Connecticut Town & City - October 2015

October 2015

Inside This Issue: Project B.E.S.T.

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COLT p6 Brookfield’s Champions p27

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

OFFICERS President, Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager of South Windsor 1st Vice President, Mark Boughton, Mayor of Danbury 2nd Vice President, Susan S. Bransfield, First Selectwoman of Portland Treasurer, Robert Congdon, First Selectman of Preston

Inside this issue...

Secretary, John A. Elsesser, Town Manager of Coventry DIRECTORS Robert Chatfield, Mayor of Prospect Michael Freda, First Selectman of North Haven Toni N. Harp, Mayor of New Haven Barbara M. Henry, First Selectman of Roxbury Deb Hinchey, Mayor of Norwich Cynthia Mangini, Councilmember of Enfield Rudolph P. Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield Denise E. Menard, First Selectman of East Windsor Leo Paul, Jr., First Selectman of Litchfield Lisa Pellegrini, First Selectman of Somers Pedro E. Segarra, Mayor of Hartford R. Scott Slifka, Mayor of West Hartford Mark B. Walter, First Selectman of East Haddam Steven R. Werbner, Town Manager of Tolland PAST PRESIDENTS William A. Finch, Mayor of Bridgeport Elizabeth C. Paterson, Mayor of Mansfield Herbert C. Rosenthal, Former First Selectman of Newtown Stephen T. Cassano, Selectman of Manchester

page 32

4 State-aid Cuts 5 Project B.E.S.T. 6 COLT 7 Regional Cooperation 8 CCM Rebranding 10 Member Services Survey Results

Regular Features

CCM STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Joe DeLong

13

Executive Director’s Message

DEPUTY DIRECTOR Ron Thomas

15

Q&A - Leaf Collection

16

CIRMA News

28

CCM Municipal Job Bank

30

Municipal Ethics

MANAGING EDITOR Kevin Maloney LAYOUT & DESIGN Matthew Ford ADVERTISING SALES/ PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Joan Bailey

On the cover: CCM’s new logo and tagline

WRITER Christopher Cooper EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Beth Scanlon

THE BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE OF MUNICIPALITIES 900 CHAPEL ST., 9TH FLOOR, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-2807

Connecticut Town & City © 2015 Connecticut Conference of Municipalities

OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 3

Additional State Aid Cut

Mid-year $15 million state-aid cut to towns; another $5 million possible this year; as $1 billion deficit looms post-election

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overnor Malloy’s announcement that he cut $15 million in non-education grants in municipal aid in the middle of this fiscal year is the first straw.

lose because of tax exempt entities like colleges, hospitals and state property. Barnes said the other $5 million might need to be withheld before the fiscal year ends on June 30.

The second straw is that another $5 million could be coming this fiscal year and that these cuts are based on the previously approved $20 million reduction in town aid included in the newly-adopted state budget for each of the next two fiscal years.

CCM is urging local officials to contact their state legislators to tell them of the impact of the cuts on their communities, especially if those cuts are not offset by savings that are both equal and real.

And last but not least, OPM Budget Chief Ben Barnes announced that state income tax receipts were lagging due to weak stock market earnings. And the projected loss of $100 million in tax receipts this year also exacerbates a much bigger budget problem just down the road.

Malloy and lawmakers just raised $1.3 billion in taxes – and canceled or delayed nearly $500 million in previously approved tax cuts – to balance this fiscal year and next. And the latest revenue trend means more deficit projections approaching – or topping – $1 billion must be resolved shortly after the 2016 state elections. “Everybody’s belief that we would return to a normal business cycle has faded,” said Barnes.

The $15 million cut in municipal aid was intended to be offset by savings achieved by the efforts of the Municipal Opportunities for Regional Efficiencies (MORE) Commission, but those savings have not been realized.

“These state aid cuts, while included in the state budget, still represent a breach in the state-local funding arrangement in the middle of the fiscal year, after local budgets have been set, and would adversely affect some of our neediest communities,” said CCM Executive Director Joe DeLong. “Furthermore, the MORE commission has not created, enacted, or provided for any specific set of efficiencies that towns can immediately use that will make up dollar-for-dollar for these aid cuts.”

OPM Secretary Barnes said the administration hoped to avoid cutting municipal aid for a second straight year, but lower than expected income tax receipts forced the administration’s decision.

Barnes said the $15 million came from the PILOT program that reimburses communities for funds they 4 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

We are also encouraging local leaders to discuss with their local legislative bodies as well as their residents and businesses regarding the implications of mid-year budget cuts. Specifically, we are asking local officials to tell their state legislators: • Towns have already passed their budgets. Mid-year cuts in state aid mean further cuts in necessary local services, higher property taxes and more employee layoffs — leaving some of our most vulnerable residents in the lurch.

• Towns and cities are also impacted by the $102 million in State agency budget rescissions. When funding for human service programs is reduced, residents look to their town hall for assistances – and that means additional burdens on municipal budgets.

• The MORE Commission must come up with legislative proposals that save towns hard money, truly on par with cuts. Proposals that do not provide substantive savings – or are not enacted by the General Assembly – harm residents and businesses, and weaken the state-local partnership.

• In FY 15, towns never received the promised $12.7 million in Municipal Revenue Sharing Account (MRSA) funds. The FY 15 state budget called for a $10 million reduction in municipal aid tied to MORE-related “regional efficiencies” and mandates relief — however, no relief equal to the cuts ever materialized.

“We continue to have the goal post moved on us and that’s a very difficult way to govern,” said DeLong, “Town and city leaders all understand that the state has challenges, but we want to be more of a partner.

If we could get away from spending so much time on defense, we could sit down with state legislators and try to realize these efficiencies.” n

2015 PROJECT B.E.S.T. SUMMIT B E S T ringing

very

takeholder

ogether

CCM, CBIA and CT AFL-CIO Partner For First Time On Summit For Business, Government, Labor And Education Leaders On Nov. 12-13

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CM, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), and the Connecticut AFL-CIO will partner for the first time to convene a Connecticut summit for business, government, labor, education, and social service leaders to brainstorm on the best common pathways for Connecticut’s economic future on Nov. 12 and 13 in Westbrook.

On Thursday evening, Nov. 12 and Friday, Nov. 13, the Project B.E.S.T. (Bringing Every Stakeholder Together) Summit will take place in Westbrook at the Waters’ Edge Inn – with a group of key policy leaders and stakeholders from across Connecticut.

The summit will be led by Kenya Rutland, principal of KJR Consulting, facilitating a group of 100plus Connecticut leaders that will brainstorm on the best pathways to a brighter economic future for Connecticut by focusing on these critical issues: • Revenue and Governance • Education and Workforce Development • Transportation and Infrastructure • Regional Solutions • Quality of Life Matters “The timing of the summit — one week after municipal elections — couldn’t be better for an exchange of the best ideas and forward-thinking that this gathering is sure to produce,” said Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director.

“The summit’s goal is to build a workable consensus from the full group on ways to improve Con-

necticut’s economic and community vitality,” noted Joe Brennan, CBIA President.

“Bringing together CCM, CBIA, and the CT AFLCIO, Connecticut’s largest labor organization, is unprecedented and will ensure the best policy leaders come to the table for this critical, first-time event,” said Lori Pelletier, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Connecticut AFL-CIO. A steering committee comprised of Connecticut municipal officials will help oversee the planning of the summit. Chairing the steering group is Rudy Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield. The other members of the committee are Michael Freda, First Selectman of North Haven; Mark Boughton, Mayor of Danbury; Patricia Llodra, First Selectman of Newtown; Philip Schenck, Town Manager of Bloomfield; and Michael Tetreau, First Selectman of Fairfield.

Thursday evening, Nov. 12, will kick off with a networking dinner and stimulating keynote address by award-winning journalist Keith Phaneuf of the Connecticut Mirror.

Phaneuf has been a leading reporter on state budget issues for nearly 25 years. The Friday, Nov. 13, session will be kicked off with an economic snapshot by Robert Triest, Vice President and Economist with The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Small group discussions will be taking place on Friday morning with the results discussed during the luncheon. The 2015 B.E.S.T. Summit concludes that day at 3 p.m. n OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 5

COLT

New “Council of Large Towns” focused on common ground

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he Council of Large Towns (COLT), a new association of Connecticut’s largest municipalities, has been established within CCM and is meeting monthly to discuss issues of particular relevance to the state’s larger cities and towns. CCM will staff the new Council and will provide support information for the membership prior to each meeting.

At the Council’s inaugural meeting, CCM Executive Director Joe Delong welcomed the eleven municipal CEOs in attendance and emphasized the importance of assembling the group of CCM leaders that represent Connecticut’s large towns to discuss topics of common interest and concern.

In terms of the key issues, there were many familiar faces: the property tax structure, regionalism, transportation and infrastructure, workforce development, and quality of life. COLT members agreed that the property tax is regressive and includes too many exemptions.

Members said they support increased incentives for regionalism, transportation infrastructure investments, and new ways to get residents in and out of cities. They also agreed that the State should invest in building a strong competitive workforce while working to retain established companies and attract new ones to Connecticut.

The discussion also focused on quality of life issues including blight, illegal usage of ATVs/dirt bikes on public streets, sober homes (and other group homes), regulation and zoning, sex offender placement, and smaller stores and businesses not complying with DOL regulations.

The Council decided that sub-groups would not be developed to address individual issues. Instead, at each meeting, the entire group will discuss specific topic areas. The areas for future discussion were refined to include:

6 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

• Quality of life issues • Municipal empowerment, including taxation and revenue diversification • Regionalism, including infrastructure and transportation • Education and workforce development, including business retention At the council’s second meeting in late September, the members discussed proposals for possible inclusion in CCM’s 2016 state legislative program and started their examination of quality of life issues that included: • Sober homes placement and oversight • ATV regulation & usage • Sex offender placement • Blight codes • Business compliance with DOL regulations

COLT Members: City of Milford • Town of Hamden City of Middletown • City of Stamford City of West Haven• City of Norwalk Town of Manchester • Town of Stratford City of Bristol • City of Meriden Town of East Hartford • City of Danbury Town of Fairfield • City of Waterbury City of Hartford • Town of Greenwich Town of West Hartford • City of New Haven City of Bridgeport

Regional Sharing

CCM to offer new booklet of innovative ideas for municipal cooperation

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owns have been engaged in a wide variety of regional activities in recent years and the flurry of regional cooperation is likely to continue with encouragement and support from state government and the very real benefits of saving money and operating more efficiently.

INNOVATIVE IDEAS:

REGIONAL COOPERATION

There is no teacher like experience and CCM is capturing some of the more successful and innovative regional solutions in recent years in a new publication “Innovative Ideas: Regional Cooperation – The Sharing Economy Comes to Towns.”

In addition to highlighting selected regional best practices among towns in Connecticut, the booklet will present significant regional initiatives that are ongoing in the regional councils of government; outline key state statutes that govern regional cooperation; and present information on state, federal, and other funding available to towns for regional initiatives.

With House Speaker Brendan Sharkey’s MORE Commission and the streamlining of Connecticut’s Councils of Government, the potential for towns to work together and achieve cost saving and efficiencies through shared services and other regional approaches has never been greater, as CCM Executive Director Joe DeLong points out in the introduction to the new book:

The Sharing Economy comes

“From airbnb to zipcar, the Sharing Economy is rapidly redefining business models across industries. It is an economic model in which individuals are able to borrow or rent assets owned by someone else.

The sharing economy model is most likely to be used when the price of a particular asset is high and the asset is not fully utilized all the time. Translating these concepts to local government can save municipalities and their taxpayers’ money. Sharing both the costs and benefits of equipment, programs, and studies with neighboring towns makes each stronger than they are alone.”

to towns.

Many of innovative ideas are drawn from all four corners of the state and are reprinted from Connecticut Town & City, CCM’s bi-monthly magazine. They detail cooperative efforts on projects that include transportation, economic development, environmental preservation, brownfield clean-up, public safety, equipment sharing, and much more.

“Innovative Ideas: Regional Cooperation” is currently in production and will be available before the end of October. n

OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 7

What’s In A Name

CCM rebranding survey tests awareness, message, and results

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ow much name recognition does the public have about CCM? And what message do we send that resonates the most? You don’t know what the public knows until you ask – and so we asked.

These were just some of the questions Avonbased consultant Adams & Knight put to the test in a statewide survey. The survey is part of a comprehensive process that the consultant is using to help us to rebrand CCM and build greater consumer awareness of our programs and services. We strongly believe that rebranding will allow us to enhance alliances with non-governmental partners, such as nonprofits, educators, volunteers groups, and others who would benefit from our cost-effective programs.

The online survey took about 15 minutes to complete and polled respondents in all eight counties of the state. The respondents were first screened based on their voting frequency, which may indicate their awareness of issues affecting their towns.

“If they answered ‘don’t vote,’ we screened them out,” the consultants said.

Of the 300 respondents who completed the survey, 94 percent said they vote “most of the time” or “rarely miss.”

The survey sought to gain quality feedback on how aware voters are of CCM, how favorably they view the organization, what offerings they would value the most and which position statement is most appealing. Feedback was also solicited on a new logo.

Some of the results show that there is work to be done. About 60 percent of the respondents said they couldn’t think of any organization that focuses on addressing key town and city issues.

Of the other 40 percent that did name an organization, no one organization gained more than 2 percent of the responses. The good news is that CCM was among the organizations mentioned. The top nine organizations mentioned were: AARP, Department of Transportation, Department of Labor, Department of Education, CBIA, ConnPIRG, Political parties – Democrats and Republicans, CCM, and Chamber of Commerce.

8 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

When asked what offerings were considered most valuable, respondents viewed most favorably collective purchasing of power to provide cheaper energy.

Other desires were advocacy and nonpartisan updates and objective research.

Representing Municipalities Throughout Connecticut For Over 40 Years

Respondents seemed to equally favor two position statements put before them, as both messages garnered more than 80 percent favorability. A combination of these two messages is being used to define CCM’s future position.

The first message positioned CCM as the “go-to resource” for important municipal decisions: “We empower local leaders and community residents alike to make better-informed decisions about all kinds of issues and opportunities affecting their cities and towns. How? By providing easy access to objective research, proven expertise, educational resources, collective buying power, and power advocacy. For 50 years now, our members have been leveraging each other’s expertise to make each of their communities a better place to live, play, and work. And together, we’ll continue to innovate best practices for better government.”

The second position statement stressed unity and characterized CCM as an effective catalyst: “CCM is the catalyst for more effective and efficient local government. Our members represent Connecticut towns and cities of all sizes from all corners of the state. We come together for one common mission – to improve everyday life for every resident of Connecticut. We share our expertise and best practices to improve local government. We advocate for issues affecting local taxpayers at the state level. And we pool our buying power to negotiate more cost-effective services for their communities. Together, we are all CCM.” For both test messages, more than 70 percent of respondents indicated they wanted to learn more about the organization.

The survey also asked for feedback on a new look logo – three Cs stacked with the name and tag line – “Collaborating for the Common Good.”

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OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 9

CCM Services To Members A September CCM survey said…

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ormer New York Mayor Ed Koch used to hit the Big Apple streets or ride the subways and ask his constituents, “How am I doing’?”. In that spirit, CCM recently conducted a survey of member towns – as CCM approaches its 50th year of service to towns in 2016 — to ask the very same question, posed slightly differently — regarding current member services and possible new services for the near future.

Research and Information led all programs with an effectiveness score of 8.3, while the Public Policy and Advocacy and Labor Relations Data and Research each scored 8.1. Other programs and services including Government Finance, Training and Education, CCM Annual Fall Convention, CCM Spring Symposium for Emergency Management, Energy Services, and Drug and Alcohol Testing ranked between 8.1 and 7.0.

The survey first asked local government officials to rate CCM’s overall effectiveness in helping them meet their town’s needs. Nearly 140 local officials – from mayors, first selectmen, and town/city managers to a wide range of municipal department heads in towns and cities across Connecticut — responded to this question and the other questions that followed. These member leaders gave CCM an overall effectiveness rating of 7.9 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Comments about specific CCM services and programs included “My town utilizes all CCM services.” and “I enjoy all the publications and share them with different municipal departments.”

In the comment section that followed question #1, respondents wrote that overall, CCM was “very responsive, and always very knowledgeable” and that “CCM helps me stay in touch with current legislative issues and best practices. I consider CCM an extension of my staff.” Another respondent said, “I like knowing I can email CCM for information about pretty much anything! It’s a great way to ‘regionalize ideas’.”

Next, CCM asked the local leaders to rank individual current CCM services and programs and again

10 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

The third question asked how helpful possible new CCM service areas could be to local governments and survey respondents ranked them from 8.3 to 6.8 (in order): • Grant finding service • Group purchasing • Information technology services • Executive search service • Revaluation services • Health benefits administration • Telecom cost-reduction service • Bank card services for credit card processing

Keep more in your pocket.

One of the comments in this section emphasized that “We would welcome help in any of these areas, especially information technology.”

When asked how any of these new services should be paid for, 35 percent said they should be paid for within existing dues with a small to moderate dues increase, while 59.7 percent said they should be paid for separately, with subscribing towns paying for the services they choose.

Comments reflected the dichotomy of the scores with one respondent saying “it might be best to have both - some new dues as well as separate pay for certain services,” while another said “if services were changed to purchase-as-you-usethem (menu style), it might limit their use.”

“My town utilizes all CCM services.” and “I enjoy all the publications and share them with different municipal departments.”

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A final question asked respondents to indicate up to three new service areas that CCM should consider providing a dedicated service that would be most helpful to their local government and answers included: • Grant finding and grant writing assistance • Telecom cost reduction • Group purchasing • Help with Affordable Care Act compliance • Job postings/resume bank • CCM health insurance pool for towns • Information technology think tank/shared services group • 311 system availability • Technology training and support • Model ordinance directory • Secure document destruction

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New Services THE PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD PROGRAM IS SAVING RESIDENTS IN PARTICIPATING CCM-MEMBER TOWNS AND CITIES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PRESCRIPTION COSTS.

For more information, please contact Barbara Ryan, at 203-498-3015, or bryan@ccm-ct.org.

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CCM to launch GrantFinder, Bankcard, and telecom services

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imes change, needs change, and organizations must constantly evolve and grow in order to achieve their missions. That includes local governments and the agencies that serve them, like CCM. New programs and services, a new website, and the CCM rebrand all speak to our mission of continually serving our customers better.

In various forms of feedback, including the recent Member Services survey, grant finding assistance was identified as one of the top offerings in terms of new programs that CCM might offer in the future.

CCM is currently working to obtain a statewide GrantFinder License to share with our members. Towns will be able to search an extensive database for federal, state, corporate, and foundation grants that would best serve their respective communities. The service will also include a bimonthly newsletter and e-alerts.

Another new program includes partnering with Bankcard Services, which provides affordable Point of Service credit card processing systems and plans. CCM members will be able to save money on credit card payments in their town halls.

Rated A+ with the Better Business Bureau, Bankcard Services analyzes their clients’ business and processing needs and tailors solutions to their specific situations. CCM will be able to provide members with competitive rates, 24/7 support, and no contracts.

Telecom assessment is another new cost saving service to be offered by CCM. Member towns will receive personalized service regarding all areas of telecom usage. Working with our international telecom consulting firm Schooley Mitchell, municipalities will realize significant cost savings thanks to a cost reduction overview that will analyze local, wireless, and long-distance services, data connectivity, internet, conferencing, and other telecom expenditures.

The best part is that the fees for Schooley Mitchell’s analyses are paid by the cost savings realized by reduced telecom expenses. In addition, towns are always the masters of their own destinies in terms of the services they want and the kind of analysis they request from the consultant.

Three new services for CCM members – three new ways to serve you better! n

12 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

A M E SSAGE FRO M TH E

A

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

s the voice of local government, CCM has many dedicated staff members working diligently behind the scenes to hone our message and put the facts behind it so that when we speak, the needs of local governments and the people they serve are heard loud and clear. Each of our four Divisions – Government Relations, Public Policy and Advocacy, Member Services, and Communications and Member Relations — plays a critical, interconnected role in achieving our goal of helping you.

The next several issues of CT&C are featuring each of our Division Directors outlining the services and programs they provide and their division’s goals and plans for adding services and improving existing ones over the next year. In this issue, Shari Fiveash, Director of Member Services, will discuss our member services programs and goals and what the division plans to achieve during the months ahead.

Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director

Spotlight: Member Services — Building On Our Strengths To Better Serve You “You’ve always known what the best of you is. You’ve always known it. So trust it. Believe it.” Those are the words of Marcus Buckingham, award-winning author, internationally known business consultant and leader of the “strengths” movement.

We’ve taken not only those words to heart but also the concepts behind them to help refine our practices and improve and expand our programs. To do this we are building on our strengths, reshuffling some responsibilities, and updating job descriptions.

It is an exciting time for our staff as we work on a number of improvements and new offerings all aimed at anticipating your needs and providing solutions. There will be an expansion of current programs as well as new offerings and new partnerships with other state associations, organizations, and institutions. And you’ll hear all about it as we roll out a marketing campaign over the next 12 months that will include a new logo, a new website, and a rebranding of the organization long known as the “voice of local government.” (see page 8 story)

There are plans in the works for a CCM-sponsored charity event in the spring of 2016. We intend to sponsor the event with partners and are very hopeful that it will become the first annual philanthropic event focused on our members and the community.

In hosting this annual event, we anticipate fostering partnerships with others who want to reach out to and enhance the community.

You’ll also see the difference at this year’s CCM Convention. Our member services staff has included more educational opportunities – nearly two dozen workshops. We’ve also expanded networking opportunities and brought in new sponsors and new revenue.

We are working to obtain a statewide GrantFinder License to share with our members. Municipalities would then be able to search an extensive database for federal, state, corporate, and foundation grants that would best serve their respective communities.

Get ready to discuss project “B.E.S.T.,” one of the newest tools in our legislative toolbox for 2016. CCM will gather a broad base of stakeholders – business, labor, government, and social services – to discuss and develop ideas that point the best way forward to a stronger economic future. (see page 5 story) Another new program includes partnering with Bankcard Services, which provides affordable Point of Service systems and plans. As a result we are able to provide members with competitive rates, 24/7 support, and no contract. We are also partnering with Schooley Mitchell to provide members with a service designed to save money on telecom expense management. And be on the lookout for CCM partnerships with colleges and universities across the state!

You can see that there is a lot going on and, a lot to like. So please – “like us, connect with us, and follow us.” An increased presence on social media from Member Services is another way we plan to keep in touch and stay on message!

Member Services staff will continue to build on our strengths and to grow, embracing new concepts and refining practices that will enhance the services we deliver and how we deliver them.

Shari Fiveash, Director of Member Services OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 13

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CCM appreciates their support and commitment to CCM and its members.

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& QA

M unicipal Leaf Collection

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onnecticut is famous for its beautiful fall foliage. As the season approaches, municipalities will be faced with the challenge of leaf collection and disposal. Many cities and towns have adopted policies and procedures for leaf collection and disposal.

This Q&A focuses on the methods of leaf collection services that municipalities offer their residents.

What methods of collection do municipalities use to help residents clean up leaves?

There are three common methods of leaf collection: curbside bag pick-up, curbside vacuum pick-up, and curbside container pick-up.

Curbside bag pick-up requires residents to collect leaves and put them in (usually biodegradable) bags that are placed at the curb.

Vacuum collection requires that residents rake leaves to the curb so that the public works department (or local equivalent) or contractor can pick them up.

Curbside containers (e.g. garbage cans) are also used to put leaves in for pick-up.

Do municipalities have leaf drop-off sites?

Yes. A number of municipalities allow residents to collect leaves in biodegradable bags and drop them off at designated sites (e.g. recycling centers, local fire houses, transfer stations, etc).

When do municipalities typically collect leaves?

Currently, there are over 100 leaf composting facilities that are registered with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. A majority of these facilities are municipally owned and operated.

For a listing of these facilities, go to http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2718&q=325374&depNav_GID=1645 Also, some municipalities provide compost bins to encourage residents to backyard compost.

What collection guidelines do municipalities establish?

Many municipalities require that collected leaves must be alone. There can be no branches, grass clippings, or other materials mixed in with the leaves.

Some, but not all, municipalities require that leaves be placed in biodegradable bags.

Can municipalities adopt an ordinance establishing a leaf collection program?

Yes. Some municipalities have enacted leaf collection ordinances that specify method of collection, disposal, and fines for non-compliance.

CCM can provide its members with examples of local ordinances and policies, as well as other related information.

If you would like more information on local leaf ordinances and policies, please contact CCM’s Government Relations and Research Department at 203498-3000 or by email at research@ccm-ct.org. n

Municipalities usually designate a one-to-two week period at a point in early November through mid-December to activate their leaf collection program.

What do municipalities do with the collected leaves?

In accordance with Connecticut General States section 22a-241 (b), leaves may not be disposed of in a landfill or an incinerator. Leaves must be recycled.

Most commonly leaves are composted.

OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 15

CIRMA

CIRMA’s E-Learning Center Providing the answers to safety training demands

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IRMA’s new E-Learning Center augments its instructor-led training programs by providing convenient online training on three of the most-requested OSHA safety training topics. Many municipal and public school employees are required by CONN-OSHA to be trained on bloodborne pathogens, chemical exposures, and personal protective equipment. By using the E-Learning Center, CIRMA’s pool members can eliminate travel time and scheduling conflicts that can slow or block their safety training initiatives.

In August, the Town of Cheshire began an E-Learning training initiative for over 100 of its town and school employees. Within six weeks, Cheshire employees successfully completed over 210 training courses through CIRMA’s E-Learning Center. Cheshire employees, on average, successfully completed each of the topics in less than thirty minutes.

“Is your employees’ Safety Training Program up-to-date?”

“Our CIRMA Risk Management Consultant encouraged us to use the E-Learning Center at one of our Safety Committee meetings and I thought it was an excellent way to train a substantial number of employees in a short period—while keeping them at the workplace and without any of the

issues that arise when sending numbers of employees off site,” said Louis A. Zullo, Cheshire’s Personnel Director and Assistant Town Manager. “The E-Learning Center allows our employees to work at their own pace to complete the courses. It also increased discussion about safety,” he noted.

Municipal and school employers must offer OSHA-safety training at the beginning of the job assignment, at least annually thereafter, and when new or modified tasks or procedures affect employee’s occupational exposure. Failure to provide training may result in citations and fines. Far worse, it may result in a life-threatening or serious injury to an employee—one that could have been easily prevented through proper training.

Many towns use their public library and its internet access as a training center for those employees who do not have access to computers as part of their regular job assignments. Schools may use their school library during off-hours as a training center for their custodial, kitchen or other employees who do not have access to computers.

The CIRMA E-Learning Center course offerings for 2015 focus on OSHA safety; CIRMA intends to add additional topics as its members’ employee training needs grow and change. The Town of Cheshire is already looking forward to new offerings: “I’m sure as other E-Learning training course opportunities are available we will be utilizing this method even more,” said Zullo.

16 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

Town Libraries can double as online Training Centers The E-Learning Center is an exclusive benefit for CIRMA’s pool members. Managers and supervisors are urged to register employees so that their CONN-OSHA training requirements are met and their employees have the understanding they need to protect themselves from workplace hazards.

To register employees, contact customerservice@localgovu.com or login to the training center portal at CIRMATraining.org or contact your CIRMA Risk Management Consultant at 203-946-3700.

CIRMA

GOVERNANCE

Delivering value beyond price

CIRMA delivers outstanding value to members through our: • • • •

Financial Strength Long-Term Rate Stability Municipal Expertise Tailored Programs and Services

CIRMA is the only municipal insurer in Connecticut dedicated to serving you! www.CIRMA.org

OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 17

CIRMA New CIRMA Staff And Promotions

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IRMA’s market leadership is built on the strength and expertise of its people. Employee development at CIRMA is ongoing, with new promotions and new hires added to build capability.

Zehra Patwa, ARM, PMP, of CIRMA’s Business Analytics team was recently promoted to the position of Business Analytics Technology Project Manager.

Katya Downey, also in the Business Analytics team, was promoted to the position of Senior Business Technology Analyst.

Within the Claim department, Sean Gaffney was promoted to Workers’ Compensation Data Quality Specialist II working with Mike Wampold, Workers’ Compensation Senior Claims manager.

Camille Eremita is now a Workers’ Compensation Medical Only Adjuster working with Lisa Mattei, Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager.

Nick Carone recently joined CIRMA’s Subrogation team, the unit within its Claims department that pursues reimbursement from responsible third-parties, as a Subrogation Specialist trainee working with Mark Budzyna. Nick, a native of Rocky Hill, received his bachelor of science degree in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, Storrs.

Kaitlyn Szilagyi joins Jacqui Lazowski and the underwriting Team as a Underwriter Trainee.

Kaitlyn, a resident of Wethersfield, majored in Business Administration with a concentration in International Management at Pace University.

Reminder to CIRMA Workers’ Compensation members: Report claims online

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n January 1st, 2016, all non-catastrophic Workers’ Compensation claims must be reported online at NetClaim.net. Over 900 reporters have been registered to report claims online since the system was launched in 2013.

The Netclaim.net portal is user friendly and improves the speed in which claims are reported. Timely and accurate information helps the CIRMA Claims team achieve the best possible outcome. To sign up to report claims online, please contact Sean Gaffney at sgaffney@ccm-ct.org.

18 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

HOUSING

Razing The Roof

Old mill making way for affordable housing in Killingly

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he Five Mill River that runs through the Attawaugan section of Killingly was the ideal location for one of the many bustling textiles mills that helped drive the economy in Connecticut more than 150 years ago. Along with the mill came the mill houses for workers, merchants who served those families and growing municipal services to meet growing demands.

Today, the town of Killingly continues to look for ways to meet the demands of its residents and is moving forward with plans to raze a former curtain mill to make way for affordable housing. Shuttered in 2010, the former Powdrell & Alexander Mill property is now a brownfield site. The town is in the process of studying the best tack to take for safe remediation.

Above: The Powdrell & Alexander Mill as it looked in its heyday.

Below: The mill reimagined as affordable housing.

Once demolished, the property will be the new home of a 32-unit mixed-used affordable housing complex. The town has partnered with the non-profit Women’s Institute Realty of Connecticut to help secure about $4 million for a remediation study and demolition. Other partners on the project include the mill owners and a local social service agency.

“The town recently signed an assistance agreement with the state that allows us access to $2 million in state grant funding,” said Mary Bromm, the town’s community development director.

Bromm said the Women’s Institute raised another $2 million. The Women’s Institute partners with municipalities, community groups and service providers to establish affordable housing and enhance residents’ ability to gain economic independence.

Earlier this year, the overall project was awarded $10.5 million in state financing through the state Department of Housing and Connecticut Housing Finance Authority in Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity and direct state capital funds.

The old mill sustained damage as it sat vacant the past several

years. Town officials want to ensure that the property will be free of any hazardous materials and are requiring remediation contractors to test and monitor inaccessible areas.

The study and demolition are expected to take about nine months to complete. n

OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 19

CIVIC AMENITIES

A Touch Of Technology

Guilford goes interactive with heritage visitors

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or visitors, shoppers, and history buffs, the best of Guilford is literally right at their fingertips.

The town recently unveiled a new interactive Visitor Information Kiosk and that features a touchscreen computer monitor that offers information on town restaurants, shopping, historic venues and town events.

The kiosk represents the culmination of three years of hard work by members of the Guilford Preservation Alliance who compiled much of the information and are pleased with its centralized location near the popular Community Center.

“It’s close to a lot of the resources. Close to three house museums and close to the shopping and the dining and, also, the Green,” Alliance President Shirley Girioni said. “It just seemed extremely logical to place it as close to the (community center) as possible.”

The kiosk is part of the Alliance’s heritage tourism plan to encourage exploration of Guilford’s historic,

20 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

cultural and natural resources. Organizers cited a recent study that showed that most “heritage travelers” want trips that combine culture, nature, exercise and shopping. More than 70 percent of those surveyed said they want to be able to visit places that still retain their historic character and most want their travel to be educational.

Funding was provided through the state Bond Commission, the Connecticut Humanities Council, Guilford Preservation Alliance’s Marjory Schmidt Fund and the Guilford Foundation. The computer monitor will be available year-round, 24 hours a day, while the kiosk will be staffed by volunteers during the summer.

Town officials say the visitor kiosk could mean a boost for businesses.

“If we can make it easier for people to come to our town and find various places to go and support, that’s very helpful,” Guilford Economic Development Coordinator Brian McGlone said. n

CIVIC AMENITIES

Get Out And Play

Milford making more room for youth sports

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esponding to the growing participation in youth sports, the city of Milford is moving forward with plans to build two new athletics fields that can be used nearly year-round. Part of those plans included a crucial land swap with the local YMCA that aldermen recently approved.

After original designs had the city fields encroaching on YMCA property, aldermen approved swapping some 2.7 acres of city land for about 2.5 acres of YMCA property bordering the parcel where the fields will be constructed.

The turf fields will be 210 feet by 360 feet and should be ready for use next summer, said Recreation Director Paul Piscitelli, who worked with City Planner Dave Sulkis and YMCA representatives on plans for the field. The project also will include a loop trail for biking and walking.

Piscitelli said the new turf fields will help address several important concerns – availability, safety and maintenance costs.

Local youth coaches have expressed the need for

more capacity to help alleviate scheduling conflicts.

Turf fields have also improved in safety over the years resulting in fewer ligament injuries than on grass fields. They are also easier to maintain.

Maintaining a quality natural grass recreation field means limiting its use to 15 to 20 hours a week. It should also be dormant for a full season, Piscitelli said, citing industry standards. Irrigation, re-seeding, fertilizing among other upkeep duties could cost $20,000 a year per field. The average field in Milford is in use almost 30 hours a week with the only down time in the winter. The entire maintenance budget for all grass fields is less than $20,000. The new facilities will allow the city public works staff the opportunity to repair other fields.

“One of the most dramatic changes is that individual sports — football, baseball, soccer, lacrosse — are played year-round rather than being played only during their traditional seasons,” Piscitelli said. “This has negatively impacted not only the availability of fields but also the quality of fields, which jeopardizes the safety of all players.” n

OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 21

GOVERNANCE

Extreme Makeover

Old school to be new municipal and public safety complex

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ast Haddam is moving forward with a plan to convert a former middle school building into a municipal and public safety complex, thanks to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program loan and a recent change in Connecticut law that now allows towns to use 40-year financing, terms which had previously been capped at 30 years.

• Community support services such as child care centers and community centers

“The USDA loan will enable our small town to rebuild our municipal complex in an unused middle school building, opening up a great economic area for tourism across from the Goodspeed Opera House,” said First Selectman Mark B. Walter.

• Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment

Preliminary planning for the renovated school focused on potential uses that could include space for municipal workers, the Board of Education, Shared Services, Emergency Services as well as Public Safety. The town’s Middle School Conversion Committee will develop and present a final plan.

The change in state law to allow towns to use 40 year loans will significantly reduce annual repayment costs and could lead to more community facilities and local infrastructure projects, officials said.

The rural development loans may be paid back over a 40-year period instead of the shorter terms for Connecticut municipal construction bonds, so they are more affordable on a year-toyear basis for smaller towns.

The change in the state statute was spearheaded by state Sen. Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) who is also the First Selectman of Sprague.

Communities with no more than 20,000 residents are eligible for USDA rural development loans and funds can be used to purchase, construct or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses. Examples of essential community facilities include: • Health care facilities such as hospitals, clinics and nursing homes • Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, and street improvements

22 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

• Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, or public works vehicles • Educational services such as museums, libraries or private schools

• Local food systems such as community gardens and food pantries n

Sen. Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) spearheaded the change in state law to allow towns to use 40 year loans.

GOVERNANCE

A Capital Idea

Groton planning memorial for crew and builders of namesake sub

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iving a big nod to Groton’s seafaring reputation as the Submarine Capital of the World, town and city officials have joined forces to create a memorial park using a key component of the submarine USS Groton as the focal piece.

The joint organizing committee has its sights on bringing home the “sail,” the tall tower that juts up from the hull. Commissioned in 1978, the boat is the third named for Groton. Parts of the boat are in Washington State and must be reassembled.

The committee surveyed residents this past summer to engage them in the decision-making process.

Organizers said they wanted to gain insight and critical information to “ensure financial and organizational resources are available to build this memorial.”

The memorial is expected to cost at least $700,000 if installed on the grounds of a former school, one of the potential sites the committee is exploring. Once installed, the “sail” would also feature – appropriately – the town’s corporate seal.

“It finally brings a submarine to the monument, which is what the logo of the town is,” Town Councilor Rich Moravsik said.

Both proposed sites are near his-

toric Fort Griswold, which played a key role in the Revolutionary War when it was captured by British Forces in 1781 as a result of Benedict Arnold’s treason. The fort was designated a state park in 1953.

Groton City Mayor Marian Galbraith said either site would also be linked to the Thames River Heritage Park but regardless of location, the intent of the memorial is to honor those who built or served on the submarine.

“It’s the way these designs respect and honor the history and the people of the USS Groton,” the mayor said. n

A bow-on view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Groton.

OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 23

GOVERNANCE Open Space

Ridgefield tackling boundary violations

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hat do you do when a good walk in the woods is spoiled?

Ridgefield officials are taking action to address violations of open space, particularly by abutting landowners who some say treat the public land as if it were their own – and not too kindly, either.

Illegal dumping, fencing off and, in at least one case, erecting a shed, are some of the violations noted by Conservation Commission members.

The Commission oversees some 2,500 acres of open space around the town and officials say they spot a number of encroachments each year, most of which are settled in a friendly manner.

“We walk our boundaries and often it’s brought to our attention by neighbors,” Commission Chairman Carroll Brewster said. “A lot of them are innocent. Someone is just mistaken about a boundary and that kind of thing. And some of them, I think, have required a little more forceful action from us.”

“perfectly clear” the procedure by which it seeks the advice of the town counsel. The town attorney works with a variety of town departments, but mainly reports to the First Selectman. The town attorney is usually the last resort to addressing the trespassers, Brewster says.

That forceful action may include codifying the protocol the Commission uses when it has to address the encroachment. Brewster says the Commission has gone to the town attorney for advice, support and ultimately a letter to send to the alleged trespasser warning him or her of a fine.

“Normally we ask the property owner to please refrain from fencing or dumping or clearing or whatever else on public land. And normally the landowner will pull right back, and that’s that,” Brewster said. “In cases where that’s not been as easy to accomplish we’ve been having to go to town counsel and he then takes the matter over.” n

The Commission recently asked the Board of Selectmen to make

Curbside Pickup

Stamford updating regs on food vendor trucks

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ark it here. That’s the message Stamford officials are working to clarify as they update a city ordinance governing food vendor trucks.

The city aims to identify stationary parking zones to accommodate the vendors and at the same provide safe areas for customers queuing up for the mobile meals.

Officials also are mindful of not infringing the business of licensed restaurants in city that may pay up to $15,000 a month in rent, while food truck permits are a fraction of that at under $600.

“Restaurants don’t want to see a food truck show up and park in front of their establishment because that’s just a crazy and unnecessary competition,” said Frank Fedeli, customer service supervisor of the Citizen’s Service Bureau.

The drive to update the ordinance stemmed from late night noshing. Many food trucks were doing business after 11 p.m. along Bedford Street when restaurants closed. However, they parked on the left 24 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

side of the roadway with the service window facing the traffic lane. Customers had to line up in the street creating a potential public safety hazards. The trucks eventually moved to the other side of the street after receiving a warning letter from police.

Deputy Police Chief Thomas Wuennemann said the trucks are on the streets until 3 a.m. Because there is nothing in the current ordinance limiting parking locations, the trucks can operate anywhere if they have a valid permit. City officials say that limits their enforcement efforts because they don’t have the ability to know where the trucks are.

In addition to identifying stationary parking zones, proposed changes also include limiting parking 500 to 1,000 feet away from restaurants. A committee formed by the Service Bureau and Stamford Law Department will be working on the changes and will consider input from the police and health departments, vendors and restaurants. n

GOVERNANCE Water Works

Portland assessing long-range infrastructure needs

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he town of Portland is looking ahead – far ahead. Using the equivalent of a community-wide crystal ball, the town is taking stock of its long-term infrastructure needs in a review that includes securing its water supply.

Aided by its Long-Range Capital Commission, which reviews major purchase requests, town staff, boards and commissions, consultants and others, the town is on track to complete the long-range assessment by the end of the year. At the same time, it is revising its state-mandated Plan of Conservation and Development, a blueprint of development required every 10 years.

“It’s my intention that we bring this review of all these needs together so we understand what our infrastructure needs are,” First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield said.

In a recently adopted resolution, the Board of Selectmen identified the need for a comprehensive look at everything above and below ground. Reviewers

will look at municipal buildings, parks and recreation facilities, utilities, roads, IT infrastructure and even trees.

An analysis of the water and sewer infrastructure will assess its condition and value and is being conducted in conjunction with the town’s water supplier, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC).

Although the town buys much of its water from the MDC, it is not a member. However officials say the town could eventually join as a full member depending on the outcome of the assessment. The study will include a comparison of Portland’s water and sewer rates and the MDC rates. The non-profit MDC supplies water to 400,000 people in eight member towns. It also provides water to parts of six other towns, including Portland.

“With this analysis, we can see how our future water needs will be taken care of,” Selectman Carl Chudzik said. “This is something we all agree on, as well as the staff and the Water and Sewer Committee.” n

OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 25

CIVIC PRIDE

A Family Affair

Stamford Mayor Martin’s charity mentors high potential children

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ong before David Martin was elected Mayor of Stamford, he held another title: champion of mentoring. In 2008, Mayor Martin and his wife Judy founded the “Starfish Connection,” a 501(c)3 public charity with the mission of helping academically talented youth from low income families reach their potential and achieve their dreams of attending college.

Starfish Connection is a comprehensive, 10-year program for high potential children from high risk socio-economic groups beginning in the 3rd grade that provides mentoring, advocacy, educational support, enrichment, and extracurricular activities throughout their elementary, middle, and high school years. The program currently enrolls 49 Stamford youth from ages 8 to 17. The goal is to ensure that each Starfish Connection student is ready and able to attend a college of his or her choice after high school graduation.

Judy Martin runs the Starfish Connection and Mayor Martin is a member of the board, a public spokesman for mentoring, and serves as its treasurer. Starfish is an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff and the Martins pay overhead and operating costs as all donations go to fund enrichment activities.

“While Judy and I founded Starfish Connection, the real credit goes to my wife Judy and the mentors, who commit their time and support, often for a decade or more, and to the Starfish themselves, who prove to us the value of mentorship as we watch them grow and learn and succeed,” Mayor Martin said.

Mentors meet with students on a regular basis, help advocate for them at school along with their parents, enroll them in enrichment activities which are paid for by the Starfish Connection, take them to local background-enriching activities and ensure that students have and use tutoring support as needed.

“Mentors make sure that the children receive some of the same kinds of opportunities that other kids are able to experience in the rich environment of Stamford,” Judy Martin said. “We make sure they get to go to museums, shows and musical performances, play sports, and take music lessons. Each student is signed up for an enrichment activity every season and attends summer camps and programs.”

Mentors “are there for the children every step of the way, helping them overcome obstacles and identify opportunities to grow and prosper, even helping with family issues,” she said.

26 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

Starfish Founders Mayor David Martin and Judy Martin with Young Mariners Foundation Chairman, Tom O’Connell

Last year for example, Starfish siblings were being evicted from the home their parents had rented for 10 years when the bank foreclosed on the owner.

Faced with no affordable housing option for a family of seven in Stamford, they thought their only option was to move to Bridgeport – a move that would have been disruptive for the students. But the older sibling’s mentor stepped in, arranged an extension of their lease, located permanent housing, and helped with the application and lease signing.

Some enrichment activities for the program’s 21 elementary students and their mentors last year included: • An autumn walk at Stamford’s Nature Center • A visit to the Historic Hudson Valley, and Washington Irving’s homestead • Science experiments at the Challenger Learning Center in Ramapo, New York • A trip to Norwalk’s Silvermine Arts Center in April The one-on-one time with mentors ensures that the children get the most out of their experiences — one-to-one interaction that the Martins say makes all the difference.

Starfish Connection partners with several local youth organization s programs to provide both after-school and summer enrichment for the children. The combination of mentoring and enrichment over a 10-year horizon is what makes Starfish Connection so successful. Children in the program regularly achieve B averages and better in school, and are well poised for attending college after high school graduation. n

CIVIC PRIDE

Oooo, Barracudas

Brookfield’s boys of summer made a run to remember

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n the eyes of a 10-year-old, summer can seem to stretch forever. School’s out and there’s nothing but weeks and weeks of play ahead. For one special group of Brookfield youngsters, that’s exactly what happened.

The Brookfield Barracudas, the town’s entry into the 2015 Cal Ripken Baseball League, went all the way to the top in the state, winning the Connecticut Cal Ripken State Championship for youngsters 10 and under.

The fun kept going. The next stop was winning the New England Championship and then it was on to the Cal Ripken 10U World Series in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Some dramatic play there kept their run alive.

With their parents cheering them on, the Barracudas rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth and final inning to beat a team from Texas.

That come-from-behind win catapulted them into a game against host team Jonesboro. That’s where the magical run ended, however, as Jonesboro erupted for 10 runs in the second inning and came away with an 11-0 victory. In all, the Brookfield boys finished with a 1-3 record in the pool play.

Those who know them best – their parents, their

coaches, their neighbors – couldn’t have been any prouder.

“They are the hardest working group of 10 year old boys I have ever had the pleasure of coaching,” Coach Rocco Micelli said. “The boys probably won’t realize just how big a deal this was for years. To them they were simply playing baseball while they were on vacation, having fun, and making memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. That, to me is the most special part of the season.”

“These kids had us on the edge of our seats this summer,” First Selectman Bill Tinsley said. “They were great ambassadors for the Town of Brookfield, The State of Connecticut, and all of New England at the Cal Ripken World Series.”

“The Brookfield Baseball/Softball Association is extremely appreciative and proud of the extraordinary achievements and commitment of the coaches, players and families of the Barracudas,” said Stephen Harding, President of the Association. “We extend our gratitude to the greater Brookfield community who provided unprecedented support of the Barracudas in their pursuit of the championship.” n OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 27

CCM JOB BANK Current Listings: City Manager NORWICH, CT

Assistant Assessor WOODBURY, CT

Assistant Finance Director/Treasurer TOLLAND, CT

Building Code & Enforcement Official EAST HAMPTON, CT

Director of Planning STONINGTON, CT

Tax Collector POMFRET, CT

Land Use Group Coordinator MONROE, CT

Assistant Director, Highway/Refuse and Resource Management ENFIELD, CT

Director of Public Works TOLLAND, CT

Director of Planning & Development KILLINGLY, CT

Dir. of Development & Enforcement MERIDEN, CT

Assistant Engineer BRANFORD, CT

Zoning & Wetlands Enforcement Officer CROMWELL, CT

Assistant Assessor

TOWN OF GROTON, CT

Vice President of Claims CIRMA

To place or view an ad, please visit the CCM Municipal Job Bank at http://ccm-ct.org 28 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

VOLUNTEERS GoNHGo New bike map points the way in New Haven

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t’s not the destination, it’s the journey and in New Haven that journey may just earn enterprising commuters a prize.

The city partnered with a number of public, private and non-profit groups to launch a collective effort throughout the month of September, dubbed “GoNHGo.” The campaign promoted alternative forms of active transportation and awarded prizes to businesses and individuals who used their car the least and traveled sustainably the most.

Organizers say the aim is to create “a healthier, more sustainable, more active city with lower public health costs.”

Doug Hausladen, the city’s Director of Transportation said the program encourages commuters to think “outside the car.”

Cyclist Brian Tang made the going a lot easier for cyclists by designing a new bike map of the city based on miles of his personal pedaling around the Elm City. What resulted was a special edition bikeand-bus map of Greater New Haven that was available for use just in time for the GoNHGo campaign.

The map incorporates bus routes to encourage using multiple forms of transit to complete a trip.

Tang said if a trip isn’t directly on a bus route, “you can use your bicycle to help complete that, they call it, the last mile of your trip.”

A 2012 Yale graduate, Tang created the first edition of his bike map three years ago and it was distributed in cycle shops around the city. This new edition incorporates much more, including certain areas highlighted by orange stripes that show areas of heavy traffic or construction.

“Mapping is in a lot of ways an act of civic planning, an act of seeking to understand your environment. I think that drawing maps has been a big part of how I’ve come to understand the physical layout of New Haven and the different neighborhoods,” Tang said. n

TECHNOLOGY

Current Events Fairfield celebrates benefits of EVs

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he town of Fairfield put in a big plug in for the newest mode of clean, green transportation by sponsoring a recent “Electric Vehicle Showcase.”

Held in a commuter parking lot, more than 20 electric vehicles – autos and bicycles – were put on display. They were provided by local auto dealers and private owners. The event coincided with National Drive Electric Week.

The event was organized by the Fairfield Clean Energy Task Force.

“With the highest density of charging stations in Connecticut, the Fairfield community is helping to promote our region’s opportunities for cleaner transportation,” Task Force Chairman Scott Thomson said. “It’s the perfect time for an event that brings prime-time electric vehicle technology to a wider audience.”

The town has 10 EV charging stations with 10 more planned.

Experts were on hand to enlighten the public about the financial benefits of owning and driving the efficient electric vehicles. EV owners are eligible for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits and $3,000 in state rebates and incentives.

There are more than 1,600 electric vehicles registered in Connecticut.

The state launched a $1 million in-

The event was attended by Fairfield First Selectman Mike Tetreau, State Reps Cristin McCarthy Vahey and Laura Devlin, and State Senator Tony Hwang.

centive program this year that will provide cash rebates to residents, businesses and municipalities that buy or lease EVs. Officials estimate there are enough funds in the program for rebates for more than 450 electric or hydrogen vehicles. Funds for the program arose from the 2012 merger of Northeast Utilities and NStar.

The 15 vehicle models that qualify

for the program are manufactured

by Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, FIAT, Ford, Kia, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Smart, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Toyota.

“Our town is proud to be an active participant in supporting and utilizing numerous clean energy and green initiatives,” First Selectman Michael Tetreau said. n

OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 29

MUNICIPAL ETHICS DILEMMA

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ou are a member of your town’s Planning and Zoning Commission. From talking with other P&Z members, you learn that a major retail and commercial development firm has made inquiries at Town Hall — leading you to believe they are planning to build a major new plaza on Grove Street. The plan is not public, and has not been presented to P&Z and you only know about it because you are on the Commission. You expect that other properties on Grove Street will dramatically increase in value and wonder if you purchase nearby property, will you be benefitting from “insider” information?

This situation is addressed by the Town of Hebron’s code of ethics in Section 110 of our town charter under “Use of Confidential Information: No person governed by this code, former employee or independent contractor shall disclose confidential information concerning Town affairs, nor shall such persons governed by this code use this information for the personal or financial interests of themselves or others.”

-Andrew Tierney, Hebron Town Manager

HERE’S A NEW DILEMMA

Y

our town sent you to a conference in Nashville. The town paid for your travel costs and you received travel per diem while you were away. When you checked into your hotel, you received an information packet regarding the conference.

Included was a ticket stub that entered you into a drawing for a door prize to be made on the last day of the conference.

When they drew for the door prize, lo and behold, you won! Can you keep the prize?

30 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

PUBLIC SAFETY Greenwich Police

To protect and serve… and serve coffee

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olice departments have at their disposal a variety of resources to achieve their mission of protecting the residents and businesses they serve and in Greenwich, coffee is now one of them.

As part of its community outreach program, the Greenwich police department has initiated “Coffee with a Cop,” a nationwide program that brings police officers and community members together–over coffee–to discuss issues and learn more about each other.

“Coffee with a Cop” meetings take place at local restaurants.

Program proponents say the neutral locations provide the opportunity for real conversations about issues that matter, like public safety, crime trends and safety tips. Through the meetings, citizens and police officers get to know each other and discuss mutual goals for the communities they live in and serve.

“It’s another of the multiple ways we try to connect with the community,” said Lt. Kraig Gray. “The idea is to humanize police officers, let people speak with police officers in an informal way.”

The first meeting was held in Old Greenwich and the next one will be held in the west end of Greenwich with Spanish-speaking officers. Multiple meetings will be scheduled throughout Greenwich over the coming months.

“It will definitely be all over town,” Lt. Gray said.

There will be no set agenda at the coffee discussions.

In fact the banner promoting the program on the police department’s website says, “No agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers in your community.”

“If residents have issues with quality-of-life violations in their neighborhood or concerns about crime in the community, that input would be welcomed,” Gray said. “If people have questions about law-enforcement or what it’s like working as a police officer, those questions will be answered, too.” n

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OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 31

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

On Top of the World

Mansfield’s Storrs Center gains global recognition

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f you build it they will come – awards, that is. Of course so did the people, and lots of them.

The town of Mansfield’s public-private partnership that created the mixed-used Storrs Center and the new-look college town for the University of Connecticut continues to get rave views.

With its pedestrian-oriented streets, public spaces, popular retail and residential units, the Storrs Center has been selected as one of 22 finalists for the 2015 Urban Land Institute Global Awards for Excellence.

The latest recognition comes on the heels of another award. The Mansfield Downtown Partnership announced in May that it received the CT Main Street Center’s 2015 Award of Excellence in Planning for the development.

Just three years removed from the official groundbreaking of the first phase of the project, the Storrs Center was the result of a decade of community input created when the town and UConn formed the Mansfield Downtown Partnership to revitalize the town center.

The development has made significant strides since then. Most notably: • Commercial spaces in the first three phases are 100 percent leased • 32 new businesses now serve the greater Mansfield community • More than 200 new full-time and part-time jobs have been created • Property taxes for FY15-16 from Storrs Center are estimated at $2.4 million 32 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

In noting the all award-winning attention, Down Partnership Executive Director Cynthia van Zelm praised the residents of Mansfield for their involvement throughout the project.

“The residents have attended hundreds of public meetings, provided input, guided the design, and are now supporting the businesses and living downtown,” she said.

The winning projects of the Global Awards for Excellence will be selected this fall from a panel of judges who represent expertise in real estate, finance, land planning, development and public affairs. The criteria for the awards include leadership, contribution to the community, innovations, public/private partnerships, environmental protection and enhancement, response to societal needs, and financial viability. n

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

A River Runs Through It

Winsted economic development plans focus on natural beauty

R

aging rivers ripped away the heart of downtown from Winsted some 60 years ago.

Now town officials now are banking on them to give something back.

By making the natural beauty of the rivers a focal point of a revitalization plan, the town is hoping to attract more businesses and visitors to a downtown ravaged by the Flood of 1955. Officials are reviewing existing zoning regulations and developing new ones to ensure they meet the needs of the downtown plan and encourage foot traffic.

A recent study by the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce concluded that the town “has the infrastructure and assets to become a very vibrant downtown and destination in Northwest Connecticut.”

The study also recommended the hiring of an economic development consultant and town recently allocated funds to do just that. The consultant was hired this

past summer and, among other duties, will assist in applying for Small Town Economic Assistance Program grants, meet with merchants, promote real estate opportunities in town and help implement recommendations of economic development studies the town has commissioned.

The consultant, Craig Stevenson, told officials that the rivers and historic mill buildings are tremendous assets and building blocks for the town’s vision.

“I think the thing that you have going for you here, that a lot of towns don’t have, is all of those mill buildings are all right on the river,” Stevenson said. “They all have waterfront views. It needs to be manicured and taken care of a little bit, but that’s a huge advantage.”

Community engagement has also been enhanced with the return of police foot patrols to the downtown. Newly hired Chief William Fitzgerald implemented the foot patrols as a way for the town to

connect with merchants and meet face-to-face with the public.

A museum founded by one of the town’s most famed residents, consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader, is set to open this fall on Main Street. Nader hopes the American Museum of Tort Reform will be “a major educational opportunity and tourist destination” in town.

The improvements are intended to bring back to Main Street what the flooding of the Mad and Still rivers dramatically changed six decades ago. About 170 of 200 businesses were destroyed and Main Street – once a busy hub of commerce – was torn apart. In rebuilding, the state installed a four-lane highway through the downtown.

“I guess you might say that what the flood has done, is it’s brought a major highway right up our Main Street. And the traffic doesn’t slow down,” Town Historian Milly Hudak said. “I would like to see it slow down, so the merchants on Main Street are patronized. “ n

OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 33

ENVIRONMENT

Northern end of Candlewood Lake

Bloomwatch

New Milford lifeguards kept eye on Candlewood Lake clarity

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ew Milford lifeguards helped the town clear up concerns about potentially toxic algae growth in popular Candlewood Lake this summer.

Specifically, they checked to see if there were any algae blooms near the beaches.

For the past three decades, tests confirming the presence of bluegreen algae blooms were done from water taken in the deepest part of the lake. But this past summer, lifeguards at the five town beaches sampled water in shallower areas where the beachgoers congregate.

“We continue to do testing for bacteria levels,’’ said New Milford Health Director Michael Crespan said. “The testing for water clarity at the beach is a good tool for us.”

Environmentalists say blue-green algae blooms are not new and are found in many lakes but high levels may be a health hazard to humans and animals.

The algae releases toxins that can irritate the skin, eyes and nose and could cause liver damage if ingested in large amounts.

Town lifeguards used a fairly simple test and one that has been around for nearly 150 years.

The process tells health officials that if the water is murky, there may have been too much algae growing. Crespan said any blue-green algae detected near the beaches served as an early warning system for health departments.

34 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015

Town lifeguards used a fairly simple test and one that has been around for nearly 150 years. Testers lowered special disks, about 12-inches in diameter, into the water. The disks have alternating black and white patterns on each quarter. As they were lowered into the water on a rope or rod, the lifeguards would record the depth when they could no longer see the disk.

Candlewood Lake Authority officials say volunteers who live around the lake also use the disks to test the clarity. The information is made public through the Authority’s online postings. n

CORPORATE CITIZENS

Let The Sun Shine In 77 year-old manufacturer goes solar

T

hey may be old school, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing new under the sun.

The D.R. Templeman Company, a family-owned manufacturer of springs and wire forms, has been in Plainville for nearly eight decades. Founded in 1938, the company realizes “the importance of preserving the environment,” said company president Richard Williams in announcing the installation of a 360-panel, 111-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of its manufacturing facility.

“We are committed to doing our part by controlling the usage of resources in our manufacturing processes,” Williams said. “Our decision to go solar directly reflects our company values by actively promoting sustainability through the efficient use of clean, renewable resources.”

The company’s new rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system will generate 127,000 kilowatt-hours of power per year and will cover 100 percent of the manufacturing facility’s energy needs.

“We’re environmentally conscious and it reduces greenhouse gases,” said Williams. “The government incentives make it sensible to do and it adds economic value to the building.”

Williams said while the solar system will generate 100 percent of annual energy usage “we don’t go off the grid. In the summer we’ll over generate. In the winter we’ll generate some but not everything we use. But we’ll generate as much as we use over a 12-month period. That’s what it’s designed to do.”

The system is designed to generate power for a 20,000 square foot building.

Miniature springs are one of the products D.R. Templeton produces at it’s soon to be solar powered facility in Plainville.

The company utilized a 30 percent federal tax credit and the Eversource Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credit (ZREC) program, Williams said.

D.R. Templeton serves a wide range of industries including medical devices, electronic devices and switches, security and fire protection devices, and hardware and tools. n

“Our decision to go solar directly reflects our company values by actively promoting sustainability through the efficient use of clean, renewable resources.”

OCTOBER 2015 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 35

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