EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MAY 5, 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 Patricia Harmon
ABSENT Councillor Eric A. Thompson
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:38 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.
Minority Leader Donald Pitkin was granted a point of personal privilege. He presented to the Council the town’s charters, including a draft of the 1967 town charter, and suggested that there be another charter revision.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Currey spoke on the following issues: (1) in the event of an outbreak of the swine flu, the town’s Health Department is well prepared; (2) the town will start larvaciding in the typical areas of town to prevent the spread of mosquitoes; (3) two businesses opened this week – Pizza Hut on Silver Lane and a hairdressing school at 38 Main Street; (4) federal stimulus money is slowly being released and hopes that those funds can be used to pay for the new firehouse; (5) ECS stimulus money guidelines are not clearly defined yet, but hopes that clarification will come soon; (6) some of the rules for the energy funds, that the town hopes to receive, have changed and the Administration is trying to stay on top of these guidelines; (7) Mary Martin, Grants Administrator, has been appointed Accountability Officer for the Town of
East Hartford for all stimulus funds coming forward to the town; (8) the East Hartford Police Department has applied for funds for various items for the department; (9) appropriations for Youth Services Department has been received and the Administration will be coming to the Council shortly with the plans for how this money will be spent; (10) the dedication of Goodwin College took place on Friday, May 1st, and Goodwin School had Arbor Day that morning; (11) also on May 1st the town’s senior citizens were honored for their volunteer efforts – those seniors represent over 10,000 hours of dedication to the community.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
April 21, 2009 Public Hearing/Conveyance of Property to the Raymond Library Company
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the minutes of the April 21, 2009 Public Hearing on the
conveyance of property to the Raymond Library Company.
Motion carried 7/0. Abstain: Horan
April 21, 2009 Regular Meeting
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Don Pitkin
to approve the minutes of the April 21, 2009 Regular Meeting.
Motion carried 8/0.
April 23, 2009 Joint Town Council/ Board of Education Meeting
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to approve the minutes of the April 23, 2009 joint Town Council/Board of
Education meeting.
Motion carried 7/0. Abstain: Horan
RESOLUTIONS
Charter Oak Greenway Project
MOTION By Linda Russo
seconded by Don Pitkin
to adopt the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the Town of Bolton and the Town of Manchester have resolved to support the application of funding to extend the Charter Oak Greenway, a part of the East Coast Greenway bicycle and pedestrian pathway, from East Hartford through Manchester to the Hop River State Park Linear Trail in Bolton; and
WHEREAS, the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) is coordinating a joint application to continue funding this project as a High Priority Project in the Reauthorization of the Federal Bill for Surface Transportation as a means of completing approximately four miles of gaps in its design and construction at various locations in these three municipalities.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of East Hartford, Connecticut, supports this joint application as a means to providing a significant recreational and transportation related benefit to our communities.
IN FURTHERANCE OF THIS RESOLUTION, Melody A. Currey, Mayor of the Town of East Hartford, is duly authorized to enter into and sign any applications or contracts on behalf of the Town of East Hartford as it relates to the Charter Oak Greenway project. The Mayor is further authorized to provide such additional information and execute such other documents as may be required by the Federal government in connection with said contracts and to execute any amendments, rescissions, and revisions thereto.
On call of the vote, motion carried 8/0.
NEW BUSINESS
Referral to Real Estate Acquisition & Disposition Committee: Development of Former Daley Court Property Located at 590 Burnside Avenue
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Don Pitkin
to refer to the Real Estate Acquisition & Disposition Committee the
Redevelopment Agency’s proposal to develop the former Daley Court
property located at 590 Burnside Avenue into a 24-unit elderly housing
project, with instructions for the Committee to review the proposal and to
report back to the Town Council with its recommendation, if any.
Motion carried 8/0.
Bid Waiver re: Town Hall Windows
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Bill Horan
to waive the bidding requirements of Town Ordinance
Section 10-7(b) and to authorize the Administration to enter
into a contract with Scope Construction for the replacement
of windows at the East Hartford Town Hall at a cost not to
exceed $307,000.00.
Motion carried 8/0.
Appointment to the Veterans Affairs Commission
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to approve the appointment of Linda Carrasquillo to the Veterans Affairs
Commission; term to expire December 2010.
Motion carried 8/0.
Recommendation from Fees Committee re: Rental Fees for Terry Pool
MOTION By Marcia Leclerc
seconded by Don Pitkin
to approve the following resident and non-resident fees for the rental of
Terry Pool:
Resident Fees:
Before hours rate - $27.00 per hour
Evening rate - $35.00 per hour
Weekend rate - $45.00 per hour
Non-Resident Fees:
Before hours rate - $32.00 per hour
Evening rate - $40.00 per hour
Weekend rate - $50.00 per hour
Motion carried 8/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION
Barbara Rossi commented on the recognition of the Connecticut International
Baccalaureate Academy in East Hartford as the top magnet school in the nation. Marc Weinberg also expressed his pride in this accomplishment. The Mayor shared in their sentiments.
Mayor Currey congratulated Ed and Doris Laliberte a happy 70th wedding anniversary.
Marc Weinberg wished happy birthdays to Eric Thompson and Marcia Leclerc.
COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
None
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
None
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Don Pitkin
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn (8:21 p.m.).
Motion carried 8/0.
The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Town Council would be on May 19, 2009.
Attest________________________________
Angela M. Attenello
TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
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