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

December 2020

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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

Inside this issue...

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

National Racial Equity Panel

Brandon Robertson, Town Manager of Avon

CCM elects new President

John Salomone, Town Manager of Norwich

CCM CARES

Michael Passero, Mayor of New London

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

CCM & Dalio Education

GIS Consortium

Sustainable CT

CIRMA News

Town News

Mark D. Boughton, Mayor of Danbury Herbert C. Rosenthal, Former First Selectman of Newtown HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS Leo Paul, Jr., Former First Selectman of Litchfield CCM STAFF

OUTCOMES MATTER. TRUST IS EARNED.

Executive Director, Joe DeLong Deputy Director, Ron Thomas

Managing Editor, Kevin Maloney Layout & Design, Matthew Ford Writer, Christopher Gilson

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DECEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 3

Achieving Racial Equity

National experts discuss local opportunities

ourage, understanding, cooperation – as our nation mourns the tragic loss of American’s like George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, whose deaths sparked national protests and calls for change - CCM’s CARES forums began to ask what it will take to make permanent changes to systems that have upheld racism for centuries. In the final 2020 CCM CARES Forum and as the main event in our annual convention, CCM invited a national panel of thought-provoking experts to tackle precisely that.

As discussed in the CCM CARES regional panels, the answer is that it’s going to take hard work, it’s going to take understanding of our systems and their outcomes, and it’s going to take courageous leaders to not only speak the truth say that we know something is wrong and it must change.

Nearly 400 viewers watched our panelists, Bree Newsome Bass, Betsy Hodges, Wes Moore, and Tim Wise, moderated by Clarence Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities, live on Zoom to discuss topics ranging from the disproportionate impacts of COVID on minorities, funding in public education, and responding to those who say that this isn’t a problem in their community. Another 2,000 people viewed the event on Facebook Live.

“Racism isn’t an act, it’s a system,” Moore said, and systems are made up of people. Local leaders, he argues, have the ability and responsibility to look to their communities, ask how we should address these systems and what obstacles do we have to overcome especially in terms of economic disparity and poverty.

One of the first questions discussed was whether or not we were at a tipping point – and the answer was both a yes and a no. Tim Wise said, yes, this could be seen as a tipping point in the same way that the Civil War was a tipping point and the Civil Rights Act was a tipping point. But also no, white America’s default position is “hitting the snooze button” on progress. This sentiment was paralleled by Betsy Hodges who said that white people probably aren’t at a tipping point, but that an aperture had been opened, one that shines a light on the fact that systemic racism has actually held all of us back. “I think a larger number than before of white people can see that maybe something’s wrong with how we’ve set things up, that the systems are actually failing white people enormously,” she says, “Really the comparison is how are white people doing in a world without racism.” Those structural problems are overwhelmed by a global pandemic and economic crisis – issues that can’t be addressed without addressing racism according to Bree Newsome Bass. Raising the sentiments of Martin Luther King, Jr., it’s not merely about “let’s integrate people who have been marginalized by the current system,” for Newsome Bass, “the current system has to change.” And fixing the problems at the root of our society’s ills is no easy task. Wes Moore asks us to question whether or not actions today are performative, whether we are doing something that is “2020 effective” or will actually change the way we evaluate every single decision we make from a legislative perspective.

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“This is not the first time we have been here,” Newsome Bass said, “So there’s no guarantee that we resolve these issues, it will only happen if we are deliberate and intentional about trying to resolve them.”

Wise noted that in regards to the NIMBYs and Hands-Off groups that “somebody’s hands are on those schools, somebody’s hands are doing that to people who are not in the community.” There’s a problem of normativity and framing that prevents people from seeing just what it is they are doing. “When these white folks try to stop the equalization of resources or the sharing of resources and hoard these resources to ourselves,” Wise said, “It’s not just that we do injustice to others, we’re not helping ourselves.” Betsy Hodges shared words of experience as a former local leader herself on doing the work: “If you’re a white elected official in particular, often white people feel like we don’t know what to do. There’s a part of the whiteness that we get socialized into feeling completely ignorant about race and completely hopeless and discouraged about being able to do anything about it. […] You know more than you think you know; what policies would make a difference. If you don’t know, you have some ideas about where you could get those ideas; there’s national organizations, you could ask Bree, ask Wes, they know what policy changes would help at the municipal level.” The first step is the conversation, but moderator Clarence Anthony closed with an important note: “this is the start of a conversation, it’s the start of the journey, but we don’t have all that time [..] I don’t want any of us to have this conversation three to five years from now and still be saying the same things.” As Joe DeLong, Executive Director and CEO of CCM noted at the very end of the panel, while this may be the end of this discussion with our experts from around the nation, it’s still the beginning of the work needed to be done in the coming weeks and months, and even years ahead.

Tim Wise is one of America’s best known anti-racist speakers and authors. He was named one of Utne Reader’s magazines “25 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World.” One of his nine books is “White Like Me,” which tackles his experiences with white privilege and was made into a feature-length documentary. He has trained teachers, corporate employees, non-profit organizations, and law enforcement officers in methods for addressing and dismantling racism in their institutions.

Moderator Clarence Anthony is CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities (NLC). Under his leadership, NLC has advanced policies that expand local control and provide direct funding for local programs related to public safety, infrastructure, transportation, and sustainability.

Bree Newsome Bass, is an American activist who drew national attention when she removed the confederate flag from the South Carolina Capitol building after the 9 Black parishioners were killed at the AME Zion Church. In recognition of her Civil Rights work she was named to the Root 100 and the Ebony 100, and also won the NAACP Image Award – Chairman’s Award given to individuals who demonstrate exemplary public service and use their platforms as agents of change.

Betsy Hodges, in addition to being the former mayor of Minneapolis, was a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics and Atlantic fellow on Race Equity. She also wrote a widely read op-ed, “As Mayor of Minneapolis, I Saw How White Liberals Block Change,” for The New York Times this summer. Hodges met with Pope Francis in 2015 to discuss climate change and human trafficking. She was one of eight mayors and leaders from cities from around the world to be invited for the discussion.

Wes Moore, a decorated US Army Veteran, is the New York Timesbestselling author of “The Other Wes Moore,” a Rhodes Scholar, and a fellow to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. He is now the CEO of Robin Hood, one of the largest anti-poverty organizations in the nation. Moore is also a contributor to various publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The New York Times, and many others. He has also made appearances on Face the Nation, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, and Real Time with Bill Maher.

DECEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 5

Capitol Mayor To Lead CCM

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin elected president at CCM Convention

uke A. Bronin, entering his sixth year as Mayor of Hartford, has been elected President of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) for 2021. His election took place at CCM’s 2020 statewide convention, held virtually in early December; he is the first Hartford Mayor elected to lead CCM. He will begin his year-long tenure as CCM President beginning January 2. During his time as Mayor, he has been a leading advocate for greater regional cooperation, for broader recognition of the role that cities play in driving economic development and growth, and across a wide range of policy areas including criminal justice, housing, transportation, education and workforce development, and more. Mayor Bronin has also been a strong advocate for addressing Connecticut’s overreliance on the property tax to fund local governments, and helped lead the development of CCM’s bipartisan “This Is Different” report in 2017. Bronin served as CCM 1st Vice President in 2020, participating in the full range of CCM’s state-local legislative issues, helping assess Governor Lamont’s executive orders on cities and towns, and other key CCM issues, including the CCM CARES regional forums on racial equity, working to help bridge the digital divide, and participating in the CCM Task Force to Prevent Homelessness. “CCM has become a powerful advocate not only for municipalities, but for a stronger, more equitable Connecticut, and I’m looking forward to working with municipal leaders from across our state during this pivotal time,” said Mayor Bronin. “If we’re going to recover from this unprecedented public health crisis and the economic pain that has come with it, we need to work together – cities, suburbs, and small towns alike – and CCM has an important role to play in fostering that partnership.” “Mayor Bronin will be a leading player for CCM members in helping

Carl P. Fortuna, Jr., First Selectman of Old Saybrook* Laura Francis, First Selectman of Durham Joseph P. Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport Barbara M. Henry, First Selectman of Roxbury Matthew Hoey, First Selectman of Guilford John L. Salomone, City Manager, Norwich Laura Hoydick, Mayor of Stratford Catherine Iino, First Selectwoman of Killingworth to push state legislative action on local revenue diversification, cost containment efforts through mandates relief, and greater regional service sharing among towns,” noted Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director and CEO. “CCM is very fortunate to have such an experienced Mayor to lead our member communities in 2021. He is well-respected on both sides of the political aisle at both the state and local levels and will play a key role in forging consensus on important state-local issues during the 2021 General Assembly session. “We look forward to Mayor Bronin leading CCM as we work closely with Governor Lamont and the General Assembly to enact the key state-local legislation needed for property tax paying residents and businesses across Connecticut.”

The full Board of Officers and Directors for 2021: President Luke A. Bronin, Mayor of Hartford 1st Vice President Jayme J. Stevenson, First Selectman of Darien 2nd Vice President Thomas Dunn, Mayor of Wolcott

Directors Elinor Carbone, Mayor of Torrington Justin Elicker, Mayor of New Haven John A. Elsesser, Town Manager of Coventry

6 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | DECEMBER 2020

Matthew S. Knickerbocker, First Selectman of Bethel Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor of East Hartford Curt Leng, Mayor of Hamden Rudolph P. Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield W. Kurt Miller, Chief Fiscal Officer, Ansonia Edmond V. Mone, First Selectman of Thomaston* Michael Passero, Mayor of New London Brandon Robertson, Town Manager of Avon Scott Shanley, General Manager of Manchester Erin E. Stewart, Mayor of New Britain Mark B. Walter, Town Administrator of Columbia

*New Director

Past Presidents Susan S. Bransfield, First Selectwoman of Portland Mark D. Boughton, Mayor of Danbury Michael Freda, First Selectman of North Haven Neil O’Leary, Mayor of Waterbury Herbert Rosenthal, Former First Selectman of Newtown

They Are the Municipal Champions

Four attorneys honored for their work on pandemic executive orders

he Connecticut Conference of Municipalities honored four Connecticut attorneys as CCM’s “Municipal Champions” for 2020 at CCM’s recent statewide convention for their extensive work on a wide range of Executive Orders from the Governor that impacted local governments since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The CCM convention took place virtually this year from December 1 through 3 for the local leaders of Connecticut’s 169 towns and cities. The four honorees are Attorney Claire Coleman, Undersecretary for Legal Affairs for the State Office of Policy and Management (OPM), Attorney Steven Mednick, Attorney Kari Olson, Partner with Murtha Cullina, and Attorney Rich Roberts, Partner with Halloran Sage. “CCM’s 2020 Municipal Champions showed outstanding service and commitment to Connecticut towns and cities,” said Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director and CEO. “They put in countless hours on the complex issues related to over 80 Executive Orders from the Governor and worked tirelessly behind the scenes with CCM and our member municipal leaders over the last 10 months.” Attorney Claire Coleman, Undersecretary for Legal Affairs for the State Office of Policy and Management (OPM) plays an instrumental role in reviewing and advising on a wide range of legal, policy and budgetary issues that are critical to OPM’s mission in Connecticut, and has worked closely with staff from OPM and the Office of the Governor to issue Executive Orders to help ensure towns have the legal authority to properly respond to and function during the COVID-19 pandemic. Melissa McCaw, Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, said “Coleman and the other attorneys deserve strong praise for their meticulous work on the executive orders and the highly effective role they played as liaisons with CCM and Connecticut municipal leaders.” “Each of the attorneys noted that it was rewarding working with local leaders and CCM,” said DeLong. “They emphasized that it showed how state and local government can work together. Their work played a critical role in guiding municipal leaders on local government services and public meetings since the COVID-19 pandemic descended on Connecticut in March.”

Attorney Steven Mednick’s practice concentrates on governmental-related transactions for economic development, school construction, land use and zoning; municipal governance regarding charter revision and structural reform; commercial financial transactions and technology procurement representation for the public and private sector. Kari Olson, Partner, Murtha Cullina, is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department and chair of the firm’s Municipal and Land Use practice groups. She concentrates her practice in municipal law and land use litigation. She represents municipalities and their agencies, boards and commissions in all matters of municipal concern and governance, as well as all types of litigation.

Rich Roberts, Partner, Halloran Sage, represents municipalities in the full range of legal needs. He provides legal counsel to towns on real estate acquisitions and sales, land use, charter revisions, drafting and review of ordinances, FOIA, elections and property tax issues.

DECEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 7

CCM Regional Race Equity Forums

Getting comfortable with uncomfortable conversations about race

onversations on racial equity are not easy undertakings – acknowledging the systemic differences experienced by people of color in America can be uncomfortable, especially for those who are the beneficiaries of those inequities. But over the spring and summer, it became clear that many were ready for those uncomfortable conversations. Over the course of four evenings in October, CCM held the CARES panel discussions with state, local, and community leaders throughout the state. CARES stands for Communities Advancing Racial Equity Series, because of the understanding that change starts at home. Each discussion lasted 90 minutes covering topics such as policing, local public education, public health, and affordable housings. The panelists included not only municipal leaders, but faith leaders and community organizers as well to bring the fullest understanding of how racial inequities affect Connecticut residents. “Over the spring and summer and into fall, America was confronted once again by the ugly truth that systemic racism persists throughout our society,” said Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director and CEO. “The effects of systemic racism have consequences in housing, education, health, public safety, wealth, and nearly every other part of daily life – in fact, race is still the number one predictor of success and well-being in our country.” Each event was kicked off with a video clip of preeminent American writer James Baldwin, who asked “how long must I wait for your progress?” This set up each panel to think not only about discussing the inequities that are there today, but how we can erase them tomorrow. The series was broadcast via Zoom and Facebook Live in order to reach as many people as possible. Over 400 people responded joined the discussions live on Zoom, while nearly 7000 individuals watched on social media. In stark contrast to

many events that are held via social media, the chats and comments were overwhelmingly positive and polite throughout, with zero interruptions. And as each panel concluded, DeLong asked the panel to think about a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”: “First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom.” In line with Baldwin’s quote that kicked off the panels, King’s letter asks how do we keep stalling on progress. The discussions held during the CARES forums were necessary to identify where stumbling blocks are, but they are not the solutions in and of themselves. A conversation is only just a beginning. “This is work,” DeLong said in the fourth and final panel in October.

8 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | DECEMBER 2020

“This is people in the community being a willing to come together and engage in this very important work collectively across the state to make Connecticut what we all want it to be and believe that it should be.” On December 3, as part of the CCM Convention, that work will continue. CCM will host another panel under the CARES banner with Clarence Anthony, Executive Director of the National League of Cities, Betsy Hodges, a former Mayor of Minneapolis, and the writers Wes Moore and Tim Wise. This national panel is not the end of the work for CCM either. We have created the CCM Board of Directors Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in order to continue to have these conversations internally. And as COVID restrictions begin to lift, we intend to bring these conversations to the people. People whose voices might not get heard on a daily basis, or didn’t even know how powerful their voices can be. No one person can speak for all of Connecticut. That is why we must come together as a community, to discuss and work, to make that progress that James Baldwin and Dr. King dreamed of long ago. To make Connecticut a better place for every individual. All of the CCM CARES discussions are on Facebook if you missed them, so be sure to check out our website, CCMCARES.com for more information.

On Systemic Racism: Historically people don’t realize there was coordinated efforts from law enforcement history medicine all which created the norm of white life as the center of universe and Black and Brown life as somehow diminished from that and so fighting that meaning means that we’re fighting the normative of white culture and the assumption that white culture ought to be the normative in the center of the conversation -Pastor Bennett, Mt. Aery Baptist Church

On Public Education: I am for public education that’s going to benefit everyone - When black and Brown students see teachers that look like them, when black and Brown students see instructors that look like them, when black and Brown students see counselors that look like them. When black and Brown students understand that we care about your success that means if it’s food that you need we’re going to provide that, that means that this housing that you need we’re going to provide that, that means if it’s counting that you need we’re going to provide that. When they understand that we are concerned about their success, not being able to take a test, but truly being educated so that you can be successful so that you can change the generation, I believe that that’s where true change will start. - Mayor DeBeatham-Brown, Bloomfield

On Healthcare Access: I think even though there is a lot of quote unquote access in the community there isn’t access because a lot of providers come into the community and they say but we don’t take this insurance, we don’t take that insurance, we only want you to pay out of pocket or we only take certain commercial insurance. There will be plenty of providers in the area in our community but they can’t they won’t see anyone from the area because they don’t take the insurance so there is still a lack of access even though there are medical and dental offices within walking distance in our communities in New Haven

- Dr. Darnell Young, Pediatric Dentist

On Funding Problems: because it’s taken decades but they’ve pushed us all into one little 5 square mile an area that they’ve walled us off and we’re being starved for opportunity and resources and what we do the saddest part is then every year in the annual appropriation process we fight amongst ourselves like it’s our problem we’re fighting amongst ourselves; do we pay for our children? do we pay for our public safety? do we pay for our roads? what do we pay for? You know and for the leader of the community, the City Council, it’s agonizing because we have the scraps and we just add it all up and it’s not enough money to pay for it all so everything gets cheated including our children. - Mayor Passero, New London DECEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 9

Bulletins For State Legislative Candidates

CCM Candidate Bulletins lay out municipal issues for State policy makers

hile the nation turned its eyes to the presidential election, CCM made sure to keep its sights on the State elections that are the foundation of our Policy and Advocacy relationships. In the leadup to the election, we published four candidate bulletins, introducing our organization to the state legislative candidates and our positions on three key topics, Unfunded Mandates, Regionalism in Connecticut, and Connecticutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Overreliance on the Property Tax.

Regionalism is not something that everyone agrees on all the time, but we can agree that as we move into the future, there are limitations to even strong economies. Regionalism has proven to be effective in improving efficiencies, containing costs, and improving service quality through inter-local collaboration and service sharing.

In these crucial documents we laid out just what we stood for. CCM shares the best practices and objective research to help our local leaders govern wisely. We advocate at the state level for issues affecting property taxpayers and pool our buying power to negotiate more cost-effect services for our communities. This results in work that is both tested and collective. With 169 different towns, there are many different opinions, and as we work on our policy stances, you know that the positions we land on are working to making our towns and cities better for every resident. To making our state an attractive place to both live and work. Part of the solution is to remove any undue burden on our towns and cities. A cornerstone of CCMs work, fighting unfunded mandates is a constant concern for us. That means relief from mandates already on the books and stopping or mitigating any new mandates from being passed each year.

These are ideas worth exploring, and ones that we hope elected state officials will look into. CCMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success is built on a strong foundation of thinking outside the box, developing quality proposals with input from members whose opinions are not a monolith. CCMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only goal is to improve the everyday life for every resident of the state of Connecticut.

C A N D IDAT E B U L L E T IN :

Unfunded mandates are a key reason why Connecticut municipalities rely so heavily on the property tax. Towns and cities are responsible for providing the majority of public services, and when these mandates are unfunded, then there is only one place for municipalities to turn to raise revenue. But this is unsustainable. Fully funding PILOT and ECS would help, allowing revenue diversification would too. One area where you could diversify revenue collection is in sales tax. While an individual city tax might inhibit economic growth, but operating them on a regional basis utilizing the COG system already in place would not have that same detrimental effect.

10 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | DECEMBER 2020

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CCM Energy is a multi-service program that helps CCM-member municipalities, their school systems, including all regional school districts, and local public agencies save money on annual energy-related costs. CCM Energy: • Reduces the cost of electricity and natural gas through strategic competitive energy purchasing • Competitively procures long-term Power Purchase Agreements for Solar PV and Virtual Net Metering • Assists municipalities with the purchase, maintenance, and upgrade of streetlights to LED technology • Provides owner’s representation service for: Energy Saving Performance Contracting Projects Municipal Microgrid Projects

Contact Andy Merola: 203 498-3056, or amerola@ccm-ct.org for additional information.

DECEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 11

CCM Certifies Connecticut Officials The open enrollment for 2020 is open through January 1

his year, perhaps more than ever, it was necessary for municipal officials to stay up-to-date, work collaboratively, solve problems, build partnerships, and work across political and organizational boundaries. That is where CCM’s Certified Connecticut Municipal Official Program comes in.

tion to End Homelessness, CT Department of Housing, COST, HRRA, and many more. Over the course of this year, officials from 167 out of 169 municipalities participated in the CCMO program which went entirely virtual after March, and over 80 new officials signed up to become certified. This adds to the 80 individuals who have become certified in just the first two years of this program.

CE R

T CU

A Connecticut Certified Municipal Official, or CCMO for short, is a person who understands how difficult many of the tasks ahead of them CONNE ED CT FI are, that specialized skills and knowledge I TI are a must. CCM organizes trainings and workshops in developmental categories like Personal Development, Organizational Development, and Community Development to build those skills.

CCMO

This year we are bringing that total to over 100 certified officials at the annual convention when 35 officials graduate from the CCMO program.

This year, CCM not only pivoted quickly to providing the workshops online, but also added a host of new trainings that directly related to the COVID crisis. Partners have included SustainableCT, AdvanceCT, the Office of the Treasurer, PURA, the Connecticut Coali-

In order to become certified, a municipal official must complete 36 hours of study within two years of signing up for the program and at least two workshops within each developmental category. Scheduled this year were well over 60 trainings on topics like Cyber Security, Public Finance, Waste Management, and the Municipal Employee Relations Act, meaning that the most enterprising individuals can complete the certification process in just one year.

The enrollment period for 2021 began on November 1 and ends on December 31 for a January 1 start U I NI date, meaning you have just a few IC CIP F AL OF days to enroll in this program to get a head start on next year. If you miss this deadline for any reason, you can always sign up for the July date. Enrollment is easy, just visit the CCM Membership Portal, click on the home tab and click “Apply for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official.” For questions about the program contact our CCM Training team at 203498-3037, or email at ccmtraining@ccm-ct.org. More than ever, 2020 proved that municipal officials need to be prepared for whatever is thrown at them. The CCMO program provides the training and expertise so that you aren’t ever left behind.

CCM Job Bank

Current Listings: Public Works Manager PRESTON

Director of Public Works CITY OF GROTON Construction Building Inspector STAMFORD Finance Manager / Treasurer MANSFIELD

“A little bird told me about a job you might be interested in.” Jobs posted to CCM’s Job Bank can also be found on twitter @CCM_ForCT

To place or view an ad, please visit www.ccm-ct.org/current-job-postings

12 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | DECEMBER 2020

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

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Dr. Kemp provides national professional police consulting and speaking services on evolving police-community programs. Some of these topics include state-of-the-art practices in these dynamic and evolving fields: • Citizen Advisory Police Commissions • Citizen Police Commissions • Citizen Police Academies • Citizen Police Committees • City Council Police Committees • Coffee With A Cop Programs • Neighborhood Police Offices • Neighborhood Police Officers

• Pizza With The Police Programs • Police Bicycle Patrols • Police Community Forums • Police Financial Controls • Police Recruitment Practices • Police Walking Patrols • School Resource Offices • Youth Police Services

Roger Kemp’s background and professional skills are highlighted on his website. Dr. Kemp was a city manager in politically, economically, socially, and ethnically diverse communities, on both coasts of the United States. He has written and edited nearly 50 books on city subjects, and can speak and consult on them with knowledge of the national best practices in the police-community relations field. Call or e-mail Dr. Kemp for more information.

Dr. Roger L. Kemp • Kemp Consulting, LLC (203) 686-0281

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Because experience & integrity count…

MUNICIPAL CONSULTING SERVICE & Executive Search

Recognizing that hiring the best people requires both a significant investment of time and effort as well as a trusted partner, CCM has added executive recruiting to our Municipal Consulting Service

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

Grant writing and researching • RFP drafting • Project management Operational reviews • Change implementation • Organizational studies Strategic planning • Finance and budgeting • Purchasing Facilities management • Temporary staffing Contact Andy Merola: 203 498-3056, or amerola@ccm-ct.org for additional information. DECEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 13

Futures Made of Virtual Technology CCM’s all-virtual convention did not disappoint

LITIES

CO N N E

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Since we lost the space to network face to face, this year’s convention included roundtable discussions where attendees were able to learn from their peers and shared their innovative ideas with others. Broken down into specialized areas, the roundtables were held on Economic

RENCE O FM

CIRMA worked on two different workshops this year, both crucial in the post-COVID-19 world. The first told municipal officials how to build operational resiliency during times of crisis or potential disruptions in normal business procedures. The second was on “navigating the new era.” There’s no doubt that COVID-19 changed the landscape in ways that will be permanent. CIRMA’s Risk Management team shared their expertise and resources to help you manage the new normal.

FE ON

Many of the workshops held specifically covered topics that were brought to the forefront this year. There were panels on Digital Accessiblity, Economic Development in the COVID-19 Era, and Qualified Immunity.

t the end of a tumultuous year, CCM held our first ever virtual Convention. While the format might have changed, our staff made sure that this is still the best possible convention. Since announcing the pivot to a virtual format, our team put together over a dozen workshops, roundtable topics, and a special CCM CARES race equity forum.

VIRTUAL CONVENTION DECEMBER • 2020

Development, Human Resource Administration, Tax Collectors, Public Works, Health, Affordable Housing, Continuing Education, Municipal Law, Communications and Municipal Online Presence, Town Clerks, Small Town Economic Development, Municipal Recruitment, Municipal Budgets, and Sustainabliity and the Environment. This year’s convention sponsors included CIRMA, Post University, Murtha Cullina, Validas, Halloran Sage, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In addition, our main panel featured national voices on Racial Equity as a continuation of the four local CCM CARES discussions that were held in October. Joining CCM on December 3 was Clarence Anthony,

Executive Director of the National League of Cities, writer Wes Moore, former Mayor of Minneapolis Betsy Hodges, writer Tim Wise, and activist Bree Newsome Bass. They were able to speak to the very important issues that were raised in the local CCM CARES discussions, and they answered thought provoking questions that our community asked in both the Zoom and Facebook chats that time constraints prevented us from getting to. As we’ve said before, we cannot wait to see everyone in person again. This convention was still a crucial resource for municipal officials in every field, and we hope you were as excited to attend as we were to host!

#LoCoolGov

CCM & Post University announce the 2020 scholarship winners

Katherine Pando Lalvay, Grade 8, Broadview Middle School in Danbury, won for her submission, a slideshow titled “Danbury is My Home”.

Victoria Dabrowski, Grade 9, Southington High School won for her submission, a dress entitled “The Spirit of Southington”.

DECEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 15

Enduring Problem Needs Enduring Solution CCM and Dalio Education team up on study with unsurprising outcomes

t is clear that most Connecticut residents would agree that there are disparities in student access to learning tools that have become urgently needed during the pandemic. A report commissioned by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and Dalio Education, written and researched by John Horrigan of the Technology Policy Institute, shows that the problem is most acute in Connecticut’s cities – disproportionately impacting communities of color, students, and older adults. “We have known for a while that the digital divide is a real problem in Connecticut, this report puts a fine point on two key issues that haven’t gotten as much attention,” said Joe DeLong, CCM’s Executive Director. “This problem is felt most acutely in our cities, and it disproportionately impacts communities of color,” he continued, “Given the changes the pandemic has made us adapt to, it is not an exaggeration to say that this is a crisis that must be addressed and addressed now in a way that is enduring and statewide.” One key finding was that around 23% of Connecticut residents do not subscribe to broadband internet. The report found that an even higher 38% of households in major urban areas such as Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, New Britain, and Bridgeport do not subscribe to high-speed internet. Looking at the numbers more closely, the report found that across the state, 35% of Hispanics and 34% of Black residents do not subscribe, and 36% of those below the state’s median income lack home subscriptions. “The stories we started hearing back in March when schools were closed were heartbreaking,” said Barbara Dalio, Founder and Director of Dalio Education. “A single mother working two nursing shifts, then coming home at 11 o’clock, piling her children into a car and driving to a McDonald’s parking lot so the kids could access a Wi-Fi hotspot to try and do their homework. Other kids alone at home, isolated, because their day care center was shut down, adults unable to go online to search for a job or file for unemployment benefits because their Internet connection was inadequate. “We were proud to work with state leaders to contribute more than $19 million to purchase 60,000 laptops and provide child care for some of our health care workers, and thanks to a creative collaboration with Joe, CCM, and local foundations we were able to provide city wide access to Wi-Fi in Hartford and Norwalk. But this crisis is beyond what any one philanthropic organization can address.” In that regard, there are comparisons to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. At the time, certain areas, primarily rural farming communities, were not connected to any sort of electrical grid because of the costs associated with generating power and transferring it to remote areas. 16 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | DECEMBER 2020

The act enabled the federal government to step in and “make loans for rural electrification and the furnishing of electric energy to persons in rural areas,” according to the LivingNewDeal.Org. In the same way that this bill fostered the will to electrify America, there is a need for the State or Federal Government to step in and get high speed broadband internet to these remaining households. And though the focus was on school children during this difficult time, the report showed that inequities in access to broadband will have implications in nearly every regard. Many adults that do not have access to internet will not be able to look for jobs meaningfully when their lifelines like the public library or local coffee shop are closed, and those laid off from their jobs might have difficulty in applying for unemployment benefits. “More needs to be done for an enduring statewide solution,” DeLong said, “Government needs to step in here and make the kind of investment in our digital infrastructure that will permanently level the playing field – for our students and their parents.” This crisis is too urgent to be swept under the rug or pushed to another time. It is not a new problem that Connecticut is facing, and in fact it is not a problem that Connecticut is facing alone but solving it will take new ideas. The COVID-19 pandemic will not be a permanent situation, but the losses faced by those that fall through the cracks now will. This could be a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to eliminate the digital divide in Connecticut and beyond.

Doing Our Share

CCM gives equity distribution of 50% of dues

he leaders and staff of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities watched in awe as our member towns and cities responded to the coronavirus pandemic. It was truly inspiring and is a large part of the reason that Connecticut is a model for our nation. CCM has been there every step of the way, helping where we could. Recognizing the severe fiscal situation, CCM’s Board of Directors decided this past May to give members a one-time equity distribution of 50% of annual dues.

next year, the amount will be issued as a refund check.

All members began receiving dues invoices in June, containing a letter which offered the two following relief options: a) receive a 50% (of dues) “rebate” to be promptly issued to your municipality in the form of a “rebate check”, or b) receive a credit in the amount of 50% of your dues for payment on additional-cost services provided by CCM.

And we know that as this crisis continues on there will be more expenses that remain to be seen.

These additional-cost events, products and services include the CCM Convention, CCM’s Production/Printing Services, Certified CT Municipal Official (CCMO) Program, Drug and Alcohol Testing Consortium, Municipal Consulting Service (and Executive Search), among others. The only caveat is that the full amount of this credit must be used by June 1, 2021 and may not be carried forward into future fiscal years. If there is a balance at that time

We have taken this step because we know that the fiscal situation was and remains unclear, nearly six months after the CARES Act was signed. CCM has fought hard to get that money distributed fairly and equitably to our member towns and cities to cover the unplanned — for expenses related to the coronavirus shutdown. We have also joined forces with the National League of Cities in urging our representatives to allocate more direct funds to towns and cities.

Rest assured, CCM staff will continue working 24/7 for you over the next fiscal year to vigorously support your community as you address the adverse public health, economic, public safety and other key issues that challenge Connecticut municipalities in 2020. Connecticut needs to keep the momentum up that has allowed our state to have one of the most successful responses to the coronavirus pandemic. CCM will continue to do whatever it takes to aid our members not only by providing the same great events, products, and services, but taking measures like this equity distribution.

DECEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 17

Putting Connecticut on the Map

Our GIS Consortium is the tool you didn’t know you needed

unicipal employees don’t know what they don’t know. When we brought on John McKenzie of Flo-Analytics to the Municipal Voice discuss municipal uses of GIS, he argued that there’s so much more that GIS can do now that most people just don’t know about it. Flo-Analytics works with CCM in a GIS Consortium to leverage the collective buying power of our municipal members. GIS has had something of a breakthrough over the last decade or two. Traditionally, information about things like sewer lines or utility poles were drawn onto a physical map that could then be used by officials in planning and zoning, engineering, or public works departments. As computing capabilities have increased, GIS technologies like all others became more complex and ubiquitous. McKenzie notes that if you’ve ever used something as common as Google Maps, you were using a GIS system. IN that case, it used spatial analysis to tell you the best way to go. That kind of analysis has implications in municipal life. One example he gives is snow plow routes. A GIS system can take factors such as school bus routes, high traffic streets, and incorporate that into an analysis similar to what Google Maps does when it gives you an optimal route. All manner of processes are being handled in a high speed manner on modern GIS programs. Notifying areas about upcoming construction used to involve a person manually viewing a paper map, figuring out a radius and compiling parcel data. Now a computer can handle that in a fraction of the time.

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With so many new capabilities in GIS, it’s just a matter of taking them on, which will lead to time savings eventually. The list of services is exhausting and touches nearly every department in a municipality. Not only does this have implications in real time, but processes like capturing a retiring employee’s knowledge, improving asset management over long periods, and opening up data to people who can use it will have far reaching effects for municipalities and their constituents.

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To become part of the consortium, you can contact John McKenzie, Director of Business Development at Flo-Analytics at jmckenzie@flo-analytics.com or Andy Merola, CCM’s Municipal Resource & Program Development Manager at 203-4998-3056 or amerola@ccm-ct.org. 18 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | DECEMBER 2020

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DECEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 19

We Can Change

Josh Geballe of DAS says now is time to reassess the way we do business

here’s an old saying that you can’t change a horse in midstream, and in a place known as the land of steady habits, finding the will to change is just as hard. Speaking at the October Legislative Committee meeting, Josh Geballe, Commisioner of the Department of Administrative Services, said that is precisely what needs to change. “We’re still way behind the times, leveraging technology to make ourselves more efficient,” he said, things that would streamline processes, improve quality of service, and overall reduce costs for the state. With a quarter of the state workforce set to retire in the coming years, there’s a lot of knowledge walking out the door. But instead of forcing the State to stay on the slow and steady path through this transitional period, the state is looking at how it does business with an eye towards reinvention. Important to this process is breaking down silos. Departments don’t do a good job of communicating with each other, working together and sharing information. Breaking down these barriers can lead to improvements in service. Two examples he gives are in Human Resources and Economic Development. The state recently transitioned its human resources across the executive branch into one centralized office. Previously there used to be 25 different agencies each with their own HR departments, he said, but by centralizing, they were able to reduce cost by about 20% without sacrificing specializations in each department. Another is utilizing cloud-based software to streamline economic development. Previously, a person looking to start a business would have to do research across departments, sift through programs they might not need, and perhaps miss things that are essential. Going cloud-based, the new business. ct.gov is a one-stop shop for business owners where the goal is

to have a one-platform, one-login solution for every service essential to running a business in CT.

nobody could say for certain, but in October and November, it is clear that the trend was upwards.

This kind of thinking can help State and Local partnerships as well, and the proof has been the Contact Tracing program that has been hailed as a model in the nation.

Since March, the state has been able to take steps that should provide some cautious relief to municipal leaders and residents of the state. There is a stockpile of PPE that has been built up, one of the best in the nation testing infrastructures, and the contact tracing program.

“Every health district had their own pencil and paper process,” Geballe said, but investing in the state level has created a program that is more agile, quick to respond to outbreaks, and in complete unity across state-local jurisdictions. Geballe did speak to the COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut. “One of the defining characteristics of this crisis so far has been the incredible partnership that we’ve had in the state of Connecticut,” he said, “And in talking to peers in other states, I know that is not always the case, so we shouldn’t take it for granted.” Where the Pandemic is taking us,

20 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | DECEMBER 2020

But most important is the partnership created across the State and Local lines. “With your leadership, we’ve done a really good job of creating a culture where people listen to and generally adhere to public health imperatives – wearing masks, distancing, taking precautions in our offices, in our schools, and our stores.” No one can argue that the Pandemic was good, but it revealed interesting possibilities in our ability to change.

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Social Media has become a crucial tool in a less-than-social 2020

020 hasn’t been a very social year. We haven’t been able to meet in person for quite some time, but that hasn’t stopped us from getting the word out there. Over the past few years, CCM has advanced our capabilities through social media to foster our mission to improve the everyday life of every citizen of Connecticut. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn have all become essential parts of our daily lives. Whether you’re on these platforms or not, chances are you’re still interacting with them. According to the Pew Research Center, over 72% of Americans used at least one social media platform. Each platform has a different personality. Twitter, for instance, is a place where you can stay up to date on the latest news, and get in on the wonkier side of things. While our main twitter handle @CCM_ForCT will give you the scoop on the latest trends or an update on what’s happening that week, our advocacy team (@CCMAdvocacy) will update you about important new provisions in bills that will affect towns and cities like yours. Instagram skews to a crowd that’s a little bit younger, and has a more personal touch to it. While we share the important information that you can find on twitter, you’ll also find regular posts about CCM staff like what

books they’re reading or pictures of their pet friends on national pet day. Many of you will remember City Hall Selfie Day, when we get out and celebrate the local municipal employees by sharing pics in front of town and city halls across the state. Probably the most important platform is Facebook. Most Americans get their news through the social media site, and if you are only using one, then it’s probably Facebook. That’s why CCM shares news stories from around the state concerning municipalities and press releases from us on our page, @CCM.forct. It’s also where you will find the magazine stories we put together for Connecticut Town & City, and our bi-weekly episodes of The Municipal Voice. We’ve gone live to our 5000 person audience, and most recently (which you can read more about in this issue) we made sure to share our CCM CARES discussions with a larger audience. With the lack of in-person events this year, the social media accounts we have been building for years have been crucial in keeping a thread of normalcy throughout this year. If you haven’t been following us, make sure to search for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and give us a follow.

DECEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 21

Pathway To The Future Sustainable CT sees growth in 2020

hile it seems that everything was put on the back burner this year, there are some things that just cannot wait. One of CCM’s most important partners is Sustainable CT, an organization whose main goal is to make sure our communities are green and equitable, and to really make sure that the future residents can still take advantage of the natural beauty our state has to offer. With the closing of 2020, Sustainable CT announced 17 new certifications and many milestones that will bring our state closer to these goals. Among the certifications are 2020 Silver Certified Communities - Bristol, New Britain, Old Saybrook, Stratford, and Wethersfield; as well as 2020 Bronze Certified Communities – Avon, Bolton, Killingly, Meriden, New Canaan, North Stonington, Norwalk, Old Lyme, Stonington, Trumbull, Waterbury, and Windsor Locks. This brings the total certified towns to 61, a third of the Connecticut’s towns, representing over 50% of the state’s population Towns reach certifications by completing actions across nine categories and at least one equity toolkit. Each action is worth a certain amount of points, Bronze must complete 200, while Silver is 400. Additionally, Silver must complete three equity toolkits. Certifications last for three years, and this year’s recipients will be recognized at the CCM virtual Convention this year. Sustainable CT will also reach another milestone in the near future: through their Community Match Fund, Sustainable CT and municipal partner have raised nearly one million dollars for community-led sustainability projects. These can be things like putting in Electric Vehicle chargers or planting a Pollinator Pathway – both examples were written up in previous issues of Connecticut Town & City. 22 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | DECEMBER 2020

As of this writing, Sustainable CT has provided $440K in grants with another $553K in funding from crowdfunding donors. Anyone in a Sustainable CT registered municipality can participate in this program, according to the Sustainable CT website, even individual residents can propose projects, with dollar for dollar matching funds. To join Sustainable CT, all a town needs to do is pass a resolution that states the municipaltiy’s intent to participate in the program and register your town on the Sustainable CT website, www.sustainablect.org. Currently 112 towns and cities are participating in Sustainable CT – a full two-thirds of Connecticut’s municipalities! Unfortunately, many things were cancelled this year. Things that we all would have liked to participate in. But taking care of our environment, taking care of our future is a non-stop job. Because of programs like Sustainable CT, Connecticut’s current and future residents might still be able to take in the splendor of it all.

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CIRMA Transforming the Status Quo, One Claim at a Time How CIRMA Reimagined One of the Oldest Insurance Claim Processes in the World

ubrogation is one of the oldest insurance concepts in the world, with a rich historical background spanning back as far as early Roman Law. In fact, subrogation made a monumental debut after being established as common law under the Magna Carta in 1215 A.D. Despite its longstanding history, very few outside the insurance industry fully understand the meaning of subrogation or its role in the insurance claims process. If you’re one of those people, trust us— you’re not alone.

A claim process that has endured over the ages

Through CIRMA’s exclusive subrogation recovery program, CIRMA Subrogation Plus specialists go far beyond traditional subrogation services to identify recovery opportunities. This team comprises subrogation recovery experts who pride themselves on being keen investigators, smart negotiators and relentless advocates for their members. The dedicated subrogation team meticulously collects data and analyzes pertinent facts to ensure members aren’t left paying the bill for damages they’re not liable for—even if the damages aren’t covered under their policy.

Fundamentally unaltered throughout the years, modern subrogation is aptly known throughout the propertycasualty insurance industry as the process by which your insurance company collects money from the party at fault (or their insurance company) to recover funds you or your insurance company have already paid, including your deductible.

The CIRMA Subrogation Plus team delivers tremendous value that goes far beyond policy limits to help recover non-insured property for CIRMA members. The end result? Maximized recoveries and promptly returned funds.

Simply stated, subrogation is insurance lingo for, “you are responsible for claim damages, so here’s your bill— please send us a check.” The money that is recouped is often referred to as recovery.

A well-established, yet a not-so-well-known component of insurance, subrogation may be the final step in the claims process, however, it certainly is not of least importance. CIRMA’s Subrogation Plus program return critical funds to its members and help effectively manage their total cost of risk.

Got it? Great. Now stay with us. There are a few additional caveats you should also know about the subrogation process. An insurance carrier will typically only subrogate on claim losses covered under an insurance policy. Meaning the hefty costs for property damage that isn’t usually covered (e.g., fences, guardrails, sidewalk pavers, fire hydrants, etc.) and loss-of-use damages (think of a police cruiser out of service after an accident) traditionally fall on the shoulders of the policyholder.

Critical funds returned to CIRMA members when they need them most Did you know that a fire hydrant replacement can cost a city or town well over $4,000? A traffic control box over $30,000? It’s an unfortunate reality that accidents happen throughout Connecticut public entities, every day. It is even more unfortunate when the damaged property costs are not covered by insurance. When property damages fall outside policy limits, most insurance carriers abruptly halt the subrogation process, extinguishing any potential of recovering those losses. However, this is not the case if you are a CIRMA member. In fact, in these situations the CIRMA Subrogation Plus team is just getting started.

24 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2020

A leading competitive advantage that sets CIRMA apart

CIRMA’s Subrogation Plus program is one of many meaningful ways CIRMA is finding new ways to deliver value through its unique competitive advantages--one claim at a time. Contact your CIRMA representative for more details on how this and other leading CIRMA programs and services can help effectively manage public entity insurance costs. “ CIRMA goes well beyond what we’d expect from an insurance provider by recovering additional money related to damage caused by third parties—these recoveries are not just for property we insure or deductible dollars, but for the cost of damages for property we don’t carry insurance on. An example in Norwich included a guardrail destroyed during an auto accident – costing the City over ten thousand dollars. With CIRMA’s partnership, we recouped critical funds that will be used to benefit our community.” Robert R. Castronova City of Norwich Purchasing Agent/Risk & Insurance Administrator Valued CIRMA Member

CIRMA

S AV E T H E D AT E January 29, 2021

Virtual ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS Join us as we celebrate 40 years of dedicated service to our members. NOVEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 25

CIVIC ACHIEVEMENT Bloomfield support for Black Lives Matter Mural supports equity movement

n one of the most sustained movements in American history, the citizens of the United States have resoundingly supported the message of Black Lives Matter. Municipalities have begun showing their support by creating murals in support of racial equity. Recently, Bloomfield emblazoned an area near town hall with a colorful rendition of the slogan, the first of three planned murals throughout town. In early June, during the George Floyd protests, a display in large block yellow letters was painted on 16th Street NW. This mural gained some attention around the country and, renowned Civil Rights leader and Representative for Georgia, the late John Lewis took some of his last photos at this street mural before passing. Since then, towns and cities across the country that have chosen to paint a Black Lives Matter street mural have gotten creative with their displays. Replacing the plain yellow letters are colorful explorations created by local artists, with a different artist or team for each letter. The Hartford Courant gives the artists as LaShawn Robinson (B), Zazzarro DeCarish (L), Evangeline Monroe (A), Taris Clemons (C), Linda Robinson (K), Sacha Kelly (L), Che LaMora (I), Tony Le (V), Chris Gann (E), Ashley Innocent (S), Michael Borders (M), Trae Brooks (A), Anne Gogh (T), Aariyan Googe (T), Harmal Franceschini (E) and Driena Baldwin (R). A dedication ceremony was attended by Christian,

26 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2020

Muslim, and clergy, according to the same article, with poetry readings, calls to vote and fill out the census, as well as speeches by Mayor Suzette DeBeatham-Brown, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysewicz, State Representatives and Senators, as well as the CEO of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Jay Williams, the organization that funded the mural through a grant. Though Bloomfield is a majority Black town, with Mayor DeBeatham-Brown saying that she expects the census to show a nearly two-thirds plurality of Black residents, there were some detractors from the message. In order to prevent vandalism, a clear protective sealant was applied. Bloomfield is not the first municipality, nor the last to reveal murals in support of Black Lives Matter. Larger cities like New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, and Hartford have all unveiled murals or have plans for additional murals. The murals are a great way to celebrate equity and unity amongst all Connecticut residents. Through public art, we can represent the struggles of the past and today, and use them as a beacon for understanding how we make the future a better, more equal place for everyone. Placing the mural in front of Town Hall, Bloomfield sends a powerful message that through local government we have the power to change the things we can no longer accept.

CIVIC AMENTITIES Across The Pond

One Bolton gives virtual cheers to another on tercentennial

ne of our favorite stories here at CCM is towns celebrating their anniversaries. Because we live in one of the oldest parts of the country, we are fast approaching the 400th anniversaries for some of our municipalities, but that pales in comparison to our sister cities abroad. So it puts a smile on our face to hear that helping Bolton celebrate their tercentenary is none other than Bolton, their namesake town in England. While there is evidence that there were settlers in Bolton, England before the common era – in the Bronze Age, somewhere between 4500 and 2800 years ago - the name Bolton only goes back to 1307. Like our Bolton, it is smaller town just outside of Manchester, with the one in Connecticut also being named for its British counterpart. The Bolton News, a local newspaper in England wrote that the Mayor of Bolton Councillor Linda Thomas has sent over a commemorative scroll that features the Coat of Arms from both towns, as well as a series of Bolton elephants and Lancashire Roses. Councillor Thomas was also joining a virtual town council meeting to make remarks on the occasion. This isn’t the first time that the two towns have celebrated their kinship. Back in 2014, the News reports, several students from the Connecticut Bolton High School visited the English Bolton students, who were given a tour of Bolton Town Hall. That visit was arranged by Councillor Richard Silvester who was then returned the favor when he visited Connecticut later that same year, and described it as “Small town America in size compared to our own Bolton, however the people are so welcoming and friendly.” It was the first time two such elected officials had met that in the 300 years since ours was founded, but through the pandemic it became a joyful way to spread cheer across the Atlantic. Unfortunately, because of COVID, all activities that were planned had to be postponed until next year when the town intends to host the 300+1 anniversary. It’s always nice to have something to celebrate. Milestones as large as centennials are important because our country is so young. Knowing that the English counterpart has been around for up to 4500 years is a great reminder that towns and cities can survive just about anything that life throws at them - the Bubonic Plague hit Europe less than 50 years after Bolton was founded.

NOVEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 27

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

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Stratford Stays Stratford Strong Long-term recovery planned in wake of COVID

ith news that the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic might exceed that of the 2008 recession, many Connecticut residents have been left wondering what the future might look like. Businesses, large and small, have felt the impact of this virus, leading municipal leaders across the state to begin the process of recovery. In Stratford, Mayor Laura Hoydick formed Stratford Strong to ensure a bright future for the town. Partnering with local organizations who have great insight into the local community and business owners, they have implemented several plans that have already seen enormous success in the short time since Stratford Strong was formed. One such plan was a simple marketing plan that aimed to utilize social media and traditional media to get the word out about businesses across seven different sectors – small business, arts, wellness, services and hospitality, salons and barbers, and restaurants – a new one each week. Each video shows how that particular sector has adapted to new measures that are necessary under social distancing protocols, while showing that life can go on in a meaningful way. In the arts video, coming in just under a minute, shows a young dance troupe, a child learning how to play saxophone, others painting. All in all, the videos have been seen by the followers of the town’s social media pages, reaching an audience

Mayor Laura Hoydick

of over 18,000 people, with videos reaching over 7000 views. In a press release about Stratford Strong, Mayor Hoydick said that “while this is a long-term recovery program, [she] is pleased with the work that the task force has accomplished in its first month following the Town’s extraordinary and sustained response since March.” She urged residents to follow up with the task force at stratfordstrong@townofstratford.com, which was set up specifically for this rea-

28 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2020

son. They are continuing to compile information on the ongoing pandemic and the impact it is having on local businesses, and without input The recovery from the pandemic will not be a sprint, but a marathon. There’s no telling when a vaccine will be ready to get us back to normal, and what that normal will look like. Towns like Stratford have started this race by putting their best foot forward, and with the Stratford Strong task force, they will certainly have the strength to cross the finish line when we get to it.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

What’s For Dinner?

Hartford eatery changes economic paradigm

unicipalities are often left wondering what to do with the warehouses that have been left empty by a changing economic paradigm. These brick mammoths used to be integral to a productive and industrial town, but with American manufacturing becoming a thing of the past, there’s no need. In many towns and cities, the go-to answer is to convert the space into apartments, but Parkville Market in Hartford shows that other adaptive uses are possible. The Parkville Market boasts that it is the first food hall in Connecticut, but this trend is just picking up in America. An Eater blog defined them as a sprawling market that showcases a variety of mini-restaurants and retail food vendors under one roof, and back in 2017 labeled them as the next big thing in the food industry. It’s no surprise then that Connecticut Magazine said that it took three years for Carlos Mouta, the owner, to see his vision become a reality. This space used to be the home of Pope Manufacturing, Columbia Bicycle, the Underwood and Royal Typewriters, the Gray Telephone Pay Station, and more according to the Parkville Market website, but today it has become a collective of “some of the most innovative businesses in Hartford.” Food halls are meant to be a collective of unique and affordable restaurants that one can go to for a myriad of choices. According to the Eater article, restauranteurs have been warning of an impending affordable restaurant apocalypse as more and more Americans move towards fast-casual chains. This makes the Parkville Market the perfect kind of reuse to fit into a new and changing landscape, supporting not just one business but up to twenty restaurants, and anchoring a neighborhood with a restaurant haven in one building.

The vendors are selected to give you a taste of the cultural history of Hartford, and currently include Bombay Express, Brazilian Gula Grill, Chompers (small bites), Crave Leche (ice cream), Fowl Play, Hartford Poke Co., J’s Crab Shack, Jamaican Jerk Shack, Las Tortas MX, Mercado 27 (Peruvian), Mofongo, Okinawa Boba Co., Pho Go, Portly Pig, Que Chivo (Salvadorian), The Butcher & The Bean (coffee), and Twisted Italian Café. There’s no doubt that Connecticut needs more housing, especially in the cities. But as apartments move in, restaurant options that mirror the eclectic demographics of a bustling city are needed in the same measure. One might find that food halls like the Parkville Market become anchoring points, attracting more residents and more businesses, and sparking natural growth. NOVEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 29

EDUCATION The Education section of CT&C is sponsored by

www.housatonic.edu

www.gatewayct.edu

One Step At A Time

Step Forward Program Helps Students Adapt During COVID-19

hen transitioning to remote learning last spring, like her colleagues, Gateway Community College Step Forward Director Jaime French took a new approach to make her handson curriculum work for students. Yet with highly individualized instruction and young adults with mild cognitive disabilities, relying heavily on technology posed even greater challenges for the program she has overseen for 16 years. The program would need to make different use of technology to connect with students. French noted that the timing of the move to remote instruction helped tremendously in how the students could adapt. She assessed the progress of each student and felt a sense of relief. “I could say with confidence we touched on all the content,” French said. As the new learning model took shape, teachers and staff maintained contact to keep students on track, helping them to feel less isolated. Staff helped the students learn strategies to deal with the pressure they felt. Meetings with advisors took place over the phone. Students who were enrolled in credit courses at GCC in addition to the Step Forward program received added support processing what their professors were looking for in their assignments. Group email chats also helped the students stay connected.

have been among those who are regularly on campus. The schedule the students follow is very similar to the usual format, but work internships are not scheduled and more resume writing and career planning have been incorporated. If at any time it becomes necessary to move to remote learning, detailed plans are in place to move instruction to an online format. The success of the program, which is the only community college-run program of its kind in Connecticut, is in how it empowers students to branch out and experience college life. French noted that in Step Forward, students can see themselves differently from how they were in high school, gain independence, and find acceptance from peers. She added that students frequently come into the program and reinvent themselves, making the most of their college experience. Step Forward provides an educational environment customized to the learning style of its students and they are involved in all aspects of their educational experience.

As GCC students returned to campus this fall for a limited number of classes, the Step Forward students 30 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2020

Step Forward I, the curriculum focuses on interpersonal communication, daily living skills, college readiness, and workplace readiness. Upon completion, a student’s team of professionals recommends either a repeat of Step Forward I, exit, or promotion to Step Forward II, which also offers a High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder program. Those who move into Step Forward II take courses for college credit and the expectation for students is higher. Behind the scenes, scaffolding to support students as they move toward a degree comes in many forms, from help with emails and interpreting class expectations to introducing students to GCC’s support services, such as the tutoring center. Students attend non-credit seminars to enhance their study, time management, social, and organizational skills. Step Forward is quickly filling up for Fall 2021. For information about Step Forward, please contact Jaime French for a virtual tour and/ or meeting at (203) 285-2505 or jfrench@gwcc.commnet.edu.

“I could say with confidence we touched on all the content,” Jaime French, Director

EDUCATION Keeping The Libraries Open

Beardsley Library will use new funds for PPE and more

ibraries have been hit hard by the pandemic, but hit even harder are the people who utilize them. CT&C has often about innovative ideas that occur inside our municipal libraries, but sometimes it’s good to take a step back and realize that the library itself is one of our greatest public goods. Finding ways to keep them open are crucial, and recently Beardsley Library in Winsted was awarded grant money to do just that. As part of the dedicated fund that Governor Ned Lamont and Interim State Librarian Maureen Sullivan set aside from the CT Coronavirus Relief Funds, per a press release from the town that $27,830 will go to the Beardsley Library with the express intent on making health and safety improvements.

resources, and librarians who are trained in helping residents access key services,” said Governor Lamont. “Most importantly, libraries provide safe and quiet spaces for people to work and study, which is critical to many people who do not have the environment to do this at home. Especially during this difficult time, libraries and the work of so many generous librarians have played a critical role in supporting K-12 and post-secondary students with remote learning.” Throughout the pandemic, libraries have found ways to keep doing

what they do so well: acting as fonts of knowledge for the thousands of residents that not only use them but need them. Some libraries began offering programs for people at home to access online, some offered curbside pickup once it became clear that that would be acceptable. No matter what way a library does it, making sure their services are accessible and safe is now of utmost importance. The library itself is the crucial municipal service educating the young and old alike. Grants received by the Beardsley Library are a simple first step.

Funds from this grant will go towards things like personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies, signage, and furniture. More than ever, the outsize importance of internet access found at every library in Connecticut. CCM along with Dalio Education reported on the digital divide that has existed in our towns and cities, made more obvious by the COVID pandemic. In libraries, towns and cities have created a resource to close that gap. “Public libraries have always been places that support education and self-directed learning. They are now a critical community resource for virtual learning,” Sullivan said. This grant does not include moneys as part of the Everybody Learns initiative aimed at increasing public Wi-Fi, many of which are placed at libraries across the state according to the press release. “Libraries offer critical services for the public, including reliable Wi-Fi, access to computers and laptops, supportive learning materials and NOVEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 31

ENERGY Positive Energy

Branford adopts plans to bring environmental change to town

f you pay attention to the science, global warming will have an impact on nearly every facet of life, with consequences that will make COVID pale in comparison. Countries around the world are focusing on this issue, though many say not nearly enough. As is often the case, change will begin on the local level. In 2020, while dealing with the pandemic, Branford was able to establish The Office of Sustainability and Compliance to address these very issues.

After tropical storm Isaias wreaked havoc on our electric grid, a self-sufficient grid will be a welcome addition. But also being a coastal town, shoreline flooding will aggressively affect quality of life standards and could make the area more susceptible to stronger hurricanes.

On the Branford town website, they say that the office will focus on “natural resources, waste and energy conservation needs, and to ensure the town is in compliance with all federal, state, and local sustainability and environmental requirements.”

This includes the HeatSmart program, which is sponsored by the Peoples’ Action for Clean Energy (PACE). First Selectman James Cosgrove writes that “we all like to save money on our heating and air condition bills and we all need to pitch in and control Carbon Dioxide emissions that contribute to Global Warming. Heat pumps serve both these objectives.”

Collaborating with Sustainable CT, as well as other departments in town, they have released the Branford Energy Plan 2020 this past summer. In preparing this energy plan, they aim to meet the lofty goal of using 100% renewable energy sources by 2040. Carrying out this plan, they say that there will be benefits in savings, health, comfort and resilience. While savings from renewable energy sources might be obvious, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels will have an immediate impact on things like air quality, they also argue that it will make the town more resilient. “Through greater reliance on local energy generation and a more modern electric grid,” the office writes, “the town can weather storms, outages and natural catastrophes longer and more safely and contribute to slowing global warming.”

The onus will not be solely on the town to reach these goals. Contained within the Branford Energy Plan 2020 are projects that will help residents improve their home energy usage.

Heat pumps work precisely like air conditioners, and often creates more heat energy than the electrical energy it uses. This is what makes them so environmentally friendly. Whether it’s the town of Branford, or a resident, the Branford Energy Plan 2020 has tools for everyone to use to reach the lofty goals of 100% renewable energy by 2040. While it may seem like they are working extra hard towards these goals, the intensity and energy Branford is putting in will achieve results that are worth it. If every resident, town and city in the state pitched in, we could start to change the world.

Branford aims to use 100% renewable energy by 2040 The path to 100% renewable energy comprises two complementary actions: ● Overall energy consumption must be decreased dramatically by a combination of conservation, energy efficiency and electrification of heating, cooling and transportation. ● Electricity consumed in town must come from clean, renewable sources. These complementary actions are visible in the declining overall consumption and increasing renewables in the chart below.

The chart below is another way of visualizing Branford’s path to 100% renewable energy. The blue bars on the left side of this graph represent the town’s current energy usage, expressed in a common unit: gigawatt‐hours. The red bars represent the potential reduction in energy usage through efficiency and electrification, resulting in a vastly reduced energy load. The green bars represent the sources of local and regional renewable energy to meet this need. Current CurrentLoad Load‐ ‐Future FutureLoad Load‐‐ Renewable Renewable Load 1,200 1,200

424 424

1,113 1,113 ‐47 ‐47

1,000 1,000 800 800

102 102

‐328 ‐328

355 355

600 600

‐254 ‐254

400 400 200 200

Electricity Electricity

The key elements of this energy plan are: 1. Reduce our energy usage by improving the efficiency and performance of our buildings, both public and private. Transition to high efficiency heating and 322. | CONNECTICUT TOWN & cooling CITYtechnology. | NOVEMBER 2020 3. Promote the responsible development of renewable energy in town, including residential solar, community shared solar, commercial solar, carport and other types

‐173 ‐200

233 233

0 0

484 484

Gas Gas

Oil Oil

Transport Transport

Total Total

Electricity Electricity

Heat Heat

311 284

Transport Local Transport Local New Load Regional New Load Regional

Energy Reduction Targets As seen in these two graphs, Branford aims to reduce energy consumption by over half in roughly twenty years. Because these reductions will be accomplished in part through “fuel switching” (e.g., from gasoline to electric vehicles), we do not set reduction targets for each fuel type. In fact, we expect electricity usage to more than double over this period. Branford’s 2040 energy target can be achieved through modest annual reductions of 2.3% per year

ENERGY SAVINGS:

E ASY AS 1-2-3 Take the following steps to identify improvements and implement projects that add up to real savings for your community.

1 2 3

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ENERGY The savings estimated by this project is $200,000 per year.

Call It A Bright Idea

Middletown looks to streetlights for savings

n reducing the carbon footprints of our towns and cities, municipalities have needed to look high and low for cost savings. One recent project in Middletown had town officials looking up at traffic signals. The town has recently started a project that will see them replacing nearly 5,000 streetlights from conventional lighting to the much more cost efficient LED light bulbs.

little loss when lighting each diode – essentially, LEDs use only the power they need and nothing more. And, perhaps, more importantly, they do not need to be replaced as often as traditional HPS lights. Middletown estimates that each LED streetlight will last five times as long, meaning five less replacements over the course of each new lamp.

Ever since the switch from oil lamps, municipalities have been searching for cheaper and more economic means of lighting their roadways at night, making them safe for night weary travelers, pedestrian and driver alike.

The initial investment in the project is $1.5 million dollars, and after taking an energy efficiency incentive of $500,000, the town will only be paying $1 million. The savings estimated by this project is $200,000 per year, so future savings will more than pay for the project in its entirety.

The most popular option over the last century was the High Pressure Sodium (HPS) light precisely because they were one of the most efficient ways to light a large area. Because sodium emits a yellow light, which human eyes are extremely sensitive to, they don’t have to run on as much energy as other sources.

In a press release, Mayor Ben Florsheim said that “The LED streetlight conversion project is perhaps the single most effective energy efficiency opportunity available to the City, which is why we’ve made it a priority and why I’m so excited about getting this conversion underway.”

When Light Emitting Diode technology, more commonly known as LEDs, came along, it wasn’t long before they became the most efficient means of lighting our streets.

LEDs are the clear wave of the future, and they are being looked at for traffic lights, in schools and municipal buildings, and even for traffic lights, which are a large energy drain. Now that the cost of replacing light fixtures with LEDs has come down to the point where a municipality can save more than the cost of installation in just six years, it makes sense to put them wherever you can – it’s a bright idea.

LEDs have two advantages. One, they are even more efficient with their energy usage than HPS lights because they offer directional lighting and have very 34 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2020

ENVIRONMENT

Waste Problem Leaves Us Wanting

A new initiative invites municipalities to transform waste management

key initiative in a greener future, one that’s cleaner and more efficient involves something that a lot of us would prefer not to think about that often: Waste. CCM has put an eye on recycling and forever chemicals and composting, because waste management is a perplexing puzzle to be solved. Recently, Laura Francis, First Selectman of Durham, Matt Knickerbocker, First Selectman of Bethel, and Katie Dykes of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection co-chaired the Connecticut Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management (CCSMM). According to their kickoff deck, 69 towns have signed up to ask the questions about what they can do about a situation that doesn’t have any apparent solutions. What they hope to accomplish together is finding “modern, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable materials management systems” through working groups and ideas harvested from developers, service providers and community members. Most importantly, they must achieve these goals while making “a commitment to create a more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable system.” Each member signs a following statement upon joining the coalition: “We recognize that by working together, we have the potential to achieve economies of scale and send a strong signal for private investment and sector transformation. At the same time, we respect the unique needs and policy preferences of each participating jurisdiction, and the importance of flexible approaches. We recognize that each municipality can contribute in different ways, through different measures, to achieve our shared goals.”

First Selectman Knickerbocker said in a press release that “the old ways of burying trash and forgetting about it are over. We must work together to create actionable solutions that are affordable for Connecticut families and do more to protect our fragile environment.” First Selectman Francis added to that sentiment saying, “I firmly believe that our collective need, knowledge, creativity and commitment to protecting our environment will generate innovative solutions for sustainable materials management for the State of Connecticut.” Both gave thanks to DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes who had talked about the need for substantial collaboration on an episode of CCM’s Podcast, The Municipal Voice. Also presenting at the initial meeting of the CCSMM were CJ May, the Waterbury Refuse/Recycling Coordinator and Jennifer Heaton-Jones of the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority, both were also featured guests on our Recycling episode of the Municipal Voice. Working groups are collaborating on topics such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Food Scraps/ Organic Collection & Diversion, Increase Recycling, and Unit-Based Pricing. They had a mid-point check in on November 16, with finalized reports coming out early on in the new year. Whatever the reports find, it is crucial that towns and cities find the ways to work together. Through collaboration, new innovative ideas that will ultimately lead to savings and a more environmentally friendly Connecticut are possible. CT&C will be keeping an eye out for all that this group will come up with.

NOVEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 35

ENVIRONMENT Don’t Feed The Animals!

Norwich gets the word out about harmful effects of feeding wildlife

orothy Sayers once noted “How fleeting are all human passions compared with the massive continuity of ducks.” And while one of humankind’s favorite hobbies is birdwatching, feeding wild animals is a spell for nothing but trouble. That is why Norwich Public Works Director had to put out a reminder to not feed the ducks!

hopes that through outreach they won’t have to issue any tickets. Simply getting the word out there about the consequences should be deterrent enough. When something small sets off a chain reaction of events that lead to some larger issue, it’s called the butterfly effect, but in this instance,

Once a fun way to spend an afternoon, hanging out at a lake with a bag of old stale bread and feeding the ducks (or whatever other bird comes around), but there are a lot of reasons why municipalities might want to remind their residents to not feed wild animals. For one, it’s bad for them. According to theSpruce.com, “ducklings require a varied diet and plenty of natural plants and insect proteins to mature properly. If ducks are regularly fed bread, ducklings will not receive adequate nutrition for proper growth and development.” But it’s also bad for the area for a couple of reasons. From the same article, animals can quickly become aggressive around a popular feeding area because of the ample supply of easy food. Some species will thrive, while others suffer leading to overcrowding and an upsetting of the natural food chain. This can lead to larger predatory animals who are also looking for a quick and easy meal. In Norwich, part of the problem is the sanitation issue. Cited in the Norwich Bulletin, Public Works Director Patrick McLaughlin said “bird waste can make the waters, especially at Howard T. Brown Memorial Park, more polluted.” Adding that it’s already an impaired waterway as part of DEEPs designation of the Thames River. Norwich has an ordinance against such activity, and there is a $100 fine for feeding the ducks but 36 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2020

it might be called the duck effect. Many people love to birdwatch in Connecticut’s parks, but there are a lot of good reasons to stop there. Feeding ducks simply is not beneficial to anyone, not for the ducks, the water, other wildlife, and humans. There are plenty of other uses for stale bread.

GOVERNANCE

Professionalism Above All

Opinion: Political affiliation should not influence decision-making by Roger Kemp

uring my city management career, I have held many different political views that could not be contained to just one party. I have been, at one point or another, affiliated as a Democrat and a Republican, even as an Unaffiliated Voter. But no matter the letter that I had next to my name, I believe to be a true professional one must not be pigeonholed into a specific mindset. While I viewed myself as an independent thinker, at differing times throughout my career an individual would guess what it is that I was going to do or say based entirely on what my affiliation was at the time. For instance, when I was a Democrat, I was accused of wanting to increase spending and ultimately raise taxes – a typical liberal. But when I was a Republican, I was accused of just the opposite, providing no services by keeping our budget low and minimizing tax increases. As a City Manager, one does not operate on this level, and I did not like anyone thinking that I was making recommendations based on my political affiliations. Because of this, I made a final change to become an Unaffiliated Voter.

I reflected this philosophy to all of the elected officials I worked for. A City’s elected officials were my bosses, and my job wasn’t to critique a person’s political affiliation, but to do what is right by the municipality that I work for. After all, they were elected by majority vote to enact the policies that they won on, my job was to figure out how to accomplish that. This was my political philosophy as a City Manager throughout my career. Whatever my beliefs outside of my job, as a working professional, I have no political party. All of my recommendations to my elected officials are just that, recommendations based on my years of experience. About the Author: Roger L. Kemp has been a career City Manager, and worked in and managed the largest City Mangement cities in California (Oakland), New Jersey (Clifton), and in Connecticut (Meriden). He has also been an Adjunct Professor, teaching city management courses in the evenings at universities during his city management career. He has also authorred and edited over 50 books dealing with subjects related to city management. His personal website is: www.rogerkemp.org, and his e-mail address is: rogerlkemp46@gmail.com

NOVEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 37

GOVERNANCE How To Respond To Bullies

Danbury stands up to John Oliver and nets money for charities

t might be pretty hard for anyone to recover from being made fun of on national TV, but how about turning being made fun of into $55,000 in donations and a national news story? That’s what happened when John Oliver of HBO’s Last Week Tonight deigned to go after Danbury on an episode of his show over the summer. Most people will be familiar with this story by now, after appearing in local and national media. But the short version is that on August 16, after saying how the Hat City was one of the best places in America to live, Oliver said that all residents have a “standing invite to come get a thrashing from John Oliver.” Fans of the show will recognize this as typical of his humor, and part of the routine has become how his victims respond. Some ignore the jests, and some, like actor Russell

Crowe, fight back. Crowe took money that John Oliver spent on his divorce auction and named a ward in an Australian Zoo after him. Danbury took the Crowe route, with Mayor Mark Boughton retorting in a video: “Behind me you see the city of Danbury Sewer Plant, and we’re going to rename it the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant. Why? Because it’s full of crap just like you, John.” Oliver was clearly smitten with the idea; he had a sign created and offered to donate $55,000 to local charities if they actually went through with it. After some back and forth banter, it was finally voted on in October. And with an 18-1 vote, Danbury’s wastewater treatment plant is officially the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant. Recently, in coordination with the

38 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2020

city and Mayor Boughton, the Danbury Museum has begun offering merchandise with the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant logo on it, with 25% of all profits made from the sales to be donated to the Danbury Food Collective. Not everyone can be made fun of by John Oliver and reap the benefits of a public practical joke. But the response of Danbury and its residents is a case study in city pride and standing up for yourself. John Oliver now has a Wastewater Treatment Plant in Danbury and a Koala Chlamydia Center in Australia. But Danbury has made over $50,000 in donations to local charities, and created a marketing campaign for probably no cost at all. Playing along with a practical joker like Oliver proves that there’s no such thing as bad press.

HOUSING & INFRASTRUCTURE The Housing & Infrastructure section of CT&C is sponsored by Connecticut Basement Systems www.connecticutbasementsystems.com

Breaking Down Barriers

Old Saybrook says deed-restrictions benefit both town and renter

s part of the CCM CARES discussions that took place this past October, our panelists discussed the destructive legacy of redlining and how that has created a situation where Connecticut is one of the most segregated states in the union. Old Saybrook First Selectman Carl Fortuna says that deed-restricted housing is one of the ways we can start to break down those barriers. Affordable Housing has been a hotly debated topic, and deed-restricted housing is a type of affordable housing. According to inclusionaryhousing.org, deed-restricted housing can take one of two forms. Either for rental units where the restriction imposes maximum rents and tenant eligibility standards for a fixed period of time. Or, for homeownership where homeowners are required to resell at house at a future price that is lower-income accessible.

or as an inheritance for children. The case of Davidson, North Carolina suggests that homeowners can keep the value of their home, but also continue the practice of affordable housing going by setting a price at 120 % of the area median income. From inclusionaryhousing.org, they say that a family selling after 10 years would be able recoup the annual increase in value of their house, likely valued in the tens of thousands of dollars in addition to what they paid on the house already. It is keeping the home at the 120% threshold that will make purchasing that home affordable for the next

family to buy it. Assuring that this practice continues, one of the restrictions is that the seller must notify the town before selling the property, giving them first right of refusal. We know that Connecticut ended up as one of the most segregated places in America on purpose. Taking that knowledge and reflecting upon it in an honest way, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear that something must be done. Deed-restricted housing can benefit not only the renter or homebuyer, but the municipality as well. ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a smart way to break down barriers by building homes for Connecticut residents.

In the former case, a developer will still be able to collect rents as usual only with a maximum rent. This allows for those who are not able to live in a more affluent town like Old Saybrook to move in, Fortuna said in an interview in the CT News Junkie. His town already has 133 deed-restricted units, which he hopes will add to the diversity, something he describes as a real success. IN the latter case of deed-restricted homeownership, there might be some concerns over one of biggest benefits of buying a home: home equity. Most people rely on the value of their home going up over time as a nest egg for retirement,

A New Haven map from 1937 with redlining in effect.

NOVEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 39

HOUSING & INFRASTRUCTURE

Hed

A company’s vison to have a world with healthy, safe and efficient homes.

ithout the right foundation, a structure will not last. That’s why Larry Janesky, owner and CEO of Connecticut Basement Systems, has the same mentality when it comes to his business and employees. For over 34 years, the 170+ member team has enjoyed serving over 85,000 customers’ needs by using sound building science principles and continues to work on employee development and “WOW” Customer Experiences. Having won numerous awards from the Better Business Bureau and Top Workplace in CT 6 times, most recently 5 in a row, they continually are proud to serve. They are known as the largest specialty, retro fit, residential contractor in the State of Connecticut and Eastern New York. Connecticut Basement Systems (CTBS) can assist with more than just basement waterproofing, specializing in crawl space and foundation repair, and basement finishing too! Their home comfort division, Dr. Energy Saver of Connecticut, can tackle any attic or crawl space insulation issues, which helps homeowners conserve energy and save money. Fall is a historically wet time of the year, and CTBS has methods of water and weather-proofing homes that will help prevent property damage from rainstorms and the elements. These services can help prevent issues such as foundation and basement flooding. Seeing a larger market to serve by treating water before it enters the basement, Larry partnered with Eddie Griffin of Brown Roofing. Now a sister company to CTBS, Brown Roofing offers roofing and now introduces Gutter Shutter Gutter Replacement and RainDrop Gutter Guard add to existing gutters. Gutter Shutter Replacement Gutters and RainDrop Gutter Guards keeps gutters

40 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | NOVEMBER 2020

free of debris. Clean gutters are essential to protecting against easily avoidable property damage. Over the past year, the company has been able to expand their services even further than basement and home health. The Junkluggers of New Haven County became a part of the Connecticut Basement Systems family in early 2020, making a meaningful first impression after executing the “Community Cleanup Project,” a month long event. The bright green Junkluggers trucks followed CDC guidelines and commuted townto-town cleaning up trash, debris, and junk from the side of the road during the pandemic, helping homeowners in any way they could. The Junkluggers offers junk removal in the residential and commercial buildings located in New Haven County. They will take any unwanted items, furniture, or appliances that do not belong in a dump or a landfill. These truckloads of junk are properly recycled and donated, and the tax-deductible receipt for the charity that received the items belongs to the homeowner. The Junkluggers of New Haven County is an eco-friendly organization servicing 35 different Connecticut towns. Owning a home does not have to be a lot of hard work, the services offered by Connecticut Basement Systems can help make maintenance seem effortless. Homeowners and business owners can call 800-541-0487 or visit www.connecticutbasementsystems.com to schedule a free, no obligation estimate. If you are in need of gutter or roofing services, you can call Brown Roofing at 203-463-4444 or visit www.brownroofing. org . To get a free estimate on junk removal, call 203-717-5859 or visit www.junkluggersofnewhaven.com.

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

A Drop In Crime

Connecticut saw one of the biggest drops in crime in nation

etween 2018 and 2019, Connecticut had one of the largest drops in crime according to data from the annual Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR) handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Only New Hampshire had a larger drop in reported crime. The FBI has produced this report yearly since the 1930s with the primary objective to “generate reliable information for use in law enforcement administration, operation, and management.” Since then, and because the data is so complete, the UCR has become something of an index for the general direction of the country. For instance, in Connecticut the total crime rate (crime per 100,000 population) started out in the low 1000s in 1960 before reaching nearly 6000 in 1980. Since then, that number has continued to plummet. Disconcertingly, despite a decline in almost all areas, both murder and non-negligent murder rose by 20% from 2018 to 2019. Quoted in the CT Mirror, Michael Lawlor said that reforms such as raising the age to be included in the adult criminal justice system, lowering penalties for drug possession, and diversionary programs have all contributed to reducing crime. This is part of a much larger national trend, with most states seeing decreases in crime overall. So what makes this data interesting is the fact that Connecticut has been exceptionally successful in decreasing crimes throughout 2020.

Connecticut saw the violent crime rate dip below 200 cases per 100,000 people a year for the first time this century, while the national rate was nearly 400 cases per 100,000. Property crime rate was nearly 1500 cases per 100,000 while the national average was just over 2000. What’s interesting is that this data comes from 2019, meaning that all data from 2020 is not included. Because of COVID-19, there’s

evidence that this downward trend will continue. Overall, the moves that Connecticut’s towns and cities have made in public safety, many of which we have written about in Connecticut Town & City, are making a difference. Combined with the efforts over the last decade made in the legislature, Connecticut and its residents are clearly committed to making our towns and cities some of the safest places in the nation.

NOVEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 41

PUBLIC SAFETY

?! No More Landline? No Problem

Emergency Alert System gets you information in North Haven

etting good quality information to your constituents has never been more important. From COVID to storm recovery, Connecticut residents need to know what is going on in their town. But with waning landline usage, an opt-in system is quickly becoming the best answer. North Haven recently partnered with Everbridge to offer residents that option.

sirens can do more to cause panic than solve problems.

Opt-in Emergency Alert Systems like the one that has been implemented in North Haven are often called Reverse 911 (because a town informs you of an emergency instead of the other way around). And they aimed to stand a long lasting problem of getting to as many people as possible in the most efficient way.

North Haven has put out press releases and displayed the sign-up page prominently on their website, which will help it reach that critical point where enough people know about it and are signed up for alerts that they can be part of the effective outreach.

In the past, people could be updated via radio broadcasts, robocalls, or even sirens blaring. Each of these raises a problem that cannot be easily solved within their frame of reference. Not many people still listen to the radio on a daily basis, for one. Landlines are quickly becoming a thing of the past, but even if a cell phone was bought and purchased in one town, there’s no guarantee that the owner still resides in that area. And

So, by having residents opt-in, not only are you feeding information into a GIS map, meaning you can alert people in a hyperlocal way, you are avoiding many of the pitfalls with the old methods. The only drawback of this style of Emergency Alert Systems is getting people to sign up.

“To uphold our responsibility to ensure public safety, community awareness and emergency response, we need to reach our residents as quickly and reliably as possible,” stated Michael Freda. “This new alert system allows the Town of North Haven to broadcast information across all types of devices, ensuring our residents have access to real-time public information when it is most needed.”

“To uphold our responsibility to ensure public safety, community awareness and emergency response, we need to reach our residents as quickly and reliably as possible,” - Michael Freda

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SOCIAL WELFARE

Leveling Field Of Play

Towns agree to deal on land for soccer/lacrosse fields

owns can find innumerable ways to work together – but how often does one town buy a small portion of a neighboring town? A deal between Ellington and Vernon would do just that so that latter can have a place to meet the growing demand of area students looking to play lacrosse or soccer. With the $1.93 million purchase of land that straddles the Ellington/Vernon border, the project for up to three playing fields, restrooms, a wetland preserve and improvements on the Hockanum River Corridor can finally begin. The first phase of the project is set to begin with the leveling of the first field. Vernon has been looking to expand their capacity for athletic fields for years, and plan to partner with local lacrosse and soccer clubs according to an article on the Vernon Patch. Because the parcel is on the town lines, Land-use boards in both Ellington and Vernon had to approve the purchase. But both towns will see advantages of this new playing field.

Quoted by Chris Dehnel at Patch at the land dedication ceremony, Ellington First Selectman Lori Spielman said “This is a great opportunity for Ellington to work with Vernon. Like Vernon, Ellington does not have enough fields for all of our youth sports teams. By partnering with Vernon, we have more fields we can use without purchasing land and maintaining more fields. I’m just thrilled we could do this together.” Mayor Daniel Champagne of Vernon said that things like tournaments could be held at the field complex as it grows, which would help offset some of the costs of maintaining the field. There are also plans for a concession stand, but the timing of its building was not immediately evident. Vernon used money from the General Fund for this project, no money was borrowed. No matter the cause, towns working together can achieve great results. In the case of Vernon and Ellington, the people that stand to benefit the most are the people in those towns. People in both towns will be able to make use of these fields once completed. And ultimately that’s the best possible outcome. NOVEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 43

SOCIAL WELFARE Some People’s Best Friends

West Haven enacts leash law to make everyone feel safe

ogs are great. They didn’t get the title of man’s best friend for nothing. But believe it or not, not everyone is a fan, and with a growing trend of owners being anti-leash, it’s incredibly important to make everyone feel safe. West Haven voted to limit leashes to six feet on city property, making it one of only three municipalities with a specific length in their leash laws.

need to be on a leash.

Currently, state law does not mandate that dogs remain on leashes at all time, but there are exceptions and caveats that make it confusing to apply. Per a research report from the Conecticut General Assembly website on these laws, a dog’s owner or keeper must not allow it to roam on another person’s land or on a public highway, including sidewalks, if it is not under his control. […] Additionally, the Environmental Protection Department requires that owners keep their dogs leashed in state parks.”

For West Haven, the boardwalk remains a popular destination for many people, the risk of chance encounters described by Servadio in Santa Monica, also a popular boardwalk destination.

Within the same section of statutes, they say that municipalities are allowed to create their own ordinances that mandate that dogs be on a leash, and this may be more important than ever. On the Iheartdogs.com blog, Kristina Lotz discussed with Andrea Servadio, a doggy daycare owner in Santa Monica, California, about the growing trend of “anti-leash” pet owners who feel that leashes are too restrictive or that their dog is so well-trained as to not

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Servadio argues that while dogs can be obedient and well-trained, owners are “misguided at best because there are a lot of things that can happen to dogs and people in this scenario.” They further argue that leash laws are important for maintaining a “safe and respectful environment for dogs and people.”

While the city council voted in favor of this ordinance, there were many who brought up the very important factor in keeping both humans and dogs safe: the human owner. Council member Barry Cohen quoted in the New Haven Register said “If the owner does not have control of their dog, a shorter leash may not provide any additional layer of protection from less-obedient dogs.” With the beach season over, West Haven’s boardwalk will see very few walkers, with dogs or not. But as the spring turns into summer, those looking to get out and stroll the beach, or anywhere for that matter, will surely have to share the sidewalks with humans and their canine friends. With their new leash laws, the West Haven will be for everyone to enjoy.

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

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New Canaan Public Schools upgrades network security

ew Canaan Public Schools has selected Palo Alto Networks and Milford, CT. based, Digital BackOffice, to enhance cybersecurity with a next generation firewall. New Canaan School Public Schools are a top-rated school district with 4,161 students in grades PK, K-12 and a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. According to state test scores, 86% of students are at least proficient in math and 88% in reading. Forbes Magazine rated New Canaan Public Schools – #2 District in the Nation “Best School Districts for your Housing Buck”. The New Canaan PS Technology department is responsible for providing and maintaining approximately 8,000 technology devices for 5,500 end users. “In addition, top priorities include staff cyber security training, ongoing staff professional learning in areas of networking and cybersecurity, and continual maintenance of our networking components” said Ian McHugh, Manager, End User Services. “Maintaining a high level of service and a secure technology infrastructure is important to academic achievement in 21st century schools”, said Mr. McHugh. ‘The New Canaan PS Technology Department recog-

nized the need to replace a legacy firewall, included funding in the 2020-2021 budget and evaluated several vendors. “DBO provides us with a single point of contact for all network problems, changes and trouble-shooting”, said Mr. McHugh. The powerful detection capabilities inherent in the Palo Alto platform prevent attacks from compromising users and data.” The DBO team provides the New Canaan district with experienced network engineering talent and is a trusted advisor that understands the unique K-12 education infrastructure needs.” Managed security service providers, like Digital BackOffice, offer a single point of contact, a local help desk, 24x7 monitoring and expertise in securing the network from cyber-attacks, malware, hacking and ransomware. User education is important, but prevention and frequent policy adjustments are the key to a robust cyber-security strategy. Effective prevention requires next generation tools, experience, training, process controls and a security partner prepared to take responsibility for actively managing network security. NOVEMBER 2020 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 45

TECHNOLOGY A Different Kind Of Virus

Norwalk IT lowers the attack surface in tech

hile you may have heard the phrase “work from home” before 2020, coronavirus brought us “government from home.” And with that came the increased need for cybersecurity from our municipalities because an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure. Henry Dachowitz, the Chief Finance Officer of Norwalk, Karen DelVecchio, the IT Director of Norwalk, and Dale Bruckhart of Digital BackOffice spoke to us about the changing face of cybersecurity. “COVID-19 changed the way we do business,” DelVecchio said, given just 72 hours to plan for hundreds of employees to work from home for the first time, her department enacted a two-week hurricane plan. She continued, “No one imagined that seven months later, most of our workforce would still be working from home.” The challenges posed by work from home are manifold. There are more ways to get into a system, what Bruckhart called “attack surfaces,” including many sophisticated techniques like the kind you might see in a movie. But surprisingly, Dachowitz said that he believes up to 90% of breaches are done through social engineering. This means that a person simply asks you for sensitive information when posing as a legitimate resource or some other means of tricking the user into giving up a way in. Because of this, many places, public and private have begun using two-factor authentication. This is one of the most cost-effective security measures according to Bruckhart, since it’s so easy to adopt. DelVecchio elegantly described the practice as something you have and something you know. If you want to use your debit card to take money

Henry Dachowitz, Karen DelVecchio and Dale Bruckhart speaking with host Matthew Ford about municipal cybersecurity on the October 14th episode of The Municipal Voice on WNHH 103.5FM.

out of a bank, she says, you have a card and you know your pin. In tech, two-factor authentication works on the same principle, you know your password, and you have an app to create a pin number (or one is texted to you on your cell phone). This has been a major factor during COVID because it’s an easy way to tell the system the person logging in is really that person. This lowers the attack surface by eliminating one possible avenue into a municipalities IT system. But there are others, and towns and cities across the country have fallen victim to ransomware attacks, where the perpetrator will encrypt important data for a ransom, usually to be paid in bitcoin. And it’s not just the financial loss that can be detrimental to a town or city. Dachowitz noted that as a municipality, you have tax records; a health department with HIPA infor-

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mation, a Board of Education with information on children, and all the records from police departments including arrest records and body camera footage. Any municipality that refuses to pay a ransom no longer simply risks losing their data, but having that data made public to other bad actors who might steal that information. This lead to Bruckhart saying that the most important step was prevention – lowering the attack surface so that you don’t have to deal with the fallout later. All three said that more and more cybersecurity should be a priority, not just for municipalities, but for businesses and home users. Success is contingent on a good plan, education, and staying up to date on the newest types of attacks. “It’s about people, it’s about process, it’s about technology,” DelVecchio said, “you get one wrong, then you won’t be successful.”

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Connecticut Town & City - December 2020

Articles inside

Across The Pond

Bloomfield support for Black Lives Matter

Enduring Problem Needs Enduring Solution

Futures Made of Virtual Technology

They Are the Municipal Champions

Achieving Racial Equity