NB Politicus is a weblog featuring news and commentary on politics, government and community life in New Britain, CT. John McNamara - Editor and Writer
The City of New Britain has set a goal to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by 50% by 2035 and eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes (Vision Zero) by 2045!Working with the City’s Vision Zero Task Force, New Britain is developing a Safety Action Plan to achieve this goal. Your input will help to identify safety issues and solutions to inform the Plan.
Common Council leaders from New Britain’s Wards Four and Five will hold a constituent meeting on Saturday, January 25th, with the city’s state legislators to discuss municipal and state issues. The meeting will be held at Spottswood A.M.E. Church, 25 Crestwood Lane from 10 a.m. to noon.
Common Council Majority Leader John McNamara (D-4) and Council President Pro Tem Francisco Santiago (D-5) will host the meeting and will be joined by Alderman Neil Connors (D-4), newly-elected State Rep. David DeFronzo (D-26), State Representative Manny Sanchez (D-24) and State Senator Rick Lopes (D-6). Wards four and five includes the 26th and 24th state House districts in the city.
“Meeting regularly in the ward is a good way to get feedback from citizens on issues that city government can help address,” said McNamara. The meeting is open to all city residents.
Updates will be provided on a new rapid response program and other initiatives to address stormwater flooding issues in neighborhoods, current efforts to reduce speeding and prevent accidents, plans to re-open the Batterson Park recreation area and the start of the municipal budgeting process for the next fiscal year.
The Common Council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month with public participation beginning at 7 p.m. For more information contact Alderman John McNamara, john.mcnamara@newbritainct.gov
City Starts ‘Courtesy’ Response Service; Homeowner Flood Relief Is On Council Agenda
By John McNamara
More New Britain property owners are seeking compensation from the city for property damage caused by storm water flooding and sewage overflows, according to caseloads recorded by the city’s Corporation Counsel in recent years.
The Corporation Counsel “handles claims and lawsuits filed against the City of New Britain” including personal injury, workers’ compensation and property damages. Over four years (2020-2023) 168 claims were filed for various damages and personal injuries. In 2020 (4) and 2021 (5) property owners brought nine sewer/flooding claims. In 2022, seven were recorded. Through 2022 less than 15 percent of cases involved sewer and flooding problems. In 2023, however, the sewer back-up cases increased to 26 accounting for 41 percent of 2023 cases. Over the four years $179,503 claims have been approved involving 15 property owners “as the result of flooding” based on data from the Corporation Counsel.
The increase in claims stems from frequent and intense storms that have overwhelmed the city’s aging stormwater and sewage system in vulnerable neighborhoods. The outmoded storm water-sewage system has caused problems for decades, with homeowners incurring out of pocket expenses and loss of insurance since the 1990s.
City Hall Update
Through the FLUSH program (Fresh Line For Upgrades for Sanitary Health) and the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) the city’s Department of Public Works has identified projects over the last decade that will replace lead pipes and aging and broken infrastructure to reduce the risk to residences and neighborhoods. These projects require more investments from local, state and federal sources to be completed. Over decades, however, the city has pushed bonding for sewage projects down the road, preferring to wait for federal grants and using municipal borrowing for other purposes.
Since the summer of 2023 the dramatic jump in flooding has led to a public outcry, especially from residents in the Overlook Avenue-McKinley Drive and Allen Street area near CCSU. Only in the last year, thanks to public pressure, has progress been made on capital funding for Allen and Overlook where extensive damage occurs.
“Rapid Response” Service And Neighborhood Flood Relief Initiative
Responding to the flooding damages and public pressure, the Stewart Administration via the Corporation Counsel recently rolled out a “rapid response service” as part of the FLUSH program. Described as a “courtesy” program “to promptly address sanitary sewer claims upon homeowner contact with the city” the service involves the Department of Public Works (DPW) determining if city sewer mains cause back-ups. The homeowner will then be offered restoration services from Apple Valley Servicemaster, a partner with PMA, the city’s third party risk manager and insurance underwriter for liability claims.
According to a DPW official, homeowners must contact the city as soon as the back-up problems occur and, if deemed eligible, “it is highly recommended” that they use Apple Valley to mitigate the damages of flooding. The courtesy service “automatically starts the claim process if the homeowner signs on to Apple Valley Servicemaster.” Otherwise owners may seek other firms to address flooding and also retain the right to file claims to recover their out of pocket expenses. “Rapid Response” is similar to services in the cities of Stamford and West Haven, according to the Corporation Counsel.
Common Council Democrats have proposed a neighborhood flood relief initiative to “provide immediate and direct relief to homeowners whose properties are damaged by storm water and sewage when extreme weather leads to flooding and damages.”
“In lieu of capital improvements and other long-term mitigation activities,” a September resolution states, “a Neighborhood Flood Relief Pilot Program can provide immediate and direct relief to homeowners whose properties are damaged by storm water and sewage when extreme weather leads to flooding and damages.”
The neighborhood flood relief initiative will be the subject of a public hearing on Wednesday, November 6, at 6:30 p.m. before the Common Council’s Administration, Finance, Law and Public Services Committee.
The pilot program will provide a grant up to $7,500 to owner-occupied dwellings of up to 1 to 3 units on a first-come, first-served basis to reduce or eliminate the risk of repeat damage to basements, buildings and mechanical systems not covered by insurance or other sources. The flood relief initiative is meant to compliment the rapid response service which only begins when storms occur and property damage is occurring. The neighborhood flood relief proposal equips property owners with devices and services to prevent damages thereby reducing the need for new claims against the city. Modeled after a Hartford program in the capital city’s north end neighborhoods, grants would fund sump pumps, French drains, lateral replacement, window wells, basement windows, gutters, drain snaking , video camera inspections, sewer jetting, basement cleanouts, new boilers, hot water heaters, electrical components and mold remediation.
Basement flooding at a Brighton Street home near Allen Street after heavy rains in August 2024
The resolution calls for use of an estimated $500,000, which is a portion of an additional municipal aid received from the state legislature for the current fiscal year. “This initiative is a start at reducing damages to homes as the city seeks state and federal support for capital improvements to modernize the failing sewer and stormwater system,” proponents say.
The neighborhood flood relief initiative will be the subject of a public hearing on Wednesday, November 6, at 6:30 p.m. before the Common Council’s Administration, Finance, Law and Public Services Committee.
John McNamara is an alderman from Ward 4 and the Common Council Majority Leader. He has been sharing stories and writing about local government and the community on his nbpoliticus.com blog since 2006.
New Britain voting for the November 5th Presidential Election begins October 21st at the New Britain Senior Center, 55 Pearl Street, for all city residents. The last day to cast an early ballot will be November 3rd.
On Election Day November 5th polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. For residents who miss the voter registration deadline, same-day registration and voting will be available on Election Day.
As of October 15th, 31,803 residents are eligible to vote three days ahead of the October 18th registration deadline including 13,770 Democrats (44%), 13,162 Unafilliateds (41%), 4,409 Republicans (14%) and 462 (less than 2%) in third parties.
Polling Places
New Britain polling locations for November 5th by Assembly District
The ballot includes President/Vice President, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, State Senator, State Representative and Registrar of Voters. There is one referendum question asking voters to approve “no excuse” absentee voting as part of amending the state constitution.
The sample ballot for the 26th State Assembly District that includes Ward 4 polling places at Saint Francis of Assisi Church and Pulaski Middle School. District 13 voters vote at Saint Francis this year because of Holmes School reconstruction.
NEW BRITAIN – Common Council Democrats are proposing a neighborhood flood relief initiative to “provide immediate and direct relief to homeowners whose properties are damaged by storm water and sewage when extreme weather leads to flooding and damages.”
A resolution, introduced by Common Council President Francisco Santiago (D-5), Assistant Majority Leader Iris Sanchez (D-3) and Majority Leader John McNamara (D-4), is on the agenda at the September 25th Common Council meeting.
Democratic Caucus Update – New Britain Common Council
The “Neighborhood Flood Relief Pilot Program” would provide up to $7,500 in assistance to eligible owner-occupied homes from one to three units contingent on available funds “to reduce or eliminate the risk of repeat damage to basements, buildings and mechanical systems not covered by insurance or other sources.” The resolution calls for use of an estimated $500,000, which is a portion of an additional $2,864,147 in unallocated state municipal aid approved by the Legislature last May.
Eligible activities and improvements will involve funding for sump pumps, French drains, lateral replacement, window wells, basement windows, gutters, drain snaking , video camera inspections, sewer jetting, basement cleanouts, new boilers, hot water heaters, electrical components and related mold remediation, according to the resolution.
Extreme weather events brought on by accelerated climate changes are increasing the threat to property and public health in vulnerable neighborhoods of New Britain, the resolution states.
“Since July 2023 floods in neighborhoods most at risk from hazardous weather have become routine and are increasing.” said Majority Leader McNamara. “The outmoded storm water-sewage system has caused problems for decades, with homeowners incurring out of pocket expenses and the eventually loss of insurance. The conditions are causing an increase in claims of injury to property, adding to higher insurance costs for city government.”
“Dilapidated storm water and sewer mains are not effective in handling overflows that result in street flooding and flooding into homes and property whenever intense storms occur,” said McNamara, who also serves as Council liaison to the Board of Public Works. “This initiative is a start at reducing damages to homes as the city seeks state and federal support for capital improvements to modernize the system.”
Through the FLUSH program (Fresh Line Upgrades for Sanitary Health) and the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) the city’s Department of Public Works has identified projects that will replace aging and broken infrastructure to reduce the risk to residences and neighborhoods. At the September 11th Council meeting alderpersons approved three projects to address the problem:
$2,147,634 was approved to address chronic flooding in the Overlook Avenue-McKinley Drive area with most of the funding coming from the remainder of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money awarded to the city.
Planning continues with $80,000 more in site engineering work for Allen Street area stormwater and sewage improvements. The project will cost an estimated $13.9 million to be funded with up to a $9.4 million state bond funds and $4.2 million in city matching funds.
Using remaining American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding $13,490,285 million was approved to implement Phase 3 of the FLUSH program on the southeast side of the city between John Downey Drive and East Street.
In proposing a pilot flood relief initiative similar to programs in other cities, McNamara said the direct aid project can be a catalyst for more state and federal support to municipalities to deal with flooding damage to infrastructure and properties. He cited the the implementation of a similar program in Hartford three years ago and the release of a flood mitigation study this month from the CT Conference of Municipalities (CCM) that “outlines a series of strategic interventions tailored to the state’s unique environmental and infrastructural needs.”
Regular Common Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, except for July and August. Public participation in person and via remote call in begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers , 27 West Main Street.
NEW BRITAIN – Ward 4 Alderman John McNamara will hold a constituent meeting on Saturday, September 7, at noon to discuss municipal and neighborhood concerns of residents in the Saint Francis, Holmes School and Pulaski School voting districts. The meeting will be held at the Roma Sports Bar & Grill dining room, 382 Allen Street, 12 to 1:30 p.m.
An update will be provided on a $13.9 million capital improvement project to replace deteriorated stormwater and sewer infrastructure on Allen Street. The outmoded system has led to frequent flash flooding in the adjacent neighborhoods causing storm and sewer back ups and property damage. The Allen Street project is to be funded by a $9.7 million state bond proposed by legislators and matching funds of $4.2 million from the city. In addition, the status of the Overlook Avenue-McKinley Street project to address flooding will be provided. Other possible responses by the city to prevent losses from extreme weather will be discussed.
Information on early voting for the November 5th Election and the Absentee Voting referendum on ballots will be available, McNamara said. The lunchtime constituent meeting will include pizza and light beverages.
The Common Council will resume its twice a month schedule of regular meetings on September 11 with public participation beginning at 7 p.m. For more information contact Alderman John McNamara, john.mcnamara@newbritainct.gov
NEW BRITAIN – Ward 4 Alderman John McNamara will join locally elected officials from around the country associated with the Municipal Democratic Officials (DMO) organization at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago August 19-22.
McNamara, the Common Council Majority Leader, is one of 12 5th Congressional District delegates elected to represent Connecticut at the convention where Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) will be formally recognized as the nominees for President and Vice President. Connecticut’s Democratic Party is sending 74 pledged and district delegates to the convention.
DMO is a national association of elected Mayors, City Council Members, School Board Members, and other municipal leaders “who identify with the values of the Democratic Party.” It also helps “to connect, elect, and empower municipal elected officials by leveraging its national network of members, alumni, and strategic partners and providing training and other resources.
“I am looking forward to hearing ideas and ways that municipal governments can address homelessness, school funding equity, aging infrastructures and affordable housing that are key issues New Britain and other cities face in sustaining and building healthy communities,” said McNamara, who will participate in a first Democratic Local Elected Officials (DLEO) Council meeting on the first day of the DNC. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, will address local officials.
Connecticut delegates, including Governor Ned Lamont and the state’s Congressional delegation, will gather each morning of the convention to hear from party leaders and luminaries. Committee meetings and caucuses of labor, women, LGBTQ, seniors and other constituency groups will follow before evening sessions gavel in for speeches, adoption of the party platform and a ceremonial roll call for the Harris-Walz ticket. Delegates nominated Vice President Harris in a virtual roll call completed August 6.
A tribute to President Joe Biden with remarks from the President and Dr. Jill Biden are expected on the first night of the DNC and acceptance speeches from Governor Walz and Vice President Harris will conclude the convention. In between delegates will from Hillary Clinton, and former Presidents Clinton and Obama and others leaders.
The 74-member delegation includes 12 members from the 5th Congressional District led by Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5). Other 5th CD delegates include: Elaine Werner of Avon, City Councillor Cheryl Smith of Danbury, Riju Das of Farmington, Atty. and State Party Secretary Audrey Blondin of Goshen, City Council President Pro Tem Sandra Martinez-McCarthy of Waterbury, Joyce Petteway of Waterbury, Joseph Malcarne of Wolcott and Vanita Bhalla of Woodbury.
“I am privileged to represent New Britain Democrats as part of the state delegation in Chicago and will work to mobilize support for the nominees and Congresswoman Hayes for the November 5th Election,” said McNamara, who served as Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee from 1994 to 2016 and is a first term alderman.
An infrastructure improvement plan to address longstanding stormwater and sewer main problems in the neighborhood between Allen Street and Roxbury Road near CCSU is taking shape in a cooperative effort by state legislators and the Stewart Administration.
In recent months Common Council-approved engineering work has been completed confirming that the project will require an estimated $13.903 million to be implemented. The new estimate will make Allen Street “shovel ready” contingent on full funding for one of the city’s major trouble spots for flooding that was identified decades ago. The project has been listed for years on the annual Capital Improvement Program list at an estimated $6.7 million, but no local, state or federal funding has been secured.
An intense storm on June 22nd caused flooding on Brighton Street.
At the invitation of New Britain legislators (State Reps. Manny Sanchez (D-24), Bobby Sanchez (D-25), Peter Tercyak (D-26), Gary Turco (D-27) and State Senator Rick Lopes (D-6)), the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the Legislature’s Finance and Bonding committee toured Allen Street on April 26th and agreed to consider a state bond proposal to provide up to $10 million for the project. Legislative approval in the 2025 session will send the bonding to the state bonding commission for final approval. Mayor Stewart has sent the project’s estimated cost and engineering specifications to the legislators for consideration and now guarantees matching funds of up to to $4.2 million or 30 percent of project costs from the city’s “unrestricted fund balance of enterprise funds.”
Common Council Update July 2024
In a letter to State Rep. Ron Napoli (D- Waterbury), the Co-Chair of the Bonding Committee, Stewart said the project “will include approximately 2,400 feet of full depth reconstruction of the lines on Allen Street between Oak and Stanley Street. much of the work required is due to the fact that the sections of the existing systems are over 17 feet deep and located in areas of high ledge.” The project, according to the engineering conducted by Cardinal Engineering of Meriden, will involve a major excavation up to 20 feet deep on Allen Street for replacement of pipes and infrastructure and extensive street repair of Allen Street in the project area.
The impetus for progress on addressing neighborhood flooding arose from residents in 2023 who shared the personal and financial toll repeated floodings have caused at Common Council public participation. Roxbury Road resident Frank Chase and others testified repeatedly on conditions when extreme storms hit. Similarly, residents from the Overlook-McKinley neighborhood protested and the city allocated $2 million from remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to start a project reducing the flood risk in those neighborhoods. The citywide FLUSH program, standing for Fresh Line Upgrades for Sanitary Health, is “a massive investment in repairing and replacing the city’s storm water and sanitary sewer lines, which are over 100 years old,” according to the annual comprehensive financial report (audit). FLUSH is reported in Phase 3 of 11 proposed phases and when complete is expected to cost more than $100 million.
Common Council To Review Auditor Recommendations On Municipal Finance
The city’s most recent audited financial statements will be the topic of a Common Council public hearing and an Administration, Finance, Law and Public Services (AFLPS) committee meeting on Monday July 22nd at New Britain City Hall.
Independent auditors for the year ending June 30, 2023, report three areas of concern that caused the 2022 audit to be more than one year late and the 2023 audit to be six months late. The 2023 audit was due last December 31 and was received by the Common Council on July 10th. Officials attributed the delays in both years to a “shortage in staffing within the finance department.”
The findings show “material weakness in internal control” involving bank reconciliations and the absence of formal year-end close procedures. A third finding says the city “did not comply with uniform guidance reporting requirements” because reports were not filed electronically within nine months of the fiscal year. No material weaknesses nor significant deficiencies were reported in internal controls over state funded major programs.
Alderpersons will hear from representatives of CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) and the Finance Department at the July 22nd meeting. Agenda items include the status of the Finance Department’s capacity and staffing, progress made on corrective action from the 2022 findings and a plan to strengthen internal controls and implement a financial close process based on the 2023 audit findings and recommendations.
Audit Financial Highlights For 2022 and 2023
The independent audit for fiscal year 2023 reported:
An $812,000 decrease in net position of governmental activities with net revenues of $452.3 million and expenses of $455 million. In 2022 there was a net increase was $22 million with net revenues of $416.5 million and expenses of $395.9 million.
Non-tax revenues increased by $980,000 with revenues of $14.5 million and expenses of $11.7 million. In 2022 the increase was $761,000 on revenues of $11.8 million and expenses of $10.4 million.
General Fund balances of $25.1 million including $7.1 million assigned and $17.9 million unassigned. In 2022 the General Fund balance was $24.3 million including $4.7 million assigned and $19.6 million unassigned.
Long-term debt totaled $316.1 million in bonds and notes outstanding versus $325.1 million last year, a 2.8 percent decrease. In 2022, indebtedness rose 11.1 percent over 2021’s $292.5 million.
The AFLPS Committee is expected to refer consideration of a Request for Qualifications and schedule to an audit subcommittee to begin the process of selecting an independent auditor firm for the current fiscal year. Last January the Common Council re-established the Audit subcommittee in accordance with state law that designates the Council as the “appointing authority” for the approval of “all items relating to the selection of an independent auditor.”
Common Council Meetings
The Common Council holds regular meetings once a month in July and August. The August meeting will be held Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 7 p.m. at the Council Chambers, 27 West Main Street. Public Participation begins at 7 p.m.
The Democratic Caucus is led by President Pro Tempore Francisco Santiago (D-5), Assistant Majority Leader Iris Sanchez (D-3) and Majority Leader John McNamara (D-4)
New Britain Alderman John McNamara 