It’s a new year, and a new term. Mayor Nancy Rossi took the oath of office for her second term last month, and is setting out to make this second administration different, while retaining some of the earmarks of the first.
The mayor hopes the year 2020 is one that sees the city turn a corner, particularly in the ongoing efforts to make the city city’s finances more sustainable. In marking out her goals, she continued to make financial stability the number-one priority.
“The first term was dedicated to, for the most part, stabilizing the budget and financial situation, while working with our state partners on the Municipal Accountability Review Board. The goals for my second term are to continue the fiscal responsibility while marketing the city for additional investors and economic development,” she said. “We had much success moving stalled projects forward over the last two years, but will now focus on generating additional revenue by attracting new business and helping current businesses expand.”
There are some projects she is hoping to continue and a few she’s hoping to get off the drawing board.
“We have several city-wide projects we are focused on. One would be to ensure that the new West Haven High School project continues to move forward on schedule and within budget. We are beginning the process of securing state approval to build a new Washington School,” she said.
Rossi noted that sales of the he Stiles, Blake and Thompson School projects have been approved by the City Council and will be moving forward over the next few months, meanwhile the Savin Rock Conference Center is a point of concern. She said a request for proposal will be issued on that building. City officials are hoping an operator can be found so the site can generate revenue
“We are working with the developer to begin the demolition of buildings at The Haven, which continues to be both a high priority and frustrating. The phase one of the Beach Street raising will begin this spring. More emphasis and marketing will commence with the property surrounding the train station,” she said.
Beach Street is a major gateway to the city. Rossi said this is a priority for her administration over the next two years.
“The Beach Street area is a major concern and holds much potential for the city. The city last week received the permit from the Corp of Army Engineers to begin phase one of the raising of Beach Street. Phase one is both city- and state-funded,” she said.
The funding for phases two and three have been brought to the attention of the city’s delegation to the General Assembly. It is hoped funding can be secured this term.
The problem of vacant buildings has been a pesky one, with three major commercial/residential sites boarded.
“We believe that interest will increase in the vacant properties on Beach Street once the street is raised and flooding is less of a concern. These shorefront properties give the city unlimited potential to generate commercial tax revenue and draw additional business and visitors to the city,” she said.
With everything that is done in the city, the elephant in the room is the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB). Rossi admits working with the panel of bureaucrats has not been an easy road, but things seem to be improving.
“The MARB has been a challenge for my administration and for the city. The affiliation has been rough at times but the working relationship has improved more recently. The MARB does bring expertise and resources to the table, but we have had different opinions on how changes are to be implemented especially when it comes to the budget and tax increases.
In looking toward the future, Mayor Rossi returns to a message she has espoused since she took office: expanding our economic outlook. She believes some of the heavy lifting is over, but there is still much to be done.
“The key to future success in the City of West Haven will be the growing of our commercial grand list by attracting new investors and business. We have stabilized the city’s financial position. My administration will continue to aggressively market West Haven as a business friendly community with a lot of potential in a great location,” she said.