Posted by Bob on August 27, 2010 under Daily Blogs | 
The Phoenix Stage Company will have its grand opening this evening, Friday, August 27, 2010, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM., at 686 Rubber Avenue, Naugatuck, CT 06770. The new theater company includes partners, directors and actors with local connections to Naugatuck and throughout the Valley.
Tonight’s grand opening will be followed by tomorrow’s (8/28/2010) opening performance of the play Bleacher Bums. The comedy chronicles nine (9) innings of conversations between a diverse group of fans united by their devotion to their beloved Chicago Cubs. The original concept of the play was developed by actor Joe Mantegna, and is being directed locally by Naugatuck resident Ian Diedrich. The performance schedule is as follows:
- Saturday, August 28, 2010, 8:00 PM;
- Sunday, August 29, 2010, 2:00 PM;
- Thursday, September 2, 2010, 8:00 PM;
- Friday, September 3, 2010, 8:00 PM;
- Saturday, September 4, 2010, 8:00 PM;
- Friday, September 10, 2010, 8:00 PM;
- Saturday, September 11, 2010, 8:00 PM; and
- Sunday, September 12, 2010, 2:00 PM.
The opening of the Phoenix Theater Company will provide a much needed boost to the Rubber Avenue Corridor which, like most commercial areas in the United States, has felt the effects of the recession. The influx of customers to the seventy five (75) seat theater during nights and weekends will benefit businesses in the area. Located in the plaza hosting Bellissimo Pizza Restaurant, the theater is across from the Mountview Shopping Plaza, adjacent to Vige’s Sunoco and Convenient Store and only a few minutes away from Route 8.
It is a great opportunity when private investors are willing to open such a unique entertainment venue in Naugatuck. It is even better when such an endeavor includes talented local artists who have connections to our public school drama programs and the Naugatuck Teen Theater. While we should support the theater for these reasons alone, I have no doubt that the quality of the performances will be exceptional as well.
If you are looking for a night out in Naugatuck, grab a bite to eat, do some shopping and catch a show at the Phoenix Theater Company. Best of luck to all and involved, and to the Borough’s newest actors: break a leg!
Posted by Bob on August 24, 2010 under Daily Blogs |
The final Arts Commission concert on the Green, originally scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, August 24, 2010, has been postponed. The concert, which will feature the blues/rock band Crosseyed Cat, has been rescheduled to Thursday, August 26, 2010, 7:00 PM, also on the Green.
Please feel free to visit the Naugatuck Arts Commission website for other upcoming events and activities.
Posted by Bob on August 16, 2010 under Daily Blogs |
The Board of Mayor and Burgesses will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, August 17, 2010, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Hall of Burgesses at town hall. Burgesses will have an opportunity to discuss the most recent draft of the proposed Blight Ordinance, which may be viewed here. Public comment from Borough residents and/or taxpayers will be allowed and is encouraged.
Posted by Bob on August 13, 2010 under Daily Blogs |
Media coverage of the August 3, 2010, meeting of the Board of Mayor and Burgesses recently became focused on the approval of a bid for FIVE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVEN and 50/100THS ($5,907.50) DOLLARS for “Nursery Plants” to be planted at the recreational field at Fawn Meadow. While the argument made by some that this is an imprudent use of resources given the current state of our economy sounds valid when taken in a vacuum, there are several facts that should be considered.
The “Nursery Plants” that are to be purchased will be trees that will create a natural buffer between an active recreational field and the adjacent residential homes that it borders. Naugatuck has obtained certain grants of land for open space as a condition for various subdivision approvals by our Planning Commission. Accordingly, a small tract of land was provided to the Borough upon approval of the Fawn Meadow subdivision located near Maple Hill Elementary School. While a good portion of the subdivision has been built, the field has remained vacant for several years despite the significant need for additional, active recreational space.
Last year, representatives from various youth and adult sport and support groups met with Borough engineering staff to evaluate different spaces to expand Naugatuck’s inventory of active recreational fields. For the first time that I can remember, the Borough created an empirical ranking of what field options existed, and the pros and cons associated with each. The rankings can be viewed here. While not suitable because of size and location for an actual competition field, Fawn Meadow was ranked highest of Borough0wned properties after assessment of a wide variety of categories. The field will serve as badly-needed practice space for youth sports.
Further research was done to estimate preliminary costs associated with each viable field. Various costs of Borough-owned fields can be viewed here, but you will likely have to increase the viewing percentage area in Adobe. You should notice that at the time, it was anticipated that a fence would likely be necessary, which was estimated in the rough costs in an approximate amount of FORTY FIVE THOUSAND and 00/100THS ($45,000.00) DOLLARS. The problem with any of these field costs is that the Borough has little to no operating dollars to contribute to construction.
Given this dilemma, Public Works staff was charged with determining what limited steps would be necessary to get fields online at limited cost, with incremental improvements to be added in future years. It was determined that the field at Fawn Meadow could be ready in the shortest period of time with the least expense by adding a neighborhood buffer, making slight improvements to the parking area and performing basic seeding and grading.
Naugatuck has a history, however, of encountering resistance from residents when fields are proposed in residential areas. While anyone purchasing a home in the Fawn Meadow subdivision should have been aware that the field was allocated for active recreational use, it does not make it any easier when one’s backyard changes from a vacant field to a sports field hosting organized practices. It seemed prudent to open communication with neighbors and discuss any concerns prior to making any improvements. In that vein, the Park Commission sent letters to all residents in the area inviting them to a meeting to discuss the Borough’s intentions.
While reception was generally positive, there were a few concerns by the neighbors closest to the field about the potential disruption of beginning activity at the field. While reasonable minds can certainly differ about whether or not the Borough should be concerned about such events, the reality is that planting of an environmentally-responsible natural buffer seemed a relatively minor expense to avoid months if not years of disputes with homeowners in a residential neighborhood. It was recommended by Borough staff that trees be planted along the border that was least protected from the field. The cost to do so was significantly less than that of a fence.
There is nothing, however, budgeted for this expense in the recently adopted 2010-2011 budget. The Borough’s general fiscal policy is to avoid making changes to the budget after adoption unless there are unforeseen circumstances or a strong argument can be made for doing so. Therefore it was necessary to determine if there was any other funding source available to pay for the minor improvements to the field.
The Borough maintains an open space fund that is designed for either upgrades to land obtained by the Borough such as the field at Fawn Meadow, or the purchase of other open space. It was initially thought that such funds could be used. After consultation with the Accounting Department and the Five (5) Year Capital Improvement Committee, however, it was recommended that funds from a previous bond project be used instead.
While this requires more explanation than is usually provided by a sound-byte in a newspaper, the concept is actually quite simple. The Borough has bonded certain capital improvements in past years that have fixed amounts, fixed costs and fixed repayment terms. Occasionally a project will be completed under budget, but the Borough is obligated to repay the principal and interest based on the original term of the bond. While the Borough can usually prepay the loan without penalty, the interest over the entire term of the bond would still be due. Our Comptroller recommended that the improvements to Fawn Meadow be made using funds from a related bond project that was completed under budget, as did the Chair of the Five (5) Year Capital Improvement Committee, which voted to do so.
No existing budgetary resources were expended. In addition, the unused bond funds were not allocated to Borough operating expenses that will recur in future years. This will be the use of one (1) time unused resources for a one (1) time expenditure. The trees to be planted were bid in accordance with standard Borough procedure, as will any other expenditures for the field at Fawn Meadow associated therewith.
Dating back to 1999 when I was first elected a Burgess, I know of no new active recreational space that has been added to Naugatuck field space inventory. If my memory serves me correctly, the last field added was the one behind Maple Hill Elementary School. We can all debate the reasons for that: lack of resources; failure to capitalize on potential opportunities of other vacant land available; the long, divisive debate over Gunntown, the failure to pursue synthetic grass when times were better, etc. The reality is, however, getting Fawn Meadow ready for use quickly and for a relatively low cost will begin to alleviate our field space crunch. It certainly will not alleviate all the problems our athletes and support groups face, but it is a start.
Work at the Fawn Meadow Field will likely begin this fall, with hopes that it can be used in the spring of 2011. The process has been well-thought, and very conscious of the fact that the Borough must be creative to fund any such improvements during these difficult times. I am very comfortable with the open, inclusive and transparent process that has led us to this point. While it is natural for people to make judgments based on what is reported in the media, I appreciate the opportunity to clarify the facts and offer perspective. Questions, comments and/or feedback on this issue are very welcome.
Posted by Bob on August 5, 2010 under Daily Blogs |
The recently concluded, 2009-2010 fiscal year was certainly a tumultuous one in Naugatuck given the Board of Education budget crisis that occurred. Many long days and nights were spent avoiding catastrophic cuts that could have devastated our educational system in the middle of the school year. Ultimately, an agreement was reached between the Joint Board of Finance and Mayor and Burgesses (hereinafter “Joint Boards”), the Board of Education (hereinafter “BoE”), and collective bargaining units representing BoE employees. A previous post detailing the particulars can be viewed here.
One of the largest pieces that resolved the issue was the Joint Boards’ assumption of NINE HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SIX and 00/100THS ($955,906.00) DOLLARS of the BoE’s operating deficit in exchange for guarantees from the BoE to change health care consultants and maintain the Borough’s Comptroller, Wayne McAllister, as the BoE’s business manager. The Joint Boards voted sixteen (16) to three (3) to approve this arrangement, after the BoE vote and bargaining units for Naugatuck’s teachers and administrators approved employee concessions as well. Such concessions might have seemed insignificant at the time, particularly in light of the amount of dollars to be assumed by the Borough.
While the change to the Borough’s municipal health care consultant, CBC Kane Partners, produced significant savings for the 2010-2011 budget recently adopted, having Comptroller McAllister remain as the BoE business manager has paid huge dividends. A memorandum recently released by BoE Chairperson Kathleen Donovan indicated that what once was a NINE HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SIX and 00/100THS ($955,906.00) DOLLAR deficit, is now a TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN and 69/100THS ($2,518.69) DOLLAR surplus. Said surplus was confirmed by Comptroller McAllister. When the final transfers are made to reconcile the 2009-2010 Borough budget in September, 2010, not a single dime will be transferred into the BoE accounts.
I commend my colleagues on the BoE for working through a very difficult and tense time, recognizing that changes were needed in the BoE business office and putting a halt to any discretionary spending or hiring. While there has been much criticism directed at the BoE, of of which I am a member, the reality is that difficult decisions were ultimately made and sound fiscal management was restored. There are certainly more difficult decisions ahead and always room for improvement, but resolving the systemic issues in the business office in this economy was no small task.
Thanks is also owed to the employees who provided concessions to close the gap. Naugatuck teachers and administrators provided mid-year concessions, and non-certified staff agreed to a wage freeze for the 2009-2010 year. The employee concessions were a significant part of the reason the Joint Boards agreed to assume the operating deficit.
Joint Boards members, led by former Chair Ray Lennon, also banded together to address the operating deficit. Many long meetings produced a general consensus that being part of the solution, under the right circumstances and conditions, was better than allowing mid-year layoffs to devastate our school system. In consultation with the Comptroller, it was determined that there was a sufficient plan to assume the deficit, and the strong likelihood that Mr. McAllister could reduce the BoE operating deficit by reforms to and better controls in the BoE business office.
Great thanks, however, must be given to Mr. McAllister. Naugatuck has had its share of misfortune over the years, but we certainly struck gold when Mr. McAllister was first hired many years ago. Despite his quiet and humble demeanor, Mr. McAllister possesses tremendous talent and a work ethic second (2nd) to none. His leadership, expertise and conservative management style turned a huge liability to the Borough into a surplus. This was done without smoke and mirrors or any quick-fixes; but through extremely competent fiscal management and a lot of long nights and weekends. Mr. McAllister went above and beyond the obligations of his duties on behalf of taxpayers, students and educators alike; all while duly acting as the Borough Comptroller at the same time. The fact that he also volunteered to make and made financial concessions himself is often forgotten.
More information regarding the closure of the 2009-2010 fiscal year will be forthcoming. While we undoubtedly face additional challenges in this fiscal year and those to come, the very difficult 2009-2010 fiscal year has come to a close.
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