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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 63 items on the agenda. The next Council meeting will be Monday, March 24th at
8 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers. The next public hearing will be March 17th at 8 P.M.
also in Council Chambers.
Hartford Municipal Employees Association Collective Bargaining
Agreement – The Council passed a resolution which approves the bargaining
agreement between the City of Hartford and the Municipal Employees
Association. The Agreement gives the
employees a wage increase retroactive to July 1, 2001 and a 2% increase
effective July 1, 2003. The employees
will be required to pay more of their health insurance benefits.
CDBG Grant Funds
– There were several items on the agenda allocating Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) monies from the city’s 2001-02 and 2002-03 funds. One – which would authorize the use of
$200,000 from the 2002-03 Hartford Revitalization Fund to implement the
recommendations of the Mayor’s Homeowner’s Task Force – was referred to the
Operations, Management, and Budget Committee.
A second resolution – authorizing the use of $125,000 from
the 2001-02 Hartford Revitalization Fund to Center City Church’s for support of
improvements to Peter’s Retreat –was passed. Peter’s Retreat is a supportive residence for people with AIDS.
Design Center –
The Council meeting was preceded by a public hearing on a resolution that would
instruct the City Manager to facilitate the implementation of a Hartford Design
Center. The Design Center would be
established as a non-profit organization and work with the “Rising Star”
Neighborhoods and “Pride Blocks” to implement the recommendations of the
Mayor’s Homeownership Task Force.
The Design Center would develop guidelines based on the
vision of Hartford’s built environment adopted by the City’s policy
makers. The primary partners in its
creation would be the City of Hartford and the University of Hartford. The yearly budget for the Design Center is
estimated to be around $500,000, though much of the cost will be received as
in-kind services.
Several residents spoke for and several against the
resolution. Those in favor argued,
among other things, that the Design Center would provide support for community
groups in neighborhood planning and would streamline the review process. Those against the Design Center argued that
it would be another strain on the city’s budget.
Sports Sciences
Academy Magnet High School - The Council passed an ordinance that
appropriates $67,648,775 in the Capital Improvement Fund to finance the
construction of the Sports Sciences Academy Magnet High School. The State of Connecticut will fund the
project.
Bioterrorism
Preparedness – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the Purchasing
Agent to enter into a contract with the Town of West Hartford to assist the
Hartford Health Department in developing the infrastructure needed to plan and
prepare for a bioterrorism event. The
Health and Human Services Committee recommended passage.
North Frog Hollow NRZ
– The Council passed an ordinance that would add the North Frog Hollow
Neighborhood Revitalization Zone to Article IX, Section 28-196 of the
Connecticut General statutes Section 7-600. The ordinance provides Council approval of the Strategic Plan for the
North Frog Hollow NRZ. The Planning,
Economic Development, and Zoning Committee and the Commission on the City Plan
had both recommended passage.
If you have any questions about the agenda call Greg Vickers at CREN, 249-1416 or Richard Frieder at the Hartford Public Library, 695-6365. The Council Preview is a joint project of the Citizens' Research Education Network and the Hartford Public Library. |
