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 – 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
Thursday, June 27th, At Roma Sports Bar & Grill, New Britain
A Presidential Debate Watch Party will be held Thursday, June 27th, starting at 8 p.m. at the Roma Sports Bar & Grill, 382 Allen Street, New Britain.
New Britain Democrats and friends are invited to the watch party (Debate time: 9 p.m.) and to sign up for Fall Campaign activities. Complimentary pizza and soft beverages will be served with a cash bar.
Ward 4 Alderman and Common Council Majority Leader John McNamara, a Biden delegate to the Democratic National Convention this summer, is hosting the event. To RSVP and for information: John McNamara, 860-416-0665. johnhmcnamara@gmail.com.
“The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
Thomas Paine, The Crisis
Observances were held at the National Iwo Jima Memorial on Monday, May 27th, the Memorial Day holiday, as part of this week’s activities to honor all men and women who served in the armed services and lost their lives in wars and conflicts throughout U.S. history.
On Thursday, May 30th, wreath-laying services will be held during the morning at New Britain’s monuments and the traditional Memorial Day Parade will kick off at 5 p.m.
8:00 am – General John Patterson Memorial on East/Allen Streets
8:30 am – Spanish American War Memorial at Willow Brook Park, 635 So. Main St.
8:45 am – Vietnam Memorial at Willow Brook Park, 635 South Main St.
9:15 am – Sherrod E. Skinner Memorial on Corbin Ave./Lincoln Street
9:45 am – Israel Putnam Stone at Walnut Hill Park
10:00 am – World War I Memorial Monument at Walnut Hill Park
10:30 am – General Casimir Pulaski Monument/General Tadeusz Kosciuszko Monument at Pulaski Park
11:00 am – Civil War, World War II, Korean and Vietnam Memorials at Central Park
11:30 am – 65th Infantry Regiment Park at Beaver Street, North Side (corner near LaSalle and Washington Streets and Farmington Avenue)
11:50 am – Belvidere Area World War II Memorial at Campbell Square, Stanley St/Hillcrest Ave.
12:15 pm – Captain Brian S. Letendre U.S.M.C. Memorial at Pendleton Road/Sunnyslope Drive
The National Iwo Jima Memorial was conceived and built by the Iwo Jima Survivors Association, led by Dr. George Gentile, a New Britain native and NB High School graduate who practiced dentistry in his native city.
According to the Iwo Jima Association: “On Feb 23, 1995 the monument was dedicated in memory of the 6,821 Americans who lost their lives on Iwo Jima. The names of the 100 Connecticut men who died are inscribed on the monument, and 100 flags are flown at the Park to commemorate their sacrifice.”
DPW Repaving Will Cover 23 Streets Starting June 17th
The City’s annual road paving program will resurface portions of 23 streets in the summer months, the Department of Public Works (DPW) announced.
Ward Four streets slated for work include Alexander Road from Miriam Road to Stanley Street and McClintock Street from LaSalle Street (in Ward Three) to Eddy Glover Boulevard.
The road work throughout the city begins June 17th and is expected to last approximately six to seven weeks. Officials say the rehabilitation work involves milling two inches off the top of existing pavement and then installing two inches of new pavement.
A total of $1,890,000 is appropriated for milling and paving this year with funding from state Road Aid, the Local Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP) and the city’s 1% for roads program.
Alexander Road from Stanley St to Miriam Road is slated for paving this summer.
The Table below shows all streets selected for rehabilitation by the Pavement Management Program for the city’s 165 miles of roadways. Once the paving begins in June residents may check for daily updates:
NEW BRITAIN – Residents of Ward Four will have an opportunity to meet with their Democratic City Aldermen on Saturday, May 18th, at 10 a.m. at Central Connecticut State University to discuss municipal and neighborhood issues, Democratic Council Majority Leader John McNamara (D-4) announced.
The constituent meeting will be held at CCSU’s Marcus White Hall in the Marcus White Living Room, 2nd Floor on the CCSU campus. McNamara and Ward 4 Alderman Neil Connors (D-4) will answer questions and address resident concerns.
An update on 2024-2025 municipal budget now under consideration will be provided. Other topics will include the 2024 street paving program, stormwater infrastructure and the FLUSH program, Batterson Park and traffic calming measures to curb speeding.
“Meeting regularly in the ward is a good way to get feedback from citizens on issues that city government can address,” said McNamara, who held his first constituent meeting in February. The meeting is open to all city residents.
Stanley Quarter Park
Ward 4 encompasses the neighborhoods near Central Connecticut State University and Stanley Quarter Park, 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.govn
New Britain Alderman John McNamara 