TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
740 MAIN STREET
EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
AUGUST 20, 2013
PUBLIC HEARING/MAYOR’S SALARY – RELOCATION OF BILLBOARDS
PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr., Majority Leader Barbara Ann Rossi, Councillors Marc I. Weinberg, Ram Aberasturia, and Patricia Harmon
ABSENT Minority Leader Eric A. Thompson, Councillor Linda A. Russo
Chair Kehoe called the public hearing to order at 7:10 p.m.
The following is a copy of a legal notice published in the Tuesday, August 13, 2013 edition of the Hartford Courant.
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LEGAL NOTICE
Public notice is hereby given that the Town Council of the Town of East Hartford, Connecticut, will hold a public hearing on
Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 740 Main Street, East Hartford, Connecticut, regarding
proposed revisions to the Town of East Hartford Code of Ordinances as follows:
- Section 2-3: Mayor’s Salary
- Section 3-30 (c): Relocation of Billboards at 275 Connecticut Boulevard
Any person(s) wishing to express an opinion on this matter may do so at this meeting. Drafts of these revisions are on file in the
Town Clerk’s office.
Angela Attenello
Town Council Clerk
Chair Kehoe explained that the last increase to the Mayor’s salary was in November 2008. The proposed revision to the
Mayor’s Salary will have a twofold purpose. First, it will raise the current salary by 50% of the increase in the Consumer
Price Index (CPI) – all urban consumers – for the five year period from 2008 until present, which is 6.9% total. This would
equate to a salary of $87,012. Second, the Mayor’s Salary – absent any action by the Town Council – would then increase
every November by 50% of the increase in the CPI – all urban consumers – for the previous calendar year.
Chair Kehoe explained the relocation of the billboards located at 275 Connecticut Boulevard. Presently, there are three
billboards with four billboard facings at the Martin Motors site. The proposal is to remove those billboards, and in exchange,
erect one billboard with two facings on the Freightliner site (Roberts Street) bordering I-84 with the facings not visible to the
property owners on Roberts Street. It was noted that the residents on Roberts Street have been notified of this proposal and
of tonight’s public hearing. If the Council approves this relocation proposal, the billboard owner would still need to obtain
(1) site plan approval from the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission; and (2) a permit from the State of Connecticut
Department of Transportation. Additionally, Chair Kehoe stated that one of the restrictions in the ordinance is that no adult
entertainment businesses can be advertised on the billboards.
The following citizens spoke:
Anita Morrison, 47 Woodbridge Avenue, a candidate for Town Council, was in favor of an increase to the Mayor’s salary for
this year, and going forward, but not retroactive to the last five years. Ms. Morrison also is not in favor of the electronic billboards,
which she finds very distracting.
Susan Kniep, 44-46 and 50 Olde Roberts Street, (1) believes that the Mayor is doing a good job managing the town, but does
not agree with an increase to the Mayor’s salary at this time due to poor economic conditions. Ms. Kniep stated that any increase
to the Mayor’s salary approved by the Town Council should be considered year to year, rather than a blanket approval for the
years to come. (2) suggested the Town Council hold a forum on healthcare costs for town employees; (3) not in favor of the
proposed billboard relocation due to the electronic disposition of the billboard; and (4) said that the property on Connecticut
Boulevard where the billboards are presently located should be considered blighted and asked for a list of properties in town
that are designated as blighted, if such a list exits.
MOTION By Esther Clarke
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn (7:28 p.m.).
Motion carried 7/0.
Attest________________________
Angela M. Attenello
Town Council Clerk
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