East Hartford council approves farmers‑market programs, park fee changes, permits and property conveyance

East Hartford’s Town Council on April 21 approved a package of measures intended to expand farmers‑market access, adjust park fees and advance several grants and permits.

The council unanimously authorized three market-related actions to support senior nutrition and low‑income shoppers. One motion authorized the town’s local coordinator to distribute Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program electronic benefits through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services. A second designated the Sarban farmers market as a 2026 Certified CT Grown market. The council also adopted a resolution to enroll the town’s market in End Hunger CT’s CT FreshMatch program, which doubles SNAP purchases for fresh produce; town staff and a program representative said FreshMatch costs the town nothing and will run on Tuesdays noon–2:30 from July 7 through Oct. 27.

The council rescinded an April 7 parks and recreation fee motion and approved a revised fee schedule dated April 21 intended to clarify special‑use cases and protect local nonprofits and town teams, Harry Madison said.

Council members approved a $500 sale of a small, town‑owned parcel at 671 Burnside Ave to Ben Bronze Academy and referred multiple items—including a draft lease with the Community Renewal Team for East Hartford Community Center office space—to the fees committee.

On grants, the council authorized staff to apply for a $6,000 Connecticut State Library historic documents preservation grant for the town clerk’s office. It also approved the town applying for an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) of $17,153 so the police department can purchase a Skydio X10 drone; police said the drone will aid search and rescue, traffic incidents and missing‑person responses and that the award requires no local match.

Other business included approval of an outdoor amusement permit for the May 25 Memorial Day event, a referral on a draft lease for CRT at the community center, and a resolution urging the Planning, Zoning and Inland Wetlands Commission to allow a proposed 18‑home subdivision at 215 Brewer Street to intersect with Brewer Street rather than use certain town right‑of‑ways.

Votes at a glance

- Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program agreement: approved (oral unanimous vote). - Certified CT Grown farmers market designation (Sarban): approved (oral unanimous vote). - CT FreshMatch (End Hunger CT) resolution: approved (oral unanimous vote). - Rescind/approve revised parks fee schedule (04/21/2026): approved (oral unanimous vote). - Sale of 671 Burnside Ave to Ben Bronze Academy for $500: approved (oral unanimous vote). - Apply for JAG drone grant ($17,153): approved (oral unanimous vote). - Historic documents preservation grant ($6,000): approved (oral unanimous vote). - Memorial Day outdoor amusement permit: approved (oral unanimous vote). - Resolution re: 215 Brewer Street subdivision access: approved (oral unanimous vote).

Why it matters

Council members said FreshMatch and the certified CT Grown designation expand access to locally grown food and support local vendors. The fee‑schedule revision aims to balance programming and budget considerations while clarifying how nonprofits and community groups are treated. The small conveyance of land to Ben Bronze Academy clears a redevelopment agency parcel that town staff called blighted, while the drone grant would add an aerial capability the police department said it already relies on from neighboring agencies in some incidents.

What’s next

For grants that require procurement or policy changes (notably the drone purchase), staff said they will return to council with purchasing details, usage policies and data‑retention assurances before equipment is acquired. The council also sent the CRT lease to the fees committee for review and will monitor implementation of the FreshMatch program this summer.