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06-03-08 Regular Meeting Minutes
EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL

TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS

JUNE 3, 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, 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.


RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS

2008 Recipients of Peers Are Wonderful Support (P.A.W.S.) Project

The following proclamation was distributed to the recipients:

Proclamation

Be it hereby known to all that East Hartford Mayor Melody A. Currey
and members of the East Hartford Town Council hereby offer their sincerest congratulations to

Amber Jackson           Arianna Larson          Caitlin Dillon  Munique Reid

Dylan McCarthy          Elizabeth Montgomery    Jaime Beaver    Jacob Krechko

                Krissy Karabetsos       Michael Quintaro        

upon participating as an Peer Leader in the

P.A.W.S. Community Project
(Peers Are Wonderful Support)

On behalf of the citizenry of the Town of East Hartford, we hereby extend our best wishes and gratitude for Jacob’s contribution to this valuable program.

In Witness Whereof, we hereunto set our hand and cause the seal of the Town of East Hartford to be affixed this third day of June in the Year Two Thousand and Eight.

Cephus Nolen, Director of Youth Services, and Linda Chamberlain, Youth Services Program Coordinator, briefly described the P.A.W.S. project and recognized the dedication of each student in this program.

The Mayor and the Council congratulated all the recipients and thanked them for the positive impact that they have had on the youth of East Hartford.



OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON AGENDA ITEMS

Mayor Currey stated (1) East Catholic High School’s graduation is this evening; (2) Summer Sounds Concert series is starting on June 26th on the Town Green; (3) the 2008 Grand Prix event will be held in August this year rather than in the late Fall, which was when it was held last year; (4) the State Bonding Commission has approved $80M towards the construction of the Magnet High School at Goodwin College without any expense to the town’s residents; (5) the end of the fiscal year’s reports will be coming at the next Town Council meeting; (6) the ceremony honoring Doris Suessman will be on Thursday, June 12th at 6:00 P.M. at Center Cemetery; and (7) the interim Emergency Manager will be Craig Hancock and the Acting Fire Chief is Will Perez.



APPROVAL OF MINUTES

May 20, 2008 Regular Meeting  

MOTION  By Marcia Leclerc
                        seconded by Eric Thompson
                        to approve the corrected minutes of the May 20, 2008 Regular Meeting.
                        Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Horan



RESOLUTIONS

Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act (see summary below)

MOTION  By Barbara Rossi
                        seconded by Jason Rojas
                        to adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the Neighborhood Assistance Act (Public Act 95-268, as amended) provides State of Connecticut tax credits to businesses who contribute to community programs benefiting low income or handicapped individuals in such areas as: job training, job education, community services, and energy conservation, and;

WHEREAS, seventeen proposals have been received from area agencies, listed on the 2008 State of Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act Proposal Summaries sheet (attached), and have requested to be included in the 2008 State of Connecticut tax credit program through the Town of East Hartford, and;

WHEREAS, a Public Hearing to present these applications was held as required by the State on May 13, 2008.

NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED:  That Melody A. Currey, Mayor of the Town of East Hartford, is authorized to forward these applications to the State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services for their review and inclusion into the 2008 Neighborhood Assistance Act Program.

On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.

Town of East Hartford
2008 State of Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act Program
Proposal Summaries (17 total)

        Organization                                    Program Title

American Lung Association of Connecticut                Lung Health Partnerships
                                                        Breath Express
                                                        Lung Health Resource Center

Capital Workforce Partners, Inc.                        Conservation Upgrades to One Step
                                                        Program & Service Academy

Connecticut Training Center                             First Step Program
                                                        Lighting Retrofit for CTC

East Hartford Chamber of Commerce                       Community Jobs Program
                                                        Energy Conservation Project

East Hartford Homes Now, Inc.                           Learning Communities Project

Goodwin College                                 Job Connection
                                                        Redesign Campus for Energy Efficiency

Goodwin College Foundation, Inc.                        Retrofit Historic Building for Energy Efficiency

Goodwin College Scholarship Foundation, Inc.    Support for Low Income Students

Integrated Health Services, Inc.                        Client Health Services

St. Isaac Jogue’s Church                                Energy Conservation Upgrade Project

St. Mary’s Church                                       Energy Conservation Project

St. Rose School                                 Energy Conservation Upgrade



COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS

Purchasing Department: Not Accepting the Lowest Bid re: Window Replacements and
Masonry Repairs at Town Hall

The Chair stated, that per Section 10-10 (b) of the Town of East Hartford Code of
Ordinances, the Purchasing Agent is not accepting the lowest bid on window
replacements and masonry repairs at Town Hall due to a lack of experience in the
significant amount of masonry work that will need to be done.

Social Services Department: MySeniorCenter Software Program

Michelle Pantaleo, Senior Services Coordinator, announced to the Council that The Hartford Foundation has included East Hartford in its grant for this new software program.  The program consists of three different components: (1) senior center tracking/reporting; (2) social work tracking system; (3) transportation tracking system.  This particular software will allow the staff to generate more accurate reports of the usage of the senior centers and all of its programs.



NEW BUSINESS

Outdoor Amusement Permit Applications:

“Replica Tall Ship Viewing”

MOTION  By Bill Horan
                seconded by Barbara Rossi
                to approve the outdoor amusement permit application filed by Goodwin
College for the viewing and boarding of a replica tall ship at 133 Riverside
Drive from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday, July 5, 2008 and Sunday,
July 6, 2008, subject to compliance with adopted codes and regulations of
the State of Connecticut, the Town of East Hartford, and any other
stipulations required by the Town of East Hartford or its agencies.
Motion carried 9/0.

“2008 Riverfront Grand Prix”

MOTION  By Bill Horan
                seconded by Marc Weinberg
                to approve the outdoor amusement permit application filed by Riverfront
Recapture, Inc. for the annual 2008 Riverfront Grand Prix to be held in  
Great River Park, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, August 16, 2008 and Sunday, August 17, 2008, subject to compliance with adopted codes and regulations of the State of Connecticut, the Town of East Hartford, and any other stipulations required by the Town of East Hartford or its agencies.
Motion carried 9/0.

Transfer of Unclaimed Refunds

MOTION  By Jason Rojas
                seconded by Bill Horan
                to refer to the Ordinance Committee the issue of unclaimed tax refunds
                and to return to the Council with its recommendations, if any.
                Motion carried 9/0.

Refund of Taxes

MOTION  By Marc Weinberg
                seconded by Eric Thompson
                to refund taxes in the amount of $9,221.49
                pursuant to Section 12-129 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
                Motion carried 9/0.
Memorandum
DATE:  June 9, 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
Buerk, Julie
48 Hartz Lane
East Hartford, CT 06118
2006-03-54825
6.98
Overpayment
Marker # 6CV492
Burnham, Donna M
1893 Main St
East Hartford, CT 06108-1025
2006-03-54984
12.17
Assessor’s Adjustment
Marker # 43596
Carney, John J or Carney, Mary C
30 Cheney Ln
East Hartford, CT 06118-3005
2006-03-56031
160.19
Overpayment
Marker # GW197
Carrier, Romeo
46 Melton Dr
East Hartford, CT 06118
2006-03-56132
151.16
Overpayment
Marker # 693CDF
Cingular Wireless LLC
ATTN:  Property Tax
PO Box 97061
Redmond, WA 98073-9761
2006-02-40357
3122.58
Assessor’s Adjustment
Unique ID # PPA01065
Delaura, Ernest J Jr.
104 Wildflower Rd
East Hartford, CT 06118-1641
2006-03-60052
103.84
Assessor’s Adjustment
Marker # 674SPZ
GE Capital Info Tech Solutions Inc
C/O Property Tax Compliance
PO Box 1920
Danbury, CT 06813
2006-02-40715
3677.38
Assessor’s Adjustment
Unique ID # PPG01094
Hancock Manufacturing
247 Burnham St
East Hartford, CT 06108
2006-02-40785
519.40
Assessor’s Adjustment
Unique ID # PPH04090
Hart, Carol J
38 Meadow Ln
Manchester, CT 06040
2005-02-40079
336.26
Overpayment
Unique ID # PPA03294
Hickory Farms Inc
ATTN:  Tax Dept.
1505 Holland Rd
Maumee, OH 43537
2005-02-40829
30.00
Overpayment
Unique ID # PPH03108
Home Comfort Now LLC
13 Highland St
East Hartford, CT 06108
2006-02-40845
728.54
Assessor’s Adjustment
Unique ID # PPS06175
Majdan, Paul J
34 Northbrook Court
East Hartford, CT 06108-1156
2006-03-73200
2006-03-73201
12.31 + 20.70
33.01
Assessor’s Adjustment
Marker # 6CH541
           # 801298
Management Search of Hartford Inc
201 Park Ave
West Springfield, MA 01089
2006-02-41078
10.60
Overpayment
Unique ID # PPM01000
Michael Bakery Inc
912 Main St
East Hartford, CT 06108
2006-02-41142
63.00
Overpayment
Unique ID # PPM03500

Westford Real Estate MGMT LLC
50 Founders Plaza Suite # 106
East Hartford, CT 06108
2006-02-41744
252.84
Overpayment
Unique ID # PPW00880
Zito, Sally Ann
59 Elms Village Dr
East Hartford, CT 06118-2609
2006-03-91700
13.54
Assessor’s Adjustment
Marker # 381Z
TOTAL
9,221.49

_____________________
Patricia Faucher, CCMC


Recommendations from Personnel & Pensions Subcommittee:

Environmental/Public Health Supervisor

MOTION  By Marcia Leclerc
                        seconded by Marc Weinberg
                        to approve the revised job description for Environmental/Public
                        Health Supervisor with the changes outlined in a memo dated
                        April 25, 2008 from Human Resources Director Steven V. Bielenda to
                        Mayor Melody A. Currey with consistent revisions under “Knowledge, Skills
                        and Abilities”.
                        Motion carried 8/0.  Abstain: Pitkin
        
        
Highway Services Manager

MOTION  By Marcia Leclerc
                        seconded by Marc Weinberg
to approve the job description and grade for the Highway Services Manager as outlined in a memo dated April 25, 2008 from Human Resources Director Steven V. Bielenda to Mayor Melody A. Currey with revisions noted by the Committee under “Knowledge, Skills and Abilities” and other changes to spelling and language.   
Motion carried 8/0.  Abstain: Pitkin


Retirees’ Pension Increase

MOTION  By Marcia Leclerc
                seconded by Marc Weinberg
                to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL ONE PERCENT COST OF LIVING INCREASE TO TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD RETIREES WHO RETIRED AFTER DECEMBER 1, 1996 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1998

WHEREAS, the Town of East Hartford, through its Retirement Board, is contractually obligated to study every three years, the effect that economic conditions has had on retiree payments; and

WHEREAS, the results of the Retirement Board commissioned study shall be submitted to the Mayor who shall forward it to the Town Council for possible action; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Town Council jointly recognize the economic impacts that have caused retiree pensions to fail to keep up with the effects of inflation and will fund an increase in the fiscal year 2009-2010 budget to provide for this increase in retiree pensions.  

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Council hereby approves an annual one percent cost of living adjustment for retirees and beneficiaries who retired after December 1, 1996 through December 31, 1998 to be paid as part of the pension payment for the period beginning October 1, 2008, and annually thereafter.

On call of the vote, motion carried 8/0.  Abstain: Pitkin



OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION

None


COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS

None


OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK

Patrick Sanzo, 23 Risley Street, suggested that the Council take one phone-in call from a citizen during each Council meeting.  He applauded Goodwin College’s efforts on improving the waterfront property along Riverside Drive and asked the Mayor for the repair of several potholes along Mercer Avenue.



ADJOURNMENT

MOTION  By Don Pitkin
                seconded by Bill Horan
                to adjourn (8:32 p.m.).
                Motion carried 9/0.


The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Town Council would be on June 17, 2008.





                                        Attest________________________________
                                                        Angela M. Attenello
                                                          TOWN COUNCIL CLERK