East Hartford Town Council
Town Council Chambers
March 4, 2014
PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr., Majority Leader Barbara-Ann Rossi, Minority Leader Esther B. Clarke, Councillors Marc I. Weinberg, Linda A. Russo, Ram Aberasturia, Patricia Harmon and Anita D. Morrison
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:38 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
Youth Services Department: Charter Oak Club
Cephus Nolen, Director of Youth Services, stated that the Charter Oak Club –oak standing for One Act of Kindness – is a new initiative undertaken by Youth Services which recognizes acts of kindness that occur in the community. Tonight’s recipients are: (1) Dennis Shea, a security guard at East Hartford Middle School; (2) Melli Ruben, a volunteer at Riverside Healthcare; (3) Lekeem Ellis, a student at Synergy Alternative High School; and (4) Our Savior Lutheran Church, represented this evening by Ms. Joan Craig
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON AGENDA ITEMS
Susan Kniep, 50 Olde Roberts Street, (1) suggested that the Council announce what the results of tax appeal cases will be at the start of the regular meeting, thereby giving the public an opportunity to comment on the issue; (2) believes that the town’s ethics ordinances should be strengthened; and (3) stated that any elected or appointed town official or a town official’s spouse/family, who has access to a lease with the town without competitive bidding, is a conflict of interest.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
February 18, 2014 Executive Session/Marrero
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Bill Horan
to approve the minutes of the February 18, 2014 Executive
Session/Marrero.
Motion carried 9/0.
February 18, 2014 Regular Meeting
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Anita Morrison
to approve the minutes of the February 18, 2014 Regular Meeting.
Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Horan
February 24, 2014 Budget Workshop/Fire & Police Departments
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the minutes of the February 24, 2014 Budget Workshop/Fire
and Police Departments.
Motion carried 9/0.
February 26, 2014 Budget Workshop/Inspections& Permits and Board of Education
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Ram Aberasturia
to approve the minutes of the February 26, 2014 Budget
Workshop/Inspections & Permits and Board of Education.
Motion carried 9/0.
March 1, 2014 Budget Workshop
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to approve the minutes of the March 1, 2014 Budget Workshop – as
corrected.
Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Horan
COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS
Resignation of Judith Shanahan from the Board of Ethics
Chair Kehoe announced that Ms. Shanahan, the Democratic Registrar of Voters, has tendered her resignation from the Ethics Board. The Chair thanked Ms. Shanahan for her service to the community.
NEW BUSINESS
North Central Area Agency on Aging: Grocery Delivery Grant
MOTION By Linda Russo
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to adopt the following resolution:
That Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor of the Town of East Hartford, is authorized and directed to file an application on forms prescribed by the North Central Area Agency on Aging, Inc. for financial assistance in an amount not to exceed $3,000 and upon approval of said request to enter into and execute a funding agreement and any amendments as may be required with the North Central Area Agency on Aging, Inc. for the purposes of administering a grocery delivery to elderly residents program.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
Recommendations from Fees Committee re: Lease Renewals
ChildPlan, Inc.
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Ram Aberasturia
that the Town Council approve the renewal of the lease for
East Hartford ChildPlan, Inc. commencing April 1, 2014 through
March 31, 2017 for 672 square feet of space located in the East
Hartford Cultural Community Center at the current rate of $2.25 per
square foot or $1,512.00 annually, payable in monthly installments of
$126.00 in advance of the first day of each calendar month for the term of
the lease, with no charge for utility consumption.
Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Kehoe
Friends of the East Hartford Senior Center Lease: New to You Thrift Store
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Linda Russo
that the Town Council approve the renewal of the lease for the “New to
You” thrift store, which occupies 2,408 square feet in four rooms at the
McCartin School, run by the Friends of the East Hartford Senior Centers,
Inc., for three years, beginning on March 1, 2014 and ending on February
28, 2017, for one (1) dollar per year, payable in a one dollar annual
installment, with no charge for utility consumption.
Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Rossi
2014 Masonicare Quality of Life Walk
MOTION By Ram Aberasturia
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to approve the amusement permit application entitled “ 2014 Masonicare Quality of Life Walk”, submitted by Patricia L. Morgan, Director of Development for the Masonic Charity Foundation of CT, to conduct a walk promoting health and wellness in Great River Park on Saturday, May 17, 2014 from approximately 8:30AM to 12:30PM with music from 9AM to 12:00PM, 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; and to waive the associated permit fee under the provisions of Town Ordinance §5-6(a) as this event is being sponsored by a charitable organization.
Motion carried 9/0.
Appointments to Boards and Commissions
MOTION By Anita Morrison
seconded by Esther Clarke
to approve the following appointments:
Emergency Medical Services – Marylee Hickey; term to expire 12/15
Public Building Commission – Marylee Hickey; term to expire 12/18
Motion carried 9/0.
Revised Term Expiration Dates: Commission on Services for Persons with Disabilities
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Esther Clarke
to approve the term expiration date of December 2015 for the following
members of the Commission on Services for Persons with Disabilities:
Marie Beaulieu, Peter Gero, Michael Brinius, Bernard Corona and Iris
Martin
Motion carried 9/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION
None
COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
United Technologies Corporation v Town of East Hartford – Tax Appeal
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Ram Aberasturia
to accept the Corporation Counsel’s recommendation to settle the
pending real property tax appeal known as United Technologies
Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Division v. Town of East Hartford,
Docket No. HHB-CV-12-6015708S, involving 400 Main Street, from
the fair market value of $166,992,640 to the fair market value of
$158,575,430, which shall generate a reduction of $252,120.83 in
property taxes.
Motion carried 9/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
None
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Esther Clarke
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn (8:25 p.m.).
Motion carried 9/0.
The Chair announced that the next regular meeting of the Town Council would be on March 18th.
Attest________________________________
Angela M. Attenello
TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
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