West Haven Mayor Borer Elected Chair of 15-Municipality South Central Regional Council
Borer succeeds Madison's Peggy Lyon to lead the South Central Regional Council of Governments, representing 15 Connecticut municipalities on transportation, land use, and planning
Last updatedFebruary 24, 2026
West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer
West Haven's Borer Elected Chair of South Central Regional Council
West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer was unanimously elected chair of the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) on February 17, 2026. The 15 mayors and first selectmen of the council's member municipalities chose Borer to succeed Madison First Selectwoman Peggy Lyon in the leadership role.
The City of West Haven confirmed the election through an official announcement. The unanimous vote reflects broad consensus among Borer's regional peers in a body that represents some of Connecticut's largest cities and most active planning corridors.
What SCRCOG Does
SCRCOG is a regional planning and intergovernmental coordination body representing 15 south-central Connecticut municipalities: West Haven, Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Wallingford, and Woodbridge.
As its governing forum, SCRCOG allows mayors and first selectmen to coordinate on issues that cross municipal lines — from transportation projects to environmental compliance, land use planning, and shared services. The council has direct relationships with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the state legislature, and federal grant programs that shape regional infrastructure.
In January 2026, SCRCOG convened a legislative breakfast where its member leaders met with state officials to advance regional priorities including blight remediation, education funding reform, renewable energy policy, and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) programs. As chair, Borer will now set the agenda for those discussions and represent the council in negotiations with state and federal partners.
What the Chair Role Means for West Haven
Borer’s election places West Haven at the center of south-central Connecticut’s most significant regional planning forum. The chair position carries both symbolic and practical weight: the chair leads member meetings, represents the council in public forums, and helps prioritize the issues the body takes to the state legislature.
For West Haven, it creates a direct line of influence over regional grant decisions and policy priorities that affect the city’s infrastructure and development agenda. West Haven stands to benefit from increased visibility in regional funding competitions and planning conversations that shape transportation, housing, and environmental policy across the 15-town area.
Borer’s Governance Agenda at Home
Borer’s regional election came as she was simultaneously pushing a governance reform proposal in West Haven. In a report published by CT Examiner on February 20, 2026, Borer called on the City Council to consider convening a charter revision commission that would extend mayoral terms from two years to four.
She cited the recent departures of two senior officials as evidence that two-year terms create institutional instability. Finance Director Michael Gormany and Economic Development Director Steve Fontana both left the city, and Borer attributed their exits in part to the uncertainty created by short election cycles.
“It provides for sustainable leadership,” Borer said. “It’s only human that if you’re part of the team and you have an opportunity for a four-year commitment versus a two-year commitment.”
Borer remained noncommittal about whether the change would benefit her personally, framing it as a question of what’s best for West Haven’s governance. The City Council has not yet acted on the request.
Background on Borer
Borer is in her second term as West Haven’s mayor, first elected in November 2023 following a federal corruption investigation involving COVID-19 relief funds under her predecessor. Her tenure has focused on stabilizing city finances and rebuilding institutional trust.
Her unanimous election to the SCRCOG chair by 14 other municipal leaders reflects the standing she has built in the region since taking office. It is a meaningful recognition in a body where relationships with neighboring cities and towns are built over time.
