State of the city address: What has your city done in 2009 and will do in 2010?

DANBURY On December 18, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton delivered his annual State of

the City address at the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce’s leadership luncheon. He opened with words of welcome, followed by congratulations to Frank Kelly and Danbury Hospital, a major employer in the city and nationally renowned faci-lity. Boughton then thanked Fran Wiatr and Steve Bull for their work at the Chamber, adding somberly, “They are well aware of the many difficulties that our economy faces.”

He spoke of the collapse of local and state revenues, and seeing the “desperate eyes of those who are the least among us, the homeless, and the downtrodden,” or the “children who hear their parents’ quiet fears of losing their job or home.”

But, the mayor asserted, “I want you to know that this is one politician who gets it.”

Danbury has met the economic crisis, he added, with “disciplined spending and strong internal financial controls,” and has frozen almost all accounts (except public safety and public works), deferred hiring, and stepped up tax collection, and suspended bond requests other than those authorized by the new city charter.

Boughton went on to highlight the past year’s achievements:

•The city finished the fiscal year some $5 million under budget.

•Credit and bond ratings remain high.

•Unemployment dropped to 6.7 percent, the lowest in Connecticut.

•The new Police Station opened in May 2009.

•The crime rate is the lowest in the state and one of the lowest in the country.

•Connecticut Magazine rated Danbury as one of the top cities to live in

•Taxes are low and sewer and water rates remain the lowest in the state.

•The new Ellsworth Avenue Elementary School opened .

•Dozens of drainage and road improvement projects were completed.

•The Main Street Renaissance Task Force is completing its work and will issue a report in late spring.

•A new multi-purpose field in Rogers Park is open.

•The Connecticut Film Festival will return and the Palace Theater is open for business.

•The acquisition of the White Street Transfer Station, which will “turn our trash into cash,” should see final resolution in late spring.

The mayor then provided a laundry list of projects for the upcoming year:

•Completing negotiations for the transfer of 13 acres adjacent to the housing development known as The Reserve to be developed into a life style center, with a 400-seat film theater, a 5,000-square-foot production facility, and several retail stores.

•Beginning discussions of the old police department and adjacent parcels, with a strong interest in developing commercial space and with senior housing.

•New city website, “Danbury 2.0,” with more interactive features (Facebook & Twitter) to communicate with residents in real time.

•Preparing to begin the next statemandated reevaluation in spring 2010. “This unfunded mandate will cost the city approximately $1.2 million. I will be asking the legislature for more flexibility to conduct a statistical reevaluation that will only cost $400,000.”

While all these are important, providing jobs and economic development opportunities, Boughton said he is most proud of the city’s work in the area of homelessness. “The measure of our community, and the measure of my administration, should be how we care for the least among us.” In closing, the mayor shared his personal views. “I am proud of Danbury … the city I grew up in, laughed in, cried in, and have lived my life in. It is a place that you can meet people from all over the world, know them by name and share the joys of life with them – as one community, united in values and ideals that are uniquely American.”

BRIDGEPORT When Bridgeport Mayor William Finch delivered his annual address to the

City Council he stuck an optimistic tone, although he noted that the country is facing bleak economic conditions..

“The past year has been a difficult one, but look at how far we’ve come – we’ve weathered an economic downturn … but here in Bridgeport, we worked through a $20 million deficit, balanced the budget, and for the first time in memory, the current year’s budget is $2 million less than last year,” Finch opened.

He outlined four major themes that sum up Bridgeport’s accomplishments, saying, “In a trying period, we as a city, and we as a city government, rose to the challenge.” His themes included:

1.Hard Work & Creativity – A balanced budget was fashioned without dipping into reserve funds.

2.Cooperation & Compromise - - City unions and management preserved vital services, made difficult job cuts and held the line on salaries.

3.Planning for the Future – State pension legislation was adopted that will save millions in payments for two years.

4.Attracting New Businesses -- Key projects are moving forward: at Steelpointe and the former Carpenter Tech site in the East End; Citytrust building and Arcade apartments now fully leased; a number of new venues joined the restaurant district.

The mayor then listed some “tough decisions” on the budget, including the elimination of more than 200 positions, voluntary furloughs and reducing the use of take-home cars by 43 percent. Enhanced revenues came from the sale of city-owned property ($2.4 million), the Bootfinder program (nearly $1 million), and the collection of delinquent taxes.

Moving forward, city residents can expect projects in a number of areas:

• Two public works projects – the Discovery K-8 Magnet School and the Interdistrict Magnet High School.

• The sale of two decommissioned public schools to Achievement First for charter school operation.

• A new CitiStat program to better track customer requests and concerns, using QAlert request management software.

• Demolition of at least six buildings by year-end and to include funds for several more next year.

• A sustainability committee is looking into recycling the building materials, turning them over to Habitat for Humanity or a similar group.

• E stablishment of the HOPE program, to help homeowners in foreclosure, assist tenants to become homeowners or preserve rentals, and ensure foreclosed property doesn’t become blighted.

• A $6 million award in Neighborhood Stabilization funds will be leveraged to acquire and fix foreclosed properties.

• Received more than $11 million in direct awards, nearly $6 million in pass-through monies from state and other sources, additional $90 million under review.

• E armarked $2.1 million to begin demolishing the Congress Street Bridge.

• Other projects include: homelessness prevention/housing creation, salary offsets for up to 20 new police officers, Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants.

• An executive order was issued laying groundwork for projects such as developing an Energy Improvement District and use of stimulus funds to provide training and jobs for young adults in the Mayor’s Conservation Corps.

•More than 100 citizens are involved in advisory boards and committees that will seek energy conservation initiatives.

The Mayor went on to say how proud he is of the police and fire departments and their leadership, mentioning that crime overall is down, and Bridgeport remains one of the safest cities in the state

Finch’s final remarks applauded the level of commitment he has witnessed in everyone’s efforts to “do more with less” in challenging times, “I see light at the end of this tunnel, which means a better and brighter future for ourselves and our children.”

waterbury Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura presented his annual budget proposal

with guarded optimism, hoping to put to rest growing fears in the face of national economic insecurity and an increasing state deficit.

He opened by saying, “This is the eighth, and in many ways, the most challenging budget I have had the honor to develop for the citizens of Waterbury.”

The highlights of the proposed budget included:

•Keeping the mill rate level, at 39.9202.

•Trimming department requests by $19.3 million.

•Increasing the General Government & Department of Education budgets by .7 percent or $2.6 million.

•Increasing the tax collection rate from 95.5 percent to 96 percent (less than the 96.62 percent allowed by the city charter).

•Paying down $2 million toward future retiree medical care costs.

•Reducing the city’s pension liability, from a high of $468 million to $459 million.

The mayor then outlined ongoing and new projects, with $10 million committed to capital improvements, including:

•Renovation of the Fulton Park tennis courts.

•Installation of outdoor basketball courts at the North End Recreation Center.

•$2 million in street and sidewalk repairs.

•Continuing construction of three K-8 elementary schools.

•And the ongoing renovation of City Hall.

Jarjura concluded by noting that the cost of the projects were coming in “far below what had been anticipated,” and thanked everyone for their continued support.

But – there’s more. Anyone living in Waterbury, not just the mayor or other city officials, can have a say in spending more than $3.3 million on city and neighborhood improvements, such as infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, etc.), recreation, transportation, public services, and quality of life amenities.

Each year, the city receives a funding package from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which includes:

•A $2.3 million Community Development Block Grant, intended to: (1) benefit low/moderate income persons; (2) eliminate slum and blight; and (3) address urgent (emergency) needs.

•An Emergency Shelter Grant of roughly $100,000 to provide services to the homeless.

•HOME program funds (just over $1 million), to construct and/or rehabilitate housing for low/moderate income persons.

The public was invited to give input on exactly how to use this money, at two open hearings held on April 2 and June 2, where they could address housing and community development needs as well activities, projects and services for the upcoming year.

The “Annual Action Plan” comes out between the two hearings, with a list of those who have applied for a piece of the pie, along with a remarkably detailed proposed budget – this year, the report weighed in at 197 pages.

Applications included numerous small requests (under $10,000) by day care providers, senior centers, faith-based charities and food pantries, among others. Some of the larger budget items were $187,286 for a new playground, $200,000 for new sidewalks and $350,000 for improvements at three of the city’s fire stations.The Action Plan emerges from the larger vision and objectives set forth in the City’s 2008-2013 Consolidated Plan.

The overall goal is “to develop Waterbury as a viable urban community by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities principally for low and moderate income persons.”