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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 42 items on the regular agenda. All of the Council members were
present. The next public hearing is
June 19; the next Council meeting is June 12.
Charter Revision – The
Council passed two resolutions
concerning Charter Revision. The first, sponsored by Deputy Mayor Sanchez and
Council member Marotta, notifies the Charter Revision Commission that Council
members have “concerns and recommendations” with some of the changes
recommended by the Commission. The
concerns focus on several areas of the Commission’s report. They include, among other things; Council
composition and terms, geographic districting, Mayoral appointments, the
rationale for Special Police, and governance of the school system.
The second resolution, sponsored by Council member Watkins,
advises that the Council has “concern and recommendations” with the
Commission’s recommendations over four year council terms and residency
requirements for department heads and deputy mayors.
Council members are planning to meet with the Charter
Revision Commission. After that meeting
the Commission will submit its final recommendations and the Council will vote
on them.
Budget Adoption for fiscal year 00/01 - The Council voted final approval of the city’s
budget for fiscal year 00/01. The
budget is $423 million compared to an approved budget of $425 million for
fiscal year 99/00. The mill rate was
set at 47. The capital budget includes expenditures of $1.1 million from the
Hartford Parks Trust Fund. The Council
voted on amendments to the City Manager’s recommended budget on Wednesday, May
17.
Auction of City-owned
Property – On the recommendation of City Manger Kee Borges, the Council
voted to approve the auction of 83 city-owned properties. The properties will be sold on an as-is
basis.
Asthma
Prevention/Education – The Council referred to the Health and Human
Services Committee a resolution which would declare an asthma emergency in
Hartford and commit the city to implementation of a comprehensive asthma
policy. Among other things, the asthma
policy would create a multi-media education and outreach campaign, petition the
U.S. Center for Disease Control to conduct a study to determine why asthma
rates are high in Hartford, and reduce diesel emissions in Hartford by
requiring state-of-the-art-clean new buses and retrofitting old buses. According to the resolution, Connecticut
Children’s Medical Center’s “Easy Breathing” project has been testing for
asthma among youth. So far it has
tested 7,500 youth and found 41% asthma rate.
Mutual Housing
Renovation -- The Council consented a resolution which will authorize a HOME
Program loan of $1,149,728 to Mutual Housing Association of Greater Hartford.
Mutual Housing will use the funds to assist in the purchase and renovation of
12 properties on Park Terrace, Summit Street, and Hillside Avenue. The buildings presently contain 99 rental
units and will be reconfigured into 65 rental units. Most of the buildings to be renovated are “perfect sixes.”
Body Piercing
Revisited – On recommendation of Deputy Mayor Sanchez, the Council sent to
public hearing on June 19 and to the Health and Human Services Committee an
ordinance amending the recent action on body art statutes. The ordinance will
allow ear piercing procedures performed with a “mechanical device which
utilizes pre-sterilized earrings in a single-unit, single-use cartridge system
or is a disposable device.”
If you have any questions about the agenda Greg Vickers at CREN, 249‑1416. The Citizens' Research Education Network is a non‑profit information center for Hartford community‑based organizations. |
