​Heffernan is a centrist Democrat who advocates a state-level response to inflation in gas and food prices by preparing during boom times for future price squeezes. He has plans for better schools, access to healthcare, a clean environment, and affordable housing.
Heffernan is running against Devin Carney, a Republican incumbent who portrays himself as moderate but has a radical-right voting record. Most recently, Carney voted against the reproductive rights bill. In 2019, he voted against fixing loopholes in Connecticut’s red flag gun laws. He voted against a budget that cut taxes, provided for better funding for mental health and provided for fiscal oversight for government. He voted against adult use cannabis. He voted against the Connecticut Clean Air Act.
Heffernan is a general-practice attorney who has lived in Old Saybrook for most of his life.
Home | Colin Heffernan for State Representative (heffernan2022.com)

Stephanie Thomas won the Democratic nomination for secretary of the state. Thomas supports wider access to the vote via no-excuse absentee ballots, She is a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing District 143. She earned her bachelor's degree from New York University in 1991 and a master's degree from the New School University in 1996. ​

Westbrook Democrats summer Newsletter
What’s in this Newsletter?

• Vote to protect women’s health
• One Woman’s Story from Westbrook
• Eileen Daily Community Awards Dinner:
  • The dinner will be held Saturday September 17th at The Clinton Country Club
• The 2022 Candidates
• Local issues and events
• Connecticut and the Nation
• Priorities for campaigning

Vote to protect women’s health
The runway Republican Party has ended the Constitutional right to abortion. The recent decision was a case called Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, overruling the 1973 Roe v Wade decision, which ruled that the Constitution protected women’s right to decide whether to be pregnant.
More infringements on our liberty are coming. Justice Thomas has said that the Supreme Court should “revisit” Griswold v Connecticut a 1965 decision that affirmed the right to birth control.

One Woman’s Story 
In Westbrook, our own Bill Neale recalls his mother’s involvement in the Griswold case.
Estelle Griswold, as executive director of the Planned Parenthood League of Connecticut, initially helped Connecticut women go to other states to obtain birth control. Then she opened a New Haven clinic and dispensed birth control directly to patients, thus challenging the Connecticut law. Griswold was arrested and fined. Her challenge went all the way to the Supreme Court.
“My mother, Susan W. Neale, was hired by Estelle Griswold to open the first Planned Parenthood clinic after Connecticut’s law prohibiting birth control was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1965. From her and my father, I learned early on the importance of women’s equality.
"Having completed a nursing degree as part of the Nurse Cadet Corps during World War II, she started working in 1964 on a master’s degree in social work. For a research paper, she interviewed Estelle Griswold. At the time of the Supreme Court Decision, Mrs. Griswold told her she wanted mom to be the first clinic director in New Haven.
“The early years were tough. There was a lot of social push-back against my mom’s work. My father and his parents were supportive, while a neighbor had unkind words about it, and some children were not allowed to play with me.
“My mother felt that abortion should be prevented, but she was adamant that if women did not have autonomy over their bodies, they were not equal. She felt that the best way to reduce abortion was to provide reproductive education, proximate and affordable health care, and birth control.
“It is clear that the Republican Party intends to undo the work my mother did. Devin Carney voted against protecting women from prosecution when they come to Connecticut for abortions. He clearly does not believe in the equality of women and should no longer represent the 23rd House District in Connecticut.
"Mr. Carney agrees with the government of Texas that the way to reduce abortion is to imprison women and providers. He should no longer represent the 23rd District.”
 
Just getting started
The end of Roe in the United States also means the end of protections for couples seeking birth control and for the privacy of gay couples. Justice Thomas has said that the runaway Supreme Court should “revisit” the right to birth control and to same-sex relationships. Conservative justices on the Court hope to overturn Griswold v Connecticut. Thomas’ opposition, which he shares with Alito and the other conservative justices, extends to “all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell.” In the 1986 Lawrence v Texas case, the Supreme Court overturned the Texas "Homosexual Conduct" law, which criminalized sexual intimacy by same-sex couples. The 2015 Obergefel case required states to permit same-sex marriage.
In the face of a corrupt Supreme Court, Connecticut Senators Blumenthal – up for re-election in November – and Murphy have pledged to protect women’s health rights by:

• Eliminating the filibuster, which hands control of all legislation to the 21% of the country who elected the Senate Republicans.
• Passing a bill to protect abortion rights nationwide. This bill failed in May in the face of opposition by every Republican in the Senate.

In Connecticut, Governor Lamont in May signed the nation’s first reproductive rights legislation protecting medical providers and patients seeking abortion care in Connecticut who may be traveling from other states that have outlawed abortion. Like other Connecticut Democrats, the governor has pledged that Connecticut will protect a woman’s right to choose when to have children.
Connecticut joined three other states in adding affirmative protections for women seeking abortions shortly after the opinion overturning the Court’s 1973 decision was leaked to the press.
Connecticut will remain one of 16 states plus the District of Columbia where abortion is legal. Currently, 19 states effectively ban abortion. Several more are expected to join this group. This article in the New Yorker describes the anguish and expense undertaken by of a 13-year-old girl in Texas who traveled to Oklahoma to obtain an abortion.
 
Polls indicate that roughly 70% of the American people support abortion rights.

The candidates
Connecticut Assembly District 23: Colin Heffernan
Supporting the right to choose means electing Collin Heffernan to represent Connecticut’s 23rd District.
The incumbent, Devin Carney, voted against abortion rights. Specifically, Carney supports prosecuting women who travel to Connecticut from out of state to obtain an abortion. As an example, Carney would have encouraged prosecution of the 10-year-old girl who became pregnant after being raped and recently traveled with her parents from Ohio to Indiana to obtain an abortion, because her pregnancy was two days advanced beyond Ohio’s six-week ban. The Republican attorney general of Indiana, after claiming that the rape was fabricated, is now trying to prosecute the doctor who treated the 10-year-old.
Carney on the far right
Carney has also consistently voted against gun control, in spite of Connecticut’s tragic record of mass shootings.
Note that Carney’s GOP approves of teenage boys like Kyle Rittenhouse carrying assault weapons across state lines to murder BLM protesters. But allowing a 10-year-old girl to cross state lines so that she will not have to bear her rapist’s baby—that’s too much.
Carney recently claimed the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme “hates Jews” because they initially invited Heffernan to speak at a vigil for victims of gun violence and did not invite him. The church hastily disinvited Heffernan and said the vigil was open to all, but Carney doubled down, posting “was my Jewishness too much?” and then saying “I have every right to push back against a church that is blaming me for death — shame on you First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.”
Carney voted against police accountability and then put forth a bill to reverse existing accountability.
Heffernan is a general-practice attorney who has lived in Old Saybrook for most of his life.
 
Connecticut Assembly District 35: Christine Goupil
Christine has brought great professionalism and management experience to her first term in the Connecticut Assembly. She supports:

• Healthcare for all, with no exception for pre-existing conditions
• Providing statewide services to the elderly
• Ensuring voting access
• Universal Pre-K
• Women’s healthcare and women’s rights

Christine currently serves on the Clinton Town Council and Central Regional Tourism District Board. She previously served as Clinton's First Selectman and on the Connecticut River Area Health District Board, the Planning and Zoning Commission and Downtown Revitalization Committee.

State Treasurer three-way race to be decided in the primary August 9!
Democratic candidates: Erick Russell, Dita Bhargava, and Karen Dubois-Walton
The treasurer manages $45 billion in pensions. He or she manages debt, protects state employees, and vets investments.
Erick Russell‘s goal as treasurer would be to:

• Divest gun companies
• Stop investment in private prisons and in fossil fuels
• Seek Connecticut businesses to invest in
• Focus on long-term development

Russell grew up in New Haven, where his parents ran a grocery store. He lives there with his husband. Russell is a partner in a law firm that focuses on public finance.

Dubois-Walton serves as New Haven’s public housing authority leader and chairwoman of the state board of education. For 15 years, she has headed the city’s housing authority and managed its annual operating budget of $140 million. A former chief of staff to New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Dubois-Walton graduated from Yale and earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. in psychology from Boston University

Dita Bhargava has worked at Citigroup, Credit Suisse, and Citadel, the hedge fund. Her campaign focuses on changing corporate behavior for investing and disinvesting in company stocks.
State-wide

Governor
Governor Lamont is up for re-election in November. Organizers encourage Democrats to sign up with Mobilize to support the campaign. Note that Governor Lamont has already cut state taxes by $600 million – unlike his Republican opponent, whose “tax-cut” plan would actually mean a sharp increase in property taxes.

Senator
Our longtime senator Dick Blumenthal is up for re-election. Dick has been a champion of workers’ rights, family strength, healthcare, and veterans’ rights. He co-sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act and introduced a College Sexual Assault Bill of Rights, voted for paid sick and family leave for all Americans, and introduced the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, now the law of the land.
 
Congress
Rep. Joe Courtney of District 2 is facing a tough re-election race. Courtney has worked across the aisle to secure new federal infrastructure funds to finally fix our region's aging bridges, including the Gold Star in Old Saybrook and the East Haddam bridge; improve transport hubs including a new train station in Enfield; and other crucial projects such as a new CT National Guard facility in Putnam. Joe also secured critical pandemic recovery funds which invested in our schools, helped small businesses, and kept our communities safe. He lowered the cost of healthcare by helping to pass bills eliminating surprise medical bills, capping out of pocket insulin costs, enhancing access to opioid and mental health treatment, as well as securing federal appropriations for our region’s hospitals and clinical services. Help re-elect Joe!

Secretary of the State
The Democratic race is between Stephanie Thomas and Maritza Bond.
Stephanie Thomas is a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing District 143. She earned her bachelor's degree from New York University in 1991 and a master's degree from the New School University in 1996.
Maritza Bond earned her bachelor's degree from Southern Connecticut State University in 2000 and a graduate degree from the University of Connecticut in 2012.

Local issues and events
Town center septic system: The Town Center Revitalization Committee and Economic Development Commission, along with town staff and representatives of the WPCA, will be meeting in September with town center business and property owners to discuss both the need and the benefits in order to better define a proposal.  Westbrook’s town planner has been working diligently on the groundwork for this.

Eileen Daily Community Awards Dinner:
The dinner will be held Saturday September 17th at The Clinton Country Club
State Attorney General William Tong will be the keynote speaker. Also attending will be U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney and former Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman.
Tickets are $75. Seating is limited! Book here.

The Westbrook Muster: Saturday August 27th Come join the Westbrook Drum Corps for a parade and the annual muster. Westbrook Democrats will be there, so come ask about our candidates.

Connecticut and the Nation 
Guns
Connecticut’s Senator Chris Murphy, with support from Senator Richard Blumenthal, after the Uvalde massacre took a new approach to getting something done on guns. On June 13, Murphy laid out a bipartisan framework to change gun laws and got public endorsement from 10 Republican senators, enough to stop any Republican filibuster. The framework will enable Murphy to push legislation through the Senate before the July 4 recess, Murphy told CNN.
The framework sets forth principles on gun legislation and would:

• Allow courts and police to temporarily take firearms away from people who present a danger to themselves or others
• Closing the boyfriend loophole to prevent violent domestic abusers from purchasing guns.
• Implement more rigorous background checks on gun buyers under 21 years old
• Prosecute trafficking in guns across state lines
• Strengthen background check rules

Countries that have eliminated mass shootings after gun buybacks include:

• Australia (1996-97, following the Port Arthur massacre in 1996)
• The United Kingdom (banned assault weapons in 1986 and handguns in 1996)
• Germany (raised thew minimum age for gun ownership from 18 to 21 in 2002)

Canada and New Zealand provide other examples. In each case, limiting access to weapons dramatically lowered or eliminated the number of mass shootings.
 
January 6 commission
Since June 9, the House of Representatives has been holding public hearings in the January 6, 2020 attack on the Capitol. Close advisors to and allies of former President Trump have testified at length. Some of the revelations:

• After the 2019 election, Donald Trump raised roughly $250 million for an "official election defense fund" that did not exist. Instead, the money was funneled to a super PAC that directed funds to the Trump Hotels, to the organizers of the January 6 attack, a $60,000 fee for former Donald Trump Jr. girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle to speak at the rally, and other fees.
• No one close to the president believed the allegations of election fraud, and they repeatedly told him the allegations were false. Those who disavowed the claims include Bill Stepien, former Trump campaign manager, Trump daughter Ivanka, and several White House lawyers. In the words of former Attorney General Bill Barr, the claims of a stolen election were “completely bogus and silly and usually based on complete misinformation.” Several White House lawyers and Justice Department officials testified that they had told Trump “in very clear terms” that “the major allegations are not supported by the evidence developed.”
• The January 6 attack was orchestrated and directed by a far-right paramilitary group called the Proud Boys. Here is a relevant video.
• Ginni Thomas, the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, was actively involved in the effort to overthrow the American republic.

The hearings are ongoing.
 
Don’t believe the polls!
In 2022, Republicans are called upon to defend the Big Lie, to defend GOP opposition to any gun legislation, to defend the overturning of highly popular abortion rights, defend the mountain of evidence for culpability on January 6, and their manipulation of the Supreme Court. Democrats can sweep legislative offices this year. So come out and help us knock doors!
 
Priorities for campaigning

1. Roe, Roe, Roe
2. A national ban on gerrymandering.
3. Age limits for members of Congress.
4. Medicare negotiation of prescription drug prices.
5. A federal cap on credit card interest rates.
6. Free school lunch for everyone.
7. National energy dominance.
8. A federal crackdown on interstate gun smuggling.
9. Solve more murders.
10. A federal abortion rights floor; no first trimester bans, there must be meaningful health/life of the mother protections for after that.
11. Enact meaningful barriers to underage kids’ ability to access internet porn — if porn sites cannot logistically come up with a way to do age real verification then they going to be shut down.

If you feel strongly about a State or local issues, let us know, we can only foster change if we work together!
We are here to help Democrats get elected to State and local offices and we need volunteers to make calls, knock on doors and raise money.
2022 is a State and Federal election year and the Westbrook Democratic Town Committee will be actively campaigning with our representatives to get them elected.
Please consider volunteering, donating or running for public office, we have a tough fight ahead of us and we need all the help we can get.  If you are interested, you can reply to this email.

 
All these candidates will protect women’s health care and the right to vote in our state.The Democratic platform stressed equitable taxation, access to health care and education, fighting climate change, and keeping our democracy safe.
Key points:

• A more equitable tax system needs to be established, so that everyone pays their fair share.
• Health care is a right, and we believe in universal, affordable health care for all. We are committed to supporting and advancing women’s rights, we also believe that abortion is health care.
• We need to continue to work toward greater equity in education, so that every Connecticut child receives an equally high-quality education, no matter where they live.
• Climate change is an existential threat, and that we must urgently, proactively, and aggressively work together to protect our future.
• We must work to both keep our communities safe and build a better criminal justice system that is trusted by all citizens.
• Every Connecticut citizen deserves access to affordable housing.
• For a healthy democracy to thrive, all voices must be heard.

Westbrook DTC Nominations to the Retirement and Pension BoardAt the April 19th Retirement and Pension Board meeting Joseph Brucella (R Chairman) and Joel Maynard (R) announced that they intend to resign from the Board on June 30, 2022.
The Westbrook Democratic Town Committee has nominated Tom Burns and Anne Stevenson-Yang to fill these vacancies.

Tom Burns holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degrees, was a school counselor for 33 years, and is a former Adjunct Professor at SCSU. 
Anne Stevenson-Yang is the co-founder of J Capital Research. She writes research reports on publicly traded companies, has a regular column in Forbes magazine and was a guest lecturer in economics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
They would both make tremendous additions to the Retirement and Pension Board.

There has been an "unwritten rule" that board and commission members are replaced with people of the same party. I understand that many people in the U.S. vote for their party above all else and we obviously live in a very hyper-partisan world, but this "unwritten rule" only deepens the divide between parties and encourages hyper-partisan behavior.
I strongly believe the Board of Selectmen should appoint the best qualified volunteers to our boards and commissions, regardless of party, and we hope First Selectman Hall and Selectmen Campbell agree.

Vince Gentile WDTC Chair

Your Town Government
Read the minutes of the May 10 Board of Selectmen meeting here.

​Better Boating The town is hoping that a previously approved project to dredge offshore will begin in June, if the ship is available. The project is being paid for with federal funds under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a bipartisan $1 trillion act that President Biden signed into law last November. Dredging is designed to increase the depth of navigation channels and berthing areas to ensure the safe passage of boats and ships. The Long Island Sound has silted up considerably over the years. Thanks to IIJA funding Westbrook received $760,000 for the dredging of Westbrook’s Patchogue River.

Can’t afford to buy or rent in Westbrook? The town’s Affordable Housing Plan is designed to make a run at changing that. Currently, Westbrook has a lot of single-family and mobile homes, but few multiple-family homes, which are more likely to be available for rental. The town plan recommends a few things to address that:

• Allow some two-family homes in the Rural Residential zone and promote a few “cottage court” developments.” A Cottage Court is a common-interest community where smaller, detached cottages are organized around a common green.
• Allow Planned Residential Development in the Turnpike Interchange Commercial district.
• Establish a Housing Trust Fund and use it in part to help convert existing “naturally occurring” affordable housing and trailer units to deed-restricted housing.
• Create a management structure in the town to pay attention to affordable housing
• Increase the number of assisted-housing units
• Work on a zoning change that would require some provision for affordable housing as part of any new residential development

And much more.

In conjunction with this plan, DesegregateCT is working to provide more equitable and affordable housing statewide. This year, a proposed bill (House Bill 5429) is focused on transit-oriented housing support. It is targeting ~40 towns, Westbrook being one of them.  Read their "one pager" giving points of emphasis.

“Affordable” is still pricey. For Westbrook, it means spending 30% or less of family income if a family earns less than 80% of the local median. For one person, 80% of the median would be $57,456 in income and for a family of three, the cutoff is $73,872. For these income thresholds, the maximum rent for a two-bedroom unit would be $1,329. That is not cheap, but local Democrats believe it is a step in the right direction. The town is aging and becoming less wealthy.

On Monday, April 11, the Town Planning Commission will hold a hearing on the plan. All are welcome to voice their concerns. The hearing will be at 7 pm at Mulvey Municipal Center, 866 Boston Post Road, in the Multi-Media Room, and all residents are welcome to attend and voice their opinions.

Cannabis in Westbrook?

​Westbrook’s Zoning Commission took a "wait and see” approach to cannabis back in August, since no one had filed an application for a dispensary or grow facility. At the February Zoning meeting, the commission was informally
approached by individuals who were looking to apply for a “Mini Grow” license to open a facility between 5,000 and 7,000 sq ft in Westbrook (This license limits the facility to 10,000 sq ft) and possibly opening a retail dispensary at a later date.
Since the Planning, Zoning and Development Coordinator Eric Knapp left, Tyche Planning and Policy Group has been contracted to provide Planning a Zoning assistance to the town.  Mike D’Amato (ZEO) will bring additional information and examples of regulations based on other municipalities to the March Zoning meeting for commission review.

​Town septic systemThe town has yet to act on applying for federal funding to support a town septic system. You can voice your support by writing a letter to the editor of Zip06.
 SidewalksThe town has appropriated funding for a sidewalk from the Valley Shore YMCA down to Rte 153, but Democrats want to make sure we protect our investment and have adequate funds in the maintenance budget for repairs. 
 Pistol PermitsNow you can apply for a pistol permit online. (But you still cannot vote online!).
 SchoolsThe Westbrook Board of Education passed the budget for the school district unanimously, with a 1.34% increase over last year. The budget will now be reviewed by the Board of Finance.

The school mask mandate was removed on the last day of February. Each district will now have its own options.

UkraineNow that Russia has invaded Europe’s largest nation, Ukraine, and is bombing maternity hospitals and fleeing children, the national Republican Party has still failed to come to terms with its vociferous support for Vladimir Putin and opposition to Ukraine. Members on the far right are still supporting Russia, while the party mainstream has quietly moved to Ukraine’s side.

Tucker Carlson on Fox News said viewers should ask themselves: “Why do I hate Putin so much? Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him?” His coverage has been so successful in supporting Putin’s position that Russian government memos sent to pro-Putin media outlets said that "it is essential" they feature Tucker Carlson in their coverage.

U.S. Representative Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) (who apologized to voters for allowing the 2020 election to occur) called Ukraine President Zelensky a “thug” and said the Ukrainian government has been “pushing woke ideologies.”

“I gotta be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another,” said Republican Senate candidate from Ohio, J.D. Vance.

It is worth remembering that Donald Trump was impeached for conditioning military aid to Ukraine on support in the 2020 election. The GOP has now voted to extend that aid to Ukraine.

It would be as if Joe Biden had chaired the Osama Bin Laden Friendship Society – and no one mentioned it after 9/11.

Local Republicans have failed to denounce the national party’s disgraceful support for Putin.
​
The Westbrook Democratic Town Committee in April plans a sign-waving event during which we will show our support for Ukrainians. If you support this event, please send an email to WDTC@westbrookdemocrats.org.

​The Biden Boom
The economy has added a record 6.6 million jobs under Biden. Unemployment is down to 3.8%, and much of the credit goes to the American Rescue Plan. Which Republicans supported it? None.

Mask politicsClinton hired a temporary police officer to cope with one father’s threat to disrupt a basketball game on February 12. The previous week, Shawn Patrick Lessard became belligerent when asked to wear a mask during his daughter’s basketball game or leave the gym After creating a commotion with repeated refusals to mask, he  was placed under arrest but threatened to return the following week without a mask.

​
Your representatives

State Senator Norm Needleman
Deputy President Pro Tempore
Representing Westbrook and 11 other towns in the 33rd District
Committees:

• Energy & Technology - Chair
• Planning & Development – Vice Chair
• Member of Commerce; Finance, Revenue & Bonding; Transportation

 
For More Information:
Sign up for Norm’s informative newsletter: http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/needleman-enews
Website: http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/needleman
Facebook: @normneedleman

Why the difference? Management. Essex and Madison are managed by activist Democrats. Westbrook for almost two decades has had a sleepy, do-nothing Republican town government.

The Republicans claim to have kept taxes low. That is not true. Yes the Mil rate can be misleading, due to the timing of the re-evaluations, but you can find the equalized Mil rates here on ctdata.org. Looking at the most recent data you’ll see that Westbrook’s property taxes are higher, with an equalized Mill rate of 17.01, than those of either Old Saybrook – which has an equalized Mill rate of 13.6 - or Essex, with an equalized Mill rate of 14.77.

At the Ethan's Landing development, for example, which is half in Westbrook and half in Old Saybrook, the same unit in Westbrook paid $1,700 more in taxes in 2020 than one across the driveway in Old Saybrook.

In total, Westbrook will receive around $2 million in ARPA funds this year and could also receive a $3 million grant for a septic system. We believe that the town leadership must commit to AT LEAST $1 MILLION IN 2022 ON A SEPTIC SYSTEM.
 
Proposals for using money from the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) were discussed at a January 12 joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen (BOS) and Board of Finance (BOF). They agreed to include the following ARPA funds in the Town Budget:
1.      Fire Department Water Tank $150,000
2.      Police Department $261,000
3.      Conservation Commission $50,000
4.      Town Hall Ventilation – no amount defined

The town voted on these proposals at a Town Meeting on Wednesday February 2nd.
Next up, the town is considering the following appropriations from the ARPA Grant Fund:
1.      Westbrook Youth and Family Services:  $25,100
2.      Shoreline Soup Kitchen: for the purchase of a refrigerated truck. $10,000
3.      Social Services Dept: to assist low-income and elderly residents. $25,000
4.      Senior Center: to address mental, physical and cognitive needs of elderly residents. $30,900
5.      Town Hall Technology: $10,000
The BOS and BOF will continue to discuss additional proposals when they receive additional information. 
6.      River COG Regional Funding $200,000
Costs are being finalized. This will include digitization of records and reporting and auditing of the ARPA funds. Additional information will be needed to compare costs of these services through ARPA vs in-house.
7.      Westbrook Ambulance $985,000

The Westbrook Ambulance Association has requested ARPA funds for various public safety items including paid staff, CPR device, facility upgrades, gear and a new ambulance. The Ambulance is not a town agency and will be forwarded a copy of the “grant application” for outside agencies. When returned, the BOS will consider their request for ARPA funds. The BOS briefly discussed the possibility of the Ambulance becoming a Town Agency. Research will be done as to how to move forward with this service.

First Selectman John Hall said he talked to the First Selectwoman of Durham and discussed their recent contract with Middlesex Hospital to provide ambulance services.  John hall said “they got an unbelievable deal” on ambulance services.

The most important part:
The WDTC believes that the most important proposal before the town is whether and how to fund a new septic system. Democrats and Republicans agree that a Town Center Septic System is the key to Westbrook’s ability to realize its collective vision for a vibrant economy and a destination that will welcome all who live in, work in, and visit Westbrook.

We believe the town should move forward THIS YEAR on a new septic system.
Town Center Community Septic System $2,000,000

The Planning Commission with Democratic Chair Marylin Ozols (D) has applied for a grant that could cover over $3 million of the proposed community septic system for the Town Center.  When BOF member Chris Ehlert (D) asked if it was the consensus of the members of both boards to fund the Town Center Septic System all agreed that it was an important project that the Town should move forward on.  John Hall said, “I would like to leave at least a million dollars of the ARPA funds for this project” and “we have to do something, it’s what people want and have been asking for."
 
If the grant is approved, the Town will have to put up $1,000,000 to receive the funds.
The question remains, if the Town doesn’t receive the grant, will the Republican board members find another way to fund this project. 

The proposal to allocate money for the system will be voted on at a future town meeting, date yet to be set.
 
In the meantime, here is what residents can do:

• Write a letter to the editor of Harbor News to advocate using ARPA money for a septic system. Submit your letter here: https://www.zip06elections.com/submit-a-letter/
• Write a letter to First Selectman John Hall at jhall@westbrookct.us or telephone him at 860-399-3040, ext. 112
• Leave the WDTC a message on this blog.
• Post to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WestbrookDems

In other budget news:
In the 2021 budget, Westbrook allocated about $1 mln to replace the roof and heating/cooling system at Town Hall. Solar panels will be a consideration in the project. The Town Hall roof has been leaking on and off for years, thousands of dollars have gone into repairing it, another example of republicans kicking the can down the road and underfunding capital projects.

Republican maneuvering: In an unfortunately typical partisan fashion, Republican BOE members voted out Democratic Board of Education Chair Zack Hayden, a teacher, who had led the board in a non-partisan way for 1.5 very difficult years. During that time, the board undertook a superintendent search, multiple administrator searches, coped with ever-changing Covid protocols, and engaged in difficult budget discussions, among other things.

As Westbrook's school district deals with the pressures of declining enrollment, expectations for excellence from its families, and the complexities presented by educating during a pandemic, what could possibly be gained by bringing petty partisan politics into Westbrook's Board of Education?

Covid tests for free: The town distributed a few rapid Covid tests but far fewer than originally promised and with little public information. Now, everyone can order four free tests per household from the federal government here.
 
WDTC news
The Westbrook Democratic Town Committee, aka WDTC, held its biennial caucus on January 11th to elect new members to the committee.
The WDTC members are:

The state sent absentee ballots to all registered voters about 10 days ago, but many Westbrook residents have not yet received an application. Do you have yours?