Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, May 12, 2008

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

The Council meeting will begin at 7 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers. The meeting will be preceded, at 6:30 PM, by an open agenda public hearing. The next public hearing will be Monday, May 19, 2008 at 7 PM.

There are 34 items on the agenda.  Below is detailed information about items of special interest to neighborhoods. Following those details is a listing of all agenda items, in layperson’s language. The complete official agenda for the Council meeting available online by clicking on "Council Agendas" at the following web site: http://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Minutes/council_meeting_minutes.htm.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Previously Submitted Items:  The following items were previously on the Council Agenda and were included in the Council Preview/Review.   They were referred to committees and/or public hearing or action was postponed by the Council.  They are now on the agenda again for action.

CSS/CON NRZ Strategic Plan – On the agenda is an ordinance approving an amendment to the Strategic Plan for the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood prepared by the Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood (CSS/CON).  The item was referred previously to the Planning & Economic Development Committee and a public hearing on this ordinance is scheduled for Monday, April 21st at 7 PM.  (Item #13)

Anti-Blight Program – An amendment to the Anti-blight Ordinance is on the agenda.   The Mayor vetoed amendments adopted by the Council on March 24, 2008 and submitted a replacement.   The amendment was referred to the Council’s Planning & Economic Development and Housing Committees and set for a public hearing on April 21st.  Among the changes proposed is a determination that citations for violations are "in the best interests of the City", a change in the calculation of fines, additional requirements for s securing vacant buildings, additional reporting requirements by the Director of Licenses & Inspections, and authorization for City acquisition of certain vacant properties.   (Item #15)

New Agenda Items

Outside Counsel for City Council – The Council will vote on a proposed ordinance that, if approved, will result in the appropriation of no less than $75,000 to hire an attorney to advise the City Council on City matters when any two members of the Council request such assistance.  (Item #23)

Acquisition of Properties for Capital Prep School – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Mayor to take steps necessary to acquire properties adjacent to the current Barnard-Brown School at 1304 Main Street, the future site of the Capital Preparatory Magnet School.  The properties to be acquired are at 1302 Main Street and 2 and 10 Winthrop Street.  The present owner of these properties is the Hartford Redevelopment Agency.  (Item #25)

Mark Twain Library Branch – The Council will vote on a resolution related to acquiring property for a new Mark Twain Branch of the Hartford Public Library. The resolution authorizes the Mayor to enter into an option/purchase and sale agreement on the Tai Soo Kim property at 285 Farmington Avenue.  The City will pay the owner $5,000 per month for a three month option on the property, the purchase price of which is $500,000.  The Hartford Public Library, with the assistance of neighborhood groups and businesses, will raise the funds necessary for construction.   (Items #26 & #27)

Hartford Residency – The Council will consider a resolution to continue development of a $100,000 residency incentive fund pool for the 2008-09 fiscal year.  The resolution notes that a survey has determined that, currently, Hartford residents make up only 30% of the government and nonprofit workforce in the city.  (Item #31)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS
Item #

1. Emergency Food Distribution:  Resolution to enter into agreement with Hartford Parking Authority to use Morgan Street Garage and other parking structures for distribution of food and other disaster relief items to the public during an emergency.
2. Neighborhood Assistance Act:  Resolution authorizing submittal of list of nonprofit programs to State of Connecticut for funding through the State’s tax credit program.  Businesses contribute money to programs and receive 60% tax credit.
3. Employee Health Benefits:  Resolution to make changes to health benefits of non-union City employees (see #20 and 22 below).
4. Sale of Land:  Approval to sell substandard lot at 56 Chestnut Street to Matriarch Property Investors for open space for housing at 54 Chestnut.
5. Director of Development Services:  Approval for executive search services to hire new Director of Development Services (name of firm not indicated).
6. Appointment:  Appointment of Thea Montanez to Hartford Public Library Board of Directors.
7. Appointment:  Appointment of Janis L. Johnson to the Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
8. Appointment:  Appointment of Lt. Brenda Taylor to the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues.
9. Appointment:  Appointment of Nyesha McCauley to the Permanent Commission on the Status of Hartford Women.
10. Appointment:  Appointment of Debra St. Germain to the Commission on Disability Issues.
11. Grant to be Made:  Allocation of $15,327 to Immaculate Conception Shelter & Housing Corporation to operate a respite program for 20 frail homeless men from May 7 to June 30, 2008.  Health & Human Services Committee to submit report on floor of Council.
12. Fee Waiver:  Approval of fee waiver and permission to hold "Run for Kevin" event in Elizabeth Park.
13. CSS/CON NRZ Strategic Plan:  Ordinance approving an amendment to the Strategic Plan for the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood.
14. Government Standards:  Ordinance establishing a trust fund for post-employment non-pension benefits to retirees.
15. Anti-blight Ordinance:  Amendments to the anti-blight program following Mayor’s veto of previously adopted amendments.
16. Naming:  Resolution to name the baseball diamond at Keney-Waverly park for Elliot Bert and Lou Kelly.
17. School Construction Funding:  Proposal to rescind appropriation of $84 million for Lewis Fox School.
18. School Construction Funding:  Appropriation of $92.5 million for three school projects:  North East High School, Bellizzi Middle School, and Quirk Middle School.
19. Increase in Salary Ranges:  Proposal to increase salary ranges for non-union employees over three years:  1% at July 1, 2007, 1% at January 1, 008, 2% at July 1, 2008, and 1% at January 1, 2009.
20. Employee Benefits:  Authorization to increase co-pays for non-union employees’ health insurance.  (requires resolution and changes to two sections of Municipal Code.  See #3 above and 22 below)
21. Group Insurance:  Proposal that the Director of Human Relations and Labor Relations be responsible for City’s group insurance programs, rather than the Finance Director.
22. Employee Benefits:  Authorization to increase co-pays for non-union employees’ health insurance.  (requires resolution and changes to two sections of Municipal Code.  See #3 and 20 above)
23. Outside Attorney:  Proposal that the Council hire an outside attorney to provide them with legal advice, at a cost of no less than $75,000, under certain circumstances.
24. Lease:  Approval to lease space at 260 Constitution Plaza to Rebuilding Together Hartford for 5 years at $1.00 per year.
25. Land Acquisition:  Approval for the City to accept a quit–claim deed from the Redevelopment Agency for 1302 Main and 2–10 Winthrop Street.  Properties will be added to the site of Barnard Brown School which is being developed in the Capital Preparatory Magnet School.
26. Purchase of Land:  Authorization for the City to purchase 285 Farmington Avenue, for $500,000, for development of new Mark Twain Branch Library (also see #27 below).
27. Option to Purchase Land:  Authorization for City to enter into a 3–month option agreement to inspect land at 285 Farmington Avenue for possible purchase (also see #26 above).
28. Tax Collection:  Approval to amend contract with TaxServ Capital Services for collection of delinquent payments to the City.
29. Executive Session:  Approval for Council to enter into Executive Session to discuss Olga Figueroa v. Garth Perry, et al.
30. Grant to be Made:  Approval for a $15,000 grant to Hartford Organizing for Tomorrow (HOT) to partially fund continuation of development of strategies to provide sustained resources for community and human service providers in Hartford.
31. Residency Incentive Fund Pool:  Resolution to continue to develop a residency incentive fund pool to increase the number of Hartford residents employed by Hartford governmental and non-profit based organizations above the current 30%.
32. Fee Waiver:  Approval of fee waiver and street closures for group motorcycle ride held on April 29, 2007 to benefit the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
33. Fee Waiver:  Approval of fee waiver and street closures for group motorcycle ride to be held on May 18, 2008 to benefit the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
34. Memorial:  Approval to erect a granite memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King at the corner of Greenfield and Ridgefield Streets.

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, 509-3710.  The Council Preview/Review is a joint project of Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library.