East Hartford, Connecticut - 10-02-12 Regular Town Council Minutes

10-02-12 Regular Town Council Minutes

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 7^th through December 10^th with activities as follows:

Tree-lighting ceremony with music and singing to be held on the lawn of the Town Green on Friday, December 7^th, 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 9^th, 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 10^th, 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 16^th. The Mayor answered that the discussion will be held at the October 30^th 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 16^th.

Attest________________________________

Angela M. Attenello

TOWN COUNCIL CLERK