EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
OCTOBER 2, 2012
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 Esther B. Clarke
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. The Chair 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
Gary LeBeau, State Senator, updated the Council on the progress made regarding the deteriorated state of the railroad bridge located between Hartford and East Hartford. The state legislature obtained about $3M to repair this bridge – which amount covers approximately 75% of the cost of restoration. To date, contracts have been signed to begin work on this project. The bridge – owned by a private rail company – provides freight rail transportation for numerous regional businesses.
Mayor Leclerc (1) announced that Red Line Automotive, a new business in East Hartford, will be restoring the vehicles used by the town for various police functions; (2) said that, since East Hartford has been recognized by the State Department of Public Health as a Heart Safe Community, there will be a small ceremony in conjunction with this designation; and (3) stated that the CCM Energy Purchasing Program will update the Council with its newest initiative on the next set of solar arrays.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
September 19, 2012 Executive Session/Lawrence-Pinney-Brokowski
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the minutes of the September 19, 2012 Executive Session.
Motion carried 9/0.
September 19, 2012 Regular Meeting
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the minutes of the September 19, 2012 Regular Meeting.
Motion carried 9/0.
NEW BUSINESS
Greater Hartford Transit District Grant: Dial-A-Ride Program
MOTION By Linda Russo
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLVED that Mayor Marcia A. Leclerc is authorized to make, execute and approve on behalf of this corporation, any and all contracts or amendments thereof with the Greater Hartford Transit District in relation to a $13,428.52 grant to the Town of East Hartford to be used to support costs associated with the operation of the Dial-A-Ride Program.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
CCM Energy Purchasing Program Participation – Solar Applications: Phase II
Presentation:
Mike Walsh, Finance Director, summarized the history on the town’s energy purchasing program. In May 2012 the Council authorized the Administration to participate in exploring solar energy market with CCM and Bay State Consultants. Proposals were compiled by the town and the town entered into a ZREC auction. SunEdison was the winning bidder of six solar projects, of which four were approved. Phase I of this energy purchasing program, which consists of solar canopies, has progressed to a point where the town is seeking out approvals from the appropriate regulatory agencies. Phase II consists of seven new projects, all roof-mounted solar arrays. In attendance at tonight’s meeting were John Shortsleeve, representing Bay State Consultants and Andy Merola, an attorney representing
CCM, who works on CCM energy related issues. After an analysis by Bay State Consultants and CCM, True Green Capital Management LLC (TGC) was the recommended bidder. The sites where roof-mounted solar arrays have been proposed are: East Hartford Community Cultural Center, Goodwin School, Mayberry School, Silver Lane School, Stevens School, Woodland School and the Public Safety Complex. Between the four solar canopies and, if selected, the seven new projects, the town could see a savings of between $1.5M and $3.2M, depending on whether electricity rates rise or fall over the next twenty years.
Tom Byrne, Director and Counsel with TGC, gave the Council a short PowerPoint presentation on the history of their company and the solar projects that TGC have entered into. Bill Granger, Executive Vice President with Trinity Solar, the company that will be responsible for the actual construction of the solar arrays, summarized Trinity Solar’s capabilities for the installation of the roof-mounted arrays.
Approval of Resolution
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOLAR ARRAYS
WHEREAS, the Town of East Hartford (the Town) worked closely with the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) and Bay State Consultants (Bay State) to explore the competitive market for financially and environmentally appropriate solar opportunities, and
WHEREAS, the Town engaged CCM and Bay State to continuously monitor regulatory decisions issued by PURA (Public Utilities Regulatory Authority) with respect to Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credits (ZRECs) to be made available in a first come, first serve application process in late September, and
WHEREAS, the Town was willing to explore coupling the ZREC credits with a power purchase agreement in order to facilitate the design, construction, and maintenance of up to seven solar arrays to work seamlessly with the Town’s existing TransCanada electricity power purchase agreement, and
WHEREAS, on August 27, 2012, the Town held a mandatory pre-bid meeting with CCM and Bay State for the purpose of walking the solar bidders through the seven selected sites to allow for informed solar proposals, and
WHEREAS, two solar development companies submitted responses to the CCM/Bay State Request for Proposals, and
WHEREAS, on September 7, 2012, CCM/Bay State recommended continuing negotiations with both solar development companies.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town of East Hartford, hereby approves the purchasing of electricity through the CCM Energy Purchasing Solar PV Program to take advantage of long-term, fixed price electricity pursuant to a Power Purchase Agreement with True Green Capital, LLC, a solar development company that has been selected through a competitively bid Request for Proposals and has agreed to install, own, operate and maintain an on-site photovoltaic electric generation system or systems that will supply electricity at municipal and Board of Education sites specified in the agreement at no cost to the Town of East Hartford;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the East Hartford Town Council hereby authorizes the Mayor to execute the Power Purchase Agreement on behalf of the Town; the details of the agreement shall be mutually determined between the Mayor and the company whose signatures will indicate approval of specific terms and conditions, provided such contract shall reduce the town’s electricity expenses by at least $710,000 over the life of the contract.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
Outdoor Amusement Permit Application: Holiday Fest 2012
MOTION By Ram Aberasturia
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the outdoor amusement permit application entitled
Holiday Fest 2012, as submitted by Patricia Sirois, Chair of the East Hartford Beautification Commission, to conduct the Annual Holiday Fest from December 7th through December 10th with activities as follows:
- Tree-lighting ceremony with music and singing to be held on the lawn of the Town Green on Friday, December 7th, between the hours of 6:30PM and 7:30PM;
- Miscellaneous activities including an outdoor petting zoo, horse drawn wagon and a snowman building contest to be held on the Town Green on Sunday, December 9th, between the hours of 12:00PM and 3:00PM; and
- Tree of Lights ceremony with music to be held on the lawn of the Raymond Library on Monday, December 10th, between the hours of 6:00PM and 6:30PM
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 9/0.
Councillor Rossi noted that the entire Council has already paid for their Holiday Fest buttons.
Refund of Taxes
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Eric Thompson
to refund taxes in the amount of $5,073.49
pursuant to Section 12-129 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
Motion carried 9/0.
Bill |
Name |
Prop Loc/Vehicle Info. |
Over Paid |
|
|
|
|
2010-03-0050683 |
ALHASNAWI YASER M |
1996//JN1CA21D3TM411576 |
$ (40.27) |
2011-03-0050997 |
ALVES ARLINDO |
2003//1HD1FDV103Y702576 |
$ (42.17) |
2011-01-0008725 |
AMELIA P LOPES LIVING TRUST |
40 HARVARD DR |
$ (64.18) |
2011-03-0051804 |
ATWOOD SUSAN D |
2007//1HD1CY3157K413771 |
$ (84.59) |
2011-03-0051938 |
AWUAH BENEDICK O |
1997//2FMDA51U0VBC94272 |
$ (91.30) |
2011-03-0051968 |
AYALA YARILYS |
1999//JM1BJ222XX0179125 |
$ (8.64) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0052393 |
BARNETT JODI L |
2002//1GNDT13S722244125 |
$ (24.11) |
2011-03-0053009 |
BENOIT THERESA A |
2000//1J4FF48S4YL160246 |
$ (27.00) |
2010-03-0053311 |
BIBLE DAVID K OR |
2004//1FTPW14544KC86812 |
$ (18.93) |
|
BIBLE KATHERINE |
|
|
2011-03-0053544 |
BOBCAT OF CONNECTICUT |
1999//1GYEK13RXXR400857 |
$ (33.81) |
2011-03-0053581 |
BODEDDULA SURYANARAYANA |
1999//1N4DL01D1XC201480 |
$ (21.01) |
2011-03-0053878 |
BOURCIER FERNAND M OR |
1993//1G4AG54NXP6438384 |
$ (23.36) |
|
BOURCIER RITA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0055623 |
CARR LISA G |
2002//4S3BE645326203824 |
$ (16.90) |
2011-03-0057689 |
CORDIER RICHARD L |
1995//4M2DV11W6SDJ17051 |
$ (15.00) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0058721 |
DANALIS VIVIANNE |
1987//WDBBA48D8HA060620 |
$ (5.35) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0063260 |
FULLWOOD DONAVAN C |
2006//3MEFM08186R666705 |
$ (119.00) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0064132 |
GILBERT PAULINE J M |
1996//JH4UA2655TC006830 |
$ (9.50) |
|
|
|
|
2009-03-0066492 |
HERNANDEZ DAMALY I |
2002//19UUA56682A020874 |
$ (140.19) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0067732 |
JACOBS JERRY L |
2000//1FTZR15X6YTA01317 |
$ (30.05) |
2011-03-0067812 |
JAMES JIMMY M |
1977//92217 |
$ (8.55) |
2010-03-0068335 |
JONES-GLENN MARCIA C |
2001//1G1ND52J816178954 |
$ (22.60) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0069490 |
KOVACS JOSEPH |
1997//2P4GP4431VR349800 |
$ (8.67) |
2011-03-0069666 |
KURIA KURIA G |
1989//JT2SV21E4K3323025 |
$ (82.65) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0070088 |
LAPENTA MARY E |
1994//JT2ST07N4R0011350 |
$ (8.52) |
|
|
|
|
2010-04-0084170 |
MALONEY KATHLEEN C |
2002//1HGCG32722A016879 |
$ (30.26) |
2011-03-0072002 |
MALONEY KATHLEEN C |
2002//1HGCG32722A016879 |
$ (69.29) |
2011-03-0072371 |
MARTIN ANDRE E |
2000//2B3HD46R9YH178342 |
$ (97.56) |
2011-03-0072556 |
MARTINEZ LUCIANO JR |
1994//JT4RN81P5R5192387 |
$ (15.14) |
2011-03-0073027 |
MCCLARTY VETA |
1996//2T1BA02E3TC117306 |
$ (26.19) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0078815 |
POKA FERDINAND |
1997//1G4NJ52T0VC451471 |
$ (12.28) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0079346 |
QUINN SANDRA |
2000//1P3ES46C5YD728006 |
$ (16.14) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0079564 |
RAMOS ELSIE |
2006//1FAHP24116G127262 |
$ (26.75) |
2011-03-0081519 |
ROSA JUAN C |
1998//2C1MR5225W6712066 |
$ (17.76) |
2011-03-0081520 |
ROSA JUAN C |
1992//1FTEX14Y7NKB80418 |
$ (29.61) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0082214 |
SALE JOSEPHINE W |
1999//4T1BG22K8XU445664 |
$ (119.04) |
2010-03-0085327 |
STPETER GEOFFREY J |
2007//1N4CL21EX7C173193 |
$ (221.65) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0072426 |
THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH R MARTIN |
2007//1G4HP572X7U166723 |
$ (34.23) |
|
SHARON A FLEBEAU, EXE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0086664 |
TURGEON RICK R |
1999//1FTSF31F2XEA03216 |
$ (259.53) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0086954 |
US BANK NA |
2009//YV4CZ982291508195 |
$ (700.91) |
2011-03-0086955 |
US BANK NA |
2008//1J4FA54108L552903 |
$ (609.76) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0087035 |
VALENTIN EDWIN |
1996//2B4FP25B7TR511059 |
$ (16.26) |
2010-04-0087181 |
VAULT TRUST |
2011//1GNSKBE00BR316317 |
$ (363.23) |
011-03-0087302 |
VAULT TRUST |
2011//1GNSKBE00BR316317 |
$(1,172.88) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0088072 |
WALLACE GARY M |
1997//3N1AB41D4VL036116 |
$ (7.36) |
2011-03-0088248 |
WATERHOUSE HEATHER E |
1988//1FABP57U5JA118816 |
$ (14.98) |
2011-03-0088495 |
WHEELER JOHN S |
2003//JTEBU14R930002681 |
$ (7.02) |
2011-03-0088648 |
WIGGINS GLORIA |
1998//1FAFP4049WF176377 |
$ (7.43) |
2010-03-0089702 |
WRIGHT EVAN G |
1996//JN1CA21DXTT129845 |
$ (65.19) |
2011-03-0089249 |
WRIGHT LAWRENCE W |
1996//4K2UF0714TM048021 |
$ (8.56) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0089581 |
ZERQUERA MARIO |
2004//KNAGD128545293539 |
$ (14.67) |
2011-03-0089592 |
ZIEGLER CATHY A AND |
1995//1B3EJ56H5SN587428 |
$ (68.89) |
2011-03-0089593 |
ZIEGLER STEPHEN J |
1993//JHMEH6166PS012929 |
$ (94.57) |
TOTAL |
|
|
$(5,073.49) |
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION
Pat Harmon asked for an update for the completion of the road construction on Forbes Street, Maple Street and Orchard Street. The Mayor stated that Forbes Street and Orchard Street are being repaired by the same contractor – who has not met contract deadlines and, therefore, will incur significant monetary penalties. Maple Street should be completed in the next two weeks – subject to weather delays – as was originally planned.
Eric Thompson asked if the discussion of Senate Bill 22 will take place at the Town Council meeting of October 16th. The Mayor answered that the discussion will be held at the October 30th Town Council meeting when members of CRDA will be present.
Esther Clarke inquired on the increase or decrease of PILOT funding received by the town as noted in an article in a CCM brochure. Also, Councillor Clarke asked for clarification on how often the Council is updated on the town’s annual budget. The Mayor and Mike Walsh said that the PILOT funding has been reduced, and that the town has factored that reduction into the annual budget. Mike Walsh stated that the Council is updated quarterly on the town’s budget.
COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
Joseph Krempasky – Personal Injury Claim
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Bill Horan
to accept Corporation Counsel’s recommendation to fully and finally
settle the personal injury claim brought by Joseph Krempasky, for
the total sum of $7,500.00.
Motion carried 9/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
Reginald Thibault, 42 Chester Street, raised concerns about the posting of signs on the corner of Forbes Street and Chester Street for events that do not take place at that site. Additionally, Mr. Thibault is against the town maintaining this area – and the private property next to it – and suggested that the town deed this property to the abutting landowners.
Mayor Leclerc updated the Council on the land at the corner of Forbes and Chester Streets. The Mayor stated that Corporation Counsel opined that signs posted at that corner for town-sponsored events on town-owned property are permissible.
Barbara Rossi commented on the location of a sign at the corner of Forbes and Chester Streets advertising a soccer camp and asked if it is on privately-owned or town-owned property.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn (9:22 p.m.).
Motion carried 9/0.
The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Town Council would be on October 16th.
Attest________________________________
Angela M. Attenello
TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
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