Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, January 8, 2001

Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network, Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There are 68 items on the regular agenda.The Council meeting will begin at 8 P. M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers and will be televised live on Hartford Public Access, Channel 21.

Industrial Re-Use Overlay District-- The Council will begin with a public hearing on a set of ordinances which will establish an industrial reuse overlay district (IROD) on several parcels bounded by Huyshope, Nepaquash, Sequassen, and Van Dyke Streets.The IROD, requested by the Coltsville Heritage Park, will allow increased uses on the property.The Commission on the City Plan is recommending passage.The ordinances themselves will not be voted on at this meeting. (Items 1-3 & 34)

Hiring Freeze for City Employees -- On the recommendation of Majority Leader Louis Watkins and Minority Leader John O’Connell, the Council will vote on a resolution that would initiate a hiring freeze on all city positions for the remainder of the budget year.According to the resolution the freeze is intended to avoided a budget deficit at the end of the year and would allow exceptions for extraordinary situations or where public safety was concerned.(Item #68)

Transportation Study Approval -- The Council will vote on a resolution supporting the Capital Region Council of Governments’ preliminary plans for Route 44 improvements.Among other things the study calls for streetscape improvements, a traffic calming program for residential streets off Albany Avenue, new bus shelters, and better bus stop locations.This resolution has been to public hearing and is being recommended for passage by the Planning, Economic Development, and Zoning Committee.(Item # 37)

Landfill Relations -- On the recommendation of Council member Elizabeth Horton Sheff, the Council will vote on a resolution directing City Manger Kee Borges to review the city’s contract with the Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority (CRRA).Under the resolution the city would seek to renogiate its present contract with CRRA to allow monitoring and regulation of CRRA facilities and require CRRA to pay for the closure of the landfill and to maintain the landfill for 50 years after it is closed.(Item #63)

Resources for Hartford Schools -- On the recommendation of Council member Marilyn Rossetti, the Council will vote on a resolution which would call on the state to consider several avenues of support for Hartford schools.Among other things, the resolution calls for the state to fully fund the Education Accountability Act to provide academic remedial and youth enrichment programs, and provide increased resources to school magnet programs and project choice.The resolution argues that the steps are needed to address inappropriate racial and economic isolation of Connecticut’s urban areas.(Item #66)

Extension of City Manager’s Contract – The Council will vote on a resolution that would extend the City Manager’s contract through December 4, 2001.(Item #67)

Housing Preservation Loan Fund -- The Council will vote on a resolution which would designate $500,000 from the Housing Fund be made available to city residents who have been ineligible to receive loans from the Housing Preservation Loan Fund because their incomes exceed federal guidelines.The Housing Committee is recommending passage of the measure. (Item #39)

CDBG Funds for American Legion -- The Council will vote on a resolution to allocate $20,000 of Community Development Block Grant Funds to the American Legion for an environmental assessment and storage tank removal associated with the Legion’s McKinney-King Post renovations.The funds from the city will be from the 26^th Year Hartford Revitalization Fund.(Item 24)

Grandview Terrace Boulevard Historic District -- The Council will refer to public hearing, an ordinance that would establish the “Grandview Terrace Boulevard Historic District.”The district would encompass the block of Grandview Terrace that runs from White Street to Linnmoore Street.The houses on this block were built between 1910 and 1925.(Item #49)

If you have any questions about the agenda call Greg Vickers at CREN, 249‑1416. The Citizens' Research Education Network is a non‑profit research and education center for Hartford community‑based organizations.