ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Removed Naugatuck from the list of distressed municipalities, improved the Borough credit rating, and increased the fund balance and capital reserve accounts while improving the overall fiscal stability of town finances by increasing new revenues.

Reinvested new revenues into the Town Wide Road Paving Plan and other municipal improvements and paved 10 miles of road per year compared to 1 mile per year over the past 50-plus years.

Acquired the 86-acre former Uniroyal site in a remediated condition for one dollar. Obtained a CIF State Grant to construct a new road network with 8 pad sites for development. The first lot has been sold and the project is underway. This property will create 300 to 500 new jobs and become a major source of new tax revenue for the next several centuries.

Acquired control of the Naugatuck Ambulance Corp and converted it from low performing unit to a high preforming unit with increased coverage, better and faster care with new proven lifesaving equipment and new ambulances.

Acquired the former Risdon Manufacturing site in a tax foreclosure and received Brownfield money to remediate the site and prepare it for development. Relocated unsightly Recycling Center from Rubber Avenue and obtained release of use restriction from Uniroyal allowing the Borough to place 6 additional properties to the grand list.

Solved a quagmire of issues at the Wastewater Treatment Plant resulting in the continuation of no sewer tax payments by Borough Residents. We are the only town in Connecticut with sewer service that does not have a sewer tax.

Obtained State LOTCIP funding in excess of 9 million dollars to remake Rubber Avenue in a complete street format from downtown to Hoadley Street with many amenities.

Restructured our past and future pension obligations reducing our overall annual payments by 1.2 million per year while providing a fully funded pension plan for every eligible employee in the defined benefit pension plan.

Implemented a Green Energy Policy saving the Borough $12,685,184 over 25 years without costing the Borough $0 while reducing the carbon footprint of the Borough dramatically.

Implemented a new tax incentive ordinance to attract new business and spur growth.

Created one of the first municipality-run COVID-19 vaccination clinics and led the Borough through the COVID-19 crisis.

Worked with the State to receive increased train service (22 trains per day) on the Waterbury Branch Line. The State also agreed to build at State expense a relocated train platform and train station on Parcel B. These decisions dramatically enhance the demographics of downtown Naugatuck and pave the way for a downtown Transit Oriented Development program. The project is underway.

Created a nonpartisan atmosphere on the Board of Mayor & Burgesses for 8 years where all Republicans and Democrats work together unanimously on every issue to move the town forward. No Red, No Blue, Only Garnet and Grey.

Achieved a surplus every year in office collecting over 101% of taxes every year. 

Completed major IT project upgrade with cyber security enhancements to protect Borough information.

Chaired the Long-term Facility Committee and implemented the first step of the long-term plan by renovating Naugatuck High School. Also nurtured the construction project to completion.

Supported education enhancements every year and worked with the Superintendent and staff to achieve efficiencies in spending including Borough management of school construction projects.

Resolved outstanding issues relating to Parcel C and worked with the developers to complete the construction of the St. Mary’s Hospital Urgent Care Clinic on Parcel C.

Relocated the Historical Society to the Tuttle building and sold Parcel D (the train station) to the Station restaurant generating new tax revenue and providing a destination restaurant in downtown Naugatuck.

Acquired land near the Naugatuck Industrial Park to enable the connection of the Naugatuck Industrial Park to the Amazon site in Waterbury. Negotiated an inter-municipal agreement with Waterbury wherein Naugatuck receives 50% of all revenue generated by the Amazon project on land owned by the City of Waterbury.

Obtained an open space grant to acquire 45 acres of the Wilmot farm to provide additional land for open space and also connect Gunntown Park to other open spaces.

Partnered with the YMCA to create an outdoor summer camp with other recreational activities for children on other portions of the Wilmot farm adjoining Borough open space.

Partnered with the YMCA to obtain grant funding for the conversion of St. Francis School to a Teen Center with daycare facilities.

Obtained land from the CT Water Company to build an additional sports field and also allowed the creation of a new Town trail network from the Candee Reservoir to the Mulberry Reservoir. 

Created Downtown Revitalization Plan using Federal money to remake Church and Maple Street into complete street formats with many amenities for lighting, benches, and outdoor dining.

Won the Connecticut Community Challenge and received a 6 million dollar grant to remake Water Street, Old Firehouse Road, and a new road in order to finalize Parcel B for development near the new train station.

Entered into an agreement with Pennrose and Cloud Company to develop Parcel B into a mixed-use/mixed-rate building with the market rate and affordable 1 and 2-bedroom apartments.

Entered into an agreement with Corvus Capital to develop Parcel A and Breen Field into high-end/market rate/mixed-use buildings resulting in an injection of vibrancy into downtown Naugatuck that will attract more investment in the Borough.

Stabilized the mill rate from 48.55 to a current rate of 44.75 with phase-in numbers projected to be 41 mills next year and 39 mills the following year. No tax increase for 4 of the past 5 years prior to revaluation.

Provided a phased-in revaluation to minimize the impact of the revaluation on undervalued properties over 3 years and to provide a senior tax credit to aid our most vulnerable group, senior citizens. 

Expanded the grand list each year, year over year for the last 8 years.

Enhanced the Street and Park Departments and converted them from solely maintenance crews into top-notch construction crews thereby avoiding the necessity of hiring private contractors on a regular basis.

Helped save Clube Uniao Portuguesa (Portuguese Club). Formed a committee to fundraise in order to save Clube Uniao Portuguesa (Portuguese Club) from imminent foreclosure.