New London mayor answers questions, lists priorities for arts, business representatives

New London - Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio met with businesspeople and arts representatives this week as part of a series of gatherings to give people a better sense of the new administration and the budget - and to give the public a chance to share its opinions with him.

On Wednesday, Finizio and about a dozen business owners met at Copperwood Grill. Among their topics was the need for a point person or office in the city where prospective new businesses can get all the information they need. Business owners also complained about broken sidewalks, high water rates, parking bans that keep customers away during snowstorms and the homeless downtown.

Finizio said he would try to order parking bans as late as possible but still ensure public safety. He is also working to get social service providers out of the central business district and to set up an office where all information about zoning and public safety issues can be addressed.

As far as the sidewalks go, Finizio said downtown will have to wait. Sidewalks in the north end of the city, which have long been neglected, are on the top of the priority list, he said.

Finizio said it is inevitable that the city will have to increase water rates, and he is working with the head of Veolia Water, the company that operates the city's water department, to implement a long-term plan to improve the water and sewer infrastructure.

Barry Weiner, the chairman of the Water & Water Pollution Control Authority, said in an interview that the board is reviewing all its costs and expenses, as it does every year, and is preparing its annual budget, which includes preventive maintenance costs.

"Our goal is to continue to provide top-notch water service," said Weiner, who was contacted after the meeting. The city has some of the lowest water rates in the state.

Following the discussion, William Cornish, owner of Copperwood, commended Finizio for taking the time to meet with business owners.

"No one is doing what you're doing here tonight,'' Cornish said. "So you should be applauded."

Tax to benefit the arts

On Thursday, Finizio met with artists and the leaders of arts organizations at the Hygienic galleries.

The good news: Finizio believes that the arts are "the primary principal economic driver for the city."

The bad news: New London's budget is such that arts organizations shouldn't assume anything in terms of future funding from the city.

This year, the city's budget includes $50,000 for the Garde Arts Center; $6,000 for the Hygienic; $5,000 for the Lyman Allyn Art Museum; $4,000 for the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra; and $5,000 for the First Friday Arts Nights.

While Finizio supports the arts, he said, his primary responsibility as mayor is to focus on the police and fire departments, the schools, and making sure the trash is picked up. Those are necessities. Arts funding is discretionary, and discretionary items are the first to be reconsidered when money gets tight. Ultimately, he said, arts organizations might need to justify and to lobby the City Council and the community for funding.

Finizio said the city will continue to help organizations with nonbudgetary assistance such as helping with grants and promoting events.

One of topics of discussion was how arts events help draw people to the city.

Joe Celli, coordinator for Parade Plaza events and Hygienic development, broached the idea of a tax on restaurants and hotels.

"If we recognize the arts are in part responsible for bringing large numbers of people into the community who subsequently end up spending money in restaurants, bars and hotels, it would not be inappropriate, it seems, to have a small - the number is irrelevant, it could be half a percent percent or it could be 1 percent - tax that then goes into a fund earmarked for the support of these kinds of organizations," he said afterward.

He said many communities around the nation do that.

Some discussion at Thursday's meeting focused, too, on whether arts organizations should band together, the theory being that a group has more power than individuals.

k.edgecomb@theday.com

k.dorsey@theday.com