TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBER
EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
MARCH 7, 2012
PUBLIC HEARING/BUDGET
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,
Patricia Harmon and Robert J. Damaschi
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:18 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.
The Chair gave a brief overview of the Mayor’s recommended 2012-2013 budget which represents a 4.8% increase in expenses, or $7.6 million. Of the $7.6 million, $3.2 million is going to the Board of Education; $3.3 million is set aside for health benefits; $845,000 is set aside for additional pension costs, which leaves only $204,000 to cover the increase in the town’s operating budget.
Due to revaluation, the Chair stated that the impact of this year’s budget varies dramatically, whether residential or commercial, and therefore, it is difficult to announce the average tax increase to homeowners as has been done in the past. However, since the burden of the tax increase has shifted from residential property owners to business owners, the Chair stated that roughly 60% of all homeowners in East Hartford will see a decrease in their yearly property taxes.
Chair Kehoe announced that the Council, as a whole, is planning to set aside sufficient funds to provide the Board of Education with financial resources to keep the Synergy Alternative High School and the HeadStart program.
The following citizens came forth to speak on the impact that revaluation had on their property taxes:
John Bezzini, 92 Copper Beech Way, stated that his yearly taxes will increase over $600, but his assessment decreased by $12,000. Mr. Bezzini asked for the process that Municipal Valuation Services uses to obtain a fair assessment of residential properties.
Paul Gallo, 104 Jessica Drive, stated that the value of his home decreased by 9.3%, but his taxes will increase by 12.8%. When he received notice from the town in December of this change, he did not question it because the Mayor’s budget was not yet available and, therefore, he did not know what impact the budget would have on his assessment.
The following citizens came forward to speak in favor of keeping the HeadStart program:
Maria Guzman, 812 Brewer Street; Diane Stone, Teacher at Willowbrook School, who also read a letter from Georgia Clark, 105 Smith Drive, in support of HeadStart; Aphrodite “Dede” Koutsares, Teacher at Willowbrook School; Kimberly Pedneault, Teacher at Willowbrook School; Betsy Valentin, 19 Margery Drive; Victoria Starr, 17 Chickasaw Drive; and David Akai, 50 Church Street.
The following citizens came forward to speak in favor of keeping the Synergy Alternative High School program:
Shelly Nearing, 377 School Street; Angel Fontanez, 49 Cannon Road; Jennifer Wisnewski, 1192 Forbes Street; Betsy Valentine, 19 Margery Drive; Malcolm Freeman, Jr., 23 Higbie Drive; Joshua Lam, 106 Greenlawn Street; and Nathan Allison, Teacher at Synergy Alternative High School.
Susan Kniep, 50 Olde Roberts Street, (1) spoke in favor of keeping both the HeadStart and Synergy Alternative High School programs; (2) suggested that the Town Council hold another public hearing after they present their budget to the residents and before actually setting the budget; and (3) believes there should be a 3-year wage freeze on all town employees’ salaries.
The Chair announced that another public hearing on the budget will be held tomorrow evening, March 8th, at 7PM in Council Chambers. Additionally, he noted that the Council is scheduled to vote on the budget on Tuesday, March 13th at 7PM in Council Chambers.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded Bill Horan
to adjourn (8:45 p.m.).
Motion carried 9/0.
Attest________________________
Angela Attenello
Town Council Clerk
| 
