Melissa Mack – First Selectman

Education:  Boston College, B.A., Mathematics;   University of Connecticut School of Law, Juris Doctor, with honors

Other relevant experience: As a business and tax attorney for seventeen years, I have extensive experience improving governance practices of nonprofit organizations, a type of business entity that operates similarly to municipal governments in that they are managed by volunteer boards, operate on lean budgets and often advance many of the social services provided by municipalities. I have advised on management and operations, how to manage conflicts of interest, policymaking, negotiating contracts, joint ventures, regulatory compliance, dispute resolution and other relevant matters. Applying my experience in these areas, has allowed me to improve the integrity, accountability, efficiency and high standards of governance practices to
Suffield’s municipal government.

Over the last two years in Suffield under my leadership, we have eliminated excess expenditures and waste, improved municipal services, negotiated favorable contracts, revitalized underutilized assets and maximized taxpayer dollars.

Specifically, I am proud to have worked with the Town employees, boards and commissions to accomplish the following:

Governance:

• Reconstitution of Technology Committee to improve Town’s utilization of technology
• Organization of Freedom of Information Act board and commission member training in Jan. 2016 and hired board secretaries for Historic District Commission and Permanent Building Commission to improve compliance
• Dissolution of redundant Heritage Committee
• Formation of 350th Anniversary Committee
• Formation of Suffield Local Prevention Council to address opioid epidemic
• Supported and funded the Social Services Commission’s Needs Survey to better meet the community’s needs
• Investigation and action on conflicts of interests

Infrastructure:

• Redesign of Town website
• Engagement of Information Technology consultant to address significant IT infrastructure issues
• Town Center fiber optic extension project linking entire Town network and enabling all public safety agencies to communicate effectively and Town departments to operate more efficiently
• Approval of purchase through bonding three pieces of fire apparatus (engine, rescue and ladder trucks)
• Initiated by the Late State Rep. Elaine O’Brien, implementation of Phase I of the Route 75 water and sewer main expansion project completed
  • Positions town for economic development on light industrial land close to Bradley International Airport
  • Phase II of Route 75 water and sewer main expansion project currently await approval by State
• Reconstruction/improvement of drainage and paving of approx. 37 miles of Town roads
• Archiving numerous historical documents in Town Clerk’s office to enable on-line access
• Revitalization of Babb’s Beach for recreational use after more than decade hiatus
• Performance of space needs study to verify and update plans for Town Hall renovation prior to expenditure of town funds
• Initiated aesthetic improvements at Ffyler Place
  • Road paved
  • Highway Garage hazmat performed prior to impending demolition
• Improvement of oversight and maintenance at Sunrise Park

Budget:

• Money saved or reimbursed to the Town from critical review of historic expenditures
  • $31,000 – annual savings after a review of the Town’s insurance coverage and by dealing directly with insurance company
  • $7,500 – annual premium savings for volunteer firefighter disability policy; Town had duplication of complementary CIRMA coverage
  • $1,200 – annual savings less in premium resulting in increase in coverage for Town’s employee crime policy by insuring through CIRMA
  • $6,000 – annual savings by replacing CODERED emergency alert with Everbridge system provided by the State at no cost to Town
  • $100,000 – annual savings estimated in first year by entering into employee health Stop Loss Captive Insurance program provided by the Regional Performance Incentive Program (RPI) in conjunction with the Board of Education
  • $65,255 – Member Equity Distribution check(s) from CIRMA
  • $265,000 for dirt disposal at the landfill from Environmental Partners LLC from MDC and Fastrack Busway projects
  • $31,000 – CT DOT reimbursed Town for inspections and municipal share of State costs for Suffield Street Bridge over Stony Brook
• Virtual net metering contract for purchase of solar energy credits estimated to result in $1,500,000 in savings to Town over next 20 years beginning in 2018
• Advocated for Suffield and maintained our S&P bond rating of AA+ and obtained an improved outlook from stable to positive
• Secured a favorable rating of 2.73% for the $9.1 million bonds issuance for roads receiving a $377,281 bond premium to pay interest for approx. 1.5 years
• 2017-18 Town Budget – increase of modest 0.98% due to:
  • Rise in employee health care costs
  • Mandated real property revaluation
• Proactive measures implemented related to Connecticut State Budget issues
  • Plan for Bridge Street School Community Center halted
  • Moratorium on all nonessential capital expenditures that do not contribute to tax rolls
  • Exploring retirement incentive for town employees

Grants:

• Awarded $355,200: Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program Grant (LOTCIP) through CRCOG – for paved multi use path along Mountain Road linking SMS/McAlister and Spaulding/SHS
• Awarded $7,783: Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) – offsets Emergency Management Director costs
• Awarded $5,940: Recycling Rewards Program – to pursue community efforts at increasing recycling
• Awarded $500,000: The Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection School Security Grant – in collaboration with the Board of Education for vestibule improvements and enhanced safety for Suffield Public Schools
• Awarded $450,000: Connecticut Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program – in conjunction with the Town of Ellington in a housing rehabilitation program that offers income-eligible Suffield residents loans at a 0% interest rate deferred until the house is sold to conduct repairs to their homes.
• Awarded $4,000: Historic Documents Preservation Target Grant – for Town Clerk’s on-line records project
• Awarded $30,000: Local Historic Survey Grant – continued update to the Historic District Commission’s Survey of Historical & Architectural Resources in Suffield
• Awarded $20,000: Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation Technical Assistance Grant (HPTAG) – in collaboration with Windsor Locks for the Windsor Locks Canal capital needs and hydropower study
• Awarded $20,000: Historic Preservation Enhancement Grant (HPEG) – matching grant for HPTAG
• Awarded $500,000: Main Street Investment Fund Grant – for streetscape activities and site work located in a town’s commercial district, specifically around the Bridge Street School
• Substance Use Prevention Grant – in conjunction with Town of Enfield to fund Opioid Addiction Task Force
• North Central District Health Department Grant – for environmentally sustainable projects including our Senior Center’s community garden
• Awarded $10,000: Bright Ideas Grant – based on town-wide participation in energy efficiency programs funding the lightbulb exchange held at Suffield on the Green and on Election Day
• Awarded $91,360: LOCIP – for Town road maintenance
• Awarded $5,000 from Eversource for a new gazebo for Babb’s Beach
• Awarded Grants through Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
  • $20,000: Amiel P. Zak Service Fund -with the Suffield Police Department for a new training room facility
  • $4,375: Amiel P. Zak Service Fund – with School Administration for new scoreboard at Suffield High School
  • $4,800: Glenn T. Packard Memorial Fund –also for the new scoreboard at SHS

Many additional smaller grants benefiting the Fire Department’s thermal imaging cameras, the Police Department’s bullet proof vests, the minibus, youth services, recycling efforts, etc.

Economic Development:

• Suffield Gymnastics
• Bouley Graphics & Embroidery
• River View Animal Hospital
• Champion Container
• Broad Brook Brewery (coming soon)
• Four Seasons Farm – hydroponic tomato greenhouse (coming soon)
• Established Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Policy
  • Formed Town Center TIF District as inaugural district
• Subdivided town-owned light industrial land on Rte 75 near Bradly International Airport
  • Sold one parcel, adding to Town’s commercial tax base
• Operating Farm Tax Abatement – Ordinance approval pending Town Meeting
• Presented the 15th Annual Economic Development Familiarization Tour

Personnel:

• Investigated fire union grievance and addressed issues revealed
• Promotions at Suffield Police Department
  • Captain Brown to Lieutenant, Deputy Police Chief and Police Chief
  • Sergeant Burrell to Lieutenant
  • Officers Nelson and Miner to Sergeants
• Restructured departments to provide better customer service, accountability, internal controls, and efficiencies, including:
  • Emergency Management Director – replaced $25,000 salaried part-time position with $5,000 stipend to EMS Chief
  • Two part-time Animal Control Officers replacing one full-time ACO increasing coverage
  • Senior Center/Minibus combination
  • Information Technology- eliminated full-time IT Director position and reorganized reporting structure under the Finance Department
  • Youth Services – Eliminated full-time Youth Services Director position and hired part-time coordinator to reassess and rebuild the role
• Hired new Town employees
  • New Police Records Clerk
  • Replaced Human Resources Director
  • Replaced Captain of Suffield Police Department
  • New part-time Assistant Finance Director
  • New part-time Youth Services Coordinator replacing full-time Youth Services Director
  • Replaced two full-time firefighters –department back to full staff
  • Replaced full-time paramedic
  • Replaced four full-time police officers
  • Replaced full-time dispatcher
  • New part-time Animal Control Officer
• Negotiated five fair collective bargaining agreements (with team of HR and Finance Directors) aimed at compensating employees fairly, and reducing unsustainable long-term post-employment benefits
  • Police, Fire, Library, Town Hall and Dispatcher
  • Successfully negotiated all new town employees joining the defined contribution plan instead of the pension
• Improved town employee processes
  • On-boarding process for new hires
  • Implemented more accountable system for tracking employee paid time off
  • Increased training opportunities for all employees
• Hired new town employees
• Standardization of board secretary rates
• Customer Services – challenged Library, Senior Center, Parks & Recreation and Youth Services to collaborate to do more with less; successful Scare It Up Suffield and other joint programing
• Continuing to explore opportunities to share services with the Board of Education

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