Author: nbpoliticus

NB Politicus is a weblog featuring news and commentary on politics, government and community life in New Britain, CT. John McNamara - Editor and Writer

Democrats Seek Transparency On Contracts, Tax Agreements As Common Council Begins Budget Review For 2024-25

This report is the second in a series to keep the community informed about Council business and to encourage public participation in city government from the perspective of the Council Democratic Majority Caucus.

The details of municipal purchasing, tax and and leasing agreements will be reported back to the Common Council in changes to city ordinances sought by Council Democrats.

New Britain Common Council Majority Caucus Update April 2024

At the April 10th Council meeting a resolution was approved requiring that signed lease agreements be reported back to the Common Council. Similarly, the Council’s Administration, Finance and Law subcommittee has advanced resolutions that will require the administration to provide contract details and the terms of tax agreements once they are signed. The Common Council approves winning bids for contracts, leases and tax abatements that are public information and authorizes the Mayor to negotiate and execute the terms. The intent of the transparency resolutions is to provide all members of the Council with the final details on major purchases, tax agreements and leases automatically.

Municipal Budget: Public Hearing Is April 23

Having received the Mayor’s proposed $269.5 million budget and 39.59 mill rate for the year that begins July 1st the Common Council begins its work to “adopt the capital and operating budgets of the City and the Board of Education” no later than June 5th. Between now and then Council Democrats’ priorities include an increased level of local support for education, building homeless prevention services’ capacity, addressing critical capital improvements and maintaining essential services within the limits of anticipated revenues.

The public will have the opportunity to weigh in on the new fiscal plan on April 23rd at 6 p.m. at a public hearing in Council Chambers. The budget proposal will then get a review with department heads at committee meetings on April 30th and May 1st to determine a final budget that will be sent to the Mayor.

Hearing from citizens on the 23rd and throughout the budget making process is essential to arriving at a budget that meets the community’s needs without a dollar wasted.

Addressing Reckless Driving, Speeding

Members of the Common Council have filed more than 20 petitions on speeding, pedestrian safety and traffic enforcement issues in residential neighborhoods since last November. The petitions prompt the Police Department to conduct traffic studies for possible remedies.

Assistant Majority Leader Iris Sanchez (D-3), for example, has filed recent petitions to address pedestrian safety issues on Brook Street near New Britain High School and on South Main Street where a resident of the School Apartments was seriously injured by an auto. It has been an ongoing issue for Alderwoman Sanchez who filed her first petition for a traffic light at the location back in 2018. In December, Alderwoman Wilma Barbosa (D-2) requested “speed humps or other speed reducing mechanisms” on the East Side over complaints that employees of a nearby company “drive aggressively in and out of the facility during the time school buses are picking up and dropping off children.”

At issue is the current policy that bars use of speed humps on all city streets. Last month Council President Francisco Santiago (D-5) petitioned to review the prohibition as reports of accidents, speeding and distracted driving increase in neighborhoods. The situation is putting new demands on the police for targeted enforcement on the city’s 170 miles of streets.

Council Democrats will work with the Administration and Republican alderpersons to consider a range of “traffic calming” strategies including speed humps, additional speed radar displays, raised crossroads or intersections, additional signage and neighborhood-based safety awareness campaigns.

Stormwater Trouble Spots

Engineering work is underway for two of the city’s trouble spots for stormwater and sewage system deterioration in the Overlook Avenue-McKinley Drive and Allen Street-Roxbury Road neighborhoods. Final design and project costs, according to the Department of Public Works (DPW), will be completed in the second half of 2024. Council Democrats continue to seek full funding from local, state and federal sources to expedite projects that have lingered on the city’s Capital Improvement list without action or funding for years.

Francisco Santiago (D-5) Council President Pro Tem

Iris Sanchez (D-3) Assistant Majority Leader

John McNamara (D-4) Majority Leader

Common Council Contact Information  Members – City of New Britain (newbritainct.gov)

Flooding, Batterson Park, Education Are Topics At Ward 4 Constituent Meeting

Twenty residents from the three voting districts in Ward 4 participated in the first constituent meeting of the term on February 10th organized by Alderman John McNamara.

The Saturday morning meeting held at Spottswood AME Zion Church on Crestwood Lane focused on neighborhood issues and a new municipal budget for the next fiscal year.

Planning for a new municipal budget begins this month at the Board of Finance and Taxation as city departments and the Board of Education submit their proposed plans for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The public is encouraged to weigh in on budget priorities at Common Council meetings and at a Common Council budget hearing to be held in April or May. A new budget will be adopted in June.

In door-to-door canvassing last fall Alderman McNamara said he heard residents’ concerns about flooding in the Roxbury Road area and other locations, education funding and the quality of schools, higher property tax bills and Batterson Park’s future.

NBC Connecticut

Meeting Summary:

  • Batterson Park Project: A final state study (See link below) has been submitted to the General Assembly that lists options and costs for the operation of Batterson Park.   Residents Seth Cerone and Tobias Gummersbach expressed reservations about the proposed plans which include a paved walking path around the pond. Favored by the study is a public-private partnership that involves Hartford-based RiverFront Recapture with the City of Hartford retaining ownership.  However, the Batterson Drive residents pointed to a number of concerns: Hartford has a record of neglecting Batterson (described as “benign neglect” in the study);  aeration systems need to be installed to clean out bacteria if the park is ever to be restored for swimming; there are concerns about safety and liability issues for New Britain if a path impacting 19 homes on the southern side of the park is opened. The concern is that New Britain will be responsible for emergency services and trash pick ups at the park, which will add unintended expenses for the city. Alderman McNamara believes Batterson should become a state park as envisioned by House Speaker Matt Ritter, but given the Governor’s constraints on the state budget a state park nor the public-private option likely will not happen in the immediate future. Update: On February 9th the Legislature’s Environment Committee raised a concept for the drafting of a bill for “the operation and management of Batterson Park” in response to the completed DEEP report. A legislative hearing will be scheduled to consider the proposal.
  • Flooding and Stormwater, Sewage Mains:  Citizen complaints led the city to commit $6 million in late 2023 to repair long neglected and dilapidated sewer and stormwater mains in the Allen Street and Overlook-McKinley Avenue areas. Residents Frank Chase, who organized his neighborhood, and Andrew Pope shared the conditions including possible loss of insurance and thousands of dollars in personal expenses. The Allen Street problem led to six floodings on Allen, Hampton, Newbury Eton Place, Brighton Street and Roxbury Road from last July through December.  Engineering work is supposed to be completed by fall to issue bids for improvements. At issue now is securing the necessary funding for the improvements. Gayle Sanders Connelly (Stanley Street), a former Board of Education President, also said there are issues with water from the trail construction in her neighborhood including basement flooding.
  • Education :  The Board of Education’s (BOE) proposed budget basically covers contractual obligations and results in the elimination of about 80 teacher assistant positions but will require additional local support to avoid further cuts.  One time post-pandemic funding allowed the school district to scale up supports for students but it is going away this year. Board of Education Member and Ward 4 resident Diana Reyes pointed out that New Britain is third from the bottom in terms of local aid per student and that advocacy will be needed at the state and local (Council Budget Hearing) to make support for schools more of a priority than in past years. The BOE’s proposed budget and plan can be found in the link below.

Other issues: 

  • Alderman McNamara said tax breaks for developers and businesses are necessary to spur development but that the city has not received enough community benefits for the 26-year abatements for luxury downtown housing granted in recent years.
  • Gayle Sanders Connelly and others said targeted communication (reverse 911s, alerts) is needed in neighborhoods when there is police activity and emergency public works activity is occurring.

Attendees at the meeting included former Alderman David DeFronzo and Democratic Town Committee Chair and former Alderman Chris Anderson.

Rev. Dr. Jonathon D. Counts and trustees Sam Simmons, Brian Simmons and Kemry Israel of Spottswood AME Zion Church were thanked for opening their Fellowship Hall for the meeting.    

Another constituent meeting for Ward 4 will be held in May at a time and place to be announced.

NBC Connecticut

Links and References

Link to Common Council Schedule and Meetings

Batterson Park Study January 24 2024 (CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Board of Education 2024-2025 budget plan (January 2024)

For more information:

John McNamara 860-416-0665 john.mcnamara@newbritainct.gov

Alderman McNamara To Hold Ward 4 Constituent Meeting Saturday, Feb. 10

Residents of New Britain’s Ward 4 will have an opportunity to discuss municipal issues and neighborhood concerns on Saturday, February 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at Spottswood A.M.E. Zion Church, 35 Crestwood Lane.

Ward 4 Alderman John McNamara, the Common Council Majority Leader, will host his first neighborhood meeting of the term to hear from residents and to provide an update on the city budget process and efforts to improve stormwater and sewer mains.

“I encourage citizens to join me for coffee and conversation. Meeting in the ward is a good way to get their perspectives on issues that city government can address,” said McNamara, who was elected last November to the Common Council and plans to hold seasonal meetings to encourage citizen participation in Ward 4

Ward 4 encompasses the neighborhoods near Central Connecticut State University extending to Farmington Avenue and out to Brittany Farms and Batterson Park. The ward includes the Saint Francis (12), Holmes School (13) and Pulaski School (14) voting districts. 

For more information: John McNamara, 860-416-0665; john.mcnamara@newbritainct.gov

Council Democrats Address Stormwater, Audit And Shelter For Unhoused Issues

Hearing From Citizens Is Essential During Budget Process in 2024

January 12, 2024

Two months into a new term the new Democratic majority on the Common Council is working on key issues raised in last year’s municipal election and in responding to public concerns on housing and shelter for the unhoused, stormwater infrastructure and the status of the city audit.

Council Democrats are committed to making city government responsive and accountable and restoring a bipartisan approach to moving the city forward. Our progress will be based on policies and actions that can improve the well-being of all residents. 

New Britain Common Council Majority Caucus Update

This monthly majority caucus report is the first to keep the community informed about Council business and to encourage public participation in city government at the Council and boards and commissions.

Housing and Shelter For The Unhoused: Higher rents, evictions and a shortage of affordable housing are creating increasing demands on under-funded shelters and support services for the unhoused in New Britain and the region. Compelling testimony from unhoused New Britain persons and advocates dominated public participation at the last two Council meetings. Council members have been assessing current capacity and responding individually. The Council will hold a special meeting January 23rd on city efforts and actions, as well as to consider “sustainable solutions and collaborative endeavors to combat homelessness.” Members of the Community Services Division and Department of Planning and Development will be participating. In addition, a bipartisan resolution drafted by Ald. Neil Connors (4) to create a subcommittee on housing and homelessness was referred to the Planning, Zoning and Housing Committee (PZH) chaired by Ald. Nate Simpson (1) on January 10. Introducing the resolution Ald. Connors said PZH will determine if the subcommittee can be beneficial to “avoid duplication of efforts, and to bring together all the ideas that community members and stakeholders have to improve the situation facing our unhoused fellow residents.”

Stormwater Infrastructure: In response to a public outcry from two neighborhoods last fall repeatedly flooded from heavy rains, the prior Common Council committed $6 million in funds for the repair of undersized and deteriorated stormwater and sewer mains in the Allen Street-Hampton-Roxbury Road and Overlook and McKinley Avenue neighborhoods. Citizen action led by Frank and Sharon Chase and others prodded the city to authorize funds. Although identified for improvements over at least 10 years and problems that go back 30 years, start dates have been repeatedly delayed because of funding issues and use of available funds for other purposes. The delays have continued to take a financial and personal toll on residents experiencing basement flooding and property damages. In November and December the Common Council authorized $161,200 for Public Works’ on-call engineering work for final designs before the projects can begin. These are small but important steps toward the city — working with state and federal governments — to put storm water system upgrades at the top of the capital improvement list and to accelerate green infrastructure practices to sustain homes and neighborhoods.

City Audit Status: A resolution to re-establish a Council audit subcommittee was favorably recommended by the Administration, Finance and Law Committee (AFL) on January 3rd for Council approval at the January 24th meeting. The audit sub-committee, adhering to state law that says the Council is the “appointing authority” for auditors, will review and approve “all items relating to the selection of an independent auditor for the City of New Britain.” The AFL Committee will also review the findings of the delayed 2022 audit that was not available until mid-December. Consequently, the 2023 audit, due on December 31st, will be delayed. Progress by the Finance Department will be monitored on correcting weaknesses that led to delay and non-compliance. 

The City Budget For 2025: In June the Common Council will adopt a municipal budget for the year that begins July 1, 2024 that will maintain essential services and set new priorities. Last year’s record property tax increases were a reminder that the task of arriving at a fiscally responsible plan that addresses community needs will be as challenging as ever.

The budget process begins this month with city departments and the Board of Education proposing their expenditures. The Board of Finance and Taxation will hold hearings in February on the proposed budgets and will send recommendations for operating expenses, capital improvements and the tax rate to the Mayor. By April 10th the Mayor’s Proposed Budget will go to the Common Council. The Council will schedule a public hearing in April. After its review the Council will adopt the budget on June 5th and send it to the Mayor. 

Through every step of the budget-making process hearing from citizens at public participation will be essential to arriving at a fair budget that meets the community’s needs without a dollar wasted in the new fiscal year.

Francisco Santiago, President Pro Tempore, John McNamara, Majority Leader and Iris Sanchez, Assistant Majority Leader

Common Council Contact Information  Members – City of New Britain (newbritainct.gov)

                 

McNamara Thanks Voters, Supporters For Election To New Britain City Council

from McNamara 4 Council Committee

New Britain’s Ward 4 went from red to blue in the municipal election November 7 as two Democrats won seats from the Saint Francis Church, Pulaski Middle and Holmes Elementary school voting districts.

Democrats Neil Connors and John McNamara were elected and Republican Robert Smedley was re-elected under a new ward system in which each ward has three seats on the 15-member Common Council. Under New Britain’s system the new Common Council takes office and will hold its first meeting November 15th.

Neighbor Frank Chase
Capitall CC Colleague Ruth Krems
Grandson Shane

Democrats led by Town Chair and Mayoral Nominee Chris Anderson flipped the Common Council from a 12 to 3 Republican majority to an 8 to 7 Democratic majority in a return to bipartisan government with Mayor Erin Stewart (R) who was re-elected to a 6th two-year term.

“It’s been a rewarding experience meeting and listening to voters in Ward 4 over the last three months,” said McNamara, “I look forward to representing all residents and am grateful to the voters for this opportunity to be of public service. The primary job of a ward councilor is to be their voice in municipal government and to ensure our ward and city gets its fair share of services and resources for a good quality of life.”

“The results would not have been possible without the friends and neighbors who donated to my committee and volunteered to help with voter turnout and I thank all who supported my candidacy.”

ALDERPERSON WARD 4

CandidateVotes %
McNamara (D)98625.70%
Smedley (R)91423.82%
Connors (D)87422.78%
Thompson (R)85222.20%
Ortiz-Luna (IND)1333.47%
Connolly (IND)782.03%
Official results from New Britain Ward 4 Election To Common Council

McNamara also cited the endorsement and member support from four labor unions for his candidacy including the AFT Connecticut, CSEA Local 2001, District 1199 and the Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges, SEIU Local 1973.

McNamara, the Democratic Town Chairperson from 1994 to 2016, was elected to the Board of Assessment Appeals in 2013 and previously chaired the city Building Commission. He is a recipient of the Connie Wilson Collins Service Award for Labor and Industry from the NAACP.

He worked as Institutional advancement director at Capital Community College (now emeritus) for 22 years before retiring in early 2022 and held similar positions at the University of Hartford and the Community Renewal Team (CRT) raising funds for scholarships, student services and obtaining federal grants.  At Capital, McNamara was elected to the Congress of CT Community Colleges (4Cs) Local 1973, SEIU Delegate Assembly representing faculty and staff on the campus.

A 38-year resident of the neighborhoods he will now represent on the Common Council, McNamara is married to Patricia (Cacace). The McNamara’s have two grown children, Michael and Cara, and two grandchildren.

Campaigning with Shelby Anderson, Chris Anderson, Lori McAdam (Ward 2)

McNamara Calls For Accelerated Action On Storm Water Issues In New Britain’s Ward 4

Democrat John McNamara, a candidate for Ward 4 Common Council in November 7th municipal election, is urging the city to accelerate work on drainage and sewer main problems in Ward 4 and throughout the city in the aftermath of repeated flooding in neighborhoods during 2023.

“Every year for the last half dozen years funding has not been found or has gone elsewhere” said McNamara. “The city has not used available funds to fix the system’s biggest trouble spots. Residents should not have to wait another five years or more.”

McNamara cited flooding and property damages that have occurred five times in his own neighborhood on streets between Allen Street and Roxbury Road in 2023. “I have talked to residents in other neighborhoods in the ward and they have confirmed the dilapidated storm water and sewage drainage system has caused many problems.”

McNamara cited a five-year (2016-2021) analysis of natural hazards completed for the city that concluded: “Drainage infrastructure and water and sewer lines throughout the City need major upgrades……. Undersized pipes result in flooding, sewer backups, system leaks, and other problems.” According to McNamara , city officials began acknowledging the deterioration of the drainage and sewer system more than 30 years ago but bonding, state and local funds have largely gone to other capital improvement projects.

In a recent post on critical infrastructure needs in the Allen Street and Overlook Avenue areas McNamara wrote “improving the sewer and storm water system at two of its weakest points, has not been given a high priority. While other infrastructure projects have gotten attention and money in recent years, officials have told residents that they are waiting for the allocations to implement their sewer upgrades. In fiscal year 2020, for example, reconstruction of Allen Street was slated for action in 2022 at a cost of $5 million to be paid by a combination of state, federal or local funds. In the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) adopted with the municipal budget last June, the Allen Street project was put off again to 2027-2028 at an estimated cost of $6.7 million.

McNamara said the city has committed $6 million to upgrades in Allen and Overlook neighborhoods because of extreme weather in response to neighborhood complaints but has failed to use sufficient bonding or a portion of the $56 million in American Rescue Plan (Pandemic) funds to accelerate the city’s FLUSH Initiative estimated at a cost of $90 million. “Taking 20 years to implement the FLUSH program is too long to wait for homes and neighborhoods in the city’s most severe trouble spots,” said McNamara who called for more transparency in the information being provided to the public on the FLUSH program.

Saying extreme weather is a growing threat to property values and the health and safety of residents McNamara called for four steps over the next two years:

  • Put storm water system upgrades at the top of the city Capital Improvement list.
  • Use state and federal funds and bonding fairly to replace storm and sewer mains.
  • Increase maintenance to prevent flooding and sewer backups.
  • Build green infrastructure to sustain homes and neighborhoods.

Paid for by McNamara 4 Council Committee. Patricia McNamara, Treasurer. Approved by John McNamara. (Labor donated)

McNamara For Council: Advocating For Ward 4 Neighborhoods

“The primary job of the Ward 4 councilor is to be a voice in municipal government for residents who vote at Saint Francis Church, Pulaski School and Holmes School to ensure our ward gets its fair share of resources and services needed for a good quality of life.

“With your vote I will be honored to represent the neighborhoods where I have lived since 1984 and to serve a community that has been good to me and my family.”

John McNamara

Health Care Union Endorses McNamara In New Britain’s Ward 4 Council Race

Democrat John McNamara has received the endorsement of District 1199, the SEIU Union for health care workers, for a seat on the New Britain City Council from Ward 4.

McNamara is a former Democratic Town Chair and previously was elected Chair of the Board of Assessment Appeal and served as the Building Commission Chair in city government. He is running in Ward 4 in neighborhoods near Central Connecticut State University and extending out to the Brittany Farms and Batterson Park area. This year 15 Common Councilors will be elected from five wards, replacing a hybrid Council comprised of five at-large and 10 ward members.

In gaining the endorsement McNamara said he fully supports Recovery For All, a labor and community coalition working for a more progressive, statewide tax system “to stabilize unsustainable municipal finances and reduce reliance on property taxes that are hitting homeowners and tenants especially hard this year because of new assessments.”

In Connecticut, over 26,000 workers are members of District 1199. The Union represents nurses, certified nursing assistants, personal care attendants, technicians, clerical employees, service and maintenance workers, and other workers in a variety of health care settings including state services, nursing homes, home care, hospitals and community programs for the developmentally disabled.

https://mcnamara4council.org/contribute

“I am grateful to District 1199 for the endorsement and I pledge to support the union in its efforts to improve the wages and benefits of its members who deliver vital health care services in New Britain and throughout the state,” said McNamara.

In addition to District 1199 McNamara has received the endorsement of three other labor unions, CSEA Local 2001, the Congress of Ct Community Colleges and AFT Connecticut (American Federation of Teachers Connecticut).