nothin State Success “Not A Partisan Issue” | New Haven Independent

State Success Not A Partisan Issue”

Success for Connecticut in 2019 is not a partisan issue.

So said North Haven First Selectman and first Vice President of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) Michael Freda on the latest episode of WNHH Radio’s The Municipal Voice.” Current CCM Director of Public Policy Brian O’Connor joined Freda to discuss what municipalities expect and hope will happen over the course of the long state legislative session and 2019.

Given the newness of both the governor and state House and state Senate, there’s an expectation that 2019 will be a big year of movement for Connecticut. Most important is stabilizing the fiscal situation that the state is in so that towns and cities can do what they do best.

In that vein, the main focus for municipalities is what CCM refers to as the three-legged stool: revenue diversification, shared services, and cost containment. These topics were covered in CCM’s This Report Is Different.” Just after this report was put out, the Connecticut Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth came out with its own report, which was pretty similar to what CCM had to say.

O’Connor said he is hopeful that with his municipal experience, Gov.-Elect Ned Lamont has been listening and diving into the different reports. Whether those goals are reached in 2019 will be up to the cooperation between towns and state.

As far as the legislature is concerned, O’Connor said he believes the state House and Senate will be grappling with five main topics. The legalization of recreational marijuana, sports betting, and the implementation of tolls are all revenue producers, while paid family medical leave and a higher minimum wage are quality-of-life enhancers for residents of our state.

CCM promises to look into the topics. As O’Connor put it, We’re not putting our head in the sand.” But municipal leaders want to know what the impact will be on towns and cities.

Freda did not come out against any of these ideas, but he said he still needs more information.

I take the conservative view” on legalizing recreational marijuana, he said. I see an opioid epidemic and I’m not convinced it’s not a gateway drug, but I’m interested to hear all sides. I need to know it’s not a gateway drug.” He added that many municipal leaders work closely with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and he is concerned about driving impairment.

Implementing sports betting or tolls would be just as controversial, but the rollout would be easier, according to O’Connor. With a budget deficit, he said, any programs that would bring in money are low hanging fruit.

Optimism has been the theme for municipalities in 2019. Both guests see Gov.-Elect Lamont as surrounding himself with a lot of people who have municipal experience, and also listening.

Freda says of municipal leaders like himself and his fellow leaders, We’re out there every day. All of us have a very good sense for what’s important to our respective communities.”

Summing up, he said, We want the state to succeed. This isn’t a partisan issue.”

The Municipal Voice” airs every other Wednesday, the next episode airs on Jan. 16. Listen to the latest episode by clicking on the video above in this story.

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