ANSONIA -- Residents and members of the Board of Aldermen want more information before deciding whether to send a $5 million bond package should be sent to voters.
Raslan And O'Malley Debate Construction Costs During An April 28, 2020 meeting of the Ansonia Board of Aldermen.
In this episode (recorded Friday April 24), Ansonia corporation counsel John Marini explains two measures passed by the Ansonia Board of Aldermen meant to relieve some anxiety for cash-strapped taxpayers.
One measure gives qualifying taxpayers and extra 90 days to pay taxes that are normally due July 1. Documentation explaining the rules will be posted to the Ansonia city website and to the city's Facebook page.
The second measure reduces the penalty for late fees from 18 to 3 percent.
Click play to listen.
Donate.ValleyIndy.org during The Great Give May 5 and May 6.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) gave Valley officials Thursday an overview of the more than $2 trillion in federal aid Congress has approved since March to help people and businesses waylaid in Connecticut by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting was held online using Zoom video conference software. The Valley Indy recorded the audio. Press play to listen.
Jimmy Tickey is the interim board chair at The Valley United Way.
In this interview he talks about how to donate to and apply for a grant from the Valley COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund.
The fund just issued $78,800 in grants to 18 Valley agencies on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle.
Another round of grants is on the way.
Tickey also talks about a program The Valley United Way has launched with TEAM, Inc. in Derby to give gift cards to local families who need them.
Tickey is also the district director for U.S. Rep. Jim Himes. Tickey answers questions regarding the need for PPE in hospitals and what's happening inside nursing homes in Shelton.
Connecticut Commuter Rail Council Chairman Jim Gildea (a Derby resident) joins the podcast to talk about the state's decision not to fund $60 million worth of new rail cars for the Danbury and Waterbury train lines.
Gildea, along with lawmakers who represent the Valley, was blindsided by the state's decision. They said Gov. Ned Lamont's administration had promised the rail cars to the Valley.
State Republicans, including House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, said Lamont is paying back lawmakers who didn't support his desire to install tolls in Connecticut.
Read this story from the Rep-Am on the issue:
In this episode of 'Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast,' I chat with Johnathan Gable, the supervisor of the public defender's office at Superior Court in Derby.
How are courts being affected by COVID-19?
How does one provide legal counsel to a defendant in the midst of a global pandemic?
Is crime up or down?
Press play to listen, and remember to donate to The Valley Indy during The Great Give May 5 & May 6. Do so in advance at Donate.ValleyIndy.org.
It's unpopular opinion time!
Click play to listen.
The media didn't make you buy toilet paper.
The media isn't trying to scare you.
Focusing only on 'positive' stories is disrespectful to the people in mourning.
You can't complain local TV news isn't reporting what the governor is saying while TV news is carrying the governor's words live on TV.
If you have a Facebook account, you're the media.
Susan Agamy is the executive director of Spooner House, a shelter and food pantry in Shelton.
She talks about how Spooner House is operating in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The virus forced Spooner House to limit the amount of people staying in the shelter, and restricted the entrance of community volunteers who keep the place going.
Agamy also talks about the the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, which is currently accepting donations that will be used to help people, organizations and businesses impacted by COVID-19.
ANSONIA -- City government held a virtual town hall-style meeting Tuesday online, using the Zoom video conferencing app, to update residents about how the city is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click play to listen to the audio from the meeting.
Speakers included the mayor, along with the leaders of all emergency services in the city.
The city also took questions from residents. Another town hall is being planned to provide info to small business owners.
SEYMOUR -- The Seymour Board of Selectmen met Tuesday April 7 via the Zoom video conferencing app.
First Selectman Kurt Miller brought residents up to speed about what was happening in town regarding the COVID-19 virus. At the time of the meeting, Seymour had one COVID-19 related death. A second death was announced less than 24 hours after the meeting.
Miller talks about the impact the pandemic may have on town finances.
The Selectmen also talk about the many examples of community spirit that are happening in Seymour on a daily basis.
This meeting was the first time the Selectmen have met using video conferencing software.
Pam Mautte joins the podcast to talk about dealing with the mountains of stress and anxiety brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mautte is the director of the Alliance for Prevention and Wellness, a program of BHcare, in Ansonia.
BHcare has a 24-hour crisis hotline: 203-800-7177
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers help available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The website: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline
Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
SHELTON -- Some people on have been asking where Mayor Mark Lauretti has been while the COVID-19 virus spreads through the city.
He's OK with that.
"I don't think it's good to be repetitious. At some point in time people start to tone you out. I don't want to be in that situation. When I have something to say publicly, I want it to be meaningful," Lauretti said during an interview on 'Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast.'
Click play to listen.
The interview begins 7 minutes and 48 seconds into the episode.
Sharon Closius, president and CEO of The Valley Community Foundation, talks about a new fund created to help groups, organizations, and small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The response and recovery fund is the brainchild of The VCF, The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Health & Human Service Council.
To donate to the fund, visit https://www.valleyfoundation.org/
SHELTON -- State House Rep. Jason Perillo joins the 'Navel Gazing' podcast to talk about what's happening in Shelton in terms of COVID-19.
The city had 48 confirmed positive tests as of Tuesday, along with four deaths.
Perillo gives some context to the numbers, explaining that at least some of the deaths were residents of a nursing home (or nursing homes) in Shelton.
In addition to being the House minority whip, Perillo is the executive director of Valley Emergency Medical Services, the Valley's local paramedic service.