TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
740 MAIN STREET
EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
AUGUST 7, 2012
PUBLIC HEARING/PROPOSED BONDS FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT AND WINDOW WALL REPLACEMENT AT EAST HARTFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL
PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Majority Leader Barbara Ann Rossi, Minority Leader Eric A. Thompson, Councillors Marc I. Weinberg, Linda A. Russo, Ram Aberasturia, Patricia Harmon and Esther Clarke
ABSENT Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr.
Chair Kehoe called the public hearing to order at 7:21 p.m.
The following is a copy of a legal notice published in the Tuesday, July 24, 2012 edition of the Hartford Courant.
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LEGAL NOTICE
The Town Council of the Town of East Hartford will meet in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of holding a public hearing on the following resolutions:
RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING $10,000,000 FOR THE PLANNING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF TOWN ROADS AND PARKING LOTS AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $10,000,000 BONDS OF THE TOWN TO MEET SAID APPROPRIATION AND PENDING THE ISSUANCE THEREOF THE MAKING OF TEMPORARY BORROWINGS FOR SUCH PURPOSE
RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING $5,700,000 FOR WINDOW WALL REPLACEMENT AT EAST HARTFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $1,600,000 BONDS OF THE TOWN TO MEET THE TOWN’S SHARE OF SAID APPROPRIATION AND PENDING THE ISSUANCE THEREOF THE MAKING OF TEMPORARY BORROWINGS FOR SUCH PURPOSE
A copy of said resolutions is on file open to public inspection at the office of the Town Clerk.
Angela Attenello
TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
The Chair summarized the two proposed bond issues that will be submitted to the residents of the town of East Hartford for referendum on Election Day, November 2012.
The first proposed bond issue is to continue the road improvement program in the town; the initial improvements were seen on the town’s arterial roads, i.e., Hills Street, Goodwin Street, School Street, etc. This next bond will see improvements to neighborhood roads in both the north and south ends of the town.
The second proposed bond issue will be utilized to replace the vast amount of window walls at the East Hartford Middle School. Since this is a school project, the town will be eligible for a 74% state reimbursement of the full amount of $5.7M – which equates to $1.6M in the issuance of bonds.
The following citizens came forward:
Ron Stocker, 143 Fitzgerald Drive, (1) inquired on the re-pavement of Oak Street which has been under repair by the Metropolitan District Commission; (2) asked about the repair of Brewer Street; and (3) wanted an explanation on the difference between the appropriation amount and the bond issue amount for the window wall replacement at the East Hartford Middle School.
Susan Kniep, 44-46 and 50 Olde Roberts Street, (1) suggested that the list of roads to be repaired under the road bond be posted to the town’s website; and (2) asked that the Town Council delay the proposed bond for at least a year, due to the economic downturn in the economy.
Kathy Lombardo, 334 Maple Street, (1) asked that the Town Council consider starting the public hearings a bit later in deference to the residents who attend; (2) inquired on the state reimbursement process for the proposed window wall bond; and (3) believes that there should be better communication between the residents and the Town Council when large bonds are being considered.
David Weaver, 40-42 Olde Roberts Street, has seen a significant increase in his real estate taxes and believes that the town should cut expenses to keep taxes low.
There being no further comments, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 8:04 p.m.
Attest________________________
Angela M. Attenello
Town Council Clerk
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