Taxpayers can appeal real estate, personal property assessments

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 2, 2024 — The Board of Assessment Appeals will hear appeals of real estate and personal property assessments on the 2023 grand list by appointment during March.

The board will also hear appeals of motor vehicle assessments on the 2022 supplemental motor vehicle grand list that received a tax bill due Jan. 1.

Any property owner who wants to appeal an assessment must submit a written application to the board. The assessor’s office must receive the completed form on or before Feb. 20..

Download an Application.

Applications are also available in the assessor’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St., or by calling the office at 203-937-3515. Staff members will answer questions about the appeal process.

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.”

Years earlier, the city took similar steps to address the number of nail salons in a condensed area of downtown.

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.”

S&P raises city’s bond rating to BBB+, assigns ‘positive’ outlook

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 25, 2024 — S&P Global on Jan. 24 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.”

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.”