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04-20-11 Town Council Minutes
EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL

TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS

APRIL 20, 2011

PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, 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

ABSENT  Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr.


CALL TO ORDER

Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:32 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

Jason Matthews, resident advisor for Shea Gardens – an East Hartford Housing Authority complex – (1) inquired on the reason for Stanley deMello resigning as Executive Director of the East Hartford Housing Authority; (2) suggested that monies could be paid back to HUD through state funds; and (3) believes that the Commissioners of the East Hartford Housing Authority should have been aware of the financial problems of that Authority.

Susan Kniep, 44-46-50 Olde Roberts Street, (1) thanked Councillor Linda Russo, the liaison to the East Hartford Housing Authority for the documentation supplied her from the East Hartford Housing Authority; (2) suggested that a copy of the recent HUD assessment be kept in the Council office; and (3) asked that the Council look into the legality of imposing a confidentiality agreement between the Executive Director of the East Hartford Housing Authority and the Commissioners of the East Hartford Housing Authority.

Chair Kehoe stated that residents living in East Hartford Housing Authority units are in no danger of being asked to leave their homes due to any financial issues that the Housing Authority is facing.

Mayor Leclerc (1) announced that the Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments have worked with her to clean up the downtown business district on Main Street; and (2) stated that she is working with Northeast Utilities and AT&T to repair the sistered telephone poles throughout town and all should be repaired by July 2011.  


APPROVAL OF MINUTES

April 5, 2011 Regular Meeting  

MOTION  By Barbara Rossi
                        seconded by Eric Thompson
                        to approve the minutes of the April 5, 2011 Regular Meeting.
                        Motion carried 8/0.

April 7, 2011 Special Joint Meeting East Hartford Housing Authority  

MOTION  By Barbara Rossi
                        seconded by Eric Thompson
                        to approve the minutes of the April 7, 2011 Special Joint Meeting East
                        Hartford Housing Authority.
                        Motion carried 8/0.


NEW BUSINESS

Recommendation from Real Estate Acquisition & Disposition Committee re: Maple Street Culvert Replacement Easement Acquisitions

MOTION  By Linda Russo
                seconded by Eric Thompson
                to accept the following easement and drainage rights agreements as more
                particularly shown on various maps showing Project No. 2854-17, entitled:
                EASEMENT MAP DEPICTING PROPOSED DRAINAGE EASEMENTS IN
                FAVOR OF THE TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD MAPLE STREET
                CULVERT EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT:  

  • Permanent Easement, 117 Maple Street, Property of Ms. Diane R. Porter
  • Permanent and Temporary Easement, 139 Maple Street, Property of the Estate of Joan F. Porter
  • Permanent and two Temporary Easements, 132 Maple Street, Property of Robert and Maryanna Tsolas
  • Permanent and two Temporary Easements, 140 Maple Street, Property of Vidal and Gregoria San Martin
Motion carried 8/0.


Real Estate Acquisition & Disposition Committee – Acting as a Committee of the Whole – re: Burnham Street Easement Acquisitions

MOTION  By Linda Russo
                seconded by Barbara Rossi
                that the Town Council, acting as a Committee of the Whole for the       Real Estate Acquisition
                & Disposition Committee, accept the conveyance of an easement from the State of Connecticut
                on Burnham Street, from Ellington Road, eastward to a point between 351 and 359 Burnham Street,
                and as referenced in a memo to Mayor Marcia Leclerc from Acting Public Works Director Tim Bockus
                dated April 7, 2011.
                Motion carried 8/0.

Bid Waiver: Flood Protection System re: GEI Consultants, Inc.

Tim Bockus, Acting Public Works Director, and Nick Casparino, Civil Engineer, gave the Council a brief update
of the progress made on the town’s levee system.

MOTION  By Barbara Rossi
                seconded by Linda Russo
                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 the town to enter into five professional service contracts
                with GEI Consultants Inc. to provide engineering services and/or
                engineering design services which will rectify deficiencies identified
                during the FEMA Accreditation Study in accordance with the
                documentation received by Denise Horan, Town Engineer (dated
                April 5th and April 11th) and referenced as:

  • Timber Bulkhead Replacement Project Permitting Support
  • Evaluation of Toe Drain Improvement
  • Pump Station Safety Compliance Planning and Inspection
  • Civil Work and Closure Structure Repair
  • Additional Pump Station Repair Items
                
in an amount not to exceed $457,565.00, which is in the best interests
of the town as it will allow the town to meet the requirements of the Army Corps
of Engineers for the East Hartford Flood Protection System and improve public safety.
Motion carried 8/0.


Refund of Taxes

MOTION  By Marc Weinberg
                seconded by Susan Skowronek
                to refund taxes in the amount of $13,027.14   
                pursuant to Section 12-129 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
                Motion carried 8/0.


Bill
Name
Prop Loc/Vehicle Info.
Over Paid
2009-03-0064404
ALLY FINANCIAL FKA GMAC
2007/7CV243/2CNDL23F476048084
$     (210.77)
2009-03-0064417
ALLY FINANCIAL FKA GMAC
2007/49CW85/3GNFK12377G270471
$     (244.14)
2009-03-0064421
ALLY FINANCIAL FKA GMAC
2007/463UHG/1GNFK13067R101661
$     (314.22)
2009-03-0064423
ALLY FINANCIAL FKA GMAC
2008/633WMP/5S3ET13S482800956
$     (135.86)
2009-03-0064425
ALLY FINANCIAL FKA GMAC
2006/793UKU/1GNDT13S262124738
$     (116.44)
2007-01-0004838
BAC TAX SERVICES CORP
8 WHITING RD
$  (1,756.26)
2007-01-0002374
BAC TAX SERVICES CORP
31 HIGH ST UNIT #2104
$  (1,622.77)
2008-01-0012154
BAC TAX SERVICES CORP
254 SCHOOL ST
$  (1,747.39)
2009-01-0014487
BAC TAX SERVICES CORP
24 GREEN MANOR DR
$  (2,033.43)
2008-01-0015414
BAC TAX SERVICES CORP
80 HIGBIE DR
$  (1,438.77)
2009-03-0054999
BUSHNELL JONATHAN H OR ANGELA
2001/184XEV/2T1BR12E91C408551
$       (72.08)
2007-01-0007033
CORELOGIC
43 SPAULDING CIR
$       (37.62)
2009-03-0058964
DANG THUY T
2005/543TGV/4JGAB57E65A536669
$     (290.99)
2009-01-0004342
DZIEDZIC JOHN D & BARBARA
89 BROAD ST
$         (6.00)
2009-03-0064125
GHOSH SUHASH
2006/426XRF/2HNYD18636H529690
$       (46.38)
2009-03-0066448
HEREDIA RAMON SR
2004/675WTD/1G6DM577440109799
$         (5.91)
2006-01-0011031
PALDINO CARLOS & MARIA T
73 ARNOLD DR
$  (1,734.21)
2008-01-0011929
R & B PROPERTIES LLC
18 GREEN MANOR DR
$     (300.00)
2007-03-0082654
RODRIGUEZ CESAR E OR RUTH
2007/635UCG/JTNBE46K173039419
$     (796.00)
2006-01-0015604
WOOD CHERYL A
678 GOODWIN ST
$     (117.90)
TOTAL
 
$ (13,027.14)


Outdoor Amusement Permits:

Here Hear of Hartford of HLAA: Walk 4 Hearing

Approval of Application

MOTION  By Ram Aberasturia
                seconded by Pat Harmon
                to approve the outdoor amusement permit application submitted by
                Terry Bedard of Hear Here of Hartford of HLAA to conduct a walk in
                Great River Park on Saturday, June 4th from 8AM to 12PM with
                music from 9AM to 11AM, 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.

Waiver of Permit Fee

MOTION  By Ram Aberasturia
                seconded by Pat Harmon
                to waive the associated permit fee under the provisions of Section
                5-6(c) in the East Hartford Code of Ordinances, as Hear Here of
                Hartford is a non profit and tax exempt organization.
                Motion carried 8/0.


6th Annual Abelon Memorial Walk

MOTION  By Ram Aberasturia
                seconded by Pat Harmon
                to approve the outdoor amusement permit application submitted by
                Rachel Buck, CIBA Student Advisory Board member, to conduct a
                fundraising walk to raise public awareness of the cause and
                effects of pancreatic cancer on Saturday, May 21st on the grounds
                of the Connecticut IB Academy, 857 Forbes Street from
                approximately 8AM to 2PM, with the walk starting at 10AM at CIBA
                and follows Forbes Street to Sunset Ridge School and retraces its
                steps back to CIBA, 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, and to waive the associated permit fee under the
                provisions of Section 5-6(c) in the East Hartford Code of Ordinances, as
                this is a charitable fund-raising event.
                Motion carried 8/0.


Memorial Day Parade

MOTION  By Ram Aberasturia
                seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the outdoor amusement permit application submitted by the East Hartford
Patriotic Commission to conduct the town’s annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday,
May 30, 2011 from 10:30 AM to approximately 12:00 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.
                

Referral to Town-owned Property Other Than Real Estate Committee re: Disposal of Used Equipment through the Internet

MOTION  By Marc Weinberg
                        seconded by Susan Skowronek
                        to refer to the Town-owned Property Other Than Real Estate
                        Committee the possibility of disposing used school and/or
                        town equipment through various internet resources, such as
                        eBay, and to investigate the matter and report back to the
                        Town Council with its recommendations, if any.
                        Motion carried 8/0.


OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION

Linda Russo made the Mayor aware of an overflowing clothing bin, located at an abandoned gas station on Pitkin Street.


OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK

Roger Coleman, 22 Kenneth Drive, attended a recent Zoning Board of Appeals meeting and suggested that the presentation boards be made visible to those in the audience and at home.  Additionally, Mr. Coleman asked that Channel 5 include as much information on upcoming meetings as possible.  
  
Susan Skowronek attended the East Hartford High School production of “Guys and Dolls” on Saturday, April 16th and congratulated the cast, crew and orchestra for a job well done.

Mayor Leclerc was also present at the EHHS production of “Guys and Dolls” and agreed that the students did a wonderful job.  Additionally, the Mayor announced that the owners of D’Esopo Funeral Chapels will donate the chemical necessary to clean all the state veteran marble monuments in the town’s cemeteries in time for the Memorial Day parade.

Chair Kehoe noted that garbage collection will be delayed by one day due to the observance of Good Friday on April 22nd and the town land-fill will be closed on Saturday, April 23rd.

Marc Weinberg wished all a Happy Easter, Happy Passover, and recognized that Greek Orthodox Easter is Sunday, May 1st.


ADJOURNMENT

MOTION  By Eric Thompson
                seconded by Barbara Rossi
                to adjourn (9:08 p.m.).
                Motion carried 8/0.


The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Town Council would be on Tuesday, May 3, 2011.




                                        Attest________________________________
                                                        Angela M. Attenello
                                                          TOWN COUNCIL CLERK