Borer calls for regulation to snuff out new smoke shops in the city
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 30, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer is calling for a six-month moratorium on new smoke shops in the city.
In a Jan. 22 memo to Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Christopher M. Suggs and Assistant City Planner Cathy Conniff, Borer requested that the commission evaluate the restriction of additional smoke shops in West Haven, evaluate and identify the criteria that allow businesses to operate 24/7, clarify the definition of “convenience store,” and evaluate “light noise” through business facades, such as neon signs.
In the memo, Borer said: “In the interim, I’m requesting that the Commission, effective immediately, put a moratorium on Smoke Shops, regardless of current Zoning regulations, for a period of 6 months until new regulations for restriction are established. No application should be accepted, considered, or approved until further notice.”
West Haven currently has at least 18 smoke shops, according to information provided by the assessor’s office.
Borer said it would be a legal challenge to close existing shops but would press for “serious consequence” if repeated violations are found.
The mayor is also asking that regulations be considered to address unwanted lights that have sprung up on some of the city’s busiest roads, including but not limited to neon signs and LED lights on the exterior of all businesses.
Borer described the light pollution of such lights as “aesthetically unpleasing, distracting and not a representation of the image we are trying to change.”
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$14K gift continues funding for West Haven High School breast cancer scholarship for 21 years
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 30, 2024 — (Pictured, from left): Mayor Dorinda Borer joins Doug “the Rake” Ruickoldt to present a $14,000 check on behalf of the West Haven Breast Cancer Awareness Program to West Haven High School Principal Dana Paredes on Monday to benefit the Susan A. Ruickoldt Scholarship Fund as program committee Chairwoman Beth A. Sabo looks on.
The donation was made possible by the annual Dubel’s Golf Tournament, Westies Nutrition and the West Haven Youth Soccer League and will support the scholarship fund for the next 21 years, Sabo said.
Borer, Ruickoldt and Paredes thanked and praised Sabo for her tireless devotion to the Breast Cancer Awareness Program, including collecting more than $750,000 for breast cancer research and education since the program’s inception in 2000.
The scholarship fund was founded in March 2003 to raise breast cancer awareness in honor of Susan Ruickoldt, who taught third grade at Savin Rock Community School before dying of breast cancer in 1997.
Each spring since 2003, scholarship organizers have awarded $2,000 in Ruickoldt’s memory to a female high school senior from West Haven who plans to continue her education.
(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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West Haven Valentine’s Day party honoring couples married 50 years
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 30, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer will honor married couples of 50 years or more at the city’s annual Valentine’s Day party.
The event, a tradition in its 34th year, is set for noon Feb. 14 on the main floor of the Johnson Community Center at 201 Noble St.
The two-hour party is presented by the mayor’s office and the Department of Elderly Services and will include background music and lunch catered by Lorenzo’s Restaurant.
Borer will recognize those sweetheart Westies who have reached the half-century mark and beyond with a small gift.
The mayor will also recognize the oldest couple with a citation.
To make a reservation, call Elderly Services Director Alyssa Maddern at 203-937-3507 by Feb. 7.
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S&P raises city’s bond rating to BBB+, assigns ‘positive’ outlook
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 25, 2024 — S&P Global on Wednesday raised its long-term credit rating to BBB+ from BBB on the city’s general obligation bonds while assigning a “positive” outlook, Mayor Dorinda Borer announced.
“The rating upgrade to ‘BBB+’ and positive outlook reflect the city’s strong financial performance in 2022 and anticipated for 2023, following the adoption of stricter financial management practices,” S&P said in its bond credit analysis. “The city continues to implement improvements to internal controls toward curing deficiencies that led to its current Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB) Tier IV designation. Moreover, the city is no longer relying on municipal restructuring grants to balance its budget.”
Borer said the report is “extremely important and exciting news for our city for many reasons, including a long-term savings on the city’s borrowing, but also sends a message to potential investors that West Haven is on a strong road to recovery.”
“The investment that MARB has made in West Haven has paid off,” Borer said. “The MARB first hired an auditor and then a consultant who both identified weaknesses in the internal controls and financial structure, but the MARB then took it a step further and hired a consultant to assist the prior administration with addressing those weaknesses. Everyone worked together, past and current, which contributed toward the upgrade.”
In addition to the rating upgrade, the positive outlook designation is attributed to the new Borer administration, based on the work that has been completed in the past month and the plans for the path forward.
In its analysis, the New York agency touted the leadership of the new administration, which took office in early December.
“With a new management team, West Haven expects to continue its conservative budgeting practices, raising revenues and leveraging ongoing economic developments,” S&P said. “City administration expects to maintain structurally balanced operating results while continuing to rebuild reserves to stronger levels.”
In its report, S&P specifically provided positive feedback in recognizing an overall change, a new management team and changes in department structure, including the Building Department.
S&P also noted Borer’s revitalized work with a consortium of regional mayors, a more collaborative relationship with the MARB and a focus on personnel restructure, including grants and economic development.
Ronald M. Quagliani, the city’s newly elected treasurer who ran on Borer’s ticket, was thrilled at the announcement.
“This is welcome news,” Quagliani said. “I am appreciative of all the hard work that has been done by many to get us to this point. We are committed to build on this momentum by continuing the work and collaborations with our partners for ongoing improvement with tangible results.”
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Taxes due now in West Haven
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 25, 2024 — The second installment of city tax bills — real estate, personal property, motor vehicle, sewer — was due Jan. 1, and payments after Feb. 1 are considered delinquent and subject to interest, per state law.
The 2022 supplemental motor vehicle bills are for vehicles registered after Oct. 1, 2022, and were also due Jan. 1.
Payments — full or partial — can be made by cash, check, credit card, debit card or money order from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays in the tax office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St. The building has an ATM on the first floor.
Taxpayers can also make payments online at My Tax Bill. Sewer bills are on the same page but under a separate tab. Tax payment history can also be viewed and printed.
The fees for credit cards and electronic checks are available at Payments.
During tax season, taxes can be paid by the drop box outside the interior door of the tax office from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Do not leave cash or credit card information in the drop box.
When paying by drop box, the canceled check is the receipt.
Taxes can also be paid by mail to the Office of the Tax Collector, City of West Haven, P.O. Box 401, West Haven, CT 06516.
Anyone needing a motor vehicle clearance must pay in person by cash, credit card, debit card or money order.
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Borer announces ‘long-overdue’ changes to Building Department
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 25, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer has announced a long-overdue revamp of the Building Department to modernize operations and “change the way the city does business.”
Effective immediately, Borer said the department is opening its doors an hour earlier, at 8 a.m., to better accommodate contractors and developers and to stimulate investment in West Haven.
The department’s new hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office is based on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.
Also effective immediately, a fire marshal will be stationed in the Building Department on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to eliminate the need for builders to drive back and forth to City Hall and West Haven’s three fire departments.
“Previously, the process was cumbersome and archaic and didn’t make good businesses sense,” Borer said.
The mayor said the department is working to implement a new online permitting app to streamline the process for obtaining building and zoning permits.
“The app will be a one-stop shop for building and zoning permits and will help simplify the way business is done in West Haven,” Borer said.
The mayor has also proposed the elimination of a zoning signoff on projects that don’t require zoning by statute or charter. The proposal seeks to streamline the zoning process and eliminate the need to stand in two lines.
For changes in Building Department structure and process, Borer is proposing a $1 increase in the building permit fees’ combined fee from $24 to $25. The modest increase is based on $1,000 of the value of the work.
Borer is also proposing a $1 increase in the certificate of completion fee, or certificate of occupancy, from $24 to $25.
According to Building Official Frank Gladwin, building permit fees generate millions of dollars in annual revenue for the city, including $2.5 million in 2022-23 and more than $1.2 million since July 1, 2023.
Borer has drafted a communication to the City Council that in turn is required to update the Building Department fee schedule ordinance and gather public input to amend the ordinance. A date for public input will be announced soon.
Borer said she’s “laser-focused” on putting the city’s house in order in efforts to attract new investors.
In the near future, the Building Department will offer an option for payment by debit for convenience and to reduce cash flow, the mayor said.
Borer said she’s heard “loud and clear” that it’s difficult to do business with the city, adding, “These Building Department upgrades are one step toward changing that.”
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City offers free radon test kits for National Radon Action Month
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 25, 2024 — January is National Radon Action Month, and the city Health Department is encouraging residents to protect their health by testing their home for radon.
Radon, the second-leading cause of lung cancer, is a colorless, odorless and naturally occurring radioactive gas formed from the natural decay of uranium. It is found in rock, water and soil.
While radon in outdoor air poses a relatively low risk to human health, it can enter homes from the surrounding soil and become a health hazard inside buildings, Health Director Maureen B. Lillis said.
Lillis said testing for radon is recommended every two years.
The Health Department has received a limited number of free radon test kits from the state Department of Public Health.
To receive a test kit, West Haven residents can call the Health Department at 203-937-3660. A sanitarian from the department will help place the kit in the home, Lillis said.
To learn more about radon, visit the DPH Radon Program.
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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. |
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