Dorinda's Priorities

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

There is only one way to have a sustainable tax base - grow the grand list. The best way to grow the Grand List is through economic development. Economic development is key to the success of a city’s ability to responsibly grow and thrive.  It is about fortification and support for all existing businesses - large and small.  It is about good leadership bringing together stakeholders, both public and private, in partnerships that make sense and foster growth.  It is about utilizing all resources at the local, state, and federal levels.  It is about attracting new residents and businesses by creating an environment open to business. It takes a strategic plan to do this.


I plan to hire a qualified and experienced Economic Development Director!


  • Downtown revitalization - I will be seeking public private partnerships to change the purpose and look of our Downtown while adhering to the guidelines of the Center District.  We need to eliminate the blight but aim for upgrading entire blocks
  • HAVEN - I will collaborate with the owners on status, plans, and ensuring they understand our guidelines, regulations, and desires for a prospective project 
  • The Boston Post Road is a business corridor with untapped potential. We need to clean it up and assist with environmental concerns so that businesses can affordably move into our City which will support the existing businesses on this stretch. 
  • Designated Zones - The State of CT has zone designations we can apply for: Enterprise zones, Opportunity zones, Entertainment zones, and BioScience Zones.  There are state tax benefits for these designations. I will work to take advantage of these opportunities so that we can attract businesses to their respective areas
  • Beach Street - I’ve spent considerable time working to upgrade Beach Street, including securing funding to raise the road, bringing the audobon to locate in this area, and working with the new and existing businesses. The goal will be to facilitate a smooth result for existing projects while addressing the remaining blighted buildings
  • Funding that supports our small businesses plays into our economic development and there is funding available that supports our local businesses.  I will provide a triage to those avenues so that our businesses are aware and can take advantage of the opportunities available
  • Create dedicated groups towards revitalization of specific sections of the City and engage our nontaxable partners
  • Hire more Blight Officers
  • Put a strong staff presence throughout City Hall that can make all of the economic projects come to fruition
  • Create a promotional campaign to attract new business opportunities and restore pride
  • Engage AdvanceCT - a taxpayer program that assists cities in bringing in new business
  • Create a sliding scale financial benefit program similar to other cities for businesses that relocate to West Haven and create a benchmark of jobs
  • Leverage the State of CT’s Community Investment Fund which provides resources to cities that engage in transformational economic development programs that benefit at-risk populations


Financial Controls and Fiscal Responsibility

As a former auditor, I am very versed on the critical need for checks and balances, segregation of duties, effective and efficient operations and audit safeguards that protect your assets.  Only an honest and transparent assessment allows gaps to be identified and addressed:


  • Ensure all positions within the Finance Department are filled, trained, responsible and accountable to ensure proper financial controls
  • Create an active Finance Board of qualified participants that regularly meet and provide valuable input towards financial operations and investments
  • The Municipal Accountable Review Board (MARB) - This State restructuring Board has provided the City of West Haven with significant funding with the understanding the financial structure would be strengthened and improved for a sustainable financial future. We need to partner with them, take their input, build trust and confidence and create an exit plan for West Haven to manage the City’s finances independently
  • Assure complete financial and budget transparency to build back the trust of West Haven residents and taxpayers


PUBLIC SAFETY

A top priority is improving the quality of life for our residents and visitors. One important aspect of that is for you to feel safe and be safe in your homes and throughout West Haven. 


West Haven is fortunate to have dedicated highly trained public safety officials including our Police, Fire, EMS, ERS that all are vigilant in ensuring our community safety.   I will actively partner with our public safety professionals and our community to ensure we provide the necessary funding and resources to recruit and retain our police, fire, and 911 professionals.


I will continue to leverage state and federal resources and grant funding opportunities to support our public safety services and will work together with our public safety leaders on crime prevention and reduction strategies as well as developing additional opportunities for public partnership, education, and community outreach.

 

Recent Initiatives: 

  • Increased funding for West Haven’s 3 Fire Districts with an additional $4,000,000 to subsidize our tax base for non-taxable properties saving our taxpayers millions of dollars 
  • Established funding and benefits for firefighters who are diagnosed with cancer
  • Passed legislation to require provide PTSD coverage for fire, police, parole and dispatchers
  • Expanded GPS monitoring of domestic violence offenders 
  • Secured over $1,000,000 in equipment and resources for West Haven’s Police Department including a new communication system, new equipment for the policy vehicles
  • Passed laws to address catalytic converter thefts by holding metal dealers accountable
  • Championed the first 911 Dispatcher law to allow for workers compensation in portal to portal activity
  • Improved data collection on crimes involving firearms, banned ghost gun loopholes, created stronger penalties for noncompliance on lost and stolen guns, and updated firearm training 
  • $400,000 in community outreach funds for youth programs
  • Secured $20,000 in Chief requested funding for community policing outreach


Future Initiatives:     

  • Ensure the Police Pension conversion is completed and the fund remains stable and solid
  • Attracting and Retaining Police officers is imperative. One initiative includes creating a first time home buyer program for police officers in West Haven and expanding incentives for college credits with our university partners
  • Introduce ordinances similar to neighboring cities that curb ATV activity in the City
  • Work with Police Leaders to reestablish regularly scheduled community outreach neighborhood meetings similar to the recent successful meeting held by our Police Chief
  • Complete the Security Camera Boardwalk Project to ensure the $1m set aside for these purposes is used to their fullest capacity. Determine additional areas within the City that require direct communication with the police department
  • Ensure firehouse upgrades are funded and completed
  • Implement a $300,000 investment upgrade to our Animal Shelter facility which will alleviates the extra police resources needed to assist in extreme weather

ENVIRONMENT

West Haven has the unique opportunity and responsibility of having the longest beach coastline in Connecticut.  Our coastal ecology is a beautiful and unique natural resource that is part of what defines us as a city.  It is part of our soul.  We must find a balance through which we can foster recreational opportunities, open space as well as utilize and protect our natural resources in a responsible manner.  By working with non-profit resources such as Save-The-Sound, we can become a shining example of sustainable growth for other northeastern coastal cities.  By the same token, the nature of our geography poses unique challenges such as coastal storm surge, erosion, and increasing storm intensity. 


Recent Initiatives: 

  • Secured millions of dollars for clean water and open space
  • Secured $5m towards the Long Island Dredging Project
  • Assisting in managing the waste crisis by working through alternatives
  • Requiring timely notifications to the public for adverse environmental actions
  • Elimination of plastic products so such as bags and Styrofoam


Future Initiatives

  • Proactive protecting the safety of our residents and implementing infrastructure improvements 
  • Employ cutting edge best practices through grant and private funding opportunities and set a plan in motion that will be able to execute the improvements our city needs
  • Create a coalition of our Environmental Volunteer organizations throughout the City
  • Ensure environmental approaches are incorporated into future development and business projects 
  • Bring back the beautification awards
  • Work towards beach nourishment replacement program


HEALTH & WELLNESS

Our city should be actively engaged in bringing health and wellness to our residents for both physical and mental health support.   Our city can save direct costs by working to support existing non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) that help to provide access to imperative services which also helps to decrease inequities in healthcare.  We must continue the current good work of community volunteers toward the goal of eliminating food insecurity.   We also need to promote a culture of awareness and acceptance of positive approaches to address mental health challenges. The pandemic posed both physical and mental challenges beyond the norm from which we are still recovering.  We have an opportunity to bounce back stronger and healthier than ever before collectively and individually. 


Recent Initiatives:

  • Increased funding for mental health services for our schools
  • Championed legislation that requires coverage for early breast cancer detection
  • Created the City’s first Food Policy Council to address the City Food insecurity crisis
  • Required pharmacies to have a plan for unscheduled closings & notifying customers 
  • Created an improved and expanded maternal health programs 
  • Established lower refinancing rates for nurses with state student loans 
  • Required faster transfer of medical records between facilities 
  • Added more rules regarding hospital discharge plans 
  • Created a program for early detection screening for lung cancer 
  • Provided funding for the bulk purchase of NARCAN for towns


Future Initiatives: 

  • Create a Council for Mental Healthcare to insure services are more timely to our residents
  • Support more resources for our Health Department for more community outreach 
  • Work with our FQHCs to help community based healthcare to eliminate health disparities
  • Increase programs that connect local farms and agricultural resources to promote access to fresh fruits and vegetables. 
  • Continue my advancements in food insecurity


VETERANS

I’m so proud to have received an award from our West Haven veterans for the work we have done together to support our veterans 


Recent Initiatives: 

  • Began a new license plate program specifically with veteran designations
  • Required veteran gravesites be maintained
  • Created a new local option additional tax break for veterans
  • Guaranteed in-state tuition rates for CT Veterans
  • Created a program that provides weekly food deliveries to veterans in need


Future Initiatives:

  • Creating a volunteer office in City Hall which provides information and resources for veterans. 
  • Create free recreational programs for veterans
  • Partner with our Homes for Veteran’s program to create more bed space for those in transitional housing
  • Work with the Veteran’s Hospital Association to strengthen their connection to the community
  • Provide for more transportation and accessibility


RETIREMENT & BEYOND

Recent Initiatives:

  • Increased the income level that is eligible for retirement income tax exemptions 
  • Established a new coordinator of state services for people with dementia 
  • Banned the hiring of individuals convicted of elderly abuse in nursing homes 
  • Expanded funding for Meals on Wheels and adult day services
  • Created stronger regulations on homemakers roles, qualifications and changing of homemakers


Future Initiatives: 

  • Funding for senior activities 
  • Securing more funding for at-home support
  • Community engagement drives focused on supporting our greatest generation
  • Job placement program to assist those over 55 with obtaining jobs
  • Presentations and community outreach regarding up-to-date information on healthy aging, legal and planning issues, and more - including bridging the digital divide




SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH

As a daughter of a teacher and a proud mom myself, I know how critical education and community youth programs and support is for our youth. That is why I have served as a PTA President, served on West Haven’s Board of Education for four years and most recently as a State Representative have been a leader in providing funding and resources for a quality education in an environment that is safe and healthy for our children.


Recent Initiatives: 

  • Assisted in West Haven being awarded $24m for the brand new WASHINGTON SCHOOL
  • Secured $450k for new accessible playgrounds 
  • Put $100M in Bonding for schools to upgrade the HVAC system for cleaner purified air. 
  • Served on the School Security Task Force creating legislation to keep our children safe. 
  • Secured $650,000 for the West Haven Community House
  • Expanded child care under Care4kids
  • Provided additional funding for pre-K resource centers and Para educators 
  • Formed a police task force to deal with abuse of children online
  • Required high schoolers to take a financial literacy class before graduating 
  • Sued Juul and are using those funds to address youth vaping crisis 
  • Expanded school-based apprenticeship opportunities for trades 
  • Created a student loan forgiveness program that provides partial debt relief in exchange for volunteering at a local nonprofit and staying employed in CT 
  • Advocated and secured more funding for our State Universities & Community Colleges above the Governor’s recommendation 
  • During COVID, secured $50,000 for new laptops in Grades K-12 for virtual learning efforts
  • Passed one of the largest children’s mental health bills in the country, providing over $10m in extra resources for students' mental health needs


Future Initiatives: 

  • Create a Youth Mental Health Coalition to increase timeliness and availability of resources
  • Create a City of West Haven Youth Advisory Board 
  • Create continual job fairs connecting our City youth to open positions
  • Expand our valued partnerships with universities and technical schools
  • Work with State leaders to create more availability and accessibility for pre-k care 
  • Upgrade our largest centralized playground at Painter Park 


OUR BELOVED ANIMALS

As an animal lover, I’m very proud to have passed the two largest animal welfare laws in decades, which addressed animal cruelty and created new regulations for animal shelters,  including minimum/maximum temperatures and a process for addressing violations.


In addition, this past year I secured $300,000 for an upgrade to West Haven’s animal shelter.



I will continue to work in the City’s highest leadership role to ensure our furry friends in our City have protection and are treated humanely.

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