Mayor Joseph P. Ganim
Bridgeport, CT
For Immediate Release For More Information:
February 10, 2016 Av Harris (203) 814-7992
av.harris@bridgeportct.gov
Mayor Ganim and Bridgeport City Transition Task Force Releases Final Report
Seven Transition Task Force Committees Made Recommendations on Everything from Schools to Policing, Blight to Economic Development
Bridgeport – Mayor Joe Ganim today joined many of the 75-member Bridgeport transition task force to release their final report and recommendations on the various challenges and opportunities the city faces and how city government should be structured to address the needs of Bridgeport residents. Joining Mayor-elect Ganim to review the findings of the report were the three transition task force co-chairs: State Representative Charles Stallworth (D-126) who is also pastor of the East End Tabernacle and Senior Advisor to Mayor Ganim, University of Bridgeport President Neil Albert Salonen, and former Bridgeport Town Clerk Alma Maya. The overall Bridgeport city transition task contained 75 members who served on seven committees. A complete listing of the task force membership and the committees follows at the end of this news release. The mission of each committee of the was to gather information, obtain public input, and work together to write a report summarizing their particular area of public policy and offer an array of recommendations and proposals for Mayor Ganim to consider. The complete final transition task force report will be posted online at www.bridgeportct.gov
“I am very proud of this team effort,” said Mayor Ganim. “After just eight weeks in office our administration has so many challenges. We are trying to close a $20 million budget deficit and negotiate more favorable labor contracts, while responding to storms and fires and focus on policing methods that make our neighborhoods safer. We are also reorganizing city government in a way that best serves the people of Bridgeport. This transition report will help serve as a guide for all of the things we want to accomplish. I am so grateful for the thorough work done by these diligent committees and the diverse array of voices active in our transition process to show us the way forward. This report represents all communities, stakeholders, and socio-economic backgrounds in Bridgeport. This administration is listening to its citizens and the actions and policies we pursue for Bridgeport in the future will reflect all of the ideas in this document.”
Bridgeport transition task force co-chairs Neil Salonen, President of the University of Bridgeport, said, “It was really inspiring to sit with a broad cross-section of our fellow citizens, who communicated their ideas for improving life in our City. We all know the administration has a lot of issues which need attention...there was a clear hope that communicating the primary concerns of the average citizen would help the new administration set its initial priorities.”
Task force co-chair and former Bridgeport Town Clerk Alma Maya said, “I want to thank Mayor Ganim for initiating this process and asking me to be a part of it. I expect that he will strongly consider the community's recommendations as he moves forward in the implementation of his vision for our City.”
Bridgeport Finance Director Ken Flatto, a transition task force leader, said, “The Transition Task Force has come up with dozens of invaluable recommendations which should help the City of Bridgeport immensely and I was thrilled to be involved to help all the Committees with their tremendous efforts.”
Among the recommendations of the transition task force:
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Government Operations
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Review vacancies and expired terms for Boards and Commissions
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Establish and Office of Public Integrity and Accountability
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Modernize the building department processes and permitting
The Bridgeport transition task force comprised the following members who served on the following committees:
Transition Committees:
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