By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
Regional mayors and legislators gathered at the University of New Haven on Jan. 15 to review the South Central Regional Council of Governments’ suggested topics for the upcoming session.
The leaders of SCRCOG and its 15 municipalities, including West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer, discussed key legislative priorities with state officials to advocate for funding and legislation that will support city and town efforts across many sectors.
Aiming to present a unified agenda to state legislators, discussions for the 2026 session focused on assisting municipalities through legislation on issues like blight, education funding, renewable energy caps and payment-in-lieu-of-taxes, or PILOT, programs.
SCRCOG brings together local governments to coordinate transportation planning, regional land use and environmental planning, and municipal services programs on a regional basis. Based in North Haven, it provides a forum to foster communication and collaboration among its member municipalities in identifying and addressing those and other regional issues.
SCRCOG is composed of West Haven and 14 other municipalities: Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Wallingford and Woodbridge.