Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Regional Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
NECCOG director outlines transit plans, animal services expansion and uncertainty over crumbling‑foundations funding
Summary
Executive Director John Filchak told NECCOG members the Transit District is pursuing veterans transportation and added service for Plainfield while five towns are joining Animal Services; he warned legislation for crumbling foundations and related relief funding remains unresolved.
Executive Director John Filchak updated members of the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments on April 27, 2017, outlining transit service proposals, an expansion of animal services participation and ongoing concerns about state funding for homeowners affected by so‑called “crumbling foundations.”
Filchak said the Northeastern Connecticut Transit District is pursuing two initiatives — a veterans transportation service and expanded transit for Plainfield — but added both efforts are awaiting a decision from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CONNDOT). He said two requests for proposals, for Maintenance and for Video Surveillance, are nearing completion and expected to move toward contract award.
On animal services, Filchak reported regular spring activity increases and said five additional towns — Lebanon, Sprague, Bozrah, Colchester and Lisbon — were joining the program. During public participation a member of the public questioned how donations for the Animal Services Program are accounted for; Filchak provided a brief explanation of NECCOG’s accounting procedures.
Filchak described crumbling foundations as an unresolved statewide issue. He said the region hopes for a roughly $30 million‑plus state fund and "ongoing funding," along with relief from state building fees and extensions of liability statutes, but that no definitive legislation or commitments had been made. He noted that municipalities have already seen valuation impacts, saying Tolland and Manchester have lost about $3.5 million and $4 million respectively from their grand lists because of the problem.
Filchak also reported that several Regional Performance Incentive Program (RPIP) grant projects — including Pre‑Hospital Emergency Care II, a household hazardous waste facility and an animal shelter project — remain in place but "may be swept at any time," indicating risk of state budget actions affecting those awards. He said NECCOG is assisting the state tourism office (the Department of Economic and Community Development’s tourism division, DECD Tourism) and stands ready to help member towns develop their presence on the state tourism website.
What happens next: the Transit District is awaiting CONNDOT decisions before advancing veteran and Plainfield service proposals; pending legislation and budget actions will determine any immediate relief or dedicated funding for crumbling foundations and the status of RPIP grants.
