East Hartford Town Council
Town Council Chambers
April 1, 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 7:40 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, Olde Roberts Street, (1) spoke to the 5-year capital improvement program, specifically the road improvement program and stated that Olde Roberts Street should be on the list of roads to be repaired; (2) asked that she be notified when Olde Roberts Street will be repaved and/or repaired; (3) praised the efforts of the Mayor to provide for better transparency in government; (4) suggested that many people on the tax lien sale list are there not because they don’t want to pay their taxes – they can’t afford to pay their property taxes; and (5) asked that the Town Council coordinate with the State Legislators to schedule a forum on binding arbitration regarding employee benefits, wages, etc.
Mayor Leclerc spoke to the following issues: (1) the Aerospace bill passed the state’s Finance Committee, which will benefit UTC; (2) there will be a Cosmic Run this year – the applicants will abide by Town Ordinances; (3) Governor Malloy will host a town hall meeting on Thursday, April 3rd at 7PM in Council Chambers; (4) East Hartford Golf Course renovations are progressing nicely; (5) the Town Hall Parking Lot reconstruction will tentatively start on April 14th; (6) a Foreclosure Prevention Workshop will be held on Monday, April 14th at 6:30PM in the Welling Conference Room and a Landlord/Tenants Rights Workshop will be held on Monday May 12th at 6:30PM in the Welling Conference Room; (7) the National Prescription Drug Take-back Day is Saturday, April 26th from 10AM
to 2PM at the Public Safety Complex; and (8) a Teen Tech Program will be offered this summer at the Library.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
March 18, 2014 Executive Session/Whyte
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Pat Harmon
to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2014 Executive Session/Whyte.
Motion carried 9/0.
March 18, 2014 Regular Meeting
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2014 Regular Meeting.
Motion carried 9/0.
COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Municipal Tax Exempt Lease Purchase Agreement re: 2014-15 Town of East Hartford’s 5-year Capital Improvement Plan
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Linda Russo
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE A MUNICIPAL TAX-EXEMPT
LEASE PURCHASE FINANCING AGREEMENT
WHEREAS, the Town of East Hartford intends to purchase various capital equipment as part of the Town of East Hartford’s Approved 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan for the Years 2014-2015 through 2018-2019; and
WHEREAS, the cost of the various capital equipment and replacement furniture designated for lease-purchase financing totals $765,000; and
WHEREAS, the Town will budget $196,000 in fiscal years 2015-2016 through 2018-2019 in the General Operating Fund to pay principal and interest on the purchases.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor of the Town of East Hartford is authorized to enter into a master lease purchase agreement and related documents with TD Equipment Finance, Inc. or their affiliates in the principal amount not to exceed $765,000. The interest rate, payment schedule and other details of the financing shall be mutually determined between the company and the Mayor, whose signatures will indicate approval of specific terms and conditions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town declares its intent to be reimbursed for any temporary advances from the General Fund to pay for any part of the equipment from proceeds of the lease financing in accordance with Treasury Regulation 26 CFR 1.103-18 and/or 26CFR1.150-2.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
LoCIP Grant Applications
MOTION By Linda Russo
seconded by Ram Aberasturia
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLVED: That Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor of the Town of East Hartford, is authorized to make application to, and execute and approve on behalf of this corporation, any and all documents as may be required by the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management to secure Local Capital Improvement Program funds (LoCIP) in the amount of $445,640 for projects listed in the approved 2014 municipal capital improvement plan. The projects will be:
- Drennan Pool Deck Replacement $350,000
- Veteran’s Memorial Clubhouse Renovations $ 49,640
- Terry Pool Pump Replacement $ 46,000
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
State of Connecticut DEEP: America the Beautiful Grant Program
MOTION By Ram Aberasturia
seconded by Linda Russo
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLVED that Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor of the Town of East Hartford is empowered to execute and deliver in the name and on behalf of this corporation, a certain contract and any amendments thereof with the State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for the fulfillment of the America-the-Beautiful grant, and is authorized to affix the Corporate Seal.
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
Supplemental Budget Appropriation re: Fuel System Replacement/Water Diversion at Golf Curse/Budget Realignment
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Linda Russo
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION CONCERNING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2014 TO FUND THE CAPITAL REPLACEMENT OF A FUEL SYSTEM AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX AND THE WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE WATER DIVERSION PERMIT AT THE GOLF COURSE AND TO BETTER ALIGN THE TOWN’S BUDGET REVENUES TO MATCH THE STATE’S ADOPTED BUDGET AND AID TO MUNICIPALITIES
WHEREAS, the underground fuel tank located at the Public Safety Complex needs to be replaced immediately, and
WHEREAS, the cost to remove the existing tank and replace it with an above ground convault fuel system is estimated to cost $220,000, and
WHEREAS, the Town is working cooperatively with the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to address the need for a water diversion permit at the East Hartford Golf Course and the related infrastructure necessary to secure the permit, and
WHEREAS, the cost to engineer, design, permit, and complete the capital work related to the abandonment and installation of wells to replace MDC water used at the course is estimated to cost $250,000, and
WHEREAS, the Town adopted a revenue budget for the fiscal 14 year using State revenue estimates to municipalities based on the Governor’s Recommended Budget which was subsequently amended extensively by the Legislature including aid to municipalities.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the East Hartford Town Council does hereby approve this Supplemental Budget Appropriation of funds to reflect the addition of the attached Supplemental Revenue Appropriation and Expenditure Appropriation which also realigns the Town’s Revenue Budget to more closely match the State Legislature’s Adopted budget including aid to municipalities.
G0350-42526 Municipal Revenue Sharing (2,767,115)
G0350-42531 PILOT – State (716,252)
G0990-42516 Transportation (488,228)
G0990-42508 Equalized Cost Sharing 2,901,595
G7300-64500 Public Works – Highway Services – Capital Improve. 220,000
G7200-64500 Engineering – Capital Improvement 250,000
G3300-62349 Computer Software 275,000
G5317-64512 Fire Suppression – Prot. Gear 100,000
G7300-60141 Public Works – Highway - OT 100,000
G7300-62236 Public Works – Highway – Road Materials 125,000
On call of the vote, motion carried 9/0.
Referral to Tax Policy Committee re: Tax Lien Sales
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to refer to the Tax Policy Committee the list of properties
recommended for the town’s annual tax lien sale as attached to a
memorandum dated March 21, 2014 from Finance Director Michael
Walsh to Mayor Marcia Leclerc, with instructions to review the
proposed list of properties and the criteria used by the town to
implement a tax lien sale and to report back to the Town Council
with its recommendations, if any.
Motion carried 9/0.
Retiree Pension Increases
MOTION By Ram Aberasturia
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL 1% COST OF LIVING INCREASE TO TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD RETIREES WHO RETIRED AFTER DECEMBER 31, 1999 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT TO 2% FOR RETIREES WITH RETIREMENT DATES BETWEEN 1980 THROUGH 1990
WHEREAS, the Town of East Hartford, through its Pension and Retiree Benefits Board, is contractually obligated to study every three years the effect that economic conditions has had on retiree payments; and
WHEREAS, the results of the Board’s actuarial study shall be submitted to the Mayor who shall forward it to the Town Council for possible action; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Town Council jointly recognize the economic impacts that have caused retiree pensions to fail to keep up with the effects of inflation and will fund an increase in the fiscal year 2014-2015 budget to provide for this increase in retiree pensions.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Council hereby approves an annual 1% cost of living adjustment for retirees and beneficiaries who retired after December 31, 1999 through December 31, 2001 and that the Town Council hereby additionally approves an increase to 2% cost of living adjustment for retirees and beneficiaries who retired between 1980 and 1990 to be paid as part of the pension payment for the period beginning July 1, 2014, and annually thereafter.
On call of the vote, motion carried 7/0. Abstain: Kehoe, Harmon
Referral to Real Estate Acquisition and Disposition Committee re: 26 Bissell Street
MOTION By Linda Russo
seconded by Bill Horan
to refer to the Real Estate Acquisition & Disposition Committee the
disposition of the property located at 26 Bissell Street, with instructions for
the Committee to review the possibility of selling the property to an
interested business owner and to report back to the town Council with its
recommendation, if any.
Motion carried 9/0.
Appointments to Various Boards and Commissions
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to approve the following appointments:
- Joanne Sullivan, 4 Gorman Place, term to expire
December 2016
- Susan Skowronek, 84 Syracuse Drive, Full Member, term to
expire December 2018
- Alexander Tettey Jr, 16 Madison Street, Alternate; term to
expire December 2018
- Andrew Kehoe, 271 Timber Trail, Alternate; term to expire
December 2018.
Motion carried 8/0. Abstain: Kehoe
3rd Annual CT River Academy Scholarship Walk
MOTION By Bill Horan
seconded by Ram Aberasturia
to approve the outdoor amusement permit application submitted by
the CT River Academy at Goodwin College Parent Group, by
Nancy Cordova-Martinez, its Treasurer, to conduct a 3-mile walk on
Friday, April 11, 2014 from 9AM to 10AM beginning at 9 Riverside
Drive, through Ensign Street to Main Street and Brown Street and
then back to 9 Riverside Drive, 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 is a fundraiser to benefit scholarships provided to some of this year’s
graduating seniors.
Motion carried 9/0.
Town of East Hartford Wellness Fair
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to approve the outdoor amusement permit application, entitled
Town of East Hartford Wellness Fair, submitted by Eliza Westberry,
CEO-owner of Eliza’s Energy Source, to conduct a wellness
fair on the Town Green located on Main Street – or in the event of
inclement weather inside at the East Hartford Community Cultural
Center – on Saturday, May 31, 2014 from 10AM to 2PM with music
during those same hours; 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 Ordinances §5-6(a), as the applicant
hopes to provide an informational forum on the various aspects of
health as it applies to East Hartford’s residents.
Motion carried 9/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION
Esther Clarke believed that there was going to be a presentation from the Horizon Group – the developers of the shops at UTC – at tonight’s meeting and inquired why it didn’t happen and when the Council could expect the update. Mayor Leclerc stated that she received a call from the Horizon Group who indicated that they were not prepared at this time for the update. Once they are, they will let the Mayor know and she will inform the Council.
Barbara Rossi related a positive comment made by a Men’s Golf League member who stated that he was very impressed with the progress being made at the Golf Course.
COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS
None
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
Mayor Leclerc stated that the landscaping at Town Hall will be revamped when the parking lot reconstruction project begins, courtesy of Goodwin College.
Marc Weinberg wished Pat Harmon a belated Happy Birthday.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Esther Clarke
seconded by Bill Horan
to adjourn (9:14 p.m.).
Motion carried 9/0.
The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Town Council would be on April 15th.
Attest________________________________
Angela M. Attenello
TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
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