As published in the Record Journal on Wednesday March 13, 2013
By Andrew Ragali
Record-Journal staff
aragali@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224
Twitter:@AndyRagz
WALLINGFORD – The Town Council has authorized Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. to join the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, an organization that the town has not been involved with since 1980. Two employees of CCM presented the benefits of membership to the Town Council, at the mayor’s request, Tuesday night. The council then voted 7-1 to allow Dickinson to join the organization. Town Councilor Craig Fishbein voted against the measure, while Town Councilor Rosemary Rascati abstained because her son works for the organization.
“We want a chance to prove to you that you guys should be back with us,” said Kevin Maloney, CCM’s member relations director.The town joined CCM as a charter member in 1967, Maloney said. There are now 153 municipalities, out of 169 in the state, that are part of the organization.
Maloney said the organization’s benefits include representation at the General Assembly, before the state executive branch and regulatory agencies, and in the courts. CCM also provides management assistance, individualized inquiry service, assistance in municipal labor relations, technical assistance and training, policy development, research and analysis, publications, information programs, and service programs such as workers’ compensation, insurance, risk management and energy cost containment.
“The bottom line is we want the opportunity to earn your trust to work on Wallingford’s behalf,” Maloney said.
Membership in CCM is renewed annually and would normally cost the town $28,500. Maloney offered to make the town a member free until June 30, when a discounted fee of $20,000 would be imposed. The fee would be $28,500 in the following fiscal year.
“We have had zero dues increases three of our last four fiscal years,” Maloney said.
Also presenting on the behalf of CCM was Gina Calabro, director of membership services and marketing, who told the council about a prescription discount card program, introduced last September, that is available only to CCM members. The program offers discounts of 10 percent to 70 percent on prescription drugs at major pharmacies, and it is available to all residents, insured or not.
Calabro said that at no cost to the town, CCM mails cards to every family. One card can be used for an entire family, she said, and there are no age or in-
Please see CCM / 8
CCM
come requirements.
“It’s something that we’d love to see Wallingford be a part of as well,” Calabro said.
Dickinson said the prescription discount program is “a great way to assist people in a very practical, direct way.”
Fishbein opposed joining CCM because of disagreements on legal issues and legislation the organization has supported in the past. Maloney and Calabro were unable to answer several questions posed by Fishbein, instead saying they would get back to the town with answers.
Dickinson said that while disagreements on legislation can happen, the benefits of the prescription discount program outweigh any negatives.
“This is a program where the town becomes a member, and every person in town has a chance to benefit in a certain way,” he said. “For the fee we’re paying, I think we have a chance of extending a real helping hand.”
Fishbein responded that most residents in town are already insured, and that the largest beneficiaries to the prescription discount program would be illegal immigrants. Dickinson said that regardless of who you are, “you have an opportunity to receive a benefit that’s very practical.”
Fishbein argued that budget cuts have been made since 2009, including funding for Independence Day fireworks.
“And now, all of the sudden, we have $20,000 which we could’ve treated in the same manner,” he said. “I’m just having a lot of problems justifying between the two.”
“In my priority, entertainment is nice,” Dickinson responded, and “it certainly has meaning in patriotism, but it doesn’t come close to concerns in health.”
The mayor must finalize an agreement with CCM before the town is a member.
