OCTOBER 2021
Welcome to the SCRCOG monthly newsletter where you can find updates on our transportation planning, regional planning, and municipal services programs.
Please visit the SCRCOG website for more information on who we are, what we do, and opportunities for public participation.
|
|
LOTCIP Annual Meeting
On October 4, SCRCOG staff had their annual meeting to discuss LOTCIP financials. SCRCOG is continually accepting applications for projects under the LOTCIP program.
|
|
Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
SCRCOG is reviewing draft Scopes of Service submitted by the consulting firms selected to complete studies under the UPWP.
|
|
DOT - COG Coordination Meeting
DOT COG Coordination Meeting: On October 5, staff attended the monthly COG Coordination Teleconference. This month’s presentation discussed the results of the DOT’s Transportation Barriers Survey. The goal of the survey was to understand the barriers that prevent people from using public transportation. Results from the survey can be accessed by clicking here.
|
|
Affordable Housing
The deadline for the South Central Region: Community Housing Plan Survey has been extended to Saturday, October 30, 2021. Please use the link below to access the digital version of the survey, the printable promotional flyer, and the SCRCOG informational webpage.
|
|
|
SCRCOG has created Housing Factsheets for each of the region's fifteen municipalities. The Factsheets are designed to give citizens and community leaders a snapshot of the housing situation in their respective city/town. These Factsheets are part of the larger SCRCOG Housing Plan community engagement process. Please use the link below to access the Factsheets.
|
|
|
Please contact Eugene Livshits with any questions.
|
|
|
Regional Planning Commission (RPC)
|
|
FEMA / DEMHS Region 2: Regional Recovery Project Submissions
This past September and October, the SCRCOG staff assisted its municipalities in identifying and submitting for consideration local and regional projects related to COVID recovery and resilience which have funding gaps or have not previously been awarded funds. This was done in response to a call for projects from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Region 1 which is collaborating with CT Office of the Governor, the CT Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and the CT Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) to strengthen the economic resilience of towns and regions in the face of future public health disasters.
SCRCOG municipalities and SCRCOG staff submitted local and regional projects and project ideas to FEMA. Project topics were wide ranging, related to Economy, Health and Human Services or Housing, and did not need to be related to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), FEMA topics or infrastructure. Regional projects submitted included region-wide cybersecurity assessments, regional digital government program, and a regional solid waste & recycling initiative. Local projects included coastal resilience, flood protection, trail improvements, and restoration and enhancements to public spaces.
The deadline for project submission was October 15, 2021. The State of CT is now reviewing and prioritizing the projects and will send their selections to the FEMA Region 1 Interagency Recovery Coordination team. This Team will review the project needs and search for funding sources from across the 107 federal agencies and private foundations. Projects and resources will be assembled by FEMA in a Recovery Support Strategy report to be published in 2022. We are hoping that our region’s projects will be selected for funding.
|
|
Energy Conservation
Live Green is continuing their free EV project support for SCRCOG municipalities and are developing a guidebook to use when revising Zoning Regulations to allow for EV infrastructure. Municipalities interested in an individualized meeting to discuss electric vehicle options and fleet electrification plans should contact Daphne Dixon at Live Green. Participation in such sessions can earn municipalities 5-10 Sustainable CT points.
SolSmart is providing free technical assistance to SCRCOG municipalities to help them receive SolSmart Designation. SCRCOG has achieved SolSmart Silver Designation. Three SCRCOG municipalities have achieved SolSmart designations. Designation can earn municipalities 20 Sustainable CT points. Contact Toyah Barigye at SolSmart for support.
SCRCOG has been assisting Naugatuck Valley COG (NVCOG) in their effort to promote SolSmart designation to their region's municipalities. SCRCOG has shared any relevant resources and offered to provide further assistance as well.
|
|
Information Technology / Cybersecurity
About 700 employees across eight SCRCOG municipalities have begun a SCRCOG-sponsored municipal cybersecurity awareness training for their employees. If those cities and towns would like to expand the amount of training seats available to them or if additional cities and towns are interested in participating in the program, please contact Andy Cirioli.
|
|
Purchasing
SCRCOG is launching the second year of the Municipal Procurement Training Series facilitated by consultant Wilma Petro, CPM. This year's session was designed based on feedback provided by SCRCOG municipal employees who participated in last year's training program. This year's training series will feature topics such as CHRO, ARPA, bidding fraud and collusion, and procurement court cases in CT. Please use the link below to access the promotional flyer and schedule.
|
|
Solid Waste, Recycling, Food Waste Diversion, and Municipal Composting
A Solid Waste and Recycling Working Meeting was held on October 6. The meeting featured robust discussions on topics such as West Haven's Demonstration Project for adding food scraps to their leaf compost site, Clynk's Bottle Bag Drop Program, and UBP/co-collection of food waste grant opportunities via CT DEEP’s $5 million pool of funds.
SCRCOG Consultant Pamela Roach and CT DEEP Consultant Kristen Brown have been meeting with SCRCOG municipalities individually to review co-collection pilot options that may be funded by CT DEEP’s $5 million pool of grant funds. So far, three municipalities have submitted letters to DEEP expressing interest in utilizing grant funding to establish co-collection pilot programs. An additional five or six municipalities are also considering submitting similar letters of interest. Letters are due by Friday, October 29.
West Haven was awarded a USDA-NRCS grant for its community compost and food waste reduction. West Haven, SCRCOG, the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), and the four public schools included in the project have begun collaborating on the implementation of the program.
The RecycleCT Board has awarded West Haven $14,250 as part of the Lee Sawyer Community Waste Reduction & Recycling Grant. This grant will be used to expand the city's municipal leaf composting operation to include food scraps, develop protocols for monitoring static aerated piles, and testing finished compost, in addition to collecting food scraps for the program.
|
|
Municipal Purchasing Responsibilities under under CHRO and Department of Labor - Municipal Procurement Training Series
Date and Time: Tuesday, November 9, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Meeting Type: Virtual - Click Here to Register for Zoom Meeting
|
|
Transportation Committee Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, November 10, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Meeting Type: Hybrid - SCRCOG Office / Click Here to Join the Zoom Meeting
Agenda: Click Here to Access the Meeting Agenda
|
|
Regional Planning Commission Meeting
Date and Time: Thursday, November 18, 2021 from 5:15 PM to 6:15 PM
Meeting Type: Hybrid - SCRCOG Office / Click Here to Join the Zoom Meeting
Agenda: Click Here to Access the Meeting Agenda
|
|
Executive Committee Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, November 17, 2021 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Meeting Type: Hybrid - SCRCOG Office / Click Here to Join the Zoom Meeting
Agenda: Click Here to Access the Meeting Agenda
|
|
SCRCOG Board Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, November 17, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Meeting Type: Hybrid - SCRCOG Office / Click Here to Join the Zoom Meeting
Agenda: Click Here to Access the Meeting Agenda
|
|
|
|
