(The Kelsey @ Savin Rock/Renderings, RTR Hospitality)

City Council unanimously approves restaurant, The Kelsey @ Savin Rock

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 13, 2024 — The City Council unanimously approved The Kelsey @ Savin Rock on Monday night.

To see how this exciting upscale restaurant and event venue will transform the former Savin Rock Conference Center building, click on the renderings here.

Coming to the West Haven shoreline in 2026!

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra is led by pops conductor Chelsea Tipton II. (Contributed Photo/NHSO)

New Haven Symphony performing ‘Holiday Extravaganza’ concert at WHHS tonight

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 13, 2024 — The New Haven Symphony Orchestra is performing a special “Holiday Extravaganza: Joy to the World!” concert tonight at West Haven High School.

The 7 p.m. concert is presented by the city and will take place in the school auditorium at 1 McDonough Plaza.

Tickets cost $20 for orchestra seating and $15 for mezzanine seating.

Tickets are sold only in advance on the GoFan website or the NHSO website.

All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit West Haven Public Schools’ music department.

“I am overjoyed to bring this special holiday concert by the world-renowned New Haven Symphony Orchestra to West Haven as part of our efforts to revitalize arts and entertainment across the city,” Borer said. “This spirited performance for all ages will also serve as a way to support our school district’s music department as we recognize the value and importance of the arts among our youth. It enriches lives no matter the age.”

According to its website, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s Pops Series, conducted by Chelsea Tipton II, will bring the music and magic of the holiday season to West Haven for a special concert benefiting the arts in the city’s public schools.

“Families and friends will come together to experience the joy of holiday music from around the world in Connecticut’s favorite festive tradition!” according to the NHSO website.

The New Haven Symphony is America’s fourth-oldest orchestra, founded in 1894.

For more than a century, the NHSO has continued the traditions of performance and education by supporting programs in schools and communities and presenting classical repertoire and pops concerts.

The orchestra has performed regularly in New Haven and toured throughout Connecticut and beyond, including concerts at New York’s Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. It has also given numerous radio broadcasts.

Allingtown FD swears in 5 new firefighter/paramedics and EMTs

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 13, 2024 — The City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown swore in three new firefighter/paramedics and two new firefighter/EMTs during a ceremony at Minor Park Station on Tuesday night, Chief Michael R. Terenzio announced.

Read the full news release.

Taxes due Jan. 1 in West Haven

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 13, 2024 — The second installment of city tax bills — real estate, personal property, motor vehicle, sewer — is due Jan. 1, and payments after Feb. 3 are considered delinquent and subject to interest, per state law.

The 2023 supplemental motor vehicle bills are for vehicles registered after Oct. 1, 2023, and are also due Jan. 1.

After Feb. 3, interest will be charged on the installment due from Jan. 1 at the rate of 1 ½% per month.

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 by cash, credit card, debit card or money order.

West Haven property owners should be advised that the January installment of taxes does not reflect any changes in real property assessments that may have been indicated in a revaluation notice they have received. The revaluation adjustments will be applied to the tax billing starting in July. For more information, visit the Assessor’s Office webpage .

As part of the city’s revaluation, property values have increased. However, to ensure that the overall tax burden remains balanced, the mill rate will be adjusted downward. The adjustment will help offset the increase in property values, resulting in a more equitable tax bill.

Leaf bag pickup ends later today

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 13, 2024 — Leaf bag pickup ends for the season later today.

West Haven residents are asked to put leaves and grass clippings in separate biodegradable paper bags for curbside pickup. Plastic bags are prohibited.

Crews will not pick up leaf/grass bags after today. Starting next week, residents must bring all bags — paper, no plastic — to the city’s compost site, 1 Kimberly Ave., from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Proof of residence is required.

Leaf bag pickup will resume in mid-April 2025.

Also, per city ordinance, blowing leaves into city streets is prohibited, and violators are subject to a $60 fine for each offense.

New mobile charging stations will charge cellphones in neighborhoods during outages

West Haven adds mobile charging stations for public use during power outages

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 9, 2024 — (Pictured): Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana shows Mayor Dorinda Borer how to charge a cellphone using the city’s new mobile multiunit charging station at City Hall on Dec. 6.

The city has purchased two state-of-the-art charging stations with accompanying GoSun solar tables and Honda generators for all residents to charge cellphones during power outages.

Borer said the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will deploy the rapid charging stations in neighborhoods for “significant outages that don’t appear to be able to be resolved immediately due to significant circumstances.”

“I’ve been one of those residents in a major storm who looks for power access in places like Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks or McDonald’s and felt there has to be a more modern way we could assist residents in outages and requested mobile charging stations,” Borer said.

Each charging station sits atop a solar table that powers the station.

Fontana said each USB and USB-C station can charge up to 50 mobile devices at a time in just 34 minutes.

In addition, each gas-powered generator has plugs that can charge up to 10 medical devices at a time, he said.

Borer said the city has also purchased three solar charging poles in three strategic locations: the shoreline boardwalk, downtown and Allingtown.

“The addition of solar charging stations down the beach and in public spaces will also assist in powering up,” the mayor said.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Revaluation project update: Property owners will receive new valuation notices in December

WEST HAVEN, Nov. 26, 2024 — The city’s ongoing revaluation project will determine the fair market value of every property for the purpose of a fair and equitable distribution of the tax burden.

Property revaluations are mandated by the state and must occur every five years.

Appraisal staff members from West Haven’s revaluation contractor, Vision Government Solutions Inc. of Hudson, Massachusetts, have been analyzing residential property sales and performing parcel-by-parcel reviews of value.

While valuations will continue through November as new property sales occur, the revaluation date of appraisal is Oct. 1.

Property owners can expect to receive a new value notice in December.

The new property valuations will be available online for the public’s review when notices are mailed. The site will allow inquiry access to the assessor’s database, including value summary, property data and general revaluation information.

Property owners can review their new assessment on Vision’s website: https://www.vgsi.com/.

Property owners with questions about the revaluation process or the data collected on their property will have an opportunity to meet with a Vision representative to discuss their new valuation through an informal telephone hearing or an in-person hearing from December through early January.

Property owners wishing to appeal their new assessment after the informal hearing process with Vision is complete must file a written appeal to the city’s Board of Assessment Appeals on or before Feb. 20, 2025.

BAA appeal forms will be available online and in the assessor’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

For more information on the revaluation process, visit https://www.vgsi.com/taxpayer-revaluation-information/.

For questions about the revaluation process or additional information, call the assessor’s office at 203-937-3515.

The brick Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park, West Haven. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh, File)

Veterans Council launches 2025 Brick Campaign

WEST HAVEN, Nov. 19, 2024 — The West Haven Veterans Council has launched the 17th phase of its popular Brick Campaign.

In November 2006, the council began the first of 17 campaigns selling bricks to memorialize veterans on the 100-yard Walk of Honor between the William A. Soderman and Vietnam Veterans memorials.

The bricks, which cost $75, have charcoal lettering for personalized messages.

About 3,000 bricks have been installed to date, including 47 for Phase 16, which was dedicated May 25.

Download a brick application here.

Applications, due March 14, 2025, are also available in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St. For details, call 203-937-3510.

Residents’ input sought for community development, housing needs survey; deadline is Dec. 20

WEST HAVEN, Oct. 16, 2024 — Residents can share their opinions as the city updates its five-year Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

A brief survey of needs and priorities is available to residents on the West Haven Community Development Administration webpage. Residents can also take the survey by scanning the QR code below.

Residents must return the survey to rosa@westhaven-ct.gov by Dec. 20.

The goal is to prepare a plan that describes West Haven’s housing and community development needs and implement a strategy for 2025-29.

The seven-question survey can be completed in a few minutes. Information will be from the survey, workshops and other sources.