Mayor Dave Cassetti has a long-term plan to care for Ansonia’s roads. I was sworn in as alderman of Ansonia’s Seventh Ward this past June. However, it did not take me long to realize how much the Mayor and his team care about rebuilding and revitalizing the City’s aging roads and infrastructure. I am proud to be part of this effort and excited to share the details with my constituents.
Within the next two years Mayor Cassetti has planned to mill and pave a total of 21 roads. The work has already begun. Beaver Street, from Moulthrup to the Ansonia-Seymour town line, commenced milling Tuesday. The projected completion date is Oct. 30. The next road is in my own ward: Ford Street, which is on schedule for late October-early November.
The Mayor’s paving projects are financed by two state and federal grant allocations: the Town Aid Road Grant and the Local Capital Improvement Program (LOCIP). Significantly, the Mayor and his staff have worked at utilizing these grant allocations more efficiently than in previous years. This approach has allowed the City to pave more roads with funds left over for upgrades to outdated technology. For example, we will be able to use LOCIP funds to install fiber optic connections and voice over IP, paving the way for expanded municipal Internet services, such as the ability for residents to further conduct their business with the City online.
I was surprised to learn that, in years past, the City failed to use its full allocation of road repair funds. This resulted in much needed road repair being delayed or ignored. As alderman, one of my top priorities is to ensure that City streets are in top condition. Mayor Cassetti understands that an aggressive cycle of road repair is the only way to ensure taxpayers get their money’s worth. The Mayor also understands that planning and prioritizing are key in an effort to repair Ansonia’s aging infrastructure, and the Mayor plans to conduct paving on a yearly basis.
Ansonia’s roads are the one resource that nearly all residents depend on. I look forward to continuing my support the Mayor’s ambitious and truly “concrete” road repair program over the next two years.
The writer is an Ansonia resident and Alderman in the Seventh Ward who is running for re-election.
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