Ansonia City Hall Upgrades Phone System

ANSONIA - Mayor David Cassetti has announced a major technology upgrade to make city departments more accessible and allow our staff to utilize modern communications technology. The I.T. Department has been working hard to migrate all phone systems to a new Mitel VOIP system.  This will enhance the ability to speak with departments, access real time information and expand the capabilities of the office staff.  The City will also find savings in monthly phone costs once the deployment is complete.  The Ansonia Board of Education currently utilizes this phone system and City departments will now be able to communicate directly with all Board of Education locations directly.  This is a further step in continuing to align the Board of Education and the City’s various technology platforms.

The first deployment to the new phone system took place Oct. 31 at City Hall.  All City Hall based Departments will be affected by this change.  We ask that the public please be patient as we complete our cut over to the new system.  Department main phone numbers will not change, however individual extensions will.  A complete list of Department numbers and direct extensions will be added to the City’s website.

On Wednesday, November 6^th, 2019 the following Departments will also transition to the new system: Public Works, Ansonia Library, Ansonia Nature Center and Ansonia Rescue Medical Services.

On Wednesday, November 14^th, 2019 the Police Department will transition to the new phone system.  The Police Dispatch number will remain 203 735-1885.

Residents may use City Hall’s main number, 203 736-5900 to reach any Department.  An auto attendant will prompt you to select the correct Department or you may press 0 to reach an attendant during normal business hours.

We apologize in advance for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience in this upgrade process.  Mayor Cassetti is pleased to also announce that future upgrades to the phone and data network, including public access in City Buildings to WIFI, will soon follow.

Mayor’s Office                  203 736-5900 Ext 6100

Tax Office                          203 736-5900 Ext 6110                  203 736-5910

Personnel                           203 736-5900 Ext 6115                 

Finance                               203 736-5900 Ext 6120                  203 736-5920

Economic Dev. / Grants  203 736-5900 Ext 6130

Information Tech.            203 736-5900 Ext 6135

WPCA                                  203 736-5900 Ext 6145                  203 736-5908

Assessor                             203 736-5900 Ext 6150                  203 736-5950

Building/Zoning/Blight    203 736-5900 Ext 6160                  203 736-5960     or           203 736-5990

Registrar                             203 736-5900 Ext 6170                  203 736-5970

Town Clerk                         203 736-5900 Ext 6180                  203 736-5980

(This is a press release from Ansonia City Hall)

Fundraiser for Phil Tripp

ANSONIA - A fundraising event for Mayoral Candidate Phil Tripp will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Central Subalpi Club, 30 Parker St.

Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz will be on hand. 

A suggested donation of $50 will be payable at the door. There will be a selection of hors d’oeuvres and Italian eats, made by one of our Ansonia resident’s local restaurants. Assorted soft drinks and a cash bar will also be available.

Tripp has dedicated his life to this country, serving 34 years between the U.S. Army, Army Reserve and National Guard and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Locally, he has tirelessly continued his service to the community by fulfilling his duty as an alderman over the last eight years. 

Still, he is looking to do more for the residents of Ansonia. Tripp was humbled by his nomination and is enthusiastic to roll up his sleeves and get to work on behalf of Ansonia as their mayoral candidate. 

“The people of Ansonia deserve honest leadership dedicated to fiscal responsibility, clean government and authentic economic development," Tripp said.

If unable to attend, please consider making a donation to the campaign by reaching out to us at Trippforansonia@gmail.com.

(this is a press release from Tripp's campaign)

Be "Mayor" for the Day

Derby Mayoral Candidate Richard Dziekan Appeals to Voters

(The following is a letter from Derby Republican Mayoral Candidate Richard Dziekan)


Now that the dust has settled from the Derby mayoral debate, I’d like to make my final public statement to the voters before next Tuesday’s election.

I first announced my intent to run for Mayor earlier this year on March 22^nd. For the past 7+ months, I have attended meetings, gone to public events, and most importantly, visited almost 3,000 Derby residents at their homes. I have lost almost 30 pounds due to these efforts and the stresses associated with running a campaign. In addition, my team has volunteered countless hours of time to gathering information, meeting with residents, and doing the necessary legwork. 

I’m proud that we have run a fact-based, grass roots campaign with nothing but Derby people at the core of the effort. At the end of the day, I know that Mayor Dugatto and the Democrats have Derby’s best interest in mind as much as the Republicans and I do. She has had four years to improve the quality of life for Derby residents, and now I think it’s my turn to lead us in the right direction.

I want to ensure Derby voters that I have a specific plan for economic development and it is multi-faceted with a lot of moving parts. I can tell you that the first thing I will do is get the city’s residential real estate holdings back onto the tax rolls. As a city, we should not be in the real estate business any more than we should be in the development business.

 

Our job in city hall is to assess and remediate properties so they are as attractive as possible to investors and developers, not to sit on 15+ properties and come up with a specific plan for each one. I understand we made calculated decisions to purchase some properties downtown in preparation for execution of a plan, but it is now time to move forward with not only the downtown project, but also get things moving in other stagnant areas.

I will work with surrounding municipalities, the State of Connecticut, and the federal government to secure all available funds and resources. I will consolidate services and combine efforts with anyone and everyone that will help to alleviate the tax burden for the citizens of Derby.

I will bring in a full-time professional staff and hold them accountable to the city. They will give a championship effort in moving Derby forward and they will bring results, not hypothetical plans and promises. I myself will focus on leading everyone in the city and getting maximum productivity out of each department. Being the Mayor of Derby will be both an honor and a complete lifestyle for me. It will be a 24/7 identity.

I want to be your Mayor and those who have pledged their support to me believe that I’m the right person to lead Derby into the future. I will conclude with a quote:

“Without action, the best intentions in the world are nothing more than that: intentions.”

 

Mayor Dugatto has no doubt had the best of intentions for our city, but unfortunately she has lacked the foresight and ability to make her plans a reality. I hope I can count on your vote on November 7^th.

Derby Mayoral Candidate Set to Knock on Doors

DERBY - In regards to Mayor Dugatto opening headquarters...fortunately for me, she and Mr. Dicenso have to spend quite a bit of time over the next couple weeks focusing intently on one another, since they are effectively splitting the Democratic party.

 

Meanwhile, I'm about to start walking door to door to inform the citizens of Derby what I plan to do differently than the current Mayor. I think the failures of this administration have been pretty well documented, and anyone who considers Derby "in good shape" at this point after two terms with Anita and Carmen in charge, must not be paying attention. Most of the people I've spoken to are completely frustrated with the lack of transparency, petty political games, and mostly... the mismanagement of their tax dollars.
 

My team and I have already begun to ramp up our campaign efforts not only in person, but also online. My second fundraiser is coming up in 2 weeks at the CWV, and I look forward to the challenges ahead. I think it's hard for the average citizen to focus on the the municipal elections of November in July, but those who are involved in politics have already been working behind the scenes for months in preparation.
 

Good luck to the Mayor, I'm glad to see she is pushing hard to get re-elected, because that's exactly the kind of effort the people of Derby deserve from their elected officials all the time, not just in the months leading up to an election.

 

(This is a press release from Dziekan's campaign)

DiCenso Reacts to Dziekan's Mayoral Announcement

(Catherine Avalone photo)

DERBY- While Rich Dziekan says he has a plan to lower taxes in Derby if he gets elected, his plan sounds eerily similar to the plan of his former boss in Ansonia, Mayor Dave Cassetti, whose plan will likely cost Ansonia’s homeowners thousands of dollars a year in tax increases very soon.  Yes, thousands of dollars in new taxes every year.

As a part of Dave Cassetti’s staff, if Rich Dziekan looks to have Derby mirror Ansonia’s fiscal policy regarding taxes, it could become a disaster for Derby homeowners.  Derby’s taxpayers are already paying too much.  Our homeowners cannot sustain drastic yearly increases to the mill rate like Ansonia’s homeowners will soon face.

Like Dave Cassetti, if Rich Dziekan intends to borrow money from the city’s fund balance -- or rainy day fund as many communities refer to it -- to run Derby’s operating budget without a plan to replace those funds once they are depleted, our valued homeowners will soon be in serious financial distress.

Once the rainy day fund runs dry, Rich Dziekan’s plan will force Derby’s homeowners to pay thousands of dollars each year above and beyond what they currently pay.

Rather than rob Peter to pay Paul, my plan of not increasing the burden on Derby’s homeowners is sustainable, not smoke and mirrors simply to get votes.  My plan is to build Derby’s tax base through continuous and steady economic development by attracting new businesses to fill our existing empty storefronts while constructing new facilities for even more economic growth for Derby.

My plan is to bring new businesses into our city while working to keep our existing business right where they are.

We can do better.  We will do better.

 

(This is a press release from DiCenso)

 



DiCenso Seeks to Oust Dugatto for Derby Mayor’s Seat

(photo by Catherine Avalone)

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

DERBY >> Aldermanic President Carmen DiCenso, a former Derby High School football coach and longtime business owner, threw his hat in the ring Tuesday to run for mayor.

DiCenso, 66, made his announcement to seek the city’s top office before a crowd of about 75 friends, family members and supporters gathered at the Italian Pavilion restaurant.

“I love this town, and the reason I’m running for mayor is simple. ... I know I can do better,” said DiCenso, a Democrat.

The 1969 DHS graduate, who coached football from Pop Warner to varsity for 31 years, said he’s ready to move the city he grew up in forward.
Read more here:

Text of Ansonia mayor's inaugural speech shared

Cassetti talks about a fresh start for city

The Hon. Richard Arnold, Superior Court Judge, right, administers the oath of office to David S. Cassetti Monday night at Ansonia High School. Ina Cassetti is standing at her husband's side.

December 2, 2013

Reverend Clergy, Judge Arnold, honorable elected officials, distinguished guests, friends, family and fellow citizens of Ansonia:

I am truly humbled to serve as the 29th Mayor of the great City of Ansonia.  However, this ceremony has a greater significance.  Tonight we gather to reaffirm the success of our perpetual republic.  The orderly and peaceful transfer of authority from one administration to the next is easily taken for granted, but absolutely critical to a representative democracy. 

We are truly blessed to live in a country where this dignified process is a completely ordinary, commonplace occurrence. 

In the words of President John F. Kennedy, “we observe today not the victory of party, but a celebration of freedom – symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning – signifying renewal, as well as change.”

I want Ansonia residents to know that my friend Mayor Della Volpe has acted with the utmost dignity in passing the torch to our new administration.  By his gracious cooperation with the transition process he has demonstrated a clear commitment to putting the interests of Ansonia above the concerns and grudges of politics.  I wish him well in his future endeavors and thank him for his years of service to our city. 

I would also like to thank all of those who cast a vote in the election, regardless of whom they voted for.  Please accept my sincere gratitude for playing a part in the electoral process and exercising a right that so many of our own citizens have fought and perished to protect.  Thank you for playing an active role in shaping Ansonia’s future.

Recognition is also in order for all of those who ran for elective office in our city this year.  It takes an enormous commitment to serve in a municipal office, whether on the board of aldermen, board of education or in city hall.  The willingness to take on the duties and demands of these offices -- and to put ones name on the ballot for public approval -- demands the admiration and respect of our entire city.

To all of those who voted in this election, and even those who did not, I make this pledge:  I will work tirelessly to earn and keep your trust; I will put the interest of the common good far above party affiliation and ideology; and I will do all in my power to give our city the fresh start it deserves.

Now, let me say that my family knows the true meaning of a “fresh start.”  Many of those gathered hear tonight know that I am the grandson of Sicilian immigrants that arrived in Ellis Island some 93 years ago.  They wasted no time in finding the best that this country has to offer: they travelled straight from New York Harbor to Central Street in Ansonia.  The Cassetti family has been here ever since.

At the time my grandparents left Sicily in the 1920s, the Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini was tightening its iron grip across Italy.  Immigration allowed my grandparents to avoid the rising tide of tyranny washing over Europe.  It gave them the opportunity to start life anew – to avail themselves of the tremendous opportunities and freedoms that are the cornerstone of the American experience.

Yet their decision to leave their homeland was not an easy one.  My grandparents’ journey took them thousands of miles from the place of their birth.  They were separated from friends and relatives.  They risked the loss of family traditions and customs held for hundreds of years.  I cannot begin to fathom the fear and trepidation they must have felt as they sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and into the unknown.    

I stand before you tonight because my grandparents conquered their fears and dared to reach out for a better life – for a fresh start.  Indeed, that is the story of a great many of us assembled here tonight and living across Ansonia.  We are the sons, daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren of those who sacrificed so much for a brighter future, and eventually found it in this amazing country.

To those first generation immigrants who are with us tonight, I need to extend a special thank you for leading the way.

My friends, we are about to embark on our own quest for a fresh start here in Ansonia.  We will board the ship together and set sail into uncharted territory.  Before us are waves of change and uncertainty; a roiling sea that has forever submerged the ways of the past. 

Just consider some of the new realities we face:  the days when our economy could depend on manufacturing giants like American Copper & Brass are long gone; the time when cities and towns could exist self-sufficiently as islands unto themselves is over; and no longer can government afford to ignore the technological innovations of the private sector without becoming obsolete.

Compounding these challenges is a rising tax burden that has at times pitted us against each other, forcing a choice between ever-higher taxes or a lower level of city services.  

Though the hardships may be numerous, we should not fear the course ahead. It is simply a matter of perspective.  We must approach each obstacle as an opportunity to revitalize and re-energize our city.  We must see in our most heated debates the potential to unite our community through open and honest dialogue. Above all, we need to recognize that even the most daunting trials are no match for our collective resolve.

Forging a new beginning in Ansonia will not require the dramatic sacrifice made by my grandparents almost a century ago. It will, however, require that we make the effort to see the best in each other and our common predicament. Working together we can face adversity head-on and emerge stronger than ever before. We can conquer our fears and charge forward to secure a new beginning for ourselves and for our families. 

It is therefore with the greatest confidence that I say to you: Ansonia’s greatest moments are yet to come.

I pray that God helps all of us here tonight to administer our offices and to serve in the best interests of the people of Ansonia. I also now reflect on the words of President Ronald Reagan, who envisioned the United States of America as a “shining city upon a hill.”

On the occasion of his farewell address to the nation, President Reagan remarked that America was “still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.”

Many of us gathered here tonight recognize Ansonia as our beacon in the darkness. It certainly was for my family.

As mayor I promise to not only to keep the beacon lit, but also to burn its flame brighter than ever before -- bright enough to guide Ansonia’s next generation home.

Thank you so very much. May God bless each of you, and God bless the City of Ansonia.



Note: Special thanks to Republican Town Committee Chairman John P. Marini for providing the text.

Derby Democrat to seek mayoral nod

Anita Dugatto, a local dentist, today announced her bid to run for mayor of Derby during an event at Italian Pavilion restaurant in Derby.
Republican Mayor Anthony Staffieri has not yet announced whether he will seek a fifth term.

See story about the announcement in Monday's New Haven Register. 

A new taste in town

Gourmet restaurant opens in Derby

Tanya Skeeter shows off her signature salad. Photo by Patricia Villers

Last Thursday I was lucky enough to attend the grand opening of The Gourmet Cafe in downtown Derby.

Not only were the food samples scrumptious, but I met some interesting folks while I was there.


The beautifully-designed restaurant in the Plaza on the Green on Elizabeth Street opened quietly in May, chef/owner Tanya Skeeter of Bridgeport said.


She started her culinary career as a caterer in Bridgeport, where she has been dubbed "The Salad Lady," she said.

Skeeter's signature salad, The Tree of Life, pictured above, is filled with lots of vegetables as well as cranberries and strawberries. She served it with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
You can order it straight up, or topped with chicken, turkey or shrimp, and crumbled gorgonzola cheese.

An appetizer featuring focaccia squares topped with a fresh tomato slice, mozzarella cheese, basil and drizzled with balsamic vinegar was wonderful.

I also sampled spinach and cheese quiche. I haven't eaten quiche in a long time, but this one had the fluffiest filling I had ever eaten.

The atmosphere is relaxing. Quiet music plays in the background. Two large mirrors create a feeling of depth.
The walls are painted a soft green, which designer Joan Andrews of Bethel said she chose because green is fresh, and it evokes all things natural.

Andrews said she wants people to feel at home in the restaurant, and see it as a place to escape from the daily routine.

Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri, a former restaurant owner, has become a regular customer. He said he sees the cafe as "a new wave" in the restaurant industry.

I wish Skeeter and her staff all the best as they cater to residents of the Valley and beyond.

Mayor Anthony Staffieri, third from right, cuts the ribbon at the grand opening. Photo by Patricia Villers

Thoughts on young love in Ansonia

Love was in the air at The Original Antonio’s Restaurant in downtown Ansonia on a recent Saturday night.
Ansonia Mayor James Della Volpe revealed a bit about his personal life this week when he told me his son, Vince, had popped the question in front of dozens of family and friends gathered at the restaurant. Vince Della Volpe is a girls’ junior varsity basketball coach at Ansonia High School. He asked his longtime girlfriend, Amy Cosciello, for her hand in marriage at a surprise party for her 30th birthday.
 “She was surprised and she said yes,” the mayor recalled. “The room erupted in cheers and applause.”

Contacted this morning at John C. Mead Elementary School in Ansonia where she teaches first grade, Cosciello sounded like she was still on Cloud Nine, almost two weeks after the fact.
Cosciello is a big fan of Lionel Richie. “He (Vince) was playing a yes game with me,” she said, her voice bubbling over with joy.
He asked her if she liked Richie and his music. She said yes to each question. For a fleeting moment she thought Richie was going to walk into the restaurant to surprise her.
Instead, Vince Della Volpe surprised her by asking her if she would make him the happiest man in the world and marry him, Cosciello said. And the rest is history.
Cosciello said, “It was so much for me to handle. It was a surprise 30th birthday party and I was surprised by the marriage proposal. Lionel didn’t show up, but I got a beautiful ring.”

Ah, young love.

Lionel Richie’s music brings back many fond memories. My husband, Ralph, and I chose his 1984 hit, “Stuck on You,” for our first dance at our wedding in May, 1986.

Ah, young love.