TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
740 MAIN STREET
EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
APRIL 21, 2009
PUBLIC HEARING
CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY TO THE RAYMOND LIBRARY COMPANY
PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Majority Leader Marcia A. Leclerc, Minority Leader Donald H. Pitkin Councillors Marc I. Weinberg, Barbara-Ann Rossi, Patricia Harmon, Linda Russo and Eric Thompson
ABSENT Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr.
Chair Kehoe called the public hearing to order at 7:12 p.m.
The following is a copy of a legal notice published in both the Friday, April 10, 2009 and Friday, April 17, 2009 editions of the Hartford Courant.
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LEGAL NOTICE
Public notice is hereby given that the Town Council of the Town of East Hartford, Connecticut, will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 740 Main Street, East Hartford, Connecticut, to hear public comment the conveyance of the properties known as 28 Central Avenue and 36 Central Avenue to the Raymond Library Company.
Any person(s) wishing to express an opinion on this matter may do so at this meeting.
Angela Attenello
Town Council Clerk
The Chair gave a brief explanation of the recommendation from the Real Estate and Acquisition Committee to transfer two parcels of land known as the parking lot next to the Raymond Library to the Raymond Library Company in exchange for a ninety-nine year addition to the current lease that the town has with the Raymond Library Company for the Raymond Library itself. The Chair clarified that the Raymond Library is maintained and operated by the town but owned by the Raymond Library Company. The town has always owned the parking lot. Due to the proposed expansion of the library, a portion of the parking lot would have to be utilized.
The following citizens came forward to speak on the proposed transaction:
Lynn Evans, 233 Ellington Road, Vice President East Hartford Friends of the Library Association, stated that the library is too small to currently accommodate room for both meetings and various functions that are held there. She said the expansion is very much needed.
Eva Salas, 775 Tolland Street, member of the Friends of the Library, wholeheartedly would like the town to approve the expansion of the library and deed the parcels to the Raymond Library Company. She feels that libraries are an essential part of our lives.
Bill Leone, 33 Connecticut Boulevard, President of the Raymond Library Company, stated that he is in favor of the transfer of land to the Company. He reconfirmed that the ownership of the property is still with the Raymond Library Company and that the possession and control of the property would still be with the Town of East Hartford with a single lease that would expire ninety-nine years from now.
Victoria Brinius, 60 Rentschler Street, feels that it is in the town’s best interest to make as many resources available to anyone who feels the need to access the library and all of its available resources.
Tony Foran, 120 King Street, reiterated that the transfer of property is in name only. In terms of how the whole facility is being used there will be no change. The building is owned by the Raymond Library Company and deeded to the town for use as a library by the Raymond family with the Raymond Library Company overseeing that use. The transfer will allow the Raymond Library Company to provide funds for the initial study which would lead to the addition to the library. He noted that several surrounding towns have had major additions done to their libraries as well. He also made mention of the Aerospace and Tobacco Museum that will have ample space in which to be viewed by the public that it does not currently have now.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Don Pitkin
seconded by Mark Weinberg
to adjourn (7:30 p.m.).
Motion carried 8/0.
Attest________________________
Christine R. Bedard
Acting Town Council Clerk
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