We Can Do Better

The Ivain Plan to Get Torrington Back on the Road to Prosperity.

 

Here, in summary, is what I will do to do to redesign our Economic Development initiative if I am elected Mayor on November second. I will…

Create both a five year and a ten-year plan that have measurable goals

Create a realistic staffing plan and budget to achieve these goals

Streamline the new business and expansion review process

Update and redesign the website content so that it is current and clearly states the advantages Torrington offers

Reinvigorate the city’s Economic Development Commission. As of this past August, the Commission had just three active members out of nine openings. That’s not even enough for a quorum. Frankly, it’s embarrassing and shows a lack of enthusiasm and accountability.   

We will build on the fact that the people of Torrington voted two to one to build a new, state-of-the art High School-Middle School. This shows prospective employers we care about educating our children and, frankly, that we believe in our community.

We will submit all projects for review to all Town Council members at least five business days before a vote is taken

We will do an analysis to determine if we can more fully utilize our current industrial parks or should expand them. We will also…

Take an inventory of all properties available for business development

Present an annual progress report and encourage the public to attend and ask questions

Proactively reach out to local businesses and organizations, like yours, to ask them what we can do to help them to grow.

Partner with state agencies to ensure that we are not overlooked

Finally, I will work closely with our State Representatives to ensure we receive grants and subsidies we deserve. The best example of this I can think of is the work Michelle Cook did to get state money to subsidize the cost of building our new school. The original estimate was that we would get a 62 percent subsidy. Thanks to Michelle and other advocates for the school, we will receive 85 percent of the cost.

I promise you that I will work closely with Michelle, Maria Horn and other elected officials to ensure that we leave no stone unturned and that we make our case to the state.

 I am extremely proud of the arts, entertainment, and other non-profits organizations we are blessed to have in Torrington.

I also voted in favor of the new school referendum and was a vocal proponent for its passage. My wife, Philippa, is a highly respected teacher at the Forbes School. We talk often about how the city can improve the way we educate our children.

Our athletic fields are no longer free, and that needs to change. Likewise, I would like to talk about eliminating some paid parking areas in downtown, to discuss what we can do to work with the state to revitalize the four large parks we have so that they can be used to benefit residents and attract people from across the state.

I am first focused on economic development because without good financial management that leads to a growth, little else matters.  

Without new revenues, city services, building maintenance and our infrastructure will continue a slow and steady decline. As the saying goes, if you are not growing, you are dying. I refuse to accept that fate for our city.

I have a very rewarding and challenging career at one of the country’s largest and most respected insurance companies. I have been a financial analyst, business manager and project team leader for 25 years. I am concerned about profits and losses and risks. And I understand the need to invest and plan and measure and to be held accountable.

 I care far less about party affiliation than I do about results and doing things that will improve our city and the lives of the people that call Torrington home.

We have work to do. We have lost businesses. We have increased our mill rate from 36 to 46. We have lost 1000 residents since 2010. And our annual growth rate is often less than the rate of inflation.

If I am elected to be your next Mayor, I promise you I will use my skills to get us back on the Road to Prosperity. With your help, we can do better. A lot better.