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03/21/2022 12:00 AMOn March 21, standing in the multipurpose room that's been doubling, with much lacking, as North Branford's Emergency Operations Center (EOC); U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D, D-3) personally delivered the good news that North Branford is getting $1 million in federal funds to put toward a new, $5 million state-of-the-art EOC.
The funding has been secured through H.R. 2741, the 2022 Federal Homeland Security bill signed into law by President Joseph Biden on March 15. As House Appropriations Committee Chair, DeLauro played a pivotal role in securing a total of $13,662,455 in Community Project Funding for CT's 3rd Congressional District within the federal spending package, with North Branford as 1 of 8 communities receiving a share of funding.
The federal spending package DeLauro introduced and helped pass includes funding, for the first time in 10 years, for community projects across Connecticut, she noted.
"These investments support our local communities, small businesses, and working families. They go to local governments and nonprofits that serve our communities, not to big companies," she said.
In addition, the funding also creates less of a burden on community taxpayers. DeLauro also noted the Senate has increased efforts to assist communities; including the $750,000 that's been secured for North Branford's communications radio system upgrade; assisted by Sen. Richard Blumenthal within the bill's Commerce, Justice, Science committee.
On March 21, DeLauro discussed the importance of bringing North Branford this $1 million funding; together with words from North Branford Chief of Police Kevin Halloran, Mayor Jeffrey Macmillen, Police Commission co-chairman David Palumbo and Town Manager Michael Paulhus.
DeLauro specifically thanked NBPD and all of the town's first responders for their work. She said it was her privilege to assist in securing funding to support their work. DeLauro, who had toured the aging police facility with Palumbo last year, also made note of the critical need to upgrade North Branford's EOC. She added that Storm Isiais (August, 2020), was a "wake up call" for the urgent need to upgrade the EOC. During the storm, the EOC lost all communication including public safety radio, telephone, cellular, and 911 for approximately 48 hours; creating an extremely dangerous condition for first responders.
DeLauro said the $1 million in funding will ensure not only community safety, but the proper tools to allow first responders to do their jobs.
"You are the front lines. You put your lives on the line every single day for our communities. Your job is a tough one," said DeLauro. "And what you deserve is our respect, and you deserve government funding for what you need to do."
Halloran described an EOC as the place where significant incidents of a size, scope and complexity exceeding the normal operational capacity of daily staff officers is managed, with dedicated space for command, technology and equipment. He thanked DeLauro for assisting the town with bringing in an EOC with the "space, systems and redundancy to effectively deal with any public crisis."
North Branford's current EOC is also the police department's multi-use room for training, commission meetings, victim/suspect interviews and more. When a disaster strikes, "it creates a conflict," said Halloran.
"If you have a moment, I'd like to give you a tour," of the current EOC, said Halloran on March 21, gesturing around the conference room before adding, "...the tour's concluded."
Currently, the room has a single, "end of life" land-mobile radio plugged into the wall; which Halloran said is "...our lifeline to the state of Connecticut" during a disaster and/or public health emergency. It's backed by a 1970's era generator, which failed during Storm Isaias. In addition, North Branford is also home to Lake Gaillard; which provides water for more than 500,000 Regional Water Authority customers in New Haven County; making it a critical first response location.
Halloran also noted that the $1 million funding is a "morale booster" for the town's first responders.
"Although this softens the burden for the taxpayers of North Branford, it couldn't have come at a better time," he said. "To me, it demonstrates that the federal government still has confidence in our first responders."
"As Chief Halloran said, this is couldn't have come at a better time," agreed Palumbo, in thanking DeLauro on behalf of himself, co-chair Victor Pietrandrea and the police commission.
"It is monumental for North Branford. Due to the rising costs and the projects that are currently underway, the funds will greatly help to support our new EOC...these funds will help decrease the burden to our taxpayers here in town, [and support] our first responders who put their lives on the line every day," said Palumbo. "Rosa, thank you so much."
North Branford is currently constructing a new high school, as well as bringing in the new EOC which will be located within the new police facility coming to 305 Forest Road. Construction bids for the new police facility will be going out soon, said Palumbo.
On behalf of the Town Council and the town, Macmillen also thanked DeLauro for her continued support of North Branford; as well as recognizing the important work of all of North Branford's first responders and the need to support them. He said North Branford is experiencing an "exciting time."
"We're really modernizing this town with the projects we have before us [and] as we sit here today, we have to think about who this really affects...as [DeLauro] mentioned; it's not a huge conglomerate or corporation; it's the people. The people that make up this town [that] require these municipal upgrades," said Macmillen. "We have the best here in North Branford. We're a wonderful town; one that is continuing to grow, and we're excited to see what happens in the future."
Paulhus echoed the many thanks given to DeLauro for her efforts and for validating the importance of community policing, emergency management and public safety, for which North Branford has "a great team," he said.
"This is an exciting day; and going forward we can rest assured that we have the technology [and] the capability that we need to serve this community," said Paulhus. "We thank you for this investment, and we couldn't be more proud to have you as a partner."
"I'm excited about being your partner in this effort," said DeLauro. "I look forward to working with you and to build on what we are doing here and other areas that are going to be critically important to you."