WALLINGFORD – With less than three weeks until Election Day, Wallingford’s two mayoral candidates are criss-crossing the town talking about issues and looking for votes, and both are offering proposals on how to make the lives better for the town’s senior population.
But, the candidates – Republican Mayor Vince Cervoni and his Democratic challenger Alida Cella, also chair of the Wallingford Democratic Town Committee – offer differing solutions and initiatives to address that segment of the population.
According to census reports, about 22 percent of the town’s approximate 45,000 residents are 65 years old or older.
Both candidates praised the work and offerings of the Wallingford Senior Center, which offers activities and socialization for seniors. About 1,000 seniors utilize the facilities at the center.
“Our Senior Center is an incredible asset and has always been supported by my administration,” said Cervoni, noting that the last town budget included an increase of about 5 percent to the center, which has a budget of about $850,000.
Cervoni, 57, touted the town’s relatively low mill rate of 24.12 – compared to other mill rates in the region – as well as the fact that Wallingford has among the state’s lowest electric rates.
Cervoni, however, said the administration is not sitting on its laurels. He said there are plenty of programs and initiatives available to seniors – some for the first time.
The mayor noted that his administration promotes “a variety of tax assistance programs” through the assessor’s office. They include, he said, the most common, which is the property tax deferral program, for eligible senior citizens and disabled individuals. The program was adopted this year. Eligibility is based on income and whether that resident has owned or occupied their primary residence for at least one year before the deferment. There are also senior tax reductions on real property tax, he noted.
Cella, 49, told CT Examiner that, in her view, the current administration could be more “aggressive” in its policies toward seniors. Noting that Cervoni has been mayor for almost two years and served on the town council for 14 years prior, Cella said: “I would have come in two years ago with a much stronger, more aggressive plan than what I’ve seen.”
Specifically, Cella said, it comes down to basics such as technological infrastructure, for example. “We should not have [town] employees that still do not have direct deposit.”
On housing, Cella said she was ”disappointed” that Gov. Ned Lamont earlier this year vetoed a massive housing bill that called for, among other things, assigning each town a target number of affordable housing units across the state within 10 years or face the possible loss of state funding. The General Assembly might have a special session later this year to address the issue.
Cella told CT Examiner she recently attended a meeting of ‘Wallingford Works for Housing’ and would lean on that group if elected mayor. “The group is looking for solutions [to the housing issue] and they are working very hard to bring Republicans and Democrats together to figure out sensible solutions so we can improve and increase our affordable housing stock… It’s going to take a collaborative effort – with both parties and volunteers – but it is essential.”
Cella said she’d like to see more affordable housing opportunities in town, but said, “Wallingford alone can’t tackle the housing crisis because it’s not just a Wallingford problem. This is a problem in the state and across the country.”
Cervoni told CT Examiner his administration is “taking a hard look” at converting the Choate Rosemary Hall boathouse property into senior housing. The property, recently acquired by the town, has not been used as a boathouse for about 50 years. Cervoni said he’d like to have senior housing at the location, which is next door to the Senior Center, occupied in three to four years. He envisions 100 units.
“It’s a good-sized property,” the mayor said.
On other issues, Cervoni – who said he visits the Senior Center several times a year –vowed to reach out even more to the town’s seniors to hear what they want their leaders to do for them.
“I would like to meet [more often] with seniors. They are aging more gracefully and are more active,” the mayor said. “I want to know what it is that we can provide for them, or enhance for them.”
Cella said she’s a big proponent of high school students and seniors interacting on a regular basis.
Noting that town high school seniors need 30 hours of community service to graduate, Cella said she’d support having those high school seniors work with the senior population. That can run the gamut, she said, from walking and talking to them; playing games; picking up their groceries and even sharing a meal together.
“It would be general interaction between the high school seniors and that senior population,” Cella said.