Video: East Hartford Budget Meeting – Board of Education
Part 1
Part 2
Letter to East Hartford Legislators: HELP
I sent the following letter to our East Hartford legislative delegation.
As you are no doubt aware East Hartford is in a budgetary crisis. Mayor Currey has proposed an increase in property taxes of 9.2%, an increase the residents and taxpayers of East Hartford, you included, cannot bear.
With your past experience in our Town government you can no doubt relate to the Mayor’s plight and understand the difficulty she and the Town Council face in this time of economic hardship. It can be no light task to balance the runaway costs facing a local government such as ours and maintain community affordability.
We need your help as both a neighbor in our community and our representative in Hartford. East Hartford families already face a local tax burden exceeding 11% of their gross income, far more than their State and Federal burden combined. If this tax increase is implemented, the hardest hit will be those who can afford it least.
According to December CT Department of Labor data greater than 10% of East Hartford workers are currently unemployed. Yet, if implemented, this increase will impose non-negotiable increases in the cost of living for all East Hartford residents. For example, a homeowner on Chapman Street can expect an increase in their mortgage escrow of $40 per month. Their neighbor who rents in a multi-family will see a rent increase of $20 per month.
There is not often a lot that a State Representative can do for a municipality in these situations but there is something you can do. East Hartford is being brutalized by two well meaning State mandates; Minimum Expenditure Requirements and Binding Arbitration. These State laws share a common flaw in that they fail to provide a municipality with adequate room to make the difficult decisions required in hard economic times.
East Hartford’s schools are experiencing lower enrollment and the hard reality that we simply do not have the same level of spending ability today that we did yesterday or the day before. Yet, due to MER, East Hartford cannot realign its education budget without sacrificing two State dollars for every Town dollar in realigns. This is unfair and counterproductive for elected officials, taxpayers and students alike. East Hartford must have the freedom to set an education budget that serves the students and taxpayers, not State statutes.
East Hartford is also struggling with the reality of contractual labor cost increases. While East Hartford’s grand list has continued to decline and private sector workers have had to forego raises and in many cases accept permanent wage reductions and schedule cutbacks these same workers are required by past practice of municipal contract negotiators to carry the cost of raises for municipal employees. In some cases, these employees contractually receive multiple raises per year.
In order for East Hartford to achieve control over its budget, the Town must have the ability to negotiate labor contracts that are reasonable and in line with private sector compensation, free from the burdens of poor past negotiation choices. While we appreciate the work our municipal employees do, we are faced with the reality that although we may desire to provide Cadillac compensation, we cannot afford it at this time.
I ask you, along with the remainder of East Hartford’s legislative delegation, to consider introducing as new bills, or amendments to existing bills, two emergency measures to pull East Hartford from the brink. First, an appropriate amendment to Chapter 172 of the Connecticut General Statutes providing an exemption for East Hartford from Minimum Budget Requirements and Minimum Expenditure Requirements. Second, an appropriate amendment to Chapters 113 and 166 of the Connecticut General Statutes providing an exemption for East Hartford from binding arbitration awards.
East Hartford Mayor Sets Stage for Tax Increases Statewide
East Hartford has one of the earliest municipal budget calendars in the state and as a result can offer a predictive window into the state’s municipal budget climate. If this year’s East Hartford proposed budget is any indication than Connecticut taxpayers are in for a world of hurt.
Municipal elections are now past and Councils, Mayors, Boards of Finance, Selectmen and all of the other various forms of leaders we employ in our Connecticut towns are feeling a bit less politically squeezed and, as predicted by myself and candidates in other towns, tax increase proposals from these leaders will be coming fast and furious as they deal with falling revenues in the only manner they have the political fortitude to employ, tax increases.
East Hartford Mayor Melody Currey on Tuesday night presented her budget in what to this observer seemed a nervously defensive tone. No doubt she was well aware that a tax increase of over 9% would not be met with smiles and commendations.
To the credit of the Mayor each year the public availability of budget information has increased and this year is no exception. In fact, this year the Mayor has presented the most complete set of information yet. So Mayor, while I won’t thank you for raising my taxes, thank you for providing me with the details I need to know the how and why behind the increase.
I encourage you to review the budget information on the town website.
BUDGET INFO
Budget sessions continue with the Board of Education on Thursday night at 6:30, an all day session Saturday starting at 8:30 and a Monday night finale starting at 6:30. These can be viewed in person at Town Hall, or on EHCTV Channel 5 on Comcast.
Citizens should keep in mind the public hearing on Wednesday, March 3rd at 7PM where we can express our concerns about this proposal as well as plans to REDUCE spending proportionally to the losses in revenue rather than continuing spending unabated.
I am happy to say that I have heard from a Town Council member who is at least as outraged about this proposal as I am. Maybe there is hope.
Video: 11-09-09 Town Council Swearing In/Organizational Meeting
Video: 11-09-09 Town Council Swearing In/Organizational Meeting.
East Hartford Swearing In Ceremony & Organizational Meeting
Video: 11-09-09 Town Council Swearing In/Organizational Meeting.
I have been trying to post this for two weeks and finally got it up. Blip.tv was not loving this video and kept breaking it off around 20 minutes.
This is the swearing in of our newly elected officials. The Town Council selects a Chairman and names the Majority and Minority leaders as well. There are no surprises.
The sound is a bit better because I used a wireless mic placed next to the speaker instead of the in camera mic. The Mayor afterward asked me not to use the wireless mic because she felt it was an invasion of privacy. I’m not sure whether I’ll respect that request in the future, it is after all a public chamber with no expectation of privacy and it is common for the reporters to place their tape and digital audio recorders on the same window sill.
11-09-09 Revised Organizational Meeting
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBER
EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
NOVEMBER 9, 2009
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
R E V I S E D 11-16-09
PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr., Majority Leader Marcia A. Leclerc, Minority Leader Donald H. Pitkin, Councillors Marc I. Weinberg, Barbara-Ann Rossi, Linda A. Russo, Eric Thompson and Susan Skowronek
CALL TO ORDER
In accordance with Section 3.2(a) of the Town Charter, Mayor Melody A. Currey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Earlier in the day, Sharon Miller, Town Clerk, swore in Melody A. Currey as Mayor of East Hartford. However, Ms. Miller administered the oath once again for the viewers of Channel 5.
Ms. Miller administered the Oath of Office to the following elected officials:
TOWN COUNCIL
William P. Horan, Jr. Richard F. Kehoe Marcia Leclerc Donald H. Pitkin Marc I. Weinberg Barbara-Ann Rossi Linda A. Russo Eric Thompson Susan Skowronek
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Marcus C. Oladell, IV Tyron Harris Bryan Hall Jeffrey Currey
Robert J. Damaschi sworn in earlier in the day
SELECTMEN
Peter J. Bonzani
J. Roger Pelletier – absent Richard M. Torpey, Jr. – absent
CONSTABLES
Richard L. Begley Patricia Begley Patricia W. Gately Tia L. Woods Stephen Roczynski Esther Clarke Michelle Locke James E. Reik
TOWN TREASURER
Joseph R. Carlson
NOMINATION OF COUNCIL CHAIR/DEPUTY MAYOR
MOTION By Bill Horan seconded by Don Pitkin to nominate Rich Kehoe as Chair of the Town Council Motion carried 9/0.
NOMINATION FOR VICE CHAIR
MOTION By Linda Russo seconded by Eric Thompson to nominate William Horan as Vice Chair of the Town Council. Motion carried 9/0.
NOMINATION OF COUNCIL CLERK
MOTION By Marc Weinberg seconded by Susan Skowronek to appoint Angela Attenello as Council Clerk. Motion carried 9/0.
RESOLUTION RELATING TO TIME, PLACE AND PROCEDURE FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED AND SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETINGS
MOTION By Barbara Rossi seconded by Don Pitkin to adopt the following resolution:
Whereas, Section 3.3(a) of the Town Charter of the Town of East Hartford requires that a resolution be adopted at this meeting governing the time and place of regularly scheduled meetings, and provide for the calling of Special Meetings.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That the East Hartford Town Council meets regularly on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m., and at such other times as the Council shall designate, in the Council Chamber in the Town Hall of the said Town of East Hartford and at such other places as the Council shall designate.
Also, according to Section 3.3(a) of the Town Charter, that the Chair shall have the power to call a Special Meeting of the Council at any time and shall call such meeting whenever requested by one-third or more of the Councillors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That Roberts Rules of Order shall govern parliamentary procedure at all Town Council meetings, with the exception that (1) the Chair shall not be required to restate the motion of any Council member unless requested by another Councillor, or when in the discretion of the Chair, such restatement is necessary to avoid any confusion as to the motion; and (2) where such rules are in conflict with the provisions of the State Statutes, the Town Charter, or Town Ordinances.
On call of the vote, motion 9/0.
SELECTION OF MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS
Chair Kehoe announced that Marcia Leclerc will serve as the Majority Leader and Donald Pitkin will serve as the Minority Leader.
All Councillors addressed the residents of East Hartford, thanking them for their support and participation in the election process and expressing their goals for this Council. Additionally, the Councillors thanked their families for their love and support, not only during the campaign, but throughout their tenure of public service.
A moment of silence was observed in honor of Veterans’ Day, after which the pledge of allegiance was recited.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Don Pitkin seconded by Bill Horan to adjourn (8:26 p.m.) Motion carried 9/0.
Attest ___________________________ Angela Attenello TOWN COUNCIL CLERK
_______________________________________________ You are subscribed to the Public Notices mailing list.
To unsubscribe from this list: http://www.ci.east-hartford.ct.us/subscriber
Contact Your Elected Officials
Communication with our elected officials is an integral part of a representative form of government. Now you can send an email directly to our Mayor, Town Council, Board of Education or State Representatives through brainflation.com. Let them know how you feel.
Just head over to the Contact Elected Officials tab at the top of the page and choose your office.
Thanks.
Thank you to everyone who offered their support during my Town Council campaign. Your support was invaluable and although I was not successful in my Town Council bid we were successful in laying the groundwork for a better East Hartford.
Thank you Joe and Carolyn Kronen, as the campaign chairman and treasurer respectively, you have been an indomitable force of knowledge and motivation. Your unwavering support and dedication will not be forgotten. Your talents are indisputable.
Eileen Powers, you are easily one of the most driven and charismatic persons I have had the pleasures of working with. Through pure force of personality you seem to conquer obstacles with ease that others couldn’t even approach. I look forward to your continued efforts to make this town the shining emblem of reform it is destined to be.
Susan Kniep, it was my pleasure running with you. Even though our political affiliation is just a few months old we have had a natural alliance over these past years. As our government has failed us in its duty of fiscal conservatism and allowed rampant nepotism and political influence peddling to take root in East Hartford you have consistently defended the taxpayer while others have been conspicuously absent. I will see you in the Town Council chambers.
Pete and Lois Gero, your behind the scenes work and support could not be replaced by a dozen volunteers. Pete’s daily calls of support and speculation upheld my spirits in the most fatiguing moments of the campaign and Lois’ generous offering of her time and good spirits on the phones and the internet truly made the difference.
To our supporters, volunteers and donors we are greatly indebted to you. Your kindness, support and generosity is the fuel which drives us on in our endeavors. We couldn’t do it without you.
Congratulations to those candidates who won election and re-election. I have a new and deeper respect for the process of seeking political office. It is no light task and certainly no light responsibility. I hope that this election will inject new energy into the governmental bodies of East Hartford and inspire a more critical process of thought and action.
