Category: Uncategorized

For Immediate Release:
Contacts: John DiCarlo, Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
203-757-0535

                 NVCOG TO PRESENT HEALTH INSURANCE SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES TO LOCAL MUNICIPAL LEADERS

On Friday, September 14, The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) will provide a presentation to area mayors and first selectmen on opportunities for potentially significant municipal health insurance savings. The presentation will focus on savings available via a ‘captive’ insurance company, which is a risk-bearing entity formed to insure or fund the risks of its owners. A captive allows members to negotiate better terms and stabilize and reduce insurance costs and is typically tailored to address specific risk issues or risk opportunities.

The presentation, as part of NVCOG’s monthly meeting, will be provided by the CT Prime Incorporated, which was instrumental in establishing a stop loss captive for 12 Connecticut towns in the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC). This group includes Cheshire, one of NVCOG’s 19 member towns. In 2016, CREC formed CT Prime, whose towns and districts previously purchased stop-loss coverage individually to cover unexpectedly high claims. However, premiums for that stop-loss coverage were fairly volatile year to year for some towns, which pushed CREC to form its own captive insurer. CT Prime purchases stop-loss policy from the reinsurance market on behalf of its members, utilizing increased bargaining power to access more competitive premiums than any single town or district could get on its own. In all, after the first year, the towns and districts saved a total of $3 million in premiums compared to what they were paying before CT Prime was created.

In April 2018, NVCOG provided a presentation for its municipalities that currently engage in some form of self-insurance, as participation in a stop-loss captive could be an effective progression in providing health insurance cost savings. Municipalities ranging from Waterbury and Bristol to Derby and Wolcott subsequently provided data to CT Prime in order to determine the cost effectiveness in joining the existing captive or creating a cell within CT Prime serving NVCOG municipalities.

“Health insurance costs have long proven one of the more challenging components in any municipal budget,” said, NVCOG Municipal Shared Services Director John DiCarlo. “Increased buying power for Stop Loss insurance has the potential to yield significant, long term benefits and we want to ensure that our region’s cities and towns can learn more about such opportunities.”

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Greater Bridgeport and Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (GBVMPO) has developed drafts of the Public Participation Plan and the Title VI Program and Limited English Proficiency Plan for the Greater Bridgeport and Valley planning regions. The Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (”MetroCOG”) serves as the host agency of the GBVMPO.

The purpose of the Public Participation Plan is to actively involve all affected parties in an open, cooperative, and collaborative process that provides meaningful opportunities to influence transportation decisions and is consistent with 23 CFR § 450.316.

The Title VI Program and Limited English Proficiency Plan have been prepared in accordance with Section 601 of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 so as to ensure that the level and quality of MetroCOG’s and the GBVMPO’s planning services are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner and that the opportunity for full and fair participation is offered to the community. Through this program, MetroCOG has also examined the need for services and materials for persons for whom English is not their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English.

A forty-five (45) day review and comment period has been established, beginning on September 7, 2018 and ending on October 22, 2018. The public is welcomed and encouraged to review and comment on the drafts of the Public Participation Plan and the Title VI Program and Limited English Proficiency Plan. Copies of both documents are available for review at the offices of Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments, 1000 Lafayette Boulevard, Suite 925 (ninth floor), Bridgeport, CT 06604 and the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments 49 Leavenworth Street, 3rd Floor, Waterbury, Connecticut 06702. Drafts can also be viewed on-line at ctmetro.org and nvcogct.org.

NOTICE is also given that MetroCOG will hold a public information meeting concerning the draft documents on October 22, 2018 at 5:00 PM in the conference room of the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments, 1000 Lafayette Boulevard, Suite 925 (ninth floor), Bridgeport, CT 06604. Agency staff will be available at 4:30 PM to informally discuss any aspects relating to the drafts and any other transportation issues and concerns.

The public is encouraged to attend this meeting to learn more about the Public Participation Plan and the Title VI Program and Limited English Proficiency Plan and to express their support or concerns regarding these documents. Comments may be made orally at the information meetings, via e-mail or in writing. Written comments must be clearly legible, submitted on 8½” by 11″ paper and include the person’s name and address. Any person wishing to comment may submit their comments in writing to Matt Fulda, Executive Director, MetroCOG, mfulda@ctmetro.org or Rick Dunne, Executive Director, NVCOG, rdunne@nvcogct.org. Written comments must be received before 10 AM on October 22, 2018. The MPO will consider endorsement of the draft Public Participation Plan and the Title VI Program and Limited English Proficiency Plan at its regular meeting to be held on Thursday, October 25, 2018. The public is invited to attend this MPO meeting and will be afforded an opportunity to comment before the plans and programs are considered by the MPO.

For more information, please call MetroCOG at (203) 366-5405 or NVCOG at (203) 735-8688. Language assistance may be requested within a reasonable timeframe and is provided at no cost to the public.

Public Participation Plan / Plan de Participación Pública (es)

Title VI & LEP Plan / Programa de Título VI y Plan de Dominio Limitado del Inglés (es)

See our Employment page for more information.

This effort, which began in late 2015, included collection of ridership data, an analysis of existing bus routes, a market analysis to identify new areas in need of service, a significant outreach program to stakeholders and the public, and the development of service improvement recommendations. The study area for the effort included Berlin, Bristol, New Britain, Plainville, and Southington.

 The Final Report and its Appendices are available for download under “Study Documents” on the study website at http://hartfordtransitstudy.com/new-britain-bristol/.

The anticipated opening of the Ansonia Riverwalk extension will take place on Saturday, August 4 at 10AM. The ceremony will be held at the new Pershing Drive entranceway, just south of the Bridge Street Bridge.

The public is welcome to attend the ribbon cutting and encouraged to walk or bicycle the nearly 700 feet of additional new Riverwalk that now extends from Division Street to Pershing Drive. Referred to as the Segment 8 extension, it is the first expansion since the initial half mile walkway opened in 2012.

An exciting new feature includes a 130 foot steel pedestrian bridge over the Metro-North rail line.

When additional future expansion is completed, the Riverwalk loop will cover approximately two miles continuing north on Pershing Drive, over Bridge St Bridge, up West Main St to South Main St and re-connect at the Naugatuck River eastside levee. “

This continues to be a wonderful recreational asset for our residents,” said Mayor Dave Cassetti. “We expect the daily use of Riverwalk will continue to increase as we expand its length.”

This most recent Phase 2 addition now extends the walkway to nearly 3/4 mile, and also remains pet friendly for dog walking.