VIDEO: East Haven Mayor's State Of The Town Address

East Haven Mayor Joseph A. Carfora State of the Town Address

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice-Chairman, members of the Town Council, our Town Clerk, Lisa Balter, Members of the Board of Education, Board of Education Chair, Michelle DeLucia, Superintendent of Schools Erica Forti, members of the Board of Finance, our Town Department Heads, town employees; and, of course, the taxpayers of the Town of East Haven. Welcome.
It is remarkable how quickly a year goes by so here we are again for our annual State of the Town- Budget address. My fourth such event. An evening that I enjoy because not only does my office pass the budget on to the Town Council so they can do their important work, but also an evening where we can highlight so many of the positive things that are going on in our community. I’ll start by saying this, it gives me great pleasure to report to everyone that the State of our Town is strong, proud, respected and financially secure. We are proud of what we are doing and where we are headed, and respected among our contemporaries and counterparts.

From my first day in office, providing our police and fire departments with the resources they need to make our town and residents safe was my first priority.

So, I feel there is no more important part of this address than to single out our first responders, and of course their families. I know that our public safety leaders and our rank and file, face unprecedented challenges in the execution of their daily responsibilities. Our police and fire personnel are asked to do so much on a daily basis, doing so unselfishly to protect our families.

We have worked tirelessly to improve the quality of our police & fire departments, ensuring that our personnel have the resources they need. I have vowed, and followed thru with an unwavering commitment to make sure that we are staffed properly, and that they are equipped professionally. Like never before in both departments we have invested in the latest technology and training programs to equip our staff with the skills they need to effectively respond to emergencies.

Police
In 2022, the Police Department responded to 28,731 calls for service.
One of the initiatives that our police department has implemented is the formation of a pro-active traffic unit. To reinforce its effectiveness in 2022, the Unit partnered with other regional traffic units and has been instrumental in addressing traffic and other quality of life complaints throughout our town. The units efforts have resulted in safer roadways, which has had a positive impact on our daily lives.
Another area of improvement that our police department has made is upgrading and expanding our vehicle and body camera systems. The cameras provide a clear record of police interactions with the public, which helps to protect both officers and citizens. The upgrades and expansion of this system have ensured that our police department is utilizing the latest technological upgrades to provide the best possible service to our community.

Our police department has also maintained and re-applied for a four-year national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies which is known as (CALEA). This accreditation process ensures that our police department adheres to the highest standards of professionalism and excellence in law enforcement. We are currently in the review phase for consideration by CALEA, which final approval should occur in the summer of 2023. This achievement is a testament to our police department's commitment to providing the best possible service to our community.
In addition to these initiatives, our police department has also made improvements to our network infrastructure, which helps ensure that our officers have access to comprehensive technological tools necessary to serve our community. The department has also continued to improve our beach parking program, which makes it easier for all residents especially those who reside near our Town Beach. One of the most important accomplishments of our police department for school safety is not only the addition of school resource officers (SRO’s) but the completion of training and the implementation of ALICE to the entire school system and town staff. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate and it is a training program designed to teach individuals how to respond to an active shooter. This program has been implemented in schools and workplaces across the country, and it has been proven to save lives.

The Police Dept in partnership with the towns of Branford, Guilford, Madison, North Branford & North Haven jointly received a command center vehicle. The command center vehicle was purchased through American Rescue Plan Act funds, commonly referred to as ARPA. This vehicle will be used to respond to emergency and community events.
Finally, our police department has revamped our hiring practices to a “rolling” application process. This approach helps us to ensure that our police dept continues to have access to highly qualified officers in this competitive market.
FIRE Department
In 2022, the Fire Department responded to 7,417 calls for service, over 2,000 more calls than in 2021, accounting for a 29% increase in demand. This increase in call volume highlights the importance of having a well-equipped and well-trained Fire Department. The Fire Department has hired and trained 5 new firefighter paramedics, which has enhanced the level of emergency medical care provided to our community. The Department has taken delivery of a state-of-the-art fire truck assigned as Engine 4, serving the Momauguin neighborhood. This engine is equipped to handle both fire and paramedic calls and was acquired through a first-of-its-kind lease-purchase agreement. This will save the town significant funds, as the truck will be owned by the town in 5 years, rather than through a 20-year bond. The Department has also refurbished Engine 6 and assigned it to the Riverside Volunteer Fire Company in Short Beach.
The previous Engine 4, now serves as the town's reserve apparatus. The living quarters at Station 4 have been refurbished, providing a comfortable and functional space for the firefighters. The Fire Department personnel have logged over 109,000 hours of training on fire, rescue and EMS topics, ensuring that they are prepared to respond to any emergency.
The Department settled a landmark firefighter contract that focused on firefighter recruitment and retention, highlighting the importance of attracting and retaining qualified and dedicated firefighters.
The Department conducted over 300 fire safety inspections, ensuring that our community remains safe.
Many of you realize the Fire Department personnel have been at the forefront of not only the pandemic, but also the opioid crisis, responding to 234 related pandemic calls and 79 overdoses.... that required the administration of Narcan over 100 times... saving lives that could have otherwise been lost.

Our Fire department has made significant investments in infrastructure, equipment, and personnel to enhance the safety of our residents and firefighters. There are five items I’d like to highlight.

1. I am pleased to announce that Engine 6 had an out-of-frame complete motor rebuild, which will ensure that the engine is operating at peak performance and can respond to emergencies quickly and efficiently. This is a critical investment in maintaining the reliability of our emergency response system.
2. ARPA funds were utilized for central air conditioning at Fire Headquarters. This is a significant investment in improving the work environment for our firefighters and ensures that they can work in a comfortable environment and maintain their focus on their duties during hot and humid summer days. slide-dryers

1. The Chief ordered a second set of PPE for all firefighters and installed decontamination gear dryers for firefighter PPE at all stations, all funded through ARPA. Both of these vital improvements ensure the safety and well-being of our firefighters. This investment will help to prolong the life of the PPE and reduce employee risk of exposure to harmful chemicals and is a significant step towards occupational cancer prevention.
2. ARPA funds were also utilized for inter-operable radios for all apparatus which enables our firefighters to communicate effectively with other agencies during emergencies, regardless of the frequency or channel used. This is a critical investment in ensuring that our firefighters can work together seamlessly to respond to emergencies.
3. And finally, the hiring of a part-time fire inspector enhances the safety of our community to assist our full-time fire marshal ensuring that our buildings and facilities meet safety standards and are in compliance with fire codes and statutes. This investment will also help to reduce the risk of fires and other emergencies.

I am proud to recognize the positive impact that our Fire department has had on the quality of life in our community. The investments made in infrastructure, equipment, and personnel have enhanced the safety of our residents and firefighters, and I am committed to supporting our Fire department in their ongoing efforts to keep our community safe.

Under my watch our first responders will always have the necessary means that are required to protect themselves and to keep our community safe, but also to ensure that they return home safely every day to their families. I thank Police Chief Lennon, Deputy Chief Tracy, Fire Chief Marcarelli and Assistant Chief Rosa, as well as each and every police officer and firefighter for their hard work, and their tireless commitment to our community.
Town Clerk
During her first year in office, Town Clerk Lisa Balter maintained and improved the office ensuring better customer service and outcomes. Lisa applied for and received a Connecticut State Library Municipal Grant offered through the Historic Document Preservation Program for the continued automation of Land Records dating back to 1970.
Records are now searchable electronically back to 1970 by simply typing a name. There is now even more access to the public whether in person or online. As we learned during the pandemic, on-line access is so important.
Other improvements to the Clerk’s office this past year include the added convenience to residents of online dog licensing, and improved organization of the lower vault where the Town’s older historic records are maintained. This year The Town Clerk’s Office received a record number of Absentee Ballot applications, and the office processed them with ease.
This department’s staff has made service a top priority for the office, and it shows. Over the last year they have continued to streamline operations and look forward to continued improvements.

Public Works
Today I want to share some the progress we've made improving our community with our public works department at the forefront.
First and foremost, I am pleased to announce that we have built 5 brand new playgrounds throughout the town- all utilizing ARPA grant funds. Our team has worked to ensure that each playground is safe, fun, and accessible to all children. We purchased new all-inclusive playground equipment, including handicap accessible equipment for Memorial Field that will be installed this spring. We believe that providing quality play areas for our children is not just important for their physical health, but also for their social and emotional development.
Our public works department has been instrumental in this effort, putting in countless hours to make sure that each playground is built to the highest standards. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated team of professionals who take pride in their work and are committed to making our town a better place for everyone.
But our public works department has done much more than just build playgrounds.
They have also been busy maintaining and improving our roads, sidewalks, and other public infrastructure. By performing this work in-house, we have been able to save money and ensure that our resources are being used efficiently.
In addition to the financial benefits, there are also many other advantages to having our public works department perform these tasks. For one, they have a deep knowledge of our town's infrastructure and can quickly respond to any issues that arise.
They are also able to work more closely with other departments, such as parks and recreation, to ensure that our public spaces are well-maintained and accessible to everyone.
Finally, I want to emphasize that these improvements are not just about making our town look nicer or providing amenities for our residents. When we invest in our public spaces and infrastructure, we are investing in ourselves and our future.
I am proud of the progress we have made and grateful for the hard work of our public works department. I hope that you will join me in celebrating these accomplishments.
Recreation Department
My administration has a commitment to providing quality recreational activities for our residents. But as times change, so too must our approach to recreation. That's why we've recently undergone a positive restructuring of our Recreation Department to better serve our community's needs. Our Recreation Director Liz Franco-Spano has transferred her lifelong commitment to our community, and its children and families to our recreation department. Along with her staff this process has created new and exciting opportunities
One of the most exciting changes for the Recreation Department is the remodeling and reopening of our ice rink facility. This has been a long-awaited project and I'm thrilled to say that it's finally here. With a fresh new look and state-of-the-art equipment, our ice rink is sure to provide hours of fun and entertainment for hockey players and skaters of all ages. But this facility isn’t simply a 9-month ice arena—it will be utilized throughout the spring and summer to offer additional recreation programs, including roller skating.
But that's not all. Liz and her staff have been hard at work, implementing new programs that are already having a positive impact on our community. From our youth to our seniors, and all ages in between, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
And the best part? These new programs are not only beneficial to our community's health and well-being, but they're also bringing in new revenue for our town. That's right, our Recreation Department is now more financially self-sustaining than ever before, which means we can continue to invest in even more exciting activities and improvements in the future.
Speaking of improvements, the seamless implementation of our MyRec program has made it easier than ever for our residents to sign up for activities and events, which means more people can participate and enjoy all that our Recreation Department has to offer.
I'm proud of the positive changes that we've made to our Recreation Department, and I'm excited about what's to come. Our town is always growing and evolving, and our Recreation Department has done the same by having the vision needed to anticipate entertaining activities like never before. So, let's celebrate all of our new and improved recreational activities, and keep supporting our dedicated staff who work tirelessly to make our town a better place to live, work, and play.

Building Dept
I am pleased to report that the Building Department in our town hall has been one of the busiest departments over the past year. This department generates significant revenue on behalf of our community, and it provides essential services to ensure the safety of our residents. For the year 2022 we issued 1200 Building Permits with a construction value of $22,133,505.00 for the Town and 954 inspections. The town received $316,000.00 in fees, as well.
The Building Department is ready to introduce a new online permitting system that connects all departments required in the building and zoning process. This new online permitting system is user-friendly and informative, making it easier for residents, contractors and homeowners to complete their building permits and inspections seamlessly.
In the coming days, I urge you to take advantage of the new online permitting system for your convenience and efficiency.
Zoning
Our zoning department is also one of the most active department in this town. Not only do we process new applications daily but it also has to clean up some major projects that we inherited from the Maturo administration. We continue to thoroughly vet all new applications. I am pleased that the new online permitting system includes access to our Building department so both Zoning and Building and other departments are on the same page.

West End Revitalization
I am excited to announce that the town of East Haven has been given the green light by the state for funding of the fifth and final phase of the West End Revitalization project. The funds came through the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program. This is great news for our community as it will bring the revitalization project to its completion, extending all the way to the New Haven town line on Main Street.
One aspect I’m especially happy about are the new handicap-accessible sidewalks. This will not only improve accessibility for all residents, but it will also enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of Main Street.
I look forward to working with local businesses and residents as we bring this project to completion and create a more beautiful and inviting West End of town for all our residents.
I hope you share in my excitement for the final completion of this decades long project.
East Haven Senior Center
I am excited to share with you some updates on the East Haven Senior Center and Social Services Department. We are constantly working to provide the best services possible to our community, and we are proud to say that we have made significant strides in achieving this goal.
We now have over 325 individuals registered as members at the Senior Center, with over 240 active members. We have recently added seven new classes, including five exercise classes, one chai yoga class, and one cooking class. These classes are designed to help promote health and wellness, and we hope they will benefit our senior community greatly.

Additionally, we are pleased to announce that we have received a grant from the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut to offer a six-session Health and Wellness program. The program will cover topics such as health, nutrition, exercise, and estate planning, and is designed to help improve the overall well-being and quality of life for East Haven seniors and their family members.
Moving on to our Social Services Department, we have processed over 470 State of Connecticut Rental Rebate Applications, and East Haven residents have received over $260,000 in Rent Rebate checks. We have also processed over 400 State of Connecticut Energy Assistance Applications, with East Haven residents receiving over $500,000 in oil, propane, gas, and electric credits.
We are committed to continuing to provide top-notch services to our senior community and all residents of East Haven. We encourage you to take advantage of the many programs and services we offer at the Senior Center and Social Services Department.
Greenway Trail
I’m excited the work has begun to extend the Shoreline Greenway Trail from Elliot Street to Cosey Beach Avenue. It offers a multitude of benefits to the local community. It’s always gratifying to create outdoor green spaces for residents and visitors alike.
As many of you know, the trail provides a scenic and safe route for walkers, runners, and cyclists, If you haven’t already, I encourage you to use our Greenway Trail as we have some beautiful days ahead.

Animal Control
Congratulations to Emily Higgins on your new position as animal control officer! The animal control department plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of animals in our community. Duties include responding to animal-related emergencies, enforcing animal control laws and regulations, investigating animal cruelty cases, educating the public on responsible pet ownership and more.
Our department works with compassion and professionalism. It has always had strong communication skills and works to build positive relationships with community members, including pet owners, local animal rescue organizations and other animal control departments through the region. I have faith that Emily will build on the legacy that Owen Little has established over the past 3 decades.
Tax Department
The newly staffed Tax Department resulted in Shayna Acampora, a tax clerk in the department moving her way up the ranks to Deputy Tax Collector and ultimately now our new Tax Collector. We have a three member staff in our tax office. All of the office staff is enrolled to attend courses this spring of 2023 to further their skills and knowledge in Tax Collection.
We now have two bilingual employees in this office. This has allowed us to better serve our community and its changing demographics. Not only has the ability to communicate with our Spanish speaking taxpayers in the Tax Department, but they have been able to assist other departments as well.

Taxes can be confusing, so the tax office is compiling an “information summary sheet” of facts for taxpayers to better understand what taxes pay for, along with the state statutes and laws that govern the tax office, and a breakdown of payment options. Our goal is to make the process easier... and more understandable for our residents. Our intention is to post this “information summary sheet” in the tax office and on the website.
Technology
Since my first day in office and identifying initial weaknesses here in town. Technology was in shambles and immediately on my radar. With the onset of covid we immediately dialed in the need for Information Technology in our town. With that being said, we’ve updated previously mentioned departments such as Tax, Town Clerk, Assessor, Building, Zoning, Engineering and Fire & Police. This department has implemented online services for our taxpayers. Improved our town wide telephone systems, implemented government cloud emails, secure file sharing, dot Gov domain, recently purchased and installed new servers, building our own secure network, town wide. For these major infrastructure improvements to town buildings to take place, rewiring was done in many departments, such as the newly updated Ice Rink. New up-to-date cloud managed equipment was installed town wide to let us manage this equipment in house. Securing each department and its data was critical to threats.

Board of Education
We stand committed to supporting our community's critical needs, and we understand that the education of our children is essential for their future growth and development. I am pleased to announce that our town is doing our part in making education a priority for our community. Clearly our school district plays a critical role on a daily basis with our children and their education, but they too need the support of my administration and its resources. With that being said, I am very proud of the open communications that we now have with the leadership staff at Central Office. Only positive things can come from this type of communication and open dialogue.
We understand that a strong educational system is critical for our town's growth and development. Nothing is more important to our children's education than creating an environment in which kids can flourish. And making sure that there is continuity in the classroom is important. Everyone worked hard on an agreement that ensures our teachers receive competitive pay that is comparable to the neighboring communities. Over the past year, teacher contract negotiations occurred, and one of its goals was to make sure that there were corrections made to certain levels of teachers’ pay. We monitored the negotiations between our town's school district and the teachers' union. We all recognized the need to ensure that our teacher’s pay corresponds to the surrounding communities. In some instances, this lack of parity forced teachers to take up secondary jobs to stay afloat, while some others had to make the challenging decision to leave our system to seek better-paying positions elsewhere. This phenomenon is unfortunate because it results in a loss of talented teachers, which negatively impacts our education system.
I am happy to report that in this budget we have made a significant increase in our funding for the district this year. My request is to allocate a total of $900,000, a substantial increase from last year's unanimous Town Council vote of $100,000 which reflects an $800,000 increase.
This year’s substantial increase in funding is to support efforts that focus on teacher retention, aiming to keep as many teachers as possible and avoid losing them due to pay inequality. We are proud to share in recognizing the dedication and hardworking teachers, a valuable resource to our community.
No one wants this issue to compromise the future of our young people...and we on the town side with this significant financial commitment are doing our part to help solve it.
I want to also address the impact of the state mandated revaluation that we experienced last year. In my previous State of the Town address I have called for the State to work on some form of property tax relief. Our current system is unfair to municipalities like ours and its taxpayers. And last year’s state required revaluation highlights just that.
In theory, the increased value of one’s home is a positive thing. Certainly, if you are planning to sell, but for those of us who are not selling, the higher value directly impacts the tax formula that we are required to use. As an administration we understand that, and we do everything within the boundaries of the current tax system to offset those burdens.

One way is keeping our town finances sound and strong—which they are as I will explain, but other ways we try to combat this unfair system, is by lowering the mill rate as we did last year... holding expenses where and when possible—which is a consistent goal, and not increasing the mill rate at all this year. But no matter what, property tax reform is something that we all need to be working towards.
Finance
As of Fiscal year ending June 30th 20-22, the town achieved a certified surplus of $1,554,726.
The Audit report also outlines the various financial milestones achieved by the town and highlights the efforts made by my administration to improve the financial position of the town.
The Fund Balance also sometimes referred to as the “Rainy Day Fund”
I am extremely proud to report that our Fund Balance as of Fiscal year ending June 30th 20-22 stands at $7,252,881... These are real numbers.
This is the highest it has been since Fiscal year ending June 30th 2004, when it was $7,355,409. These numbers clearly show that there has been a significant improvement in the financial position of the town. This is in contrast to the Fund Balance at the end of the previous administration's tenure, which was $2,844,041.
Under my administration, the Fund Balance has increased by $4,408,840, a 155% increase. And again, let me stress, these are real numbers...
It is important to note that the same Audit Partner (Joseph Centofanti) has been working with the town for the past 16 years – so he knows this town.
The Fund Balance as of Fiscal year ending June 30th 20-22 represents 7.18% of the proposed 23-24 budget. This greatly exceeds the recommended minimum of 5%. This is a significant improvement in the town's financial position and shows the town's commitment to responsible financial management.
The town's bond rating outlook has improved from "negative" to "stable", and the expectation is a higher bond rating and favorable rate pricing for any new bonding. This is a testament to the town's financial stability and responsible financial management.
Based on current projections, the town expects a much more modest surplus in Fiscal year ending June 30th 20-23. This represents a continued effort by the town to maintain responsible financial management practices.
The town has made significant progress in improving its financial position under the leadership of my administration. The surplus achieved at the end of Fiscal year ending June 30th 20-22, the significantly higher Fund Balance, and the improved bond rating outlook are all positive indicators of the town's financial stability. I remain committed to maintaining responsible financial management practices and ensuring the long-term financial health of the town. None of this would be possible without the hard work of Jim Keeley -our finance director. We are so fortunate to have him.

Tweed New Haven Airport expansion.
In my Town address last year, I said that that we have approached this project with care, and paid it every bit of attention that it requires, but also that it demands. We have consistently said that the proposed expansion to the East Haven side is the most transformative project in our town’s history. That statement has always been spot on, but after a full review of the scope of the proposals and findings in the Environmental Assessment known as EA, if possible, it is more accurate today than ever before.
Since I was elected, we have worked conscientiously to gather information about the overall project, but also to gather specific and detailed information that we knew was being used to formulate the recently released EA - information that we believed was being shared with New Haven, but not us. I consistently took the position, and still feel this way, that any productive and fair discussions about this project should only occur when all stakeholders have access to the same information.
While New Haven owns the property, which is located in East Haven, the Airport Authority which is ultimately responsible for airport operations appropriately includes Board members representing East Haven and other stakeholders all of whom deserve and need access to the same level of information and transparency.
Along the way there were private and public representations that we were receiving the necessary information...which was not accurate.

This past July, with the unanimous support of the Town Council...we took the essential step of hiring specialized legal counsel...which includes an FAA law firm...In anticipation of the release of the Environmental Assessment draft...our legal team has been working non-stop on this expansion and relocation - researching and preparing for relevant issues from taxation, traffic, our public safety groups, environmental impact and flooding. As a result, this past October, I sent a detailed 15 Page letter to the FAA requesting that the FAA prepare an Environmental Impact Statement –Known as an EIS... An EIS contains a fundamentally much more detailed development and review of information and scrutiny of a project than an EA. The EIS process will allow for much more public involvement and transparency and will be the responsibility of the FAA, not the Authority.
The Town’s position is that the National Environmental Policy Act –known as NEPA -- and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations require the much deeper evaluation an EIS will provide because a project of this scale will have, among so many other things, a significant impact to the human environment, perpetual impact on wetlands and our sensitive coastal areas, on air quality, and immense impact on our parks and recreational spaces.
Prior to my October call for an EIS – Save the Sound did so as well. After my October request—Senator Christine Cohen, Senator Martin Looney, State Senator Paul Cicarella, State Representatives Alphonse Paolillo & Joe Zullo made formal requests for an EIS as well. Tonight, I call on each to renew their requests. Senator Looney and State Representative Al Paolilio’s requests are particularly impactful because they live right next to Tweed. So, they are fully aware of the noise, traffic, environmental and pollution concerns that are forever changing the Tweed neighborhoods, and are also aware of the complaints that are being made by their New Haven neighbors.
In my statement immediately following the release of the draft EA on March 2nd, 20-23, I indicated that I was disappointed that the FAA did not immediately order an EIS. From the very start our sole mission has been to protect the citizens of East Haven, and ensure that all aspects of this massive proposed expansion and relocation of the airport into East Haven were fully and fairly considered.
Our team has undertaken a complete review of the draft EA.
For months, we have been working with experts in areas from traffic, ecology, storm water, and public safety and we are prepared to make public comment on April 1st during the public comment period. Personally, I am looking forward to leading that effort this coming Saturday. With that being said, and in addition to our public comment, our team is also preparing detailed written responses that will be submitted to the FAA prior to the now May 1, 2023 deadline. The Town’s written responses will be detailed and comprehensive, and they will directly address the Town's concerns. They will be supported by actual studies and comprehensive information that will make it clear to the FAA how Federal Law requires that a full-scale EIS that is mandated for this project.
Let me leave no doubt... East Haven is standing up for itself and we will continue to do so throughout this process. We have the right team in place and everyone has the same goal and that is to ensure that this project is fairly and honestly considered, and that our Town is protected as federal law mandates.
I urge you all to attend the April 1st, 20-23 public hearing right here at our East Haven High School. In addition to that, please be sure to provide whatever comments you choose in writing to the FAA prior to May 1st . Information regarding both is posted in our Town Hall and on the Town’s website.
In closing, With every improvement my administration has made, I am quite proud to present you a budget that holds the line on taxes but also funds our Police and Fire Departments...all essential services and our board of education.
I want to thank everyone for coming. I want to acknowledge our department heads and my staff for their hard work on this budget. Without a doubt we have the finest finance director in the area. Jim is thorough and extremely organized, but also a pleasure to work with. I’d like to thank the members of the Board of Finance for their service. Like you, they give their time to this community to make it better. Mr. Chairman - I have completed my presentation and turn the budget over to the Council.
Good Luck and thank you. --