The City Council resumes its regular first and third Monday meetings following summer session (did anyone miss them?) on Tuesday as a result of the Labor Day holiday. One of the items on the agenda, according to State Rep. Jack Hennessy, is approval of a state bond project to finance design services to construct a dam for flood control purposes in Elton Rogers Park. Ox Brook is a tributary of the Rooster River that flows throughout the North End of Bridgeport. Hennessy says due to development in the area, unregulated construction and encroachment on the wetlands, Ox Brook floods during torrential rain impacting hundreds of homes. Hennessy updates his North End constituents in a letter that follows:
You will be happy to know at the next city council meeting, Tuesday, September 3 at 7:00 PM, the Ox Brook Flood Control Project will be on the agenda.
The city council is scheduled to consider approving a state bond project which would finance design services to construct a dam for flood control purposes in Elton Rogers Park.
I was very pleased to have gotten this project placed on the state bond commission agenda in June of 2012 for $260,000.
We need to let the city administration know this flood control project is important to us.
Once the City Council gives the thumbs up, The city engineer says that it usually takes two months to get the city’s signatures on the contract, at which time DEEP will start their signature loop which will take about 3 to 4 weeks.
It appears that at some point in October or early November, the city will have their signed contract which will allow them to have their consultant start their design process.
I am scheduled to address the city council at the beginning of the meeting.
The Rooster River flooding issue has been featured in the Post for many years. As someone not directly affected by the problem, I often wondered why the problem persisted. If Ox Brook is a tributary (especially if it is a major source of downstream problems), then designing a remediation will be beneficial for residents of that area.
Bringing State dollars forward to design and plan for effective remediation makes good sense. It is an example of good district representation.
Of course, with his sponsorship and effective presentation of HR 5724 during the past year, Jack was representing a more serious problem that affects all citizens of Bridgeport. Hennessy understands as do many representatives in the State legislature that having a City job and being elected to represent a District creates an automatic conflict (or appearance of conflict), is prohibited by our City Charter and produces no special good for the community.
Other elected State representation, especially Senators Ayala and Musto did not see it that way. Ayala brought some bacon home, it is reported. What did Musto do? What did we expect him to do? Was he deaf to the messages? Time will tell.
*** The council has the ability this Tuesday to vote and finally do something good for a North End community that has been plagued with continued flooding problems year after year. A fight C. Caruso fought for years and later taken up by Rep. Hennessy! Hope it’s a majority vote by all the council members without any political nickel & dimeing on the city side. ***
I urge everyone to call city council reps to vote yes for this–it is no cost to the city for this–the six North End council people will drive the vote on this, as it affects their area the most. Let them know it is good for all the city.