Latest news with #Passero
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
New London fires police officer who's been arrested four times
New London — The city has fired embattled police officer Julio Gil-Martinez, a move that comes not long after his fourth arrest on domestic violence related charges and the completion of an internal investigation. Mayor Michael Passero announced the firing on Thursday. Gil-Martinez's April 2 termination letter was sent to Corrigan Correctional Center in Montville where he remains on $350,000 in bonds. In a statement, Passero said Gil-Martinez's termination was made for just cause," and came after two internal investigations related to the off-duty incidents were completed. He said the probes revealed "egregious violations of the New London Police Department's General Duty Manual." Gil-Martinez, 29, who was hired by the city in 2023, was first arrested Nov. 16, 2024, for the alleged assault of his 20-year-old girlfriend. He has been arrested three more times since that first arrest on charges that include multiple violations of a protective order that bars him from contact the woman. The initial arrest came after Gil-Martinez allegedly cut himself and tried to convince his girlfriend to tell police she had stabbed him. At his last court appearance, Gil-Martinez applied for acceptance into the Supervised Diversionary Program. The program allows defendants to undergo mental health treatment and could lead to his charges being dismissed. Records show that following the completion of an internal investigation, Chief Brian Wright and Captain Todd Bergeson held a disciplinary hearing with Gil-Martinez on March 31 at Corrigan. Passero said the the internal investigation determined that Gil-Martinez had violated numerous department rules such as "Commission of criminal offenses, interfering with the course of justice, untruthfulness during an internal investigation — demonstrating a blatant disregard for truth and ethical standards expected of law enforcement personnel, providing false information on official records (and) conduct unbecoming of an officer." "Your actions demonstrated an apparent disregard for your oath of office and the standards of conduct expected of police professionals," Passero wrote in Gil-Martinez's termination letter. It was your conduct that compromised the integrity of the police department and fostered alarm, distrust, and misgivings within the community, thereby undermining the authority of the hard-working men and women of the New London Police Department. Attorney Erica Rodriguez, who represents Gil-Martinez, could not be reached to comment. Gil-Martinez is due back in Superior Court in Norwich on June 4. Prior to his hiring in New London, Gil-Martinez worked short stints at both the East Haven and West Haven police departments.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New London mayor's $105M budget plan calls for tax rate decrease
New London ― Mayor Michael Passero's proposed 2025-26 city and school budget of $105.6 million would drop the tax rate by 0.30 mill through a series of austerity measures such as not increasing education spending, re-routing surplus funding and eliminating up to 15 municipal employees. 'The goal is to not raid our fund balance and not raise taxes,' Passero said Monday, hours before he unveiled his spending plan to the City Council. As expected, Passero's budget keeps school district spending flat at $47.4 million. The Board of Education previously approved a $54.7 million budget with $22.5 million covered by state Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) monies. Since ECS funding is not increasing for next year, the school board's proposed budget increase of $7.3 million would be shouldered entirely by taxpayers, Finance Director David McBride said. Passero is proposing a $58.2 million city budget that is $1.2 million higher than the current budget. Digging out from a $1.5 million budget hole" Passero and McBride said the city is grappling with the expected loss of $2.4 million in state funding under Gov. Ned Lamont's proposed biennial budget ― though the city hopes to recoup $1 million of that money ― coupled with another $1 million drop in motor vehicle reimbursements. "Such a drastic cut in a single fiscal year is nearly impossible to overcome," Passero said. In addition to the potential state funding loss, the city also has local increases to manage in the 2025-26 budget. For example, McBride said the city is budgeting nearly $500,000 in 2026 — compared to $50,000 this year — to help cover years of owed payments to Ocean Beach Park operators to offset revenue losses the city is required to subsidize. The police department budget is increasing $1.1 million to $14.4 million due to contractual raises and the hiring of a new deputy police chief and two patrol officers. The fire department's budget is jumping by $526,000 due to contract re-negotiations, while union contracts for public works employees require a $290,000 increase in that department's salary budget. To offset the increases, Passero's budget calls for funneling $1.75 million in excess revenue from 2024 into a new tax rate stabilization fund. That transfer would preclude poaching from a $24.6 million fund balance, which will contain $19.6 million after a series of planned transfers to a Board of Education non-lapsing fund and other designated areas. Another $500,000 is expected to be saved by not filling employee vacancies this fiscal year. 'That still leaves us with a $1.5 million hole,' Passero said. City officials plan to institute a 'reduction in force' initiative that calls for working with various unions to identify those full-time workers ― police officers and firefighters are excluded ― willing to take early retirement by July 1. Those retirements will hopefully fill the $1.5 million gap, McBride said. 'The average city employee makes $80,000 a year, so it would take between 10 and 15 employees, once benefits, taxes and other things are included, to reach that goal,' McBride said. 'If there are employees making more than the average who opt to retire, it will require fewer retirements.' If Passero's budget passes without changes, it would translate to a tax rate of 27.2 mills, down from 27.5. Tax increase "not a reasonable option" In his council address, Passero highlighted his administration's continued investments in neighborhoods, parks and open spaces, as well as a commitment to a 'green future' through solar panel projects at the high school and near Bates Woods. He said the city's stock of vacant downtown buildings and empty commercial spaces is giving way to a "thriving urban center" marked by new sidewalks and increased foot traffic. Passero said said while the local and state housing markets presented challenges, New London has built 800 new units in the last six years, with another 1,300 permitted, planned or under construction. 'Despite our city's recent rise in influence and financial stability, the budget I deliver to you today is extremely grim,' Passero said. 'It requires that we adjust our expenses to match a substantial drop in projected revenues.' Passero said it will require a "renewed commitment" to meet budgetary challenges. He said with 60% of New London families living paycheck to paycheck ― and 20% below the poverty line ― raising taxes was "not a reasonable option" this year, even to offset potential state funding losses. "I intend to double-down on the strategy of growing the tax base and recruiting investment to ease the local property tax burden," he said. "The strategy will remain: more taxpayers, not more taxes. The City Council's Finance Committee will meet with city department heads next week to discuss their respective budgets. The Finance Board will meet in late April ahead of the council approving a budget on May 12.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New London freezes spending, contemplates job cuts
New London — Amid a hiring freeze, overtime cuts and warnings of possible municipal layoffs, the City Council on Monday approved funneling $2 million in surplus funds into a new tax-rate stabilization account designed to offset state funding losses. The money — $1 million more than initially planned — will come from a series of sources, including $1.5 million worth of additional revenues from a state municipal revenue sharing program; the Connecticut Port Authority; and Eversource incentive payments. Another $500,000 will be withdrawn from various city payroll, overtime, consulting and other accounts, Finance Director David McBride said on Tuesday. The council's 5-2 vote to shift the excess funds came after Mayor Michael Passero painted a grim picture of the 2025-26 budget process. He said Gov. Ned Lamont's proposed biennial budget shorts the city $2.5 million in state funds, mainly through a drop in Payment in Lieu of Taxes and motor vehicle tax subsidies that can be traced to the city's 2023 property revaluation results. The General Assembly has yet to unveil its budget, which may differ significantly from Lamont's proposal. Passero, who previously said he will not increase education spending for next year, has ordered a hiring freeze for all departments except the police and fire departments to build a surplus. Passero earlier this month proposed moving $1 million into the tax-rate stabilization fund as a way to offset those state losses. But the plan to double that deposit took aback several councilors — many of whom learned of the increase less than two hours before the meeting began. Councilor Jefferey Hart, who in past months has become the most prominent and vocal critic of several of Passero's proposals, decried the suddenness of the ask and pushed, unsuccessfully, for the issue to be tabled 'indefinitely.' Hart, who along with Councilor John Satti voted against the $2 million funding shift, argued it was unfair to ask the school district to drain its reserves to craft a balanced budget while Passero was 'stuffing' surplus money into what he called a rainy-day account. 'It is raining now. We're having issues now,' Hart said, adding the plan 'stinks to high heaven.' Passero countered it would require cutting 20 to 25 positions to make up for the anticipated state funding loss. 'That's what we've been struggling with: gutting the government just to be able to produce a budget,' he said. Cutting overtime, freezing spending After the current budget resulted in the first widespread tax increase in years for property owners, Passero vowed Monday to chop and divert his way out of a similar scenario and plug the anticipated revenue hole in the 2025-26 budget. 'I will not raise taxes. I've said that,' he said. 'We cannot raise property taxes in a city where 60% of our families are living paycheck to paycheck and already paying well more than 30% of their income in housing costs. We don't need any more foreclosures. We don't any more evictions.' In addition to the hiring freeze in place through the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, Passero said all city departments are instructed to scour their books to halt any unnecessary spending in hopes of finding more surplus revenue. 'We're just trying to limit the amount of damage we have to do and the number of positions we have to cut,' he said, adding he's hoping any employee cuts will be offset by not filling vacancies. 'We'll cut anywhere else we can before we cut personnel. We're especially concentrating on overtime costs.' The city last week opted not to spend up to $225,000 in police, fire and public works overtime costs for the city's annual Sailfest event. In response, organizers first canceled the summertime festival before announcing a 'scaled-back' event. McBride said Passero was if anything understating the severity of the budget problem facing the city, especially without the $2 million funding shift. 'I can honestly say it's in dire straits,' he said. Hart said all the mayor's explanations fell flat" for him, noting millions of dollars in unexpected revenue had been found to be placed in the stabilization account. "I don't know whether to interpret that generously or not, but it happens too often," he said. "I have a hard time trusting you and the administration. Passero is required to present his budget proposal to the council by April 1.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Organizers cancel Sailfest
New London — The annual Sailfest event that brought hundreds of thousands of visitors downtown for the last 45 years has been cancelled due to city budget issues, festival organizer Barbara Neff said Wednesday. But Mayor Michael Passero contends Neff made the decision before other options were fully explored. Early Tuesday night, Passero said the popular fireworks display would continue as he had spoken with Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler, who assured him the tribe would continue to fund the show. Neff, executive director of the Downtown New London Association, said she was told Tuesday by city officials no money would be available to cover the estimated $200,000 needed to pay for police, firefighter and public works overtime during the festival. Neff said she was stunned by the news as contracts for vendors and entertainment — including the popular fireworks display — had already been agreed to in many cases. 'Now I need to get on the phone and tell these people and companies it's not happening,' Neff said. 'We don't have the money to cover the lost funding.' But Passero said Wednesday the city didn't cancel Sailfest, Neff did after learning the city was not in a position this year to help subsidize the event. He said the city, facing a possible $2.5 million shortfall in state funding, is combing through every department budget to 'scratch out places to save.' 'If we're in a position where we have to cut positions, how can we justify using money for a street festival?' Passero said, who noted he was not at the meeting between Neff, city Chief Administrative Officer Steve Fields and Finance Director David McBride, during which festival costs were discussed. 'But we did not cancel the festival; this is a decision made by (Neff).' A formal statement issued by Passero's administration Wednesday afternoon states the Tuesday meeting between Neff and city staff focused on how increased public safety needs would be funded. 'Instead of engaging in weighing options, the organizer decided to cancel the festival admitting it was time,' the statement read. Security concerns Passero said he's also been worried for years about security at the event. In 2006, an elderly driver struck a crowd of attendees, injuring about two dozen people. He said the tragedy in New Orleans on New Year's Day, when 14 people were killed when a driver plowed through a celebrating crowd, has made him even more nervous. 'I think we'd have to put tens of thousands more into security before I'd feel good,' he said. In 2023, the summertime festival, which ran for decades Friday through Sunday, was shortened to exclude Friday due to police and other manpower issues. Neff said the festival serves as a much-needed source of revenue for downtown shops and restaurants after a winter shopping slump. 'They can make as much in two days as they did in January, February and March,' she said. 'And it's not just the businesses in the immediate area. There're places like the Hygenic Art and beverage distributors like F & F who will be affected.' Sal D'Angelo, owner of the Blue Duck & Bar on Bank Street, called Sailfest his 'biggest days of the year.' 'Last year on that Saturday we had 1,020 people come in, compared to 300 the next week,' he said. 'I spend a lot of time with my chef working out how to handle the volume and making sure we're offering the best service.' D'Angelo said it's not just his staff affected by the cancellation. 'There's DJs and bands booked ahead of time,' he said. 'We're going to try and come up with something ourselves that weekend that brings people in.' In her statement announcing the cancellation, Neff said the city will host three other fireworks displays this year sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Modified New London school budget with $6.5M hike goes to vote
New London — The Board of Education on Monday is scheduled to discuss and possibly approve a 2025-26 $54.7 million school budget that, even with more than a half-million dollars in recent reductions, still calls for a $6.5 million, or 13.7%, increase from the current spending plan. The latest proposal, which Mayor Michael Passero has vowed to cut so there is no increase, is the result of a series of reductions this month that eliminates an administrator — no final decision has been made on which position will be cut — two teachers and an attendance motivator job. The board also approved trimming home tutoring, substitute custodial work and after-school programming for a total reduction of $548,162. The cuts were made to Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie's initial 'same services' budget that included the costs for all current staffing and programs based on contractual increases and inflation and carried a $7.8 million increase. Ritchie's total proposed budget comes to $87.1 million after $32.3 million in various state and federal grants are included. The $54.7 million taxpayer portion of the bill includes $22.9 million in state Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funding and $1.6 million from the district's non-lapsing account. The major reasons for the increase include an additional $2.3 million in employee raises; $709,000 more in health insurance costs; just over $1 million more in tuition for special education students; $44,000 in increased unemployment costs; and nearly $95,000 more in liability insurance due to construction at the Bennie Dover Jackson Multi-Magnet Middle School Campus. Another $2.3 million is allotted for the preschool operations at the Early Childhood Center at B.P. Mission. District officials are hoping state lawmakers will step in and help fund operations at the Shaw Street facility as they did last year. Ritchie, echoing board President Elaine Maynard-Adams, is referring to the spending plan as a 'community budget,' or one that funds programming beyond the classroom walls. 'For instance, we have 302 homeless students, the highest number we've ever had,' she said. 'The district is responsible for conducting home visits, food and transportation. And the state has cut our transportation funding for those students by half.' Passero said deep proposed cuts to New London's pool of state aid — more than $2 million — under Gov. Ned Lamont's biennial spending plan means he'll recommend not increasing school funding above the current year's $48.1 million figure. 'Since ECS funding is not increasing, the actual percentage increase to taxpayers that's being proposed is double the 13.7% they're announcing,' Passero said. 'We're already in a hole and will be making cuts the general government budget. I will be sending a letter to the district earlier than usual informing them we don't have the money for an increase.' Ritchie called a flat-funded budget a 'devastating' prospect, especially as past budgets have not been enough to keep up with inflation and contractual wage increases. 'The average asks for other school districts in the state is between 6.5 and 8.5% increase, so we're not alone here in New London,' she said. 'But we have the added challenge of not being a wealthy city. The board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday at the district's Welcome Center, 3 Shaws Cove.
