Friday storm..

On Friday we had a pretty severe storm and I am proud to report that our Public Works Department performed admirably.

It has been a strange winter as far as storms go. We have had 10 storms although it seems like we have had a lot fewer. Many of the storms have been on the weekends which are costly (although our employees love them). However they have stepped up to the plate and done a great job at keeping the streets clean.

It is not an easy job, but they get it done each and every time..

Keep up the great work. Spring is just around the corner.

All the Best,
Mayor Mark

Rededicating ourselves to our mission.

"The City of Danbury´s mission is to ensure a superior quality of life for its citizens by providing the most cost effective municipal services while preserving the cultural, historical and natural resources of the City. We are committed to working with citizens to enhance Danbury´s position as a premier place to live, work, and raise a family in a traditional yet progressive community."

On February 11, 2008 I asked all elected officials and all appointed commissioners to join me in the Common Council chambers to review our mission statement, review our policies and procedures, and to remember who we serve in this great community.

It was the first time that I can recall any Mayor meeting with all officials in the city, and by all accounts it was a success.

In addition to reviewing the mission statement, we also had a session on equal opportunity and cultural sensitivity, and a reminder that our responsibility is to serve all residents of status, race, religion, etc. It was so popular that I am considering conducting a similar event next year.

We had a tremendous turnout and there were a lot of questions. It is such an honor to work with such dedicated community volunteers who are experienced and knowledgeable about their respected fields. Danbury is blessed..

All The Best,
Mayor Mark

Officiating Weddings...

Since we are somewhat close to Valentines Day, I thought it might be relevant to share with a little known fact about my office.

I perform several dozen weddings a year for couples in the Danbury area. This morning, I am officiating a wedding here at City Hall.

I do not charge a fee to do the wedding, I just ask that the couple donate fifty dollars to Ann's Place (a cancer support center for women).

Performing a wedding is the fun part of my job. In order to do it, you must be a Justice of the Peace. I have been a Justice of the Peace since 2003 or so. I have a complete ceremony that I do, and I have officiated weddings all over the state. Some in my office in the middle of the day, and some at banquet facilities.

I have been lucky not to run into a "bridzilla or groomzilla" and the families are very appreciative.

So if you are thinking of getting married, and you need a helping hand, give me call.

All The Best,
Mayor Mark

Just a reminder, City Hall is closed today and Monday.

Just a reminder, all City Departments are closed today and Monday in honor of Lincoln's Birthday and Presidents Day. We will reopen on Tuesday. Have a great weekend.

Latest Weather update..

The latest computer models have come into good agreement that a large but not necessary powerful winter storm will move up the East Coast later today, then pause and re-form off the coast Wednesday morning before moving East of Cape Cod by Wednesday Evening. The following forecast is a blend of the GFS and NAM models:

This afternoon... Snow developing from Southwest to Northeast between 3:00 - 5:00 PM. The snow is expected to become steady and moderate by 7:00 PM with accumulations of around 1/2 inch per hour. The snow is expected to mix with freezing rain and sleet along the immediate Southwest coast by 8:00 PM. The impact on the evening commute is expected to be minor to moderate (slightly less cars on the roads due to the holiday) with snow starting during the rush hour and covering roads by 7:00 PM. Temperatures are expected to be in the Mid to Upper 20's across most of the state during the afternoon rush hour.

This Evening and Overnight...Snow changing to sleet and freezing rain from Southwest to Northeast between 8:00 PM and reaching the MA border by 2:00 AM. During the overnight period the sleet and freezing rain (which could be heavy at times) will slowly turn to all rain in Southern CT however, sleet and freezing rain are expected to hold on in Northern CT overnight with ice accumulations up to 1/4 inch and temperatures in the Mid 20's in Northern CT. Some minor tree and powerline damage may result from the icing, and some urban flooding may occur in poorly drained areas in Southern CT.

Wednesday Morning...Any Sleet and Freezing rain (some of it heavy at times) turning to plain rain in Northern CT by 10:00 AM. Impact on the morning rush hour is expected to be minor to moderate with some slick slushy roads in Northern CT and wet roads in Southern CT (South of the I-84 Corridor). Some urban and small stream flooding may occur due to periods of heavy rain. Temperatures are expected to reach highs near 40 F at the coast and into the upper 30's inland by noontime.

Wednesday Afternoon...Rain across the state (may still be heavy at times in Southeast CT) could change back to a period of mixed precipitation in the NW Hills before ending Wednesday evening. Some urban and small stream flooding may occur due to periods of heavy rain. Temperatures are forecast to begin falling back into the 30's by Wednesday evening with widespread black ice forming Wednesday night across the State. Impact on the evening rush hour should be minor in most places. The impact of the black ice should be later in the evening and overnight. Black ice may also be an issue during the Thursday morning commute.

With Romney out, it's now about McCain.

That's right, with former Gov. Mitt Romney out, I am now supporting Senator John McCain.

In 2006, during the Johnson campaign, I had an opportunity to meet with McCain. Impressive? you bet. He is American hero. I don't agree with everything he stands for but in general, I believe he will make an outstanding President.

So why did I go with Romney for my first choice? The main reason (believe it or not) was not because of his stand on illegal immigration, it was because I had a gut feeling that the economy was going to be the main issue in the campaign and I believed that Romney had the right set of skills to manage the challenges that lie ahead. As it turns out, I was right. Unfortunately Gov. Romney did not find his voice until it was too late.

I am thankful to the Romney campaign for the opportunity to represent the Governor. It was a lot of fun.

Now on to November with Senator McCain. See you on the campaign trail.

All the Best,
Mayor Mark

Tomorrow is Primary Day. Don't forget to Vote!

Tomorrow is primary day. Don't forget to vote! Democrats and Republicans are choosing a nominee for President and all of us are urged to vote for the Open Space Bond.

I have been working hard informing people about the bond and reminding people that even if they are not affiliated with any party they still should vote tomorrow. This bond vote is important! Polls are open from 6 AM to 8 PM at your normal voting locations.

I will be live blogging the results of the bond vote, first on twitter and then with a post. I also will post about the presidential race and where I think that it is going. Finally, look for a post sometime tomorrow about the proposed ICE partnership.

Remember, don't forget to vote!

All The Best,
Mayor Mark