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| Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of June 6.
If you prefer to watch rather than read, click the image below to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter. |
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I find myself back in Hartford at the end of this week. This morning North Canaan Elementary School came for a visit to the Capitol and a tour led by the League of Women Voters. (If you haven't been on one of their tours, I highly recommend them!)
There's repair work going on inside our chamber right now, so we had to make do by peering in the windows, but we did get to hold a vote by acclimation of where they wanted to take the photo! Thanks to Diane Selino for bringing her class in - it made my day!
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| I'll be back in Hartford again tomorrow for a meeting of the State Bond Commission, where we will vote on making capital funds available for projects and initiatives throughout the state. Some of the state's bonding is done through grant programs. The legislature "authorizes" these programs by passing them in what's known as "the bond bill", then the Governor and his state agency commissioners approve individual projects that qualify for those programs (within the caps set in the bond bill), placing them on the Bond Commission agenda, where we vote to "allocate" them (there's a lot of terminology in the Finance Committee).
An example of such a program is the one through the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) that funds the creation and renovation of recreational trails. A round of funding was announced last week, including six grants to towns or organizations in the NW Corner (see more information on these further in this letter).
There's a lot of variance in how grant programs are administered, and I've had some conversations recently that suggest at least some of the DEEP-administered programs have inexplicably high levels of bureaucracy through which organizations have to pass, not just to qualify, but for ongoing administration. There's always a balance to be struck here, between making sure taxpayer resources are spent effectively and giving the receiving organization the ability to do their work without getting buried in paper. The work of striking and adjusting that balance is never really done.
There are many, many upcoming local events. Tomorrow is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, at which you may see a lot of people wearing orange to express their support for ending gun violence. I have a few orange items ready to go!
As the school year draws to a close, graduation, awards ceremonies, and various banquets are also being held throughout the district. To all of you graduating, and all those who have supported those graduates, congratulations! I look forward to seeing many of you at local events, starting with the FFA Banquet at Housatonic Valley Regional High School this evening. |
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Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- HB 5001 and 5002 are Signed into Law. Click here.
- Grant Money For Recreational Trails. Click here.
- Stay Safe in Hurricane Season. Click here.
- DOT will hold Public Information Meeting re Rehabilitation of Bridge on Route 202 in Washington. Click here.
- Governor Lamont forms working group to study ranked-choice voting. Click here.
- Milling and Resurfacing Project on Route 109 in Washington. Click here.
- Upcoming Events. Click here.
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| HB 5001, which supports CT seniors and improvements in nursing and home-based care, and HB 5002, which concerns early childhood education were both signed into law.
Click here for a summary of HB 5001.
Click here for a summary of HB 5002. |
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This week the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced the release of a series of grants totaling $10 million that will support the planning, building, expansion, and improvement of 45 multi-use trails located in towns and cities throughout Connecticut.
The grants are being awarded through Connecticut Recreational Trails Grant Program, which is administered by DEEP. Funds to support the grants were approved by the State Bond Commission at its October 2023 meeting. Governor Lamont serves as chair of the commission.
Grant funding awarded to these projects can be allocated for a wide variety of purposes, including planning, design, land acquisition, construction, construction administration, and publications for bikeways, walkways, and greenways, as well as for equipment and trail amenities, such as parking lots, toilet buildings, signs, and benches.
Among the projects receiving grants in this round were six in the Northwest Corner:
DEEP Connecticut Recreational Trails Program
June 2024 Grant Round
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| Applicant |
Project Title |
Project Type |
Grant Funding |
| Friends of the Litchfield Community Greenway, Inc. |
Litchfield Greenway – Phase 4 D&E – Bantam Connection |
Construction; Amenities |
$320,000 |
| Goshen Land Trust |
Goshen Land Trust: Trails for All |
Construction; Maintenance; Publications; Education; Outreach |
$89,744 |
| Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy |
Master Planning for NCLC’s Public Nature Preserves |
Planning/Design |
$280,000 |
| Salisbury |
Salisbury Railroad Street Multi Modal Pathway Planning and Design |
Planning/Design |
$50,000 |
| Steep Rock Association |
ADA-Accessible Bridge and Trail in Hidden Valley Preserve |
Planning/Design |
$60,000 |
| Western Connecticut Council of Governments |
Western Connecticut Regional Trail Project |
Planning/Design; Outreach |
$566,000 |
Learn more about funding through the Connecticut Recreational Trails Program here. |
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With the height of hurricane season just around the corner, CT is recommending residents take the steps necessary to prepare for any type of severe weather that may impact the state.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs each year from June 1 to November 30, with the principal threat period for Connecticut occurring between mid-August and mid-October.
Two highly regarded forecasts are predicting that 2024 could be one of the most dangerous hurricane seasons in memory for Connecticut and the eastern seaboard. This year could bring as many as 25 named storms, according to predictions recently released from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Colorado State University.
NOAA National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center predict above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year, forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 miles per hour or higher). Of those, eight to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mile per hour or higher), including four to seven major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 miles per hour or higher). Forecasters have a 70% confidence in these ranges.
The Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is working with municipal, state, tribal, federal, and private sector partners to prepare for a hurricane season that may be very active. The division’s Hurricane Awareness Hub provides valuable information for Connecticut residents regarding hurricanes, including hurricane evacuation zones, types of hurricanes, and preparedness and response checklists. The hub can be found online by visiting the division’s website at portal.ct.gov/demhs.
The following lists include some hurricane preparedness tips for residents:
Recommended items to include in a basic emergency supply kit
- One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- A whistle to signal for help
- Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- A manual can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
- Medicine or any special need items, including diapers for infants
- Food and litter requirements for any pets
Create a family emergency plan
- Be sure you and family members are aware of local shelter locations and your evacuation zone, especially if you live along the shoreline.
- Identify an out-of-town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
- Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.
- Plan ahead and pre-set a family group text conversation in your phones. Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through, and it uses less battery life.
Insuring your property
- It is important to review your insurance policies yearly and especially prior to the start of hurricane season.
- Review your policy with an agent or contact the Connecticut Insurance Department to understand what is covered and what your coverage limits are to ensure you are receiving adequate protection.
- Keep your policies and insurance contact information in a safe place.
- Make an inventory of your possessions should your property be damaged, and you must make a claim.
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| Members of the public are invited to participate in a virtual public information meeting being convened by the Connecticut Department of Transportation on Monday, June 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the rehabilitation of Bridge No. 00906 carrying U.S. Route 202 over the Shepaug River in the Town of Washington, and to provide the community with an opportunity to learn about the proposed project and allow an open discussion of any views and comments.
The purpose of the project is to address the bridge deficiencies to ensure the major components are improved to, or remain in, a state of good repair. The project will need to minimize traffic interruptions on U.S. Route 202, address the concrete deck deterioration, install MASH-compliant bridge rail, address the condition of bridge bearings and deterioration of structural steel, and repair existing substructure deteriorations. Right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed project are not anticipated. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2027 based on the availability of funding and approval of permit(s). The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $6.76 Million. This project is anticipated to be undertaken with 80 percent Federal funds and 20 percent State funds.
Please register for the virtual public information meeting at https://portal.ct.gov/DOTWashington150-137. Registration is required to participate. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to access the meeting. Members of the public can submit comments and questions during the two-week public comment period following the meeting. Please direct comments and questions by July 1 to: DOTProject150-137@ct.gov and (860) 594-2020 or Francisco Fadul, Project Manager, at either Francisco.Fadul@ct.gov, or (860) 594-2078).
The meeting will also be live streamed on YouTube, with closed captioning available: https://portal.ct.gov/ctdotvpimarchive |
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Governor Lamont is establishing a working group consisting of members representing various political affiliations and tasking them with exploring options and developing a comprehensive legislative proposal to create a system that enables municipalities and political parties in Connecticut with the ability to use ranked-choice voting in caucuses, conventions, primaries, and certain municipal elections.
Current state law does not enable the use of ranked-choice voting in any primaries or elections. The governor is asking the group – which will be known as the Governor’s Working Group on Ranked-Choice Voting – to develop a report of recommendations by the end of the year so that its findings can be considered by the Connecticut General Assembly during the 2025 regular session.
Governor Lamont is appointing State Senator Cathy Osten, a Democrat, and State Senator Tony Hwang, a Republican, to serve as its co-chairs.
There are 29 states that use ranked-choice voting in certain primaries and elections, and in recent years its use was implemented broadly and successfully in Maine and Alaska.
In 2023, legislation drafted by bipartisan co-sponsors was introduced in Connecticut that, among other things, would have given municipalities the option of using ranked-choice voting in municipal elections for single-winner offices and would have given political parties the option of using ranked-choice voting in presidential preference primaries. That bill – Senate Bill 389 – received a public hearing in the Government Administration and Elections Committee, however the committee did not take a vote to advance the bill before its deadline.
The group is tentatively planning to hold its inaugural meeting on June 14, 2024. Its meetings will be open to the public.
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CTDOT is announcing that a milling and resurfacing project will be performed on Route 109 in Washington from the New Milford Town Line to Route 47 and Route 109 starting Monday, June 17, 2024.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that a milling and resurfacing project will be performed on Route 109 in Washington from the New Milford Town Line to Route 47 and Route 109. The project consists of milling and resurfacing a 2.58 segment of Route 109 in Washington. The milling of this project is scheduled to begin and end on Monday, June 17, 2024. The resurfacing of this project is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 24 and end on Friday, June 28, 2024.
This project is included in the CTDOT’s 2024 Vendor Resurfacing Program.
LANE CLOSURE INFO
Motorists can expect delays and one lane alternating Traffic. Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will guide motorists through the work zone. The regular work schedule for this project is 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. |
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| Outdoor Movie Night & Community Block Party at the Judy Black Park and Gardens in Washington
Get ready for the annual town block party and our first movie night of the season! Block party festivities begin at 5:30 pm. At the park, we'll be screening the film "The Blues Brothers," sponsored by National Iron Bank. Movie rolls at dusk. All events are free and open to the public. BYO blankets, chairs, food and beverages. Leashed pets only. |
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| Salisbury Association Land Trust Exhibit: Imperiled Species in Our Community: The Biodiversity Crisis at Home
An exhibit on view at the Academy Building through the end of July tells the story of a dramatic decline in the biodiversity of local animal species. Click here to learn more. |
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| It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.
Click here to forward to forward this email to a friend. |
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| Sincerely,
Maria Horn
State Representative |
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