EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
DECEMBER 11, 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 7:40 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
Susan Kniep, 44-46 and 50 Olde Roberts Street, (1) asked the Council to refer §10-2 of the Town of East Hartford Code of Ordinances to the Ordinance Committee for review; (2) requested, under the Freedom of Information Act, that a list of the original appointment date for individuals who are appointed to the town’s boards and commissions be made available to her; (3) requested, under the Freedom of Information Act, a copy of the minutes from meetings that prompted the letters written by Rich Kehoe, Chair of the Town Council, to both Debra Bouchard, Executive Director of the East Hartford Housing Authority, and Robert Keating, Chair of the Board of Commissioners of the East Hartford Housing Authority, both dated October 11, 2012; and (4) suggested that a letter from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
dated October 17, 2012, to Robert Keating, Chair of the Board of Commissioners for the East Hartford Housing Authority, be posted to the town’s website.
Mayor Leclerc (1) stated that a list of appointments to the town’s boards and commissions, which includes the original appointment date, is available and will see that Ms. Kniep receives a copy; and (2) supports the following agenda items: East Hartford Housing Authority update, the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce update, the CRCOG grant initiative, and the appointments to the various Boards and Commissions of the town, including the re-appointment of Marilyn Pet to the Greater Hartford Transit District.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 27, 2012 Executive Session/New Boston
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the minutes of the November 27, 2012 Executive Session/New
Boston.
Motion carried 9/0.
November 27, 2012 Regular Meeting
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the minutes of the November 27, 2012 Regular Meeting.
Motion carried 9/0.
COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS
East Hartford Chamber of Commerce Update
Tim Coppage, Executive Director of the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce (EHCOC), addressed the Council on the recent changes to the EHCOC. Mr. Coppage stated that the financial stability of the EHCOC has been achieved by matching income and expenses for the upcoming year. Additionally, the Board of Directors of the EHCOC has made a significant investment in the infrastructure of the EHCOC i.e., new logo, new tag line, new website and other marketing strategies.
East Hartford Housing Authority Update
Chair Kehoe stated that the purpose of having the East Hartford Housing Authority (EHHA) on tonight’s agenda is to provide the Council with an update on their latest endeavor, the Mayberry Village Scattered Site Program.
Deb Bouchard, Executive Director for the EHHA, (1) highlighted the four development projects that are being worked on: disposition of King Court, Mayberry Village Scattered Site Program, the rehabilitation of Veterans Terrace and the existing EHHA building site on Burnside Avenue; (2) noted that due to the Council’s strong suggestion, the EHHA Board of Commissions have implemented evening meetings (every third Wednesday of the month) and are in the beginning stages of their own website, hoping to have it completed in February 2013; (3) stated that a revised recovery plan was submitted to HUD on November 15, 2012, which included a work-out plan and milestones; and (4) said that the EHHA has created a budget line item in the amount of $10,000 per month to pay back to HUD the commingling of funds on the section 8 housing.
Peter Hance, of the Bridgeport Housing Authority and mentor for the EHHA, and Kelly McDermott, Senior Manager of Planning and Modernization, spoke to the development strategy for the four projects that the EHHA is working on.
Also present at the meeting were the following EHHA Commissioners: Hazel Ann Cook, James Patterson, James Kate and Prescille Yamamoto. Additionally, Joseph Regan, EHHA Finance Director was in attendance.
Resignation of Steven Hudak from the Historic District Commission
Chair Kehoe announced the resignation of Mr. Steven Hudak from the Historic District Commission and thanked him for his service to the town. He suggested that residents interested in serving on any board or commission call the Mayor or Town Council Office for further direction.
NEW BUSINESS
CRCOG Regional Performance Incentive Grant
MOTION By Ram Aberasturia
seconded by Linda Russo
to adopt the following resolution:
Whereas Section 5 of Public Act 11-61 (An Act Concerning Responsible Growth) passed by the Connecticut General Assembly provides statewide incentive grants to regional planning organizations for projects that involve shared services; and
Whereas the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) is acting as a convener and facilitator of service sharing projects around the CRCOG region; and
Whereas on October 24, 2012 the Policy Board of CRCOG passed a resolution authorizing development and submittal of an application package to the State Office of Policy and Management for funding under the Regional Performance Incentive Grant Program, on behalf of CRCOG’s member municipalities, and municipalities of other regions, which are participating in CRCOG initiatives; and
Whereas the Chief Elected Officials and municipal staff of the Capitol Region have developed a list of service sharing project proposals that will be included in the application package, to the benefit of individual municipalities and the region as a whole; and
Whereas, the Town of East Hartford has expressed an interest in taking part in five such project proposals entitled: Code Enforcement Software, Human Resources Town Employee Portal, Call Handling and Response Triage (CHART), Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory and Regional Mutual Disaster Recovery.
Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the East Hartford Town Council does hereby endorse the above referenced Regional Performance Incentive Program project proposals and authorizes the Mayor, Marcia A. Leclerc, to sign all necessary agreements and take all necessary actions to allow for the town’s participation in this program.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
Authorization for Board of Education to Apply for State Building Grant re: East Hartford Middle School Window Walls Replacement
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to (1) authorize the East Hartford Public Schools to apply to the State
Department of Education for a school construction grant and to accept or
reject the construction grant regarding the window walls replacement
project at the East Hartford Middle School; (2) authorize the East Hartford
Board of Education to prepare schematic drawings and outline
specifications for the proposed project; and (3) establish a School
Building Committee that shall consist of the Public Building Commission
and two members of the Board of Education, not more than one from the
same political party, appointed by the Chair of the Board of Education as
the School Building Committee, for the purposes of complying with the
provisions of Chapter 173 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
Motion carried 9/0.
Reappointment of Marilyn Pet to the Greater Hartford Transit District
MOTION By Linda Russo
seconded by Ram Aberasturia
to approve the reappointment of Marilyn Pet, 235 East River Drive,
to the Greater Hartford Transit District, whose term shall expire
December 2016.
Motion carried 9/0.
Refund of Taxes
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Eric Thompson
to refund taxes in the amount of $2,373.47
pursuant to Section 12-129 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
Motion carried 9/0.
Bill |
Name |
Prop Loc/Vehicle Info. |
Over Paid |
2011-03-0051095 |
AMIANG IKOEDEM |
2000//WBAGH8347YDP07117 |
$ (92.77) |
2011-03-0051473 |
ARI FLEET LT |
2009//3FAHP02129R136797 |
$ (389.02) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0053038 |
BERGERON ERNEST A OR |
2003//1HGCM56383A078591 |
$ (43.52) |
|
BERGERON IRENA H |
|
|
2011-03-0053327 |
BISHOP JEAN E |
2010//3FADP0L31AR305355 |
$ (129.52) |
|
|
|
|
2011-01-0002148 |
CAESAR BRIAN P |
23 LARAIA AVE |
$ (125.80) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0058681 |
DALY CHARLES D |
1997//2G1WL52M8V9334135 |
$ (69.15) |
2011-01-0013536 |
DOUGHERTY SHAWN P & ZAIDA |
490 SILVER LN |
$ (9.63) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0061196 |
ELLIOTT STEPHANIE A |
2004//JF1GG68584H818828 |
$ (5.52) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0063329 |
GABRIEL MARIA M |
2000//1ZWFT6037Y5644780 |
$ (8.26) |
2011-03-0064106 |
GILBERT ANNA MARIE |
1988//1G1BU51HXJR143591 |
$ (49.21) |
2011-01-0013940 |
GLASER MICHAEL S |
31 HIGH ST 7208 |
$ (209.38) |
|
|
|
|
2010-03-0066860 |
HONDA LEASE TRUST |
2010//1HGCP2F86AA050187 |
$ (418.73) |
|
|
|
|
2011-99-0014853 |
KING SHIRLAN P |
PARKING TICKET |
$ (6.00) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0070834 |
LEONE FREDERICK W |
2004//3GNEK12T34G103208 |
$ (9.92) |
|
|
|
|
2011-03-0072481 |
MARTINEZ ALBERTO A |
1999//1FTZR15V2XTA66162 |
$ (10.00) |
|
|
|
|
2011-01-0009149 |
OWENS ALPHONSO OR |
11 LEONARD DR |
$ (212.18) |
|
OWENS MCCALLA VANICIA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010-03-0086802 |
TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORP |
2008//5TBBV54168S502166 |
$ (312.02) |
2010-03-0086825 |
TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORP |
2007//5TDBT44A37S292163 |
$ (272.84) |
TOTAL |
|
|
$(2,373.47) |
Various Appointments to Boards and Commissions
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the following appointments:
Beautification Commission Term
R Mary J. Mourey 785 Burnham Street 12/16
Commission on Aging
R Debra Gaudette 22 Higbie Drive 12/16
R Pricilla Lancaster 151 Oxford Drive 12/16
R C. Edwin Carlson 59 Brentmoor Road 12/16
Commission on Services for People with Disabilities
R Florence R. Schroeter 55 Olmsted Street 12/15
Emergency Medical Services Commission
R Mary J. Mourey 785 Burnham Street 12/15
Board of Ethics
R Eileen Powers 174 Britt Road 12/18
Fine Arts Commission
R Glynis McKenzie 51 Williams Street 12/18
Inland Wetlands Commission - Alternate
R Michelle M. Lock 74 Arnold Drive 12/14
Library Commission
R Florence R. Schroeter 55 Olmsted Street 12/16
Planning & Zoning Commission - Alternate
R Amy Sawyer 601 Burnham Street 12/17
Public Building Commission
R Travis J. Simpson 119 Naubuc Ave., Apt 1A 12/18
Redevelopment Agency
R Antonio Matta 19 Fellows Lane 12/18
Veterans Affairs Commission
R Bernie Corona 27 Winding Lane 12/15
R J. Roger Pelletier 61 Beacon Hill Road 12/15
R Timothy M. Siggia 145 Arbutus Street 12/15
Motion carried 9/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION
Eric Thompson requested an invoice from the Administration showing the cost of the new Christmas lights along Main Street and what account the payment came from.
Esther Clarke asked for an update on the East Hartford Golf Course. The Mayor stated that the notice to quit was served on the current manager, MDM Golf, and that he has paid the back balance of what he owed, but still owes insufficient funds fees. The Mayor noted that the Administration will not modify the existing contract with MDM and will go out to RFP for management of the golf course.
COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
Estates of Ramona Kendall, et al v Town of East Hartford
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Bill Horan
to accept the Corporation Counsel’s recommendation to settle the pending civil
court action known as Katrea Anglin, Administratrix of the Estates of Ramona
Kendall, et al. v. Town of East Hartford, et al., Docket No. CV-06-5001800S, for
the total sum of $310,000.00.
Motion carried 9/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
Mayor Leclerc (1) reminded all of the “click it or ticket” campaign that the police will be implementing this holiday season; (2) stated that nine residents have graduated from the CERT training program; (3) told the Council that TD Bank has taken control of the Big Y Plaza through strict foreclosure and could market the property as early as January 28, 2013; (4) announced that Assistant Corporation Counsel Frank Cassetta will be leaving the town on January 4, 2013; (5) stated that she met with DOT to discuss the safety improvements on Burnside Avenue; and (6) invited the Council to a walk-through at the new animal shelter.
Barbara Rossi said that she has received several phone calls from constituents who commented on a job well done on leaf collection this year. Ms. Rossi thanked the Mayor and the Public Works department for their efforts. She also wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Ram Aberasturia wished all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.
Marc Weinberg wished a Happy Hanukkah to all people of the Jewish faith.
Eric Thompson wished all a Merry Christmas.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn (9:58 p.m.).
Motion carried 9/0.
The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Town Council would be on Wednesday, January 2, 2013.
Attest________________________________
Angela M. Attenello
TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
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