EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
AUGUST 20, 2013
PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr., Majority Leader Barbara-Ann Rossi,
Councillors Marc I. Weinberg, Ram Aberasturia, Patricia Harmon and Esther B. Clarke
ABSENT Minority Leader Eric A. Thompson, Councillor Linda A. Russo
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:32 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.
RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
Beautification Commission Awards
Patricia Sirois, Chair of the Beautification Commission, announced the recipient of the July residential award
is Dawn Murphy, 217 Oak Street and the commercial award is The Nguyen & CAI Group LLC, 477 Conn Blvd.
Ms. Sirois also announced the recipient of the August residential award is the Hahn Family, 398 Silver Lane
and the commercial award is Dunkin Donuts, 364 Silver Lane.
The Town Council joined with Ms. Sirois in thanking all the recipients for making East Hartford a prettier place to live.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON AGENDA ITEMS
Susan Kniep, 44-46 and 50 Olde Roberts Street, asked for clarification on what has been received by the East Hartford
Police Department under the Equitable Sharing Agreement Certification Report.
Mayor Leclerc (1) congratulated the recipients of the Beautification Awards that were given out this evening and also
recognized the efforts of the Beautification Commission; (2) announced that the town’s Social Services Department recently
distributed 229 backpacks to school-aged children, K-12, which is an increase over the 170 distributed last year; (3) said
that the Highway Division of Public Works is repairing curbs and re-striping stop lines on the town’s streets; (4) reminded
all that there are only two “Sounds of Summer” concerts remaining this year and also stated that the Parks and Recreation
Department is getting ready to distribute their Fall Programs brochure after Labor Day; (5) showed the Council the gold medal
won by the East Hartford team at the Dragon Boat Race sponsored by Riverfront Recapture defeating teams from the MDC,
City of Hartford and Riverfront Recapture; (6) the East Hartford Police Department issued a safety warning to all residents
to be aware of the beginning of the school year on August 28th, the first day of school, by slowing down and stopping for
school buses; and (7) there will be two ribbon cuttings soon: the new Holiday Inn East on August 28th and Farmington Bank
on September 12th.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
August 6, 2013 Executive Session/Caban & Tomby
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the minutes of the August 6, 2013 Executive Session/Caban &
Tomby.
Motion carried 7/0.
August 6, 2013 Regular Meeting
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to approve the minutes of the August 6, 2013 Regular Meeting.
Motion carried 7/0.
COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Recommendation from the Ordinance Committee re: Revisions to §2-3 Mayor’s Salary
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to repeal Section 2-3 of the East Hartford Code of Ordinances and to
substitute in lieu thereof a new Section 2-3, entitled Mayor’s Salary,
commensurate with the August 6, 2013 draft (see below) of the proposed
ordinance.
Motion carried 5/2. Nays: Clarke, Harmon
August 6, 2013 – Draft
Beginning November 14, 2007, the Mayor's salary shall be $78,723, which is a zero increase and beginning on November 14, 2008, the
Mayor's salary shall be $81,400 which is an increase of 3.4%, representing the increase in the consumer price index for 2005. Beginning
November 11, 2014 and annually thereafter, the Mayor’s salary shall increase by fifty percent of the increase in the consumer price index-all
urban consumers for the preceding calendar year, provided that the Mayor’s salary for November 11, 2013 shall be increased by fifty percent
of the consumer price index-all urban consumers for the calendar years 2006 through 2012 inclusive.
EHPD: Equitable Sharing Agreement Certification Report
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to approve the Equitable Sharing Agreement Certification Report from the
East Hartford Police Department as attached to a memo from Mark Sirois,
Chief of Police to Marcia Leclerc, Mayor dated August 6, 2013.
Motion carried 7/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION
Pat Harmon (1) noted the outstanding job that the lifeguards and staff do at Gorman Park; (2) reminded all that the first
day of school is August 28th and asked that everyone be aware of children walking to and from school and school buses;
(3) inquired on the recent event held at Rentschler Field that generated calls from residents on the noise level from that
concert. The Mayor responded that the new managers of Rentschler Field, Global Spectrum, were not aware of the procedures
to follow when holding events with loud music at the stadium. This event was a fundraiser for the March of Dimes which
attracted thousands of families. She has since met with Global Spectrum and alerted them to the procedural rules to follow,
including compliance with town noise ordinances and notification of town officials of such events. (4) asked if the speeding/noise
issues that were previously experienced in the Central Avenue neighborhood have been addressed. The Mayor replied that
her office has not received any complaints and that the police continue to monitor the situation. (5) inquired on when the
window wall replacement at the East Hartford Middle School will begin. The Mayor said that she would have to ask the
Board of Education, since it is a school project, not a town project.
Ram Aberasturia suggested having a town-wide bulk waste pick-up on the first Monday in April and October based on funding
availability, which would help those residents who could not afford the bulk waste permit fee. The Mayor stated that this issue
would have to be referred to the Town Council’s Fees Committee for discussion.
Esther Clarke (1) believes that the bulk waste permitting process is not working – people are not aware that a permit must be
obtained from Public Works. Councillor Clarke also suggested fining those people who are not in compliance with this ordinance.
The Mayor stated that this is an on-going problem, and is working on a possible solution with Tim Bockus, Public Works Director
and will likely be presenting this to the Town Council in the near future. (2) asked if the solar panels have gone through the
permitting process. The Mayor said she believes that the majority have gone through the permitting process and is hopeful that
they will begin the construction process by October.
COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
Estate of Eady, 33 Hilton Drive – tax liens
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Bill Horan
that the Town Council authorize the Mayor to release the blight liens filed
against Michael T. Eady and the Estate of Michael T. Eady, and recorded
in volume 3330, at page 231 and volume 3402, at page 331 of the East
Hartford Land Records, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to
release or discharge Michael T. Eady or the Estate of Michael T. Eady
from the aggregate balance of $690.00, plus interest, due to the Town of
East Hartford as reflected in such liens.
Motion carried 7/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
Travis Simpson, 119 Naubuc Avenue, a candidate for Town Council, thanked the Town Council and the Mayor for their
commitment to the town. Mr. Simpson was concerned about the intent of the town to demolish the former Firehouse on
Bissell Street, due to its poor physical state. Mr. Simpson asked if the town has a plan for use and maintenance of its real estate
and capital assets. The Mayor stated that the town has in place a continuous plan for its real estate and cultural assets.
Mayor Leclerc recapped the work done under her administration to improve and maintain all town-owned structures.
Susan Kniep, 44-46 and 50 Olde Roberts Street, (1) has requested copies of letters, agreements, invoices, etc., regarding
the services outlined in the contract between the East Hartford Housing Authority (EHHA) with the Bridgeport Housing
Authority (BHA) and the status of those bills or invoices. Ms. Kniep will file an FOI request for same, unless the Town Council
invites her to review the documentation requested; (2) questioned the relationship between the BHA and the New Haven
Housing Authority (NHHA), which was recently appointed overseer of several Housing Authorities that included the BHA; (3) to
date, the EHHA has not released any information regarding the purchase of King Court by Goodwin College and asked if the
Town Council would put this issue on the next Town Council agenda. Chair Kehoe stated that an update from the EHHA
would be scheduled for one of the Town Council meetings in October and that he was aware that the EHHA has not received
any invoices form BHA.
Esther Clarke asked the Mayor what the plans were for the Firehouse 5 on Main Street near Brewer Street. The Mayor indicated
that the building would eventually be demolished, due to its poor condition – contamination and flooding in the basement.
Presently, the Red Cross van is being housed in this location.
Barbara Rossi asked if library books being moved from Raymond Library during its renovation were being stored in Firehouse 5.
The Mayor indicated that library books were being professionally stored and not at Firehouse 5. Councillor Rossi also
commented on the beautiful landscaping at 364 and 398 Silver Lane, both of which were honored at tonight’s meeting with
a Beautification Commission award.
Pat Harmon is concerned that the town may be liable for any mold remediation at Firehouse 5 since the basement floods
and the Red Cross van – which is not a town vehicle – is stored there.
Bill Horan, a member of the Town Council’s Real Estate Acquisition & Disposition Committee, stated that the demolition of a
town building is a very expensive undertaking and the town does the best it can with the money it has.
Marc Weinberg noted the landscaping at 398 Silver Lane, owned by the Hahn family, which received a Beautification Commission
award this evening.
Ram Aberasturia noted the passing of Lillian Peterson, mother of Councillor Linda Russo and the passing of Patrick Walsh,
father of Finance Director Michael Walsh.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Pat Harmon
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn (8:50 p.m.).
Motion carried 7/0.
The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Town Council would be on September 3, 2013.
Attest________________________________
Angela M. Attenello
TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
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