Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, May 12, 2008

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 34 items on the original agenda. No additional items were submitted during the meeting. The meeting was recessed to Monday, May 19 th at Noon for consideration of the City's Budget. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Tuesday , May 27, 2008 at 7 P.M (change due to Memorial Day Holiday). in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall . The next public hearing will be Monday, May 19, 2008 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

CSS/CON NRZ Strategic Plan – The Council adopted 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). A public hearing on this ordinance was held on Monday, April 21 st . (Item #13)

Anti-Blight Program – This amendment to the Anti-blight Ordinance was tabled . The Mayor vetoed amendments adopted by the Council on March 24, 2008 and submitted a replacement. The amendment was previously referred to the Council's Planning & Economic Development and Housing Committees and a public hearing was held on April 21 st . 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)

Outside Counsel for City Council – The Council referred , to its Legislative Affairs Committee, 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. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on May 19 th at 7 PM. (Item #23)

Acquisition of Properties for Capital Prep School – The Council referred, to its Planning and Economic Development Committee, 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. A public hearing on the matter will be held on May 19 th at 7 PM. (Item #25)

Mark Twain Library Branch – The Council took action on one of two items related to acquiring property for a new Mark Twain Branch of the Hartford Public Library. The Council authorized the Mayor to enter into an option agreement and do inspections on the site at 285 Farmington Avenue . The resolution to purchase the property at a price of $500,000 was referred to the Council's Planning & Economic Development Committee. The Hartford Public Library, with the assistance of neighborhood groups and businesses, is expected to raise the funds necessary for construction of the new library. (Items #26 & #27)

Hartford Residency – The Council referred, to its Operations, Management and Budget Committee, 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)

ACTION ON 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. Passed
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. Passed
3. Employee Health Benefits: Resolution to make changes to health benefits of non-union City employees (see #20 and 22 below). Referred to Labor & Workforce Development Committee
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. Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee and Public Hearing on May 19, 2008
5. Director of Development Services: Approval for executive search services to hire new Director of Development Services (name of firm not indicated). Passed
6. Appointment: Appointment of Thea Montanez to Hartford Public Library Board of Directors. Passed
7. Appointment : Appointment of Janis L. Johnson to the Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Passed
8. Appointment : Appointment of Lt. Brenda Taylor to the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues. Passed
9. Appointment: Appointment of Nyesha McCauley to the Permanent Commission on the Status of Hartford Women. Passed
10. Appointment: Appointment of Debra St. Germain to the Commission on Disability Issues. Passed
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. Tabled
12. Fee Waiver : Approval of fee waiver and permission to hold "Run for Kevin" event in Elizabeth Park. Postponed
13. CSS/CON NRZ Strategic Plan – Ordinance approving an amendment to the Strategic Plan for the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood. Passed
14. Government Standards : Ordinance establishing a trust fund for post-employment non-pension benefits to retirees. Postponed
15. Anti-blight Ordinance: Amendments to the anti-blight program following Mayor's veto of previously adopted amendments Tabled
16. Naming: Resolution to name the baseball diamond at Keney-Waverly park for Elliot Bert and Lou Kelly. Postponed
17. School Construction Funding: Proposal to rescind appropriation of $84 million for Lewis Fox School . Referred to Operations, Management and Budget Committee and Public Hearing on May 19, 2008
18. School Construction Funding: Appropriation of $92.5 million for three school projects: North East High School , Bellizzi Middle School , and Quirk Middle School . Referred to Operations, Management and Budget Committee and Public Hearing on May 19, 2008
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, 2008, 2% at July 1, 2008, and 1% at January 1, 2009 . Referred to Labor and Workforce Development Committee and Public Hearing on May 19, 2008
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) Referred to Operations, Management and Budget Committee and Public Hearing on May 19, 2008
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. Referred to Labor and Workforce Development Committee and Public Hearing on May 19, 2008
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) Referred to Labor and Workforce Development Committee and Public Hearing on May 19, 2008
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. Referred to Legislative Affairs Committee and Public Hearing on May 19
24. Lease: Approval to lease space at 260 Constitution Plaza to Rebuilding Together Hartford for 5 years at $1.00 per year. Referred to Planning and Economic Development Committee and Public Hearing on May 19
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 . Referred to Planning and Economic Development Committee and Public Hearing on May 19
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). Referred to Planning and Economic Development Committee and Public Hearing on May 19
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). Passed.
28. Tax Collection: Approval to amend contract with TaxServ Capital Services for collection of delinquent motor vehicle taxes to the City. Referred to Operations, Management and Budget Committee
29. Executive Session: Approval for Council to enter into Executive Session to discuss Olga Figueroa v. Garth Perry, et al. Passed
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. Referred to Operations, Management and Budget Committee
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%. Referred to Operations, Management and Budget Committee
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 . Passed
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 . Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
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. Referred to Public Building Dedication Committee

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.