Vote Row 3C

Working for East Hampton Residents

A Message From Sue Weintraub...

Some of my accomplishments on my 1st term of Town Council:

Seniors and Disabled: Researched, initiated and implemented East Hampton’s first Property Tax Freeze Relief Program for Seniors. Qualifying seniors can freeze their property taxes and the taxes will be deferred at 0% interest. The deferred taxes must be paid in full when the house is sold or the estate is settled.

Seniors and Disabled: Researched and helped reduce East Hampton’s Housing Authority’s taxes by 50% which provides about $10,000 annually for capital needs of the affordable apartments for seniors and the disabled at Chatham Acres and Bellwood Court. As Town Council Housing Authority liaison I recommended to the board and they agreed that much-needed automatic doors at both complexes be purchased with this money to make it easier for the elderly and disabled to go in and out of the community area for mail and laundry services.

Senior Congregate Housing: As Liaison to the Housing Authority, I asked questions about the housing needs of seniors in our community and discovered that back in the 80s they were in the process of building assisted living apartments for seniors when State funds were stopped. We already have  the land, two working wells, completed environmental studies and blueprints. I suggested and helped with a survey distributed to East Hampton and neighboring towns to identify the need. Over 250 residents responded. I contacted DECD, found nonprofit agencies that will help with all development phases – from grant money through buildout and helped the Board get the project back on track.

Skate Park: Instrumental in giving our kids a safe place to skateboard. Spoke to community Parks & Rec directors who ran successful skateboard programs in other communities. Provided policies, helped raise $900 for materials and helped the kids and parents build ramps.

Affordable Housing: Met with the Building Dept. Administrator, the Town Manager and P&Z Chair to present research and reasons why East Hampton should pursue the $50,000 Affordable Housing Incentive Zone state Grant. I called other town’s Town Planners and received copies of their successful grant applications. We were able to quickly adapt these applications and secure a $50,000 grant to hire a consulting firm to help East Hampton take control of affordable housing development.

Streetscape Steering Committee Member: East  Hampton was awarded a $500,000 STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) in 2006 to improve the Route 66 corridor between Main Street and Route 196.  Worked with consultant to plan improvements that included the installation of decorative sidewalks, granite curbing, decorative lighting, benches, trash receptacles and landscaping.

Community Signs: While working on the Streetscape project, we identified the need for signage, both within the streetscape project area and in the community as a whole. I researched, recommended, and designed a Wayfinding Destination Signage program unanimously approved by EDC, Design Review Board and Town Council. The first phase along the Route 66 Streetscape project area will be paid for under the original $500,000 STEAP grant.

2nd STEAP Grant Awarded: I worked with the interim town manager, our town consultant, Representative Gail Hamm and Connected to Connecticut to initiate and submit a STEAP grant application for Phase II of the Route 66 Streetscape initiative. On Friday, September 18th, Governor Rell announced that East Hampton was awarded a $200,000 grant to continue to bring new vitality to the center of town, attracting new business and bringing new customers to existing establishments. This additional $200,000 grant will allow East Hampton to continue work on its business district streetscape project.

Purchasing Power/Smarter Spending: Researched and recommended new policies to be used to save money with vendors that the town uses on a regular basis.

Conservation Commission: As liaison to Conservation Commission, I researched and helped schedule a free Open Space workshop to explain options the Conservation Commission has when reviewing residential subdivision applications. The workshop was given by Jim Gibbons from UCONN’s land use and natural resources department.

Conservation Commission: As Town Council liaison, I networked with UCONN Landuse Geospatial Educator Emily Wilson who does mapping for the UCONN Center for Landuse Education and Research (CLEAR) to assist the Conservation Commission with completing its open space inventory mapping required by State Statute and invaluable for Town planning. Under a state grant, Emily was able to get DEP staff to provide an intern at no cost to the town to complete the inventory. An inventory that has been in progress for nearly a decade.

Quality of Life: Assisted neighbors with a parking lot light pollution issue that had been plaguing them for more than four years without resolution. While town staff said nothing could be done, I contacted DEP, DPUC and CL&P and it was successfully resolved.

Quality of Life: Working with neighbors to control noise I provided information to town staff regarding workshops at a local university to train local police and health department officials to correctly operate noise level meters. In addition, I located an acoustics consultant who can review application plans and offer guidance to help regain peace and quiet for East Hampton residents.

Quality of Life: Residents called and complained about unsafe boating speeds and related noise on Lake Pocotopaug. I brought forward an existing Town Ordinance which limits boat speeds and gives the power of enforcement to our local police.

Reduce Government Spending: Researched how the town of Branford successfully saved over $630,000 with school staff salaries and benefits without directly reopening contract negotiations with the unions. Presented this to the Board of Education, the Board of Finance and Town Council so that we can learn from other municipalities achievements to reduce government spending.

Vote row “C” for the Chatham Party ticket this Election Day.

"I have been proud to serve the people of East Hampton. In spite of relentless and often mean-spirited opposition, I have worked hard with our boards, commissions and citizens to move forward projects to benefit our community. "

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