SCCOG

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments will conduct a public involvement meeting concerning the Route 161 Corridor Study on Thursday, April 27th at 6:00 PM at the East Lyme Middle School auditorium.

SCCOG, in partnership with the Town of East Lyme and the Connecticut Department of Transportation, is leading a study to analyze and develop alternatives to improve the Route 161 corridor. The purpose of the Route 161 Corridor Study is to:

• Alleviate traffic congestion levels during peak travel hours;
• Improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility;
• Promote use of healthy and environmentally friendly modes of transportation;
• Enhance transit ridership;
• Improve safety for all users.

The purpose of the public involvement meeting is to share the draft conceptual alternatives plan and provide stakeholders with an opportunity to provide feedback that will be used to finalize the plan.

Additional information, including a virtual meeting room, may be found on the study website at www.route161corridorstudy.com. Individuals are invited to submit comments via the contact form or interactive map tool.

Persons with hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). Language assistance may be requested by contacting the Department of Transportation’s Language Assistance Call Line (860) 594-2109. Requests should be made at least 5 business days prior to the meeting. Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance.

Para información adicional, o asistencia lingüística gratuita, por favor llame al (860) 594-2109.

如需更多信息或免费语言协助，请致电 (860) 594-2109.

Flyer

Press Release

Contact:  James S. Butler, SCCOG Senior Advisor | 860-889-2324 | jbutler@seccog.org

While southeastern Connecticut has enjoyed a period of relative calm over the last five years, the tropical systems of 2021 (Elsa, Fred, Henri, and Ida) and the coastal storm of December 23, 2022 were strong reminders of the risks posed by natural disasters. The region’s communities–twenty-two towns, cities, and boroughs, and two federally recognized tribal governments–have shared in the development and adoption of a natural hazard mitigation plan for two decades, with updates incorporated every five years. The region’s communities again worked with the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG) to update the plan, and this time the challenges associated with climate change were incorporated directly into the plan to produce a “Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan” for southeastern Connecticut.

The Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan for southeastern Connecticut outlines sets of actions that can be taken to reduce losses of property and life due to natural disasters like floods, severe wind events, winter storms, wildfires, droughts, and extreme heat events made worse by climate change, as well as hazards such as earthquakes that are not affected by climate change. This is the first edition of the region’s plan to directly include droughts and extreme heat. Many of the proposed actions listed in the plan are meant to ensure that each of the towns, cities, boroughs, and tribes in the region have reasonable access to shelters, cooling centers, and other critical facilities needed before, during, and after severe weather or heat events.

The hazard mitigation and climate adaptation planning effort leveraged close coordination with the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), which is located nearby at UConn’s Avery Point Campus. CIRCA has expanded its “Resilient Connecticut” program from a narrow pilot region to the entire state, with a strong focus in southeastern Connecticut. New flood and extreme heat vulnerability mapping was developed by CIRCA and is included in the plan.

The Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan for southeastern Connecticut will continue to make the region’s communities eligible for seeking hazard mitigation assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Connecticut.

The Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan for southeastern Connecticut is available for review at www.seccog.org/resil-haz.

Comments and questions regarding the Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan for southeastern Connecticut may be sent directly to SCCOG at office@seccog.org. Public comments regarding the draft will be received until March 31, 2023. Additional comments about natural hazard mitigation and climate adaptation may be provided to SCCOG at the same email address during plan implementation, over the life of the plan.

If language assistance is needed, please contact SCCOG at 860-889-2324, office@seccog.org.

Si necesita asistencia lingüística, por favor comuníquesea 860-889-2324, office@seccog.org.

如果您需要语言帮助，请致电 860-889-2324或发送电子邮件至 office@seccog.org.

Ozone/PM2.5 Air Quality Conformity Determination

Draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2023-2050

Notice of public hearing/comment period

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG) will host two (2) public hearings to receive public comment on SCCOG’s Draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), the region’s long-range plan, which establishes transportation priorities from 2023 – 2050.  The plan includes the Air Quality Conformity Determination authored by the CT Department of Transportation. The Draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2023-2050 (2023 MTP) and Ozone/PM2.5 Air Quality Conformity Determination are available for review at www.seccog.org.

Hearings will be held via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87205976084) Thursday, February 16th, at 1:00 pm and again at 6:00 pm. For language/disability assistance, please contact SCCOG in advance. A survey regarding transportation needs and priorities is available at https://forms.office.com/r/NWcX9vr9WJ. Comments may also be submitted via mail/email to office@seccog.org, 5 Connecticut Avenue, Norwich, CT 06360, by March 6.  

“Conformity” is a requirement of the Federal Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) Section 176(c) (42 U.S.C.7506(c)) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conformity regulations (40 CFR 93 Subpart A). These regulations require that each new Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) be demonstrated to conform to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) before an MTP and TIP is approved by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) or accepted by the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT); the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments is an MPO. This process ensures that transportation projects in the MTP and TIP are consistent with air quality goals and that progress is made toward achieving and maintaining Federal air quality standards. A conformity determination is undertaken to estimate emissions from a transportation system and demonstrate that those emissions are within the limits outlined in State air quality implementation plans. 

Aviso de audiencia pública/período de comentarios 

El Consejo de Gobiernos del Sureste de Connecticut (SCCOG) organizará dos audiencias públicas para recibir comentarios públicos sobre el Borrador del Plan de Transporte Metropolitano (MTP) de SCCOG, el plan a largo plazo de la región, que establece las prioridades de transporte de 2023 a 2050.  El plan incluye la Determinación de Conformidad de la Calidad del Aire creada por el Departamento de Transporte de CT. El Borrador del Plan de Transporte Metropolitano 2023-2050 (2023 MTP) y la Determinación de la Conformidad de la Calidad del Aire del Ozono / PM2.5 están disponibles para su revisión en www.seccog.org. Las audiencias se llevarán a cabo a través de Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87205976084) Jueves 16 de febrero, a la 1:00 pm y nuevamente a las 6:00 pm. Para obtener asistencia lingüística / discapacidad, comuníquese con SCCOG con anticipación. Una encuesta sobre las necesidades y prioridades de transporte está disponible en https://forms.office.com/r/NWcX9vr9WJ. Los comentarios también pueden enviarse por correo electrónico office@seccog.org, a por correo postal a SCCOG 5 Connecticut Avenue, Norwich, CT 06360 antes del 6 de marzo.   

公开听证会通知/公众意见征询期 

康涅狄格州东南部政府委员会 （SCCOG） 将举办两次公开听证会，以听取公众对 SCCOG 大都市交通计划 （MTP） 草案的意见，这是该地区的长期计划，确定了 2023 年至 2050 年的交通优先事项。 该计划包括由CT交通部撰写的空气质量符合性测定。2023-2050 年大都市交通计划草案 （2023 MTP） 和臭氧/PM2.5 空气质量符合性测定可在 www.seccog.org 听证会将于 2 月 16 日星期四下午 1：00 和下午 6：00 通过 Zoom （https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87205976084)  举行。如需语言/残疾协助，请提前联系SCCOG。有关运输需求和优先事项的调查可在 xxxx 获得 https://forms.office.com/r/NWcX9vr9WJ 。评论也可以在 3 月 6 日之前通过邮件/电子邮件提交到 office@seccog.org, 5 Connecticut Avenue, Norwich, CT 06360.

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments will host a series of public workshops to inform the development of its Regional Open Space Plan. This plan will help to guide conservation and recreation decisions in the region over the coming years.

Public Workshops Flyer

Notificación de Reunione Públicos

The planned workshops will provide the public an opportunity to learn about the plan and provide direct input. The scheduled dates and locations are as follows:

Saturday, February 11th, 10:00am – 11:00am
Public Library of New London
63 Huntington St, New London, CT 06320
________________________________

Monday, February 13th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Zoom Video/Teleconference
Click Here to Register
Meeting ID: 854 1341 5989  |  Call-in number: +1 (929) 205 6099 US (New York)
________________________________

Wednesday, February 15th, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Otis Library
261 Main St, Norwich, CT 06360

SCCOG is also seeking feedback through an online survey, which seeks to identify how residents use, or would like to use, open space. That can be found below.

Open Space Survey.

If information is needed in another language, contact 860-889-2324, office@seccog.org.
Si necesita información en otro idioma, llame al 860-889-2324, office@seccog.org.
如果您需要语言帮助，请致电860-889-2324或发送电子邮件至 office@seccog.org.

Deadline: February 1, 2023, or until filled.

The Building Code Enforcement Official performs all duties relating to the inspection and permitting of construction activities. The Building Code Enforcement Official will provide services on an ongoing basis to one or more towns and may provide services to additional towns as needed under the direction of SCCOG’s Executive Director.

• Reviews, interprets, enforces and implements applicable laws, ordinances, regulations, and the State Building Code.
• Reviews and approves construction plans and specifications and performs inspections for conformance with the State Building Code. Enforce corrective actions as needed.
• Assists in coordination of review of permit applications with other Town departments and appropriate agencies.
• Discuss pertinent problems with builders, architects, engineers, and owners and advise and assist.
• Confers with contractors, town officials, property owners, and the general public to provide information and resolve problems and address complaints. Ensure compliance with approved plans.
• Investigate violations; keep records and make reports.

Full Job Description

Deadline: December 20, 2022, or until filled.

Full-time Development Services position with the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments acting as Zoning Enforcement Officer/Blight Officer for several towns in southeastern Connecticut. Duties will include receiving and investigating zoning violation complaints, issuing notices of violation, issuing cease and desist orders as necessary, signing off on Certificates of Zoning Compliance, and advising municipal Zoning Boards of Appeals (ZBAs).

Additional planning tasks may include contributing to local and regional plans; reviewing applications; conducting research regarding social and fiscal indicators, laws, and regulations; advising municipal planning/zoning commissions, Inland Wetlands commissions, and other regulatory committees.

Certification as a Certified Zoning Enforcement Officer must be obtained within one year of employment. Part-time applicants may be considered. Salary will be dependent upon experience and qualifications of applicant.

This position is partially funded by a State of Connecticut Regional Performance Incentive Program grant intended to enable regional Councils of Governments to expand the types of services available to member municipalities.

Background Desired: Experience in Zoning and/or Planning; Certification as a Certified Zoning Enforcement Officer and/or AICP certification preferred.

Full Job Description

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG) is seeking consultant services to conduct a corridor study of the Chelsea Harbor and downtown Norwich area. The Chelsea Harbor/Downtown Mobility Study is a key component in the City of Norwich’s efforts to provide streets that are safe and accessible for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit users of all ages and abilities. The planning study goals will include improvements to livability, mobility, access to essential services, safe routes to the waterfront and Howard T. Brown Park, the Intermodal Transportation Center, the Norwich Marina and other downtown destinations; through expanded bicycle facilities, sidewalk network improvements, and the reconfiguration of multi-lane, high-speed through streets that currently exist as a barrier between downtown proper and the City’s waterfront area, East, and West Side neighborhoods. There is a need for improved wayfinding for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit users, as the downtown is currently a confusing maze of one-way, high-speed streets with a number of signalized intersections and expansive pavement widths that make travel difficult for residents and visitors alike.

Submission instructions and additional details are contained in the RFQ below. Submissions are due by 4:00 p.m. (EST) on Friday, December 23, 2022. 

Request for Qualifications

[rev. 11/16/22]

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments is seeking applications for the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (CT DOT) TRIP grant program. This funding opportunity is intended exclusively for rural municipalities, for the purpose of funding construction of stand-alone transportation improvement projects. The State of Connecticut has authorized $5 million in funding, each year over a three-year span. This is a competitive, state-wide program; projects will be prioritized for funding based on CT DOT ranking criteria.   

Draft applications for TRIP must first be submitted to SCCOG, and are due to SCCOG by December 15, 2022 January 7, 2023. Application materials should be sent to Kyle Casiglio at kcasiglio@seccog.org. For more information on TRIP please see the following resources:

TRIP Solicitation 2022

TRIP Guidelines (CT DOT) – REVISED

TRIP Informational Webinar

TRIP Webinar Presentation

If information is needed in another language, contact 860-889-2324, office@seccog.org.
Si necesita información en otro idioma, llame al 860-889-2324, office@seccog.org.
如果您需要语言帮助，请致电860-889-2324或发送电子邮件至office@seccog.org.

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) and the Town of East Lyme and the City of New London, is leading two (2) separate corridor studies. The two corridor studies will analyze and develop alternatives for improvements to Route 32 in New London, in the area of Connecticut College, and to Route 161 in East Lyme, between East Lyme High School and Route 156, supportive of improving safety and mobility of all road users.

The two (2) planned public meetings will provide the public an opportunity to learn about each project and provide input.

Route 161 Corridor Study Public Meeting

Public Meeting Announcement

Date/Time: Thursday, October 25, 6:00-7:30pm
Location: East Lyme High School Auditorium, 30 Chesterfield Rd, East Lyme, CT

Project Website

Route 32 Corridor Study Public Meeting

Public Meeting Announcement

Date/Time: Wednesday, November 2, 5:00-7:00pm
Location: Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams Street, New London, CT

Project Website

If information is needed in another language, contact 860-889-2324, office@seccog.org.
Si necesita información en otro idioma, llame al 860-889-2324, office@seccog.org.
如果您需要语言帮助，请致电860-889-2324或发送电子邮件至office@seccog.org.

Deadline: October 15, 2022, or until filled. The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments has an immediate need for experienced, licensed building code enforcement officials to provide services to one or more municipalities in southeastern Connecticut. The Building Code Enforcement Official performs all duties relating to the inspection and permitting of construction activities. The Building Code Enforcement Official will provide services on an ongoing basis to one or more towns and may provide services to additional towns as needed under the direction of SCCOG’s Executive Director. SCCOG offers a highly competitive benefits package. Full-time employees enjoy a 35 hour work week, flexibility in work scheduling, health insurance, a pension plan and optional 457(b) retirement plan, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, sick/vacation leave accrual, reimbursement of continuing education costs, and compensatory time for attendance at night meetings. Detailed Job Posting and Position Description