Jennifer Leeper

Dear Neighbor,

It's been an eventful week! The town of Fairfield was selected to receive $500,000 through CT's Small Town Economic Assistance Program for a capital project, the state made its largest-ever single payment toward our pension liabilities, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a transit-oriented development project on Ash Creek Boulevard, and more. 

In this week's email, you will find information on:

• State Funds for Fairfield
• CT Makes Historic Special Payment on Pension Liabilities
• CEA 2022 Legislator Report Card
• Appropriations & Human Services Committees Hold Joint Public Hearing
• Task Force to Study Indoor Air Quality in School Buildings Holds First Meeting
• Accurate Breaks Ground on Mixed-Use Development Project
• DOL Launches Office of the Unemployed Workers' Advocate Website

I'm pleased to share the town of Fairfield has been awarded grant funding through the state’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP).

Fairfield is one of 77 Connecticut towns that received grant funding through this program. STEAP aims to provide small towns with the necessary funding for various infrastructure projects. The town is set to receive $500,000 for sidewalk improvements along Round Hill Rd. Fairfield will match the grant by $111,298.60.

Sidewalks are a vital part of improving our community's safety and connectivity. These improvements along Round Hill Rd will offer huge quality of life improvements by connecting the neighborhood, Fairfield University, and Post Rd, making the entire area safer to walk. I would like to thank Governor Lamont for his support and the neighbors and local leaders who worked tirelessly throughout the entire process from collecting signatures to completing the application for this grant.

Governor Lamont said, “This road safety project in Fairfield will not only make these neighborhoods safer by becoming more pedestrian-friendly but it will increase the overall quality-of-life in the town, making it an even better place to live and do business. I’m glad that the state can partner with the Town of Fairfield to get this project done.”

Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda L. Kupchick said, “Investing in a pedestrian-friendly Fairfield has been a priority for my administration which is why we recently commissioned an engineering consultant report detailing the condition and construction characteristics of sidewalks throughout Fairfield that would benefit from rehabilitation. The project we received STEAP funding for will install, repair and replace sidewalks in Fairfield with a focus on Round Hill Road from Barlow Road to the Post Road (US 1) and Reef Road from Nichols Street to Fairfield Beach Road. This project will fill in gaps, provide a continuous pedestrian gateway to downtown from important locations, and update other sidewalks leading to the downtown area, with emphasis on Reef Road, a key artery connecting the beach and popular residential neighborhoods to the downtown. Any time a resident or visitor opts to walk, or to combine walking with public transportation as an alternative to using a car, we all enjoy a positive environmental impact and a boost to community health and wellness."

In total, $31.3 million in grant money was allocated to towns throughout the state. The funding to support STEAP grants was approved during the March State Bond Commission meeting. Towns will soon receive official award notification and instructions from the Office of Policy Management. You can learn more about this here.

State Comptroller Natalie Braswell announced that her office will transfer $3.1 billion into the rainy-day fund. This move triggers a statutory mandate that requires a one-time, special payment of $2.8 billion to be made toward the state’s unfunded pension liabilities.  

This payment, which will be allocated into several pension funds later this year, could save Connecticut taxpayers approximately $6 billion over the next 25 years. Connecticut was able to build its rainy-day fund through years of deliberate and careful policy. We can now celebrate the benefits of those decisions as we make investments that will benefit residents now and into the future.

The CEA Honor Roll distinction recognizes legislators with the highest report card scores who have demonstrated a commitment to public education and teachers. The bills we passed this session and last session will positively shape our young residents' lives and ensure they can access a high-quality education that's full of opportunity. These bills are a meaningful step forward and advance the work to create a state where every child can receive the support they need to succeed. To learn more about the Legislator Report Card, please click here.

The waiver the committees renewed makes four key changes. The most significant change to the waiver includes the addition of nutrition as a service, which permits clinical counseling for dietary needs as well as training for paid support staff to ensure compliance with a participant's nutritional needs. This service is not covered in the Medicaid State Plan and would not be available without this addition. 

Other changes include an adjustment to the maximum number of participants to 50 slots for July 1, 2021 and another 150 slots for July 1, 2022, and allowing for the provision of certain services virtually. Currently, the majority of services are provided face-to-face. The final change to the waiver removes the requirement that providers have a bachelor's degree and pass competency tests for autism program orientation training. The amended waiver now requires a high school diploma and work experience with individuals on the autism spectrum. 

We anticipate that these amendments will improve the provision and accessibility of high-quality and cost-effective services. As Vice-Chair of the Human Services committee, I was pleased to advocate for the approval of these amendments, including additional slots that will help hundreds of individuals. I remain committed to addressing reforms to the Autism Lifespan Waiver program and waiting list in the future to improve how we provide service to these individuals and families. You can watch a recording of the joint public hearing here.

The Task Force to Study Indoor Air Quality in School Buildings, of which I serve as Co-Chair alongside Senator Julie Kushner, held its first meeting on Wednesday. This task force was created by the state budget adjustment bill that passed during the 2022 legislative session. The group studies and makes recommendations related to indoor air quality in schools, including:

1. Optimal humidity and temperature ranges to ensure healthy air and promote student learning;
2. The threshold school air quality emergency conditions warranting temporary school closures based on the presence of insufficient heat, an excessive combination of indoor temperature and humidity levels, or some other thresholds;
3. Criteria for rating the priority of HVAC repair and remediation needs, including the public health condition and needs of the students attending a school;
4. Optimal HVAC system performance benchmarks for minimizing the spread of infectious disease;
5. Protocols for school districts to receive, investigate, and address complaints or evidence of mold, pest infestation, hazardous odors or chemicals, and poor indoor air quality;
6. The frequency with which boards of education should be providing for a uniform inspection and evaluation program of the indoor air quality within school buildings, such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program, and whether it should be provided for at all schools or only at those constructed before or after a certain date;
7. Best practices for the proper maintenance of HVAC systems in school buildings;
8. Any other criteria affecting school indoor air quality; and
9. Possible legislation to carry out any of the working group’s recommendations.

You can watch the task force's first meeting here. I am looking forward to how the outcomes of this task force will help improve the health and safety of our schools for our students and staff alike. 

The transformational project is rising on a 23.88-acre parcel at 219 Ash Creek Boulevard in the southeastern part of Fairfield bordering Bridgeport. The location also provides access to the Long Island Sound, open space with walking trails, and is within walking distance to restaurants in the Black Rock community and the Whole Foods shopping center.

This project builds upon our town's recent work to develop walkable, amenity-rich neighborhoods that will attract jobs and talented workers. I am excited to see this project move forward and how it will propel transit-oriented development locally and regionally.

The Office of the Unemployed Workers' Advocate is reachable through its call center by dialing 1-833-573-6700, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and online.