The grant will be used to upgrade the playhouse’s audio system. The improvements will help management save on costly rental fees for a sound system.

“This is a Cultural Capital Grant, designed to strengthen and enhance arts and history facilities throughout the state,” said Rep. Frey.  “One of the requirements is that there be matching funds for every dollar awarded.  The total cost of the sound system is actually $150,000, the Playhouse has identified private donors to match the $75,000 state grant.”

“The Playhouse has been proven to be a wonderful asset to our community.  In addition to the concerts, films and other performances,  hundreds of people come to town several nights a week and many patronize our restaurants, stay at our inns and shop in our stores. I want to thank Governor Rell for her assistance in gaining final approval for this grant,”  Rep. Frey added.
 
“The cultural center of a community plays a vital is part in making that community – large or small – a livable one,” Gov. Rell said. “Residents of Ridgefield take pride in their playhouse and for many years have enjoyed a rich variety of music, theater and film. This grant will help make lasting improvements to one of the local gems.”
 
 The playhouse was designed in 1938 and has hosted internationally acclaimed musicians, legendary performers such as conductor Arturo Toscanini, the works of Shakespeare, film and children’s performances.

State Rep. John Frey (R-Ridgefield) worked cooperatively with state Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Marie, the State Traffic Commission, and residents at Regency during the last two years to make the traffic light possible.

The DOT conducted a traffic study of the intersection in January, and agreed that traffic conditions had changed since road was widened and three facilities were completed in the area. The request for a traffic light there had been turned down twice before, once in 1997 when Laurel Ridge was being constructed and again in 2005 when Regency at Ridgefield was being planned.

“I am pleased that the DOT has agreed, after conducting a traffic study of the area, that placing a traffic signal at this location is the best course of action in the interest of public safety for Ridgefielders,” said Rep. Frey.

“I have received numerous calls over the years from residents, employees of the facilities and visitors who have found that intersection difficult to enter and exit. It was a long process, but the outcome was the right one and I thank Commissioner Marie and his staff for facilitating the approval,” Rep. Frey added.

David Sawicke, Executive Director of the State Traffic Commission said the department’s traffic engineering group conducted a study of the area after they were requested to do so by Rep. Frey. Sawicke also confirmed the cost of installing the signal, estimated to be between $100,000 and $140,000, will not be incurred by the state but paid for by the adjoining property owners.

The GOP proposal was comprised of the following pro-jobs initiatives.

- Repeal of Business Entity Tax on all businesses.

- Create small business revolving loan fund (direct loans only)–$25 million cap on the program.

- Job Creation Tax Credit Program—creates a tax credit for employers who employ 100 employees or less.  Employers may receive a $4,800/per employee for every employee the employer hires off the unemployment rolls.  Job must be a full-time. Cap on the program: $17.5 million.

- Requires that Jobs Impact Statements accompany bills and amendments.

- Department of Economic Development Permitting Process — Streamlines the permitting process to stimulate economy and job growth. Requires the commissioner of DECD to establish an office of the permit ombudsman for the purpose of expediting the review of permit applications for projects that meet certain criteria. 

The bill was defeated on a largely party-line vote. With just one week left in the legislative session, Rep. Frey said he is disappointed in the majority’s inaction on job creations and spending reductions.

“Connecticut has been losing jobs at a record rate. The House Republican proposal would help get small businesses, the engine of our economy, firing once again,” said Rep. Frey. “Time is running out on this legislative session, and the legislature needs to take some action. We don’t want to run out the clock on Connecticut’s economic recovery.”

“I and my House Republican colleagues have been advocating a solution to this year’s budget deficit that does not include tax increases or cut essential aid to towns. I’m happy that my friends on the other side of the aisle have come to the realization that Connecticut residents can not afford to be burdened with more taxes,” said Rep. Frey. “We must, however, begin work on closing the projected $700 million budget gap for the 2001 fiscal year that begins on July 1.” 

The bi-partisan deficit mitigation plan put forth by the House does not include any tax hikes or cuts to essential municipal aid that House Republicans opposed and eliminates only the current $350 million budget gap. The plan does not tackle the looming deficit that kicks in within the next 10 weeks but Rep. Frey said he hopes to address that within the coming days.
    
Rep. Frey said he especially opposes any version of proposed tax hikes on sick people who become hospitalized, insisting that could not be part of any deficit mitigation plan.

House Republicans are prepared to vote to eliminate the projected deficit for the 2011-12 budget year beginning July 1. The budget hole, he said, can be filled with targeted spending reductions, government efficiencies and no tax hikes.

“Maggie Nesbitt is a shining example of what our youth of today can be if they work hard and reach for the stars,” said Rep. Frey. “She is well-deserving of this honor. I wish her the best of luck as she competes for the Connecticut Youth of Year title. Regardless of how that competition turns out, she has already made her fellow Ridgefielders proud.” 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America presents the award to deserving youths for sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community.

Nesbitt was accompanied on her visit to Hartford by Kristin Goncalves, Program Director at Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club.

Scheduled to appear at the forum to offer their insights on the care and permitting of Ridgefield’s lakes are Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Analyst Charles Lee, and Department of Environmental Protection Pesticide Management Supervisor Bradford Robinson. 

Rep. Frey encourages Ridgefielders to attend the forum, which is open to the public, and free of charge.

“Ridgefield is home to some of the most scenic and beautiful lakes for recreation anywhere in Connecticut,” said Rep. Frey. ”It is my hope that my friends and neighbors will come to the forum to learn ways we can maintain these great natural resources for future generations to enjoy.”

McNamara was appointed to the post by House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero, at the request of Rep. Frey.

For his part, Rep. Frey said he is confident that McNamara will serve the state well in his new role, which is a four-year term set to expire on June 30, 2014.

“I have known Paul McNamara to be an intelligent, hard-working individual, and I know he will perform well in his role with the commission,” said Rep. Frey. “Paul has been actively involved in the Ridgefield community in a variety of ways for many years, and his experience will serve the commission well. His role as Chairman of Fairfield County Bank makes him keenly aware of compensation issues.”

“I am honored to be appointed to the Commission on Compensation because of the important work that the Commission performs,” said McNamara. The appointment takes affect immediately.

McNamara practiced law with the law firm of Donnelly, McNamara & Gustafson, P.C.  from 1970-1996. 
In 1986, Mr. McNamara accepted the position of Chairman of the Board of Ridgefield Bank, now Fairfield County Bank, (with 330 employees) and continues as its chairman. 
 
McNamara graduated from American University in Washington with a BS in Finance and earned a Law Degree from the University of Maine School of Law.  He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
 
McNamara is active in several community organizations including Danbury Hospital Development Fund and serves on the Danbury Hospital Governance Committee; Paul is a Director of the Branchville Fresh Air Fund and the Ridgefield Fund. He was the Chairman of the Boys and Girls Club of Ridgefield Capital Campaign for a new club facility. 
 
He and his wife reside in Ridgefield, and have two grown children.

The Compensation Commission is charged with recommending to the General Assembly legislative proposals for salary, expenses, pension, workers’ compensation and any other benefits to be paid to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Comptroller, members of the General Assembly and judges of the courts of the state, except judges of probate. The commission is made up of eight members with appointees from the Governor and Legislative Leaders.

Speaking to Wall Street analysts, UTC’s chief financial officer said, “Anyplace outside of Connecticut is low-cost……Even if work has to stay in the U.S., there are opportunities to reduce cost by moving out of those high-cost locations,” according to The Hartford Courant.

“Unfortunately, years of anti-business, job-killing policies set forth by the majority in the Legislature are coming home to roost,” said Rep. Frey, former Ranking Member of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. “We must change course as a state and become a destination for new and relocating-businesses in order to get our economy back on track.”

“Connecticut still has one of the most skilled work forces in the country. We must address the business climate in order to enjoy the advantages of our well-educated, skilled workers. It is going to take more than just hope to restore the 94,000 Connecticut lost during this down economic period.   It is going to take a drastic change in state policies to foster a more business-friendly atmosphere,” Rep. Frey added.
 
UTC, based in Hartford, has 26,000 of its 205,000 global employees in Connecticut, largely at Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky and Hamilton Sundstrand. UTC is Connecticut’s largest private employer.

“Though balancing the state budget is a major issue right now, infrastructure improvements and maintenance needs to occur in order to position our towns and cities for an economic recovery,” said Rep. Frey. “Transportation and infrastructure are important issues to Ridgefielders and prospective employers who may want to locate here. Maintaining roads are a primary function of government – and with the winter we have had, they simply cannot be ignored.”

The Town-Aid-Road funds are grants given each year to municipalities to assist in the maintenance and/or construction of town roads.  Each year, the state provides a statutory formula based entitlement to each municipality based on the number of miles of roads and the population in each municipality.

The funds are expected to be approved at the March 16th meeting of the State Bond Commission.   Rep. Frey is a member of the Legislature’s Transportation Bonding Sub-Committee.

Connecticut would become the first state in the country to require all companies to provide mandatory sick leave for part-time and full-time employees. The Democrats picked the annual Business Day at the Capitol to roll out their sick leave plan – a clear sign that the majority party relishes its anti-private sector stature in the legislature, Republicans charged.

“At a time when Connecticut is bleeding jobs  — we have lost 94,000 during the economic downturn — and struggling to break out of a period of stagnant growth, imposing additional unnecessary burdens on businesses is simply irresponsible,” said Rep. Frey. “We need to be working on changing the culture in Hartford to attract businesses and jobs to our state, not working to make Connecticut a place to avoid for business owners and entrepreneurs.”

The bill that will be raised in the Labor and Public Employees Committee Thursday (2/26) requires that any employee who logs at least 520 hours of work a year receive seven paid sick leave days. The 520 hour minimum defines a part-time worker by any standard, Rep. Frey noted.

The bill would apply to businesses that employ 60 people or more. Republicans were joined at a Capitol press conference by business owners, one of whom said his company has 48 employees. The owners said they would not be inclined to add more payroll if that mean their costs of doing business went up.

A similar bill last year was approved in the House but never came out of the Senate because the chamber was split 18-18 on the bill.