City opens overnight and daytime warming centers

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 18, 2024 — Starting today, the city will open an overnight warming center for West Haven residents in need on the main floor of the Johnson Community Center at 201 Noble St., Mayor Dorinda Borer announced.

The warming center will operate from 5:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. during declared emergencies.

Blankets are provided.

Borer also announced that during declared emergencies, West Haven’s Main Library at 300 Elm St. will serve as a warming center for city residents during the day, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

On Sunday, the daytime warming center will revert to the Johnson Community Center because the library is closed.

The warming centers are for anyone needing relief from the cold.

No outside food or beverages are allowed.

Borer said that moving forward, whether a severe cold weather protocol is issued or not, the Main Library will serve as a warming center during regular business hours, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

See the West Haven Free Food Resource Guide.

New Haven Bank opens branch in downtown W.H.

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 18, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer and state Rep. Treneé McGee, D-West Haven, joined New Haven Bank President and CEO Maureen A. Frank and board of directors Chairperson Rolan Joni Young for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the grand opening of the bank’s West Haven branch at 636 Campbell Ave. on Wednesday.

The new branch — New Haven Bank’s second — has a drive-thru and is located at a former TD Bank near Elm Street in downtown West Haven. The branch is next door to a DOCS Urgent Care walk-in clinic.

The morning ceremony included welcoming remarks by Borer and was attended by branch manager Hala Urban, acting city Finance Director David R. Taylor and Steven Araujo, New Haven Bank’s executive vice president of risk management and operations.

Also marking the event were branch employees and Michael C. Kinne, New Haven Bank’s senior vice president and chief financial officer, along with Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce President Michael Moses and Simon McDonald, the chamber’s director of membership and marketing.

Since 2012, New Haven Bank, formerly Start Community Bank, has been the only Community Development Financial Institution bank in Connecticut.

According to the bank’s website, CDFI banks are “dedicated to promoting economic development by providing financial products and services to underserved people and communities.”

“The mission of these specialized community-based financial institutions is to develop long-term relationships with the communities they serve in order to promote financial literacy and deliver affordable loans for community members and small businesses,” according to the website.

West Haven DPW issues snow parking rules

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 18, 2024 — To help crews expedite snow removal, acting Public Works Commissioner Robert Sandella is reminding residents and businesses to observe parking regulations during and after storms.

Per the “Severe Weather” parking ordinance under Chapter 188 of the West Haven Code, police can ticket and tow vehicles violating the ordinance at the owner’s expense. Violators are subject to a $100 fine.

Once snow begins to fall, a parking ban is in effect on the even-numbered side of most roads, unless one is posted with a “No Parking” sign on the odd side.

The ban is in effect for 36 hours after a storm. Residents are urged to park in driveways or designated private lots.

However, during an official snow emergency declared by Mayor Dorinda Borer, a parking ban will run from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on both sides of Campbell and Savin avenues, Morgan Lane, Elm Street, Meloy Road, Second Avenue from Elm to Beach streets, and Main Street from Savin to Washington avenues.

In the event of a parking ban, the following public lots are available for off-street parking:

—    All schools.

—    Campbell Avenue and Captain Thomas Boulevard, next to Biagetti’s Restaurant, 77 Campbell Ave., and Scoreboards Cafe, 100 Campbell Ave.

—    Johnson Community Center, 201 Noble St.

—    Campbell Avenue, across from Duffy’s Tavern, 241 Campbell Ave.

—    Curtiss Place, behind 473 Campbell Ave.

—    Campbell Avenue, behind 519 Campbell Ave.

—    City Hall, 355 Main St.

—    Former Stiles School, 575 Main St.

—    First Avenue commuter lot.

—    Quigley Stadium, 362 Front Ave.

—    Sawmill Road commuter lot, across from Econo Lodge, 370 Highland St.

Sandella is also reminding residents and businesses to shovel their sidewalks within 24 hours after a storm or face a $25 fine “for each day that the violation persists.”

According to the “Removal of Snow and Ice” ordinance under Chapter 195 of the West Haven Code, people are given 24 hours to remove snow from sidewalks on and bordering their properties. Violators are subject to the $25-per-day fine, which is enforced by the Police Department, the ordinance states.

To report a complaint, call the department’s nonemergency line at 203-937-3900. Complaints are kept confidential.

Sandella also pointed out that plowing or blowing snow into city streets is prohibited and violators are subject to a $60 fine for each offense, per the ordinance.

Also, residents and businesses with mailboxes damaged by snow thrown from a plow are the responsibility of the property owner. The city will only repair mailboxes damaged by the striking of a plow blade if there is visible evidence, such as paint or tire tracks.

Snow removal around mailboxes is the property owner’s responsibility.

Residents are also urged to help firefighters keep hydrants clear of snow.

For more information, call the Highway Department at 203-937-3644.

Thank you, CDA!

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 18, 2024 — (Pictured): Members of West Haven’s Interagency Network for Children and Parent Support Groups on Jan. 9 thank Housing Specialist Ronald C. Dumas of the West Haven Community Development Administration, fourth from left, for CDA’s continued support of Community Development Block Grant funding for programs for special needs children.

From left, WHINC Secretary Pam Lyle, member Gio Rodriguez, English Parent Support Group co-facilitators Sharon Rodriquez and Viola Waldo, and Spanish Parent Support Group co-facilitator Lucia Salazar.

The members showed their thanks during CDA’s annual public hearing and comment session at City Hall in preparation for its program year 2024-25 budget.

(City Photo/Diane Dietman)

Borer improving government communication

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 9, 2024 — Since taking office in early December, Mayor Dorinda Borer has made it a priority to significantly improve communication across the city, both internally with department heads and externally with residents.

To that end, Borer has created a series of meetings in each of West Haven’s 10 districts and is hosting them along with the respective City Council members, at-large council members and Board of Education members, as well as with a representative from the Department of Public Works.

The meeting sessions will begin in mid-January and run through early February.

For details, see the district meeting schedule.

“Each forum will be a one-stop shop for questions and input,” Borer said. “Residents are hungry to connect with their elected officials, and the goal is to be an accessible administration. I pride myself on having an open line of communication, which should be a two-way street — both listening to our residents but providing updates so that trust in transparency can be rebuilt.”

Additionally, Borer will host periodic Saturday morning office hours for those unable to visit City Hall during regular business hours.

Continuing along the external communication ramp-up, Borer has worked with Police Chief Joseph S. Perno to set up quarterly community forums similar to the late-summer event that was well received by the public.

“As a result of the excellent citizen participation and interaction at our last meeting, the Police Department has discussed with the mayor scheduling quarterly meetings,” Perno said. “The Police Department with the city will be posting the dates soon.”

Internal communication is important as well, and Borer has implemented a weekly Cabinet and department head meeting.

“Cabinet meetings may sound basic, but they are a great way to not only collaborate across city agencies but also an opportunity to brainstorm together as our city leaders and employees have a lot of great ideas,” the mayor said.

Finally, Borer this week organized the inaugural meeting of stakeholders from West Haven’s three fire departments “to bring together all the principal players — fire chiefs, commissioners, union representatives — to one table for the first time to continue to look for opportunities for synergy.”

The first monthly meeting was held Jan. 8.