EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
JANUARY 15, 2008
PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr., Majority Leader Marcia A. Leclerc, Councillors Marc I. Weinberg, Jason Rojas, Barbara-Ann Rossi, Patricia Harmon and Eric Thompson
ABSENT Minority Leader Donald H. Pitkin
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:40 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 announced the absence of Minority Leader Donald Pitkin due to illness and looks forward to seeing him at the next Council meeting.
The Chair also noted that today is Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday and asked that people remember his legacy and try to live up to the ideals that he espoused.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON AGENDA ITEMS
Raleigh Doby, Jr., 1789 Main Street, spoke on a security issue at a local basketball game.
Mayor Currey addressed the Council on (1) the need for a Youth Task Force Coordinator; (2) the response from the Army Corp of Engineers regarding restrictions on the development of Phase II at Silver Lane Cemetery; (3) the celebration of Martin Luther King Day on Friday in the town's schools, with ceremonies to be held at Goodwin School.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
January 2, 2008 Regular Meeting
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the minutes of the January 2, 2008 Regular Meeting.
Motion carried 8/0.
COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS
Recycling Program Update
The Mayor introduce Paul Nonnenmacher, Director of Public Affairs at Connecticut
Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA), who gave a power-point presentation to the
Council on the financial and ecological benefits of trash recycling. The Chair joined the Mayor in asking the residents of East Hartford to make a concerted effort to recycle their trash.
Road Improvement Program Update
Mayor Currey called on Billy Taylor, Director of Public Works, to introduce Robert Christman, Senior Principal of Engineering at Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), who gave the Council a power-point presentation on the ongoing road repair program, explaining the methodology on how roads are chosen for repair and the town's pavement management philosophy. Also present was Nick Casparino, Civil Engineer, from the Public Works department, who works primarily on the town's road repair program.
NEW BUSINESS
Contingency Transfer re: Presidential Primary
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Marcia Leclerc
to transfer funds in the amount of $28,066.00 from account
#G9600-63492 Reserve for Contingency to account #G1300-
60135 Registrar of Voters – Election Officials to pay for costs associated
with the Presidential Primary to be held on February 8, 2008.
Motion carried 8/0.
Referral to Ordinance Committee re: Service of Alcohol – Riverfront Recapture at Great River Park
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Marcia Leclerc
to refer to the Ordinance Committee the issue of the request by Riverfront Recapture to apply for a liquor permit to allow the sale of alcohol at Great River Park for some events sponsored by Riverfront Recapture; the Ordinance Committee will consider the request, examine the issue, and report to the Town Council with its recommendation, if any.
Motion carried 8/0.
Refund of Taxes
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Eric Thompson
to refund taxes in the amount of $2,185.02
pursuant to Section 12-129 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
Motion carried 8/0.
Memorandum
DATE: January 22, 2008
TO: Michael Walsh, Director of Finance
FROM: Patricia Faucher, Collector of Revenue
RE: Refund of Taxes
Under the provisions of Section 12-129 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the following persons are entitled to the refunds as requested:
Name and Address |
Account |
Amount |
Reason |
Badway, Thomas G 235 East River Dr Unit #1002 East Hartford, CT 06108 |
2005-01-741 |
21.81 |
Overpayment 235 East River Drive Unit # 1002 |
Bresson, Phillip F 56 Russell Dr East Hartford, CT 06108-1225 |
2006-03-54366 |
5.17 |
Assessor’s Adjustment Marker # 723UDY |
Carey, Elaine M 296 Maple St East Hartford, CT 06118 |
2006-03-55970 |
21.20 |
Overpayment Marker # 6CL945 |
First American Real Estate Tax Service 1 First American Way Mail Code: DFW 1-3 Westlake, TX 76262 Attn: Tax Refund |
2006-01-14344 |
1702.61 |
Wrong parcel pd by Bank 25 Westbrook Street |
Johnson, Wanda R 110 Heron Rd East Hartford, CT 06118-2923 |
2006-03-69163 |
9.03 |
Overpayment Marker # 270PZV
|
Mearise, James L 139 Columbus Cir East Hartford, CT 06108 |
2006-03-74942 |
39.15 |
Assessor’s Adjustment Marker # 723TOW |
Murali, Therthala 851 Okeeffe Ave Apt # 54 Sun Prairie, WI 53590 |
2005-03-76816 |
37.73 |
Assessor’s Adjustment Marker # 729MCN |
Smith, Douglas E 92 Crescent Dr East Hartford, CT 06118-2700 |
2006-03-85835 |
63.71 |
Assessor’s Adjustment Marker # 806UDM |
St. Peter, Geoffrey 72 Higbie Dr East Hartford, CT 06108-2840 |
2006-03-86383 |
6.86 |
Overpayment Marker # 664ULD |
Tebecio, Joseph M 11 Grande Rd East Hartford, CT 06118 |
2005-01-14262 |
277.75 |
Overpayment 11 Grande Road |
TOTAL |
|
2185.02 |
|
_____________________
Patricia Faucher, CCMC
Referral to Personnel & Pensions Subcommittee re: Youth Services Department - Youth Task Force Coordinator/Project Manager
MOTION By Jason Rojas
seconded by Marcia Leclerc
to refer to the Personnel & Pensions Subcommittee the item of the Youth
Task Force Coordinator/Project Manager.
Motion carried 7/1. Nay: Thompson
Various Appointments to Boards and Commissions
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Bill Horan
to approve the following appointments and/or reappointments:
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS
Kathleen McNamara 45 Torpey Drive 12/11
Linda Russo 235 E. River Drive #608 12/11
BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION
Patricia Byrnes 57 Garvan Street 12/10
COMMISSION ON SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Marie Beaulieu 41 Applegate Lane #203 12/09
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Devorah Johnson 26 Westview Drive 12/10
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMMISSION
Catherine Condio 19 Blinn Street 12/09
Dorese Roberts 454 Silver Lane 12/09
BOARD OF ETHICS (ALTERNATE)
Judy Shanahan 29 Whitney Street 12/12
FINE ARTS COMMISSION
Terrye Blackstone 26 Holland Lane 12/12
Regina Barall 821 Brewer Street 12/12
INLAND-WETLANDS/ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION
Daniel O’Dea 137 Madison Street 12/11
Judith Shanahan 29 Whitney Street 12/11
James Reik 235 E. River Drive #1005 12/11
LIBRARY COMMISSION
Charles Casella, Jr. 22 Brookline Drive 12/10
PATRIOTIC COMMISSION
Margaret Byrnes 57 Garvan Street 12/10
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Thomas Fitzgerald 6 Elaine Drive 12/12
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Ellen McCreery 39 Greene Terrace 12/12
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Richard Torpey, Jr. 134 Manor Circle 12/12
Motion carried 8/0.
Various Appointments to Boards and Commissions
MOTION By Pat Harmon
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the following appointments and/or reappointments:
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS
Richard L. Mourey 785 Burnham Street 12/11
BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION
Marylee Hickey 119 Fitzgerald Drive 12/10
Susan Kickery 38 Bancroft Road 12/10
COMMISSION ON SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Bernard Corona 27 Winding Lane 12/09
Bruce Gaudette 22 Higbie Drive 12/09
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
John Ryan 172 Burke Street 12/10
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMMISSION
Michael Brinius 60 Rentschler Street 12/09
INLAND-WETLANDS/ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION (ALTERNATE)
John G. Morrison 47 Woodbridge Avenue 12/11
PERSONNEL APPEALS BOARD
Edmund Mickiewicz 32 Blueberry Lane 12/10
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
John Ryan 172 Burke Street 12/12
PUBLIC BUILDING COMMISSION
Travis Justin Simpson 119 Naubuc Avenue 12/12
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Daniel Dube 61 Barbara Drive 12/12
Motion carried 8/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION
None
COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
Brewer Family, LLC v. Town of East Hartford
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to accept the recommendation of the Corporation Counsel’s office to settle
the tax appeal case entitled Brewer Family, LLC v. Town of East Hartford
and to authorize the Town Assessor to reduce the fair market value of the
property located at 359 High Street, owned by Brewer Family, LLC, to the
sum of $5,841,000.00, subject to rounding; beginning with the Grand List
of October 1, 2006; further that neither party will be entitled to fees or costs
of any kind; further that if the plaintiff is entitled to a refund of taxes paid,
the refund will be deducted from the next installment of taxes.
Motion carried 7/0. Abstain: Horan
Colonial Mobile Home Park, Inc. v. Town of East Hartford
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Pat Harmon
to accept the recommendation of the Corporation Counsel’s office to settle
the tax appeal case entitled Colonial Mobile Home Park, Inc. v. Town of
East Hartford and to authorize the Town Assessor to reduce the fair market
value of the property located at 247 High Street, owned by Colonial Mobile
Home Park, Inc., to the sum of $4,059,000.00, subject to rounding;
beginning with the Grand List of October 1, 2006; further that neither party
will be entitled to fees or costs of any kind; further that if the plaintiff is
entitled to a refund of taxes paid, the refund will be deducted from the next
installment of taxes.
Motion carried 7/0. Abstain: Horan
Martin A. Gould, Executor v. Town of East Hartford
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Eric Thompson
to rescind the motion passed by the East Hartford Town Council on
November 20, 2007 regarding Martin A. Gould, Executor of the Estate of
Mary A. Silvester v. Town of East Hartford.
Motion carried 7/0. Abstain: Horan
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Eric Thompson
to accept the recommendation of the Corporation Counsel’s office to settle
the tax appeal case entitled Martin A. Gould, Executor of the Estate of
Mary A. Silvester v. Town of East Hartford and to authorize the Town
Assessor to reduce the fair market value of the property located at 37-39
Charles Street, owned by Martin A. Gould, Executor, to the sum of
$173,330.00, subject to rounding; and to reduce the fair market value of
the property located at 2-2A Lincoln Street, owned by martin A. Gould,
Executor, to the sum of $170,580.00, subject to rounding; beginning with
the Grand List of October 1, 2006; further that neither party will be entitled
to fees or costs of any kind; further that if the plaintiff is entitled to a refund
of taxes paid, the refund will be deducted from the next installment of
taxes.
Motion carried 7/0. Abstain: Horan
Eagle Wickham LLC v. Town of East Hartford (1st case)
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Jason Rojas
to accept the recommendation of the Corporation Counsel’s office to settle
the tax appeal case entitled Eagle Wickham LLC v. Town of East Hartford,
Docket No. HHB-CV-07-4014799-S and to authorize the Town Assessor to
reduce the fair market value of the properties owned by Eagle Wickham,
LLC as outlined in a memo to Rich Kehoe from Scott Chadwick dated
January 15, 2008 (see attached); further that neither party will be entitled
to fees or costs of any kind; further that if the plaintiff is entitled to a refund
of taxes paid, the refund will be deducted from the next installment of
taxes.
Motion carried 7/0. Abstain: Horan
Eagle Wickham LLC v. Town of East Hartford (2nd case)
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Eric Thompson
to accept the recommendation of the Corporation Counsel’s office to settle
the tax appeal case entitled Eagle Wickham LLC v. Town of East Hartford,
Docket No. HHB-CV-07-4014800-S and to authorize the Town Assessor to
reduce the fair market value of the properties owned by Eagle Wickham,
LLC as outlined in a memo to Rich Kehoe from Scott Chadwick dated
January 15, 2008 (see attached); further that neither party will be entitled to fees or costs of any
kind; further that if the plaintiff is entitled to a refund of taxes paid, the refund will be deducted
from the next installment of taxes.
Motion carried 7/0. Abstain: Horan
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
Jon Searles, 51 Spaulding Circle, commented on the town's recycling program and questioned the need for a Youth Task Force Coordinator.
Catherine Johnson, 101 Conn Blvd, Appt 4G, addressed the Council on the possibility of obtaining a permit to hold a Christian concert at the East Hartford Community Cultural Center or at the Town Green.
Irene Papaleo, 9 Arawak Drive, spoke on the tax appeal cases that were on tonight's agenda. Ms. Papaleo also questioned the need for a Youth Task Force Coordinator, stating that parents should take a more proactive role in their children's development.
Ginny Lynch, 77 Chapel Street, spoke in favor of a Youth Task Force Coordinator to assist the children in the community who are at risk.
Patrick Sanzo, 23 Risley Street, commented on (1) the necessity for all residents to recycle; (2) questioned the need for a Youth Task Force Coordinator; (3) crime statistics in East Hartford; (4) traffic on Main Street; (5) is against any more adult-oriented businesses; (6) wished Don Pitkin a speedy recovery.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Bill Horan (on behalf of Don Pitkin)
seconded by Eric Thompson
to adjourn (10:40 p.m.).
Motion carried 8/0.
The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Town Council would be on February 5, 2008.
Attest________________________________
Angela M. Attenello
TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
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