Legislative leaders from Bridgeport, Trumbull and Monroe heard a pitch Wednesday night from their respective chief executives about authorizing creation of a regional sewer system modeled after one created in the New Haven region.
Twelve of twenty Bridgeport City Council members joined their suburban peers at Tashua Knolls in Trumbull to hear a presentation from officials associated with the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority about the benefits of a likewise system in the Bridgeport area such as issuing bonds to purchase waste water system assets that can help the bottom line of the city’s general fund.
New Haven, for instance, added more than $30 million to its fund balance according to Gabriel Varca, director of finance for the New Haven authority and Glenn Santoro, an attorney with Robinson and Cole, who directed a slide show for roughly 100 area legislators and appointees to area water pollution control boards. New Haven also transferred debt service for its sewage treatment infrastructure over to the new authority created in 2005.
What’s in it for the suburbs? Waste water from Monroe commercial developments would be piped into Trumbull that is connected to the city’s two treatment systems. Monroe has no sewers.
Developer Robert Scinto, who was in attendance at the session sponsored by The Bridgeport Regional Business Council, has worked out a tentative arrangement with the chief executives of the three towns to relocate the Jewish Home for the Elderly from Fairfield to property he owns in Monroe, with the three towns splitting tax revenue.
The most immediate news after the informational session came from Mayor Bill Finch who told OIB he has decided not to budget any potential revenue from the Scinto project in the budget year that begins July 1 due to opposition from council members regarding the structuring of revenue from the project. Finch had wanted payments frontloaded to help his next budget. Council members wanted long-term revenue flow.
That does not mean the Scinto project will not happen. The question is where and in what form? Instead, Finch, Trumbull First Selectman Ray Baldwin and Monroe Selectman Tom Buzi will focus on creating a regional authority that is expected to be a 9- to 12-month process. They will need to address items such as the size of the regional board, establish rates, revenue sources and revenue sharing, receive approval from respective legislative bodies and sign off from the state Department of Environmental Protection, secure appraisal of the city’s sewage treatment plants and associated assets.
Under the state legislative act that approved regional authorities, two towns can create the entity so theoretically Monroe could do this with just Bridgeport. But all three chief executives say they’re committed to making it work in all three towns.
Several council members such as Michelle Lyons, Bob Curwen, Evette Brantley and Maria Valle posed questions and concerns to the presenters and government chief officials about the long-term benefits to the city. The New Haven model, they responded, added revenue, eliminated general fund debt service, and stabilized user rates.
A lot of information will be shared and absorbed over the next several months, and several council members said they need more time to study the proposal. Andy Abate, director of the city’s Water Pollution Control Authority, told the audience the city’s sewage capacity can easily handle flow from a regional authority.
The problem the city has is an antiquated system that takes in both storm water and sewage into a single pipe, a huge problem for areas of the city such as the East Side during heavy rains. Part of the East Side goes under water with discharges into homes and basements.
Sewer separation is key, said Abate, to the long-term health of the city’s sewer system.
But the overall upgrade cost to the city is huge. How will it be financed? We’ll find out.
Listen to Finch’s speech from the informational session here: {running time: 6:34}
Lots more on this in the months to come.
Book signing for Bow Tie Banker this Saturday, 2 p.m., at Borders on Post Road in Farifield, with Lennie and David Carson, retired chief executive of People’s Bank.
News release from Jim Himes
Himes Announces Federal Funding for Local Projects
Ensures local projects remain funded, votes against Congressional pay raise
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Himes announced funding for important local projects in the Omnibus Appropriations bill that passed the United States House of Representatives today. Highlights of the package include over $6,500,000 for public transportation in Bridgeport and Stamford; and $500,000 for an after school program in Bridgeport; $143,000 to the Fairfield University School of Nursing; and millions in infrastructure spending for local waterways. A complete list of projects in the 4th District follows this release.
“My predecessor, Congressman Shays, initiated and supported a number of requests for worthy projects in the district, and I’m proud to have picked up the ball and fought for their preservation,” said Congressman Himes. “These projects are important to our communities and quality of life.”
The Congressman was particularly supportive of a provision in the bill that blocks a Congressional pay raise. Mr. Himes will be donating the raise he is receiving in 2009 to local charities.
“When we’re asking families and businesses to tighten their belts and sacrifice to help pull the county through this crisis, we in Congress must be willing to do the same,” said Congressman Himes. “We’re serious about putting our economy on the path toward economic recovery.”
The bill now goes to the Senate for approval.
Grants in the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, HR1105
$500,000 for Law Enforcement Technology and Interoperable Communications.
$300,000 for the Fresh Start Community Re-entry Pilot Program.
$500,000 for the Lighthouse After school Program.
$950,000 for the Substance Abuse Prevention for Parents and Children: Building Capacity and Maintaining Momentum.
$23,000 for Greenwich Harbor.
$1,000,000 for the Long Island Sound DDMP.
$1,469,000 for the Norwalk Harbor.
$1,903,000 for the Stamford Waste Energy Project.
$191,000 for Bridgeport Environmental Infrastructure.
Mill River Restoration is eligible for funding from the Army Corps of Engineers.
$143,000 for Norwalk public schools for technology upgrades to include the purchase of equipment.
$143,000 for Save the Children of Westport for curriculum development for early childhood education, obesity, and literacy programs including the purchasing of equipment.
$95,000 for the Stamford symphony Orchestra for a music education program including the purchase of equipment.
$285,000 for Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport for Middle College program.
$190,000 for Action of Bridgeport community Development for the Total Learning Program.
$143,000 for the Bridgeport Hospital for facilities and equipment.
$143,000 for the Fairfield University School of Nursing for equipment and technology upgrades.
$285,000 for the Norwalk Hospital for facilities and equipment.
$143,000 for the Stamford Hospital for facilities and equipment.
$500,000 for the City of Stamford, Harbor Point Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvement Initiative.
$2,850,000 for the Bridgeport Intermodal Center.
$3,650,000 for all phases of the Stamford Urban Transitway.
$1,900,000 for the Pleasure Beach Water Taxi Service Project.
$95,000 for Canal Street/Wooster Street Widening and Infrastructure Improvements.
$95,000 for Offside Roadway Traffic, Safety and Parking Improvements.
$95,000 for The Bruce Museum Inc., for expansion of exhibition and classroom space and improvement of support areas.
$7,200,000 for Bradley IAP, TFI Upgrade Engine Shop.
Well I am happy to read your synopsis of last night’s meeting. I went to that meeting as an uninvited guest and talk about feeling like a pair of brown shoes with a black tuxedo, that was me. Technically the meeting was open to the public but not really. Everyone had very nice name tags and there were enough seats for the invited guests after all there would be food and such. No room for the general public. I sat off to the side and was asked who I was and if I had a name tag. I was asked if I was going to speak or was just there to watch. After being watched and checked on I left.
Let me suggest to our exalted leader that maybe having an informational meeting in Bridgeport would be nice, after all the assets you are talking about are ours not Trumbull’s or Monroe’s.
The one pleasant event I had was meeting MCAT. She is a real nice person and a pleasure to talk to. How we let her leave as legislative liaison is still a mystery. Loved talking to her about her latest project concerning wind power.
It must have been a hard pill for Finch to swallow when he could not add the Scinto money to his next budget. If you are setting up a board for regionalization please appoint people that will show up at meetings. please appoint people that can think. Please appoint people that really care about Bridgeport. So far your history on appointing people to boards & commissions has been terrible. Many of the city boards and commissions are filled with people suffering from terminal dumb-ass thanks to your appointments.
LOL!
Thank you for the summary, Lennie. It seems that the meeting was a great first step in a process that will benefit Bridgeport. Transferring pipes and plants from a City of Bridgeport asset to a regional asset could bring millions of dollars to the cash-strapped city now that the State is encouraging regionalism with real money, not words. But more important, the long range development of this wonderful City as well as its neighbors have a shot at ‘smart growth’. Bravo to Mayor Finch for pushing hard for the creation of a Regional Authority now, and apparently putting off a decision on the Monroe deal. In my opinion it will benefit Bridgeport not only in the short term but in the fulfillment of our new Master Plan.
This really is about more than Bob Scinto’s old folks home. If Monroe gets online with a sewer system it will make that town far more attractive to potential developers. And there is a lot of undeveloped land in Monroe …
“Finch had wanted payments frontloaded to help his next budget. Council members wanted long term revenue flow.”
At least a few of our aldermen are putting the city’s interests first. It’s about time.
The regional water pollution control authority must come first. The first question Bridgeport City Council members ought to ask Bob Scinto, Mayor Finch, the BRBC’s Paul Timpanelli and anyone else with an interest in seeing the old folks home built in Monroe is: “Who is going to pay for it?” According to Lennie’s synopsis, the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority issued bonds to purchase waste water system assets. Supporters of a regionalized water pollution control authority claim that this increased revenue and eliminated general fund debt service. That’s all fine and good, but Bridgeport is in hock up to its collective eyeballs. Selling more municipal bonds would be akin to robbing Peter to pay Paul (or engaging in a municipal Ponzi scheme, taking the new money raised by issuing more bonds to pay off the debt service on older bonds). It would only be to Bridgeport’s benefit if Monroe and Trumbull pay for the privilege of tapping into OUR sewage treatment system.
Andy Abate, director of Bridgeport’s Water Pollution Control Authority, claimed that the city’s sewage capacity can “easily” handle flow from a regional authority. Mr. Abate neglected to mention that Bridgeport’s waste water treatment system is an antiquated model that takes in both storm water and sewage into a single pipe, causing raw or only partially treated sewage to be discharged into Long Island Sound during periods of heavy precipitation (to the chagrined consternation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). The system needs to be seriously upgraded, separating the storm runoff from the raw sewage. Only after that has been accomplished (to the satisfaction of EPA engineers) should the regionalized authority be permitted.
Thanks T.C., this is embarrassing because I am not quite sure who you were; I think I know but I thought that was someone else. No matter it was nice to have the conversation. There is a lot of misinformation in the preceding posts. Let me try to add some more facts.
The Regional WPCA (RWPCA) and the City will be separate entities.
Bridgeport sells its sewers and plants, assets and liabilities to the RWPCA.
As Lennie stated, New Haven received more than $30million for one treatment plant.
The purchase price goes into the fund balance, thereby increasing the bond rating and reducing interest.
Any bonding with the Regional WPCA does NOT go as a debt to the municipalities it is RWPCA debt, NOT Bridgeport.
Anyone using the sewers must continually, forever pay to use the sewers and therefore constant flow (no pun intended) to the RWPCA.
The up-front money is based on what the value of the money would be over a term of many years. I won’t comment other than to say a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Because the City is selling its assets (AND its liabilities) to the regional authority the health of the system is everybody’s problem, not just Bridgeport’s.
So basically, Bridgeport receives money for the suburbs’ privilege of participating in a regional group; the WPCA gets money, forever, from its users based on use, and the liability of the plant is spread over three municipalities.
Added pluses–DEP gives money to sewage treatment plants. New Haven has had favored status because it is a regional system; Bridgeport (RWPCA) now goes to the front of the line because there is strength in numbers. DEP funding will address upgrading the system and separating storm water from sewage. And we are doing what the Governor and Legislature are asking the state, by regionalizing. Further, there is money in the State budget for further incentives for regionalizing. With the proper Legislative guidance Bridgeport, Trumbull and Monroe will be first in line to get that new incentive money as well.
So there you go, make your conclusions.
I can’t quite grok why Mayor Finch, et al. didn’t make this proposal first. This is the more important goal, it would seem. Why generate all of this hoopla about an old folks home in Monroe? What sort of logic is being employed by the mayor and his designated minions? If a regionalized water pollution control authority was the main objective to begin with, why go about it so circuitously? Makes about as much sense as tits on a boar …
*** MCAT: Will the WPCA & RWPCA, as well as the Aquarion Water Co. all collect revenue on a seasonal basis from local Bpt. real estate owners & businesses & other towns, etc.? And if a person falls “$” behind, will the city’s legal dept. be the ones to attempt collection through attached liens, forclosures, etc.? Or is it far too early for these questions? Thanks! ***
PS–just another thought, the JHE will create 700 jobs. Those jobs will be filled from around the region, most likely many from Bridgeport. Further, there are ancillary benefits for regional businesses. Development on borders should help the region and that is what this project does.
I am sure Bridgeport would like to benefit many businesses on their borders, who wouldn’t? Working together, planning together, even with economic development. We no longer become adversaries (to those who think we area, I never did). Again, for those who want to criticize my Pollyanna attitude, wouldn’t you like to be positive and think about progress for the future instead of getting bogged down in the past? We need to move on to solutions for the future.
Sometimes the best ideas aren’t thought of first. Plus we here in Monroe have no sewers, doesn’t make sense to do a RWPCA unless we do! That’s just a practical point of view. Sometimes forward thinking needs a nudge in the right direction.
MCAT: Think of the guy with the baseball hat and blue jacket sitting by himself.
Explained the way you explained it I would be in favor of such a plan. It would be nice if it were explained to the people of Bridgeport in this manner. Our leaders prefer to keep us in the dark and let rumors go where they may. That’s our problem not yours (you are lucky).
TC–I have it now! Don’t believe that rumors and distrust among leaders are unique to Bridgeport. We have plenty of that here too. That being said we have a good group on the WPCA and one of the Republicans in the group and myself want to come to a City Council meeting and listen and show that there are plenty of progressive, forward-thinking people here too. If anyone wants to talk to any of us including Tom Buzi, we would be happy to cooperate. Heck, I am thinking of cocktails at Testa’s; e-mail me or call anytime you and others want to do that.
BRAVA to MCAT for clearly spelling things out. Could it possibly be that a backroom deal between Scinto, Timpanelli, and Finch want to get their deal done BEFORE a regional approach would someone benefit them? Just speculating because the way MCAT presents it, this is not just a win for B’port but a no-brainer. BTW the head of the WPCA in Stamford is a straight shooter and brilliant person. Jeannette Brown is her name.
Click on the title to see and comment on this Hartford Advocate article.
*** Never know ’til you try to add new words to an old song! Ayala is coming along; even @ projecting political fluff that’s been attempted by others & shot down in the past, due to the same old lack of support! The Hartford capitol legislature has a knack for talking the talk, but lacking to walk the walk when it comes to political correctness, recalling & many other subjects, etc. Just ask Caruso, McKinney, Dyson etc. to name a few! However, it sure sounds good to be projected as the citizen’s advocate against crime & evil sometimes, hell it can’t hurt when nothing else is happening! But hopefully time will tell & actions will speak louder than words; whoa, another old saying! ***
Mojo … I can always count on you … hey … how about the fact that Ayala had a HUGE hand in bringing to BPT the largest Latino law firm in the country today … that should be big news around here but I do realize that most bloggers on here only deal with the negatives.
*** Was he just in the picture or was he indeed personally involved in getting all to the table for talks on the actual move & merger of these firms as well as the possible business incentives in the future? Inquiring minds would like to know! ***
Mojo, I know you don’t want to hear anything about inventions. Stop here if you wish. When Thomas Alva Edison was in the process of inventing the Light Bulb, he tried over 1,000 different ways until he got it right. There were other inventors in America and in Britain trying to achieve the same goal. If at first you fail, try again.
Kudos to those that keep on fighting.
*** WOW! Quite impressive as always; how do you do it? ***
Isn’t it true that something like 4 Connecticut towns have recall provisions? I believe Westport is one of them.
Didn’t Bob Keeley introduce a similar bill that died?
Bpts Finest, next time try to keep the comment short.
Mojo gets pissed when comments are too long to his liking.
Absolutely everybody is moaning that Bridgeport does not have the capacity to take on anyone else’s effluent. We’re maxed out as is. Let Scinto buy 250 porta-potties for the old folks home he’s planning.
If we are so maxed out, will defecation be prohibited when Steel point gets finished?
Don’t need any porta-potties in Trumbull …
“New Haven, for instance, added more than $30 million to its fund balance according to Gabriel Varca, director of finance for the New Haven authority. New Haven also transferred debt service for its sewage treatment infrastructure over to the new authority created in 2005.”
Sorry folks. I do not believe it. This is a crock. Been there done that with the privatization of the WPCA and the panacea that was promised now costs more than ever.
All of you people who believe that Bridgeport is going to pick up $30 mill and get long-term revenue streams and transfer all of the debt, post your e-mails on the blog and I will forward you these e-mails I get from the Nigerian Minister of Finance who also wants to give me $30 million.
Don’t tell me what NH did. Guarantee what will happen to Bpt and I will listen.
Or else our WPCA rates will increase 10-fold and people will be complaining that the Finance Minister never mentioned that.
MCAT, I see that you are up to your neck in shit.
I’m throwing you a rope so I can pull you out.
Hold on tight as I pull.
No one has even bothered to talk about Obama’s Joint Session of Congress, let alone the commitments he made to entrepreneurs and Renewable Energy efforts. Did I hear right when he said, “$15 billion”, for wind power technology?
I heard him say, “entrepreneurs, inventors, new technology, starting a business, creating new jobs”, sounds interesting and familiar MCAT? Was the Connecticut Post reporter correct when he wrote that Finch made no commitment to Gene Kelley? This man obviously proposed every item mentioned by Obama and all he gets is, “I’ll get back to you.” Hey MCAT, it would be a good idea to propose to the mayor the installation of the windwings at the West Side Sewage Treatment Plant. The wind will produce electricity, while at the same time deflecting and blocking the shit smelling wind from blowing into Captain’s Cove and nearby neighborhoods.
Heck, we can take it a step further if we allow the windwings to be installed at the Seaside Dump Site. It is across the water from RESCO to which the electricity can be sold, constant wind at a good velocity and again we can block and deflect the wind from blowing towards the Sewage Treatment Plant. Building the fabrication plant in Bridgeport? Priceless!
What did the confessing Catholic say to the priest the day after Ash Wednesday?
I went from “Ashy” to “Trashy”.
Joel, I appreciate your enthusiasm for my new venture. Mayor Finch was very kind to have us in and let us present our company. I know from working with the Mayor for awhile he will do everything he can to make Bridgeport green. The realities are that my company’s endeavors are between seed capital and venture capital. We have 2 working prototypes and we need more capital to get prototypes in CT to collect further data so that the prototype can be re-engineered for the commercial market. The good news is we can have prototypes in CT in 6-8 months, maybe less. My job right now is to “lobby” the legislature, find grants both state and federal (and private) and get the money to get the first prototype here. The plan is to then manufacture further prototypes and eventually the final product here in CT. Trust me, the principles all live in CT and we are not moving. The Mayor has helped us by giving us a forum to get the word out. I am sure if we offered someone in Bridgeport a prototype so we could collect more data they would take it.
I spent tonight listening to comments by several dozen people regarding the Monroe budget and commenting myself. There were “differing” opinions and I am very tired. I have never liked stirring up any unnecessary conflict; others may have differing opinions. (Not to say that I didn’t play devil’s advocate once in awhile to stir up some public discourse.) I was always vocal with my opinions, as I am sure you know, but I will absolutely not tolerate bashing the Mayor on this issue. We have not always agreed, but I am sure he will do everything he can to bring clean energy into town, especially if it will help reduce energy bills, create jobs and reduce our carbon footprint.
Also, there are differing opinions on the WPCA; with all due respect Mr. Reaper we can only make comparisons to something that exists, it’s sort of like getting an appraisal on your house. You have to have comparables, and on this issue, New Haven is it. I am just looking at it logically. You can’t prove what you don’t know, but I am sure in short order you will see a very close estimate of what Bridgeport would receive for the WPCA assets.
I truly wanted to be in government to make a difference, to help. Political maneuvering can be intoxicating and you can get caught up in the chess game. But when you lose sight of the fact all that maneuvering should be about making a difference, you lose your way. That is the very reason I loved my job with Bridgeport. I loved to find the way, common ground to work your way towards a solution. It is thanks to the past two Mayors who gave me that opportunity. If they hadn’t I would not have the experience to do what I am doing now. Ok I am long-winded today; I just wanted to say one more thing, thanks Lennie for stirring up public discourse so ideas can be fully vetted. I still believe in the principle that I may not agree with everything you are saying, but I will defend to my death your right to say it.
MCAT, Thanks for the clarification on the Ct. Post report regarding Finch’s reaction to the windwing project. I’m glad that the mayor is receptive to the idea. You don’t have to tell me about seed capital and venture capital. I’ve been told that there many angel investors and venture capitalists out there; you just have to keep looking.
MCAT have you tried contacting inventors digest? This would be a great forum to get the word out and make contact with potential investors. I think you should start lining up folks to speak in favor of this project at legislative meetings or hearings. Do keep us informed on future developments. Good luck!
Lennie, I’ll keep March 12th in mind and see if I can make it. I will be at Borders to buy Bow Tie Banker; after I read the book I will torch it until I get the Bank’s alarm code and the safe combination. BTW, hide all the Mary Higgins Clark novels before I buy them all and have no money left to buy your book.
Lennie, I didn’t mean to write “torch”, I meant torture instead. I wouldn’t burn a classic.