Greetings on the coming of the New Year! January 5th, 2015

Dear friends: I send you greetings on the coming of the New Year!

This time of year we turn our attention to the celebrations of the season. This is always a time of hope and renewal as we celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another. It is also a time to pause and reflect on all we have accomplished together as we set our sights on future goals and opportunities.

Reflecting upon 2014, it is apparent that we have begun to see the culmination of the goals and objectives set out in the past few years come to fruition. These accomplishments were realized with the exceptional commitment by our directors and employees across all departments, the support of our Town Council, legislative delegation and governor. Working together toward our common goal of creating a vibrant, well-maintained and safe community is something that has been on the forefront as we begin preparing to break ground on several major development projects slated for 2015.

I am grateful for the team of Directors leading our town departments who continue to complete the important work of the town. There is no doubt that their respective talents and skills have provided the impetus to move our community forward and when coupled with the work of our amazing town employees, we deliver a very broad scope of exceptional services.

The transition to new leadership in our East Hartford Police Department was smooth, and I am honored to have outstanding Police and Fire Departments that provide unparalleled service to our residents.

Our Health and Social Services department continues to do work to ensure that our residents are connected to services and that community health standards, licensing and education are addressed in a proactive and timely fashion. Youth Services provides essential services to East Hartford families and continues to find creative, engaging, positive experiences for our young people and families. Our Town Clerk, Finance, and Inspections & Building departments have been busy streamlining, archiving and updating their departments.

Collectively our accomplishments have been significant. From the increased improvements and maintenance of our portfolio of 22 town buildings, 650 acres of open and developed park space including ball fields, athletic courts, recreational trails, and 5 outdoor pools, to expanded numbers of participants and increasing interest and quality of town programs.  Our Parks & Recreation has been dedicated and busy. We witnessed a successful conclusion of the 2014 Golf Season and anticipate opening day and fair weather at our reinvigorated golf course. Then there has been our leap into solar energy savings with installation of solar rooftops and solar canopy arrays in parking lots to significantly reduce electrical costs.

Our Public Works Department consists of six separate divisions: Engineering, Fleet Services, Waste Services, Highway Services, Park Maintenance, and Building Maintenance. They are responsible for technical design plans, surveys and various complex municipal improvement projects to maintaining our 146.3 miles of Town roads, levees, bridges, cemeteries, pavement markings, street lights and traffic signs, snow removal and curbside leaf collection.  While our Waste Services employees collect 26,000 tons of residential waste and recycling annually as well as operate the Town transfer station and maintain over 350 Town vehicles and equipment.

Transitioning our historical documents online, ensuring our capacity to provide better service, and ensuring our technology is current and keeping pace with our needs is ongoing at our Town Hall. Right outside at the street level, creating elements that revitalize and refresh the major thoroughfares of our community has given us new public amenities, and the Downtown kiosk redesign.

The exciting renovation and expansion of our Raymond Library remains on time and budget, and is scheduled to open in the spring of 2015. Our dynamic library will take a prominent position with a new direction being forged that includes literary and creative programming and spaces for all generations and interests.

With our renewed direction we have seen an increased movement amongst our current businesses to expand their investment in our community. There has been the welcoming of new developments with the major announcement of the Pratt & Whitney World Headquarters and the UTRC expansion and renovations. Rentschler Field, the Silver Lane corridor and the Big Y Plaza are moving in positive discussions and directions. Property right-of-way acquisitions along Burnside Avenue are moving forward in time for the 2015 resurfacing and redesign of the roadway.

East Hartford is grateful to all the unsung heroes comprised of our residents, business leaders, local businesses, club, boards & commissions and organizations who provide services, opportunities and benefits to the town, both directly and indirectly.

Some highlights include Summer Youth Employment opportunities, our ability to bring literacy to the homebound and to public parks via our Rotary-sponsored Book Mobile, new landscaping design and plantings by Goodwin College at our Town Green, Golf Course, Wickham Library, Brewer House and Raymond Library.

Equally I am grateful for the residents who make our community so enjoyable. The simple e-mails, calls or visits throughout my day remind me that we are in this together. It is validation of why I choose to serve and how honored I am to bring the best of East Hartford to the forefront with your assistance.

As we look to 2015, your continued support is important. There is a lot of work to be done. Although the challenges continue to be great, I know that our community has the courage and determination to rise up and meet them. I'm excited because I know the best days for East Hartford are in front of us. And I look forward to what opportunities and achievements 2015 will bring.

May the New Year bring you and yours health, happiness, and success. I am honored to be your Mayor, blessed to part of this community, and I look forward to bringing continued positive change and growth to our East Hartford.

Warmest regards and Happy New Year,

Marcia A. Leclerc
Mayor