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NECCOG director reports steady transit ridership, animal-services intake and multiple planning initiatives
Summary
Executive Director John Filchak updated members on numerous operational items: reval contracts nearing activation, a Phase II Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Study, GIS upgrades, 340 feral cats addressed through TNR, transit ridership steady at 175–225 trips daily with GPS installed on buses, and a $20,000 SGIA funding reduction noted by OPM.
At the March 4 NECCOG meeting, Executive Director John Filchak presented a broad operations update covering revaluations, emergency medical planning, transit, animal services and local planning projects.
Revaluation program: Filchak said contracts for a regional revaluation program are signed for all but one town; Chaplin planned a town meeting on March 8 to act on participation, and Vision had begun preliminary work with Ashford and Woodstock.
Emergency care study: The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Study is moving to Phase II, with a working group expected to include hospital representatives, 911 dispatch, regional health districts, ambulance companies, fire departments and paramedic providers; an initial meeting was anticipated by the end of March.
Transit: Filchak reported daily ridership at 175 to 225 trips, growth in the Elderly/Disabled service, and the recent installation of GPS devices on buses. Staff are working with vendors to integrate GPS into a Transit App to provide real-time arrival information. Filchak also said the Sunday service will end after Easter because of low ridership.
Animal services and TNR: The agency took in more than 90 cats from a foreclosure; most were placed and 23 remained available for adoption. The regional TNR program reported addressing roughly 340 feral cats and several dozen colonies across eight NECCOG towns; heating was added to the shelter 'cat house' to support ongoing operations.
Other items: Filchak noted RPIP application endorsements are due March 31; NECCOG issued an Elections Monitor position announcement and is recruiting two new planners (one focused on transportation, one on land use). He also reported OPM reconfigured SGIA funding for COGs, reducing NECCOG funding by $20,000 but avoiding a deeper cut. Filchak referenced the MORE Commission education report and testimony submitted for the Northeast Corridor Tier I FRA report.
Why it matters: The updates touch on daily services for residents (transit and animal services), regional planning projects with town-level implications (revals, POCDs), and staffing/funding pressures that may affect service delivery.
Next steps: Chaplin's town meeting on March 8 to decide on reval participation; RPIP endorsements due by March 31; Phase II of the Pre-Hospital study to convene a working group by month-end.
