Mayor's Community Update Week of July 13, 2015
Mayor’s Cleanup/Front Porch Day:
Mayor’s Clean-Up Day, an annual tradition, consists of community volunteers completing a “bridge-to-bridge” clean-up of Main Street and the “gateways” of East Hartford, weeding, cleaning and removing debris all along Main Street from Main and Pitkin up through Main and Burnside. In addition to the work being done on Main Street, I have teamed up with the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund, which will be focusing on work in the neighborhoods of “Downtown East” and “Downtown West.” This one-day program is a small part of CHIF’s East Hartford Urban Revitalization Program and is designed to get residents out of their homes (onto their “Front Porches”) and working together with other resources and volunteers to improve property conditions in their neighborhoods. This process provides residents with a way to communicate their concerns and needs and strives to build local community leadership to continue this effort into the future.
Identified Streets for “Front Porch Day” this year include: Bigelow Street. Bissell Street, Central Avenue, Chapman Street, Ellsworth Street, Elm Street, Fuller Avenue, Governor Street, Lewis Street, Orchard Street, Orchard Terrace, Phelps Place, Phelps Street, Prospect Street, Rector Street, Richard Road, Robin Terrace, Saunders Street, Sherman Avenue, Walter Place and Wells Avenue
Homeowners, who live on the streets listed in this release, who are interested in participating in Front Porch Day, can call CHIF at (860) 233-5165, Monday-Friday, from 9 a.m.-5p.m. In addition CHIF will be hosting an informational meeting on July 22, 2015 at 6PM in Town Hall for all homeowners of the above streets.
Local youth groups, churches, organizations, civic clubs, businesses, and individuals interested in volunteering for both events may call the Mayor’s Office at 860-291-7200, or email jcarrero@easthartfordct.gov. A celebratory BBQ lunch will be provided for all volunteers.
Lunch with the Mayor Cancelled in July and August:
We will not be having Lunch with the Mayor in July and August, and will be breaking for those two summer months. Starting on September 24th, from 12-1, we will start up again and our guest speaker will be Library Director Susan Hansen. She will be giving us all the updates on news and projects going on in our libraries and sharing any future events that residents might be interested in.
UTRC and Pratt Groundbreakings:
United Technologies, the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, who has been a fixture in this community for nearly 90 years, recently broke ground on their new research center on Silver Lane, which is scheduled to be completed in 2017. The building was facilitated, in part, by the 2014 Connecticut Aerospace Reinvestment Act, which passed the state legislature with widespread bipartisan support. The deal that UTC made with the state includes $400 million in research and development tax credits for UTC in exchange for $500 million of investments in the state by 2020. Continuing on the development in town, Pratt & Whitney will also broke ground on their headquarters last Thursday, which continues on the investment and the impact that Pratt has made on this community. I am proud to join Gov. Malloy, the state and UTC in continuing our relationship with Pratt & Whitney for future generations.
Cooling Centers in East Hartford:
With the sweltering heat picking up, residents should be aware that the Town of East Hartford has “Cooling Centers” throughout town where residents can beat the heat. With temperatures expected to reach the 80s and 90s this week, the following public buildings are available for residents to cool down in: South End Senior Center, 70 Canterbury Street, Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wickham Library, 656 Burnside Avenue, Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., as well as the Public Safety Complex, 31 School Street (Police Lobby), 24/7.
Heat Stroke is a very serious side effect of hot weather and I encourage all residents to drink as much water as possible, make use of our public pools and take advantage of all of our cooling centers throughout the summer.
Retirements and New Employees:
After 30 years, Mike Dayton, our Town Planner retired on June 25. Mike has been an invaluable employee throughout the years and though it will be hard to fill his shoes, we’ve been receiving some very qualified applicants, so hopefully we’ll have a new replacement for Mike soon. I’d also like to let everyone know that after a long absence in the position of Assistant Grants Administrator, we have hired Laura Rozza. Laura has her bachelor’s degree from Eugene Lang College and comes to us with years of experience as the Grants Manager at the Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford, which is a non-profit focusing on the arts. Through her work there she has had the opportunity to lead all grant writing, fundraising and served as the main support behind all of their grant programs.
Social Services Asking For Donations:
Every year, the East Hartford Social Services Department asks for donations of new school supplies to assist local students start the new school year off on the right foot. These supplies will be distributed by the department’s staff to pre-identified students entering grades K-12 in the fall, whose families are experiencing hard times. This year, the department is asking for backpacks for younger grades (K-2); glue sticks; markers; colored pencils & scissors, but the department will accept any and all types of new school supplies. Donations may be dropped off at the Social Services Department on the lower level of Town Hall, 740 Main Street, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monetary donations are also welcomed and will be used to purchase needed “filler” items, such as folders and pens. Interested parties should make checks payable to: Special Program and all monetary and school supply donations are needed by July 31, 2015. For more information, interested parties may contact the Social Services Department at 860-291-7248.
Ticket Booklets and Fee Schedule:
Starting on July 1, 2015, tickets are now required for entry into the transfer station. Annual permit fees will remain the same at $15 for seniors and $35 for all others. One book of five tickets will be provided upon permit issuance and may be used any time before they expire on June 30, 2016. Supplemental books of five tickets each may be purchased for $30. Supplemental tickets will not expire, but the user must have a valid permit to access the Transfer Station. Permits and ticket books may only be purchased at the Public Works Administration Office, located at 61 Ecology Drive. Purchases may no longer be made at the town clerk’s office or by mail. If a resident still has an unlimited trips permit that expires after July 1, they may use it until it expires, but must buy a booklet of five tickets and permit after their unlimited permit has expired.
Access to the Transfer Station will be based on the following fee schedule: 1 ticket for a passenger vehicle, including SUVs and minivans; 1 tickets for a pickup truck or large van; Vehicles with trailers will be charged a vehicle charge if the vehicle is full, plus a trailer charge of 1 ticket for a small (one-axle) trailer or 1 tickets for a large (two-axle) trailer if the trailer is full as well. If the vehicle is empty and the trailer is full, residents will only be charged 1 ticket for the trailer.