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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 39 items on the agenda: three additional items
were walked in during the meeting. The next Council meeting will be Monday,
March 28, 2005 at 7 P.M in Council Chambers. The next public hearing
will be Monday, March 21, at 7 P.M.
State of the City: Mayor Eddie Perez,
as required by charter, presented to the Council his “State of the City” address. He
highlighted progress in education, public safety, and homeownership. He
also discussed potential problems for the city as both the state and federal
governments raise the possibility that they will discontinue or reduce funding
for programs that help Hartford.
Public Hearing: During the public
portion a number of residents spoke in favor of both the Cintron process and
of a resolution on the agenda that called for a policy of openness on the part
of city government which was written by Cintron plaintiffs. The Cintron
Plaintiffs brought civil action against the city in 1973 to address problems
of racial tension on the Hartford Police force. The resulting Cintron
Consent Decree Order set standards for a range of police actions. The
speakers argued that significant racial issues remain with the Hartford police
force and that the Cintron process is still necessary.
Information for Residents: The council
withdrew a resolution which would have established as city policy that “the
City has no interests separate from the collective interests of its citizens
and that city departments will respond to requests for information quickly.” Specifically,
the resolution would mandate that claims or potential claims by or against
the city would be available upon request (subject to Constitutional protections.) This
resolution was drafted by the Cintron Plaintiffs who also brought civil action
against the city in 1973. The resulting Cintron Consent Decree Order
set standards for a range of police actions.
In discussion before the item was withdrawn, several council members expressed
the expectation that the item would return to the council docket after it had
been rewritten that they would then vote for it.
Violent Music: The Council passed
a resolution calling for local and national radio and television affiliates
to “demonstrate constructive leadership.” The resolution
requests that the media review music that promotes positive messages to youth,
discontinue playing music (and promoting artists) with messages that promote
violence, and convene a meeting of key communication leaders to consider a
one to two week cessation of music which promotes violence. The resolution
cites recent violence that impacts school-aged youth and music that promotes
acts of violence.
311 Call Center: The
Council postponed action on a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an
agreement with EMA, Inc., to provide services required for the implementation
of a 311 call center and integrated work management system and to create a
Technology Master Plan for the City of Hartford. The cost is not to exceed
$2,200,000. The goal of the 311 call center and the integrated work management
system is to improve the quality of service delivery, increase efficiency in
City government, hold departments accountable, and increase citizen access
to government.
Pope Park: The Council passed an ordinance
that authorizes a supplemental appropriation of $50,000 in the Hartford Parks
Trust Fund to implement the Master Plan for Pope Park. In addition to
the $50,000 to be appropriated by the proposed ordinance, $100,000 was previously
allocated and $400,000 will be funded by a grant from the State of Connecticut
Department of Environmental Protection. Total project costs are $550,000.
Youth and Police Working Together: The
Council passed a resolution authorizing the Mayor, through the Department of
Health and Human Services, to apply for and receive $10,000 from the Connecticut
Office of Policy and Management for Youth and Police Working Together programs
for the period July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006. These funds will be
used to support the activities of the Neighborhood Enforcement and Stabilization
Team (NEST), a North District community policing initiative.
HIV Prevention: The
Council passed a resolution allowing the Department of Health and Human Services
HIV Program to apply for refunding in the amount of $251,294, to begin July
1, 2005 and end June 30, 2008, to provide HIV prevention clinical services
to the residents of Hartford.
If you have any questions about the agenda call Greg Vickers at CREN, 509-3701 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.
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