EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MARCH 1, 2011
PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr., Majority Leader Barbara-Ann Rossi,
Minority Leader Eric A. Thompson, Councillors Marc I. Weinberg, Linda A. Russo, Ram Aberasturia,
Susan P. Skowronek and Patricia Harmon
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:33 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.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON AGENDA ITEMS
The following citizens came forward to speak in favor of the early morning swim program offered by the Parks and
Recreation Department at East Hartford High School and asked that it not be cut from this year’s budget: Nancy Quigley, 246 O’Connell Drive; Frank Rist, 43 Willowbrook Road; Carol Vann, 4 Monroe Street; Dorothy Leibowitz, 38 Strong Road; and Janit Romayko, 340 Forbes Street. In addition, letters of support for this program were distributed to the Council, which are on file in the Council office.
The following citizens came forward to speak in favor of the appointment of Jonathan Searles to the Economic Development
Commission: Carolyn Kronen, 56 Farnham Drive, read a statement from Mr. Searles given that he could not attend the
meeting and then added her words of support for his appointment; Joseph Kronen, 56 Farnham Drive; and Leonard Rice, 46 Hollister Drive.
Susan Kniep, 50 Olde Roberts Street, (1) supports the appointment of Ana Gould to the Emergency Medical Services and thanked
Ms. Gould for her recent donation of clothing to the East Hartford Shelter; (2) supports the appointment of Jonathan Searles to the
Economic Development Commission; (3) suggested that the Town Council prepare a new budget to present at the Public Hearing
on the budget which would include: (a) cutting all proposed salary increases; (b) rescinding PILOT funding allotted to Goodwin College;
and (c) renegotiating the recently approved emergency dispatch operators’ union contract that would address healthcare benefits paid
by the town.
Mayor Leclerc commented on the importance of the grants that are on tonight’s agenda and stated her support for each of them. Mayor Leclerc urged the Council to vote them forward.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
February 15, 2011 Executive Session/Montie-Costin
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the minutes of the February 15, 2011 Executive
Session/Montie-Costin.
Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Aberasturia
February 15, 2011 Regular Meeting
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Susan Skowronek
to approve the minutes of the February 15, 2011 Regular Meeting.
Motion carried 9/0.
February 23, 2011 Budget Workshop/ Police and Fire Departments
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the minutes of the February 23, 2011 Budget Workshop/ Police
and Fire Departments.
Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Skowronek
February 24, 2011 Budget Workshop/ Board of Education & Inspections/Permits Dept.
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the minutes of the February 24, 2011 Budget Workshop/ Board
of Education & Inspections/Permits Department.
Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Skowronek
COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS
Resignation of Michael Malinguaggio from the Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals
Chair Kehoe announced the resignation of Mr. Malinguaggio and thanked him for his years of service to the community.
NEW BUSINESS
Referral to Fees Committee re: ChildPlan, Inc.
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Susan Skowronek
to refer to the Fees Committee the lease renewal for ChildPlan, Inc. for the
use of 672 sq. ft. at the East Hartford Community Cultural Center with
instructions to review the issue and report back to the Town Council with
its recommendation, if any.
Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Kehoe
Appointment of Ana Gould to Emergency Medical Services Commission
MOTION By Linda Russo
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the appointment of Ana Gould to the Emergency
Medical Services Commission; term to expire December 2012.
Motion carried 9/0.
Historic Document Preservation Grant
MOTION By Linda Russo
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLVED: That Marcia A. Leclerc, 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 Documents Preservation Grant.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
Dial-a-Ride State of Connecticut Matching Grant
MOTION By Ram Aberasturia
seconded by Susan Skowronek
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLVED: That Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor, is authorized to negotiate and execute all necessary Agreement/Contract documents
on behalf of the Town of East Hartford with the Department of Transportation of the State of Connecticut and to affix the corporate seal.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
North Central Area Agency on Aging re: Grocery Delivery Grant
MOTION By Ram Aberasturia
seconded by Eric Thompson
to adopt the following resolution:
That Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor of the Town of East Hartford, is authorized and directed to file an application on forms prescribed by the
North Central Area Agency on Aging, Inc. for financial assistance in an amount not to exceed $7,500 and upon approval of said request
to enter into and execute a funding agreement and any amendments as may be required with the North Central Area Agency on Aging, Inc.
for the purposes of administering a grocery delivery to elderly residents program.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
State of Connecticut Department of Transportation Grant re: Purchase of Wheelchair
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Pat Harmon
to adopt the following resolution:
Resolved, that Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor of the Town of East Hartford, is authorized to file an application on forms prescribed by the
State of Connecticut Department of Transportation for financial assistance in an amount not to exceed $40,000 and upon approval
of said request to enter into and execute a funding agreement and all amendments thereto with the State of Connecticut Department
of Transportation for the purpose of funding the purchase of a wheelchair accessible van.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
U. S. Department of Homeland Security re: Emergency Management Performance Grant
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Eric Thompson
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Town Council of the Town of East Hartford, Connecticut, may enter into with and deliver to the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security any and all documents which it deems to be necessary or appropriate pertaining to an “Emergency Management Performance Grant” for the period of October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
Recommendation from Fees Committee re: Lease Renewal – Friends of East Hartford Senior Centers, Inc. / McCartin School
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the renewal of the lease for the “New to You” thrift store, which
occupies 2,408 sq. ft at the McCartin School, run by the Friends of the East
Hartford Senior Centers, Inc., for three years, beginning on March 1, 2011
and ending on February 28, 2014, for one (1) dollar per year, payable in a
one dollar annual installment, with no charge for utilities.
Motion carried 9/0.
Appointment of Jonathan Searles to the Economic Development Commission
MOTION By Pat Harmon
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the appointment of Jonathan Searles to the Economic
Development Commission, whose term shall expire December 2011.
Motion defeated 4/5. Yeas: Harmon, Thompson, Kehoe, Russo.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION
Susan Skowronek suggested that the Council recognize the Top Twenty students from East Hartford High School before the end of the school year.
Chair Kehoe asked that the Mayor look into the issue of keeping the early morning swim program to facilitate those who participate in that activity.
Mayor Leclerc thanked Michael Malinguaggio for his service on the Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals. The Mayor also congratulated Ana Gould on her appointment to the Emergency Medical Services Commission.
COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
Budget Truck Rental, LLC vs. Town of East Hartford
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Bill Horan
to accept the recommendation of Corporation Counsel’s office
to settle the tax appeal case entitled Budget Truck Rental, LLC
vs. Town of East Hartford and to authorize the Town Assessor
to reduce the fair market value of the personal property (as it relates
to unregistered motor vehicles) located at 430 Tolland Street,
owned by Budget Truck Rental, LLC, to the sum of $449,929.00,
subject to rounding, for the Grand List Year beginning October 1, 2009;
further that neither party will be entitled to fees or costs of any kind;
further that if the plaintiff is entitled to a refund of taxes paid, the refund
will be deducted from the next installment of taxes.
Motion carried 9/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
None
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn (8:30 p.m.).
Motion carried 9/0.
The Chair announced the next meetings of the Town Council would be on Wednesday, March 2nd – Public Hearing/Budget;
Tuesday, March 8th – Special Meeting/Budget; Tuesday, March 15th - Regular Meeting.
Attest________________________________
Angela M. Attenello
TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
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