Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, May 11, 2009

Prepared by:
Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library

There were 39 items on the original agenda. Two additional items were submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. Please note that the meeting will be held on Tuesday because Monday is Memorial Day. The next public hearing will be Monday, May 18, 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

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant – The Council adopted a resolution authorizing the Mayor to accept and use $1,372,700 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funds will be used to implement energy efficiency and conservation measures such as a purchasing a compactor truck to expand the City's single stream recycling program, and performing lighting upgrades and energy audits. (Item #1)

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant – The Council approved a resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply for and accept an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $1,529,576. The grant is intended to assist the efforts of law enforcement agencies to prevent or reduce crime and violence. The Hartford Police Department will use these funds to offset and supplement the allocation of overtime to provide a greater police presence, cope with staff vacancies, conduct criminal investigations, and respond to hotspots of criminal activity. (Item #2)

Flood Control Improvements – The Council adopted an ordinance that allocates $5 million from the Capital Improvement Fund to finance flood control improvements. The project includes the following activities, among others: levee improvements; inspection and improvements to the Park River Conduit and Auxiliary Conduit; sediment removal; improvements to the North Meadows, South Meadows, Keney Lane, Bushnell, Armory and Pope Park Pump Station; and continuing analyses of the stability and functionality of the levee, the conduits and the pump stations. The OMB Committee recommended approval. (Items #5 and 26)

Ad Hoc Committee – The Council tabled a resolution stating that the City Council will appoint a three person ad-hoc committee composed of members of Council to work with the Mayor and City Unions to look for ways that Unions can assist the City in resolving the deficit and stabilizing its finances. This resolution was part of a series of ten resolutions addressing budget matters submitted in November 2008. Council has postponed action on this resolution several times. (Item #17)

Reduction in Salary for Highly Paid Managers – The Council postponed action on a resolution that City managers and executives with salaries above $80,000 accept progressively scaled salary reductions. The resolution states that City workers have been suffering losses of jobs and benefits and that, under these conditions, pay raises for government officials and highly-paid managers are not appropriate. The Council has postponed action on this item several times. (Item #18)

Campaign Finance Reform – The Council withdrew a proposed ordinance that would have prohibited political contributions to candidates for Hartford municipal office from contractors, prospective contractors, or principals of contractors. A public hearing on this matter was held on February 17, 2009. (Item #19)

Keith L. Carr, Sr., Corner – The Council postponed action on a resolution that will result in the naming of the corner of Main Street and Albany Avenue "Keith L. Carr, Sr., Corner." Keith Carr, who passed away on January 7, 2008, is remembered as a community legend whose advocacy and commitment had a great impact on the West Indian/American community. He worked with youth through the design of an after school tutorial program at the Martin Luther King School in Hartford, a citywide fine arts summer program and a youth cricket program. He was also one of the first to organize merchants along Albany Avenue. His vision for Albany Avenue and Main Street served as a catalyst for many of the development plans currently being pursued for the area. A public hearing was held on March 16. (Item #22)

Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the Mayor to submit a Substantial Amendment to the Consolidated Plan 2008 Action Plan for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City is eligible to receive $1,572,727 in HPRP funds. The purpose of the HPRP is to provide homelessness prevention assistance to those who would otherwise become homeless and to provide assistance to rapidly re-house the homeless. (Item #23)

Hiring Processes – The Council passed two ordinances that were prepared in response to a Council resolution asking that civil service processes be reviewed and recommendations made for changes that would eliminate barriers to job applicants with criminal records. The first ordinance prevents inquiry or action based on arrests or accusations that are not presently pending or did not result in conviction. It also restricts the circumstances under which criminal background checks may be conducted. The second ordinance applies similar requirements to City vendors. (Items #27 and #28)

Code of Ethics – The Council adopted amendments to the existing Code of Ethics ordinance. The amendments have to do with certain definitions, and with pension revocation in the event of convictions or pleas to criminal conduct, pension distribution pursuant to convictions or pleas to criminal conduct, and disclosure of financial records upon indictment or probable cause finding, arrest, or conviction of criminal conduct. A public hearing on this matter was held on Monday, November 17, 2008. The Council's Legislative Affairs Committee discussed the item but did not make a recommendation. (Item #29)

Hartford Business Improvement District – The Council adopted an ordinance re-authorizing the downtown Hartford Business Improvement District for five more years. (Item #30)

CDBG Funds – The Council referred, to its Operations, Management & Budget Committee, a resolution authorizing the City to submit to HUD an amendment of its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) action plan for the use of $1,028,157 in CDBG funds which will come to the City through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus funds). (Item #41)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Energy Grant. Authorization to apply for and accept $1,372,700 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds to expand single-stream recycling, complete the change to energy-efficient traffic signals, replace streetlights in downtown with energy efficient lights, and do other improvements. Passed
2. Justice Grant. Authorization to apply for and accept $1,529,576 in Justice Department funds for reduction of crime and violence. Passed
3. Appointments. Veto of Council's amendment of appointments of Jack Hale to Advisory Commission on the Environment and Michael Downes to the Zoning Board of Appeals. (also see 33 and 34) Received
4. Executive Session. Discussion of Murtha v. City of Hartford and Murtha v. Hartford Police Union. Executive Session
5. Flood Control. Positive recommendation by OMB Committee on ordinance appropriating $5.0 million to finance flood control improvements throughout Hartford (also see #26). Received
6. Auditors. Letter from OMB committee reporting that the Council interviewed the following audit firms - McGladrey & Pullen, Kostin, Ruffkess, Blum Shapiro, and UHY – and resolution recommending that McGladrey & Pullen be hired to conduct the City's annual audit. (also see #35) Passed
7. Block Parties. Resolution to authorize street closings, noise standards, and serving of alcohol at the Pour House Summer Block Party Series t0 be held on Allyn Street between Ann and Union on May 1, June 12, August 21, and September 18. Passed
8. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for Family Fun Day in Bushnell Day on April 18, 2009 sponsored by the Student Senate of Capital Community College. Passed
9. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the Gospel Festival and Fair to be held by LEVAS in Bushnell Park on September 12, 2009. Passed
10. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver and street closures for the Brazilian Day Parade and Festival, sponsored by the Brazilian Cultural Center on September 12, 2009 in Parkville. Passed
11. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for the Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care Voices of Healing March on March 5, 2009 in Frog Hollow. Withdrawn
12. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for the Good Friday Way of the Cross to be held on April 10, 2009 by Sacred Heart Church at Ely and Winthrop Streets. Withdrawn
13. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for the Hartford Metropolitan Area Youth Choir's "Youth Jam 2009" on May 9, 2009 in Bushnell Park. Passed
14. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for NAMIWalks for the Mind of America to be held in Bushnell Park on May 16, 2009. Passed
15. Appointment. Appointment of Carlos Hernandez-Chavez to the Commission on Cultural Affairs. Passed
16. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for Easter Egg Hunt in Goodwin Park held by the Friends of Goodwin Park on April 4, 2009. Withdrawn
17. Ad-Hoc Committee. Appointment of a 3-person committee of Council members to work with the Mayor and City unions to seek ways to reduce the City's deficit and stabilize its finances. Tabled
18. Reduction in Salary. Resolution calling for City managers and executives with salaries above $80,000 to accept reductions in their pay. Postponed
19. Campaign Finance Reform. Ordinance prohibiting contributions by contractors to candidates for City elected offices. Withdrawn
20. Collection Contracts. March report by OMB Committee on request for a report on fees paid to and profits made by agencies under contract with the City to collect overdue taxes. Postponed
21. Tobacco. Resolution prohibiting the use of tobacco products on the campus of the Hartford Municipal Building. Discharged by Health & Human Services Committee. Postponed
22. Keith Carr Corner. Resolution naming the corner of Main Street and Albany Avenue Keith L. Car, Sr. Corner. Postponed
23. Homelessness Prevention. Authorization for the City to accept $1,572,727 in HUD funds for homelessness prevention and re-housing of the homeless through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the "Stimulus Act"). Passed
24. Lease. Approval of lease to allow T&J Food Service to use kitchen facilities at North End Senior Center for private business use. Passed
25. Living Wage. Amendments to the City's Living Wage ordinance, including increasing the definition of a living wage to 120% of the federal poverty level for a family of four plus health benefits and decreasing the amount of a contract that triggers the living wage ordinance from $50,000 to $20,000. Referred to Labor & Workforce Development Committee
26. Flood Control. Ordinance appropriating $5.0 million to finance flood control improvements throughout Hartford. (also see #5) Passed
27. City Hiring. Ordinance amending the City's hiring processes and standards for criminal background checks to remove barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated job applicants. Passed
28. Vendor Hiring. Ordinance requiring City vendors to adhere to processes that eliminate barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated job applicants. Passed
29. Ethics. Ordinance amending the City's Ethics Ordinance to add a section on crime related to City office or employment and to extend provisions to anyone providing services to the City. Passed
30. Downtown Business improvement District. Reauthorization of the Hartford Business Improvement District for five more years. Passed
31. Library Events. Approval for the Hartford Public Library to serve alcohol at five events to be held on May 1, June 26, September 20, October 3, and October 15. Passed
32. Capital Improvements. Approval to allocate $1.6 million in State Local Capital Improvement funds for roof replacement on City buildings, street resurfacing and repairs, decorative light replacement, and installation of handicapped accessible curb ramps. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
33. Appointment. Appointment of Michael Downes to the Zoning Board of Appeals as an alternate member to replace Michael McGarry. (also see #3) Postponed
34. Appointment. Appointment of Jack Hale to the Advisory Commission on the Environment to fill a vacancy. (also see #3). Passed
35. Audit. Placeholder resolution to appoint firm to conduct the City's annual audit. (also see #6) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
36. DeLucco Park. Authorization to enter into an agreement with CVS and Boundless Playgrounds to renovate DeLucco Park. Passed
37. Bonds. Authorization to issue up to $20 million in refunding bonds to maximize savings or reduce debt service payment on City General Obligation Bonds. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
38. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver by My People Clinical Services for a Fathers Day Celebration to be held in Elizabeth Park on June 21, 2009. Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
39. Jessie Smith. Naming of the corner of Homestead Avenue and Sigourney Street "Jessie Smith Corner". Referred to Public Building Dedication Committee
40. Union Discussions. Request to Mayor and City Unions to begin good faith negotiations on possible concessions to address budget problems. Passed
41. CDBG. Authorization to submit amendment of CDBG Action Plan to HUD for use of $1.0 million in stimulus funds. Referred to Operations Management & Budget Committee and public hearing on May 18, 2009.

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.