Town Council Majority Office
Fees Committee
March 27, 2014
PRESENT Marc Weinberg, Chair; Councillors Ram Aberasturia and Pat Harmon
ALSO Marcia Leclerc, Mayor
PRESENT Ted Fravel, Parks and Recreation Director
Rich Kehoe, Town Council Chair
Anita Morrison, Town Councillor
Virginia Lynch, Member, Commission on Services for Persons with
Disabilities
Marie Beaulier, Chair, Commission on Services for Persons with
Disabilities
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Weinberg called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
February 18, 2014
MOTION By Ram Aberasturia
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the minutes of the February 18, 2014 Fees Committee
meeting.
Motion carried 3/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
Marie Beaulier, 41 Applegate Lane, Apt 208, the Chair of the Commission on Services for Persons with Disabilities, explained in detail to the Committee how important it is for her to have the ADA transportation services available here in East Hartford. Since she is very involved in the community and has many health issues, ADA transportation services is invaluable for her to get to doctors’ appointments, meetings, etc.
Anita Morrison, 47 Woodbridge Avenue, stated that she performs community service at the Highlands and Rochambeau Apartments and these residents use ADA and Dial-A-Ride services frequently. Since many of those residents are on fixed, low incomes, having those services free of charge is a huge benefit to them.
Virginia Lynch, 77 Chapel Street, a member of the Commission on Services for Persons
with Disabilities, stated that her son, who was a quadriplegic, used Dial-A-Ride and ADA
to visit with his sister.
NEW BUSINESS
Dial-A-Ride and ADA Transportation Services
Mayor Leclerc explained that the town budgets $198,000 for the annual use of this service. Ted Fravel, Parks and Recreation Director who oversees this program, reviewed with the Committee what is involved in administering the Dial-A-Ride and ADA transportation services programs. Councillor Harmon said that she speaks with residents at Elms Village and while there are some who abuse the system, most of those residents really need it. Councillor Aberasturia stated that many people move to East Hartford because of the services the town offers its residents. However, the cost of this program is a financial burden on the town when compared to what is budgeted for Dial-A-Ride each year.
MOTION By Ram Aberasturia
seconded by Pat Harmon
to table this item pending further research on the rates charged for
Dial-A-Ride and ADA transportation services.
Motion carried 3/0.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Ram Aberasturia
seconded by Pat Harmon
to adjourn (6:39 p.m.).
Motion carried 3/0.
cc: Town Council
Mayor Leclerc
Ted Fravel, Parks and Recreation Director
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