Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There are 76 items on the agenda. The Council meeting will
begin at 8 P.M. and will be preceded by a public hearing which will begin at
7:30 P.M. The next Council meeting will
be Monday, January 27th at 8 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council
Chambers. The next public hearing will be January 20th at 8 P.M., in
Council Chambers.
Take Your Money Hartford! – The Council will vote on
a resolution affirming its support for “Take Your Money Hartford!”. Take Your
Money Hartford! Is a community-based partnership, which promotes the Earned
Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a refundable tax credit for low and
moderate-income working families. According to the resolution, 70% of Hartford
taxpayers were eligible for the credit in 1999, but only 43% claimed it. It is
estimated that if all of the residents eligible for the credit applied, they
would receive a total of $6 million.
For more information call 211.
(Item # 57)
Changes to City
Pensions Plan -- The Council
will vote on a resolution calling for ordinances that would codify the
Municipal Employees Retirement Fund (MERF).
According to the resolution, the Citizens’ Committee for Effective
Government conducted a review of Hartford’s pension plans and made several recommendations
for changes. In addition, the resolution calls for changes to make the benefits
commensurate with those offered by private industry and other public entities
in our region. The resolution sets
April 30th as the deadline for the proposed ordinances to be
drafted. (Item # 68)
Funds for
Mothballing, Demolition, and Redevelopment of Vacant Buildings -- The council will vote on a resolution
authorizing City Manager Lee Erdmann to file an application to the Department
Community and Economic Development for $13 million to be used for mothballing,
demolition, and redevelopment of vacant buildings. These funds represent the second and final installment of a $25
million appropriation authorized by the State Bond Commission in July 1999. (Item # 17)
Parkville Street Improvements – The Council will vote
on a resolution which would authorize City Manager Lee Erdmann to apply for
federal Surface Transportation Program Enhancement Funds for streetscape
improvements on Park Street from the I-84 overpass to Prospect Avenue. The street improvements are designed to make
the Parkville neighborhood more pedestrian and bicycle friendly and are found
in the Parkville Urban Design and Transportation Plan. The estimated cost of the improvements is
$3,000,000. The resolution calls for a
city commitment of $300,000 for construction drawings for the project and
$600,000 as the city’s 20% match of the total cost of the project. The Operations, Management, and Budget
Committee is recommending passage.
(Item # 38)
Batterson Park-- The Council will vote on resolution which
would authorize selling the Burnt Hill portion of Batterson Park to the town of
Farmington. (Item # 70)
Tax Abatement and Fee
Waiver Requests - The Council will vote on a resolution that would require
an independent opinion be obtained when the Council is asked to approve
requests for tax abatements or fee waivers.
The resolution requires that the opinion be returned to the Council at
least seven (7) days prior to any action on the request and allows for the
opinion to be rendered by the Hartford Economic Redevelopment Commission or a
qualified firm in the private sector as designated by the City of Hartford’s
chief executive officer. The resolution
argues independent opinions are needed because the Council is often asked to
pass a variety of complex tax abatement and fee waiver proposals without enough
information as to the appropriateness and fiscal soundness of the request.
(Item # 75).
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 and residents.
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