Council Review/Revisión del Concejo
Hartford City Council Meeting/La Reunión del Concejo Municipal

Monday, March 25, 2013 /Lunes, 25 de marzo, 2013

Produced by Hartford 2000, Inc., the Hartford Public Library, and the Office of Councilman Joel Cruz, Jr.
Producida por Hartford 2000, Inc. en conjunto con la Biblioteca Pública de Hartford y la Oficina del Concejal Joel Cruz Jr.

There were 31 items on the original agenda. Four items were added to the agenda during the meeting. The City’s official listing of actions taken on all items on this agenda can be found online at:
http://www.hartford.gov/council-minutes.

En la agenda original habían 31artículos. Se agregaron 4 artículos a la agenda durante la reunión. Una lista oficial de decisiones sobre todos los artículos de la agenda, en ingles, puede ser vista por Internet en la dirección: http://www.hartford.gov/council-minutes.

The next Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Monday, April 15, 2013 at 7 PM in the Council Chambers.

La próxima reunión del Concejo será el lunes, 8 de abril a las 7 PM en la Cámara del Concejo en el edificio municipal. La próxima audiencia pública será el lunes 15 de abril, 2013 a las 7 PM en la Cámara del Concejo.

Items of Special Interest / Articulos de Especial Interes

Brownfield Grant – The Council referred, to its Planning & Economic Development Committee and to its Planning & Zoning Commission, a resolution that authorizes the City to accept a grant in the amount of $500,000 from the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development through its Municipal Brownfield Grant Program. The Upper Albany NRZ applied for these funds for the clean-up of environmental contaminants on three City-owned properties. The properties are a vacant lot at 111 Homestead Avenue and the former Philbrick Booth & Spencer factory at 367 and 393 Homestead Avenue. The City will accept and manage the funds and the clean-up project. (Segarra) (Item #4)

Land Sales – The Council referred, to its Planning & Economic Development Committee, the Planning & Zoning Commission, and Public Hearing on April 15, 2013, two resolutions that approve the sale of City-owned land. The Administration is proposing to sell the vacant lot at 83 Mather Street for $10,000 to Carmen Cervantes who will use the property to provide parking for her 6-family apartment building which is adjacent to the land at 83 Mather. The Administration also proposes to sell vacant land at 49-63 and 66 Chestnut Street to NAEK Construction who will construct five 2-family houses to be sold to owner-occupants. (Segarra) (Items # 3 and 5)

Library Café – The Council passed a resolution that authorizes the Hartford Public Library to enter into a three-year agreement with Billings Forge Community Works, Inc. Billings Forge will operate the Café at the downtown Branch of the Library and will also carry out a culinary job training program for Hartford residents. Billings Forge was selected to provide these services through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. (Segarra) (Item #20)

Immigration Task Force – The Council passed a resolution establishing a task force for the purpose of creating a City commission on immigrant issues. The Immigrant Advisory Group, under the auspices of the Hartford Public Library, has recommended the creation of a commission in order to legitimize and elevate in importance the issues of new arrivals, to create a means for immigrant voices to be heard and understood, and to provide a way for immigrants to become civically engaged. (Cruz) (Item #22)

Commission on Youth – The Council referred, to its Health & Human Services Committee, an amendment to an existing ordinance concerning the Commission on Youth. The purpose of the commission is to provide advice on youth issues and on programs that will benefit youth. The Commission has not been active for several years. The ordinance will set the membership at eleven voting members who will be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Council and five non-voting members who will be students in Hartford high schools and who will be appointed by the Board of Education. (Wooden, Cruz) (Item #30)

Action on All Agenda Items / Decisiones sobre todos los artículos de la agenda

Item # / Articulo

1. Violence Against Women Grant. Authorization for the Mayor to accept a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to provide victims of domestic Violence with protection and services. (Segarra) Referred to Quality of Life, Public Safety, & Housing Committee
2. Loan Write-Offs. Approval for the City to write off two uncollectible housing loans. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
3. Sale of 83 Mather Street. Approval for the City to sell a vacant lot at 83 Mather Street to Carmen Cervantes for $10,000. (Segarra) Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee, Planning & Zoning Commission, and Public Hearing on April 15
4. Brownfield Grant. Authorization for the City to accept a $500,000 grant from the CT Department of Economic & Community Development on behalf of the Upper Albany NRZ for the environmental clean-up of 111, 367, and 393 Homestead Avenue. (Segarra) Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee and Planning & Zoning Commission
5. Sale of 49-63 & 66 Chestnut Street. Approval for the City to sell three properties on Chestnut Street to NAEK Construction for $25,000 for development of five 2-family homes. (Segarra) Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee, Planning & Zoning Commission, and Public Hearing on April 15
6. Cancer Planning Grant. Authorization for the City to accept a grant of $28,549 from the CT Dept. of Public Health to continue comprehensive cancer planning and to contract with Hartford Hospital for implementation of a portion of the program. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
7. State Library Grant. Approval for the City to accept $9,500 in grant funds from the CT State Library for continued archiving of City records to make them accessible to the public. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
8. Crossing Guard Contract. Approval of a 4-year labor contract between the School Crossing Guard’s Association and the City of Hartford. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
9. Corporation Counsel. Confirmation of the Mayor’s appointment of Juan Figueroa as the City’s Corporation Counsel. (Segarra) Referred to Committee of the Whole
10. Chief Operating Officer. Confirmation of the Mayor’s appointment of Saundra Kee Borges as the City’s Chief Operating Officer. (Segarra) Referred to Committee of the Whole
11. Community Use of Schools. Report from the Council’s Education Committee on discussions held with the Hartford Public Schools about security changes needed to facilitate community use of schools after school hours. Received
12. Parkville Community Center. Report from the Council’s Education Committee on discussions held about the development of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Parkville Senior Center and Parkville Community Association and the Hartford Public Schools for use of the Parkville Community Center. Received
13. New Sports Fields. Report from the Council’s Education Committee on discussions held about the construction of two new multi-use sports fields in collaboration with the Cal Ripken Foundation. Received
14. Constable. Appointment of Radames Vasquez as a Constable. (Kennedy) Postponed
15. Hiring Freeze. Resolution requiring that no City positions be filled without Council approval and that no overtime be worked unless approved by Council. (Kennedy) Passed
16. ESI. Resolution banning the awarding of an Exceptional Service Increment to any City employee when a City employee has been laid off in the previous 18 months. (Kennedy) Postponed
17. ESI. Report from the Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee on an ordinance requiring that Council approve all Exceptional Service Increments given to City employees. (Kennedy) (also see #25) Passed
18. Residency. Request to the Mayor that he assure that all Directors and certain other employees comply with residency requirements of the Municipal Code. (Cruz) Passed
19. Constable. Appointment of Maly Rosado as Constable to replace Angel Arce. (Aponte, De Jesus) Postponed
20. Library Café. Authorization for the Library to contract with Billings Forge Community Works to operate a café and culinary job training program at the downtown Library. (Segarra) Passed
21. Commission on the Environment. Confirmation of the Mayor’s appointments of Abraham Scarr and Russell Williams to the Advisory Commission on the Environment. (Segarra) Passed
22. Immigration Task Force. Creation of a task force for the purpose of creating a commission on immigrant issues. (Cruz) Passed
23. Smart Policing Grant. Approval for the City to apply for and accept a grant of $602,092 from the U.S. Department of Justice to be used for the PROSPER program. (Segarra) Passed
24. JAG Innovations Grant. Approval to apply for and accept a $1.0 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for implementation of the Police Department’s South District Partnership. (Segarra) Passed
25. Council Approval of ESIs. Ordinance requiring that Council approve all Exceptional Service Increments given to City employees. (see also #17) Postponed
26. Executive Assistant. Appointment of Malisa J. Diaz as Executive Assistant to Councilman Raul De Jesus. (De Jesus) Postponed
27. 20 & 36 Wolcott Street. Approval to sell City-owned land at 20 and 36 Wolcott Street to Pope Park Zion LLC for $11,000 for construction of two 2-family homes. (Segarra) Passed
28. Council Staff. Ordinance stating that the administrative support for the Council shall consist of a chief of staff, five executive assistants, and a budget and policy analyst. (Wooden, Anderson, MacDonald) Postponed
29. Reallocation of Capital Funds. Ordinance appropriating $121,867 for renovation of the North Hartford Senior Center and $2,750,000 for the purpose of constructing two multi-use sports fields in partnership with the Cal Ripken Foundation. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee and Public Hearing on April 15
30. Commission on Youth. Creation of a Commission on Youth consisting of 11 voting members and 5 non-voting members who are high school students and are appointed by the Board of Education. (Wooden, Cruz) Referred to Health & Human Services and Public Hearing on April 15
31. Youth PROMISE. Resolution urging the U.S. Congress to pass the Youth PROMISE Act which would address youth violence. (Wooden) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
32. CHPEA Contract. Approval of a 4-year labor contract between the City of Hartford Professional Employees Association and the City of Hartford. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
33. Exceptional Service Increments. Ordinance restricting the granting of exceptional service pay increments to those contained in union contracts. Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee and Public Hearing on April 15
34. Charter Revision. Report and recommendations by the Charter Revision Commission. Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee and Public Hearing on April 15
35. Emergency Elections Plan. Approval of a emergency and contingency plan for elections. Failed

If you have any questions about the agenda, please email Linda Bayer at Htfd2000@aol.com or Fernando Marroquin at Marrf001@hartford.gov . The Bilingual Council Preview/Review is a joint project of Hartford 2000 and the Office of Councilman Joel Cruz, Jr.

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta acerca de la agenda, por favor envie un correo electronico a Linda Bayer, Htfd2000@aol.com o Fernando Marroquin, Marrf001@hartford.gov . La Agenda Bilingüe de las reuniones del Concejo Municipal es un proyecto de Hartford 2000 y la Oficina del Concejal Joel Cruz, Jr.