April 3, 2008

I’d like to provide an update on the following Town matters:

• 2008-09 Budget: The Board of Selectmen will issue their budget by April 9; the Town Meeting will be on May 5; and the Referendum will be held on May 12.
• Elmcrest Town Square: The first set of Site Plan drawings have been received by the Planning Department; the full set of plans is expected by the end of April.
• Boat Launch at Brownstone Avenue: An engineering proposal for the feasibility study has been received; Town and State DEP officials are reviewing and we expect to start the fully-State funded study very soon.
• Streetscape project (Main Street from the Arrigoni Bridge to Marlborough St.): We will have a draft schematic plan next week at a meeting with our engineering firm, the State Department of Transportation and the State Department of Community Development. This is a fully funded Federal and State Transportation project to improve safety and the appearance of Main Street.
• Brownstone Avenue: We received word last week that we will get over $300,000 in State STEAP funding for connecting Brownstone Ave to Middlesex Avenue. Good news!
• School Building Audit: Town officials will meet with the Department of Education Commissioner late this week to discuss possible solutions.

I will provide periodic updates on these matters – feel free to call me anytime!

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March 6, 2008

Please be sure to review the proposed 2008-09 General Government & Board of Education Budget of $29,347,802, as well as the other funds’ budgets. There is an increase of $1,358,661 or 4.85% over the current 2007-08 adopted budget. The proposed mill rate is 27.77. Please note that this mill rate is ESTIMATED & SUBJECT TO CHANGE. As is our standard practice, the Governor’s proposed town aid is included in the estimated revenues.

Grand List

• Total Value: $835,932,890 (1.28% increase over 2007-08)
  *Note: The Grand List value is an estimate and subject to change based on pending appeals.
• Value of one mill: $835,933 (2007-08 Value of one mill: $824,878)

Revenues

• Estimated mill rate: 27.77 mills (2007-08 mill rate: 26.99, a 2.87% increase, or +0.78 mills) The proposed expenditure budget requires the Town to raise $23,210,314 in taxes when factoring in uncollected taxes at 2%, or $464,206 and no use of fund balance.
• All other revenues: $6,601,694 (+$546,190 higher than the estimated revenues for 2007-08.)
• No allocation from Fund Balance: (The 2007-08 budget allocated $115,100 from fund balance.)

Expenditures

• Total increase in expenses: +$1,358,761 (4.85% increase over 2007-08 adopted budget)
• General Government increase: +$530,851(4.84% increase over 2007-08 adopted budget)
• Board of Education increase: +$827,810 (4.86% increase over 2007-08 adopted budget )

Budget highlights

• The net decrease in debt service from 2007-08 is -$31,351, or (-1.22%) .
• We are projecting Health Insurance to go up 22%. We will continue to refine this number, with final figures expected by the end of April.
• Liability Insurance is up 3.12%; Workmen’s Compensation is up 6% due to claims and contractual salary obligations.
• Funds continue to be provided for a full time Assistant Planner/Land Use Administrator, a part time Zoning Enforcement Officer, with hours increasing from 20 to 24, and an Economic Development Consultant.
• The Building Official will continue to also be the Wetlands Enforcement Agent for the town.
• The budget includes increases for Road Materials, stipends for the Fire Chief’s office, Police overtime and Veterans Tax Relief. A modest increase in the Fire Marshal’s office is recommended, to bring coverage in this office up to 20 hours per week.
• Funding is included for one new full time Police Officer, to start January 1, 2009. This would bring the Police Department to 11 sworn police officers.
• The budget also includes a partial re-organization in the Public Works Department. The Highway Supervisor position is eliminated and the Supervisor of Operations will now be responsible for the overall supervision of the Highway and Resource Recovery Divisions. The net result is a decrease in Public Works Department staff of one supervisor. This reduction occurs as we experience the retirement of one of our Supervisors from the Department.
• The budget allocates $279,000 from the General Budget to Capital. Details will be provided as the budget season progresses.

Next year we anticipate the large economic development project at the old “Elmcrest Hospital” site to commence. The site plans are expected in Spring 2008, with approval by the Planning & Zoning Commission anticipated by the end of June 2008, and construction to start soon thereafter. This project is one of the largest to arrive in Portland in many years.

For 2008-09 our focus continues to be on several Grant-Funded Projects, using dollars outside of the budget. State and local officials and members of non-profit groups will be involved with these projects.

• Utilizing a consulting engineering firm, we will continue planning the Main Street Streetscape Project. This project uses Federal Transportation Enhancement funds, as well as Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) funds from the State of Connecticut.
• A commission-based grant writer will soon be hired to write a Small Cities Grant. Housing rehabilitation and neighborhood improvements are allowable projects under the Small Cities Program. In 2005-06 we completed a $500,000 renovation of the Senior Center using a grant writer and Small Cities monies.
• We continue to work on the Boat Launch Project, having received a grant of $100,000 from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 2008 for a design and feasibility study. Brownstone Avenue is the new selected site for the public boat launch.
• The Department of Transportation will be making improvements to the Payne Boulevard-Portland-Cobalt Road-Middle Haddam Road intersection and installing a traffic light. Construction is expected to start in July 2008, with completion by the end of Fall 2008.
• Our Economic Development Consultant, working with our Economic Development Commission and the Planning Department, has written a 2008 STEAP grant application. If funded, the grant would provide funds to extend Brownstone Avenue, connecting to Middlesex Avenue, as well as a parking area near the Riverfront. This project would improve our access to the Riverfront/Quarries area – and provide a connection from Main Street to the Riverfront.
• We have applied for low interest loan monies, as well as grant monies for the much-needed improvements to our Water Division’s infrastructure.

In order to meet the requirements of the Annual Town Budget Meeting on May 5 and the May 12 referendum, the Board of Selectmen will adopt theie proposed budget no later than April 9, 2008. I would like to thank Rob Buden, Director of Finance for all his work on this budget.

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November 19, 2007

During this Holiday Season, I am reminded of the many things we have to be thankful for in our Town. At the top of the list is our many volunteers that serve on Committees, Boards, Commissions, the Portland Volunteer Fire Department, as well as our Town, Board of Education and Health District employees. Without these fine individuals our Town simply could not function. They do a terrific job and I thank them sincerely.

An example of a recent volunteer activity was the Pandemic Flu Dispensing Drill, held on November 3rd at the Portland Middle & High Schools. We had numerous volunteers from Portland, as well as other towns in the Chatham Health District - East Hampton, East Haddam, and Hebron.

Several people worked at the drill and others were the "patients" - and received flu shots. A total of 138 people were processed and given flu shots; a total of 28 volunteer "processors" staffed the various stations at the Clinic; and several others were at each Town's Emergency Operations Center. HAM Radio operators were used extensively, and Nichols Bus volunteered bus transportation. The total number of staff and volunteers was just tremendous! The day was a great success and I am grateful to all who participated.

We are now better prepared for health emergencies that would require a mass dispensing of medicine in the event of a major disaster. There will be more practice drills in the future, and I hope that many more of you will volunteer to participate. Being prepared for emergencies is of vital concern to us all.

Thank you and have a safe and joyous Holiday Season!

Sincerely,
Susan S. Bransfield
First Selectwoman

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November 16, 2007

You are most cordially invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony for all newly elected officials for the town. The ceremony will be held on Tuesday November 20, 2007 in the Mary Lou Rice Room of the Portland Senior Center, Seven Waverly Avenue at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will follow.

Mrs. Bernadette Dillon, our re-elected Town Clerk will administer the oath to each elected member of the Board of Selectmen, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeals, and Zoning Board of Appeals. I hope many will attend.

Thank you to all for participating in our local election!

 

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October 17, 2007

Flu Clinic Volunteer Staff & Patients Needed!

The Chatham Health District will conduct a mock pandemic flu drill on Saturday, November 3, 2007. Many volunteers from each community are needed to fill a wide range of medical and non-medical roles at local sites and at the main distribution clinic in Portland. These jobs include:

• being a “patient” (who gets a real flu shot)
• greeting the public
• collecting & distributing health information forms
• Licensed health care professionals to administer vaccines
• directing traffic

All participants in this drill will be eligible to receive a free influenza vaccination. The drill is scheduled to last approximately 4 hours. There will also be information available for families on assembling their own emergency supply kit and creating a family emergency plan.
     For more information about becoming a volunteer or if you just want to get a free flu shot, call the Chatham Health District at 267-9601, or send an email to eherc@easthamptonct.org. Please leave your name, email address, and a phone number. Thank you.

Susan S. Bransfield
First Selectwoman

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October 12, 2007

Town Charter Proposal 4—Please read the DRAFT changes to the Portland Town Charter as proposed by the Charter Revision Commission - Version 4. The current Town Charter is also available for review. There will be a Public Hearing on Tuesday October 16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Portland Senior Center on Waverly Avenue. Please attend.

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July 18, 2007

RE: Update on State Grant Revenues

As you may be already aware, when we passed the Annual Budget for July 1 - June 30 we did not have the final figures from the State concerning grants. By Town Charter the Town of Portland must have an Annual Budget in place by May 31 of each year. The State does not have such a requirement. This arrangement makes it very difficult for Towns to accurately budget grant revenues from the State.
     The State passed its budget in late June. The largest grant given to the Town is the Education Cost Sharing grant (ECS). In the Town budget, we used an increase in the ECS grant of $352,592. However, based on the State's budget figures we will be receiving $587,107; a favorable difference of $234,515. This is good news for us.
     In addition, the State has passed a new law concerning how Towns can use the ECS Grant. In prior years, the State required all Towns to budget the entire ECS grant increase toward new education spending. With the new law the entire ECS grant increase does NOT have to go towards new education spending. Preliminary information tells us that we MUST use $255,025 of the total increase for NEW Education spending, and that the remaining figure of $332,082 can be used for other purposes.
      What does all this mean?

1) The BOE expenditure budget increase for 2007-2008 is $515,240. This is more than the required amount of $255,025. Therefore no additional money from the ECS grant is due to the BOE for this year.

2) The Town budgeted an increase in the ECS grant of $352,592 but will be receiving $587,107, a favorable difference of $234,515.

3) Due to our conservative approach to the revenue budget for FY 2008 this additional one-time revenue of $234,515 can serve to provide some much needed property tax relief in subsequent year(s).

The Board of Selectmen will discuss this information at its next Financial Meeting, scheduled for Wednesday August 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mary Flood Room, located in the Portland Library, 20 Freestone Avenue

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May 16, 2007

Thank you to all who voted last Monday. The numbers were up - more than 20% of the voters turned out, whereas only 14% turned out at last year's referendum. There were 528 "yes" votes; 681 "no" votes. These numbers state loudly that we must cut the budget.
     Please note that I am writing this column on Wednesday morning in order to meet The Rivereast deadline of 12:00 Noon. The Selectmen will meet tonight at 7:00 p.m. to make final decisions. I have prepared the following for their consideration:

1. Eliminate repair of the Library entrance & Parks Improvements……($50,000)

2. Eliminate CT VNA Contract………………………………………...($50,000)

3. Reduce Town Road Repairs…………………………………………($32,592)

4. Assessor's Office: Eliminate the Revaluation Company; Eliminate the Assistant Assessor Position; Eliminate the part time Assessor, and Hire a Full Time Assessor Position ……..................…………………………………………………………($51,806)

5. Eliminate Library part time position……………………………($12,000)

6. Additional Bd of Education cuts………………………………..($80,000)

7. Eliminate Health Insurance Consultant…………………………($90,000)

If these cuts are accepted, the entire 2007-08 budget would be about a 2% increase over current spending. These reductions would be in addition to cuts that had already been made to the budget that was rejected on Monday. These cuts include elimination of 1 full time Public Works job; ½ reduction of the Zoning Enforcement job; elimination of 1 part time Library job; and the net elimination of 5 positions from the Board of Ed. We are keenly aware of the financial burdens placed on all of you, particularly our retired citizens and are making every effort to stem and cut expenditures. The Selectmen will also consider the inclusion of an additional $394,225 in State Revenues, as passed by the State Appropriations Committee. These additional State dollars, in addition to budget cuts will be used to offset the mill rate, which I cannot state until the Selectmen meet and decide the budget.
     We are committed to conserving energy costs through the following efforts:

1. Eliminate door-to-door brush & Christmas tree pick up for 2007-08. These items can be dropped off free of charge at the Portland Recycling Center on Sand Hill Rd.

2. No town vehicles will be taken home overnight. Police vehicles will be used in accordance with departmental policies & the collective bargaining agreement.

3. Thermostats are set at 68 in the winter; 76 in the summer.

4. All unnecessary lights & other power use are turned off.

5. We are committed to the use of renewable energy - "20% by 2010". We will be installing Photovoltaic Cells, and researching the use of Fuel Cells, with the assistance of our Energy Task Force.

6. We participate in the CL&P Load Response Program for Town & Board of Ed. buildings.

7. We have Fixed-Cost Contracts for electricity generation, gasoline, diesel, & oil. These contracts cover both the Town & Schools.

We are taking many steps toward increasing our Commercial tax base, and the Town and Board of Education are very successful at Grant writing. We have realized millions in awarded grants. Please continue to work with us as we strive to make Portland as great as it can be! Thank you.

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April 20, 2007

Susan S. Bransfield, First Selectwoman

Dear Voter:
The 2007-08 General Government & Board of Education Budget, as passed by the Board of Selectmen on April 11, 2007 is included in this document. The budget represents an overall increase of 3.37% over the current 2006-07 adopted budget; the General Government portion is up by 3.02%; and the Board of Education's portion is up by 3.61%.
     The projected mill rate of 27.53 is ESTIMATED & SUBJECT TO CHANGE. First, the Board of Assessment Appeals will not complete its work on adjustments to the Grand List until the end of May. And secondly, as of this date we do not know the final figures for the State of Connecticut grants, in particular the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) Grant. The Governor has recommended that Portland's ECS grant increase by $625,420. However, due to the fact that there is still a great deal of uncertainty regarding State Aid, the Selectmen decided that the budget should include only a portion of this proposed increase ($330,578). Please stay tuned. We will inform you as soon as we know final figures.

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March 29, 2007

I would like to invite you to the following meetings this coming week:

Tuesday April 3 at 7:00 p.m. —Selectmen's Budget Workshop
Topics: Health District, Emergency Management, CT Visiting Nurse Assoc., Finance Dept.
Location: Portland Library, Mary Flood Room
Wednesday April 4 at 7:00 p.m. —Selectmen's Budget Workshop
Topics: Volunteer Fire Department, Public Library
Location: Portland Library, Mary Flood Room
Thursday April 5 at 7:00 p.m. —Planning & Zoning Public Hearing Location: Buck Foreman Community Room - 265 Main Street

     The Budget Workshops are an opportunity to learn about the Annual Budget in detail. The Selectmen will adopt a budget on or before April 11. The Annual Town Meeting will be on May 7, with the Referendum Vote on May 14.
     The Planning and Zoning Commission will hear comments on the Request to amend the Zoning Regulations to Mixed Use Development Special Permit... Application of Portland Town Center, LLC. This application is a necessary step to allow the re-development of the old ELMCREST Property on Route 66. I encourage you to attend—this is a VERY IMPORTANT step for Economic Development in the Town of Portland.
     The Commission will also hear comments on a request from the developer of Grandview Farms to modify his Special Permit Application #99-04 relative to sidewalks interior to the development, landscaping, number of parking spaces, turnaround and driveway on Jersey Lane, Crimson Lane turning radius, water pump station, and locations of street lights, parking spaces and fire hydrants. This application is of special concern to residents in the Grandview Farms development.
     Note that this Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting is going to be held at the old Town Hall—Buck-Foreman Building, 265 Main Street. Please call/write if you have any questions: 342-6715; P.O.Box 71, Portland, CT 06480; sbransfield@portlandct.org. Thank you.

Susan Bransfield

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February 27, 2007

The Proposed 2007-08 General Government & Board of Education Budget was issued this week. It includes an overall increase of 4.63% over the current 2006-07 adopted budget. The estimated mill rate is 27.63, and is applied to all properties, including real estate, motor vehicles and personal property. This mill rate is ESTIMATED & SUBJECT TO CHANGE. The budget will be analyzed by the Board of Selectmen over the next several weeks, with a Public Hearing on Tuesday March 13 at 7 p.m. at the Brownstone Intermediate School on Main Street. Copies of the budget are available for review in the Town Clerk's office, First Selectman's office and the Public Library.

Grand List: $825,929,737 total

• Total Value: 47% increase over 2006-07 due to required statistical revaluation. The Grand List value is an estimate and subject to change based on appeals.
• Value of one mill: $825,930 (2006-07 Value of one mill: $561,903)

Revenues

• Estimated mill rate: 27.63 mills (2006-07 mill rate: 38.91, a drop of 11.28 mills) The proposed expenditure budget requires the Town to raise $22,817,578, when factoring in uncollected taxes at 2%, or $456,352 and currently, the non use of fund balance. Any adjustments to the proposed expenditures or revenues, increases or decreases, or the allocation of fund balance will increase or decrease this requirement.
• All other revenues: $6,365,441 (+$570,170 higher than the revenues for 2006-07, primarily due to the Governor’s proposed increase to the Education Cost Sharing Grant).
• No allocation from Fund Balance: (The 2006-07 budget allocated $235,000 from fund balance).
• Expenditures: $28,726,667 total
• Total increase in expenses: +$1,271,413 (4.63% increase over 2006-07 adopted budget)
• General Government increase: +$476,173 (4.35% increase over 2006-07 adopted budget)
• Board of Education increase: +$795,240 (4.82% increase over 2006-07 adopted budget )

Budget highlights

• The net decrease in debt service is -$107,359.
• We are projecting Health Insurance to go up nearly 20%. We will continue to refine this number, with final figures expected by the end of March.
• Liability Insurance is up 3.19%; Workmen’s Compensation is up 4% due to contractual salary obligations.
• The Planning and Zoning Commission is working with Planimetrics Planning Consultants to revise the Zoning Regulations, per the 2006 Plan of Conservation and Development. The budget earmarks $20,000 for a Planning Consultant to continue this work and to assist with a major economic development project starting in 2007-08.
• Funds continue to be provided for a full time Assistant Planner/Land Use Administrator, a part time Zoning Enforcement Officer, and an Economic Development Consultant.
• The Building Official will continue to also be the Wetlands Enforcement Agent for the town.
• The budget includes increases for Road Materials, stipends for the Fire Chief’s office, Police overtime, Senior Center programs, and Veterans Affairs and Activities. There is a decrease in the Town Aid Road Grant (TAR) from the State.
• The budget allocates $399,583 from the General Budget to Capital, including the following:
  1. Police cruiser replacement $ 54,200
  2. Brownstone School roof repairs $ 30,000
  3. Fire Department rescue boat $ 25,000
  4. Removal/replacement of asbestos tile at Valley View $ 12,500
  5. System wide Computer Equipment $ 20,500
  6. Replace roof at the Buck-Foreman building $170,000
  7. Refurbish/replace fire department equipment $ 69,000
  8. Repair/replace Town-owned sidewalks $ 18,383

The following items are funded by the Local Capital Improvement Plan Grant (LOCIP):

1. Repair library entrance $ 25,000

2. Park/playground improvements – Park & Recreation $ 15,000

3. Infield improvements – Parks & Recreation $ 10,000

There were several other Capital items cut from the request this year, including roof replacement at the Library, Bus-loop improvements at the Schools, miscellaneous grounds equipment, replacement of a tractor and paving of the Highway Garage parking lot.

Initiatives Funded Outside the Budget

We will use dollars from the CL&P Streetlight Rebate to complete selected electrical wiring to the generator at the High School. This work will primarily be performed by in-house Board of Education and Public Works staff. In the end we will have an Emergency Shelter for town residents in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

Grant-Funded Projects:

• · Utilizing a consulting engineering firm, we will begin planning the Main Street Streetscape Project. This $1,000,000+ project uses Federal Transportation Enhancement funds, as well funds from the State.
• · A commission-based grant writer will soon be hired to write a Small Cities Grant. Housing rehabilitation and neighborhood improvements are allowable under the Small Cities Program. Last year we completed a $500,000 renovation of the Senior Center using a grant writer and Small Cities monies.
• · We will soon learn if the State will fund the Wangunk Meadows Boat Launch. The presence of an endangered species (Puritan Tiger Beetle) on Gildersleeve Island has stalled this project.

February 14, 2007

Re: Arrigoni Bridge Committee Update

I would like to update you on the work of the regional Arrigoni Bridge Committee. Started in 2004, the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce Arrigoni Bridge Committee meets regularly and is composed of representatives from area towns, the Chamber, state legislators, and the Department of Transportation (DOT). The following are some highlights from the Committee’s work:

• E-mail Traffic Alerts can be sent to your e-mail address whenever there is an incident. To register for this service, go to www.ct.gov/dot .
• Our Fire and Police Departments use an established Traffic Diversion Plan when there is an incident on the Bridge. The Fire-Police men divert vehicles safely away from the Bridge. (The Putnam Bridge in Glastonbury and the Swing Bridge in East Haddam are the alternate bridges).
• Message signs are posted when there is an incident. The signs are located in East Hampton, at the junction of Routes 16 and 66; in Portland at the junction of Routes 66 & 17 near Dairy Queen and on Route 17( Glastonbury Tpke), heading into Town near Rockwood Dr.
• Last year the DOT closed the Route 66 median opening in Middletown in the vicinity of Spring Street to increase safety.
• The DOT installed flashing lights on warning signs, upgraded the curve signs and installed delineators on the curve in Middletown approaching the Bridge.
• The DOT installed flashing lights on the warning sign in Portland at the Bridge.
• There are rail-mounted chevron signs and installed delineating tape on rail posts along the curves on the Bridge, also installed by DOT.

Proposed for the near future, the DOT has initiated a $3.1 million project to install variable message signs on both approaches to the Bridge, as well as on Route 9. Lane control signs will be installed on the Bridge to designate open and closed lanes in each direction. Also, cameras will be placed in the area of the Bridge to monitor highway operations approaching the Bridge. Stay tuned for more details on this.
     Long term, there are discussions concerning a new Bridge. This is still many, many years off, so for now we are dealing with the situation as it exists, with multiple efforts at enhancing safety. The best advise: drive slow and be careful!