Posted on June 26, 2018 by jdooley

TRUMBULL- Over the last month, State Reps. Laura Devlin, David Rutigliano and  Ben McGorty sponsored a battered, tattered, torn or faded U.S. Flag collection which culminated this last Wednesday, June 14 on National Flag Day, where the American Legion Post 141 held a flag retirement ceremony to retire the collected flags at the Indian Ledge Park Maintenance Facility on Whitney Avenue.

All three Trumbull legislators wanted to acknowledge to assistance of the American Legion Post 141 and especially thank George Areson, who is the Commander of the Trumbull American Legion Post 141 for leading the solemn ceremony.

According to United States Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” 

Flag Day, the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777, was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson’s proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.

Posted on June 13, 2018 by jdooley

Say Hearings for Reports on Three Agencies Overdue

Hartford – State Senator Michael McLachlan and Representative Laura Devlin are calling on their committee co-chairs to schedule hearings on agency reports from the State Auditors of Public Accounts (APA). The legislators sent a letter to the General Administration & Elections Committee Co-Chairs Senator Mae Flexer and Representative Daniel Fox.

While Sen. McLachlan (R-24) is a GAE Co-Chair, public hearings must be called by two of the committee Co-Chairs. Under state law, the GAE Committee is required to hold public hearings on the APA reports within 180 days of issuance. Hearings for three state agencies are overdue.

“Voters elected us to be the caretakers of taxpayer dollars and ensure that state agencies are spending those tax dollars efficiently and for their intended purposes,” Sen. McLachlan said. “These hearings allow legislators to question the state agencies about the Auditors’ findings, how these issues were able to occur, and what the agencies will do to prevent further occurrences. Allowing the statutory deadlines to pass without these public hearings does a great disservice to our employers, the taxpayers of Connecticut.”

The APA issued reports for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Connecticut State University System Office, and the Division of Criminal Justice in November of 2017. According to the law, hearing should have been conducted before the end of May. A report for the Connecticut Community College System was issued in December of 2017. The deadline for a hearing on that agency’s report is June 17.State Rep. Laura Devlin is the head House Republican on the General Administration & Elections Committee.

“Many times, the auditors uncover significant findings that we should NOT allow to collect dust leading to further fiscal maleficence,” said Rep. Laura Devlin (R-134). “Legislators are elected to make sure your tax dollars are spent wisely not wasted.”

Some of the APA findings include:

Veterans Affairs

• A lack of documentation indicating that a $25,000 donation to the agency was intended for employee appreciation expenses.
• A lack of documentation verifying the receipt of gift cards by veterans in the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
• The inability to identify what happened to 9 out of 21 gift cards returned to the agency.

Division of Criminal Justice

• Retirees may be rehired no more than twice for a maximum of 120 days for each hire. Nine of 11 retirees were rehired more than twice.
• Incomplete vehicle usage reports including 479 miles of use not appropriately documented.
• Community Colleges

• Six uses of an agency purchasing card being used at a restaurant, a prohibited use
• Two instances where a vendor receipt was not kept to verify a purchase.

Sen. McLachlan and Rep. Devlin said they would like the public hearings to be scheduled as soon as possible so they can question agencies about the APA findings.

Posted on June 11, 2018 by jdooley

FAIRFIELD- State Rep. Laura Devlin (R-134) is informing area commuters that the Connecticut Department of Transportation will be having ramp closures on I-95 at the Route 8 Interchange in Bridgeport for the Week of June 11, 2018.

The project involves milling and paving a section of I-95 between the New England Avenue overpass and the Broad Street overpass for a total distance of 3 miles.  This project will also include milling and paving of on-ramps and off-ramps and repair of existing concrete bridge decks.  Also included will be minor bridge repairs to Bridge No. 00105A over Metro North and a city street in Bridgeport.  Detour routes will be provided should ramps need to be closed for construction activities.

DOT Project is scheduled for revised completion on or about September 7, 2018.

LANE CLOSURE INFO:

I-95 NB

• Monday between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, Wednesday between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• Thursday and Friday between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• Saturday between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. (Sunday)
• Sunday between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (Monday)

I-95 SB 

• Monday through Thursday between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• Friday between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (Saturday)
• Saturday between 9:00 pm  and 9:00 am. (Sunday)
• Sunday between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am. (Monday)

I-95 Ramps 

The following ramps are scheduled to be closed (The days are contingent to weather conditions):

• June 11th – I-95 NB Exit 27 Ramps Detour to Exit 28
• June 12th – I-95 NB Exit 27 Ramps Detour to Exit 28
• RTE 8 SB Ramp to I95 NB Detour to I95 SB to Exit 26
• June 13th – I-95 NB Exit 27 Ramps Detour to Exit 28
• RTE 8 SB Ramp to I95 NB Detour to I95 SB to Exit 26
• June 14th – I-95 SB Exit 27 Ramps Detour to I95 SB to Exit 26
• June 15th – I-95 SB Exit 27 Ramps Detour to I95 SB to Exit 26
• I-95 NB Exit 27 Ramps Detour to Exit 28
• June 18th & 19th – I-95 NB Exit 27 Ramps Detour to Exit 28
• June 20th & 21st – I-95 SB Exit 27 Ramps Detour to I95 SB to Exit 26

The times for all ramp closures will be from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.  Message boards will display a few days in advance of each ramp closure. All detours will be placed in accordance with the contract. Only one ramp will be closed per direction at one time.

The contractor will be allowed to temporarily close I-95 ramps and detour traffic as shown in the project plans.

All Other Roadways

Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.