2005 Torrington State of the City Address
Mayor Owen J. Quinn
January 10, 2005
Mayor Owen J. Quinn today delivered the State of the City address to members of the Torrington Rotary Club and residents of Torrington at the Elks Club. The full text version of Mayor Quinn's address is below:
I want to thank the Rotary for having me here today as guest speaker and for allowing me the opportunity to give my annual State Of the City Address.
As Mayor of this great City, I get to see the best and the worst of almost everything associated with Torrington.
But I’m only going to talk about the best today, because that’s what I think Torrington really represents and what it will continue to represent.
Last year, we saw many changes, and most of them good.
There was the birth of Project Arts City, the brainchild of Sharon Dante at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. Sharon and Project Arts City have been doing great things since its inception and I look forward to seeing how it will continue to bring the arts alive for all of us in Torrington and the region.
Also, we saw the creation of the Torrington Development Corporation. It was formed to help push positive redevelopment in Torrington and I look forward to seeing great things come from them this year.
While the downtown project may appear to be stalled to the general public, I can assure you it’s alive and well.
There are weekly conference calls with the developer, draft environmental reports being finalized by our planning consultants and countless meetings with state and local officials.
We are eagerly awaiting the results of the environmental impact evaluation study being completed by the Maguire Group. Once approved, the real work for the TDC will begin, implementing downtown’s redevelopment.
As a matter of fact, we will be cutting down the Main Street parking meters soon, likely in the spring. It’s a plan Jeff LaLonde, and the TDC came up with to make downtown more shopper friendly.
Last year, we used Anthem Blue Cross money to give a future boost to the city’s quality of life. Almost everyone agrees Torrington needs more recreational space. So, last fall the city purchased 35-plus acres on the Winsted Road. Soon, the Machuga Property as it is known as will be home to passive and active recreational facilities for Torrington. There will be soccer fields, hiking trails and sanctuaries for wildlife.
This year, Torrington will also take the lead role in the two-town project started years ago. This year we will start, and we will finish Phase One of the Sue Grossman Still River Greenway. The multi-million dollar Rails-to-Trails project has been in the doldrums for several years but I pledge to see it done this year.
Last year we also revived two great events in an effort to make new and lasting memories for the next generation of Torringtonians. The fireworks on the 4th of July and Heritage Days celebration at Coe Park in August received rave reviews and I promise you they will return this summer and be even bigger and better.
Also, this past fall, the city embarked on a new trash collection system. Now, new trash collection procedures may not sound exciting but the new system is designed to encourage recycling and decrease tipping charges. I’m glad to report, it’s doing just that.
Jerry Rollett in Public Works tells me we may save as much as $150,000 in tipping fees this year because of the new automated system. And that is great news.
All those events and projects are exciting and encouraging to me as a resident and as Mayor, but one project really has got me charged.
In the next few years, a new Litchfield County Courthouse will open its doors somewhere in Torrington. Hopefully, somewhere downtown. That historic event is significant and shouldn’t be regarded as anything else.
Getting the legislature to agree to move the county court system to Torrington is not only a major coup for future business and development in this city, it’s a symbol of what’s happening in Torrington -- a symbol of true change.
That change wouldn’t have been possible if not for our legislative delegation, some of whom join us today. I thank them for their hard work and presence here and in particular; I want to thank Roberta Willis.
Roberta understood how important a new courthouse in Torrington was and she understands that our City is really the metro-hub for every town in this region. So, we may be a city of 35,000 residents, but in actuality we’re really a “Micropolitain” that serves a 180,000-plus population. Thank you, Roberta, for your hard work and I look forward to working with you and your Hartford colleagues to make this courthouse plan come to fruition sooner, than later.
As we look for ways to increase revenue, through grants and public/private partnerships, I am committed to implementing Smart Growth development strategies because Torrington needs to plan for its future, not just the next year or so. We need to plan for the next 10 and 20 years.
I have charged my department heads in Planning & Zoning, Engineering, Public Works, Building and Economic Development to form a Smart Growth Taskforce to help guide the City. The group will continue to examine residential development patterns, open space, and new areas for commercial and industrial use to boost our tax base. They will also monitor new development in Torrington and in neighboring towns, with a watchful eye on the impact to city services such as sewers.
Because of how successful we have been in using Smart Growth ideas, the City was selected by UConn for its NEMO educational program. NEMO and Smart Growth initiatives will ensure that Torrington grows in a manner that boosts our tax rolls while controlling the burdens that unfettered development can bring.
For example, this year our new Sewer System Master Plan will be completed and when it’s done it will help guide our growth in appropriate areas. The stringent state and federal guidelines being placed on our Water Pollution Control Authority are only going to get tougher in the next decade. But with this master plan in place, our skilled WPCA and City Hall staff will work to stay ahead of the development curve to protect taxpayers well into the next half-century.
All these projects and plans, coupled with the $100 million plan to redevelop downtown and a $40 million courthouse project, brings enormous potential for our city. Sure, more people will come downtown, shop downtown and help build-up our local economy. That’s what we know it will do. The enormous potential I also speak of today, is that of boosting our spirit and our passion to make this great little City, even greater.
The projects we have on the horizon to improve Torrington are just that, projects. They are extremely important things. But those things wouldn’t be possible if not for the core of what makes our city and these projects so special: the people that comprise Torrington.
Our city wouldn’t be the great place that it is if not for the people that live, work and raise families here. They are the people that quietly pay their taxes, educate their children and participate in our community in one way or another.
Torrington may be small, but it is made up of people with great talents, heart and courage. Some of those people are here today and I’ve asked a few to join me for lunch.
In the last two-plus years, we have seen many of our courageous Torringtonians head off to fight in the Iraq War and the War Against Terrorism in Afghanistan. Hundreds from our area, dozens from our city, have set off to these far away lands to serve our country.
Most have come home to much-deserved rousing cheers and adulation. But sadly, some have come home in flag-draped coffins giving what President Lincoln called their: “last full measure of devotion.”
We pray for the souls we have lost in this war and for those that are putting -- and continue to put -- their lives on the line for our Country. Our men and women in the military are invaluable and one such brave Marine is here today.
Jason Hermenau may appear to be a young, that’s because he is. But the 27-year-old has likely done more in the last 10 years, than most of us do in 20 or more years.
Jason is just one of the city’s brave residents that have put their career and lives on hold to serve in the war. During the last several years, Jason, a Sergeant in the Marines Corps Reserves, has served in, Panama, Okinawa, the Persian Gulf, Chile and Norway.
All in all, he’s spent almost two years in uniform overseas. During that time, he has put his career as a police officer and his personal life on hold. That’s not an easy thing for a smart, good-looking and ambitious young man. But he did it and I’m told he never complained.
You should know, Jason is set to do it again. In January of 2006, a year from now, he is scheduled for another tour in the Middle East.
Jason represents the best of Torrington’s young brave soldiers, sailors, and Marines and I’m proud to have him here with us today.
On behalf of the people of Torrington, of our state and our Country, thank you, Jason. Next year, when you leave again for your tour, Godspeed and safe return young man.
This year in the city, we were able to make remarkable strides in many different ways. One way was in cleaning up blighted properties. Now some may not think that an important task. But I disagree and affirm that as long as I’m Mayor, we will continue to fight aggressively to make our city look better.
When I was a kid, growing up not far from here on Center Street, my working-class family and neighbors didn’t have much money. But all our parents took pride in keeping those little homes and yards immaculate. Somewhere over time, that old-fashioned ethic died off, and some people, just some mind you, decided their property’s upkeep wasn’t an important thing.
That’s why I created a taskforce against blight, and the Dirty Dozen list was born. I promised myself I’d keep this speech on the positive side and I am. There may be some property owners in this town that don’t care how their buildings look, but there are far more that do.
But then, there are some that need no encouragement or guidance from a taskforce, City Hall or a Mayor to make their homes and businesses better. They just do it, and I mean do it! For that reason, this year I decided it was time to recognize some of those quiet saints in our city. And so, I created the Mayor’s Magnificent Seven.
The Magnificent Seven recognizes those that, within the past year or so, have gone above and beyond the call in regards to improving their property. They have taken older, and not so sparkling buildings, and turned them into treasures.
Look at what John Falcone has done in the North End with his Main Street properties. Or what Joe Ashner has done at 100 Brook Street. What they’ve done is Phenomenal!
A husband and wife team that owns one of those treasures, that was named to the first Magnificent Seven List, are here today.
Karen and Richard O’Donnell took the old downtown YMCA building and turned it not only into a premiere business, but their home – it’s something that can be featured in Better Homes and Gardens.
Because of them and their vision and passion, downtown not only has gems like the Warner Theatre and the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, it now has: “Remember When.”
Karen and Richard, what you did with your building at 111 Main Street is nothing short of spectacular and I wanted to thank you for being role models for all property and business owners in the city. Thank you for joining us today.
This year was also, a year of transition for our business community and our state as a whole.
In these tough fiscal times, we are all forced to do more with less. Things are no different for us at City Hall. In November, I asked my department heads to freeze nonessential spending. These talented managers, here today, must be creative in a myriad of ways. They have to provide the same level of service to Torrington residents and taxpayers with fewer financial resources. I’m proud to say they have been doing just that.
That said, I think fiscally I’m going to have to make some tough decisions this budget season. With a $1.2 billion deficit in the state budget, I don’t think we’re going to see a lot of money sent our way from Hartford this year. I hope I’m wrong, but I doubt don’t think I am.
In 2004, several large companies, hit with hard economic times, let go a lot of Torrington workers. We in City Hall worked tirelessly to help those that have lost their jobs and will continue to do so. You don’t always hear about the behind the scenes things we do. There are meetings with state officials to bring in transition teams to help workers prepare and retrain for new endeavors and there are endless conference calls to try and get company officials to change their minds. Sometimes we do, and sometimes we can’t.
In fact, I’m working at this time to save 50 union jobs at a local company. The company is considering transferring those jobs out of state and I’m doing whatever I can to convince them otherwise.
But just as Torrington has had some tough times this year, especially in the manufacturing sector, it’s also had uplifting news and progress when it comes to the local job market. Our unemployment rate dropped in 2004 by one percentage point, meaning approximately 450 Torrington residents got jobs in 2004.
There’s a reason for these new jobs and drop in unemployment. Torrington not only has great soldiers, and property owners, it also has great companies.
The Sietz and Dymax corporations have long been known as innovative leaders in their fields. But for them, Torrington is not only a place to do business, it’s a place they have anchored themselves to boost their company, making them an integral part of the community in the process.
In October, I was honored to partake and welcome Chinese dignitaries from the city of Changzhou. Sietz and Dymax are investing in the Changzhou region and officials from China wanted to see where these companies had their roots. What’s unique about the Sietz and Dymax endeavor is these two companies are not closing shop and moving lock-stock-and-barrel overseas.
They are using the Changzhou connection to help increase productively and sales here in the U.S. as well as in China. The bottom line is, there are more jobs in Torrington because of how these companies are investing in China. Sietz alone added 38 jobs this past year.
But the special visit from the Chinese officials was productive in several ways. Changzhou officials realized Torrington has great potential for Chinese companies and we realized we could learn a lot from a city and culture halfway around the world.
For example, because of this visit in October, the Nutmeg and Shanghai Ballet will discuss cultural exchanges this year. And, sometime this spring, I hope to sign an official “Sister City” agreement with officials from Changzhou. I may not get to China, but I hope some of our young and talented artists, students and athletes from Torrington will someday soon.
Great things are in store for Torrington this year because of great companies like Sietz and Dymax and I’m glad Bill McLane from Sietz and Andy Bachman from Dymax are here to join us today.
It never ceases to amaze me how special this city is. Torringtonians are also some of the most caring and giving people you will ever come across.
More than two years ago, when I realized Torrington was on the cusp of what I call a Renaissance, a rebirth, I decided to form the Mayor’s Renaissance Team. The team is basically an informal grassroots group that gets together now and then to do something to improve Torrington.
In October, my staff called around to several stores, like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Agway and Blue Seal, and asked for flower bulb donations for the newly renovated Coe Park. Without as much as a blink, those stores came forward and donated thousands of bulbs, about 6,000 actually.
Then on a cold Sunday morning the team, about 25 or 30 people, embarked in a mass planting that was marshaled by Pat Herzig of Plymouth, the owner of Maple Meadow Farms who also donated bulbs. Even people from Plymouth love Torrington and want to help.
My chief of staff, who helped plan the event, was concerned cold weather and long hours of planting could be a bit of a drain on people, so he wanted to find a way to feed the volunteers without burdening taxpayers.
It didn’t take him long because on the first phone call, to Red Lobster, Carol Wood, a manager at the store, said she would be thrilled to help with refreshments. But come planting day, Red Lobster not only had refreshments; they had chowder, biscuits, veggie platters, coffee, coco, soda and more.
But Red Lobster not only came forward to help with food, they came with people. Several employees came during their day off, yes their day off, and helped serve the volunteers at the park.
Two of those great Red Lobster employees are here today, Lydia Eldridge and Brook Levesque. I want to thank them and their restaurant for stepping forward, like so many do in this city to help out.
Lydia and Brook, thank you for being part of the Renaissance Team. In the spring, the flowers that were planted will be a colorful testament to Torrington’s true spirit. Take my heartfelt thanks back to everyone at the Red Lobster.
In closing, I want to say thank you the people of Torrington as a whole. They have entrusted me with a sacred office and duty, both of which I hold in the highest regard.
I can confidently report to you that the state of our city is great, and getting better every day. Everyday I push myself and my staff to improve Torrington in one way or another and I pledge to continue to raise that bar because we owe it to this City.
More importantly, we owe it to young soldiers like Jason; homeowners like the O’Donnells; businesses like Sietz and Dymax and great volunteers like Lydia and Brook.
Thank you for listening today and God Bless the Great City of Torrington.
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