FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Heather Habelka, Office of the Mayor, 203.385.4001

Stratford Mayor James R. Miron Returns from Trip to Washington, D.C.

Stratford, Connecticut (January 22, 2009) – Mayor James R. Miron returned today from a six day trip to Washington D.C.

Mayor Miron attended the 77th Winter Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors, met with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Senator Joseph Lieberman and their staffs in separate meetings, attended the Presidential Inauguration and met with Army and GSA officials at the Pentagon to discuss the Stratford Army Engine Plant.

United States Conference of Mayors:
Economic Recovery Plan: Stratford’s “Shovel Ready” Projects
Over 250 Mayors from throughout the Country met at The United States Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting to discuss national priorities and President Obama’s proposed Economic Recovery Plan and to strategize on how mayors can participate in the nation’s economic recovery. The mayors also participated in lobbying efforts.

In support of the proposed economic recovery plan and legislation and the Town of Stratford’s role in it, Mayor Miron met on separate days with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro as well as Senator Joseph Lieberman to present Stratford’s 19 “shovel ready” projects for Town infrastructure and capital improvements that are eligible for federal assistance through the pending federal Economic Recovery legislation. The total cost of Stratford’s “shovel ready” projects is close to $26.4 million.

Projects are “shovel ready” if they can be initiated within 90-120 days after being funded. It is anticipated that federal funding under this legislation will have to be 100% spent within two years and will be subject to rigorous accountability procedures.

Mayor Miron and his administration previously submitted the portfolio of Stratford’s “shovel ready” projects to Governor M. Jodi Rell, individual state agencies such as the Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Protection, and advocacy groups supporting federal economic stimulus assistance to states and localities to jump-start the economy and create jobs.

Stratford’s projects have also been submitted to the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s for inclusion in their “Ready To Go” Report on Jobs and Infrastructure Projects, as well as to the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.

With Stratford’s project list, Mayor Miron joins hundreds of mayors from across the country that have already identified and presented thousands of “shovel ready” projects to President Obama that could create over a million jobs and improve the basic infrastructure of cities and metropolitan regions with federal investment. Across the country, mayors from cities and towns of all sizes have stressed that investing in metropolitan economies is the most direct path to creating jobs and stimulating the businesses that can begin to reverse the current economic downturn.

If fully funded, Stratford’s projects are estimated to create and retain nearly 1,000 jobs and include transportation projects, streetscape, traffic, road and sidewalk improvements, flood control projects, energy efficiency measures, roofing projects at Town buildings, capital improvements for all Stratford public schools, creation of a Greenway between the railroad station and Short Beach, improvements to recreational infrastructure at Short Beach, historic preservation efforts at Perry House and Boothe Memorial Park and renovation of the new Emergency Medical Services building.

A complete listing of all projects submitted can be found at the end of this press release.
Presidential Inauguration:
As part of his trip to Washington, D.C., Mayor Miron attended the inauguration of the 44th President of the United State of America, Barack Obama.

“I was so fortunate to attend the Inauguration,” said Mayor Miron. “It was an honor to witness such an inspiring event in our nation’s history. I was personally impacted by the peaceful transition of power and awed by the size and diversity of the over 2 million people that attended the Inauguration.”

Stratford Army Engine Plant:

Mayor Miron concluded his business in Washington D.C. this morning at a meeting with the Army and General Services Administration to discuss the Stratford Army Engine Plant.

At that meeting the Mayor reviewed the successes of the past year relative to the environmental cleanup permitting process but indicated strong displeasure at the Army’s extension of the closing date until February 17, 2009 and called for no further extensions on the closing date of the Stratford Army Engine Plant transaction with Hollywood East.

Please click here for the letter to the Army by Mayor Miron that outlines in greater detail his position relative to the Army Engine Plant.

List of Stratford’s Main Street Stimulus Projects: For the Stimulus Package Presentation, please click here for page 1 and page 2 

Stratford MetroNorth Railroad Station Platform Extensions and Canopies
Request: $5,000,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 50-60

Long Beach West Cottage Demolition and Improvements
Request: $5,000,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 500

Stratford Board of Education Building Improvement Projects
Request: $3,441,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 37

King Street Culvert
Request: $3,000,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 30-35

Greenway Project- Railroad to Short Beach
Request: $2,400,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 25-30

Renovations to New Site for Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Request: $2,150,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 40-45

Barnum Avenue Streetscape Project (California to West Broad Street)
Request: $2,000,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 25-30

Project First Impression-West Broad Street/I95 Interchange 32 ramps
Request: $1,500,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 30-35

Birdseye & Stratford Academy Field Improvements
Request: $1,200,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 25

Short Beach Park Improvements
Request: $1,300,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 25-30

Sidewalk Replacement Projects
Request: $1,000,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 25-30

Boothe Memorial Park Improvements and Restorations
Request: $1,000,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 25-30.

WPCA Stormwater/Sanitation Projects Crew
Request: $600,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 4

Municipal Building Generators
Request: $600,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 12

Perry House Historic Addition
Request: $350,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 20-25

Municipal Building Roof Repairs & Management
Request: $250,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 20

Police Department Upgrades and Renovations
Request: $224,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 10-15

Town Residential Rehabilitation Program (RRP)
Request: $150,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 20

Stratford Housing Authority-Public Housing Roofing Projects
Request: $150,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 20-30

Municipal Building and Property Small Capital Improvement Projects
Project Cost: $50,000
Jobs Created & Retained: 30