Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, June 23, 2003

Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network, Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There are 78 items on the agenda. The Council meeting will begin at 8 P.M. The next Council meeting will be Monday, July 7^th at 8 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers.

Civic Pride Initiative – The Council will vote on a resolution recognizing the efforts of Hartford’s City departments to lead by example in encouraging public participation in the Civic Pride initiative. The Mayor and the Hartford Court of Common Council wish to express through this resolution their appreciation of all City departments for their demonstration of the City’s collective commitment to the campaign on Civic Pride. City departments have planned and/or implemented numerous events and projects for those who live, worship, and play in Hartford, such as Clean Sweep, Voter Registration and Education, Youth Entrepreneurship, Neighborhood Team Day, and Cultural Awareness Day. (Item #71)

City of Hartford Performance Measures – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Purchasing Agent to contract with The Abrahams Group to implement a performance management system within city departments for the period of July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004. The City has been working with the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council (CPEC) in an effort to develop performance measures, gather performance data regarding service issues that matter to citizens, and publicize the information in an easily understood format. (Item #22)

Affirmative Action Plan – The Council will vote on an ordinance to approve the City’s FY2003-04 Affirmative Action Plan. The plan recommends, among other things, recruitment of more African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native Americans for various job positions throughout the City. Additionally, females would be encouraged to apply for nontraditional jobs in fields such as technical and protective services. According to the plan, the City’s workforce on March 24, 2003 was composed of 62 percent minority and 27.5 percent female. (Item #59)

Dr. Joseph J. Bellizzi Middle School – The Council will vote on a resolution that will authorize the Court of Common Council and the City of Hartford to honor the distinguished Hartford citizen, Dr. Joseph J. Bellizzi, by renaming the South Middle School as the Dr. Joseph J. Bellizzi Middle School. Dr. Joseph J. Bellizzi served as a School Physician/Medical Director for the Hartford School System for thirty-three years, and initiated programs for school based immunizations, system-wide screening for sickle cell anemia and tuberculosis, school based physical examinations and medical coverage for various athletic events, and he was a leading figure in the establishment of school based clinics providing diagnostic and treatment services, making Hartford one of the first school systems in the country to provide such services. (Item #68)

Stowe Village Revitalization Project – The Council will vote on a resolution that will authorize the City Manager, Lee Erdmann, to program $800,000 in Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) repayment funds to the Hartford Housing Authority (HHA) for the construction of a new street in the final phase of Stowe Village. The Hartford Housing Authority is constructing approximately 30 single-family homes on sites that would be served by the new proposed street. The City’s contribution to the project will help complete the revitalization of Stowe Village, which will trigger additional development in the area, along with increased private investment and new job opportunities. The Housing Committee met on June 17, 2003 to hear a presentation from the Hartford Housing Authority concerning these matter. (Item #32)

Magnet School Projects – The Council will vote on three resolutions that will authorize the City Manager to designate the Hartford School Building Committee to oversee the projects, preparation of schematic drawings, and outline specifications for the creation and construction of the Pathways to Technology Interdistrict Magnet School and the University of Hartford High School of Science and Engineering Magnet School. The Council will also vote on a resolution that will authorize the City Manager to designate the Hartford School Building Committee, the Board of Education, and the Superintendent of Schools to construct and complete project and grant applications for the Greater Hartford Classical Magnet School. (Items #19, 20 & 21 respectively)

Hartford Municipal Employees Association Agreement – The Council will vote on three resolutions that will authorize the City Manager to execute a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the Hartford Municipal Employees Association (Union) and the City of Hartford. The three resolutions will provide significant saving to the City of approximately $1,180,900 total for the fiscal year 2003-04. New contract terms include an established 40 hour work week for Union employees, a modified health insurance plan that provides significant cost reductions, elimination of compensatory time for one additional vacation week, and a requirement for new employees to have age 55 retirement and 25 years for full benefit. (Items #11, 13, 14).

Community Policing Grant – The Council will vote on a resolution that will authorize the City Manager to submit an application and to sign contracts with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for an Enhancement of Community Policing grant for the period of October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2006. The Police Department has developed an innovative plan to use Capital Community College to offer criminal justice courses for Hartford residents interested in law enforcement careers. (Item #8)

Medical Reserve Corps – The Council will vote on a resolution that will authorize the City Manager to make, execute, and approve all contracts or amendments with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop a Medical Reserve Corps in the period of October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2004. The average grant is expected to be $50,000 with no local matching funds required. This grant can also provide, at no local expense, the staffing to set up community-based citizen volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units. (Item #5)

If you have any questions about the agenda call Greg Vickers at CREN, 249-1416 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.