NVCOG approves reorganized planning division, budget adjustments and Valley Transit District lease
May 16, 2026 | Town of Naugatuck, New Haven County, Connecticut
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The North Central Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments approved an executive‑committee recommendation to reorganize its staff structure, adopted a recommended budget amendment and authorized execution of a ground lease for the Valley Transit District property in Derby.
The director told the board the executive committee recommended consolidating community planning and transportation planning into a single division, to be called Integrated Mobility and Community Planning. The board heard that several staff title changes accompany the consolidation: Rich Donovan was promoted to deputy director; Rich Crowther and Desiree Blanchard were assigned director titles in mapping/technology and engagement/communications respectively. The board endorsed those organizational changes.
On budget matters, staff said an anticipated $400,000 increase under the state RSG program did not materialize; the board adopted a budget that replaces part of that amount with roughly $280,000 from transportation revenue and postpones about $120,000 of work into the next fiscal year. Michael presented the financial report, noting a net position of about $112,000; some transcript dollar figures for cash balances were unclear and should be confirmed with the official finance packet.
The board also authorized staff to execute a negotiated ground lease for the Valley Transit District parcel in Derby. The director described the lease as a 40‑year, $1 ground lease that excludes the train station and the future bus station from the leased parcel; NVCOG will remain custodian of the federal assets (rolling stock and capital equipment) while the state will operate the station. The board adopted the authorization by voice vote. The director said NVCOG expects to take possession of new office space in Waterbury mid‑June and complete a move between July and August, estimating relocation costs between $250,000 and $300,000.
The board’s votes were taken by voice; the meeting transcript does not include a roll‑call vote tally.
The director told the board the executive committee recommended consolidating community planning and transportation planning into a single division, to be called Integrated Mobility and Community Planning. The board heard that several staff title changes accompany the consolidation: Rich Donovan was promoted to deputy director; Rich Crowther and Desiree Blanchard were assigned director titles in mapping/technology and engagement/communications respectively. The board endorsed those organizational changes.
On budget matters, staff said an anticipated $400,000 increase under the state RSG program did not materialize; the board adopted a budget that replaces part of that amount with roughly $280,000 from transportation revenue and postpones about $120,000 of work into the next fiscal year. Michael presented the financial report, noting a net position of about $112,000; some transcript dollar figures for cash balances were unclear and should be confirmed with the official finance packet.
The board also authorized staff to execute a negotiated ground lease for the Valley Transit District parcel in Derby. The director described the lease as a 40‑year, $1 ground lease that excludes the train station and the future bus station from the leased parcel; NVCOG will remain custodian of the federal assets (rolling stock and capital equipment) while the state will operate the station. The board adopted the authorization by voice vote. The director said NVCOG expects to take possession of new office space in Waterbury mid‑June and complete a move between July and August, estimating relocation costs between $250,000 and $300,000.
The board’s votes were taken by voice; the meeting transcript does not include a roll‑call vote tally.
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