Ladies and Gentlemen: I apologize for the late posting of these minutes. I was unavailable due to a death in my family.
EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
APRIL 15, 2008
PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr., Majority Leader Marcia A. Leclerc, Minority Leader Donald H. Pitkin, Councillors Marc I. Weinberg, Jason Rojas, Barbara-Ann Rossi and Eric Thompson (left at 8:50 p.m.)
ABSENT Councillor Patricia Harmon
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:43 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.
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Eric Thompson
to add, under Communications, item 7. C. Establishment of an Energy Independence Advisory Committee.
Motion carried 8/0
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Currey (1) stated that April 18, 2008 will be the last day that bagged leaves will be picked up curbside; (2) oral arguments presented by the Yale graduate students before the Connecticut Supreme Court for the federal ECS lawsuit will begin on April 22nd and she urged all Councillors to attend.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
April 1, 2008 Regular Meeting
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Don Pitkin
to approve the minutes of the April 1, 2008 Regular Meeting.
Motion carried 8/0.
RESOLUTIONS
Historic Document Preservation Grant
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Jason Rojas
to adopt the following resolution:
Resolved: That Melody A. Currey, Mayor, is empowered to execute and deliver in the name of and on behalf of this municipality, a contract with the Connecticut State Library for a Historic Preservation Grant.
On call of the vote, motion carried 8/0.
Incentive Housing Zones
MOTION By Jason Rojas
seconded by Eric Thompson
to adopt the following resolution:
Whereas, Public Act 07-4 of the June 2007 Special Session authorizes municipalities to create “incentive housing zones” which will develop or redevelop housing units to be affordable to families earning up to 120% of area median income.
Whereas, This legislation authorized the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to “make grants to municipalities for the purpose of providing technical assistance in the planning or incentive housing zones, the adoption of incentive housing zone regulations and design standards, the review and revision as needed of applicable subdivision regulations and applications to the secretary for preliminary or final approval”.
Whereas, The Town of East Hartford East Hartford is an affordable community and the housing stock in many areas requires reinvestment to assure it meets the housing standards of the Town and
Whereas, The Town of East Hartford contains several historic districts whose maintenance and reinvestment are crucial to the character and structural fabric of the town; Therefore Be it
Resolved, that the Town Council of the Town of East Hartford does authorize Mayor Melody A. Currey or her designee to develop and submit a grant application to the Office of Policy and Management for the purpose of providing technical assistance in planning for incentive housing zones and providing methods of implementation as provided for in Public Act 07-4. And further be it
Resolved, that the Town Council of the Town of East Hartford does authorize Mayor Melody A. Currey or her designee to administer such funds should they become available to the Town.
On call of the vote, motion carried 8/0.
COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS
Purchasing Department: Not Accepting the Lowest Bid per Section 10-10(b) of the Town
of East Hartford Code of Ordinances
Chair Kehoe announced that the Purchasing Department is not accepting the lowest bid
on the bulk waste truck crane and body because the low bidder, Sanitary Equipment
Company, did not meet the department specifications.
Presentation by the Greater Hartford Arts Council re: Regional Marketing Campaign
Ken Kahn, Executive Director of the Greater Hartford Arts Council and Sarah Barr with the City of Hartford gave a presentation regarding a multimedia marketing campaign to showcase all of the Hartfords’ (East Hartford, West Hartford and Hartford).
The Chair stated that the Energy Independence Advisory Committee item that was added under Communications and Petitions will be addressed under New Business item 9. E. 1.
NEW BUSINESS
Corporation Counsel: Bid Waiver for Harrall-Michalowski Associates, Inc.
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Marcia Leclerc
to waive the bid requirement and to authorize the Town to enter into an agreement with Harrall-Michalowski Associates, Inc. for a contract for consulting services for possible zoning modification purposes not to exceed not to exceed $15,000 without further Town Council approval.
Motion carried 8/0.
Refund of Taxes
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Eric Thompson
to refund taxes in the amount of $3,841.29
pursuant to Section 12-129 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
Motion carried 8/0.
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Eric Thompson
to amend the motion as follows:
“…to refund taxes in the amount of $3,841.39…”
Motion carried 8/0.
On call of the vote of the amended motion, motion carried 8/0.
Memorandum
DATE: May 6, 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 |
Armstrong, Ballard 51 Mountain View Dr East Hartford, CT 06108 |
2006-01-604 |
328.15 |
Overpayment 51 Mountain View Road |
At Home Improvement & Rental LLC 47 Garvan St East Hartford, CT 06108 |
2005-01-10805 |
24.98 |
Overpayment 91-93 Burnside Ave |
Barnes, Donna & James 66 Ferncliff Dr West Hartford, CT 06117 |
2006-01-41 |
179.47 |
Overpayment 19 Village Street
|
Brennan, James M 229 Brewer St East Hartford, CT 06118-2100 |
2002-04-81034 2003-03-54366 17.85 + 2.00 Tax +
Int. 62.92 Tax only |
82.77 |
Assessor’s Adjustment Marker # 590SNR # 560BGB |
Massaro, Richard M 109 Wood Dr East Hartford, CT 06108 |
2006-01-9299 |
22.39 |
Overpayment 109 Wood Drive |
New Life In Christ C/O Mini Thompson 395 Ellington Rd South Windsor, CT 06074 |
2004-03-77371 |
6.39 |
Overpayment Marker # 826SSH |
Nissan Infiniti LT PO Box 650214 Dallas, TX 75265-9523 |
2006-03-77371 |
334.41 |
Assessor’s Adjustment VIN # JN8DR09Y14W908898 |
Nissan Infiniti LT PO Box 650214 Dallas, TX 75265-9523 |
2006-03-77400 |
308.82 |
Assessor’s Adjustment VIN # 5N1AR18W15C705352 |
Norman, Deanna P 1 High St # 1 East Hartford, CT 06118-4001 |
2006-03-77581 |
42.64 |
Overpayment Marker # 688UJS |
Page, Christine M 97 Gordon Lane East Hartford, CT 06118-2222 |
2006-03-78608 |
37.06 |
Assessor’s Adjustment Marker #763TXT |
Tanguay, Marcel & Julie 881 Burnside Ave East Hartford, CT 06108 |
2006-01-14200 |
1944.07 |
Overpayment 881 Burnside Avenue |
Thibault, Reginald H N 42 Chester St East Hartford, CT 06108
|
2006-03-87586 |
66.10 |
Overpayment Marker # 5CZ723 |
Tupper, Susan Z 96 Filbert St Hamden, CT 06517-1314 |
2006-03-88611 |
464.14 |
Assessor’s Adjustment Marker # 964SJR |
TOTAL |
|
3841.39 |
|
_____________________
Patricia Faucher, CCMC
Appointment of Sonia Ogren to Commission on Services for Persons with Disabilities
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Marcia Leclerc
to approve the following appointment:
Commission on Services for Persons with Disabilities
Sonia Ogren; term to expire 12/09
Motion carried 8/0
Recommendation from Investigation & Audit Committee: Appointment of Town Auditor
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Marcia Leclerc
to accept the proposal of Blum Shapiro to provide
auditing services to the Town of East Hartford for five
one-year contracts; fiscal years ending June 30, 2008,
June 30, 2009, June 30, 2010, June 30, 2011 and
June 30, 2012 contingent upon approval of the Town Council
for each year.
Motion carried 8/0.
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Eric Thompson
to recommend to the Town Council to appoint Blum Shapiro as the
auditors for fiscal year 2007-2008 to perform required financial
audits consistent with the most recent proposal of $60,900.
Motion carried 8/0.
Renewable Energy by Town and Residents
MOTION By Jason Rojas
seconded by Marcia Leclerc
to adopt the following resolution:
WHEREAS, East Hartford seeks to take measures to improve air quality standards because of its importance to public health; and
WHEREAS, clean energy resources, such as wind and solar energy, constantly replenishing themselves, do not cause the buildup of global warming gases and health damaging pollutants, and, if properly managed, will be available to serve our energy needs forever; and
WHEREAS, the 20% by 2010 campaign is a Connecticut not-for-profit initiative being undertaken to encourage community action in support of clean energy in an effort to improve public health, create a clean energy market, improve the environment and create jobs in these technologies; and
WHEREAS, the East Hartford Town Council has endorsed the goals of the 20% by 2010 Campaign; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of East Hartford commits to offsetting at least 20% of its electricity usage with clean energy sources by the year 2010, with clean energy purchases increasing over time to meet the 2010 goal; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town of East Hartford shall achieve this goal by, at a minimum, purchasing enough clean energy certificates to account for 20% of its power consumption; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the East Hartford Town Council shall monitor, on a yearly basis, the 20% by 2010 program, and will also continue to research and make recommendations so that East Hartford can reach the 20% by 2010 goal. The Council will investigate clean energy options, including purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and/or on-site renewable energy installations and funding opportunities; and
RESOLVED that the Town Council shall encourage all businesses, institutions and households within East Hartford to adopt the goals and purpose of promoting clean energy in our town by purchasing clean energy through Connecticut Clean Energy Options program to advance this program.
On call of the vote, motion carried 8/0.
The Mayor announced the formation of an Energy Independence Advisory Committee to assist the town and its residents to use more renewable sources of electricity and to conserve electricity.
Setting a Public Hearing Date of May 6, 2008 AT 7:00 p.m. Re: Revisions to the Town of East Hartford Code of Ordinances:
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Don Pitkin
to set a public hearing date of May 6, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. regarding proposed revisions to the Town of East Hartford’s Code of Ordinances related to Subdivision (17) of Section 7-8, entitled Chain Link Fence Slats and to add Sections 10-51 and 10-52, entitled Pension and Retiree Benefit Board.
Motion carried 8/0.
Referral to Personnel & Pensions Committee Re: Revised Job Description for Caseworker I
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Marcia Leclerc
to refer to the Personnel & Pensions Subcommittee a revised job description for Caseworker I position for the Health and Social Services Department.
Motion carried 8/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION
Councillor Pitkin asked if any and or all of the Town vehicles could be converted to propane in order to save fuel consumption.
COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
Chapman Arms Apartments, LLC v. Town of East Hartford
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 Chapman Arms Apartments LLC v. Town of East Hartford and to authorize the Town Assessor to reduce the fair market value of the property located at 15-27 Chapman Street, owned by Chapman Arms Apartment s LLC, to the sum of $2,364,690.00, 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 t o a refund of taxes paid, the refund will be deducted from the next installment of taxes.
Motion carried 8/0.
The Masters Club, LLC v. Town of East Hartford
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Eric Thompson
to accept the recommendation of the Corporation Counsel’s office to settle the federal case entitled The Masters Club, LLC v. Town of East Hartford, Docket No. 307 CV 01503 (MRK) for the full and final sum of $13,833.33
Motion carried 8/0.
At this point, Councillor Thompson left the Chamber.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
Patrick Sanzo, 23 Risley Street, spoke regarding bomb scares in the high school and wanting to express his concerns that the schools not count the lost days as part of the 180 required days.
He also expressed an interest in saving energy costs in regards to town owned vehicles.
John Majdan, 34 Northbrook Court, thanked the Councillors for considering him to serve on the Green Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Don Pitkin
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn ( 9:03 p.m.).
Motion carried 7/0.
The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Town Council would be on May 6, 2008.
Attest________________________________
Christine R. Bedard
ACTING TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
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