Past Issues of the Putnam Town Crier
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Arc and
supporters decry
budget cuts
DANIELSON — At a recent legislative meeting The Arc Quinebaug Valley voices were heard regarding the proposed state budget cuts to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).
The Arc provides programs for individuals with intellectual, developmental and other life-affecting disabilities. Vocational, residential, recreation, education, day and retirement services offer opportunities for people with disabilities to reach their goals and be integral members of their community.
Legislators in attendance were State Representative Mike Alberts, State Representative Christine Randall and State Representative Daniel Rovero. Shannon Jacovino, Director of Advocacy & Public Policy at The Arc Connecticut was also present and spoke about the devastation the proposed budget cuts to DDS will bring to human service agencies in Connecticut, such as The Arc.
More than 60 people attended, from families, individuals served, Arc Board members, Arc staff and various members from the community. The stories shared were unforgettable, truly touching, and very powerful for not only the legislators to hear, but for everyone at the meeting. “It is moments such as this, where we all stand united, that make me extremely proud to be part of such an amazing agency and strong community, even more so than I already am. Together, our voices can be heard and we have the ability to make a difference.” said Susan M. Desrosiers, executive director of The Arc Quinebaug Valley.
Parents of individuals with disabilities in the community stood up and spoke directly to the legislators about their hardships with the already under-funded DDS system.
Tears were shed due to the fear and severity of these proposed budget cuts, but there was still a sense of hope in the air that the legislators could help stop these budget cuts from happening.
Representative Rovero stated, “We are on your side!” Five simple words that made all the difference in the world to everyone
that was present at the meeting. Representative Alberts and Representative Randall both agreed with Mr. Rovero. “I can feel the anxiety in the room, as well as the worry and concern you all have. It shouldn’t have to be that way and it is unfortunate that it is.” said Representative Randall.
The proposed budget cuts threatened $17 million in recession cuts to DDS as part of a plan to address a $79 million shortfall in the budget for fiscal year 2016. Legislators voted on an alternative to Governor Malloy’s plan on March 29th. The deficit mitigation plan resulted in a cut of $3,393,681 from the DDS budget.
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Then
This is the new lower area of the Palmer Arboretum in Woodstock, taken last year when the arboretum kicked off its 100th birthday celebration. Putnam Town Crier file photos.
& Now
This is the same area with Woodstock Academy students and staffers doing a cleanup April 1.
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Lions offer scholarships
POMFRET — The Pomfret Lions Club will award three $1000 scholarships to students who will attend a post-secondary educational institution during the 2016-17 academic year.
To be eligible applicants must be residents of Pomfret and must complete and return an application before April 29. The application requires a school transcript, a reference, and several brief paragraphs in addition to personal information. Applications are available from school guidance departments at Woodstock Academy, Putnam High School, Killingly High School, Pomfret School, and Marianapolis Preparatory School.
An application may also be requested from the following address: Lions Club Scholarship, Box 224, Pomfret, CT 06258.
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Shred Days
are coming
CorePlus Federal Credit Union announces two upcoming Shred Days in the Eastern Connecticut area. These FREE events are held in partnership with Infoshred as a way to protect individuals from identity theft, a growing concern. People may bring personal documents, financial records, credit card statements, insurance forms, canceled checks, bank statements and tax preparation worksheets to be shredded. You can actually watch your items being shredded on-site!
Events are from 9 a.m. to noon April 9 at CorePlus Federal Credit Union at 40 Boston Post Road, Waterford and on April 30 at 67 Lathrop Road, Plainfield.
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HARTFORD – Senator Mae Flexer (D-Killingly), Representative Danny Rovero (D-Killingly) and Representative Christine Rosati Randall (D-Killingly) announced that $3.8 million in supplemental and small hospital funding to Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam has been restored, following the legislature’s approval of a bipartisan deficit mitigation plan for the current fiscal year.
The plan will restore hospital funding in full, preserve town aid, and protect funding for core social services.
The compromise legislation was negotiated between legislative Democrats and Republicans and Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s budget office.
“I am very pleased that we have been able to reach a bipartisan agreement that closes the current year’s budget shortfall without harming Day Kimball Hospital,” said Flexer. “We recognize that this fiscal year presented real and serious challenges to the State, and many of the cuts the budget plan contains are painful, but we could not in good conscience pass an amended budget without restoring the funding our hospitals so desperately need.”
Sen. Flexer, Rep. Rovero and Rep. Rosati Randall have worked for months to secure the restoration of funding for Day Kimball Hospital, which was stricken from the earlier budget plan, restored, and then rescinded by Governor Malloy’s administration earlier this month.
“When the money allocated for Day Kimball was withheld by the governor, Rep. Rovero, Rep. Rosati Randall, and I made it our top priority to see the money restored. We, along with the community of northeastern Connecticut, have been fighting tirelessly to make our voices heard and to communicate to the governor what these cuts would mean for Day Kimball – putting the hospital’s very existence in jeopardy and crippling both quality healthcare and the economy in our region,” said Flexer.
“After many meetings and long negotiations I am pleased that hospital reimbursement funds have been restored to the state budget,” said Rovero. “It has been a tough battle, but we are finally there and I hope we can put a plan in place to prevent going through this year after year.”
“When the governor announced that nearly $4 million in payments from the state for Medicaid patients – payments that had been promised, and budgeted for by Day Kimball – would not be made, we said that was unacceptable and vowed to ensure the governor made good on his original promise to fund our hospital. Today, the legislature has taken the action necessary to bring that money back to Day Kimball. Closing the deficit in this fiscal year’s budget has not been an easy or painless task, but closing the gap on the back of small hospitals like ours was not the answer and will never be the answer,” said Flexer.
“As a resident of Killingly and parent of four who frequently utilize Day Kimball Hospital’s services, I understand the importance of preserving their funding,” said Rep. Rosati Randall. “Restoring this funding protects jobs in our communities and ensures the quality patient care we expect at Day Kimball.”
“While we celebrate this victory today for Day Kimball, we must also look to the future, to ensure that our small hospital funding is not put in jeopardy like this again. We are advocating for several policy changes that will protect Day Kimball in future years. Rep. Rovero, Rep. Rosati Randall and I will continue to fight for our hospital, its employees, and our community — who should not have to live in fear of a future without local, quality healthcare,” said Flexer.