Borer requires all city employees to attend training on the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 27, 2024 — City employees attended mandatory training on the state Freedom of Information Act at City Hall on Thursday.

Mayor Dorinda Borer required all West Haven employees, including public safety officials, to attend the training session in the Harriet C. North Community Room as part her administration’s “commitment to fostering governmental transparency.”

The training focused on the FOI Act, enacted by the General Assembly in 1975, and was led by Russell Blair, the director of education and communications for the state Freedom of Information Commission.

The FOI Act is “a series of laws that guarantee the public access to public records and public meetings of governmental bodies in Connecticut,” according to the commission’s website.

Blair said the commission settles disputes that arise when residents believe agencies are not following the law.

Borer greeted employees at the nearly 90-minute session, which included a Q&A, and called the training “significantly important” for the city’s workforce.

“Residents are entitled to transparency from their government,” the mayor said. 

Employees of City Hall and satellite offices attended the training, with the next phase slated for elected officials and board and commission members, Borer said.

Blair discussed FOI Act basics, which he defined as “anything dealing with city business,” as well as fulfilling an FOIA request.

The FOI Act grants public access to meetings and records of public agencies, but he noted that “public agencies cannot be required to conduct research or produce documents that don’t exist.”

The city corporation counsel’s office handles all FOIA requests from the public.

Corporation Counsel Paul J. Dorsi said the public should direct FOIA requests to paralegal John Sykes at sykes@westhaven-ct.gov.

Ukrainian Independence Day marked with event for 3rd year in West Haven

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 27, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer stood with members of the Ukrainian American community in front of City Hall on Friday in observance of Ukrainian Independence Day.

The public event marked the eve of Ukrainian independence and was organized by advocacy Chair Ann Salemme of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Branch 108 of New Haven.

The ceremony included poignant remarks by Salemme, Borer, West Haven Fair Rent Commission Chairman Steven R. Mullins and Ukrainian American Veterans Post 33 Cmdr. Carl Harvey.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, which Russia launched on Feb. 24, 2022, a New Haven-based support network that includes the UAV post and St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church has shipped $8.2 million worth of donated humanitarian supplies to Ukraine’s western city of Lviv to aid relief efforts, said Harvey, of Orange.

The ceremony also included the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Prayer for Ukraine,” a patriotic Ukrainian hymn, led by the gathering of more than two dozen Ukrainians, including a pair of young refugees holding up a blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag and others holding up a “Glory to Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes” flag.

The half-hour event culminated with Borer presenting Salemme, of West Haven, with a proclamation declaring Ukrainian Independence Day.

“West Haven stands united with Ukrainians in commemorating their independence by lighting the steps of City Hall in blue and yellow for the first time,” said Borer, reading the proclamation.

“As Ukraine marks its 33rd anniversary of renewed independence, let us recommit ourselves to helping the Ukrainian nation to reclaim full sovereignty over its international borders and to remember the heroes who sacrificed their lives to ensure freedom and happiness for future generations,” the mayor said.

Salemme followed by presenting Borer with a bouquet of sunflowers — a symbol of peace and resilience for Ukrainians — along with a Ukrainian flag and a certificate of appreciation.

Reading the certificate, Salemme said: “We present this certificate in recognition of your leadership and commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and peace. Issuing your proclamation and the lighting of City Hall in blue and yellow sends a powerful message of solidarity to the Ukrainian community in the West Haven area and beyond.”

In 1991 the parliament of Ukraine proclaimed the nation’s independence, taking the first step toward establishing a free and democratic state.

Tony Inzero Farmers Market every Thursday on West Haven Green, every Saturday at Oak Street Beach

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 27, 2024 — The Tony Inzero Farmers Market is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday on the Green, at Campbell Avenue and Main Street, and every Saturday next to the Oak Street Beach parking lot, off Captain Thomas Boulevard.

The market will include state farmers selling homegrown fruits and vegetables and crafters selling homemade wares through Oct. 12.

Parking is available on Campbell Avenue and in the City Hall municipal lot, 355 Main St., as well as in the Oak Street municipal lot and on Palace Street. Oak Street is on the senior shuttle route and the CTtransit route.

The farmers market was dedicated in 2010 in memory of Anthony F. “Tony” Inzero, a leader in the downtown business community who co-owned Flower Affair on Campbell Avenue with Betty DelVecchio for many years. Inzero was a founding member and longtime president of the West Haven Business Association who spearheaded a variety of events and programs to drum up business for fellow merchants, including the first farmers market in 2000.

Inzero, who lived in Hamden, died in 2009 at age 59.

Jason Heffernan playing Oak Street pier Sunday a.m.

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 27, 2024 — Westie Jason Heffernan will perform from 9:30-11 a.m. Sept. 1 at the Oak Street pier, off Captain Thomas Boulevard, as part of the city's Acoustic Sunday Morning Concert Series.

Grab a coffee and a beach chair and chill out to classic and modern rock ditties played by one of West Haven’s finest troubadours.

No rain date.

Borer joins Laborers Local Union 455 to give out backpacks to K-12 students of Spring Heights

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 23, 2024 — (Pictured): Mayor Dorinda Borer and City Council Chairman Nicholas A. Pascale, D-at large, hand out a free backpack to Carrigan Intermediate School seventh grader Zuhaib Shah of Savin Rock Communities’ Spring Heights Apartments on Glade Street on Friday.

At least 100 backpacks, each containing a pencil bag with a ruler and a pencil sharpener, were donated by Laborers Local Union 455’s back-to-school backpack program and were distributed to K-12 students living at the public housing complex.

Each student also received a notebook and a box of crayons donated by the East Haven-based local, along with coloring books, pencils, water bottles and T-shirts given out by Sgt. Pat Buturla and crime prevention Sgt. Scott Allard on behalf of the West Haven Police Department.

Other backpacks benefited the West Haven Community Hose’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Students Case Management Program.

The three-hour backpack giveaway was organized by Andrew T. Inorio, the local’s business manager and secretary-treasurer. Inorio was assisted by office manager Georgette Richardson and laborers Jorge Rivas and Mark Simeoli.

Other participants included Community House Executive Director Amy Guay-Macfarlane, Development Director Alan Olenick and office/ERSEA assistant Jhoely Castillo, as well as Kiara Davila, Savin Rock Communities’ assistant resident services coordinator.

The Community House officials also enrolled preschoolers in the social service agency’s Head Start program at 227 Elm St. for the new school year.

See more photos on the city website.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Mayor Dorinda Borer launches new marketing video showcase, ‘Summers in West Haven — Feel the Vibe!’

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 21, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer has launched “Summers in West Haven — Feel the Vibe!”, the latest video showcase in the city’s new promotional series, “Discover West Haven.”

Check out the video.