The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Council votes to put its money where its parking is
MIDDLETOWN — The spring is off to a fast start in Middlesex County, and the chamber team, as always, is on the move.
I do want to begin this week’s column, however, by covering a very important issue that is having a major effect on downtown Middletown. The recent announcement of the closure of the arcade parking garage is creating serious parking issues for our retail establishments, our restaurants, and other downtown businesses and organizations.
It is evident that we need a workable plan and a path forward that will address the parking shortage in the near term and in the long term. I appeared before the Common Council last week to support three important bond ordinances that would appropriate the necessary funds for the planning, design, engineering and deconstruction of the garage, parking improvements and surface parking lots downtown.
These measures were passed by the council, and I want to thank Mayor Drew, councilmen Serra, Santangelo, Daley, Chisem, Blanchard, Faulkner, Nocera and Pessina, and Councilwoman Bartolotta for supporting the measures. Parking Director Geen Thazhampallath gave a presentation at the Central Business Bureau meeting recently in a packed chamber conference room.
Geen, along with the mayor, outlined the plan for the near term and what the city’s options are moving forward. Members in attendance, including downtown business owners, council members and other stakeholders, expressed their strong disappointment with the situation as it currently stands, but also offered some very good suggestions that will be considered as we move forward.
Follow-up discussions on this issue and on the ideas presented at Thursday’s meeting will be held at the May meeting of the Central Business Bureau May 3. This is a critically important issue for downtown Middletown, and I will certainly share additional information on downtown parking issues in future editions of the chamber column.
The chamber, as always, looks forward to being a constructive partner as these important parking-focused discussions continue in earnest.
On the chamber event front, this Tuesday will feature our much anticipated 2018 Women in Business Leadership Conference, Luncheon, and Health and Wellness Fair at the Red Lion Hotel, Cromwell (formerly the Radisson). This event, sponsored by Citizens Bank, Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore and the Women’s Leadership Collaborative, will feature a full day of learning, growing and networking.
The luncheon will be headlined by keynote speaker Jean Chatzky, an award-winning personal finance journalist who serves as the financial editor of NBC’s Today Show. Jean Chatzky has been honored with multiple awards for her work to educate consumers about their money, and providing important information and smart steps for getting out of debt. Signed copies of Jean Chatzky’s and Dr. Michael F. Roizen’s new book, “AgeProof, Living Longer without Running Out of Money or Breaking a Hip,” will be available.
A kickoff presentation called “Embody This! Leadership Success,” will be given by Ellen Feldman Ornato and Jenny Drescher of The Bolder Company, a catalyst for lasting behavioral change that empowers businesses to thrive. A breakout session on “Building Strategic Relationships” will be given by R.J. Julia Booksellers owner Roxanne J. Coady and Lisa Maass, president of Citizens Bank Connecticut.
A second breakout session on “How to Negotiate and Handle Difficult Conversations” will be led by Dr. Wendy Shumway of Invision CCS. In her 30 years of medical practice, Shumway has worked in a variety of settings with a wide range of patients. Through Invision Coaching, Consulting and Seminars, Wendy works nationally, connecting with service-based professionals and organizations to help them move beyond surviving to thriving, as she does not accept that coping is the best we can do.
The master of ceremonies will be News 8 anchor and reporter Ann Nyberg, who has spent nearly 40 years in broadcast television news. She is the longest-serving, full-time female news anchor/ reporter in Connecticut television history.
We look forward to an excellent event Tuesday in Cromwell, and we ask those who attend to consider donating gently used and nearly new professional attire to this event in support of Dress for Success of Hartford County. These suits could furnish another woman with the confidence to enter or return to the workplace, and help her land a job that could change her life.
I would like to thank Maass for her outstanding support of the even; Coady for her commitment and longtime partnership with the chamber, and chamber VP Johanna Bond, who, in partnership with the WLC, has worked hard to ensure the event is very productive and enjoyable for all attendees.
On Tuesday afternoon, I look forward to attending a meeting of the Connecticut Culture and Tourism Advisory Committee at the state Department of Economic and Community Development offices in Hartford. The chamber recognizes tourism as a key economic driver in our region and state. I look forward to meeting with my fellow committee members to work to make Connecticut a key tourism hub in the northeast.
This busy week will also feature two important chamber division meetings. Wednesday morning, our Durham and Middlefield Division will meet at Torrison Stone & Garden in Durham from 8 to 9 a.m. In addition to updates from local officials, the meeting will feature a presentation from Connecticut Small Business Development Center Counselor Jim Jackson.
The Connecticut Small Business Development Center offers expert assistance at no cost to entrepreneurs and small-business owners throughout the state. Jim covers Middlesex County, and is a terrific resource for the business community. The Cromwell Division, one of our most active, will meet Thursday at the Coles Road Firehouse at 8 a.m. This meeting, hosted by Arborio Corp., will feature updates from local officials and the chamber’s Legislative Committee. Our divisions continue to play a critical role in the operation of our organization.
Speaking of Cromwell, I look forward to joining Mayor Enzo Faienza and other local officials at a grand reopening celebration for Hunter Law Friday at 4 p.m. Hunter Law is a general practice law firm owned and operated by Attorney Nancy S. Hunter, who was born and raised in Cromwell. She is doing a great job with this important local business. I look forward to joining her and members of her team as we celebrate the relocation of Hunter Law to Main Street in Cromwell.
As the legislative session moves forward in Hartford, the chamber’s Legislative Committee continues to stay active and engaged. Our Legislative Leadership Series continues April 16, when we will welcome House Minority Leader Themis Klarides to a special meeting at the Courtyard by Marriott in Cromwell to discuss the regular session of the Connecticut General Assembly.
The leadership series concludes April 23, when we welcome Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano for a similar session at the Courtyard. These meetings with the leaders of each legislative caucus have been very productive, and I appreciate each of them taking the time to visit with our members.
Another important session for our members is April 17 at 8 a.m. at the chamber. CT Small Business Development Center Counselor Jim Jackson will lead this latest KeyBank Workshop Series, “Two Faces of Time Management.” Join us to learn the overall principles and practical day-to-day methods you can use immediately to gain control of your time. Attendees will learn how to plan and prioritize more effectively while managing interruptions and distractions. Registration is available at middlesexchamber.com, and I again thank Key Bank for its strong support of this series.
Finally, I ask that chamber members and other interested parties save the date for the 31st annual Business & Education Partnership and Hal Kaplan Middletown Mentor Program Recognition Breakfast April 30 at the Red Lion Hotel.
Keynote speaker is Mark E. Ojakian, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. More information on this event is forthcoming, and we very much appreciate Liberty Bank’s sponsorship and support.
The spring weather is slowly coming in, and the sun continues to shine in Middlesex County.