Volume 2, Issue 7
Volume 2, Edition 7: March 2025
Commissioner's Corner
Dear Legislative Partners,
As we reach the conclusion of the public hearing portion of this legislative session, I want to take a moment to reflect on the extensive engagement we've had this year. In fact, DAS has provided testimony on nearly 40 bills, and I want to express our gratitude for the productive dialogue we've shared with so many of you.
Looking ahead, we are eager to continue these discussions, particularly regarding our proposal to transition the former standalone HVAC grant program into the “Non-Priority List.” This change will empower districts by allowing their projects to be approved administratively by DAS on a rolling basis.
In this edition of the DAS Newsline, we will explore the exciting and collaborative work being led by our new state fire marshal, celebrate Procurement Month, and highlight the many achievements across our department. Thank you for your continued partnership and support, and I look forward to working with you throughout the remainder of the session.
Sincerely,
Michelle Gilman
Commissioner, DAS
michelle.gilman@ct.gov
New Fire Prevention Efforts
Since taking over as state fire marshal late last year, Lauri Volkert has made significant strides, including establishing Fire Safe CT. This collaborative team consists of members from various agencies, including DAS, the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, DEEP, the Connecticut Fire Academy, and local partners across the state. The goal of Fire Safe CT is to provide guidance and resources for community risk reduction efforts to both local fire officials and the general public.
So far, Fire Safe CT has launched a website offering a variety of resources, such as videos, social media graphics, and media kits. These kits include sample post-fire press releases and form letters, among other materials. A more formal announcement is planned for the coming weeks. In the meantime, please feel free to share this information with anyone who might be interested.
Assets for Connecticut Fire Officials (CT.gov)
New Video: Spring wildfire prevention. Here's how you can do your part. (YouTube)
Celebrating Procurement Month
March is Procurement Month, and we want to take a moment to acknowledge the vital role that public procurement plays in our state. At DAS, we are dedicated to facilitating transparent, efficient, and fair procurement processes that benefit our communities.
Why it matters:
- Fiscal Responsibility: By leveraging competitive bidding and negotiation, we ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, maximizing value for Connecticut residents.
- Economic Growth: Our strategic purchasing supports local businesses, including small and minority-owned enterprises, stimulating the economy and fostering job creation across the state.
- Innovation: Our procurement team actively seeks innovative solutions and technologies, helping state agencies implement cutting-edge tools and services that enhance public service delivery. Reverse auctions, where vendors bid down the price of goods and services in real-time, are just one example.
- Sustainability: We prioritize environmentally responsible purchasing practices that support sustainable development and reduce our ecological footprint.
Thank you to our legislators for supporting our public procurement programs and professionals. It makes a big difference in our efforts to deliver better, more efficient services to taxpayers.
Important Changes in RECS
Shane Mallory, DAS’s long-term Administrator of Statewide Leasing and Property Transfer, retired last July, but has since worked in a temporary capacity through the resulting transition, with Thomas Pysh assuming the lead of the team’s day-to-day operations.
Shane officially left state service on March 26, after 23 years in the role of Administrator of Statewide Leasing and Property Transfer. He was affectionately called the “state real estate deal maker” by the Hartford Business Journal (3/25/2013).
We have all benefited from his expertise and guidance in real estate, and he will be sorely missed. We wish him all the best in his next chapter.
During Shane’s tenure, the DAS team, sister agencies and a host of stakeholders:
- Worked to right size the state’s real estate portfolio, reducing the leased portfolio from 3.6 million square feet to 1.7 million square feet, saving over $10 million annually in base rent.
- Purchased numerous properties for DAS and other state agencies and the Judicial branch, in support of their individual missions, including community college properties, courthouses, and office buildings throughout the state.
- Sold several surplus buildings, the most recent being 18-20 and 30 Trinity Street properties and 129 Lafayette, both in Hartford.
- Consistently managed over 220 leases statewide.
We are thrilled that Thomas Pysh has been promoted from within the team and will continue to provide excellent service to DAS and the agencies it serves.
Connecticut's Solar Progress
Following some delays, DAS is re-starting applications for solar installations at the 24 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, 155 Morgan Street, Hartford, 340 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, and 315 Buckingham Street, Hartford properties.
These efforts are just part of the agency’s commitment to our climate goals for state buildings.
Thanks in large part to our collaborative, cross-agency initiatives under the GreenerGovCT program, as of FY23, the most recent year for which data is available, we have reduced the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 31% since FY2019.
GreenerGov CT Reporting Dashboard (data.CT.gov)
These new solar projects will be a small step toward a more sustainable state.
Similarly, we expect to formally "switch on" several large-scale solar projects in the next month.
Meeting Our Future Legislators
We, along with our colleagues at the Department of Consumer Protection, were thrilled to visit with the 2025 class of legislative interns at DAS HQ twice this month. They asked great questions about state government and our agencies' roles.
They are an impressive group, and we are glad to hear they are serving our legislators well this session.
Go Behind the Scenes with DAS
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