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Category: Town Government

  • Monthly updates from Rocky Hill board and commission members: May 2025

    Monthly updates from Rocky Hill board and commission members: May 2025

    Democratic Town Committee members provided two-to-three sentence updates on activities from boards and commissions around town in advance of our monthly DTC meeting. Come to our meeting on Thursday this week to learn more!

    Affordable Housing Committee

    Update provided by: Allan Smith

    On April 30th, we held a “Housing Forum” It is available on the town’s YouTube page: 

    We heard from lenders, CHFA, the Housing Authority, and Rocky Hill Health and Human Services personnel regarding affordable renting options as well as home-buying opportunities. 

    Board of Education

    Update provided by: Maria Mennella

    The district hired the next West Hill Principal, replacing Scott Nozik who will be moving into Chuck Zettergren’s Director of Finance position. The Board presented our 25-26 proposal to the Town Council on 5/1. Our CIP needs to be addressed. West Hill needs a roof replacement (over 30 years old) and the Stevens HVAC project is being pushed out due to WH roof. Board returned a $1.6 million surplus to the town (from our health insurance) and would like to see those funds go towards the much needed roof replacement. Board passed a bare bones budget and is getting a great rate of return based on state test results.

    Call to action: Write to Town Council in support of fully funding the Board’s Capital Improvement Plan request the the BoE can both repair the West Hill roof and fund the Steven’s HVAC system

    Commission on Inclusion & Innovation

    Update provided by: Tom Cosker

    CI&I members will participate in a Middletown Pride Fest on June 7th – requesting representation from the town. There is a RH Pride event from 6/4 – 4 to 6:30 at Elm Ridge, and a Juneteenth event on 6/19 6 to 8 at Elm Ridge. CI&I presented to the Town Council on May 5th and recommended the following actions:

    • acknowledge and respond to divisive incidents in our community
    • proactively develop policies that allow for visual expression of inclusion
    • all commissions identify and adopt commitments that foster equity in our municipal processes decisions and as an outcome.

    Calls to action: Two seats are open on CI&I, please notify TJ if you want to join.

    Economic Development Commission

    Update provided by: Allan Smith

    EDC members have been doing business visitations lately. These are organized by Economic and Business Development Manager, Alandra Maine. On one such visit, I toured BJ’s Distribution center on Brook st. They have 280 employees on-site, plus another 110 that operate trucks from there. Almost none live in town due to the cost. This distribution center handles all perishable goods from Long Island, North, including Upstate New York, CT, VT, Mass, NH, RI, and Maine. Over 80-130 trucks come and go every day. If they continue to grow at the same rate, they may be looking to expand in the coming years. 

    Library Board of Trustees

    Update provided by: Mara Caelin

    The board of trustees Met in April. Our current concern this budget season is that the library staff byline is fully funded. The library is at capacity in terms of programming, and the limiting factor in providing more programming is staff time. In the town manager’s budget, the position of Assistant Director remains frozen, even as performance goals for the library staff increase. The concern is that the current staffing levels will be considered the status quo, and the position will be eliminated as responsibilities on the library increase.

    Call to action: Tell the town council you support adding full-time position for the library.

    Open Space and Conservation Commission

    Update provided by: Derek Caelin

    The OSCC last met in February. We are meeting this month on the 14th to discuss the POCD and to provide feedback. The draft Plan of Conservation and Development calls for a number of changes in the way Rocky Hill handles open space, including developing more trails, acquiring riverfront land, and perhaps most dramatically, calling for an alternative way of housing development that encourages more linked open space. 

    Call to action: We need an alternate member for the OSCC. Learn more about the board and contact TJ if you are interested.

    Planning & Zoning Commission

    Update: An application to expand an existing Cisco station on main street was denied. More details available here.

    Sustainable Rocky Hill Task Force

    Update provided by: Derek Caelin

    The SRH Task Force met on May 1. They hope to hear back from Sustainable CT on their current application to make Silver. By internal math, we may be <50 points under the threshold. Prospects to bolster our application include opening some kind of presence at the Community Farm, adding Sustainability to our Plan of Conservation and Development (I think there’s a lot to like) and electrifying the municipal vehicle fleet.

    Call to action: The SRH task force needs one alternate member, talk to TJ if you want to apply.

    Zoning Board of Appeals

    Update provided by: Allan Smith

    No April hearing, but there is a hearing later in May regarding a fence between two commercial properties on Rt. 3. Details have not yet been shared with the committee. Republicans recently filled a vacant seat, but have an alternate seat open. 

  • A Response to RH Mayor’s “Double Standard”

    A Response to RH Mayor’s “Double Standard”

    In a recent opinion piece, the Mayor of Rocky Hill claims that the State of Connecticut is placing undue hardship on municipalities and applying a “double standard” when it comes to taxation.

    Her article begins with a personal anecdote about her children learning not to argue at the dinner table—an analogy that feels somewhat misplaced in the context of a serious policy discussion. A more fitting comparison might be a child who eats all their Halloween candy in one night, then complains the next day that they don’t have any left and deserve more of their sibling’s. The point being: it’s not enough to receive our share resources—we must also use them wisely.

    The Mayor often returns to the topic of PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes), a long-standing program through which the state reimburses municipalities for tax-exempt state-owned properties. Contrary to the implication that Rocky Hill is being shortchanged, the truth is that PILOT payments to Rocky Hill—like those to other municipalities—have increased in recent years. In fact, in 2022 the state nearly doubled its overall PILOT funding and has continued to increase that support since. While Rocky Hill may have received approximately $840,000 last year compared to a theoretical maximum of $3.3 million under the PILOT formula, it’s worth noting that every municipality receives a prorated share—and that larger cities with significant concentrations of state facilities are even more acutely affected.

    We share the Mayor’s desire to see more state revenue directed back to municipalities, especially given Connecticut’s improved fiscal condition in recent years. But we also understand the broader priorities in Hartford. State leaders have chosen to return surplus revenues to residents in the form of income tax cuts and motor vehicle tax relief—policies that benefit working families and all vehicle owners, not just property taxpayers. That’s a choice we support, and it reflects a balanced approach to statewide economic equity. 

    The Mayor also expresses concern about tax exemptions for 100% disabled veterans—an initiative created by the legislature in 2022 and approved unanimously by the Rocky Hill Town Council in August 2023. We believe that providing property tax relief to those who have served our country honorably and face lifelong disabilities is not just sound policy—it’s the right thing to do.

    Perhaps most troubling, however, is not what funding Rocky Hill hasn’t received, but what has been done with the significant funding we have received. Under this administration, Rocky Hill has benefited from millions in state and federal funds: $5.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, $2 million for the Housing Authority, and multiple grants for sidewalks and infrastructure totalling at least $2.8 million. These opportunities were made possible through the efforts of our Democratic state legislators, whom voters send to Hartford every two years to advocate for our town.

    Yet residents are left wondering: where are the results? The ARPA funds could have addressed major infrastructure projects—our aging pool, outdated HVAC systems in our schools, or critical roof repairs. These are practical, visible needs that could have been resolved without placing further burdens on local taxpayers. Instead, much of the funding was directed toward temporary staffing and overhead, which are now baked into our ongoing annual budget.

    Similarly, while Rocky Hill has been awarded multiple grants for sidewalks on Glastonbury Avenue, Washington Street, and Century Hills Drive, residents have seen little follow-through. Aside from a single sidewalk installed on Winter Lane—a quiet cul-de-sac—these projects remain quiet, despite the availability of funds.

    The core issue is not a lack of funding. It is a lack of strategic vision, execution, and long-term planning. For three terms, we’ve heard the same refrain: that Hartford is to blame for your taxes going up. But when money does come, we need leadership that ensures it is used to make tangible improvements in the lives of Rocky Hill residents.

    As the Rocky Hill Democratic Town Committee, we believe it’s time for a more proactive, responsible approach to local governance—one that builds partnerships, maximizes the resources we have, and invests in projects that benefit everyone in our community. Let’s stop pointing fingers and start planning wisely.