Naugatuck Mayoral Candidate Tamath Rossi Reveals Her Platform

Earlier this week, Republican candidate for Mayor of Naugatuck, Tamath Rossi, released her plan for the future of Naugatuck that she says starts with a stronger community and new opportunities for our families, businesses and seniors, not bigger government and more bureaucracy.

“On every level – home foreclosures, declining government revenues and services, struggling businesses – Naugatuck needs community solutions to deliver new results,” Rossi said at a press conference held on the Naugatuck Green.

“We need local government built by our community, not out of date bureaucracy dictated from Town Hall. We need more jobs created by local businesses, not failed government gimmicks; and we need better opportunities for every Naugatuck resident, family, and business, not a business as usual approach that only benefits the politically connected.”

“Our Borough needs a tried and tested leader who knows what it will take to lead us to a town government that works to build a better, brighter future for everyone who lives and works here,” Rossi added. “We can achieve that by making town government work for everyone, living within our means and finding solutions within our community to deliver better services without raising taxes.”

“My plan for Naugatuck’s future is to empower our own residents, not build a bigger bureaucracy.”

To sign up for breaking news alerts and more, click here.

Read Rossi’s full platform below.

A PATH TO A BETTER, BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR NAUGATUCK

Tamath Rossi is a Republican candidate for Mayor of Naugatuck who believes our comeback starts with a stronger community and new opportunities for our families, businesses and seniors. People need to believe that our town can shine again.

On every level – home foreclosures, declining government revenues and services, struggling businesses – Naugatuck needs community solutions to deliver new results:

• Local government built by our community, not out of date bureaucracy dictated from Town Hall

• More jobs created by local businesses, not failed government gimmicks

• Better opportunities for every Naugatuck resident, family, and business, not a business as usual approach that only benefits the politically connected

Our Borough needs a tried and tested leader who knows what it will take to lead us to a town government that works to build a better, brighter future for everyone who lives and works here.

We can achieve that by making town government work for everyone, living within our means and finding solutions within our community to deliver better services without raising taxes. I know this won’t be an easy campaign, but I’ve taken-­‐on the big fights against wasteful spending.

I’ve led when others have quit. I’ve earned the support of so many of you including seniors, police, fire and local veterans, and I’m the only candidate for Mayor who is ready to move Naugatuck into the future on Day One. My plan for Naugatuck’s future is to empower our own residents, not build a bigger bureaucracy. I hope you’ll join me.

AFFORDABLE TOWN GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE

Our local government should be built by and for our community, not out of date bureaucracy dictated from Town Hall.

Better Customer service to our community, efficiencies for Public Safety operations, saved infrastructure investment, addition to our tax rolls and a facility to finally provide a multi-­‐use Community Center enabling more activity and opportunity for all of our residents:

PHASE I: DELIVER NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY

• Acquire the Naugatuck Armory to create a multi-­‐use Community Center for use by our students, Senior and Board of Education and community at large

• Relocate the Park Department facility to the former motor pool facility and also utilize as a spill over for the Department of Public Works.

• Create a Community and Nonprofit collaborative space and use by relocation of the Naugatuck Youth Services to the Armory

• Create a permanent Public Safety Emergency Operations Center for the Borough as well as a potential shelter.

• Provide a training facility space for Public Safety for use by the Naugatuck Police and Fire Departments.

• Relocate the current alternative education classrooms at the Naugatuck VNA building to the Naugatuck Armory within the next two years.

* Investment savings to the town of: $5M to $10M + (estimated cost to build a new DPW only – does not take into account the added savings from creating community center)

PHASE II: GENERATING NEW TAX REVENUE

Once the Naugatuck Youth Services, and Park Department equipment and staff have been relocated and the Alternative Education Program is being conducted at the Naugatuck Armory, the town would sell the NYS and VNA buildings, to add them back to tax rolls and bring in additional tax revenue.

Additionally, I would lead a team to explore options for the Park Department property. The current value of the buildings are unavailable due to lack of information from Assessor’s records. I am currently investigating full realization of anticipated estimated values for the properties below and will update as new information becomes available:

• Naugatuck Youth Services

• Naugatuck VNA

• Naugatuck Park Department

PHASE III: OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT

We must open the lines of communication between local government and the people and businesses we serve. While the Borough has a website for the community to access at any time, there needs to be greater effort on behalf of the Borough to reach out, connect and engage its residents.

A means for the residents to have more concise information (including schedules, etc.) and an opportunity for the Departments to dispense critical information and showcase their departments and work they are performing, can only help to better the level of knowledge and involvement by our residents.

• Open the doors to town government by making Burgess meetings and other public hearings available on Public Access television, at no cost.

• Deliver a monthly electronic newsletter emailed to residents on a monthly basis with submissions from all Borough Departments, Commissions, and Committees to open the lines of communication. o Working with Naugatuck High School educators and students we will create a learning partnership using student journalists, editors and production to aide in the creation and distribution.

PHASE IV: SUSTAINABLE BUDGET SOLUTIONS

• We must provide the highest quality services to our community, finding solutions that strengthen our community, without growing government beyond our means.

• Move Naugatuck into the future with a Borough wide Informational Technology Department: o We must pursue a Borough-­‐wide department, free of union contracts and restrictions to technological advancement to allow the Borough to provide better customer service, operate efficiently and save money.

o If we are going to make our students competitive, we must provide them with the tools they need to succeed. Naugatuck Board of Education and our educators need to continue to provide cutting edge technology for our students.

o Collaborate with the Superintendent of Schools and Director of Human Resources, along with input and involvement from current IT staff and IT Commission, to ensure the new Borough wide shared IT Department achieves savings and moves Naugatuck into the future.

• New solutions to eliminate wasteful spending and streamline spending and streamline processes:

o Create Borough-­‐wide Purchasing Department and Borough-­‐wide Standard Operating Procedures

o This new approach will pay for itself several times over by developing and maintaining standard operating procedures when it comes to all aspects of purchasing, vendor management, account payable process, application tracking and hiring and termination process.

o Collaborate with the Finance Director, Superintendent of Schools and Director of Human Resources, to create the structure to support and implement a Borough-­‐ wide, combined Purchasing Department and standard operating procedures. The Board of Education has started this process, and the Borough needs to catch up.

• Find new solutions for funding to ease the burden on residents and businesses:

o We must be more creative in our approach to opportunities available to capture funding for the Borough whether for special projects or equipment.

o Hire a self-­‐funded Grants Coordinator with a year-­‐to-­‐year renewable contract that will create no additional financial impact on the Borough. • Shared solutions that improve services and save resources: o Government needs a fresh approach to save money while providing the quality services everyone relies on. We need new ideas and there is a need to create a structure locally to investigate pursue and vet all opportunities for shared services, equipment and opportunities

o I will create a Naugatuck Regional Evaluation Committee to work with the newly established Director of Shared Municipal Services of the CNVCOG to immediately report any available plans and pursuits to the Joint Boards at the start of the 2016-­‐2017 budget season with an eye toward better services at lower cost.

• Strengthen efforts to share services between the Naugatuck Board of Education and the Borough.

o Create and update Memorandum of Understanding between the Borough and School District to confirm ongoing implementation of shared services.

o Report to the Tri Boards on a regular basis to ensure openness and transparency in the realization of efforts and cost savings as well as continued efforts in this regard.

PROTECT AND SERVE OUR SENIORS

Connecticut has consistently ranked as one of the worst states in America to retire. As the cost of living continues to rise, with higher taxes squeezing us all, our seniors, many of whom are on fixed incomes, are often hit the hardest. Additionally, our seniors face many dynamic challenges at home including: raising grandchildren, attempting to care for a sick spouse, etc.

• Our community was built on the backs of our seniors and we must do more to identify and serve their needs so they can make Naugatuck their home well into retirement.

§ It’s been over ten years since any effort was undertaken to identify what community and government resources will help make Naugatuck their home. We must conduct a comprehensive assessment in coordination with our seniors to explore the most efficient structure that meets the needs of our seniors.

GROWING JOBS LOCALLY, FROM THE GROUND UP

Naugatuck needs more jobs created by local businesses, not failed government gimmicks that cost more than they deliver. We need to put our faith back in the people who’ve helped build this town for decades, and establish better economic development practices that will breath new life into our local economy.

The Borough is at a critical time for Economic Development possibilities and projects that will draw new development and build our tax base within the borough. Only through maintaining and strategically growing our local tax base, can Naugatuck ensure relief for the taxpayers in our community. With six years as a member of the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation, I won’t need on the job training.

We can’t only focus on downtown development, we must find opportunities to grow our economy throughout the Borough and further strengthening our community.

PHASE I: AN OPEN DOOR POLICY

While NEDC and the Naugatuck Chamber serve some of our small businesses, there are still so many not involved with either group. Very often these businesses are more concerned with connection to the Mayor’s office, an open line of communication, and seeing opportunities made in our community to help attract people, new businesses and assist them to survive and grow. The only way to achieve success in this regard is to invite and encourage the current businesses to take an active role with the Mayor’s office to create a strategic plan and achieve these goals.

• Lead strategic and sustainable economic development projects and initiatives while working with and assisting the ongoing efforts of NEDC and the Chamber and maintaining their independence as non-­‐government economic drivers

• Work to ensure everything possible is done to promote our local businesses, and attract new opportunities rather than become a barrier to growth

• Lead efforts to ensure the Tax Abatement program recently adopted is fully executed

PHASE II: BUILD A BRIDGE BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND OUR COMMUNITY

Many of the business owners I speak to feel disconnected from the town, and the community they serve. I will take a fresh approach to community involvement with our local businesses by leading a new Naugatuck Business Advisory Group that includes both government and business organizations.

• Highlight and showcase our businesses and vibrant downtown area:

o Create a diverse schedule of events to take place in our downtown to help focus attention to the multifaceted activities, businesses and entertainment opportunities within our community and show Naugatuck as a weekend activity destination place.

o Schedule new Winter 2015 activities showcasing our local businesses and involving our community with activities like: a winter festival, business decoration contests for the holidays working with the Naugatuck Business Advisory group, Cultural Council, Arts Commission and the Naugatuck Park Division of the DPW.

o Schedule new Summer 2016 activities to take place in our downtown – including “Nights in Naugatuck” in which entertainment, vendors, businesses, restaurants create a festival like setting at and around the green to bring people downtown to enjoy the festival and rediscover Naugatuck and its businesses and restaurants. The festival would be offered the first Friday of every month from May through September.

o Showcase our local entrepreneurs and business owners through a “Business Spotlight” that will run monthly on the Borough’s web site and newsletter and work with the Citizen’s News to create a spotlight segment in the paper.

• Restore Naugatuck through a Beautification effort involving our local businesses and community volunteers:

o Create a strategic plan for the Borough to lead clean ups in various areas of town and coordinate with community volunteer organizations, businesses and the schools to bring our town together towards a common goal.

o I have already succeeded in cooperation with Naugatuck Police Department, Chief Edson and Lt. Greg Dean, to secure clean up teams to perform litter control by utilizing existing programming through the Probation Department of the Waterbury Superior Court system to create a regular and focused cleanup effort and strategy Borough wide.

• Build a bridge between our businesses and community by finding opportunities to coordinate with our students:

o If we are going to secure a bright future for Naugatuck, we must ensure that our students see Naugatuck as the place they would chose to come back, build a business and raise a family.

o I will lead a partnership to help educate our students on the many work opportunities available locally, and start to rebuild the connection between our students who need jobs and our businesses who need skilled and educated employees.

o Take a new approach to engaging our local businesses in the current (Extended Learning Opportunities at NHS) and potential new, programs that could pair our students with local businesses for career experience and potential new jobs.