BRISTOLTODAY.COM

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Downtown grocery store may yet bounce back

City officials are not ready to throw in the towel on the grocery store they hoped would serve downtown for years to come. Bristol's Marketplace closed this spring after a falling out between its owners, but it may not be gone for good. "Hope is still alive," said Frank Johnson, chairman of the nonprofit Bristol Downtown Development Corp. "Oh, absolutely," said Ryan Porter, the project manager for the Long Island-based Renaissance Downtown that seeks to redevelop the former mall property. Porter played a crucial role in getting the new store up and running last year after the city demolished Discount Food Outlet, the last remaining municipally-owned building on the mall site. Porter said a partnership dispute led to problems for the new store, but he hopes they can be worked out so the store can reopen. He said is "fairly confident" it will remain as a grocery store. He said the store is fitted out for selling groceries now and the spot has already proven it can draw customers. Porter said that in its early months, it drew more customers than DFO, though their orders were typically a little smaller than the previous store.
Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Welch calls for state to help laid-off ESPN workers

State Sen. Jason Welch, a Bristol Republican, sent out this letter today regarding the ESPN layoffs:

May 22, 2013

Commissioner Sharon Palmer

Connecticut Department of Labor

200 Folly Brook Blvd.

Wethersfield, CT 06109

Dear Commissioner Palmer,

As you know, ESPN announced today that they will be laying-off employees in areas and job descriptions "across the board," according to spokesman Mike Soltys. I understand that the reduction will also include positions eliminated by attrition.

As one of the State Senators representing the city of Bristol, I am requesting that you immediately dispatch your Rapid Response Team to address the needs of the displaced workers as a result of the layoffs.

In addition, I would like my office to be notified of any meetings taking place between ESPN and the Department of Labor so that I can participate in helping those who will be losing their employment.

I am hopeful that we can work together to help re-locate these workers in new jobs as soon as possible.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance for you or your office.

Sincerely,

Jason Welch

State Senator, Bristol

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Mass layoffs in the works at ESPN

Some ESPN workers are calling it Black Tuesday.

Despite record profits, the Bristol-based company handing out layoff notices Tuesday to an unknown number of employees in what appears to be a cost-cutting move dictated by Walt Disney Co. executives.

It appears that about 6 percent of ESPN’s workforce got a pink slip.

In a companywide message sent out this morning on ESPN’s internal system, its president, John Skipper said, “We are implementing changes across the company to enhance our continued growth while smartly managing costs. While difficult, we are confident that it will make us more competitive, innovative and productive. “

Mike Soltys, an ESPN vice president, said the layoffs are worldwide. The company has 7,000 employees, with more than 4,000 of them based in Bristol.

Even after any layoffs, however, “we remain on track to reach the increase in jobs that are called for” under the First Five agreement reached between ESPN and Gov. Dannel Malloy, Soltys said.

That 2011 deal included a $17.5 million loan from the state Department of Economic and Community Development for the construction of a new 193,000-square-foot production facility.

The company vowed to create 200 jobs within five years in Bristol. The development package has incentives for the company to add up to 600 more jobs over 10 years.

The company is also on track to open its new production center next spring and to finish work on two other projects, a new welcome center and a generator facility, Soltys said.

Soltys said he couldn’t discuss the number of layoffs.

The author of a book about ESPN, Jim Miller, said on his Twitter account this afternoon that the cutbacks will number “between 300 and 400” people, but that “includes open jobs that won't now be filled.”

“Any layoff/firing/buyout is rare for Bristol culture. It is not being taken lightly. By anyone. No gain, just pain,” Miller wrote in another tweet.

ESPN is owned by Disney, which this month reported that its second quarter profits were up 32 percent.

Disney said at the time that much of the profit increases was due to ESPN, which was bringing in more revenue from affiliates and advertising that more than made up for “increased programming and production costs.”

The company laid off some workers at the height of the recession in 2009, but generally has increased its workforce over the years.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Malloy to hold forum in Bristol on Thursday

Press release from Gov. Dannel Malloy:

Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman today announced that they will host a community forum in Bristol onThursday, May 16, 2013, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Greene-Hills School (718 Pine Street).

These town hall-style events provide an opportunity to discuss the state’s pressing issues face-to-face with state residents. They are open to the public; tickets are not necessary and seats are available on a first come, first served basis.

Those who would like an opportunity to ask a question should arrive a little bit earlier to fill out the sign-up sheet. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.

Additional dates and locations across the state will be announced as they are scheduled. For the latest schedule, please visit http://governor.ct.gov/communityforums.

Ward says he will nominate Sampson for council seat

Press release from Mayor Art Ward, just issued:

Mayra Sampson

Effective at the May 14^th Bristol City Council Meeting, Mayor Arthur J. Ward will be requesting City Council confirmation of the appointment of Mayra Berrios Sampson to complete the remainder of the City Council term of former City Council Member Kevin Fuller, who has resigned.

The City Council term will expire upon the swearing in of the newly-elected representative resulting from the November municipal election.

Mayra has been employed with the City of Bristol for the past 31 years. She has served in various volunteer and leadership positions as a member of Local 233, the Bristol Democratic Town Committee, Ivy Drive PTA, Bristol Midget Football, the Bristol ARC Board of Directors and City of Bristol Retirement Board, along with other numerous activities.

Mayra was presented the Exceptional Women’s Award for 2013 from the Queen Anne Nzinga Association for the promotion and advancement of young women role models and the Women And Girls Fund award for volunteerism. Mayra is a life-long resident of Bristol and is married to Patrick Sampson and has four children, Kristen, Amaris, Morgan and Sienna.

Bristol's Muzzy Field eyed for movie

Bristol’s historic Muzzy Field may play a leading role in a film about a young baseball phenom who “struggles to maintain his dignity and gain acceptance in the traditional world of professional baseball” after he is outed as a homosexual.

“The First Out” is “a film about being yourself,” said producer and director Joshua B. Porter. “It’s a family drama. That’s the way we’re looking at it.”

If all goes according to plan, Muzzy Field would become a movie set for a couple of weeks next spring or summer as the third baseman Brad Hawley’s home ballpark as a star on the mythical Bristol Wolves. Click here for rest of story.

See the trailer for "The First Out" here.
Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Friday, May 10, 2013

The new Kevin Fuller? Bet on Mayra Sampson

Though Mayor Art Ward said he's ready to name his pick to succeed former city Councilor Kevin Fuller, who resigned recently, it's pretty obvious he plans to tap Mayra Sampson for the part-time post. Sampson, a former city Democratic Party chairwoman, has long been a close ally of Ward's and is well known and liked within city government. She heads the union local that represents most of the workers at City Hall.

Republican city councilors said Sampson called all of them this week and had pleasant conversations with them. It doesn't appear they'll attempt to block her nomination. Ward said he won't pick someone who intends to run for the 1st District seat so Sampson would likely serve only until voters pick a new city councilor in the November general election. One funny thing: Sampson once pegged the five GOP councilors serving today as "the five amigos," which they proudly embraced as a new moniker. Now I think they'd make a good rock band name: Mayra and the Five Amigos. Ward said he would likely announce his pick by Monday. The council is slated to pick Fuller's replacement at Tuesday's meeting. Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Monday, May 6, 2013

Who will replace Kevin Fuller?

In choosing a successor for Kevin Fuller, who resigned from the City Council last week, Mayor Art Ward said he won't nominate any of the candidates who are eyeing a council run in the 1st District. Ward said it wouldn't be fair to pick one candidate out of the field and give him an advantage over the rest. He said that he instead wants to pick someone who won't try to hang on to the seat in November general election. Ward said he wants someone who knows how city government operates and is up on the issues facing the city so that he or she can hit the ground running and get something accomplished. Ward did not mention any names. He didn't say it, but he's likely to pick a woman since the rest of the council is all male. It's a pretty safe bet, too, that whoever Ward selects will be somebody he knows and trusts. Whether the Republican-controlled council will back the mayor's choice remains uncertain. There is an argument floating around that if the three GOP councilors who oppose selling Memorial Boulevard School simply refuse to vote for anyone Ward picks, they will have effectively made it impossible to gain a majority vote to unload the historic building until after Election Day. If the empty slot isn't filled, the council would split 3-3 on the issue. But it's not clear the GOP critics of selling the building would be willing to take such a tough stance to ensure their side prevails.
Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

O'Brien Funeral Home seeks more parking

If you spot one of those yellow signs in front of O’Brien Funeral Home, you can’t help wondering what’s going on at the Forestville landmark.

It turns out that the funeral home is seeking the Zoning Commission’s approval for 20 additional parking spaces behind the building.

The application goes before zoning commissioners next Wednesday. The meeting is slated for 7 p.m., Wed., May 15 in the City Council chambers on the first floor of City Hall.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Ward taps Cockayne as designated replacement

Ken Cockayne, left, and Art Ward

Mayor Art Ward has chosen three-term city Councilor Ken Cockayne to serve as acting mayor, a designation that makes it possible for the senior Republican councilor to step into the mayor's shoes if Ward falls ill or can no longer serve. Cockayne is the GOP's mayoral candidate. Ward had to pick one of the five Republican councilors for the charter-mandated position after the council's only Democrat, Kevin Fuller, resigned Wednesday. Cockayne has served in place of Ward before, filling in for him when Ward was in a coma after choking on a piece of steak in 2010. After Ward's recovery, the city put in place new procedures to ensure the acting mayor slot would be held by one councilor picked by the mayor. The designation remains in effect unless the mayor revises it.
Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Replacing Kevin Fuller is next task

Mayor Art Ward has to pick a successor to city Councilor Kevin Fuller lickety split. By May 15, he has to nominate another 1st District Democrat to fill the vacant council seat and get the City Council to endorse it. Ward faces an interesting chore now. There's a good argument that he should try to find someone who can hit the ground running, somebody who knows his or her way around City Hall and doesn't have to spend months getting up to speed on the issues. The obvious choice, if he's willing, is former city Councilor Cliff Block, who lost a reelection bid in 2011 in part because he backed a raise for the mayor. But it's not clear Ward would turn to Block, assuming the former councilor would take the job. After Block, it becomes pretty hard to guess who the mayor might want. Ward himself held one of the 1st District seats from 1993 until 2007 so there aren't a lot of former Democratic councilors to pick, especially if you want somebody who's reasonably current on what's happening in municipal government. Ward could also elevate one of the Democrats who are eyeing a council race in the district already, perhaps Dave Roche or Calvin Brown. I believe there are others vying for the party's nod as well. Another issue that Ward has to consider is whether he can find a woman to fill the post. The rest of the council is all-male so there is a desire by many to see a woman replace Fuller. Then there's one other factor the mayor has to keep in mind: whoever he picks has to be acceptable to the council. The all-Republican council has to endorse a Democrat, because the charter requires it, but it doesn't have to give a green light to any Democrat. Ward has to pick someone who's not going to pose a big issue for the GOP. All in all, it's an interesting development. Anybody who wants to take a crack at it -- and is a Democrat in the 1st District -- should send Ward a resume right away. There's never been an easier time to snatch a council seat without the headache and possible heartbreak of running for office.
Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Fuller resigns from his City Council seat

City Councilor Kevin Fuller is resigning from his council seat as of 5 p.m. today.

Citing “personal reasons,” Fuller told the mayor he was leaving with “a heavy heart.”

Fuller, a Democrat, is in his second term. He had sought to run for mayor this year, but pulled out of the race recently.

“Kevin has served his constituency and the city of Bristol with both distinction and dedication, committing his sole mission to be for the betterment and best interests of the people of this community,” Mayor Art Ward said.

Ward said that Fuller told him of the decision Wednesday and handed in a short resignation letter.

“It has been an honor to serve as a councilman under your terms of mayor,” Fuller wrote. “Not only have you been an example to follow but I consider you a friend for life.”

Ward said he did not know what personal reasons may have caused Fuller to resign.

Fuller, a computer technician for the Board of Education, has been working long hours lately. He also runs Dunphy’s Ice Cream Parlor on Stafford Avenue and plans to expand it.

City officials who heard the news late Wednesday expressed shock.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said that Real Estate Committee slated for Thursday to discuss the fate of Jennings and Memorial Boulevard Schools will no longer take up the schools issue.

“I’m alone now,” Ward told officials at an industrial committee meeting Wednesday.