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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There
were 32 items on the agenda: two additional items were walked in during
the meeting.The next Council
meeting will be Monday, May 9, 2005 at 7
P.M. It will be preceded by an open
agenda public hearing that will begin at 6:30
P.M.
Public Hearing on Budget – The
Council set for public hearing the agenda for the annual public hearing on
the Mayor’s proposed City of Hartford Budget f or
2005 – 2006.The public
hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, 2005, in the Bulkeley High
School auditorium at 6 P.M.Members
of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Schools, and the City’s
Chief Operating Officer will be invited to sit on the stage with the Mayor
and Council.Sign-up sheets will
be available one hour in advance of the hearing and speakers will be limited
to 3 minutes.
Historic Preservation Ordinance – The
Council referred to the Housing Committee, to the Planning and Economic Development
Committee, and to public hearing Monday, May 16th a proposed historic
preservation ordinance.If passed, the ordinance will protect
approximately 4,000 historic properties in the City and require residents living
in historic homes to apply for a special permit when seeking to make changes
to the exterior of the home.The
ordinance would create an Historic Preservation Commission which would in turn
apply the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and
Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings to properties protected under
the ordinance.
Hartford Building Bridges Project/New Day
Program – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the Mayor to
accept and distribute $222,222.22 from the State of Connecticut to
operate the Hartford Building Bridges Project.The
Project is designed to aid men and women leaving the criminal justice system
and to help them continue their adjustment process as they reenter society.The State has designated S.A.N.D, Inc.
and the Connecticut Puerto Rican Forum as the agencies that will operate the
Hartford Building Bridges Project as the “New Day Program” in conjunction
with the City.
Compliance with Freedom of Information Act – The
Council passed a resolution stating that the City will make available to all
interested parties information prepared or assembled by City personnel in accordance
with the spirit of the provisions and requirements of the State Freedom of
Information Act.The resolution
also states that the City, consistent with the provisions of State law, will
make available documents relating to claims and complaints against any department
of the City, upon written request and subject to personal privacy concerns.
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
for the MetroHartford Region – The Council referred to the Planning
and Economic Development Committee a resolution authorizing the Mayor to allocate
$10,979 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) administrative funds to
participate with thirty plus other municipalities in the development of a Comprehensive
Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the MetroHartford Region.The
CEDS will analyze historical trends, examine existing industry clusters, identify
economic growth opportunities, and prioritize projects against established
economic goals for the region.
Funding for Housing Counseling and Education
Program – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the Mayor to
transfer $50,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the
Neighborhoods of Hartford, Inc. “Homeownership Initiative” program
to the Co-Opportunity Inc.’s Housing Counseling and Education Individual
Development Account (IDA) savings program.The
funds will be used for a down payment savings program that will assist low
and moderate-income individuals to purchase a primary residence in Hartford.The funds will also be used to match
an additional $50,000 in federal funds that will contribute two dollars for
every dollar saved by the client, which will be applied toward the purchase
of a home in 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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