Speeding/Traffic Concerns, School Funding Discussed at Mayor’s Listening Tour in Ward 4

Mayor Bobby Sanchez took his first-year listening tour to Ward 4 on June 27 where residents shared concerns on speeding, traffic enforcement, public safety and support for schools in a wide-ranging, two-hour discussion.

The meeting held at Saint Francis Church Hall drew more than 30 persons with the mayor and other officials. Joining Sanchez were State Rep. David DeFronzo (D-25), Alderwoman Luz Otiz-Luna (D-4), Alderman John McNamara (D-4), Police Chief Matt Marino and Suzanne Bielinski, Chair of the city’s Police Commission.

*Mayor Sanchez and officials met with Ward 4 residents on June 27 at Saint Francis Cburch hall.*

Residents cited excessive speeding “day and night” on the roads, ignoring stop signs and groups of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes and mini motorcycles. Mentioned as trouble spots were Carlton Street, Farmington Avenue, Country Club and Alexander Roads, among others, in Ward 4.

Mayor Sanchez and Chief Marino urged residents to contact the New Britain Police Department (NBPD) about incidents and “hot spots” that have been the subject of Common Council petitions. Officials said it is important to report when and where incidents are occurring. “You just have to keep letting us know,” said Chief Marino. “The more you call the more it helps,” said Rep. DeFronzo.

The NBPD Traffic Division may be reached at 860-826-3070 or by contacting Sgt. Adam Capowski, adam.capowski@newbritainct.gov. A new “community tip line” is also available for reporting crime information anonymously at 860-826-3199.

To reduce speeding the Sanchez Administration is moving ahead in two ways:

Removable speed humps will be introduced on a trial basis in city parks, according to Sanchez. “I would like to hear from the community where residents would like to see speed humps.” (Following the Ward 4 meeting Sanchez announced humps will get a tryout on park roads).
The City awaits CT Department of Transportation’s (DOT) approval to introduce ATESD traffic cameras (Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Devices) in school zones as part of the Vision Zero Action Plan to reduce auto and pedestrian accidents. Last January, the Common Council adopted an automated camera implementation plan to submit to the state. Possible locations for speed enforcement cameras in Ward 4 include Alexander Road, Barbour Road, Blake Road and Farmington Avenue near Pulaski Middle School.

Sanchez agreed that more police officers are needed for enforcement throughout the city in response to questions on staffing levels at NBPD. Recent transfers and retirements require new hires this year and the application for entry-level patrol officers is currently available. Chief Marino said it takes just under a year for qualified candidates to join the force. The starting salary is $58,873 annually.

Chief Marino and Rep. DeFronzo, saying combining resources among schools and organizations can help, pointed to the value of school partnerships to engage middle- and high school students as part of juvenile diversion strategies. Extra-curricular activities will head off negative behaviors in and out of school, they said, citing programs such as ROOTS youth agriculture and nutrition program and police-led “new age” D.A.R.E. programs.

On the recently adopted municipal budget and support for education for the fiscal year that began July 1, Mayor Sanchez said his efforts with the city’s legislative delegation succeeded in New Britain obtaining a $13.3 million increase in state school aid to avert teacher layoffs and program cuts.

The municipal budget of $286,164,960 that holds the property tax mill rate at 39.18 includes the one-time $13.3 million in state school aid and $4.6 million in additional state aid to municipal government. The budget includes a $1 million increase in local school aid also known as the minimum basic requirement (MBR) and $450,000 more for schools in savings from the self-insurance fund. Over the last 12 years the MBR has for the most part been flat, a factor in New Britain’s low ranking in local aid that contributed to the growing funding gap this year.

To give public schools sustainable sources of funding and avert double-digit funding shortfalls, Sanchez and other officials said they will push for an increase in the state’s Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) formula that fell short in the budget adjustments made this year. The General Assembly is expected to take up a change in ECS grants to increase the current $11,525 per student allocation that has not been increased since 2013.

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