Beautification Commission
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Present: Marylee Hickey; Dolores Kehoe; Sue Kickery; Mary Mourey; Pat Sirois.
Also Present: Bill Taylor, Director/Public Works
Absent: Helen Boardman; Pat Byrnes (excused); Betty Russell (excused); Tony Russo.
Bonnie Nichols, Director/Inspections and Permits (excused).
Roger Moss, Director/Park and Recreation (excused).
Call to order:
Chair Sirois called the meeting of the Beautification Commission to order at 7:15 p.m.
Acceptance of minutes of June 3, 2010
Marylee Hickey made a motion to accept the minutes of the June 3, 2010 meeting. Seconded by Mary Mourey. Approved.
Opportunity for citizens to speak: None.
Financial Report:
Mary Mourey reported that the General Fund has $8100.00
Remembrance Fund balance is $520.96.
Communications: None.
Chair's report:
Chair Sirois reported that she had heard from Florence Schroeter of the Fine Arts Commission. The Commission will sponsor a concert by Paul Bisaccia for Holiday Fest. The event will be held at First Church on December 4 in the afternoon.
Tree Warden's RePORT:
Bill Taylor distributed the report for June 2010.
Mary Mourey requested that Bill Taylor look at a tree issue on Burnham Street.
Old BUsiness: None.
New Business
Chair Sirois reported that the owner of 77 Hills Street is the Dahms family. She will present the June award at the Council meeting on July 13, 2010.
Discussion was held on the July 2010 Beautification Awards:
Marylee Hickey made a motion to give the Beautification Residential Award for the Month of July to the owner of 39 Burnside Avenue. Seconded by Sue Kickery. Approved.
Sue Kickery made a motion to the give the Beautification Residential Award for the Month of July to 51-53 Woodbridge Avenue. Seconded by Marylee Hickey. Approved.
Discussion was held on clarification for business awards and if the business has changed ownership are they eligible for an award if one was given to the previous owner.
Marylee Hickey made a motion clarifying that business properties can receive multiple awards if the new owner continues to maintain the property over a one year period from purchase. Seconded by Mary Mourey. Approved.
Mary Mourey made a motion to give the Business Beautification Award for the Month of July to 168 Burnside Avenue. Seconded by Dolores Kehoe. Approved.
Chair Sirois stressed the importance of finding town businesses to give awards to. She requested that Commissioners drive around town for suggestions. A list for August recommendations is attached.
Commissioners will send recommendations to the clerk for the August list by July 22, 2010 and the clerk will email the completed list by July 23, 2010 to all Commissioners.
- Consideration to purchase signs for properties awarded
Marylee Hickey discussed having signs made up for Residential and Business Award winners to place on their lawn for the month of the award. She will have the signs marked up and get a cost to purchase them. She is working with Fast Signs in Manchester. She will contact Jack Martin for the Town of East Hartford logo as well as the Beautification Commissions logo. She will have more information next month.
Other Business None.
Concerns of the Commission:
The following concerns were brought up at the meeting:
- Great River Park – Marylee Hickey wrote a letter to Mayor Currey with the concern of maintaining the area. Riverfront Recapture commissions MDC to keep the area maintained. Mayor Currey is working on the issue.
- Mayor Currey contacted Chair Sirois in reference to consider plantings in the ball-field area. Chair Sirois strongly feels that the town departments are not equipped to “beautify” the ball-fields in town. Commissioners agreed that this is not a practice in any town to have plantings at ball-fields.
- Concern with weeds growing in areas from where the road pavement meets the curb (this issue is throughout town)
- Concern will lack of weeding in medians throughout town
- Service Sign on Rte 5 is in need of repair
- Planters on Main Street look lovely, trees on Main Street need to be weeded
- Motorcycles on front lawn at 567 Brewer Street. Commissioner understands this is a police issue
Payment of Bills:
Theresa Godreau (clerk) $ 75.00
Mary Mourey made a motion to pay the clerk and to approve the bills as submitted. Seconded by Marylee Hickey. Approved.
Adjournment:
There being no further business, Dolores Kehoe made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:34 p.m. Seconded by Mary Mourey. Approved.
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