Council Previews & Reviews >> Reviews > March 8, 2010

Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, March 8, 2010

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 31 items on the original agenda. No additional items were submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, March 22, 2010 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Monday, March 15, 2009 at 7 PM.

This Review consists of two sections: Items of Special Interest and Action on All Agenda Items. The City’s official listing of actions taken on all items on this agenda can be found online at: http://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Minutes/council_meeting_minutes.htm  

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

One City, One Plan (Plan of Conservation and Development) – The Council referred, to its Planning & Economic Development Committee, a resolution endorsing One City, One Plan (the Plan of Conservation and Development). The City has conducted an inclusive and vigorous public outreach participation process in drafting the Plan. Over 1,000 individuals as well as neighborhood and business groups have participated to date. The Council has 65 days to submit comments on the Plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission. (Item #3)

Auction of City Owned Properties – The Council referred, to its Operations, Management & Budget and Housing Committees, a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sell 32 City owned properties. All of the properties are vacant and have been deemed suitable for development. The sale will provide housing and economic development opportunities and will provide the City with needed revenue. A public hearing will be held on this matter on March 15, 2010. (Item #5)

Graffiti – The Council referred, to its Quality of Life & Public Safety Committee, a proposed ordinance addressing the issue of graffiti. The proposed ordinance defines graffiti and prohibits the application of graffiti and the possession of graffiti implements in public parks and facilities and within 50 feet of public infrastructure, such as bridge abutments or underpasses, holds both graffiti artists (and their parents if they are children) and property owners responsible for graffiti removal, and imposes penalties, including a fine of $100 per day, for failure to remove the graffiti. A public hearing will be held on this item on March 15, 2010. (Item #19)

Appeals of FOI Decisions – The Council postponed action on a resolution advising and urging the Mayor to no longer authorize appeals of Freedom of Information (FOI) Commission decisions unless the City Council approves such an appeal and that any fines or sanctions imposed by the Commission be borne by the individual employed by the City rather than at taxpayers’ expense. The City has spent over $200,000 on FOI cases and unsuccessful appeals in the past 18 months. (Item #26)

Corporation Counsel – The Council considered two resolutions regarding Corporation Counsel. The first, introduced by Councilperson Larry Deutsch, proposed that the Council take a vote of no confidence in Corporation Counsel John Rose due to recent involvement of the Corporation Counsel’s office in election contests, losses of Freedom of Information (FOI) appeals, and unnecessary expenses for taxpayers. The Council postponed action on this item. The second resolution, introduced by Councilman Ken Kennedy, resolved that the Council go into executive session to discuss the role of Corporation Counsel. That resolution was withdrawn. (Items #28 and 29)

ACTION ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

  1. Lead Poisoning Prevention. Approval to accept $47,071 from the State Department of Public Health to continue childhood lead poisoning prevention efforts. Passed
  2. McKinney Shelter. Approval to accept $64,811 from FEMA for operating costs of the City’s McKinney Emergency Shelter. (also see #4) Passed
  3. One City, One Plan. Submittal of draft Ten-Year Plan of Conservation and Development to Council for comment prior to action by the Planning & Zoning Commission. Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee
  4. McKinney Shelter. Approval to accept $472,670 from the CT Department of Social Services for operating costs of the McKinney Emergency Shelter. (also see #2) Passed
  5. Sale of Properties. Authorization to sell 32 City-owned properties at auction in April. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget and Housing Committees and Public Hearing
  6. Sigourney Mews. Authorization for the City to extend and renegotiate the terms of the lease of 198 Collins Street to Sigourney Mews Associates. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee, Planning & Zoning Commission, and Public Hearing
  7. City’s Interest in Seymour Street. Ordinance releasing the City’s interest in the discontinued portion of Seymour Street between Jefferson Street and Retreat Avenue. Passed
  8. Graffiti. Amendments to the Code regarding a variety of offenses to remove the penalty of a jail sentence and delete certain specifications for the type of community service that individuals arrested for graffiti are subject to. (Also see #19) Postponed
  9. St. Martin’s Outreach. Allocation of $10,000 to St. Martin’s Outreach Certified Nursing Assistant Program. Postponed
  10. Exceptional Service Increments. Requirement that increments for exceptional service of more than $3,500 be approved by the Council and that a quarterly report of all increments be provided to the Council by the Administration. Postponed
  11. Appointment. Appointment of Justin A. Zartman to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Passed
  12. Appointment. Appointment of Shonya Harrison to the Commission on Disability Issues. Passed
  13. Appointment. Reappointment of Richard Twilley to the Hartford Parking Authority. Passed
  14. Appointment. Appointment of Barbara A. Payne to the Permanent Commission on the Status of Hartford Women. Passed
  15. Appointment. Appointment of Christopher Tillotson to the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues. Passed
  16. Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission. Proposal to specify that the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission shall include representatives of the Friends of Parks groups. Postponed
  17. Commission on Cultural Affairs. Proposed requirement that, if the Commission on Cultural Affairs does not have a quorum, the City Council shall consult with the Parks & Recreation Commission on any new improvements in public parks. Postponed
  18. Asylum Hill. Approval of amended NRZ Strategic Plan for Asylum Hill NRZ. Referred to Planning & Economic Development and Housing Committees, Planning & Zoning Commission, and Public Hearing
  19. Graffiti. Proposed ordinance to require removal of graffiti by the person who applies it or the owner of the property on which graffiti has been applied and imposition of $100 per day fines for failure to remove the graffiti. (also see #8) Referred to Quality of Life Committee and Public Hearing
  20. Commercial Vehicles in Parks. Amendment to ordinance that allows only commercial vehicles on City business to drive into the parks (previously only Parks & Recreation vehicles were allowed to do so) and to allow bicycles throughout the parks. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee and Public Hearing
  21. Reappointment. Reappointment of Marianne Landry to the Human Relations Commission. Postponed
  22. Appointments. Appointment of Stanford Walker and reappointment of Mary Rickel Pelletier to the Parks & Recreation Commission. Postponed
  23. Forster Heights Park. Allocation of $1,000 to the Friends and Families of Forster Heights Park. Passed
  24. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closures for the 39th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Hartford on March 13, 2010. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  25. Tree Removals. Request for Public Works to notify Council’s Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee 30 days in advance of removal of any tree on City property. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
  26. FOI. Resolution urging the Mayor to not authorize any appeals to Freedom of Information decisions without Council approval and that fines levied on employees be paid by the employee, not by City government. Postponed
  27. Lawsuit. Request to the Mayor to settle Moffitt vs. City of Hartford promptly and not incur additional legal expenses. Failed
  28. No Confidence. Resolution that the City Council takes a vote of no confidence in Corporation Counsel John Rose. Postponed
  29. Executive Session. Request for an Executive Session to discuss the role of Corporation Counsel. Withdrawn
  30. Youth Soccer. Allocation of $1,000 to the Greater Hartford Jaycees Youth Soccer Program. Passed
  31. Cricket Fields. Request to the Administration to make the Keney Park cricket fields ready for play within 90 days by replacing pipes and repairing damaged areas. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee

If you have any questions about the agenda, please call Richard Frieder at the Hartford Public Library, 695-6365, or Linda Bayer at Hartford 2000, 547-1663 X21. The Council Preview/Review is a joint project of Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library.

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