Ward 4 – New Britain Alderman John McNamara

Countdown to Election: Early Voting October 20-November 2; Election Day Is November 4

Support Row A Democrats

The Municipal Election is November 4th when New Britain voters will go to the polls to elect the Mayor, City Treasurer, alderpersons for Common Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeal and Constable. Early voting begins October 20 and runs through November 2.

For more information contact Alderman McNamara at (860) 416-0665. Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com

Alderman McNamara Hosts Ward 4 Coffee Hour Saturday, 10/18

NEW BRITAIN – Alderman John McNamara (D-4) will host a Ward 4 Coffee Hour from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 18th, at the The Garage Dance Studio & Coffee Lounge, 1385 East Street.

“The coffee hour is an opportunity for residents to share concerns and hear updates on local and state issues before the November 4th election,” said McNamara who is seeking a second term representing District 12, 13 and 14 on the Common Council.

Alderman McNamara has previously held four constituent meetings in Ward 4 during the current term addressing flooding, traffic and public safety, education and city budget issues. The ward encompasses the Belvidere neighborhood near Central Connecticut State University, streets between Farmington Avenue and Stanley Street and the Brittany Farms neighborhood on the West Hartford border.

Participating in the coffee hour will be State Representative David DeFronzo (D-26) whose assembly district encompasses all of Ward 4.

For more information contact Alderman McNamara at (860) 416-0665. Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com

Support Row A Democrats for A City That Works for Everyone

The 2025 municipal campaign is in its final weeks, and your support and involvement will be the margin of difference in electing a Democratic Mayor and Democratic majorities on the Common Council and Board of Education.

Early voting begins at the New Britain Senior Center and Central CT State University on October 20 and continues through November 2. On Election Day November 4th polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Saint Francis Church and Pulaski Middle School.

Four ways to help…….

Contact voters by canvassing or by phone
Reach out to your family, friends and neighbors to vote by November 4th
Put up a sign for Row A candidates
Make a donation to help get out the vote

Donations to the McNamara 4 Council Committee May Be Made Here

For more information contact Alderman John McNamara at 860-416-0665 or Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com. Thank you.

Labor donated. Paid for by McNamara 4 Council. Michael McNamara, Treasurer and New Britain Democratic Town Committee, John Tully, Treasurer. Approved by candidates.

Campaign 2025: Pizza On The Patio in support of Ward 4 Alderman John McNamara

Monday, July 28, 6-8 p.m. At Roma Sports Bar & Grill

A Ward Four Democrats’ Pizza on the Patio reception will be held Monday, July 28th from 6 to 8 p,m, at the Roma Sports Bar dining room, 382 Allen Street, New Britain.

The McNamara 4 Council Committee is sponsoring the event for Alderman John McNamara, the Council Majority Leader, who has been endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee and is seeking a second, two-year term.

A complimentary assortment of Roma pizzas and wings will be served. Updates on issues of importance to Ward 4 will be shared including stormwater/sewage improvements, the traffic safety action plan and education funding.

Ward 4 Democrats’ Pizza on the Patio, at the Roma, Monday July 28th, 6-8 p.m.

In accepting the Democratic Party’s endorsement and thanking the membership McNamara said, “Council Democrats have sought to restore checks and balances to City Hall with more transparency in budgeting and to be more responsive to neighborhood needs that include safety on our streets, addressing critical infrastructure improvements and reducing regressive taxes.”

DONATION LINK: Alderman John McNamara

“Democrats this year supported a mill rate decrease after two years of record tax increases,” McNamara said. “But our efforts to reduce City Hall administrative costs, increase a fund for services to prevent evictions, give the public schools more in direct operating support and provide additional funds for the public library were vetoed. The work is far from over. I am confident more progress can be made by electing a Democratic Mayor and a strong Democratic majority on the Council.” Donations of $25 will be appreciated at the Pizza on the Patio event. The maximum individual contribution is $250. To volunteer or for more information call: 860-416-0665 Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com.

Paid for by McNamara 4 Council Committee. Michael McNamara, Treasurer. Approved by John McNamara

Ward 4 Alderman To Hold Constituent Meeting Saturday, September 7

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

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.

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.

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