Facts from Mansfield's Latest Annual Town Report

Here's a long list of facts about the Town of Mansfield from the town government's 59-page 2012-2013 Annual Report, a publication the town is obligated to put out each year (and nearly every town is about as late as Mansfield about it).

This is the first of a three-part series on the facts in the annual report.

How many of these facts about the town did you already know? How many seem pretty predictable or are surprising? Find out:

• Area: Mansfield is 45.5 square miles. (page 3)

• Population: In 2012, Mansfield had an estimated population of 25,648 (Source: CT DPH). (page 3)

• Registered Voters: As of November 1, 2013, Mansfield had 11,301 registered voters: Democrats -4,509; Republicans -1,426; Unaffiliated -5,224; Other -142. (page 3)

• In Mansfield alone, the 10-town Eastern Highlands Health District had "172 site inspections for septic systems; 44 septic permits issued; 30 well permits issued; 26 complaints investigated; 44 environmental samples taken for lab analysis; 265 food establishment inspections and other health inspections; 87 B100a building permit reviews; and 156 test pits and perc tests." (page 12)

• The town's Department of Technology Services maintains 1,500 computers used by the schools and town government offices and provides services to 3,000 town staff and student users. (page 26)

• Mansfield Public Library "provided 367 programs this year, an increase of 89 over last year (a 32 percent increase)." (page 28)

• Visits to the Mansfield Community Center "totaled 217,451, an average of 18,121 per month and an increase of 2,929 from the previous year." (page 28)

• Mansfield Park and Recreation Department had "a total of 3,055 programs with 15,584 participants." (page 29)

• "The Zoning Agent issued Zoning Permits for 7 new single-family homes. A total of 131 Zoning Permits were issued. Additionally, 88 zoning enforcement letters, 18 violation notices and 9 Zoning Citations were issued." (page 29)

• "Over the year, 33 percent of all residential waste was recycled-single-family residences recycled 37 percent of their waste and multi-family residences recycled 13 percent of their wastes. Forty-eight percent of the material received at the transfer station is recycled." (page 47)

Schools

• There were 1,291 students in Mansfield public schools, from pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8. (page 7)

• The town's public elementary schools "offered the Spanish language in grades 2 through 4, placing strong instructional emphasis on the cultures of the Hispanic world." (page 7)

• "Mansfield Middle School is unique in offering four different world languages (French, Spanish, German and Latin), a German and Chinese student exchange program and has as its school motto 'MMS CARES –Global Awareness/Personal Kindness'." (page 8)

Housing

• "The estimated average amount of rental assistance per family for 2013 is $678 per month; up from $654 per month in 2012. HUD funding for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) averaged $545 per month per voucher in 2013, an increase from $530 in 2012. The Housing Authority’s reserve account for HAP payments will be reduced to approximately $55,000 by year end. The Housing Authority will make approximately $996,088 in rental assistance payments on behalf of our participants in 2013 down from $1,065,985 in 2012." (page 22)

• "The federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program can assist a monthly average up to 149 low and extremely low income families by sharing the cost of their rental payments to private land-lords. This program requires annual inspections of each unit to ensure that both families and owners are keeping the unit in good repair and complying with HUD regulations/ [...] The estimated average number of vouchers used in 2013 is 122 down from 136 in 2012. To utilize all 149 vouchers, more federal funding or lower costs per family will have to be realized." (pages 21 and 22)

• "Holinko Estates is a state financed housing community for moderate income families. It consists of 35 rental units for moderate income families which include 21 two (2) bedroom units, 13 three (3) bedroom units and 1 four (4) bedroom unit. Eight of the two (2) bedroom units and one of the three (3) bedroom units are flats with the remaining units being townhouse style apartments. [...] The waiting list is currently open. There are 37 applicants on the waiting list. The average turnover rate for this housing community is 9 units per year. Eight units turned over in 2012 and it is expected that a total of 12 units will turn over in 2013." (pages 22 and 23)

• "Wright’s Village is a state financed housing community for moderate and low income seniors and younger disabled individuals. It consists of 40 one (1) bedroom units. Thirty units were built in 1979/1980 and ten were built in 1984/1985. [...] The Rental Assistance Program grant supplements the monthly rental costs for residents that would otherwise be required to pay more than 30% of their monthly adjusted income for base rent. The waiting list is currently open. There are currently 16 applicants on the waiting list. The aver-age turnover rate for this housing community has been 6.7 units per year. Seven units turned over in 2012 and it is expected that the turnover will be 9 units for 2013." (page 23)

Human services

• Provided case management, referral and direct assistance to 285 residents.
• Provided emergency financial assistance and food pantry assistance for a total of 141 house-holds.
• Assisted 267 persons who are elderly or disabled to apply for state tax relief programs.
• 108 families received holiday assistance consisting of food, gifts, and cash assistance from a variety of donors. 140 individuals received assistance through the Mansfield Holiday Fund.
• 208 families were approved for fee waivers.

• Volunteers provided 5,894 hours of volunteer time over the course of the year.
• Served 5,813 congregate subsidized meals to seniors through Thames Valley Community Council. A total of 3,269 meals were delivered to home-bound seniors through the meals-on-wheels program.
• Inter-generational activities were held in cooperation with E.O. Smith High School, Mansfield Middle School, and the University of Connecticut.
• 117 seniors received assistance with tax preparation.
• 126 seniors received flu shots.
• Volunteer Transportation Program recruited 18 volunteer drivers and has met 219 transportation requests. 
• Worked with 136 individuals and provided case management and referrals for legal services snow removal, household repairs, heating assistance, food stamps, ConnPace, Medicaid, Medigap, fee waivers, community mental health services, and marriage counseling. This comprised a total of 322 visits.
• Visits to Mansfield Senior Center: 18,000 per year.

• Provided youth and parents with approximately 2,952 therapeutic contacts, with 286 youths receiving one or more clinical services.
• Received continued funding from the NECASA [Northeast Communities Against Substance Abuse] and the State Department of Education Enhancement grant, enabling continuation of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group serving 30 participants, as well as the Cope Program which serves 60 children in three different elementary schools.
• Trained, managed, and assigned approximately 66 volunteers to individual clients and programs.