State Bond Commission distributes millions to towns, cities

PAUL HUGHES

HARTFORD — Seldom was heard a discouraging word when the State Bond Commission met Thursday to approve more than $210.6 million for local governments, and millions more for community groups and nonprofits.

Sen. Joan V. Hartley, D-15th District, applauded the $870,000 to help Brass City Charter School in Waterbury pay for an elevator that meets the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

There also was a nearly $1.5 million grant to Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury for the Crownbrook Homeownership Initiative Redevelopment Project.

Naugatuck YMCA will receive $1 million to pay for infrastructure updates.

Torrington will get $500,000 for supporting riverfront redevelopment at the former Torrington Manufacturing Co. site.

The Bond Commission also approved a $40,000 grant to Thomaston for renovations to Seth Thomas Park.

Rep. Maria Horn, D-Salisbury, welcomed the approval of a $3 million grant to Community Health and Wellness Center of Torrington to construct a federally qualified health center in Canaan. For several years, the town, CHWC and Foundation for Community Health have worked on this project to increase access to primary care and mental health services in the Northwest Corner.

THE ONLY REPUBLICAN OBJECTION concerned $10 million for the Social Equity Council to provide low-interest loans to people from communities disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition to get into the state’s legal market in the recreational drug.

There were no pointed exchanges about the state overborrowing and overspending that often are heard when the Bond Commission meets to dole out funding, not this time anyway.

All was copacetic this meeting in Hearing Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building.

Gov. Ned Lamont was glad to hand out the $210.6 million bond funding for towns and cities, and Democratic and Republican legislators were only too glad to accept grants for their districts. Waterbury is getting $7.6 million, Torrington $869,965, Litchfield $84,808 and Beacon Falls $82,476.

After all, it was the last Bond Commission meeting before nominating conventions in May for Lamont and legislative incumbents running for re-election this year.

“What’s bonding for in an election year but not to give out goodies to people?” said Rep. Holly Cheeseman, R-East Lyme, the ranking House member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

The Bond Commission approved two allocations totaling $121 million to fund grants for local road, bridge and capital improvement projects.

In addition to $918,578 from these two funding pools, Cheshire will receive $1 million to support the transformation of the former Ball & Socket Manufacturing Co. into an arts and culture center. The grant will help pay to clean up a brownfield, preserve the 3-acre historical complex and promote outdoor activities along the Farmington Valley Linear Trail.

THE MEETING THURSDAY ALSO HAPPENED to be the first in-person gathering of the 10-member panel of state officials and legislators since the COVID-19 pandemic shifted meetings to the virtual space.

Lamont said the meeting went quicker and more smoothly than previous video-conference formats, especially when it comes to recall votes.

“We just completed one of the fastest bond commission meetings in history and I think we accomplished a lot,” he said.

Cheeseman said she welcomed the return of in-person meetings.

“I think it makes life much easier when you’re in person,” she said.

While the Bond Commission meeting drew an audience, the crowd was not as large as in pre-pandemic days.

Also, audience members were masked because face masks must still be worn in public spaces in the state Capitol and Legislative Office Building, but adherence to signs stating there should be two seats between people was spotty.

Borrowing Sails Through Bond Commission

Hugh McQuaid

The State Bond Commission borrowed $333 million in general obligation bonds Thursday, during its first meeting of the year and its first entirely in-person meeting since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a return to form, the state’s borrowing commission filed into a first-floor conference room in the Legislative Office Building, crowded with agency staffers, lobbyists, and media. Attendees sat around paper signs taped to seats to encourage social distancing.

The panel moved quickly through its 24-item agenda, which included bonding for transportation upgrades, IT upgrades, and grants to support town construction projects. The bipartisan commission approved the items with minimal discussion.

“We just completed one of the fastest bond commission meetings in history and I think we accomplished a lot,” Gov. Ned Lamont told reporters after the meeting.

The bonding approved Thursday leaves the state about $400 million below the roughly $2 billions bonding cap for the fiscal year. Lamont said he expects the commission to meet again in June.

During the press availability, the governor took the opportunity to announce some positive economic news. The federal Commerce Department released revised state-by-state gross domestic product growth data on Wednesday, which found Connecticut’s GDP had grown by 7.7% during the fourth quarter of last year, ahead of the national average of 6.9%. 

Lamont is seeking re-election this year and his first television commercial, launched earlier this week, highlights the state’s improved fiscal situation. On Thursday, he said the healthier economic outlook enabled the bond commission to make more investments now.

“Look, I’m not putting up the mission accomplished banner because everybody knows over the last 40 years or so, we accumulated an awful lot of debt. And that was pension debt, health care, debt bonding debt,” Lamont said. “While we’re beginning to bend the curve, as they would say, in COVID days, we still have a way to go.”

After the meeting, Rep. Holly Cheeseman, an East Lyme Republican and member of the bond commission, said the some projects approved by the panel would be “game changers” in the towns that would benefit from the funding. She pointed to $1.2 million funding to help fund the completion of a senior center in Griswold.

“What’s bonding for in an election year but not to give out goodies to people?” Cheeseman said. 

For much of the last week, press aides to state legislators from both parties have sent out news releases highlighting the impact that the newly released bond funding would have on communities and districts across the state. 

In one such release, Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said the funds would help support renovations to a Montessori School in New Haven as well as upgrades to a local animal shelter.

“This state bonding will help us put more kids in early childhood classrooms, bring much-needed improvements to a community center, and provide an overhaul to our animal shelter that is in need of repair,” Looney said.

Cheeseman, meanwhile, named Looney as she was praising the State Bond Commission’s return to in-person proceedings, in contrast to the state Senate’s decision to keep the third floor of the Capitol building closed to the public. 

“I think it makes life much easier when you’re in person. So Senator Looney, are we listening?” Cheeseman said. “We did it here for the bond commission meeting. I see no reason why you shouldn’t be doing it up in your floors in the Senate.”

Earlier this month, Looney said his caucus was erring on the side of protecting its members and staff from possible COVID infection. 

“We have to be extra cautious to avoid going off the rails in terms of losing a significant part of the session,” he said.

East Haven mayor says Tweed airport expansion a ‘burden’ he can’t support

Christine DeRosa

EAST HAVEN — Mayor Joseph Carfora took a firm stance against Tweed New Haven Airport’s proposed expansion Wednesday night, comparing what he called a “limited economic benefit” the town might see to the “burden” it would bring.

In his State of the Town address, Carfora said plans for the airport, which is in both New Haven and East Haven, would create problems for the town — including “traffic, flooding, environmental, public safety” — while not bringing much of a benefit.

“I am quite sure that my decision will disappoint some and even create discord with some very influential people,” Carfora said. “That is not my concern and if there is one thing that I have proven as your mayor and as the leader of this community, is that I am no shrinking violet nor will I back down from a tough decision.”

The expansion, to be financed by Tweed’s Goldman Sachs-owned operator, Avports LLC, would include paving part of the airport’s runway safety areas to extend the usable length of the runway by 1,035 feet. It also would include building a new 74,000-square-foot terminal on the East Haven side and moving the airport’s entrance to the East Haven side of the airport.

“My concern is that the burden to East Haven that this terminal will bring — traffic, flooding, environmental, public safety, operational costs and capital necessities — are monumental and they far outweigh any direct, limited economic benefit that East Haven will gain,” Carfora said.

Carfora said the project may work for some from a business standpoint, but he had to look at it from a broader point of view. He said he has attended meetings and briefings concerning the expansion, as has his administration and town departments.

He said New Haven and Yale may benefit from the economic effects of the airport expansion, but East Haven will not get any tax revenue and there may be irreparable impacts to the community from the project.

“That’s is why I am announcing tonight that at this point I cannot support, nor can I recommend to our Town Council that we accept and support, the terminal expansion/move to the East Haven side,” Carfora said. “The burdens are too great and the impact at this time on our community are simply too transformative.

“Those who benefit should shoulder more burden, not just the Town of East Haven,” he said.

Carfora’s statement was met with claps and cheers, including a standing ovation from some in the audience.

Neighbors of the airport regularly have voiced their concerns about the expansion, including many who say that the additional flights have hampered their quality of life and even damaged their homes.

Tweed New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Sean Scanlon said in a statement Thursday that they plan to continue to work closely with Carfora to address his concerns as the project moves forward.

“From the moment we first announced plans to grow Tweed New Haven Airport in May of last year, we’ve been focused squarely on growing jobs while also giving the residents of Southern Connecticut more direct flights to more destinations,” Scanlon wrote, citing hundreds of new jobs and 13 nonstop flights to new destinations.

Scanlon said those accomplishments could not have been achieved without extensive work with both Carfora and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.

“New Haven and East Haven have been at the table every step of the way and always will be,” Scanlon wrote. “This combined partnership has already resulted in a commitment of $5 million for direct community benefits, and we will remain committed to working with the mayor and East Haven residents to address issues as they arise.”

Elicker on Thursday called the project a work in progress, and said Carfora’s concerns should be addressed just as New Haven’s concerns were, before adding that people from both municipalities already are enjoying the benefits of travel to leisure and business destinations.

“He and I are both deeply involved in the future of Tweed and I believe through a continuing dialogue we will see our way home and demonstrate the value to both the region and to East Haven specifically,” Elicker said.

Elicker said union construction jobs, long-term jobs and economic development potential will benefit both municipalities.

“I look forward to, and remain resolute in, working with all parties — Avelo, the airport authority and East Haven town officials, and the residents of both communities — to move forward in a manner that addresses concerns and allows for a brighter future for two municipalities and the region as a whole,” Elicker said.

Avports CEO Jorge Roberts said the company remains committed to the airport and the ongoing development that has led to an increase in both jobs and flights.

“I’ve personally had many productive meetings and conversations with Mayor Carfora, and I am committed to continuing that strong relationship to address East Haven concerns and continue moving this transformative project forward,” Roberts said.

Bristol students gaining hands-on insight into potential careers

Dean Wright

BRISTOL – In its second year, Bristol Public Schools high school students are gaining hands-on insight into potential careers as part of the district’s cooperative work experience program.

According to Bristol Public Schools STEM Supervisor Dr. Jaime Rechenberg, the program allows for students to engage in a semester of introduction to the program where they build employability and soft skills before being paired with a partnering business in the community. Students then build their resumes and interview for positions. During a second semester, they elect to intern or take on a paid position for either 50 or 100 hours, depending on the number of credits a student looks to gain.

“It’s great to have in terms of the office because they get to see what it's like to work in an architecture office and the kind of skills we need and the projects we do,” said Angela Cahill, QA+M Architecture project manager. “It’s also a little self-serving because we need future architects so to have James (Totten) come and potentially work for us in the future is great.”

Frank Tomcak, project executive with D'Amato and Downes A Joint Venture, said some students interning at the Bristol Arts and Innovation Magnet School construction site have shadowed project workers as a means of exploring the possibility of working in trades.

Daymond Austin, student intern at Bristol Central High School, said he felt one of the most important things he learned while interning at the Bristol Arts and Innovation Magnet School construction project was communication.

“I’ve been asked to do a lot of things where I can’t do it if I don’t go out and communicate and say the right things to the right people. I’m glad I’ve learned that from this experience,” he said.

Tomcak noted that because Austin has done much of the photographic documentation of the construction project, he could go out and tell the project executive about a variety of component changes as the project has continued.

“We’ve worked with Daymond (Austin) to get him with different trade groups, like our laborers, carpenters and painters to get an idea of what they do on a daily basis and see if that’s something he’d want to gravitate towards on graduation,” he said.

James Totten, student intern at Bristol Central High School, said one of the more important things about his interning experience with QA+M Architecture was seeing how an architecture office operated.

“Everyone knows their job and knows it well. It’s a positive atmosphere where you can ask for help when you need it,” he said. “It’s awesome to see a couple of things outside, not just with your firm, but with other architects.”

Matthew Goral, student intern at Bristol Eastern High School, has been working with the Barnes Group and said the experience has been a positive one for him and he intends to potentially pursue a career in civil engineering.

“I’d say the overall experience is amazing because you get to go in there and get really close and personal with the stuff you’d want to do later in life,” he said. “The teachers that run this stuff put in a lot of effort to put you into a position that you really enjoy because they ask you what you want to go to college for and then try to match you up with companies that do that sort of stuff.”

Planning and Zoning Commission approves Waterford Heights housing project

Johana Vazquez 

Waterford — Waterford Heights, a 284-unit, seven-building apartment complex, was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission last week and becomes the second multifamily residential project planned for Hartford Turnpike.

Waterford Heights will be located at 969 Hartford Turnpike, near Target and the Waterford Commons shopping plaza, in the town's Commercial Multi-Family Zoning District. Jon Hendel, the developer, is a town resident who has developed and managed several properties in New London County and New York with his company TerraMax. He said earlier this month that his family has owned the Waterford property since the 1970s and he has wanted to develop it for years.

The high-end development is expected to have a variety of housing choices with a little more than half of the 284 apartments to be studio or one-bedroom units, 35% two-bedroom units and 11% three-bedroom units, all of which will be accessible by elevators.

The seven buildings will share a New England architectural style but will differ in structure to accommodate the property's natural valley.

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the development at its March 22 meeting, where the development's attorney, Mark Branse, assured commissioners all of their prior comments had been addressed.

The three present commissioners shared few comments and commended Branse and engineer Darin Overton for a great development. The commission approved the development on the basis of six conditions, half of which involve the property's 5.4 acres of inland wetlands. The development has to adhere to all conditions, listed in a permit for site work and constructing stormwater basins granted by the town's Conservation Commission, to clear, grade and fill within the 100-foot upland review area of inland wetlands. The development also still awaits a stormwater permit from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. In addition, final plans submitted to the town must include zoning-compliant dimensions of the entrance sign and a detail addressing how the rock cut slope encountered during construction will be treated and finished.

Approved by the commission in October, another development at 908 Hartford Turnpike will have 40 units — 32 of which will be divided between 80% or 60% of the average median income and the rest at market rate, making the development considered affordable housing under state laws.

Planning Director Abby Piersall said the commission approved the Waterford Heights proposal with all-market rate units and the town does not yet have an anticipated timeline for construction.