Ladies and Gentlemen: It was brought to my attention that the minutes from the September 18, 2007 meeting were not posted to the website. My error and my apology. Please see below.
EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr., Majority Leader Mary Alice Dwyer-Hughes, Minority Leader Donald H. Pitkin, Councillors, Marcia A. Leclerc, Marc I. Weinberg, Jason Rojas, Patricia Harmon and Eric Thompson
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. He announced the exit locations in
accordance with Connecticut General Statutes § 29-381, after which the Council joined him in the pledge of allegiance.
The Chair called for a moment of silence to honor the life of Francis C. Vignati, who had been the town's probate court judge for 36 years.
RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
East Hartford Police Department: K-9 Olympics
MOTION By Pat Harmon
seconded by Marcia Leclerc
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION OF THE EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL
Whereas, East Hartford K-9 partners John Zavalick and Axel, and Stephen Grossi and Odin participated in the 2007 Connecticut Police K-9 Olympics; and
Whereas, East Hartford has won many awards in these Olympics over many years,
winning first Prize 11 times; and
Whereas, Officer Zavalick and Axel placed 2nd in Top Team Overall and Officer Grossi and Odin placed 3rd in Top Team Overall; and
Whereas, the East Harford Police K-9 unit successfully maintains public safety each day and protects the safety of police officers in many dangerous situations.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the East Hartford Town Council extends its sincere congratulations to Officer/Canine team John Zavalick and Axel, and Stephen Grossi and Odin, on their tremendous effort at the K-9 Olympics and further congratulates the entire East Hartford K-9 squad for their hard work and dedication throughout the year.
Also, let it further be known, that Mayor Melody A. Currey joins the Town Council in this affirmation of tribute and honor.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
All of the Councillors, along with the Mayor, congratulated the K-9 teams for their dedication to the safety of the residents of the town of East Hartford.
Bonnie Kishimoto, a paraprofessional at Anna Norris School, presented the K-9 teams with a poster made by the students at Anna Norris which is a testament to the trust that the children have with the K-9's.
The Chair recognized Majority Leader Dwyer-Hughes with a point of personal privilege.
Ms. Dwyer-Hughes announced the Connecticut Academic Performance Testing (CAPT) Scholars from the Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy and from East Hartford High School. The CAPT Scholars from CIBA are Zachary Kessler, Rachel Ouellette, and Ping Yang. The CAPT Scholars from EHHS are: Merrill Bajana, Serra Borawski, Molly Callahan, Kelly Geoghegan, Julia Harris, Arianna Larson, Amanda Townsend, Nicole Wallace, and Ashley Wisnieski. She congratulated the students for their achievement in scholastic success.
Service to Youth Award
Cephus Nolen, the Director of Youth Services, introduced Mayme Cassady who nominated Mary Morlock for this year's award. Ms. Morlock was honored for her years of tireless dedication to the town's youth through her dance school.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON AGENDA ITEMS
Wanda Franek, 645 Goodwin Street, thanked the East Hartford Police Department's K-9 division for their work with the community, especially the youth in East Hartford.
Mayor Currey stated that (1) the new office building at the corner of Conn Blvd and Main Street will be ready for occupancy this week; (2) supports the revised Veterans' and Elderly & Disabled Homeowners' Tax Credit Programs ordinance; (3) has a meeting this week with the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the repairs of the dikes and to ask that the completion date be extended to a date beyond January 2008; (4) the "Big MO", which is the major fund raiser for Riverfront Recapture, is Thursday evening at Cabela's.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
September 4, 2007 Regular Meeting
MOTION By Mary Alice Dwyer-Hughes
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the minutes of the September 4, 2007 Regular Meeting.
Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Horan
September 10, 2007 Special Meeting/Veterans' and Elderly & Disabled Homeowners' Tax Exemption Programs
MOTION By Mary Alice Dwyer-Hughes
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2007 Special Meeting.
Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Weinberg
RESOLUTIONS
Historic Restoration Fund Grant (Civil War Monument)
MOTION By Jason Rojas
seconded by Eric Thompson
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLVED: That the Mayor of the Town of East Hartford, Melody A. Currey, is authorized to enter into and execute a grant contract with the State of Connecticut, acting by and through the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, in the amount of $15,000 on behalf of the Town of East Hartford for the purpose of completing eligible restoration, rehabilitation, stabilization and/or construction work on the following project: replicate the eagle on the Civil War Monument in Center Cemetery.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
MOTION By Jason Rojas
seconded by Mary Alice Dwyer-Hughes
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLVED: That the Town of East Hartford hereby adopts as its policy to support the nondiscrimination agreements and warranties required under Connecticut General Statutes SS 4a-60(a)(1)and SS 4a-60a(a)(1), as amended in State of Connecticut Public Act 07-245 and sections 9(a)(1) and 10(a)(1) of Public Act 07-142, as those statutes may be amended from time to time.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
State Health Department Grant: Educational Program for Residents with Diabetes
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Eric Thompson
to adopt the following resolution:
That Mayor Melody A. Currey has been empowered to make application to and execute contracts and any amendments thereof, on behalf of the Corporation, between the Corporation and the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health or its successor agency, concerning a $9,165 Preventive Health grant for diabetes self-care education programs.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS
Michael Walsh, Finance Director, introduced Rebecca Sielman, an Actuary with the
Milliman Company, who presented the Council with a power-point demonstration on the
future funding requirements for employee health care benefits.
NEW BUSINESS
Recommendation from Ordinance Committee re: Sections 10-28 and subsection (a) of Section 10-30a, of the Town of East Hartford Code of Ordinances, Veterans and Elderly & Disabled Homeowners Tax Exemption Programs
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Don Pitkin
to repeal Section 10-28 and subsection (a) of Section 10-30a of the Town
of East Hartford Code of Ordinances, concerning veterans' exemption and
senior and disabled persons tax credit, and to substitute in lieu thereof a
new Section 10-28 and a new subsection (a) of Section 10-30a, consistent
with the draft of said proposed ordinances dated September 10, 2007 that
were unanimously recommended by the Ordinance Committee.
Motion carried 9/0.
VETERANS' EXEMPTION AND SENIOR AND DISABLED PERSONS TAX CREDIT ORDINANCES
(09-10-07 Draft)
Section 10-28 of the East Hartford Code of Ordinances is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:
The Town adopts the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes section 12-81f to allow an additional exemption from property tax of five thousand dollars for the October 1, 2004 grand list and of ten thousand dollars for the October 1, 2005 grand list and subsequent grand lists for persons who are veterans and who meet the eligibility requirements set forth in said section, provided such veteran's qualifying income does not exceed an amount equal to [seven] eleven thousand dollars more than the applicable maximum amount as provided under Connecticut General Statutes section 12-811.
Subsection (a) of Section 10-30a of the East Hartford Code of Ordinances is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:
Pursuant to Section 12-129n of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Town Council of the Town of East Hartford hereby enacts a supplemental property tax credit program for taxpayers who meet the criteria established in Section 12-129n of the Connecticut General Statutes. In addition to meeting such criteria, eligible taxpayers shall be current with their property tax payments to the Town, shall not have individual or joint investments, cash and/or real property, except for their principal residence and any tax deferred retirement investment vehicle or any funds which the Finance Director and the Tax Assessor determine are used primarily for retirement income purposes, in excess of one hundred thousand dollars, and shall not have an annual gross income as defined in Section 12-170aa of the Connecticut General Statutes, in
excess of an amount equal to [nine] eleven thousand dollars more than the income limits established pursuant to Section 12-170aa(b)(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes. Additionally, married persons with dependent children where one spouse is disabled under Section 12-170aa of the Connecticut General Statutes shall have a ten thousand dollar income exemption applied to their local option income calculation for the sole purpose of local qualification.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION
Mary Alice Dwyer-Hughes requested that any open positions in town hall, specifically in the Inspections and Permits department, be posted to the town's website.
Don Pitkin asked or commented on the following: (1) the town's tree warden should be more pro-active on inspections of the trees in East Hartford; (2) the ordinance on the registration of bicycles should be enforced or cancelled; (3) suggested that there should be a practices and policies handbook that explains the procedures followed by the Administration; (4) the World War I monument in front of the library needs to be cleaned.
Eric Thompson requested (1) that the RFP process be reviewed; (2) to establish a liaison position with the town's Planning and Zoning Commission.
Pat Harmon inquired (1) why May Road is not a contiguous street; (2) asked if the town is recruiting new police officers.
COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
Joseph D. Carey, III v. Richard Maloney, et al
MOTION By Mary Alice Dwyer Hughes
seconded by Don Pitkin
to accept the recommendation of Corporation Counsel to settle fully and
finally the case entitled Joseph D. Carey, III v. Richard Maloney, et al, for
the total sum of $28,000.00.
Motion carried 9/0.
Paul Spencer Clapp v. East Harford Board of education and Marion H. Martinez, in her Individual and Official Capacities
MOTION By Mary Alice Dwyer Hughes
seconded by Eric Thompson
to accept the recommendation of Corporation Counsel to settle the case
entitled Paul Spencer Clapp v. East Harford Board of Education and
Marion H. Martinez, in her Individual and Official Capacities in the following
manner:
1. the Plaintiff shall withdraw or cause to be dismissed, with prejudice, the federal court action;
2. allow the Plaintiff's pending grievance arbitration to resolve the claims raised within the federal court action provided that the town's financial exposure for any federal court claim shall not exceed thirty thousand dollars.
Motion carried 9/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
None
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Don Pitkin
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn (9:50 p.m.).
Motion carried 9/0.
The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Town Council would be on October 2, 2007.
Attest________________________________
Angela M. Attenello
TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
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