Month: September 2020

2020-09-02@3:30pm–#Ansonia CT– The Ansonia Police Department arrested Andre LeFrancois, age 22, of Ansonia for the homicide of Rosali Violet Acquefreda on August 30, 2020. LeFrancois was arrested by warrant and taken into custody without incident. LeFrancois is charged with Murder and Risk of Injury to a Minor; he is being held on a $750,000.00 bond and will be arraigned on September 3, 2020 in Milford Superior Court. The arrest warrant has been sealed by the court and will not be available for release.

At this time on behalf of Chief Cota, the Ansonia Police Department would like to thank Chief Narowski, Lieutenant Stanko, Detective Sergeant Netto and Detective Sullivan of the Derby Police Department, Colonel Mellekas, Sergeant Ralph Soda and the Central District Major Crimes Unit of the Connecticut State Police, Dr. Vallaro and the forensic scientists at the State of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory for their invaluable assistance in the investigation of this homicide. We also would like to thank State’s Attorney Kelly, Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Stein, Inspector Brooks and all the members of the Ansonia/Milford Judicial District for their assistance and support.

I would like to recognize Lieutenant Williams, Det. Sgt. James Frolish, Detective Adcox, Detective Hunt, Detective Harte, Detective Esposito, Detective Troesser and all the men and women of the Ansonia Police Department for their hard work and commitment to this investigation and the work they do every day.

The Ansonia Police Department strongly urges anyone who may be in a relationship where domestic violence is occurring to contact their local authorities. Help is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. In the Valley, The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services can be reached by phone at 203-736-9944, 203-789-8104 or 1-888-774-2900 or through the internet at https://bhcare.org/page/22595-The-Umbrella-Center-for-Domestic-Violence-Services- . Statewide domestic violence assistance can be found at www.CTSafeConnect.org or call/text (888)774-2900.

 

 

 

Fairfield News: Changes To School Safety Unit

FAIRFIELD — The following is a statement from Fairfield Police Chief Christopher Lyddy regarding recent changes to the department’s School Safety Unit:
“The safety of our schools, including all students, staff and personnel, is something that this department takes as a paramount priority and we have highly skilled and trained officers that make up our School Safety Unit.
“It has come to my attention that there are some people who are upset about the recent reorganization of the School Safety Unit and I wanted to clarify the reasons why those changes were made and state that some of these measures are only temporary.
“Due to the abbreviated school schedules associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and hybrid and remote learning programs, the decision was made to temporarily move two School Resource Officers from the School Safety Unit to other units within the department. These two officers would have typically taught our School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation (SHAPE) program, but due to the need for students to learn their core classroom requirements, the SHAPE program will not be taught to start the school year.
“Both of these measures are temporary, and we anticipate that we will be moving two officers back into the school unit and reinstating the SHAPE program once schools reopen again for full in-person learning.
“Additionally, Lt. Edward Weihe who was heading the School Safety Unit has been reassigned. Lt. Weihe has done an amazing job in the schools over the years and we commend him for his work. However, just like many of our supervisory staff, we seek to make sure that our officers are able to gain as much experience as possible in a variety of positions and roles within the department.
“As of right now, due to retirements and officers being out on leave, our department’s personnel is down about 10%. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, police academies have been shut down and we have been unable to bring on new officers during this time. The two former school officers, which are funded through the department’s budget, will be filling roles needed elsewhere in the department for the time being and we are currently seeking to hire additional officers and posted new positions this week.
“As is routine for our department every few years, we undergo a department-wide reorganization and restructure of our staff based on the number of retirements and staffing levels. Officers get promoted and supervisors, like Lt. Weihe, take on new roles and responsibilities. It is the goal of the Fairfield Police Department to have all of our officers gain as much knowledge and experience with different aspects of the policing profession as possible so our officers are well-rounded and knowledgeable about a wide variety of topics.
“It should be made abundantly clear that these decisions have been planned for well ahead of time and are in no way a knee-jerk reaction to the Police Accountability Bill.
“The Fairfield Police Department maintains a great relationship with the Fairfield Public Schools and I have been in contact with Superintendent Michael Cummings about these issues.
“I hope to have clarified why some of these decisions have been made and we wish everyone a safe and fun school year.”

 

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EXTENSION FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM URGED

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and 26 of their Senate colleagues joined a letter

led by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fully extend school meal waivers through the end of the 2020-2021 school year so that schools have the flexibility to fully serve students whether or not they are attending school in person.

 

The senators initially made this request in July, and the USDA recently announced that it will agree to extend some of the school meal waivers. The USDA extended until the end of the 2020-21 school year waivers that allow parents and guardians to pick up school meals – rather than students themselves – and remove the requirement that school meals be served in group settings. Some waivers have only been extended to the end of the 2020 calendar year, including one that allows school districts a higher level of reimbursement and one that accounts for unanticipated school closures.

 

 

“We are glad that you have extended some school meal waivers until the end of the 2020-2021 school year, and grateful that you recently extended some other waivers until December 31, 2020. However, we remain concerned by your decision not to extend all waivers for the entire 2020-2021 school year, and we urge you to correct this as soon as possible,” wrote the senators.

 

The senators raise the importance of full extension given that the economic and public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will clearly last beyond the end of the calendar year.

 

“The remaining waivers that you have not extended for the entire 2020-2021 school year are desperately needed by school meal providers across the country to ensure they have the funding, flexibility, and certainty to continue feeding schoolchildren for the entire upcoming school year. Many localities are dealing with budget shortfalls due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and are relying on federal assistance to keep providing meals,” wrote the senators. “Furthermore, millions of parents have lost their jobs in the past six months and are struggling to ensure that their children have access to nutritious and healthy meals. Many families are relying on school provided meals as one of the only reliable sources of healthy food for their children.”

Full text of the letter can be found here and below:

 

 

Dear Secretary Perdue:

 

Thank you for your letter dated August 20, 2020 in response to our letter dated July 29, 2020 urging you to extend all relevant school meal waivers for the entire 2020-2021 school year. We are glad that you have extended some school meal waivers until the end of the 2020-2021 school year, and grateful that you recently extended some other waivers until December 31, 2020. However, we remain concerned by your decision not to extend all waivers for the entire 2020-2021 school year, and we urge you to correct this as soon as possible. We also write to express disagreement with your conclusion that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not have the authority to extend these waivers until the end of the next school year.

 

In your response to our July 29th letter you wrote that the request to extend all of the relevant waivers “is beyond what USDA currently has the authority to implement.” This conclusion is based off an incorrect interpretation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Pub. L. No. 116-127) (“FFCRA”). FFCRA clearly provided USDA with the authority to issue these waivers for the 2020-2021 school year. The only constraint that Congress imposed upon USDA’s authority to issue these waivers was the requirement in Section 2202(e) that they be issued on or before September 30, 2020. Waivers issued prior to that sunset date can still cover periods after the sunset date, including the entire 2020-2021 school year.  USDA’s previous decision to extend a number of the nationwide waivers that we mentioned in our letter until the end of the 2020-2021 school year including for the food management company contract duration, local school wellness assessment, and the fresh fruit and vegetable program parent pickup requirements – and your recent decision to extend the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), and Area Eligibility Waivers until the end of this calendar year – clearly show that USDA believes it has the authority to extend these waivers well beyond the sunset date.

 

The remaining waivers that you have not extended for the entire 2020-2021 school year are desperately needed by school meal providers across the country to ensure they have the funding, flexibility, and certainty to continue feeding schoolchildren for the entire upcoming school year. Many localities are dealing with budget shortfalls due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and are relying on federal assistance to keep providing meals. Furthermore, millions of parents have lost their jobs in the past six months and are struggling to ensure that their children have access to nutritious and healthy meals. Many families are relying on school provided meals as one of the only reliable sources of healthy food for their children.

 

We urge you to reverse your decision and use the authority given to your Department under the FFCRA to extend the following waivers nationwide for the entire 2020-2021 school year:

 

·       Area Eligibility Waiver

·       Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) Waivers

·       Unexpected School Closures Waiver

 

We recognize the incredible effort USDA has undertaken to ensure that millions of schoolchildren in this country do not go hungry. This hard work is not yet complete and we implore you to continue working with states and use USDA’s already existing authority to provide them with the flexibility needed to enable food authorities to provide meals through USDA’s child nutrition programs. We look forward to receiving your response as soon as possible on this timely matter.

 

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GOVERNOR LAMONT APPOINTS ANGEL QUIROS TO SERVE AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION

HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is appointing Angel Quiros to serve as commissioner of the Department of Correction (DOC).

 

A veteran of the DOC, Quiros has worked at the agency since 1989, first joining as a correctional officer and then working his way up the ranks as lieutenant, captain, major, deputy warden, warden, district administrator, and his current position as deputy commissioner of operations and rehabilitative services, which he has held since January 2019. He has also been serving in the capacity of interim commissioner since July, following the departure of the agency’s most recent commissioner, Rollin Cook, from the position.

 

In addition to his work within the state’s criminal justice system, Quiros brings a national perspective to the agency from his work as an independent criminal justice consultant with the Moss Group out of Washington, DC, which has brought him to several correctional systems around the country.

 

“Experience is imperative when it comes to the operations of our correctional facilities, and it can’t be denied that Angel is intimately familiar with Connecticut’s correctional and criminal justice systems,” Governor Lamont said. “Our correction department has a key responsibility and role in our ongoing efforts to expand rehabilitation and prevent re-entry, and my administration remains focused on maintaining this momentum so that we can continue to drive Connecticut’s crime rate to historic lows. I look forward to working with Angel on these reforms.”

 

“I am extremely grateful to Governor Lamont for selecting me as his choice to guide the Department of Correction into the future,” Interim Commissioner Quiros said. “I promise to work tirelessly to earn the trust the governor has placed in me.”

 

Quiros grew up on Park Street in Hartford, where he built strong ties with the community as his father and uncle owned a neighborhood grocery store. He earned a bachelor of science in human services from Springfield College.

 

Upon his confirmation by the General Assembly, Quiros will become the first-ever Latino man or woman to serve as DOC commissioner.

 

Connecticut’s prison and jail population has dramatically decreased over the last several years while at the same time crime rates have also reached historic lows. The prison and jail population reached its peak in 2008 when there were 19,894 incarcerated people in state facilities. Today, the state’s total prison and jail population is 9,534 – a 31-year low. This includes a decrease of 2,875 incarcerated people since March 1 of this year.

 

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$400,000 in Coronavirus Relief Funding

Representatives Jim Himes (CT-04), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) announced that the Shelton Economic Development Corporation received $400,000 in CARES Act federal coronavirus relief funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development District. This grant will be used to implement the necessary economic development strategies required to address the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic in the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development District.

“Bringing federal dollars to Southwest Connecticut is good for our economy, workforce, and community,” said Congressman Jim Himes. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for many Southwest Connecticut communities. Federal grants like this will help combat the economic havoc and encourage growth and recovery. I look forward to working with the Shelton Economic Development Corporation and Naugatuck Valley Economic Development District in the future to bring in more federal dollars.”

“This pandemic is one of the most serious crises we have faced in our lifetime,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “We are in a fight to ensure the businesses which closed for the public good, do not have to close for good. The hardworking and committed people that keep Southwest Connecticut’s towns and businesses afloat deserve support from the federal government in this harrowing time. As one of the leaders in crafting federal spending legislation, including coronavirus relief legislation, I am proud we could bring these tax dollars back home to help our towns not only survive but also thrive and build a brighter future for the people of Connecticut and their families.”

“I am pleased the U. S. Economic Development Administration granted $400,000 of the CARES Act to the Naugatuck Valley Corridor Economic Development District to assist efforts combating the coronavirus pandemic, said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes. “These federal dollars will provide a robust boost to support state and local efforts to protect public health. I am proud of the bipartisan cooperation we have seen from every level of government to respond to this emergency. The public health of residents of Connecticut and the American people are my top priority, and I will continue to work across the aisle to ensure our state secures the resources needed to combat the pandemic.”

“On behalf of the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development District, we are grateful for the CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant of $400,000 recently awarded by the U. S. Economic Development Administration,” said Paul Grimmer, Shelton Economic Development Corporation. “This award will be applied towards the necessary economic development strategies required to address the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic in our 19-town region.  The ongoing support of the U. S. Economic Development Administration over the last two decades has allowed the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development District to grow and secure funding otherwise unattainable. This truly has proven to be a successful partnership, and we look forward to continuing this relationship.”

The 19-town region includes: Bethlehem, Watertown, Thomaston, Plymouth, Bristol, Woodbury, Middlebury, Waterbury, Wolcott, Southbury, Oxford, Naugatuck, Prospect, Cheshire, Beacon Falls, Seymour, Ansonia, Derby and Shelton.

“This is the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the strategic planning process in action!” Sheila O’Malley, NVC-EDD Chairperson said. “Being part of a CEDS region is critical in helping maintain the vitality of the region. The federal process and the relationships we have built with the U.S. EDA are especially important in times like these and result in direct benefits to our communities. Thank you to Congresswoman DeLauro, Congressman Himes and the entire delegation in our region for their efforts.”

According to the Shelton Economic Development Corporation, the grant will develop an economic recovery and resilience plan created with input from public agencies, not for profits, and private stakeholders within the district. Additionally, the grant will allow for the deployment of disaster recovery coordinators, provision of technical assistance to local governments, businesses, and other stakeholder organizations, and the funding of appropriate technology. This funding will also support workforce development and training including the retraining of persons who became unemployed due to the pandemic.

Congressman Himes, Congresswoman DeLauro, and Congresswoman Hayes co-sponsored and voted for the CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020. This wide-ranging economic rescue package provided rapid and meaningful relief for individuals and businesses through a series of programs, including the CARES Act Recovery Assistance.

 

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Bridgeport Road Work

#Bridgeport CT–The Department of Public Facilities will begin milling and road paving throughout the City of Bridgeport on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 in the South End and will work their way through various neighborhoods, finishing around mid-October in the North End.

 

During this time, drivers are advised of the following:

 

  • Adhere to “No Parking” signs. All areas will be enforced 24 hours ahead of paving, cars will be towed if interruption to paving occurs.

 

  • Follow any “Detour” signs. You may need additional time to reach your destination so please plan accordingly.

 

  • Drive carefully!  Be mindful of raised structures, manhole covers, and rough edges or bumps at paving limits.

 

For more information, visit the City of Bridgeport Public Facilities website at http://Bridgeportct.gov/PublicFacilities

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