MILFORD - Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. has been tapped to serve as vice chairman of a new state task force on children's issues.

The mayor's appointment to the Task Force on Early Childhood Success, announced Monday, is in recognition of Richetelli's and the city's efforts in that area, said Kevin Maloney of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.

The task force is sponsored jointly by the lobbying group for cities and by the state Commission on Children.

"The ultimate goal of the entire effort is universal pre-school for all Connecticut children," Richetelli said.

"That has already proven to realize cost savings in the long run, because if children arrive in kindergarten ready to read, there is less need for remedial help and special education," the mayor said.

Richetelli, himself the parent of three young children, will begin his first state-level assignment when the task force meets today for the first time.

Among the local initiatives that helped get Milford cited as a role model were its day care and early reading programs.

But one program, Care for Kids, suffered a $49,000 cut in state funding because of the budget crisis, officials said. That program helped subsidize preschool tuition for families who need the help.

"If a single parent has to withdraw from the workforce because there is no available day care, that creates other needs" including welfare and other public grants, Richetelli said.

Kids Count, a program partly funded by the Milford United Way, is also credited with helping local children succeed in school.

"I would say that we have been in the forefront of this issue," said Assistant Supt. Larry Schaefer. "The Yale Child Study Center looked at our program a few years ago and determined that every $1 spent on early childhood education saved $2.

"Providing service to children at birth through age 5 reduces the need for remedial help and special [education] services later," Schaefer said.

Jeff Daniels, an education consultant hired as the task force's staff, was not available for comment Monday.

The state Commission on Children was created by the Legislature in 1985 and produces education and support materials for parents on health, safety and other topics.

Frank Juliano, Milford bureau chief, can be reached at 878-2130.