In the Weeds with a New Law - August 2021 - Connecticut Conference of Municipalities
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August 2021 In the Weeds with a New Law
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OFFICERS
President Luke A. Bronin, Mayor of Hartford
1st Vice President Jayme J. Stevenson,
First Selectman of Darien
2nd Vice President Thomas Dunn,
Mayor of Wolcott
DIRECTORS
Elinor Carbone, Mayor of Torrington
Justin Elicker, Mayor of New Haven
John A. Elsesser, Town Manager of Coventry
Carl P. Fortuna, Jr.,
First Selectman of Old Saybrook
Laura Francis, First Selectman of Durham
Joseph P. Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport
Barbara M. Henry, First Selectman of Roxbury
Matthew Hoey, First Selectman of Guilford
John L. Salomone, City Manager, Norwich
Laura Hoydick, Mayor of Stratford
Catherine Iino,
First Selectwoman of Killingworth
Matthew S. Knickerbocker,
First Selectman of Bethel
Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor of East Hartford
Curt Leng, Mayor of Hamden
page 12
Rudolph P. Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield
W. Kurt Miller, Chief Fiscal Officer, Ansonia
CCM Annual Convention Returns 4
Edmond V. Mone, First Selectman of Thomaston
Michael Passero, Mayor of New London American Rescue Plan Toolkit 6
Brandon Robertson, Town Manager of Avon
NLC REAL Initiative 8
Erin E. Stewart, Mayor of New Britain
Mark B. Walter, Town Administrator of Columbia Online Gambling 9
PAST PRESIDENTS Infrastructure Investment 10
Susan S. Bransfield, First Selectwoman of Portland
Mark D. Boughton, Mayor of Danbury Marijuana Legislation 12
Michael Freda, First Selectman of North Haven Population Decline in CT 15
Neil O’Leary, Mayor of Waterbury
Herbert Rosenthal, CIRMA News 18
Former First Selectman of Newtown
Town News 20
CCM STAFF
Expand your municipality’s
Executive Director, Joe DeLong
OUTCOMES MATTER. TRUST IS EARNED. retirement plan potential
Deputy Director, Ron Thomas with financial solutions
Managing Editor, Kevin Maloney
rooted in 50+ years of
Layout & Design, Matthew Ford
institutional experience.
Writer, Christopher Gilson
Connecticut Town & City
CONTACT US FOR A
© 2021 Connecticut Conference of Municipalities
COMPLIMENTARY
ANALYSIS OF YOUR PLAN
Phone: 888-231-6372
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AUGUST 2021 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 3
TOGETHER AGAIN
NEW LOCATION, NEW DAY
Back Together Again!
2021 CCM Convention agenda is being set
A
s promised, the 2021 CCM Convention, to be held For the second day, we have invited Connecticut’s fed-
on November 30 and December 1 at the Mohe- eral congressional delegation to participate in a panel
gan Sun Earth Expo Center, will bring us back discussion.
together again! The exhibit hall is filling up, our popular Already confirmed to be at the exhibit hall as of Au-
workshops are nearly set, and the schedule is being gust 11 are CIRMA, ACV Enviro, Beirne Wealth Consult-
completed. The only thing left is for you to register to ing Services, LLC, BELFOR Property Restoration, BL
be part of this exciting opportunity to network with Companies*, Cardinal Engineering Associates, Colliers
your peers and learn from experts in the municipal field. Project Leaders, Competitive Energy Services, Con
At the heart of the event will be the same great Con- Edison Solutions, ConnectiCare*, Connection Public
vention that you’ve come to expect from CCM. There Sector Solutions, Construction Solutions Group, Crown
are going to be over a dozen workshops including a Castle, Distinctive TreeCare, Downes Construction
panel of state commissioners, nearly 150 exhibitors, Company*, Eagle Environmental, Inc., The ECG Group*,
the awards dinner and more. Edmunds GovTech, Environmental Partners*, Full Circle
Technologies, Inc., Indus, Loureiro Engineering As-
Key workshops include Risk Management for Municipal
sociates, Inc.*, M.E. O’Brien & Sons, Inc., The Mercury
Officials; CCM’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) Adviso-
Group, Nationwide Security Corporation, NIC Con-
ry Service Committee; PFAS – The Hidden Expense;
necticut, OneDigital*, OpenGov*, Pality*, PFM Asset
CT Trail Finder: Engaging Trails & Greenspaces for
Management, LLC, Post University*, Savy & Sons, Ser-
Economic Development & Public Health; Risks of Not
tex Broadband Solutions*, Specialized Data Systems,
Promoting Fair & Equitable Workplace; Connecticut
Inc.*, Stirling Benefits a 90 Degree Benefits Company,
Association of Public School Superintendent’s Blue-
Superior Spring & Mfg. Co. Inc., Tighe & Bond*, Titan
print to Transform Connecticut’s Public Schools; Social
Energy New England*, Tyler Technologies, Unique Pav-
Services: Everything you wanted to know; Update on
ing Materials Corp., United Concrete Products, Weston
Affordable Housing & Land Use Legislation; Making
& Sampson, and Woodard & Curran*.
Our Communities Great Places To Live For All: Exam-
ples & Stories From CT Municipal Leaders; State Com- *CCM Municipal Business Associate members
missioners’ Panel; Successfully Managing Short-Term Thanks to this year’s sponsors — CIRMA, Post Universi-
Grants and Funds; Cybersecurity: Preventing Costly ty, Halloran Sage, Connecticare, Bank of America, and
Attacks to Your Municipality; Municipal Collective Bar- Sacred Heart University!
gaining After COVID-19; and Connecticut’s Financial
Outlook – Beyond the Headlines. Here’s what else we have planned on the agenda:
4 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | AUGUST 2021
Municipal Excellence Awards Sustainable CT
The 2021 Municipal Excellence Awards will be once Municipalities who have achieved certification in the
again awarded in four categories, two for cities and Sustainable CT program will receive recognition and
two for individuals. their plaques during the Convention.
• Three General Entry Awards by Population Size
• A Topical Award (To Be Determined) Connecticut Certified Municipal Officials
• The Joel Cogen Lifetime Achievement Award We will once again be lauding our municipal officials
• The Richard C. Lee Innovators Award who have completed enough credits to become certi-
The award recipients will be honored at the Conven- fied municipal officials.
tion, as well as featured in a future issue of CT&C.
Game On!
#LoCoolGov Contest At the end of the evening on November 30, we will
A $500 scholarship will be handed out in two age have a lively reception at GameOn, where you can con-
groups to a Connecticut student in a public middle tinue networking, drink, relax, and bowl or play arcade
school or high school. games.
Participants must create their own original work them- To be a part of this fun and informative experience,
selves, but may get help from teachers, parents, or you can go to www.ccm-ct.org and follow the links to
friends in the form of ideas. They may also collaborate the 2021 CCM Convention Registration Page, or take
on projects of no more than three people. a snap of this QR code with your phone and you’ll be
For more information on these two awards, visit brought right to the page.
https://www.ccm-ct.org/Resources/Municipal-Excel- We can’t wait to welcome you to this year’s Conven-
lence-Awards and https://www.ccm-ct.org/Resources/ tion and to be back with you in person!
LoCoolGov-Youth-Scholarship
AUGUST 2021 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 5
Toolkit For ARP Funds Released
ARP Advisory Committee lays path for municipal best practices
O
ver the next several years, towns and cities
across the country are being handed a unique
opportunity. The American Rescue Plan is
an unprecedented amount of federal funds aimed
at helping municipalities recover from the COVID-19
pandemic as well as look towards the future. CCM has
convened an advisory committee of experts to help
create a toolkit to help navigate the best-practices in
administering these funds.
The American Rescue Plan, or ARP, has allocated
$65.1 billion to municipalities, with Connecticut set to
receive $2.55 billion - $1.56 billion to general gov-
ernment and an additional $995 million to Boards of
Education.
ARP requires that the funds be accounted for and
used in explicitly approved purposes:
• Responding to the negative impacts of the
COVID-19 pandemic, including assistance to house-
holds, small businesses, and nonprofits as well as aid
to affected industries such as tourism, travel, and
hospitality;
• Providing government services previously cut due
to pandemic-related revenue shortfalls, and; • Erin Stewart, Mayor, City of New Britain
• Making needed investments in water, sewer, or • Steve Mednick, Attorney, Law Office of Steven G.
broadband infrastructure. Mednick
It was for this reason that the Advisory Committee was • Kari Olson, Partner, Murtha Cullina LLC
convened. The group consists of: • Tim Weber, Director, Security Services, ADNET Tech-
nologies
• Courtney Hendricson, Vice President of Partnerships,
• Jody Barr, Executive Director, Council 4 AFSCME
AdvanceCT
• Julie McGrath, Grants Coordinator, Office of Con-
• Brig Smith, City of Middletown, General Counsel and
gressman Joe Courtney
President, CAMA
• Betsy Gara, Executive Director, COST
• Eric Gjede, VP, Government Affairs, CBIA
• Kimberley Parsons-Whitaker, Interim CEO, CT Main
• Chris Dipentima, President & CEO, CBIA
Street Center
• Gian-Carl Casa, President & CEO, CT Community
Through many meetings, they developed the ARP
Nonprofit Alliance
Advisory Committee Toolkit. It is intended to be a
• Gene Goddard, Chief Business Investment Officer,
resource and supplement formal information provided
METRO Hartford Alliance
by federal and stage government agencies.
• Fred Carstensen, Professor of Finance and Econom-
ics - Director, Connecticut Center for Economic Anal- Used in concert with the formal guidance from the
ysis -School of Business, University of Connecticut Department of Treasury, local leaders can begin under-
• John Glascock PhD, Professor of Real Estate and standing the uses and full impact of the ARP funds, the
Finance Director, Center for Real Estate and Urban do’s and don’ts, suggestions for consideration, as well
Studies, University of Connecticut as a robust FAQ section that will answer many of the
• Dale Graver, Regional Director, VC3 most common questions.
• Mike LeBlanc, President, GFOA As we move forward, it is important that our local
• Norm Needleman, First Selectman, Essex leaders understand the ins and outs of ARP funding.
• Carl Fortuna, First Selectman, Old Saybrook This is an opportunity that CCM believes will allow lo-
• Dave Demchak, President & CEO, CIRMA cal leaders to engage partners in their town and region
• Lynn Stoddard , Director, Sustainable CT to jumpstart a long and large economic recovery from
• Jay Williams, President, Hartford Foundation for the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects.
Public Giving
• Sam Gold, Executive Director, Lower Connecticut Read the full toolkit at our website, www.ccm-ct.org,
River Valley Council of Governments or more information contact Michael Muszynski at
• Pam Keyes, Vice President of Risk Management, mmuszynski@ccm-ct.org or Ron Thomas at rthomas@
CIRMA ccm-ct.org.
6 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | AUGUST 2021
Post University is a proud
CCM partner.
As a Connecticut-based
company, we understand the
importance of supporting our
169 towns and cities.
We are pleased to offer
all CCM members, their
employees and their
immediate family
members living in the same
household a 20% discount on
our online and main campus
post.edu
tuition.
This is just another way
“Post Makes it Personal!”
POST.EDU
800.582.8250
FOR USEFUL CONSUMER INFORMATION GO TO
POST.EDU/CONSUMER-INFORMATION
Keeping Equity In Focus
CCM continues its commitment to equity in our towns and cities
I
t is fast approaching a year since
the first CCM CARES town halls
were announced to begin the
crucial conversations around di-
versity, equity, and inclusion in our
towns and cities. CCM is committed
to continuing those conversations
and the work that follows with key
partnerships and workshops.
One exciting partnership that we
are happy to continue is with the
National League of Cities (NLC)
Race, Equity and Leadership
(REAL) Initiative. Many will remem-
ber the key role they played in our
national CCM CARES panel this
past December.
In June, CCM along with the other
northeastern state municipal leagues,
invited NLC to give their REAL 101
training to hundreds of staff in the
region called “Normalizing Racial
Equity in Local Government.”
The goals and objectives of this
training were to “understand the
foundations for normalizing racial
equity in governing,” as well as “ex-
plore opportunities to take action
to advance racial equity.”
Building on that knowledge, in a
condensed version of their 201 and
that includes training sessions, peer force, and other key metrics or
301 level course, NLC REAL dis-
roundtables, individual technical indicators of progress.
cussed the very real action items that
assistance, resource lists and recog- • Establishing policies and prac-
local leaders can be taking now. In
nition of progress/achievements. tices related to procurement and
their framework, this is moving from
contracting that provide more ac-
normalizing to organizing to opera- Municipalities will be guided
cess and opportunity to minority
tionalizing, with the goal of promot- through these action items:
contractors.
ing real progress on racial equity in • Issuing a proclamation or reso- • Adopting a municipal racial
communities across Connecticut. lution outlining a statement of equity policy and plan/strate-
After this, attendees from the first racial equity goals and strategies gy to address a specific racial
two webinars were invited to a • Building organizational capacity equity goal for your community
smaller, more focused town hall dis- to guide municipal racial equity with clear actions, timelines and
cussion where local leaders talked efforts responsibilities.
about local challenges and their • Employing a simple set of ques- The most important thing is to keep
solutions. tions to view budget, policy, addressing the issue of diversity,
and service delivery decisions equity and inclusion in our state.
For those that could not make
through a racial equity lens From REAL workshops last year, we
these workshops, CCM’s Board
• Developing formal community learned that race is still the number
Inclusion Committee has authorized
partnerships with under-repre- one predictor of success in Amer-
a “guided process” over the next
sented residents ica. Until it is not, we are commit-
six months to help municipalities
• Presenting annual reports to the ted to working together to make
implement seven action items from
Municipal Governing Body on sure that every resident can access
the CCM Racial Equity Toolkit that
Racial Equity, including composi- the benefits and opportunities to
was distributed earlier this year.
tion of boards and commissions, enable them to make a good life for
This will be a well-rounded process composition of municipal work- themselves and their families.
8 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | AUGUST 2021
A Mitigated Risk
Online gambling is more over than under for state, municipalities, and tribes
O
vershadowed by the recent
marijuana legislation, the le-
galization of online gambling
was certainly a controversial topic
in its own right. But with the pas-
sage and arrival of online gambling,
the State and the Tribal Nations are
seeing more pros than cons.
Like so many other areas of indus-
try, gambling or gaming is no lon-
ger tethered to the craps table, but
accessible to individuals through
their computers and mobile devic-
es. What was lacking, was a way to
regulate this industry in a way that
would benefit everyone.
Governor Lamont, Mohegan Tribal
Council Chairman James Gessner
Jr., Mashantucket Pequot Tribal
Chairman Rodney Butler and the
legislative leaders worked on an
agreement that would equitably
share the benefits of this new
industry, as well as allowing the
Connecticut Lottery Corporation to
partner in these efforts.
The details of the plan per the Gov-
ernor’s press release include:
• An 18 percent tax rate for the first
five years on new online commer-
cial casino gaming (or “iGam-
ing”) offerings, followed by a 20
percent tax rate for at least the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler
next five years
• A 13.75 percent tax rate on • Both tribes agree to halt develop- Chairman Butler said “Gaming is
sports wagering ment of an East Windsor casi- more than a business to our tribe, it
• Connecticut Lottery shall have no through the duration of this is the way we fund our government,
the right to operate 15 retail agreement pay for our children’s education,
sports betting locations, as well While one of the main fears is care for our elders, and provider
as operate an online sports bet- that this would lead to increased healthcare to our members. The
ting skin gambling addiction, both tribes as agreement not only ushers in a new
• Connecticut Lottery shall have well the Connecticut Lottery have modern era of gaming, but it solid-
the right to sublicense locations agreed to allocate $2 million to- ifies our tribal/state partnership for
to the state-licensed parimutuel wards gambling addiction services years to come.”
operator in Connecticut.
This is of course true for the rest
• Connecticut Lottery will under-
According to the Mayo Clinic, gam- of the state, as Chairman Gessner
take new retail sports betting
bling triggers the brain “much like notes: “This will allow Connecti-
venues in Hartford and Bridge-
drugs or alcohol can.” There is no cut to generate tax revenues from
port
proven treatment, but educational sports and online gaming that are
• License agreement to be for ten
programs seem to be helpful. competitive with other states, to
years with a five-year extension
While there is risk in any behavior the benefit of both state and local
option
becoming addictive, there is hope municipal budgets, as well as our
• Expansion of iLottery and Keno
that the pros will far, far outweigh tribe’s members.”
through the Connecticut Lottery
Corporation, including the sale of the cons.
draw tickets online
AUGUST 2021 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 9
Infrastructure Needs Heating Up
Climate change makes investment in future infrastructure essential
W
hile temperatures continually hit new records safe, our new infrastructure must take into account cli-
around the world, historic droughts in some mate change. For his part, Governor Lamont has been
areas of the world are matched by historic incentivizing electric vehicles. In June, he announced
rains in others, and the sea water level rises on every improved incentives to the Connecticut Hydrogen
coast, every community will have to deal with the side and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR)
effects of climate change. One of the most discussed program. Despite not needing gas, EVs still need an
consequences is infrastructure that will need to be investment in infrastructure.
invented or reimagined in the face of our climate crisis. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority has recent-
With record or near-record amounts of rain falling in ly approved a program to support the installation of
Connecticut, flooding has been an issue for towns and charging ports for EVs, partnering with Eversource and
cities across the state. For the coastal towns, the near United Illuminating. The program incentivizes home
future will force them to ask if sea level rise will force charging stations, as well as fast charging stations
the issue on sea walls. and workplace charging stations. The rebates are up
to $500 for homeowners and $40,000 for apartment
In Miami, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed a
complexes or businesses.
wall 20-feet high for six miles in Biscayne Bay to deal
with the same set of problems. There, they are receiv- Perhaps more effective than electric vehicles reserved
ing pushback as arguments pour in over the effects for personal use, is investing in a robust public trans-
on the quality of life if access to the ocean becomes portation system.
blocked by a wall.
Connecticut is home to the most widely used commut-
Back in Connecticut, the flooding did cut off the ocean er rails in the United States, but it pales in comparison
for many. Beaches along the coast were closed tempo- to commuter lines around the world. The daily ridership
rarily as bacteria and sewage infected the waters. is 385,000 across the entire MTA line, where commuter
Inland, roads and bridges crumble not only from lack lines in Europe and Asia can reach into the millions.
of funding, but the increasing heat and the increasing Faster and more reliable service on all of Connecticut’s
usage that diminishes the lifespan of our infrastructure. rail lines could translate to hundreds to thousands of
We wrote in the May issue of CT&C that our Infrastruc- cars off the road, which could lead to even the un-
ture report card gave us a C – for the year of 2018. intended side effect of lessening commute times for
With little to no support given for the kind of funding those that still do need to drive.
needed to bring it back up to serviceable, many of Harkening back to the WPA and post-Great Depres-
the 2100 miles of highway and 248 bridges in need of sion America, we can understand the need for invest-
repair then are still in that state today. ments in infrastructure and a reimagining of what that
means for our towns and cities.
On many fronts, there is movement to change this. The
impetus of the May article was the American Jobs Plan, Across Connecticut, post offices, schools, roads and
a grand project of President Biden that needs broad bi- bridges built during that time still exist. Roads were
partisan support to pass. It is modeled on the Depres- created with a new technology in mind – the automo-
sion-era Works Progress Administration in its largess. bile was just still in its infancy at that time. In the same
way, we must look at the possibility of new infrastruc-
Despite this, Senator Chris Murphy said on our Munici-
ture spending and ask what will the world look like in a
pal Voice podcast that this might not be even enough
decade or even a century ahead given what we know
for the kind of investments we need across the country.
about climate change now.
In addition to projects to make our streets and roads
10 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | AUGUST 2021Innovative Ideas Needed!
CCM’s annual compendium shows the breadth of ideas throughout CT
A
fter making it through a tumultuous year that
almost seemed like it would never end, 2021 has
nearly flown by. But much of the uncertainty that
we face now is related to reopening, ARP funds, and
returning to what everyone calls the “New Normal.” We
are pleased to present our 34th edition of the Innovative
Ideas for Managing Local Governments compendium.
Reprinted from the previous year’s issue of Connecticut
Town & City, the quarterly magazine of CCM. We devel-
oped these stories from many sources, including visits to
Connecticut local governments; suggestions from mu-
nicipal officials; newspapers and magazines in Connecti-
cut and abroad; publications of the National League of
Cities; and publications of other state municipal leagues.
There are nearly 80 pages of stories on topics across compendium, we hope to give each of our 169 mem-
Civic Achievement, Economic Development, Education, bers a glimpse at what other municipalities are doing
Energy, Environment, Governance, Housing and Infra- and to see if you use or adapt the innovative ideas that
structure, Public Safety, Social Welfare, and Technology. are coming out of our towns on a daily basis.
They are presented, as always, not as a strict blueprint Be sure to check out the issue at: issuu.com/ccm_ct
that your town needs to follow. These are great ideas
If your town or city has an innovative idea that you
that can and should spur ideas in your town or city, to
think would be perfect for a future issue of Con-
have conversations about what can be accomplished.
necticut Town & City, send over a news article, press
As we move forward, Connecticut’s towns and cities release, or social media post to Christopher Gilson,
will continue to need innovative ideas. Through our cgilson@ccm-ct.org.
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AUGUST 2021 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 11In The Weeds With A New Law
CCM looks at the municipal impact of marijuana legislation
I
n 2019, CCM hosted municipal representatives from
Colorado and Massachusetts at our Annual Con-
vention to share their perspectives regarding the
legalization of recreational marijuana, such was the
likelihood that it was going to come to Connecticut.
As we all know, legislation has passed and recreational
usage is legal with a regulated market following close
behind. CCM has prepared information on the passage
and impact of this legislation that will help guide mu-
nicipalities through this new law.
At a glance, Public Act 21-1 (Special Session) legaliz-
es the use of cannabis for individuals over the age of
21, limiting possession to 1.5 ounces and 5 ounces in
a locked container in the person’s residence or ve-
hicle. But it also creates a process for the erasure of
previous marijuana related convictions, allows for the
home-grow of the plant beginning in 2023, and estab-
lishes a marketplace for the legal sale of marijuana.
Local referendum (Sections 83-84)
Effective July 1, 2021, if at least 10% of a municipalities
electors petition for a vote to allow certain marijuana
sales, it must be done at least 60 days before a regular
election. If met, the municipality must hold a referen-
dum to determine whether to allow (1) the recreational
sale of marijuana in the municipality or (2) the sale of
marijuana in one or more of the cannabis establish-
ment license types. The law does specify what specific
language needs to be used in a referendum question.
Zoning Authority and Restrictions
(Sections 83-84, 148)
The law allows municipalities to amend their zoning
regulations or local ordinances to take the following
actions regarding cannabis establishments: a) prohibit
them from opening; b) reasonably restrict their hours
and signage; or c) restrict their proximity to religious
institutions, schools, charitable institutions, hospitals,
veterans’ homes, or certain military establishments.
If a municipality imposes additional or modified reg- municipal residents, as determined by the most recent
ulations or ordinances regarding the above, they shall decennial census.
not apply to existing cannabis establishments for a The law also allows municipalities, for the first 30
period of five years after the restrictions are originally days after cannabis retailers or hybrid retailers open,
adopted unless the cannabis establishment converts to charge them up to $50,000 for any necessary and
its license to a different license type. If municipalities reasonable municipal costs for public safety services
take no action through zoning regulations or ordinanc- related to the opening (such as for directing traffic).
es, these establishments must be zoned as similar uses
would be. The law prohibits municipalities from regu- Regulating Cannabis Usage
lating the delivery of cannabis of any form. In addition, (sections 83-84)
the law prohibits municipalities from negotiating or
entering into local host agreements. Effective October 1, 2021, existing law allows munici-
palities to regulate activities deemed harmful to public
Until June 30, 2024, the bill prohibits municipalities health, including smoking, on municipally-owned prop-
from granting zoning approval for more retailers or erty. The law broadens this to include property that
micro-cultivators than a number that would allow for a municipality controls but does not own. It specifies
one retailer and one micro-cultivator for every 25,000 that this regulatory authority applies to (1) smoking
12 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | AUGUST 2021tobacco or cannabis, including cannabis ecigarette use or micro-cultivator is located will need to submit to
(i.e., electronic delivery systems and vapor products) the DRS commissioner, at least annually, the name and
and (2) other types of cannabis use or consumption. It contact information of the individual designated by the
allows municipalities to ban cannabis smoking (includ- municipality to receive notifications regarding the local
ing ecigarette use) at outdoor sections of restaurants. cannabis tax. The DRS Commissioner will then notify
Through regulations, municipalities may set fines for (and establish policies and procedures) the municipally
violations, up to (1) $50 for individuals or (2) $1,000 designated individuals of the tax amount reported due
for businesses. from each cannabis and hybrid retailer and micro-culti-
vator located in their respective municipalities.
For municipalities with more than 50,000 people, if
the town or city decides to regulate the public use of Within 60 days after receiving such a notice from DRS,
cannabis, the local regulations must designate a loca- each municipality must invoice each applicable canna-
tion in the municipality where public consumption of bis retailer, hybrid retailer, and micro-cultivator in ac-
cannabis is allowed. cordance with the law for DRS notices. This will need
to be done through an invoice by first-class mail to the
Municipal Cannabis Tax address of the facility on file. The retailer or micro-cul-
(Sections 126—127) tivator must remit payment to the municipality within
30 days after the invoice was sent.
The law imposes a 3% mu-
nicipal sales tax (in addition Under the law, the amounts remitted become a part
to the state cannabis tax of the municipality’s general revenue and must be
established at 6.35%) on the used for the following purposes: a) streetscape im-
gross receipts from the sale provements and other neighborhood developments
of cannabis by a cannabis or in communities where cannabis or hybrid retailers or
hybrid retailer or micro-cul- micro-cultivators are located; b) education programs
tivator. Under the law, “gross or youth employment and training programs in the
receipts” means the total municipality; c) services for individuals living in the
amount received from can- municipality who were released from DOC custody,
nabis sales by the retailer probation, or parole; d) mental health or addiction ser-
or micro-cultivator. The tax vices; e) youth service bureaus and municipal juvenile.
must be collected from con- It takes time with the passage of any new law for it to
sumers at the time of sale be handed down from written legislation to legal inter-
and be held in trust until pretation to municipal implementation, but the legisla-
remitted to the municipality. The law exempts from the tion that legalized recreational marijuana is especially
municipal sales tax: a) cannabis for palliative use; b) complex. CCM will be there to help pass along import-
sales of cannabis by a delivery service to a consumer; ant information regarding this and all laws.
and c) the transfer of cannabis to a transporter for
transport to any cultivator, micro-cultivator, food and For more information on this issue, please contact Mike
beverage manufacturer, product manufacturer, product Muszynski at mmuszynski@ccm-ct.org. And if you are
packager, dispensary facility, cannabis retailer, hybrid interested in revisiting the 2019 Panel Discussion on
retailer, or producer. the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana, you can fol-
low this link: http://ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=16938
Any municipality in which a cannabis or hybrid retailer
AUGUST 2021 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 13A Partnership That Works
CCM Municipal Business Associate Program helps towns and cities
W
e’re all about partner- Members who are looking to start
ships at CCM. With 169
towns and cities, we want
a project can turn to our Busi-
ness Member Directory (https://
MB MUNICIPAL
all of our towns coming together www.ccm-ct.org/Resources/Busi- BUSINESS
to work for the greater good. And
just like our public partnerships,
ness-Member-Directory) to look
through the MBAs that might be ASSOCIATE
private industry can play a role to right for them. Services.
help improve the everyday life of • Enjoy special pricing and dis-
If you know or represent a business
every resident – and that’s where counts on select services, such as
that wants to join our members as
the Municipal Business Associate mailing lists, advertising in Con-
we build a better tomorrow, you can:
(MBA) program comes in. necticut Town & City magazine,
• Provide your business with an and a booth at the CCM Annual
Aimed specifically at business-
edge in Connecticut’s competi- Convention.
es that want to do work with our
tive municipal marketplace, which • Choose from four levels of mem-
members, this program provides
spends more than $3 billion a bership: platinum, gold, silver,
valuable ways for engaged busi-
year on products and services and bronze. You can participate
nesses to stay connected with Con-
• Raise your profile with elected at the level that best suits your
necticut’s municipal markets.
and appointed municipal officials, objectives.
More than ever, with Connecticut in in person, in print and online; Visit https://www.ccm-ct.org/
a position to grow, these partner- Members receive free or dis- Services/Municipal-Business-Asso-
ships will be crucial in getting the counted advertising in our mag- ciates or contact Beth Scanlon at
municipal projects completed that azine, Connecticut Town & City, 203-946-3782 or bscanlon@ccm-
will put our towns and cities on the and are all included in our annual ct.org for more information.
road to success. Directory of Business Products &
we mean
health
Creating Works of Life
Proud to support the towns and cities of
Connecticut for nearly a century!
connecticare.com
860.646.2469 www.fando.com
Connecticut • Massachusetts • Maine • New Hampshire
Rhode Island • Vermont
14 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | AUGUST 2021Will Connecticut Sustain?
Population declines the world over pose problems at the local level
The population of Connecticut today nearly ex-
ceeds the entire population of the United States at
the time of the first decennial census. For two-
and-a-quarter centuries, our state and the nation
could count on overall population growth. But
due to factors such as the 2009 recession, the
COVID-19 pandemic, global warming, and eco-
nomic inequality, populations around the world
are seeing unprecedented lags in birth rates. If this
trend persists, there will be far reaching implica-
tions for municipal government around the state.
While this trend is worldwide, in the just released
2020 Census figures, America saw its lowest pop-
ulation growth since the Great Depression. In fact,
population growth has been steadily declining
since the 1850s. If this trend persists, the coun-
try would reach a peak population of about 361
million in 2050.
This information hits so close to home because
Connecticut currently has one of the lowest
fertility rates in the nation alongside many of our
neighboring states in New England. According
to National Vital Statistics Reports, Connecticut
has seen its Total Fertility Rate (TFR) drop from
1.8 to 1.54 in the past decade. For a population to
sustain itself, that number has to be 2.1.
One could easily see the ramifications in the
most recent Census data. Just five towns saw an
increase in total children, with some towns seeing
the total children population decrease by just over
a third. This all in spite of the fact that the total
population of Connecticut grew by 1%.
At least one town in Italy referenced in a recent New
In many towns, this information will come as no shock.
York Times article on this subject was able to come
Schools have had their school enrollment numbers drop
up with a clever solution to two of these problems: “In
for years. According to figures published in the CT Ex-
Capracotta, a small town in southern Italy, a sign in red
aminer, for the last decade schools around the state have
letters on an 18th-century stone building looking on to
“reported annual declines of about 0.5 to 1 percent.”
the Apennine Mountains reads “Home of School Kinder-
The effects of population decline will necessitate a garten” — but today, the building is a nursing home.”
reimagining of municipal forecasting. Whether it’s a
Globally, these changes are going to be dramatic – from
10-year Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD)
that same Times article, they write that China will see its
— which already deals with population density — or
population halve from 1.41 billion to 700,000 million by
infrastructure to handle the repercussions of global
2100. That’s like losing the entire population of America,
warming, towns and cities are already planning into
twice.
the future. If populations were to continue to decline,
economic growth, population density, and more would The effects in Connecticut towns and cities will not be
likely fall in lock step. so drastic, but the evidence is there that populations
will contract over the coming decades. Residents from
What remains true is that areas with a depressed TFR
other states will not be a reliable salve if those states
will not only see a population in decline, but those
are experiencing similar trends.
areas are expected to grow older. The life expectancy in
Connecticut is one of the highest in the country, almost What remains is the fact that towns and cities will have
two years longer than the average American, which a to incorporate this thinking into their long term goals.
2016 CT Mirror article says will lead to a “graying” of Alongside global warming, population decline requires
the economy. This could lead to an increased need for a complete rethinking about where we see the future of
affordable housing, health care facilities and more. our municipalities, the state, and the world.
AUGUST 2021 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 15CCMs Homepage Gets A New Look!
With ease of use in mind, the webpage and portal get a fresh update
O
ne of the most common threads through the Once you log in, you’ll be asked to change your pass-
past year is that people sitting at home real- word. And after that, you are all set. Just make sure
ized just how outdated some of their rooms that you only create the one account.
were – kitchen cabinets need new hardware, the living From there you will be able to see any members-only
room needs a coat of paint, new shower curtains in sections or information on our new site. You can also
the bathroom. CCM was right there with you – as our click on your name at the top of the home screen to
homepage got a brand-new update for 2021! access your new Member Dashboard. Here you can
The most obvious change will be when you first land make sure we have the right information for you on file
on our homepage – www.CCM-CT.org. The layout is you are now able to register for upcoming events and
cleaner and easier to read than our old website. The trainings and check your progress toward earning your
drop-down menus are larger and easier to navigate. certification if you enrolled in our CCMO program. You
The main page is less cluttered, making it easier to find can also update your interests and communications
that section that you’re looking for. And if you don’t preferences.
find it – hey! the search bar is fully functional and easy We want you to get the most out of our new website.
to find right at the top of the page. If you have any issues logging in, changing your pass-
But to achieve full functionality of the website, you need word, or using your new Member Dashboard, please
to activate your account. Members with existing ac- don’t hesitate to reach out to us at memberservices@
counts should receive an email from CCM staff with their ccm-ct.org.
new login information. If you did not receive an email, This is an exciting time at CCM. We built this new web-
please contact us at memberservices@ccm-ct.org. site and member portal with our municipal members
If you do not have an existing account, you can create in mind. So be sure to take a look around. You’ll find
one be visiting the website and clicking “Register” at information on CCM’s programs and services, as well
the top of the page. as a host of information and features available only to
CCM members.
Many of you have already done this, and have enjoyed
the new, quick and easy functionality of signing up for
a workshop.
Our new website’s layout is cleaner and easier to read.
16 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | AUGUST 2021AUGUST 2021 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 17
CIRMA
CIRMA Returns Nearly $5M To Connecticut
Communities
Nearly $37 million delivered to members over the last eleven years
T
he Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management With 362 members across the Constitution State, CIRMA
Agency, CIRMA, returned approximately $5M to provides Workers’ Compensation, Liability, Auto, and
Connecticut cities, towns, public schools and local Property insurance coverages to Connecticut public
public agencies last month. Over the past eleven years, entities. CIRMA is also the only insurance provider that
CIRMA put nearly $37 million in equity back in the hands returns equity to its members—not shareholders.
of its members. “The strength of our balance sheet is undeniable, and
“CIRMA’s Members’ Equity Distribution program despite unprecedented market conditions, CIRMA
continues to affirm the organization’s deliberate and continues to see consistent, top-tier financial results
disciplined approach to creating member value and across the board. Our overall financial strength routinely
substantiates its long-term financial strength. Over the exceeds expectations as we continue to strike a perfect
past year, CIRMA further distinguished its many com- balance between risk and reward. These results directly
petitive advantages, dispelling a common assumption affect our ability to distribute equity back to our mem-
that one insurer is as good as another,” said Matthew bers,” lauded David Demchak, CIRMA President, and
Knickerbocker, Chairman, CIRMA Board of Directors. CEO.
CIRMA Helps Give Kids A Chance
T
oday 12 employees will lose their lives while CIRMA is a leading provider of property and casualty
working on the job. Catastrophic workplace injuries insurance products and services, including Workers’
are often life-altering for affected families, causing Compensation coverage and claim services, for
devastating emotional and financial strain on loved ones. Connecticut’s public sector. Cumulatively, CIRMA is
And with over 4 million employees suffering severe work- responsible for protecting the lives of over 71,000
related injuries or illnesses throughout the U.S. each employees and volunteers across the state.
year, the poignant question lingers: who’s looking out for “CIRMA has a rich history serving Connecticut’s com-
their children? munities, and we view the thousands of injured em-
The answer? Kids’ Chance of America. Prominently ployees we support as extensions of the CIRMA family.
known as Kids’ Chance, this national non-profit organi- So it’s only natural we embrace the opportunity to
zation provides critical scholarships to children with support their children—especially those who are so
parents who have been affected by a catastrophic work- deeply affected by these situations. And we’re thrilled
place injury, including loss of life. Since its inception in to support them locally through an organization like
1988, Kids’ Chance has expanded its geographic spread Kids’ Chance of Connecticut,” said David Demchak,
with present-day representation spanning all 50 states. CIRMA’s President, and CEO.
The Constitution State’s local community chapter, Kids’ Strategic partnerships with businesses and community
Chance of Connecticut, was established in 2018. The non- organizations help support Kids’ Chance of Connecticut’s
profit has gifted approximately $42,000 in scholarship work, making the dream of higher education a reality
funds to ten deserving recipients in 2021 alone. for deserving students. Visit their website, kidschance
ofct.org to learn more about how you or your organ-
After identifying marked congruencies between the two
ization can help support their mission.
organization’s community-centric missions, the Connect-
icut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA) Board
of Directors recently approved a $10,000 contribution
to Kids’ Chance of Connecticut.
18 | | CONNECTICUT
2 CONNECTICUTTOWN
TOWN&&CITY
CITY | | AUGUST 2021CIRMA
CIRMA Welcomes New Staff
Central to CIRMA’s success is its employees
We’re excited to welcome this impressive group Jessica Marinuzzi joined CIRMA’s
of professionals to CIRMA. It’s our staff who Underwriting team and will be
help create our innovative solutions and deliver working in the position of Under-
on the promises we make our members, every day. The writing Technical Assistant. Jessica
CIRMA team makes a difference,” said David Demchak, a resident of North Haven, recently
President and Chief Executive Officer of CIRMA. graduated from Albertus Magnus
College earning a bachelor degree
Linwood Lang is joined CIRMA’s in Accounting and Finance. Prior
Finance team as their newest to joining CCM/CIRMA Jessica held
Statutory Accountant. Linwood, a the position of Member Service
resident of Hamden, received his Representative for Connex Credit Jessica Marinuzzi
bachelor degree in Accounting Union located in North Haven.
from the University of New Haven
and is a certified CPA. Prior to
Vignesh Rajaram recently joined
joining CCM/CIRMA Linwood held
CIRMA’s Business Intelligence team
the position of Senior Accountant
as a Senior Software Engineer.
for HealthyCT located in Wallingford.
Linwood Lang Vignesh, a resident of Simsbury,
joins CIRMA with almost 15 years
Brian LaJoie joined CIRMA as their of experience in application design
newest Liability-Auto-Property and lead developer on implementing
Claims Specialist. insurance web applications.
Brian, a resident of Putnam, has
over 24 years of insurance claims
Vignesh Rajaram
experience with a focus on managing
complex claims and litigation matters.
Ashtyn Totora is CIRMA’s newest
Workers’ Compensation Claims
Brian LaJoie
Assistant.
Jonathan Kania joined CIRMA’s Ashtyn, a resident of Guilford,
Workers’ Compensation Claims team received an associate degree in
as a Senior Claims Representative. Liberal Arts from Gateway
John, a resident of Plantsville, Community College. Prior to joining
received his Juris Doctor from the our team, Ashtyn was a Workers’
University of Miami, School of Law. Compensation Claims Assistant for
John joins CIRMA with over ten Chubb Insurance.
Ashtyn Totora
years of Workers’ Compensation
claims experience. Prior to joining
CIRMA, John was a Senior Workers’
Compensation Claims Represent- Jonathan Kania
ative for ESIS located in Simsbury.
AUGUST 2021 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 19CIVIC ACHIEVEMENT
The Wicked Cricket Pitch
New sportsfield is a home-run for towns
B
aseball may be America’s pastime, but the sport Thanks to work done in-house from the town engineer-
of Cricket has seen a growing fan base in Con- ing and public works departments, the project came in
necticut. But despite similarities, the sport needs under budget, as quoted in the Courant article.
its own field. In Manchester, they renovated an old
The Connecticut Cricket League boasts 16 teams from
softball field so that the burgeoning sport has a place
around the state, including teams from the Hartford area,
to grow in the city.
Southern Massachusetts, and Southern Connecticut.
To say that Cricket is growing in popularity undersells This is exemplary of the growing popularity of the
the phenomenon. Second only to Football – Soccer to us sport throughout Connecticut.
Americans – Cricket holds a worldwide audience of 2.5
billion fans according to the World Atlas, mostly cen- Earlier this year, the New Milford Town Council voted
tered in former British Colonies like India and Australia. to approve the construction of a cricket field in town.
Compare that to Baseball’s 500 million fans worldwide. The field would support the New Milford Cricket Club
The rules of which are very similar to cricket as both (NMCC), which has been active since 2006, who pro-
are considered “bat-and-ball” games, where one team vided fundraising for the project, with additional funds
is batting and the other team is playing defense. coming from the Waste Management Fund according
to the Danbury News Times.
With that kind of popularity around the world, it was
bound to make its way to America. According to NMCC recently hosted what they called a “historic”
figures from the Hartford Courant, the Asian Pacif- cricket match between a local youth team and a youth
ic American population grew 65 percent in the last team from Norwalk. (The match is available to watch
census period, which they argue led to the increasing on the NMCC YouTube page).
popularity. As the sport grows in popularity around the state and
Support came from Manchester Mayor Jay Moran around the country, the infrastructure is going to need
and General Manager Scott Shanley who allocated to grow. Thanks to its similarities to Baseball, convert-
$350,000 for the project in 2019 – to be reimbursed ing a field from one to another might prove a simple
through the state’s Local Capital Improvement Pro- option.
gram. The project, like so many others, was delayed Thanks to efforts in Manchester and New Milford, the
due to the pandemic. sport has room to grow, welcome fans new and old alike.
20 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | AUGUST 2021CIVIC AMENTITIES
Culture In The Northwest
Spring Hill Arts Gathering brings vibes, culture to Washington
W
ith Cultural Districts now programs, food vendors and a free for all to attend.
available for all Con- makers market. Tickets to the event When discussing the possibility of
necticut municipalities were $45 for individual days, ex- cultural districts at a local webinar
to pursue, one of the key jumping cept the last day, which was free. hosted by CCM in partnership with
points is looking at those cultural One day is a cross promotion be- the Connecticut Main Street Center,
touchstones. In Washington, one of tween SHAG and Pride in the Hills they advised towns not to overlook
the newest cultural programs is the (PITH), an organization whose mis- important cultural happenings in
Spring Hill Arts Gathering held on sion it is to “support, inspire, and town rather than singling out the
seven days across two weekends celebrate LGBTQ+ people in the usual museums and theatres as im-
this past summer. Greater Waterbury and the Litch- portant cornerstones to the culture
The Spring Hill Arts Gathering festi- field Hills” areas. of a town.
val is being put on Spring Hill Vine- In addition to their day at SHAG, Festivals like the Spring Hill Arts
yards, which was founded in 2006. PITH has sponsored 160 young Gathering festival are important
Since then, they have put together people to attend the True Colors in bringing the kinds of diverse
entertainment and arts centers on Convention in Storrs, awarded crowds and new people from the
their property, which is where most grants and other financial support area to a town like Washington.
of the festivities were to be held. to LGBTQ+ groups, contributed Especially with the focus on diver-
The goal of this festival is to connect to libraries in conjunction with the sity with the partnership with Pride
artists with nature and encourage Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education in the Hills and the reflection on the
diverse perspectives with creative Network, and much more. local with the Town Party, towns
collaborations and discussions. The last day of the gathering was and cities across the state should
Some of the highlights of the fes- specifically produced as a Washing- reflect on those places where they
tival include music by KT Tunstall ton Town Party, featuring tributes see cultural value. That way, years
and Sophie B. Hawkins, a conver- to local town heroes, as well as down the line, they won’t be saying
sation with Graydon Carter, dance local town artisans. This day was “Suddenly I see!”
AUGUST 2021 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 21ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
EN TE
AV
The Economic Development section of CT&C
R
NEW H
MIN L
is sponsored by New Haven Terminal, Inc.
A
NEW HAVEN TERMINAL, INC.
Learn more at: www.newhaventerminal.com NC
ORPORATE
D
I
You Mean Like The Mall?
Municipalities take the initiative to repurpose vacant retail properties
C
onnecticut’s malls and retail centers have been
hit especially hard in the wake of the pandemic.
However, these same struggling and often va-
cant properties present unique opportunities for repur-
posing and adaptive reuse.
“The best use and most appropriate plan of imple-
mentation will vary by property and municipality,” says
Pullman & Comley attorney Gary B. O’Connor, co-chair
of Pullman & Comley’s Real Estate, Energy, Environ-
mental and Land Use Department. “But there is con-
sensus that time is running out. Municipalities must be
proactive and take steps to ensure that these proper-
ties can be adapted to meet evolving market demands
and community preferences, before decisions are Home Sweet Home?
made by out-of-state lenders or discount purchasers Current planning and zoning regulations in many Con-
that don’t necessarily take into consideration the best necticut municipalities are relatively restrictive, offer-
interests of the communities in which these properties ing little flexibility with respect to the types of uses
are located.” allowed in a particular zone. This poses a time-con-
Some New England municipalities have already begun suming and expensive challenge to owners of malls
to work with owners to adapt retail centers to new or and large retail centers who are attempting to avoid
expanded uses. The CitySquare project in Worcester financial ruin.
transformed a vacant mall into over 2 million square “It is incumbent upon municipalities, particularly their
feet of desirable commercial, medical, retail, entertain- land use agencies and boards, to be more cognizant
ment, and residential space. This mixed use project of the dramatic changes that are presently occurring
included public-private financing: $25 million state in the retail industry,” says Pullman & Comley attorney
financing, $70 million from the City of Worcester; $470 Amanda G. Gurren. “They need to create workable
million in private development funds. Redevelopment standards and expedited approval processes that will
of multiple big box stores are currently under consid- allow for the necessary repurposing, rehabilitation,
eration in New Hampshire. and/or construction of these properties.”
As mall properties tend to be centrally located and Likewise, in some instances, the investment of state
well-connected to transit, with large numbers of park- and local funds may be necessary to incentivize a
ing spaces, they also represent attractive spaces for property owner to repurpose a mall property in line
potential housing developments, including affordable with the community vision.
housing projects. In Trumbull, the city’s planning and
zoning commission gave its approval last October on Large retail centers have been important contributors
the plan to build 260 apartments at the Trumbull Mall, to the communities in which they are located. Histori-
after having voted in favor of regulations in 2018 that cally, they have represented a source of millions of dol-
paved the way for the project. lars of annual tax revenue, employed hundreds of area
residents over the years, and drawn consumer spend-
Centennial Real Estate, the owner of the Connecticut ing from beyond their immediate geographical areas. If
Post Mall, has not enjoyed similar results. In October these properties are to remain community assets, local
2020, Milford P&Z rejected a proposal which would governments must take the initiative.
have allowed a 300-unit apartment building at the mall.
22 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | AUGUST 2021You can also read
