Politics & Government

State To Close Old Saybrook DMV Next Month

Part Of Restructuring Plan Announced Friday; AAA Office Will Expand DMV Services

The state Department of Motor Vehicles anounced Friday that it will close some offices, including the full-service one in Old Saybrook, next month.

In a press release issued Friday, it was explained that the "extensive reorganization, including the shuttering of some offices, (is) to both meet imposed budget constraints and provide core public services amid these financially difficult times."

Department officials on Wednesday notified employees in four full-service branch offices that state services will end by Aug. 11 in those locations.  In addition, the agency is planning sweeping changes to regionalize various services so that fewer employees can help larger numbers of customers, the release stated.

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In part to offset the closures, the DMV also will be broadening services provided at the 15 AAA locations around the state. At present AAA does photo license renewals and under the reorganization plan they will do other license services.

“This is the direction we must move because of the very severe fiscal constraints the state faces,” said DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey in the release. “Most definitely there will be affects on customers, but our goal is also to maintain the core services we provide to the millions of people statewide,” she added.

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The department’s reductions amount to 123 layoffs, 28 eliminated vacant positions, 10 retirements, 28 positions now paid through emissions funds and 2 positions paid general funds for the boating services.

Under DMV’s reorganization plan, the following changes will occur:
•         By Aug. 11, branch offices in Old Saybrook, Danbury, Enfield and New Britain will close.
•         By Aug. 11, the Putnam Satellite office as well as the photo license centers in Derby, Middletown and Milford will close.

The Old Saybrook AAA office said they will process license renewals at their office, 210 Main Street (Paperback Cafe shopping plaza). They are open M-F 8:30am-5:30pm and Saturdays from 9am-2pm. A representative in the AAA office said some other DMV services such as reinstating a license or suspended registration cannot be processed at the AAA office.


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