TEAM O’CONNELL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Putting People Ahead of Politics
SENIORS/VETERANS
✓ Doubled Senior tax relief
✓ Created free Senior Trash Bag program
✓ Increased eligibility for tax deferral program
✓ Established the first ever Home Visit Wellness Program in Bristol County to keep residents safe and out of the hospital
✓ Helped fund renovations and upgrades to the Senior Center
✓ Honored veterans with Downtown banners and Honor Our Military Day
INFRASTRUCTURE
✓ Tripled road maintenance with over $17M to improve streets and sidewalks
✓ Building Public Safety Facility after 40 years of waiting
✓ Saved and completed Taunton Airport building administration project
✓ Appropriated $500K to clean Lake Sabbatia
✓ Installing new crosswalks downtown
HELPING HAND FOR TAUNTON
✓ Created the Helping Hand Fund
✓ Reactivated the Youth Commission
✓ Funded social workers at after-school programs (Taunton Youth Mental Health Partnership)
✓ Funded mental health for seniors (Outreach coordinators, Recreational therapist)
✓ Funded multiple summer youth programs
✓ Funded $100k to the Taunton Emergency Task Force to help families pay utilities/rent/etc.
✓ Funded area nonprofits that help families and people in need
✓ Funding Community Center with Housing Authority
✓ Creating opioid and substance use prevention strategic plan
✓ Appropriated money for a cold weather shelter and meals for the homeless
✓ In 2021 we dedicated $30k through OECD for shelter and $5k through HS for food. In 2022 we have dedicated $30k through OECD for shelter and $12k through HS/ARPA funds for food. COT will be covering all the food through the HS/ARPA funds in 2022. In both 2021 & 2022 the COT provided COVID test kits daily to Our Daily Bread so each and every person could be tested before getting on the bus and being transported to the hotel.
IMPROVING CITY FINANCES
✓ Upgraded bond rating to AA+ saving taxpayer money
✓ Created the CFO position
✓ Streamlined budget process
✓ Created Procurement Office
✓ Implemented internal audits
✓ Increase competitive grant revenue by 1.2 million
✓ Created and implemented City’s first Capital Improvement Plan
BETTER SERVICES
✓ Created Elections Dept which streamlines the process and protects integrity
✓ Improved online permitting and consolidated permitting center
✓ Expanded City communications by holding telephone town hall calls, instituting electronic signs, and creating a new City website
✓ Completely upgraded internal software system
✓ Putting solar array on landfill
BUSINESS AND JOB DEVELOPMENT
✓ Re-established Taunton Redevelopment Authority
✓ Expanded and increased Rent Rebate program for area businesses
✓ Created Facade Improvement Program to help businesses and beautify Taunton
✓ Established the STEP-UP Program to support businesses
✓ Initiated the TDI Program (Transformative Development Initiative) to develop Whittenton neighborhood
✓ Creating Revitalize Taunton! investment initiative to support development
PUBLIC SAFETY
✓ Body cameras
✓ New Public Safety Facility
✓ 8 million in new fire engines and police cruisers and safety equipment
✓ Funding firing range for Police Department
✓ Building training facility for Fire Department
PARKS AND RECREATION
✓ Completely Renovated Flannery Park
✓ Installing Splash pad and made ADA improvements to Weir Riverfront Park.
✓ Starting the design work on Davol Park and Whittenton Park
✓ Renovating Memorial Park
COVID ACTION PLAN
✓ Created emergency procedures: remote work, payroll, city services
✓ COVID Hotline/email
✓ Created Task Force
✓ Dedicated web page
✓ Created $150,000 Small Business Sund
✓ Created $100,000 Family Emergency Fund
✓ During the height of the pandemic, dedicated millions of dollars to getting our Taunton School children back in person safely with new HVAC systems in several schools, personal desk dividers, etc)