Transfer Station to Remain Under Town Control; Rink Workers Still in Limbo
The town has come to an agreement that keeps town workers running the transfer station, still dealing with ice rink workers who must return to work by court order.
By Kathleen Ramunni | Email the author | 3:00pm
Efforts to privatize the town's transfer station have been abandoned, Mayor Scott Jackson's Chief Administrative Officer Curt Leng told the Legislative Council this week.
Last year Jackson indicated a desire to bring in an outside company to run the station after problems arose there, and had been trying to strike an agreement with Trash Master, the company that collects residential garbage and recyclables, to run it.
Also at that time the operation of the Lou Astorino Rink was privatized but the State Labor Board recently ruled that was done illegally and the town must bring back the four town employees who lost their jobs because of it.
"The transfer station is coming to a very sound resolution," Leng said. "I want to thank the Public Works Union for working with the town over the last several months crafting this money-saving agreement."
Beginning next year, the new agreement is expected to save the town $150,000, Leng said, and improve service at the station, including added hours two Saturdays a month. The station will be run with three employees rather than the five that have worked there in the past.
"The short term message to the public is the transfer station is open for business and run at a lower cost," he said. "It's a win-win for the town."
But what will happen with the displaced rink workers is still being determined, Leng said. The town is appealing the Labor Board's ruling. Read more about it here.
"Negotiations and discussions with the union are ongoing," Leng said. "The council will get the recommendations which will be submitted in July to [the council]."
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Concern Over Potential Loss of State Funds to Hamden
Town Officials Worried About State Union Vote
If state unions reject concessions, aid to cities and towns could be cut.
By Kathleen Ramunni | Email the author | June 23, 2011
News Wednesday that two major state unions had rejected proposed concessions aimed at closing a $1.6 million state budget gap sent shivers up the spines of local officials who fear the rejected concessions could cost town taxpayers.
Gov. Dannel Malloy crafted his 2011-12 state budget assuming the savings from the state employee unions and has said if those concessions aren't approved, thousands of state employees will receive pink slips.
But layoffs won't fill the entire budget gap, and Malloy also has said that cutting state aid to cities and towns is an option to balance the budget, something town officials said could be disasterous.
"Cuts to Hamden's state promised municipal aid would be extremely harmful toour taxpayers and to the town's financial stability," Mayor Scott Jackson's Chief Administrative Officer Curt Balzano Leng said Wednesday.
"We base our town budget and set a mill rate based on what the state allocates the town," he said. "A major cut after the new fiscal year begins would be a disaster."
The new fiscal year begins a week from Friday -- July 1 --when tax bills carrying a mill rate of 34.66 will go out to taxpayers.
Two state unions have rejected Malloy's proposed concessions, and more will vote Thursday and Friday. The two unions who rejected the agreements represent 8,300 of the 45,000 state workers, according to the Hartford Courant. An outright rejection would leave the governor with $700 million to scrap up for the next fiscal year.
Leng said the town's state delegation -- which includes Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney and state House Majority Leader Brendan Sharkey -- will be working overtime to avoid the scenario that includes cuts to municipal aid.
"I am confident that our state delegation, with their leadership positions in both houses of the State Legislature, will work to avoid this and protect our town and our residents," Leng said.
For more information about Hamden and Curt Leng, please follow @townofhamden and @curtleng on twitter of friend/like Curt Leng and Town of Hamden on Facebook.
If state unions reject concessions, aid to cities and towns could be cut.
By Kathleen Ramunni | Email the author | June 23, 2011
News Wednesday that two major state unions had rejected proposed concessions aimed at closing a $1.6 million state budget gap sent shivers up the spines of local officials who fear the rejected concessions could cost town taxpayers.
Gov. Dannel Malloy crafted his 2011-12 state budget assuming the savings from the state employee unions and has said if those concessions aren't approved, thousands of state employees will receive pink slips.
But layoffs won't fill the entire budget gap, and Malloy also has said that cutting state aid to cities and towns is an option to balance the budget, something town officials said could be disasterous.
"Cuts to Hamden's state promised municipal aid would be extremely harmful toour taxpayers and to the town's financial stability," Mayor Scott Jackson's Chief Administrative Officer Curt Balzano Leng said Wednesday.
"We base our town budget and set a mill rate based on what the state allocates the town," he said. "A major cut after the new fiscal year begins would be a disaster."
The new fiscal year begins a week from Friday -- July 1 --when tax bills carrying a mill rate of 34.66 will go out to taxpayers.
Two state unions have rejected Malloy's proposed concessions, and more will vote Thursday and Friday. The two unions who rejected the agreements represent 8,300 of the 45,000 state workers, according to the Hartford Courant. An outright rejection would leave the governor with $700 million to scrap up for the next fiscal year.
Leng said the town's state delegation -- which includes Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney and state House Majority Leader Brendan Sharkey -- will be working overtime to avoid the scenario that includes cuts to municipal aid.
"I am confident that our state delegation, with their leadership positions in both houses of the State Legislature, will work to avoid this and protect our town and our residents," Leng said.
For more information about Hamden and Curt Leng, please follow @townofhamden and @curtleng on twitter of friend/like Curt Leng and Town of Hamden on Facebook.
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