City holding virtual ceremony to mark 19th anniversary of Sept. 11

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 1, 2020 — Due to COVID-19 restrictions limiting large public gatherings, the city will observe the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with a virtual ceremony broadcast on Facebook and YouTube starting at 6 p.m. Sept. 11.

The service will honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 people who died in the attacks, including Richard S. Gabrielle, 50, of West Haven, who was killed during the attack on the twin towers in New York’s World Trade Center complex. Gabrielle, an insurance broker at Aon Corp., was last seen on the south tower’s 78th floor.

Declared Patriot Day by Congress in 2002, the city will fly flags at half-staff in recognition of the national day of remembrance.

According to organizers, the ceremony will include a prayer by Vertical Church Pastor Ken Vance, remarks by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, Police Chief Joseph S. Perno and West Haven Fire Department Chief James P. O’Brien, and a wreath-laying by police and fire officials. Louis P. Esposito Jr., Rossi’s executive assistant, will serve as the master of ceremonies.

It will also feature a flag-raising by the West Haven Fire Department Honor Guard, taps played by former West Shore Fire Department Lt. Kevin McKeon and a Celtic folk performance by Irish singer-songwriter Liz McNicholl, including the song “The Bravest,” a tribute to the heroes of 9/11, organizers said.

The virtual program will start airing at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 on West Haven City Hall Facebook and West Haven YouTube.

Assessor’s office closing window service Aug. 31

Assessor closes window service

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 1, 2020 — The assessor’s office closed its window service Monday to allow staff to meet program deadlines.

Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and Assessor Ann Marie Gradoia said the office will continue servicing residents Monday through Thursday by appointment only, thanks to City Hall’s reopening to the public Aug. 5 with restrictions, including limiting business to the first floor.

To request an appointment, contact the assessor’s office by email only at Staff Directory.

To enter City Hall, visitors must use the west entrance on the Savin Avenue side of the building. Visitors must wear face masks, show identification and pass a temperature check before entering, as well as maintain social distancing, including staying 6 feet away from others.

Also, the tax office window will remain open for in-person payments Monday through Thursday. City Hall is closed on Friday until further notice.

While waiting in the tax line, residents must wear face masks and practice social distancing at all times.

Residents are encouraged to continue using online payments and the drop box at the Main Street entrance of City Hall.

Rossi opened the windows in the assessor’s and tax offices June 23 to allow staff to assist residents with services for the first time since March 16, when City Hall was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

To give residents access to the windows, the city installed large tents and plywood staging areas, along with a plywood ramp and walkway, on the Campbell Avenue side of the building.

From left, West Haven Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and West Haven Fire Department Chief James P. O’Brien join U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., in announcing four FEMA grants totaling $809,200 for the city’s three fire departments during a news conference at West Haven fire headquarters Aug. 24. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

FEMA funds heralded for West Haven’s 3 fire departments

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 25, 2020 — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and West Haven Fire Department Chief James P. O’Brien on Aug. 24 announced four grants totaling $809,200 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for West Haven’s three fire departments.

“These grants are a recognition of your hard work and sacrifice as firefighters during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Blumenthal, D-Conn. “They will enable you to deliver services more quickly.”

Rossi said, “These grants, given to our local heroes, will help firefighters receive vital equipment and upgrades to help them perform their duties and keep our community safe.”

Blumenthal, Rossi and O’Brien heralded the FEMA funding during an afternoon news conference attended by more than two dozen firefighters, chiefs and commissioners from the West Haven, West Shore and Allingtown fire departments at West Haven fire headquarters on Elm Street.

They were also joined by state Rep. Charles J. Ferraro, R-West Haven, and Councilman Robert Bruneau, D-9, the chairman of the West Shore Board of Fire Commissioners.

Blumenthal said the grant awards were a team effort and were also supported by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3.

Rossi thanked Blumenthal and “all those who made this possible for West Haven.” She also praised the chiefs and firefighters for their lifesaving work every day and the acting city grants writer, Doug Colter, for assisting the chiefs in writing two of the four grants.

O’Brien, whose department serves the First Fire Taxation District, also known as the Center District, thanked Blumenthal for his “die-hard support of the fire service” and for lobbying on behalf of the three departments, including his department, which received a $94,600 grant for an indoor air quality exhaust system to protect firefighters from truck exhaust.

West Shore Fire Department Chief Stephen Scafariello and acting City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown Chief Michael T. Esposito also thanked Blumenthal.

Esposito’s department received $575,000, the largest of the FEMA grants, for replacing its main first-line response pumper truck.

Scafariello’s department received a $45,000 grant for an air compressor system to refill self-contained breathing apparatus.

O’Brien noted the departments also received a joint $94,600 COVID-19 grant for pandemic-related supplies and personal protective equipment.

City residents reminded about regulation for short-term rentals

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 25, 2020 — Planning and Development Commissioner Fred A. Messore reminds residents about a year-old regulation guiding “Short Term Rentals” in the city.

The Planning and Zoning Commission adopted the regulation in August 2019 amid concerns that West Haven homeowners may try to rent their properties for short-term stays, Messore said.

Homeowners seeking to rent their properties should first review the regulation at Short Term Rentals.

Short-term rentals include dwellings rented through such vacation rental websites as Airbnb and VRBO. The sites connect people offering residences or rooms with others who want to rent them for short-term stays.

“The Planning and Zoning Commission recognizes individuals have a need to be flexible in meeting monthly housing expenses, but the commission is also committed to protecting residents of the neighborhoods in which such uses might occur,” Chairwoman Kathleen Hendricks said. “The commission does not want to see overcrowding of residential streets and wants to protect residential character from being impacted by excessive turnover on local streets.”

Messore said the regulation for short-term rentals establishes an approval process for such uses and allows the usage in two residential districts and two commercial districts by “special use exception” approval through the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The regulation requires a seven-day minimum stay for rentals, limits occupancy and defines space requirements for the short-term use.

“Owners must also demonstrate they have sufficient parking to support such rentals,” Messore said.

According to Zoning Enforcement Officer Catherine Conniff, the zoning board may grant a special use exception if appropriate safeguards and conditions are met.

Those, Conniff said, include the impact of proposed use on the surrounding neighborhood and properties, including the impact of property values on adjoining lots; the impact of proposed use on the health, safety and welfare of the community, specifically adjoining neighborhoods; and the impact of potential traffic generated by the proposed use.

To report a short-term rental violation, call the planning and zoning office at 203-937-3580.

City Hall reopening to the public with restrictions Aug. 5

City Hall back open to the public with restrictions

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 25, 2020 — In accordance with state and local guidelines, City Hall reopened to the public with restrictions Aug. 5.

Mayor Nancy R. Rossi said the phased reopening of City Hall allows staff to service residents inside the building for the first time since March 16, when City Hall was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

For phase one of the reopening plan, City Hall is open for limited business Monday through Thursday by appointment only and restricted to the first floor, Rossi said.

Residents can make an appointment for the Building Department, assessor’s office, tax office and city clerk’s office from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. by contacting the department at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/directory.aspx. Appointments are limited.

To enter City Hall, visitors must use the west entrance on the Savin Avenue side of the building. Visitors must wear face masks, show identification and pass a temperature check before entering, Health Director Maureen B. Lillis said.

Visitors must sign in with staff, noting the time and location of the appointment, and sign out when business is done. They must also use the hand sanitizer station before going to the appointment, Lillis said.

Visitors must maintain social distancing, including staying 6 feet away from others, and stand behind the protective barrier, Lillis said.

Although City Hall has partially reopened, the Chamber of Commerce and Department of Motor Vehicles Express offices will remain closed until further notice, city officials said.

Residents are encouraged to continue using online payments and the drop box at the Main Street entrance of City Hall.

Lillis said City Hall will remain closed on Friday until further notice to allow a deeper cleaning of the building.

City employees are working extended hours Monday through Thursday, Rossi said. Employees are available by phone and email at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/directory.aspx.