Ansonia

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Ansonia is a great city in need of a fresh start.

As a lifelong resident and local business

owner I fully understand the challenges facing myhometown: high taxes, empty factories and failing schools are among the chief concerns on my mind.

I am running for mayor to offer new

solutions to Ansonia's challenges. The document you are reading is my game plan for Ansonia. It addresses the city's most pressing problems with clear and logical policy recommendations. It is an outline of the priorities you can expect a
Cassetti administration to embrace.

I believe that Ansonia is ready for a new approach to city government. As you read through my p1an, you will see that the core principles of transparency, efficiency and professionalism guide each of my policy recommendations. My vision for Ansonia is that of a dynamic and affordable small city that residents can be proud to call home. That vision will become a reality with your support.
Regards,

Darre,@

AtrcrdahEeTaxes
The Challenge
Ansoniahas the

ninth highesttaxburdeninthe state of Cormeetieut.

Source: www.ct.gov

Hieh Tax

Town

'

Mil}

Rate

Popula$on
t24,867

r. Hartford
z. Waterbury
3. Naugatuck

7+:29

s6.98,

tro,t89
3r,Blo 73,26t
51,293

44.80 44.r2
43.90
43.13 41.85

4. New Britain
b. East Hartford 6. Manchester 7. Bridgeport
:

58,287
145,638

8. NewHaven
g.Ansonia

4o.8o
39.34 38.94

r29,585

t9r2l9
56,913

ro. Hamden

Comparing Ansonia's mill rate to similar sized towns in honestly shocking.

Tow'n' '
Ansonia

'

',

Mill,Rate
3o4L

PqPuI4tioR

Monroe Monwille Rocfu Hill East Lyme

z9.o6
|
26.6,a

tg,6tz

.'

23;35

18,239 20.39 Madison Ansonia's tax burden also surpasses that of other nearby towns:

Nearhv Tor,yn
Ansonia
Derby Seymour Orange Bethany

MiIl Rate
39.34
35.34

33.23 30.50
28.77 24.74

Oxford

Ansonia's tax trouble is accompanied by a spending problem. Ansonia's city budget now totals $6r Million.
i--.-'::

' Town
Ansonia
Seymour

Budget
$6r Million
$Sz

Million

Oxford Derby

$42 Million
$gZ

Million

The spending trend in Ansonia is also unsettling: Source: Ansonia citybudget

Budget Year City

2ooB-og
2OO9-r.O

Budget Net Tax fncrease

tog%
-.o3% r.g%

$ss Million

2010-11

20Lt-12
20-12-13

2013-L4

$S+ Million $SZ Million $sq Million $SB Million $6r Million

2g%
6.o% 7.o

Dave's Tax Solutions

r.@
The first step to reverse Ansonia's outrageous tax burden is to deveiop a leaner and more efficient city government.

a. Professionalize with a Citv Manager Administrators in city hall are presently paid over $r Miilion per year. A Cassetti administration would utilize charter revision to consolidate positions such as Grant Writer, Mayor's Assistant, Human Resources Director, and Government Liaison to create a single City Manager position.
The qualifications for the City Manager position would be at least a master's degree in Public Administration (MPA) and several

years' experience as a department head in local government or as an assistant city manager.

The City Manager system of governance has worked successfully in many Connecticut communities. The hiring of qualified City Manager to work in tandem with the Mayor will remove unnecessary layers of costly bureaucracy and bring professionaiism to city hall.

b. Abolish the Board of Apportionment and Taxation

The current budgetary system in Ansonia is confusing and inefficient. Supreme financial authority rests with the uneiected Board of Apportionment and Taxation (BOAT), while the authority to govern the city and oversee its boards is split between the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

Splitting the authority to budget (the most important power a municipality possesses) from the authority to govern has created a bizarre bureaucratic process where elected officials are absolved of all accountability for city spending.
A Cassetti administration will utilize the charter revision process to eliminate BOAT and place month-to-month budgetary decisions in the hands of elected officiais. At budget time the Mayor and City Manager will formulate a Mayor's Budget, whidr will be sent for approvai to the Board of Aldermen.

z. Ssgr$nlze-eq$$
The identification of cost savings must become a year-round priority in Ansonia.

a.
The first official act of the Cassetti administration would immediately establish a permanent Commission tasked solely

with

identifying cost-saving recommendations for the city. This Commission would report each month to the Mayor and Board of

Aldermen.

b. Zero Increase Budgets. At budget time a Cassetti

administration will mandate that all department heads submit a zero-increase budget in addition to their usual budget requests. This wilt shift the burden of finding potential cost cuts to the departments, who are in the best position to assess their most pressing needs. taxpayers have a right to know exactiy what their money is-being spent on. Making month-to-month expenditures pubiic will open government spending up to public review and constructive critique.

c. Publish Ciw and Board of Education Checkbook Oqline

d. Enforce

E-Year Budget Outlook Ali city departments wili be forced to publish a s-year budget projection. This wili allow city officials to proactively plan for
budget challenges

3. Provide

Tax Relief

A Cassetti administration will work to establish @ property tax relief programs for low-income seniors. Dave will seek state reimbursement to lover the cost of implementation. Ansonia has received thousands in state grants for education and the Riverwalk project. It is time for Hartford to step-up for Ansonia's seniors.

a.@

This program will entitle eiderly residents to a property tax reduction based on their income level. It is authorized by Connecticut General Statutes $ $rz-r7oaa-cc.

b. Senior "Tax Freezeoo Proeram

fhis pro[iam would freeze qualified senior homeowners' real estate

taxeJat the level of the tax due for the assessment year beginning October r of the year immediately preceding the date the homeowner applies. It is authorized by Connecticut General Statutes and CGS $rz-r7ov and -w.

Eusirres$

Grc$&

The Challenge
Ansonia's grand list represents the total vaiue oftaxable real estate, business equipment and motor vehicles in the city. It has recently fallen by a catastrophic amount: a nearly $Boo million loss of value.

Grind'List Collabse

zoLz
$1;145 Billion

*
Nearly $30{l }titlion Lostr!

zo're

What led to this precipitous drop in Ansonia's grand list? Part of the probiem is that Ansonia's business base is extraordinarily weak.
The:

Commercial,Grand tist
$roSMillion $roTMillion $roTMiIIion
$ro+ Million $ro+ Million

has been

in deeline since zoo7.

2007 zooS
20o'9 2o10
2011

Independent consulting firm Bartram & Cochran performed an economic development study on Ansonia in early 2013. That study revealed that city hall was an obstacle to business growth.

Findings of Independent Study

. ,,There may have been more of a focus on fair housing issues rather than economic development."
. "A resounding theme that describes the past few years is that economic development to the extent that it has occurred has happened by accident."

'

"The city's relationship with business is a difficult one"'

. "Ansonia's Boards and Commissions could work together more effectively to attract new business." "zoninghas been identified as a stumbling block. some areas needing fix up may be impeded by zoning""
n

. "Key sites (Ansonia Copper & Brass site) still have an environmental cloud hanging over them."

When a respected and objective source like Bartram & Cochran identifies cityhail as a "stumbling block" to economic development, a wake-up call is in order!

Additionally, the present administration has offered no solution for the sprawling stretch of vacant factory space formerly occupiedbyAmerican Copper & Brass.

I'HE AMERICAN BRASS COMPANY

Dave's Develspment $olutions t.

Attract New Businesses
Cityhall must approach economic development as its most essential function.

a.@

Ansonia Republicans have already successfully introduced a business incentive program that authorizes the city to extend tax abatements to businesses in return for a commitment to invest. A Cassetti administration would utilize this program to its fullest extent, giving investors a reason to choose Ansonia over competing towns.

b. Vision forArnerican Copper & Brass

Dave believes that the former factory space downtown represents largest opportunity. With a solid plan, a new downtown may arise from ashes of Ansonia's former industrial complex. A Cassetti administration will form a coalition of stakeholders, including city officials and business owners, to work on developing a pian for the site. The inspiration for the effort will be projects such as Bridgeport's HarborYard and West Hartford's Biue Back Square.

c. Business Friendly Reeulations

Zoningin Ansonia has been identified as a "stumbling biock." Dave understands thatAnsonia's regulations must help, not hinder, the city's economic development efforts. ACassetti administration will take the following steps to create a more business friendly atmosphere:

. . r .

Review existing zoning overlays to ensure that they are clear and conducive to encouraging business investment.

Institute the practice of holding zoning "work sessions" that ailow a business applicants to informaily meet with key city officials prior to a formal zoning hearing.

wili enable prospective investors to easily determine if a property suits their pu{pose.
Create land use descriptions that

Establish Cottage Industry regulations that will allow professionals to work from home.

AdvertisingAnsonia
We know Ansonia offers investors great opportunities. But do they know

it? PR Camoaisn
Ansonia has a lot to offer: a commercial main street; historic neighborhoods; suburban residences; and a wooded nature center are just some of the attractions. Dave will work to implement a marketing campaign that highligfuts Ansonia's unique profile.

b. Business Growth Task Force A Cassetti administration will assemble

a team of representatives to marketAnsonia to all corners of Connecticut...and beyond. It is not enough to throw a "for sale" sign up on a commercial property. The city must actively advertise key properties to the right investors.

Utilize Economic Develonment Website

The city's new economic development website should be used to feature specific Ansonia businesses and to highlight available commercial properties. If used ProPedY, the website will provide an excellent vehicle for reaching new investors.

3. Retain Existing Businesses

The needs and concerns of existing businesses must be addressed by city hall.

Encourage Improvements and Exoansion Dave will work with the Board of Aldermen to discount all building permits for business improvements during his first year in office. b. Form a Coalition
A Cassetti administration will immediately restore the defunct Ansonia Business Council and workto establish a strong and supportive relationship between city hall and the local business

community.

Business Assistance Dave will expand Ansonia's current storefront rehabilitation loan program. He will aggressively pursue state funded grant initiatives to benefitbusiness owners. In a difficult economybusinesses need
all the help they can get.

d. Clean Streets

Customers want to shop in clean and attractive locales. Dave will utilize Ansonia public works to keep Ansonia's business districts
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clean and presentable. Further, he will prioritize beautification projects that eliminate long-standing eyesores like vacant lots on Main Street and the graffiti covered retaining wall.

e. ConstantContact
As obvious as

it may be, email and social networking sites allow for easy communication between cityhall andbusiness owners. Dave will use this technolory to stay in close and regular contact with the
business community.

L1

\_

Qual$Edwcati$m
T'he Challenge
Ansonia's school system is in need of support.

Schooldigger.com recently rated Ansonia's school system r6qttr out rz6 school dislricts.
A review of student performance rankings relative to the zorz-zor3 CMT Mathematics and Reading tests show scores in need of improvement:

of

School
AnsoniaMiddle School
Ansonia High School

Per{ormance Ranking
2o2 out of 266

1S7out oft94

Source: www.schooldigger,com Ansonia has the largest class size in some elementary grades and the high school when compared to similar school districts:

Average Elementary School Class Size

K Ansonia
CT

Grade2
22.2 20.4 17.9

Grade5
23.6 20.8 19.5

182

Districts Similar to Ansonia 19.3

16.4

Other CT Districts

Ansonia schools also have a challenge providing students with the most basic resource: books.

other cT Districts

31.0

It is also clear that Ansonia schools are struggling to provide students access to the technolory needed in today's world:

', r 'Tri4hfiolog}rc4p : State Average Ansonia's Avgrage, ' 3.1 students percomputer 5,2 students per computer'
,

Source: Ansonia Board of Education, www.ansonia.org

13

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Dave'$ Education Solutions 1.

Parhnership for Education
There are no miracle soiutions to solvingAnsonia's education problems. However, Dave will do what the present administration has falea to accomplish: he will forge a true partnership between the Board of Education and City Hall to address the needs of our schools. The adversarial relationship between the Board of Education and City Hall must end. The Mayor and School Superintendent must full partners in improving education.

Further, the Board of Aldermen and Board of Education must establish a working relationship that lasts year-round. There is currently no Board of Education representation at Board of Aldermen meetings, or vice-versa. This must change.

z.

A Cassetti administration will reach out to surrounding school districts to study cost-sharing and cost-saving solutions. There is presently no Valtey-wide coalition for education. As Mayor, Dave will work to establish a network of communication between the Valley school

StrengthinNumhers

districts.

B.

Lobbv Hartford
As Mayor, Dave will make it a priority to engage Ansonia's state legislators and to visit Hartford himself in support of the school system.

4.

Role for Residents Sfudents are in need of a practical education. As Mayor, Dave will reach out to Ansonia's residents to introduce real-world education to
the classroom. Ansonia's residents are truly an untapped resource. Encouraging volunteerism in our sehools will broaden students'perspectives and strengthen the bonds of our community.

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