Mayor's Community Update Week of February 3rd, 2015

Winter In New England

Nothing is more beautiful then winter in New England. Unfortunately not much else is as frustrating, and understandably so. In just two weeks the town has received over 3ft of snow and we are expecteing more.

With over 150 miles of roadways in town our Public Works staff and plow drivers have been working around the clock  to clear our streets and I commend their tireless efforts. In addition homeowners have been patient and understanding; I have personally seen residents helping dig out their neighbors and working together to help those who are unable to keep up with clean up. This type of support is exactly how we get through a winter in New England. None the less cleanup can be exhausting, that is why it is best to be prepared and know what to expect.

To help our residents the Public Works Department has generated a list of  winter weather FAQ’s available on our website on what to expect during snow removal and what residents and property owners should know when it comes to clearing their property.

In preparation for the next storm please know that a prediction and snowfall of at least 5” will automatically issue a parking ban, so please plan accordingly and have a plan in place to remove your vehicle from on street parking during inclement weather. With 39,143 registered motor vehicles in the town we only had 28 towed violators.

Thank you to all of the residents who have abided by our ordinaces, who have banded together to help their neighbors, and for those residents who have called in and kept us informed of the conditions of their neighborhoods so that we can work together to to deliver a quality service to our residents. With your help we can make sure that our roads and sidewalks are safe for travel throughout the season.

 

Lunch with the Mayor

Do you have an hour lunch break to spare? Available on a Thursday from 12PM-1PM? Then please join me for a monthly  informative open discussion. Each meeting will include town updates from from various department directors and I will be available to discuss any questions or concerns you may have through an in-person, Q&A session. Meetings will take place in Town Hall in the 2nd Floor Welling Conference Room, with the schedule of meetings below. If you plan on attending please call my office the day of the meeting to confirm.

January 29, 2015             June 25, 2015

February 26, 2015            August 27, 2015

March 26, 2015               September 24, 2015

April 23, 2015                  October 22, 2015

May 28, 2015                  November 19, 2015
 

Budget Preparation

The FY 2016 budget preparation meetings with all department heads have been completed and I will be making the final changes to the Mayor’s Recommended Budget to be issued by February 23rd.  Public hearings will occur in late February into early March A digital copy of the budget will be placed online on February 23rd.

 

A Year In Review   

I am pleased to present to the community our Fiscal Year 2014 annual report. This report provides a snapshot of the Town Department’s primary functions and gives you a look back on the past year, identifying a variety of new and continuing successes and accomplishmnets which are highlighted throughout the report.

East Hartford Library Recieves Grant to Fund a MakerSpace

The East Hartford Public Library received a $5,000.00 donation from United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) to help fund their planned MakerSpace. The money will allow the library to purchase a 3D printer, 3D scanner, and ten rolls of plastic filament to be used for printing. When the library reopens in the spring, library staff will be holding classes to help people learn how to use these new technologies. Makerspaces are part of a national movement designed to foster learning-through-doing. The library staff is looking forward to giving the people of East Hartford the opportunity to become familiar with this emerging technology.

Beloved EHPD K9 Axel Retires