and mathematics over the past five years, measured by state assessments. Each school won for different areas in which they succeed, but the one thing they all have in common is that they all excel in student achievement. Here is what they had to say about the characteristics that made them excel: Forest School: Forest School (PK4) is located in the Allingtown section of the city of West Haven, Connecticut. Forest is a Title I school that serves 453 students. Our school has one of the largest populations of English Learners (EL) in West Haven with over 16 different primary home languages. Forest prides itself on its model of layered shared leadership that provides strategies, resources, and training to support teachers.

Collaboration from the district level to the building level maintains this support. Building level needs are supported by the building’s Mathematics Coach, Reading Consultant, SPED and EL teams. These supports provide model lessons, strategies and resources to grade levels as well as tier level instruction(SRBI) while echoing the belief that all children can learn. We capitalized on the strategies utilized focusing on the five tenets of learning: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking. Each lesson is created to integrate these tenets explicitly and consistently in all lessons to all youngsters. Youngsters are taught and reinforced skills within their Tier I and Tier III instruction, using Scientific Research Based Interventions (SRBI) supported by EL, literacy, mathematics, and special education staff. We have recognized even the smallest movements in academic and social-emotional growth. We have taken teachers and students alike, through the process to independently use research based strategies, and corresponding resources to improve teaching and learning. We continue with our successful journey in making a difference for all of students. Haddam-Killingworth: Haddam Killingworth High School provides extensive opportunities to students while nurturing and supporting them within a familial learning environment. We offer 27 courses for college credit, with most students completing a post-secondary endeavor before they graduate. We are proud of a variety of instructional arrangements including traditional, online, internship, independent study, and a new blended learning initiative. We personalize the student experience and supports across both the academic and social-emotional domains.

30 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2018

Student voice is developed and honored - in the classroom, through direct advisory relationships with school leaders, and through student involvement in larger community and global issues. We mindfully support students in balancing achievement in the classroom, on the athletic field, and beyond with self-care and restoration. Midway through our day, there is a structured pause in our academic schedule with a clear message: it is important for all of us to eat, to rest, to breathe, and to take time for conversation and friendship. We uphold this principle during other stressful times as well. For example, after a long morning of standardized testing, students choose from a variety of stress-breaking activities to enjoy; activities range from guided meditation to yoga to basketball tournaments to nature walks. This past year, we suffered the devastating loss of two beloved teachers and coaches. The way the faculty, staff, and students supported one another was remarkable and exemplifies how we function as a supportive community. We grieved, processed, and began healing together. At HK, we are a family and our family thrives. University of Hartford Magnet School: University of Hartford Magnet School (UHMS) opened in 2001 and is one of sixteen magnet

EDUCATION schools operated and managed by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC). Using multiple intelligences theory, the school works tirelessly to reduce racial, ethnic and socioeconomic isolation of students by initiating, developing and managing innovative educational programs. Our classrooms are a microcosm of the greater society, diverse in a variety of ways: socioeconomically, racially, and culturally. This diversity is embraced and used to deepen our students’ knowledge of themselves, each other, and the larger community. The positive partnerships that we have and continue to forge with our families and community members serve as a powerful ingredient for our students’ success and our school’s improvement. While we, like many schools, meet with families before the first day of school, what we have found most successful in supporting our students and working with our families is our Parent Intake Conferences. Held during the third week of school, these conferences afford teachers an opportunity to learn more about

their students from the family’s perspective and experiences. Families are able to share their child’s past educational experiences, interests outside of school, apprehensions about school, and their goals for their child. The information gathered and bonds established during these conferences provide a foundation for a meaningful and strong connection that best supports the student’s educational and social/ emotional success for the school year. West School: At West School, “Emotions Matter!” Our school has a rich tradition of high academic performance and our students consistently outperform their peers. Our teachers provide an exceptional educational experience anchored in rigorous standards of performance. We strive to make everyday “A Great Day at West!” We also recognize the importance of emotions and their impact on learning. Our collaborative approach to the integration of emotional intelligence into all that we do, positively impacts our school climate, improves leadership and decision

making skills and improves overall social skills. We use a gradual release approach to instruction and Webb’s Depth of Knowledge to ensure students are continually engaged in instruction that requires a deep level of complex thinking. Our faculty uses a variety of technology to “add value” to the educational experience by personalizing learning, differentiating instruction, and further expanding the learning experiences for our students. What sets West School apart is our ability to be collaborative in all that we do. Our Parent Teacher Council (PTC) consists of a world class group of parents who work tirelessly to create and maintain an active working relationship among parents, teachers, and the administration. In partnership, through a continuous exchange of ideas, our PTC effectively enhances the educational goals of our school and welfare of our students. Our parents hold us to a high standard while supporting all that we do!

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ENVIRONMENT Where Does It All Go?

Trash diversion looks for a smarter way

But it’s really the things that can’t be recycled that are clogging up the system. Some things might surprise you. A tub of ice cream cannot be recycled. Paint cans are obviously a no go, but so are the lids of yogurt tubs. Tissue paper and paper cups cannot be recycled and many plastic items like prescription bottles, loose soda caps, and plastic utensils cannot be recycled. These items are shifted away from the recycling streams and then sent to the same landfills as the rest of the trash. This costs cities like New Haven money, because it is an added trip away from the recycler.

PAPER

What’s

IN?

What’s

OUT?

Gift wrap & gift bags

Food & beverage cartons

Ice cream containers

Junk mail

Paper cups (hot & cold)

Magazines & newspaper inserts

Shredded paper

Newsprint Pizza boxes

GLASS

Cardboard & boxboard

Office paper

METAL

New Haven is one such city that has put an emphasis on recycling. Not only are public trash cans popping up with recycling capabilities, but they’ve wanted to make sure that everyone knew what was appropriate to recycle and what wasn’t in their own homes. The first thing to know is what can go in: plastic bottles, containers, and one use cups can go in. So can food boxes, even pizza boxes if they are clean. Aluminum foil is in. Cans and bottles made from metals are also in. Glass jars can also be recycled. A good idea is to check for the recycle logo on all of your goods.

A Guide to Recycling Connecticut now has a universal list of what belongs in your recycling bin and what doesn’t. All items should be empty, rinsed, clean and open. Do not shred, box, bag or bundle. To learn more, go to RecycleCT.com

Take-out food containers Tissue paper

Beverage bottles & jars

Ceramic mugs & plates

Food bottles & jars

Drinking glasses

Aerosol containers (food grade only)

Aerosol containers (deodorizers, cleaners, pesticides, etc.)

Aluminum foil Cans & bottles Foil containers Metal lids from cans & bottles

PLASTIC

ne of the things that we don’t ever want to think about is trash. We all create it, and every week we put our bins out on the side of the street, but where it goes after that is out of sight, out of mind. That trash does go somewhere though, whether to a recycling plant or a dump, and it is starting to become a problem for the towns and cities of Connecticut. Landfills are filling up and there’s talk about beginning to utilize out of state locations, and recycling plants are inundated with materials that they just can’t handle. But some municipalities are looking at re-educating the public and alternatives for a greener future.

Foil tops from yogurt containers Paint cans Pots & pans Small pieces of scrap metal Spiral wound containers

Plastic bottles (with or without caps attached)

Loose bottle caps

Plastic containers, tubs & lids

Plastic plates, bowls & utensils

Plastic one-use cups (no lids, no straws)

Prescription bottles

Plastic bags & wrap

Single-use coffee containers Styrofoam cups, containers & packaging peanuts Water filters

Mayor Toni Harp

That is why New Haven has spent the summer of 2018 stickering their blue recycling bins to let people know these rules. They may be tricky, sorting the ice cream cartons (bad) from the cereal boxes (good), but in the end, this is really for the environment. It will have you thinking about making responsible choices for the future.

would see savings of up to $560,000, and an additionNew Haven Curbside Single Stream Recycling al $1.6 million Public in revenue from a SMART system. The Jeff Pescosolido, Works 203-946-7700 numbers added up so well that a West Hartford panel suggested an 18-month review of the program, but there was so much negative feedback it didn’t get off the ground.

Other towns are dealing with trash streams that are simply becoming too much. Towns like West Hartford and New London have put on the table a “Pay-AsYou-Throw” option, where town residents will have to purchase specific trash bags. Despite receiving the acronym SMART, Save Money and Reduce Trash, plans like these have seen less than enthusiastic consent from townsfolk. Much of the problem stems from being forced to buy specific trash bags at set prices.

By 2024, towns are going to need to divert 60 percent of their trash streams to reach a state goal. A Pay-AsYou-Throw program could divert up to 50 percent of a current trash stream, putting towns and cities within reach of that goal. Connecticut residents who went to Farm Aid in Hartford this past September heard from farmers around the state about composting, which is one of the best ways to divert trash. Whatever the solution, this is our only Earth, and sometimes you have to think about what you’re throwing out, even if you don’t want to.

But the savings add up for the city. According to a report in the Hartford Courant, a town like West Hartford

32 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2018

ENVIRONMENT Care Of Acme Co.

Fake plastic coyotes dot Middletown park

retty much everyone has heard of a scarecrow, but have you ever heard of a scare coyote? The city of Middletown has come up with a unique looking solution to a rampant goose situation in the Butternut Hollow Park by placing fake plastic coyotes all around the park to keep them away from designated areas. The goal is not to eliminate the geese from the park, but to stop droppings from causing deleterious effects like algae blooms.

The city has focused so much attention on this one park because there have been extensive renovations at the park, which have led to increased use by residents. Of the many projects part of the renovation include stocking the pond with fish, a brand new playground, walking paths, and a pavilion picnicking area. Because of the investment in public use, the park’s managers felt it was important to keep the geese away from areas where humans would be playing and eating.

According to a report from the Hartford Courant, the city buys the fake coyotes from Dicks Sporting Goods at around $130 a pop, and they have a poseable tail that moves in the wind for a more realistic effect. While coyotes are not exactly known for their smarts – at least in the cartoons – geese have seemingly outwitted the plastic predators: “One day last week as a few families were visiting the playground, the flock walked from an open area across the street from the park past the fake coyotes to the side of the pond abutting an apartment complex, seemingly cautious of the decoy but still undeterred.”

But one of the other reasons to keep the geese away is because of how nutrient rich geese droppings are. As noted in the Courant piece, the droppings are essentially a type of manure that act as plant food. When the water in the pond gets oversaturated it leads to algae blooms, which can be detrimental to the stocked fish, and the entire ecosphere in the pond. Since the program has started, the algae levels are down, and human use is up, proving once again that what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

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ENVIRONMENT

Protected against Future Flooding State funds project to rebuild tide gates in West Haven

hen it comes to potential flooding, West Haven residents who live upstream of Sea Bluff Beach and Bradley Point Park will soon have some peace of mind. The State Bond Commission recently approved $3.9 million in state funding for a new Cove River tide gate system. This project, part of the city’s Coastal Resiliency Plan, will protect the tidal wetland from flooding and causing any more damage to surrounding homes, businesses, and roads. State Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven, announced the funding at Sea Bluff Beach alongside state Reps. Charles J. Ferraro, R-West Haven, and Michael A. DiMassa, D-West Haven, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, and Mark E. Paine Jr., assistant to acting Public Works Commissioner Lou Esposito. “I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to secure these funds,” Borer said at the news conference. Replacing the failing, 45 year-old tide gate system has been a longtime goal for city officials. The gates are meant to regulate the tide where the Cove River flows into Long Island Sound. Without a functioning system, the surround-

ing infrastructure is left unprotected and upland property is at risk for flooding. One area of concern is West Haven High School because of its close proximity to the river. Its track and fields flooded in October 2012 after Superstorm Sandy overtook the tide gates.

Our shoreline is our greatest asset and pride and joy “Recent storms highlight the need for a reliable system to protect West Haven neighborhoods from property damage and the potential loss of life. I applaud the Commission for approving this grant and I’m glad to be part of our legislative delegation’s efforts,” said Rep. DiMassa. Efforts to rehabilitate the Cove River salt marsh have been in effect for over six years. Led by Paine, the city has restored the natural salt grasses and eliminated most of the

34 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2018

invasive species there. Shorebirds and waterfowl have even returned to the area since its restoration. Plans for the new tide gate system also include self-regulating tide gates so that the city can control the height of the tides – an aspect very important to the health of the marsh. A new concrete footbridge is also in the works to allow pedestrian access from Sea Bluff Beach to Bradley Point Park. The former bridge was built over a century ago and closed in the early 80s. “This area, with its rich history, should be preserved, and I am grateful the state prioritized our funding request to get this critical project off the ground,” Rep. Borer said. “Our shoreline is our greatest asset and pride and joy,” she said. “Proactively improving the functionality through self-regulated tide gates and replacing the pedestrian bridge, which has been closed for over 20 years, will generate countless safety, environmental and quality-of-life benefits.” The project, starting in early summer, will take up to eight months to complete.

GOVERNANCE The Governance section of CT&C is sponsored by Kemp Consulting, LLC, a National Speaker Service. Learn more at: www.rogerkemp.org

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Dreaming Of A Cleanly Plowed Street Wilton prepares for snowfalls by optimizing routes

n January 8, 2018, more than a foot of snow dropped on the town of Wilton. The total, while large, is not an unheard of amount in New England. The snow that must have been fun for the residents under the age of 18, was mostly a nuisance for those that had to shovel out their cars or driveways, whether or not they had a snowblower. Even once they got out, there was nowhere to go since the snow had practically shut down the entire city, save for emergency personnel who have to be on hand no matter what. The other people that have to be on hand are the people in the plows clearing the streets to get the town back up and running. And that’s why Wilton, along with the rest of the towns in the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) worked together to find out the best routes for snow removal in a model of regionalization. As reported in the Wilton Bulletin, the regional agency is working on a program to optimize snow removal on a town by town basis, in a study funded by the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. By optimizing the routes, not only can these mayors and first selectmen get their towns back up and running sooner, but they can also save money on things like efficiency costs: those big snow plows don’t exactly have the same miles-per-gallon as a Toyota Prius. Avoiding hitting the same roads twice can add up to huge savings, especially in years where the state gets a lot of these bomb cyclones that have a tendency to drop large amounts of snow in short periods of time. According to the Bulletin, “each municipality worked with the consultant, Axiomatic LLC, to adjust snow removal routes using route optimization software, FleetRoute by C2Logix. Preliminary findings have shown that many of the small- to medium-sized municipalities already have very close to optimized routes, while many of the larger municipalities, with more than 25 routes, found efficiencies by adjusting their routes.” But very close to optimized routes can still find room for improvement, and it doesn’t mean that every recommendation will be heeded for the simple reason that sometimes humans know things that computers don’t.

If the Farmer’s Almanac is to be believed, then we are headed for a very snowy winter, saying that Connecticut is going to experience a very long, cold, and snow-filled winter.” The Farmer’s Almanac is not to be confused with the Old Farmer’s Almanac (they were founded in 1792, a full 26 years before the Farmer’s Almanac), which predicted almost the exact opposite. Being prepared for whatever weather may come will be much easier for the towns and cities in the WestCOG, knowing that they will have the most efficient snow routes, and will have them up and running as quickly as possible.

NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 35

GOVERNANCE Beacon Falls Looks For Applicants

The community development block grant helps homeowners upgrade

eacon Falls First Selectman Chris Bielik has sent out a press release that the town is looking for a further 10 homes to take part in their 2017 $400,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). This was part of a larger $11.5 million dollar grant program announced by Governor Malloy in the summer of 2017. The grant is for low and moderate income homeowners to make needed repairs to their homes. Per the release: To be eligible, an applicant must meet three requirements: (1) homeowners must have an annual income that does not exceed $47,600 for a single household or $68,000 for a household of four; (2) Have 10% equity in the home; and, (3) be up to date on municipal taxes. Homeowners that take advantage of this program will have the added benefit of not paying this loan out until the house changes title, and even then it will be a 0% interest loan. This is especially useful to those

36 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2018

who cannot afford to make the necessary changes and upgrades to their houses and would be burdened by high-interest loans. You can replace: “failed furnaces, roofs, windows, and septic system repairs. These funds can provide for ADA modifications to homes as well, such as entrance ramps and bathroom modifications.” The grant program allows Towns that show a need for their residents to establish a revolving loan fund in perpetuity to provide assistance to additional residents who need home repairs. Anyone considering taking advantage of this program may contact Chris Bielik in the First Selectman’s Office at 203-729-4340. Also, you may contact Small Cities Consultants to the City of Beacon Falls, Lisa Low & Associates at 203-888-5624 or info@lisalowassociates. The grant expires September 30, 2019 so time is of the essence. Please share this information with any friends or neighbors who may be interested.

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

New Tech Helps Serve And Protect

Over 50 municipalities have already joined National Justice Database

ore than 50 municipalities in the state of Connecticut have signed up to be part of a groundbreaking partnership with the Center for Policing Equity (CPE), sharing their data with them to be part of the National Justice Database (NJD). The group, which was a groundbreaking leader of law enforcement research, has previously helped major cities like Denver in recruiting, training, and retention of police officers. This partnership is part of a greater expansion in technology and information being used by police departments across the county.

They don’t even have to standardize their data, just “agree to open their doors” as the Mirror says. But participating will have benefits, as data will be collected from across the nation – over 240 police departments representing a quarter of the population – and Connecticut towns and cities will be able to glean best practices from the information learned. CPE can have reports available to departments in weeks rather than months, with the goal of having real time information given to officers in situations.

Connecticut has been on the forefront of using technology to help in policing the state, including technologies like shotspotter which allows the police to actively respond to the sound of gunshots through advanced sound recognition technology. Elsewhere in CT&C, we have written about new dispatching technologies and programs designed to keep Connecticut citizens safe and happy. The NJD takes it one step further, by allowing the entire state to examine information, allowing for efficiencies and nuance in policing across the board. Malloy said in a press release from Washington D.C. where the partnership was announced: “It goes well beyond data collection to include analytics and customized solutions, giving police chiefs a significant tool toward being able to evaluate use of force and bias within their ranks. A robust and transparent analysis of data will continue to help our law enforcement agencies to become the more just and professional departments we always strive to be. Connecticut’s law enforcement agencies have continued to use data-informed strategies to reduce crime. That is one of the reasons our state has reduced the rate of violent crime more than any state in the nation over the last four years.” According to information from the CT Mirror on the NJD, there is no legislative mandate to cooperate with CPE, but that 50 municipalities have already agreed, and there is no charge to be associated and participate in data collection. NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 37

PUBLIC SAFETY Protecting The Future of America Guilford adopts anonymous reporting system

hese are certainly trying times, and despite many lawmakers best efforts, it seems that school shootings have become all too common in this country. Connecticut must live with the painful reminder of Sandy Hook, which was among the worst tragedies in American history. From that tragic moment rose Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), which aims to make these events far less common by educating the preventing gun violence and mental illness. Guilford Public Schools has recently partnered with that program to roll out the “Say Something Anonymous Reporting System” (SS-ARS). The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System will help students relay their fears or concerns about themselves or others. They aim to help prevent a situation before it happens. From the press release, “concerned students simply submit a tip using the SSARS app, website, or by calling a dedicated 24/7 crisis center. SHP’s crisis center then triages the tip and communicates it back to the identified school district contacts and, as needed, to law enforcement.” SHP provides all the management, training and funding for the entire program through donations, grants, and other gifts. Efforts for Guilford Public Schools to adopt a system like SS-ARS were led by Kristin Song, who reached out to superintendent Paul Freeman. Kristin, along with husband Mike, have established the Ethan Miller Song Foundation, after the tragic loss of their son, which is dedicated to keeping children safe. They, like SHP promote gun safety and advocacy, educating on the dangers of opioid abuse, texting and driving, and the promotion of SS-ARS.

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Quoted in the release, Superintendent Paul Freeman stated, “The Say Something program is just one more way that we can work to keep our students safe. Whether it is from bullying or from any other threat, we strive to make our community safer and more supportive of all students.” The program relies on the children themselves to speak up if they or someone they know is showing signs of dangerous behavior, which can be a frightening experience if the child is already feeling threatened. By allowing the children access to professionals in an anonymous way, they might feel safer saying something before they hurt themselves or others. Education is key, and Guilford Public Schools with the SHP is helping its students understand the signs of dangerous behavior and when they should seek out help.

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U Text U Drive U Pay

PUBLIC SAFETY

Hamden takes part in program to save lives

istracted driving accidents are easily preventable. All it takes for motor vehicle operators to miss a red light is a quick glance down at their phone when they get a message. According to TeenSafe.Com, just around 9 fatal accidents a day occur because of a distracted driver. That is why Hamden along with many other towns and cities across the state have joined in on a program to help curb distracted driving, and get the word out just how dangerous it is. Hamden participated in the crackdown called “U Text U Drive U Pay,” intentionally meant to mimic the shorthand that is found in everyday texting during a two-week period in the beginning of August. In Connecticut, people over 18 are allowed to use hands-free cell phone devices, like those bluetooth-enabled dashboard applications, where you can simply say “Call Matt” and the car will call Matt for you. Some even have the capabilities to take down a text. The benefits of hands-free is that you never have to take your eyes off the road. Teens under 18 aren’t even allowed to use the handsfree devices as they are a higher-risk group of drivers. According to TeenSafe.Com, those aged 16-19 are among the most likely to be in a distracted driving ac-

cident. It’s a combination of being new to driving and being easily distracted. But it’s actually most adults who think that texting and driving is no big deal, with three-quarters of those over 18 saying that they don’t think it’s a problem. During the program, officers stopped motorists who were violating the law, and in Hamden, with just two locations over two weeks issued over 600 tickets to distracted drivers. They urged drivers to safely pull over to a parking spot, or the side of the road if in an emergency, before continuing a conversation on your cellphone. As a reminder, not only is using a cellphone illegal, but other forms of distracted driving is just as dangerous. Among the activities that are found to cause accidents are putting on makeup, eating, and even reading. Additionally, it is a misconception that because a car manufacturer has placed an infotainment system in the dashboard does not mean it is safe to use when operating the vehicle. The most important thing is to keep your eyes focused on the road at all times when operating a vehicle, and to remember that “U Text U Drive U Pay.”

NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 39

PUBLIC SAFETY

Look Listen Learn Newtown educates about fire prevention

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n honor of National Fire Prevention Week, Newtown educated its citizens about fire safety and handed out free smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for those who could not afford them. The week has been observed for nearly 100 years, since 1922, when President Calvin Coolidge made the week a national observance. This is, according to National Fire Prevention Association, the “longest-running public health observance” in the United States. It is observed in October as a commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire that was started when, as lore has it, Mrs. O’Leary’s cow tipped over a lantern. The fire spread and damaged a great part of the city was damaged proving the destructive forces of an unchecked fire. As part of the week, Firefighters across the country seek to educate both the young and old in safety precautions that could very well be life saving. Per the Newtown Bee, representatives of the five local volunteer fire companies — Botsford, Dodgingtown, Hawleyville, Newtown Hook & Ladder, and Sandy Hook — visited schools across town in this mission.

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This year’s campaign is “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.” The tenets of this campaign urge people to “look around your home [and] identify potential fire hazards and take care of them. Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm,” and “learn two ways out of every room, and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.” While this couplet might be easy to remember for children, it is the adults in the house who must take care of potential hazards and making sure exits are free of clutter. Fire safety is everyone’s business.

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Making sure that smoke detectors are running is of the utmost importance as the NFPA says that three out of every five deaths happen in homes with no working smoke detectors.

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Smoke detectors must be installed in every bedroom and on every level of the home, including the basement, but keeping them high on the wall away from the kitchen. You should be testing them once a month, and most modern smoke detectors only need to be replaced once every 10 years. So as long as you are testing them and replacing the battery, you will be prepared should a fire ever occur.

MUNICIPAL LAW

Kari L. Olson Chair kolson@murthalaw.com 860.240.6085 Alfred E. Smith, Jr. asmith@murthalaw.com 203.772.7722 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Michael J. Martone* mmartone@murthalaw.com 860.240.6109 *Not an attorney

CONNECTICUT + MASSACHUSETTS + NEW YORK

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40 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2018

Per the Newtown Bee, local residents in need who want a smoke detector or a CO detector for their homes should go to the fire marshal’s office at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street within Fairfield Hills. The office is open Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 4:30 pm, and can be reached at 203-270-4370.

SOCIAL WELFARE Signing Up For A Brighter Future Columbia renews investment in local Youth Services group

ow more than ever, Connecticut residents must take care of themselves, but sometimes that means seeking help from the community, especially children who may not be sure how or who to seek advice from. As part of a unanimous vote, the town of Columbia reaffirmed their relationship with Andover Hebron Marlborough Youth Services, or AHM-Youth. The non-profit group has had a relationship with the town since 2014, and has been working for over three decades to support the youth of Northern CT. From their website, the mission of AHM is to: “provide mental health and positive youth development services that assist children, young people, and their families in creating a supportive and caring environment, for them to reach their maximum potential as members of society.” The AHM 2017 annual report says that over 6500 individuals sought services from AHM-Youth, and over 1900 pounds of drugs were gathered at Take Back events over the previous five years. One Columbia parent noted that the AHM Summery Youth Theater program, which has been running for 35 years, had many positive effects on her daughter. IT was a place where “positive self-esteem and team-building skills” were applied, leading to new friendships and a positive outlook despite a recent diagnosis of Lyme disease.

There is also an AHM Social Worker based at the Horace Porter School two days each week providing mental health intervention services and positive youth development activities, such as: Play Ground Mentors, several different Leadership and Service Clubs, Internet Safety Presentations for students and parents, Reaching for Respect and most recently, a Let’s Get Outside Club. Columbia is not a full partner, according to the Willimantic Chronicle, along with Andover, Hebron and Marlborough, and instead “chooses from a ‘menu’ of services.” But most of the programs are offered to Columbia residents, but they must go to the Hebron office. But the individual and family counseling is available to Columbia residents, and other offerings include “a program through which youth ages 15 and older can assist senior citizens with chores, including house and yard work, and get paid minimum wage for doing so.” Unfortunately, like many other non-profits, AHM recognizes that communities around the state “have been hit hard by budget cuts.” But when towns like Columbia invest in programs like AHM they recognize the powerful work they are doing and their responsibility to their citizens in good times and bad.

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SOCIAL WELFARE Torrington Delivers

For 40 years, city has provided meals to those in need

ost people are aware of Meals on Wheels and the good work they do. For those who don’t know, “Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger.” That important work has been happening in Northwestern Connecticut for over 40 years in Torrington, which is unique amongst Meals on Wheels providers. The city of Torrington provides an invaluable resource in the Sullivan Senior Center for elderly citizens in need of services. From their informational website, it says: “The mission of the Edward E. Sullivan Senior Center is to provide an environment to enhance and enrich the lives of older adults by offering recreational activities, nutrition services, educational and wellness programs and social services to meet the diverse needs of all people. “Health programs are coordinated with local agencies to include full physicals, health and wellness screenings, foot care clinics, in-home assessments, nutrition counseling and flu and pneumonia immunizations. Educational classes and seminars are scheduled to keep people

up to date on the latest information affecting their well-being and to teach foreign language and develop computer skills. Volunteer opportunities are numerous and contribute to the overall socialization within the center and community.” The Meals on Wheels program is unique in that Torrington funds the program as a municipality through nearly $1.5 million in state and federal grants. Quoted in a Register Citizen of Torrington piece, director Joel Sekorski says nearly 400 people receive upwards of 700 meals every day. In addition to getting citizens unable to cook for themselves the proper nutrition, the program is a check on the vulnerable among us, making sure they are in good health and able to live alone. On the Torrington website, they provide testimonials from those who have taken advantage of this service, which is naturally glowing. Ross and Drusilla, for instance, said, “We are grateful for the healthy hot

meals your organization provided after Drusilla had an unexpected hospitalization. She was able to rest instead of planning meals, shopping, preparing food and cleaning up. Just knowing we were going to get two healthy, satisfying meals a piece each day helped keep us from feeling overwhelmed which also helped in her recovery. It was a treat to meet your drivers when they delivered the meals as they unfailingly had a friendly smile and something cheerful to say.” The program, which has been running since nearly the beginning of the Meals on Wheels foundation (which was founded in 1974), is a necessary lifeline for Senior Citizens. The program is available to all homebound seniors regardless of income. They must be sixty years of age or older with a doctor’s recommendation, and their spouses and disabled dependents are also eligible. There is a suggested donation of $5.00 a day for two meals.

Like most municipalities, you want grants, you need grants, but you’re not sure how to get grants. Let us help.

For additional information, contact Andy Merola, (203) 498-3056 | amerola@ccm-ct.org.

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SOCIAL WELFARE Wearing Pink To Show Strength Westport Police support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

ur police forces are there to serve and protect, they uphold the peace, and keep everyone safe. Connecticut is one of the safest states in the union (number 6 according to WalletHub.com), and Governor Malloy just announced a major reduction in crime for 2017. The police force is one of the bedrocks of American society, and will sometimes go above and beyond for their municipalities. Westports police force is one example, and they did so by spending the entire month of October wearing pink. The Westport Police Department released a statement saying that they would be participating in the Pink Patch Project for the month of October, which is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many people will be familiar with the pink ribbons associated with the Susan G. Komen For The Cure; the Pink Patch Project works on the same principle. It is, according to their Facebook page, “an innovative public awareness campaign designed to bring attention to the fight against breast cancer and to support breast cancer research organizations in combating this devastating disease.” “At the Pink Patch Project, we have the simple goal of in-

creasing awareness about the life-saving benefits of early detection and intervention in the fight against breast cancer. In addition to our public education efforts, we have the added goal of raising funds from the sale of Pink Patch Project items to go directly to fund the research, treatment and education needed to help find a cure.” The Westport Police Department release said “wearing pink patches on our uniform is intended to stimulate conversations with the community during our daily contacts with them and to encourage discussion with the public.” This collaboration consists of 2675 police departments around the country who feel the same way. “From October 1st-31st, we will be selling the patches to the public as a fundraiser for $10 each at the Westport Police Department, 50 Jesup Road, Westport, CT. The proceeds will be donated to Pink Aid of Westport. Those who purchase our Pink Patch can tag the Westport Police Department Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter.” Hopefully you won’t see too many cops in the month of October (see page 39 for our story on distracted driving), but if you do and they’re wearing a pink patch, thank them for supporting a great cause!

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NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 43

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

Putting The System To The Fullest Use Seymour Implements Data Saving Measures

e are barely three decades since the mass adoption of the internet, and there are many for whom a dial-up modem will strike up feelings of nostalgia. In this short time, the internet has gone mobile with WiFi and Smartphones and put in everything from watches to refrigerators. But with this growing technology, there is a greater chance of using the platform to commit crimes known generally as cyberattacks. These attacks have hit major department stores, credit rating bureaus, and social media networks; exposing people’s sensitive data. For municipalities, this is certainly a frightening prospect, but there are measures to be taken. Seymour’s public schools decided to take a precautionary step to protect their student’s data by teaming up with Palo Alto Networks. After consulting with an IT adviser and Palo Alto Networks partner Digital BackOffice, Seymour gained a full picture of the vulnerability of their old system which had become obsolete, a symptom of the rapidly changing world of technology rather than a school system that had lagged behind. The picture that was painted suggested that upwards of 43,000 vulnerabilities were being passed through the existing firewall and being caught by Palo Alto Networks’ Next Generation Firewall. This includes 57 high-risk applications that could introduce ransomware, and threats from virtually every corner of the world. According to a press release, Rob Dyer, the director of technology for the school system, and Kurt Miller, the first selectman, decided that the report was enough. Miller noted in the release that “the report was written in such a way that a lay person could read it and see there was a problem. […] We simply had to find a way to fund the next-generation firewall and stop those attacks.” Dyer said in that same statement, “what we saw was very eye-opening. […] With the Complimentary Security Lifecycle Review, we suddenly could see how big a target we really were. It was clear we needed to take action.” The solution: “an integrated approach to security that was cloud-connected to stay current with definitions and updates and enable real-time threat prevention.” For him, that meant signing up with Palo Alto Networks. Even with increased security, the town and school sys-

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tem found ways to save money by merging the school system and town networks to use the same infrastructure. Palo Alto Networks then went in to the back end of the system, and configured it to have “two instances” or two full systems sharing the firewall, but keeping the traffic separate. The effects of the new firewall were immediate, with Dyer saying that they were able to identify infected computers that were trying to ping outside sites. Being able to pinpoint those computers, were able to reconfigure them, freeing up bandwith, and ultimately preventing a large scale attack from effecting their computers or having their computers be used to attack other networks. In addition to cleaning up infected computers on day one, the new system allowed Seymour to stop the attacks before they happened. The firewall filters out malicious content, and blocks out applications that “would never be used legitimately by the school system or town.” Preventing a malicious app from downloading at all, the system reduces the risk once again that a bug will bounce internally from computer to computer, or that that bug could get on the system to begin with. The safety that the enhanced firewall has brought to the town and school system is certainly priceless, but as Palo Alto Networks said in the release, “through consolidation and cooperation, Dyer and Miller found a way to use resource sharing to gain efficiencies that enabled these important investments even with a very tight budget.” “If you truly value your data, you do a security review like we did and find out just how vulnerable your infrastructure is. That clear evidence makes it much easier to convince stakeholders to make the necessary investment,” Dyer said. “But, you still have to find the money. By merging infrastructure for our two organizations, we reduced the cost burden substantially within our individual budgets.” Miller added: “The Palo Alto Networks platform has brought us a secure, efficient infrastructure that enables our employees to be more effective and productive, and through our resource-sharing approach, with very small net impact on our budget. If you compare how far we’ve come to our actual cost, it’s been worth every penny.”

TECHNOLOGY The Digital Bulletin Board: Connecting to your citizens in the 21st century

ocial Media isn’t something that is particularly new when you think about it. Societies have always found ways to share information quickly throughout their village, town, city or what have you. The position of Town Crier, Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride, the local newspaper, and television have all been ways for people to disseminate information quickly. Far from one if by land, when Facebook opened its doors to everyone on September 26, 2006, you can let people know exactly what you were doing through a status update. Twitter was essentially a ticker tape for the modern age, brief messages, often in shorthand because of the limited characters. Instagram a bulletin board. What has changed is the personalized touch you could put on the message, the speed with which the message can spread, and the ability to connect with people in their homes without having to bring in a tricorne hat and bell. You put up a status update, tweet, or Instagram and, as long as you don’t have your page set to private, any of your followers could see what you have to say. If they found it interesting or pertinent, it could be shared to their friends. Studies show that views grow exponentially if it is shared by enough people. These platforms have far reaching effects for municipalities that decide to adopt strong social media presences. They can brand a city, showcase positive stories for media, announce town meetings, post public service announcements, foster conversations amongst residents, generally help CEOs connect with their constituents, and even let us know if the British are coming in an extraordinarily unlikely situation. Here are a few stories about towns and cities that have successfully adopted social media platforms.

We’re Not In Kansas Anymore For all the extreme weather that Connecticut gets, you’d think we’d be ready for anything. We have weathered blizzards, hurricanes, and heat waves, but the one weather pattern that catches nutmeggers off guard is the tornado. Maybe it’s because of the Wizard of Oz, but the typical tornado happens in the Midwest. As a matter of fact, Connecticut averages one or fewer per year while stretches of Texas and Oklahoma can see upwards of nine per year. So when a rash of tornadoes hit Connecticut on May 15, no one was expecting the damage to be as severe as it ended up being. But that didn’t prevent Curt Leng of Hamden from being on top of the storm, letting his constituents know what was going on with the emergency response and clean-up. When it was confirmed

to be a tornado, he went right to Facebook to let people know what had happened, and that there appeared to be no serious injuries. Many of his followers thanked him for his continued updates, urging others to “be kind and patient,” and also praising town employees for their “outstanding job of dealing with this weather event that brought areas of Hamden to its knees.” His efforts earned him a write-up in on CTnewsjunkie.com, where they lauded his ability to quickly and effectively post “scores of updates on road closings, power outages, school closings, emergency center openings, police and fire updates.” His efforts have not stopped in the days and weeks after the tornado. In June, Leng was updating Hamden residents on the Public Works department progcontinues on 46

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TECHNOLOGY ress to clean up the storm debris, the efforts being made to restore Sleeping Giant park, and in October about a bill that Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro have announced that will end the “harmful and unnecessary ban on federal disaster relief aid to homeowners for fallen trees and debris.”

Hear Ye, Hear Ye One of the most obvious uses of social media is to be like a bulletin board for your municipality. Notices of upcoming events, informational notices, and the like all have a place on your Twitter or Facebook feeds as an easy way to reach citizens who don’t have the time or need to get into Town Hall. This is a social media hack that anyone can use, and one that Derrik Kennedy, Town Manager of Mansfield has been using to his advantage. He tweets and retweets information about his town left and right, often more than once a day. On his twitter feed he gets out the information on job openings in town hall and for businesses located in Mansfield. But one of the things that a bulletin board couldn’t quite do is get input from the local residents. In early October 2018, Kennedy put a survey out on his Twitter feed to get survey responses from townspeople on new draft logos. From the press release, they are looking to develop a “comprehensive position and marketing plan to create a distinct identity for Mansfield and position it as a great place to live, do business, work, learn, play, and visit.” And once that branding is finalized, you can be sure that the town and Kennedy will be sharing the new logo on social media. Kennedy summed it up nicely in a comment to CT&C: “Each department that uses social media will hit a different segment of the population. We also like and retweet our different department users so that those non-congruent populations can see what all aspects of the town are doing. We try our best to use social

media not as just a “this is what’s coming up” method, but also to tell our story: what are we doing, what should you expect, what’s interesting around town, what should you be aware of. Sometimes it relates to local government, sometimes it doesn’t, and that’s okay. A social media personality is okay.”

Computer Side Chats Quite a bit has changed since FDR first gave his revolutionary Fire Side Chat. Never before had a sitting president reached as many people as he did, and he helped the citizens of America through the Depression and World War II. These chats have continued on down through the years with recent presidents taking to YouTube instead of AM radio waves. This trend has seen its way all the way down to the municipal leader, and one of the best to do it is Erin Stewart of New Britain.

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Stewart routinely takes to Facebook to livestream meetings and messages. The product was introduced just two years ago by Facebook, but since the company has made it a priority on their Newsfeed (essentially the homepage of each user, separate from their profile), it has become a very popular method of filming updates. Stewarts include short updates and longer common council meetings that can be upwards of 30 minutes. One of the most popular videos on her page was the 2017 New Britain Year in Review. In the video, she highlighted many of the successes the town had seen over the year in a short recap. New businesses, the growing grand list, new playgrounds and skate parks, money raised for charity, and many, many other accomplishments that the town wanted to share with its residents and on behalf of its residents to let them know what was going on.

TECHNOLOGY

Another Side of Local Politics One of the greatest effects that social media has had was the humanizing halo that social media can put on a person. In larger cities, CEOs can take on huge personas, the Daleys and LaGuardias of the world. But it’s important to remember that even though they are busy running towns and cities, they are still people like us. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has taken the social media experience to the next level to great effect. Speaking to Taylor O’Brien, Danbury’s social media expert (official title Public Relations Coordinator), she noted the great success the Mayor has had: Mayor Boughton’s accounts differ greatly from the City of Danbury social media accounts. The Mayor is able to be personable on social media. People know who they are speaking to when they interact with his posts. He is active on Twitter, where residents are able to ask the Mayor questions in real-time. After his years of engaging so openly with the community, people feel very comfortable reaching out to him this way. Because these are the Mayor’s personal accounts, he can livetweet a TV show, but he also gets to live-tweet real things that are happening in the city, like a water main break or school delays/closings.

“Twitter is the quickest way to spread information, so by being able to gain that following, he can make sure that necessary information is widespread throughout the city. When a bear had to be rescued from a tree in 2013, the Mayor coined us as “Danbeary” and people still use that term whenever a bear is spotted. While this was trending for its humor, it also let people know what was going on.” Social Media is simply the latest and greatest way to spread information, the town crier, the local newspaper, the Town Hall bulletin board, and your municipalities Twitter feed or Facebook page. O’Brien noted that she finds “that the requests we receive on social media make it almost simpler to interact with the resident and solve their issue or address their concerns. When someone calls our office, they don’t have the accessibility of sending photos to describe their issue and they usually will have to receive a call back if the problem isn’t something we can answer right away. Leaving a message for a resident on the phone is not as simple as typing that message back to them online.” Many CEOs around the state are using social media to the benefit of their citizens, and it’s easy, all you have to do is turn on, plug in, and get connected.

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Connecticut Town & City - November 2018

Articles inside

The Digital Bulletin Board

We Want the Airwaves

What Exactly Are Fiscal Notes?

Governor-Elect Ned Lamont Wins Tough Job