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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 56 items on the regular agenda.The next Council meeting will be January
24.The next public hearing will be
Tuesday, January 18.Council member
O’Connell was absent from the meeting.
Bio-Medical Waste
– The Council was preceded by a public hearing on two ordinances adding
“bio-medical waste treatment facility” to the Table of Permitted Uses.Passage of the ordinances would prohibit the
disposal of bio-medical wastes in the city and would prohibit the creation of a
bio-medical treatment facility.
Eleven residents and health advocates spoke in favor of the
ordinances; three individuals spoke against passage.Those in favor argued that the potential emissions from
incinerating medical waste would create a health hazard and that Hartford
already has eight waste treatment facilities.Those against the ordinances (the owners of MedWaste Management)argued that they were using new technology -
not incineration.A communication from
the Commission on the City Plan recommended passage of the ordinances arguing
that the city’s image as a “dumping ground” serves to discourage other
businesses from locating in the city.
Fire Department
Review – The Council passed a resolution authorizing City Manager Kee
Borges to contract with Carroll Buracker & Associates to complete a
comprehensive review of the Hartford Fire Department.Carroll Buracker & Associates recently completed a review of the
Hartford Police Department.
Regulating Body
Piercing – The Council sent to public hearing, January 18, an ordinance
recommended by Deputy Mayor Sanchez regulating body piercing and tattooing in
the city.If passed, the ordinance will
require appropriate licensing and specifically prohibit use of controlled
substances (anesthetics).In addition,
the ordinance outlines minimum safety standards for establishments which provide
body piercing or tattooing.
Avery Heights Church
Homes and Racial Discrimination – The Council referred to the Health and
Human Services Committee a resolution which would give the city’s support for
Attorney General Blumenthal’s investigation of possible racial discrimination
at Avery Heights Church Homes.The
resolution, sponsored by Council member Horton Sheff, was amended to include
support for the striking employees of Avery Heights.The resolution points out that while there are 450 residents at
Avery Heights, only two are people of color.
Sale of City Owned
Land -- On recommendation of the City Manager, the Council sent to public
hearing, January 18, seven resolutions which would authorize the sale of 8
parcels of city land.The sales,
totaling$96,000, would return all eight
parcels to the grand list without tax concessions.
Urban Green Project
– The Council referred to the Operations, Management, Budget, Education, and
Labor Committee a resolution appropriating $26,000 for the Urban Green
Project.The project, a joint venture
of the Gathering Place, Knox Parks Foundation, Southend Community Services, and
Our Piece of the Pie, gives Hartford youths hands-on training on growing and
selling vegetables.The funds would be
used for equipment and supplies for the project.
Funds for Hartford
Schools - The Council sent to public hearing, January 18, three ordinances
which would appropriate funds for Hartford school projects and school building
improvements.Most of the funds,
$2,221,747, will come from the State Bond Commission; the remainder, $250,000,
will come from the state’s Open Space Grant Program.Projects include environmental centers (Mary Hooker School and
Maria Sanchez School) and building improvements in 17 other schools.
Community Development
Block Grant funds for Hartford Proud and Beautiful – On the recommendation
of Council members Airey-Wilson and Rossetti, the Council passed a resolution
reprogramming $25,000 from the Program Year 25 Future Community Economic
Development Project Pool to Hartford Proud and Beautiful.The funds will be used for the Hartford
Blooms Project which places planters throughout the city.
Supplemental Agenda
-- The Council democrats voted not to suspend the rules and thus not take
action on items from the supplemental agenda.In so doing they delayed action on eight items.Among other items, the supplemental agenda
included two resolutions from Council member Horton Sheff.One would have expressed the Council’s
support for the efforts of the West End Civic Association in its negotiations
with Wild Oats over the future of the Cheese and Stuff site; another would have
directed the City Manager to create an ad
hoc Board of Inquiry to investigate the recent compost fire at the
Metropolitan District Commission treatment facility.
If you have any questions about the agenda, call the Council at 522‑4888 or Greg Vickers at CREN, 249‑1416. The Citizens' Research Education Network is a non‑profit information center for Hartford community‑based organizations. |
