Meet the Ansonia Candidates Oct. 25

Ansonia Aldermen Urge Budget Passage

(The following is a letter from Ansonia aldermen)

We write to urge the Governor to sign the bi-partisan budget, which was passed with bi-partisan support in the Senate and House on September 15-16 2017. 

Under this bi-partisan budget, in FY2018 the City of Ansonia will receive the same funding in education funding as it did in 2017, which was already anticipated by the City.  However, in FY 2019, Ansonia would receive an additional $2,258,339.00 over 2017 funding.  Ansonia is one of the 30 alliance/priority districts, and yet has been massively underfunded for more than a decade through the current ECS formula, which was found unconstitutional in 2016. 

Under the bi-partisan budget in FY2018, Ansonia will receive approximately an additional $7,488.00 in municipal aid funding over 2017.  However, in FY2019 Ansonia will receive an additional $2,143,171.00 over FY2017.  This increased funding to Ansonia is necessary for our community to continue to ensure and support the health, safety, education and well-being of our community, and our children. 

We wholeheartedly support the steps taken in this bi-partisan budget to restore equity and balance to a broken education funding system.  No budget is perfect but we are encouraged that this bi-partisan budget is a starting point for the renewal of the financial health of the State of Connecticut and a path to sustainable and consistent funding to municipalities such as Ansonia. 

This is a bi-partisan budget is good for our community, good for our schools, and good for Ansonia.  We are asking all the residents of Ansonia to join with us in supporting this budget, and urging our Governor and our elected officials in Hartford to support this budget.  Together we can continue to recharge Ansonia and keep our city moving in the right direction. 

Respectfully,

Lori Vaccaro, 2^nd Ward Alderman,  Martin Dempsey, 4^th Ward Alderman, Joseph A. Jaumann, 5^th Ward Alderman, Patrick Henri, 6^th Ward Alderman, Joshua Shuart, 6^th Ward Alderman, Frank Delibero, 7^th Ward Alderman, David Blackwell, 7^th Ward Alderman    

Ansonia, Derby take part in wager on baseball game

ANSONIA - On Thursday the Derby aldermen accepted the challenge from the Ansonia aldermen regarding a wager for Saturday’s Antique Baseball Game as a part of SummerFest. 

The event at Nolan Athletic Complex on Wakelee Avenue will celebrate Ansonia’s 125th birthday.

Should the Ansonia Coppermen lose, the Ansonia Board of Aldermen will be required to serve lunch at the Derby Senior Center and if the Derby Osbornedales lose, the Derby Board of Aldermen will be required to serve lunch at the Ansonia Senior Center.

“We accept the challenge from an old time rivalry and look forward to an exciting and fun time for all those involved,” said Barbara DeGennaro, President of the Derby Board of Aldermen.

“Our seniors are already anticipating a delicious lunch to be served by the Derby aldermen,” said Phil Tripp, President of the Ansonia Board of Aldermen.

Ansonia Republicans introduce resolution regarding tax office

ANSONIA - Alderman John Marini, R-7, said in an e-mail late today that he and fellow aldermen, Charlie Stowe, R-2, Phillip Tripp, R-2, and Joan Radin, R-5, have introduced a resolution “concerning impropriety at City Hall.”

In the e-mail Marini said:
“These actions include: a) calling for the immediate resignation of the Tax Collector; b) the implementation of a forensic fraud audit; c) the suspension of those commissioners and employees implicated in the scandal, pending the results of state and city investigation and d) the creation a “citizen’s committee” to improve overall transparency and accountability on City Hall.

“The resolution also calls for the initiation of the charter revision process to make pertinent changes to the charter, including a requirement that future tax collectors must obtain a certification as a job prerequisite.  Also, we would like the charter to be revised to incorporate Alderman Adamowski’s call for membership on a Board or Commission to be contingent on being up-to-date on taxes.

“I would also like to note that I, and the other Republican Aldermen, are in full support of the mayor’s present proposal and the previous resolution submitted by Aldermen Edward Adamowski, D-1, and Jerome Fainer, D-4. We just believe there is more that can be done.”