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STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106 |
M. Jodi Rell Governor |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2010
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Contact: 860-524-7313
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Governor Rell: State Trimming Bureaucracy
With “Lean” Practices and Policies
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that in her continuing effort to reduce the size and cost of state government, agencies are effectively changing the way they do business by adopting “Lean” principals, a nationally recognized discipline initially used in manufacturing for streamlining and efficiency.
Governor Rell said “Lean” methods used by state Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Labor (DOL) have resulted in substantial efficiencies and cost-saving measures. Those same principals are now being expanded to five more agencies:
- Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Consumer Protection (DCP)
- Administrative Services (DAS)
- Revenue Services (DRS)
- Economic and Community Development (DECD)
Lean is a waste-reduction technique that examines an agency’s processes, identifies and eliminates redundancies to ultimately expedite services for taxpayers while doing more with existing resources.
“Piles of paperwork, reams of red tape and bureaucratic hurdle after bureaucratic hurdle are a snapshot of a bogged down system. It is too cumbersome and too costly,” Governor Rell said. “We are changing the way state government does business.
“Our taxpayers deserve a government that delivers services in the most efficient, cost-saving way while being responsive to the people they serve,” the Governor said. “Many agencies are already seeing substantial results. Less red tape gives staff more time to carry out the responsibilities to our citizens.”
The DEP began its efforts 18 months ago and they are still ongoing. Using a team approach to identify and remedy inefficiencies and duplicative steps, the agency has streamlined a review for seven types of inland water permits that previously used seven separate processes to one consistent process. Dock permits, which had been issued an average of 550 days after application, are now down to about 100 days. The DEP has also been able to reduce by 62 percent (294 days to 113 days) the time needed to process applications for loans for municipal wastewater treatment projects under state’s Clean Water Fund.
“We would never have imagined the magnitude of success that we now see,” DEP Commissioner Amey Marrella said. “Staff teams have led 18 Lean projects and we are implementing their recommendations on improving our processes for permitting, enforcement and other programs.
“The improvements are resulting in better services for the public and those whom we regulate,” Commissioner Marrella said. “As a result of Lean, DEP is freeing up staff resources to address backlogs and provide more timely and high quality service.”
The DOL is working with agencies and groups both inside and outside state government to adopt Lean practices. The agency’s Lean Government practices have been recognized by the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership (CQIAP), the first and oldest state-level Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award for Performance Excellence organization in the country.
“We are doing more with less. We have to,” Governor Rell said. “Agencies in my Administration clearly understand that serving the public in a more-efficient, less-expensive way is paramount. A bigger and costlier government has never been the answer.”
For more information on Lean Government practices go to: www.ctdol.state.ct.us/LEAN or call Lean Government Services Operations Manager Steve Dombrowski, 860-263-6517.