EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MARCH 3, 2009
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, Barbara-Ann Rossi, Linda A. Russo, and Eric Thompson
ABSENT Councillor Patricia Harmon
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. He announced the exit locations in
accordance with Connecticut General Statutes § 29-381. The following members of Girl Scout Troop #327 and their leaders led the Council in the pledge of allegiance:
Troop Leaders: Sandi Melo, Dawn Melo, Lindsy Gay and Laurie Horan
Members: Gillian Horan, Morghan Saltarella, Madelyne Gay, Emily Hampton, Brianna Cook, Julianna Alphonso, Angelina Alphonso, Olivia Plantinits-Vu, Nicole Millis, Angelena Garfi, and Rebecca Connors.
The Scouts presented Mayor Currey with a poster that they made to satisfy the requirements of obtaining their community badge which depicts what Troop #327 likes most about East Hartford. In addition, the Scouts presented the Council with a plate of Girl Scout cookies.
Vice Chair Horan asked for a point of personal privilege to read a note from Troop #327 to Stop & Shop on Silver Lane to thank them for allowing the troop to sell Girl Scout cookies every Saturday and Sunday in March.
Chair Kehoe asked for a moment of silence to honor the lives of two men who recently passed:
George Stewart, past president of 1st Federal Savings and Loan Association, was a significant contributor to the growth of East Hartford, having served on the Economic Development Commission, East Hartford Chamber of Commerce, the Raymond Library Foundation, Rotary Club, and spearheaded the construction of the YMCA/YWCA and the Glenbrooke Swim Club.
John Johnston, a Constable for the town, who was a member of the Moose Club and the East Hartford Lions Club, was extremely active in the town and contributed to several community events.
Both men will be sorely missed.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Currey (1) thanked the Girls Scouts for the poster they made; (2) announced that the Governor’s stimulus package will be back on-line March 8th or 9th; (3) stated that she will be meeting tomorrow with the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA to discuss a one-year extension for completing the repairs to the town’s dikes and possible financial aid; (4) informed the Council that PetSmart will be opening Saturday and suggested that the Councillors visit the new Wachovia Bank building which recently opened; and (5) stated that MDC has started adding liners to the sewer pipes along Burnside Avenue to prevent any further collapse of those lines.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
February 17, 2009 Executive Session/UTC
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the minutes of the February 17, 2009 Executive Session/UTC.
Motion carried 8/0.
February 17, 2009 Regular Meeting
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to approve the minutes of the February 17 2, 2009 Regular Meeting.
Motion carried 8/0.
February 23, 2009 Special Meeting/Supervisors’ Union Local #818
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Don Pitkin
to approve the minutes of the February 23, 2009 Special Meeting/
Supervisors’ Union Local #818.
Motion carried 8/0.
February 23, 2009 Budget Workshop/Fire and Police Departments
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Don Pitkin
to approve the minutes of the February 23, 2009 Budget Workshop/
Fire and Police Departments.
Motion carried 8/0.
February 26, 2009 Budget Workshop/Board of Education
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the minutes of the February 26, 2009 Budget Workshop/
Board of Education.
Motion carried 8/0.
RESOLUTIONS
Use of Federal Stimulus Funds for Dike Improvements
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to adopt the following resolution:
Town of East Hartford Flood Protection System Improvements
Whereas, the federal government’s Army Corps of Engineers built a flood protection system in East Hartford after several destructive floods and transferred ownership to the town of East Hartford; and
Whereas, the town of East Hartford maintained the flood protection system for more than 60 years, annually receiving glowing reports from the Army Corps of Engineers for its maintenance efforts; and
Whereas, subsequent to Hurricane Katrina, the Army Corps of Engineers revisited its maintenance requirements and mandated that the town of East Hartford make immediate repairs to the flood protection system even though the “new” deficiencies existed for decades while the federal government gave its approval to the town’s maintenance efforts; and
Whereas, the town of East Hartford cooperated with the Army Corps of Engineers, spending $7 million of local taxpayer dollars and $4 million in state grant funds to bring the flood protection system into compliance with existing standards; and
Whereas, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have now required additional upgrades to the flood protection system costing at least another $15.8 million; and
Whereas, the town of East Hartford cannot afford to spend additional local funds on its flood protection system repairs in light of the deteriorating economy and the economic burdens on its residents, yet the town has waived bidding requirements and developed the engineering design to quickly implement this new phase of construction; and
Whereas, one of the goals of the federal stimulus package is to improve the nation’s infrastructure with projects that can be started within 90 days.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the East Hartford Town Council urges its congressional representatives – United States Senators Christopher J. Dodd and Joseph I. Lieberman and United States Congressman John Larson to seek federal stimulus funds to assist the town in completing its upgrade of the flood protection system.
On call of the vote, motion carried 8/0.
NEW BUSINESS
Referral to Fees Committee re: Rental Fees for Terry Pool
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Marcia Leclerc
to refer to the Fees Committee the issue of rental fees
for Terry Pool.
Motion carried 8/0.
Outdoor Amusement Permit Applications:
Ten Penny 10-Mile & Pennywise 5K Road Race
MOTION By Linda Russo
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to approve the outdoor amusement permit application submitted by Beth
Shluger of the Harford Marathon Foundation to conduct a Ten Penny 10 mile and Pennywise 5 K road races with approximately 500 runners, and outdoor musical entertainment on Sunday, April 5, 2009 from 7AM and Noon, with music running between the hours of 10:30AM and Noon, 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 8/0.
22nd Annual Memorial Mile
MOTION By Linda Russo
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the outdoor amusement permit application submitted by the
East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department and the East Hartford
Board of Education Physical Education Department to conduct the 22nd
Annual Memorial Mile Road Race on Monday May 25, 2009, from
approximately 10:20AM to completion, starting at the intersection
Burnside Avenue and Scotland Road and finishing on Hillside Street
across from Hillside Cemetery, 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 8/0.
13th Annual Sounds of Summer Concert Series
MOTION By Linda Russo
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to approve the outdoor amusement permit application submitted by the
East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department to conduct regularly
scheduled outdoor concerts on the Town Green, Main Street, from
6:30PM to 8:30PM on the following Thursdays in 2009:
- June 25th
- July 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th (the July 30th concert will be held in Martin Park)
- August 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
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 8/0.
25th annual Riverfest 5K Road Race
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the outdoor amusement permit application to hold a 5K run
beginning and ending at 1235 Forbes Street (Goodwin School) in East
Hartford on Saturday, July 11, 2009 from 6AM and 11AM, subject to
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 8/0.
14th Annual Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to approve the outdoor amusement permit application submitted by the
East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department for the purpose of
holding a bluegrass music festival to be held at Martin Park, 307 Burnside Avenue in East Hartford on the following days and times in 2009:
- Thursday, July 30th 5PM – 10:30PM
- Friday, July 31st 9AM – 11:30PM
- Saturday, August 1st 9AM – 11:30PM
- Sunday, August 2nd 9AM – 6PM
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 8/0.
20th Annual Fall Fest
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the outdoor amusement permit application submitted by the
East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department to hold a fall fest to be
held at the East Hartford Town Green on Main Street in East Hartford on
Saturday, October 17, 2009 from 10AM to 4PM with music being provided
during those same hours, 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 8/0.
Flood Protection System Rehabilitation – Supplemental Agreement #3
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Barbara Rossi
that pursuant to Section 10-7(c) of the Town of East Hartford Code of
Ordinances the Town Council waive the bidding requirements of Section
10-7(b) of the Town of East Hartford Code of Ordinances to authorize an
amendment to the May 6, 2008 contract between the Town of East
Hartford and GEI Consultants, Inc. in accordance with three letters from
GEI Consultants, Inc. to Town Engineer Denise Horan (dated February
20, 2009, February 24, 2009 and February 24, 2009) in an amount not to
exceed $316,893.00, which is in the best interest of the Town as it will
allow the Town to meet the requirements of the Army Corps of Engineers
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency with respect to the
accreditation of the East Hartford Levee System.
Motion carried 8/0.
Agreements between Local 1174 of Council 4, AFSCME, AFL-CIO and the Town of East Hartford re: Labor Concessions
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Don Pitkin
to approve the memorandum of the agreements between Local 1174 of Council 4, American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO and the Town of East Hartford regarding labor/wage concessions and retirements of Eugene Burzawa and Primitivo Arroyo, as outlined in the memorandum of agreements signed by Mayor Melody Currey and Union President of Local 1174, Mark Callahan, on February 17, 2009, February 26, 2009 and February 26, 2009 respectively.
Motion carried 8/0.
Note: Copies of the agreements will follow these minutes
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION
None
COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Division v. Town of East Hartford:
- HHB-CV-07-4014721-S
- HHB-CV-07-4014709-S
- HHB-CV-08-4017414-S
- HHB-CV-08-4017424-S
- HHB-CV-08-4019543-S
No action taken on the above agenda items.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
Mayor Currey thanked the Councillors for approving the labor concessions and early retirements regarding Local 1174 at tonight’s meeting.
Bill Horan thanked the volunteers of Channel 5 for their efforts, especially during the town’s budget process.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Don Pitkin
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn (8:40 p.m.).
Motion carried 8/0.
The Chair announced that the next Town Council meetings would be Wednesday, March 4th, the public hearing for the budget; Tuesday, March 10th, the Special Meeting for the budget, and on March 17th, the regularly scheduled Town Council meeting.
Attest________________________________
Angela M. Attenello
TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
| 
