Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, June 25, 2012

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 40 items on the original agenda. Three additional items were submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, July 9, 2012 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall, preceded at 6:00 by a public comment period. The next public hearing will be Monday, July 16, 2012 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

HUD Annual Action Plan – The Council adopted a resolution approving projects to be funded in 2012-13 with $6.8 million in grant funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). The City receives grants through four HUD programs: Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Solutions Grant, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, and Home Investment Partnerships. The funded projects include social services, programs for youth, job training, housing programs and projects, economic development activities, homeless shelters, and improvements to public facilities. (Segarra) (Item #14)

Neighborhood Assistance Act – The Council passed a resolution approving a list of 63 nonprofit organizations and programs for participation in the Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA), a State program through which businesses, that make contributions to approved programs, may receive State tax credits. To be eligible for NAA, programs must be approved by both the City and the CT Department of Revenue Services. (Segarra) (Item #16)

Weaver High School Renovations – The Council adopted both a resolution and an ordinance addressing the proposed renovation of Weaver High School. The resolution approved the renovation, assigned oversight of the project to the School Building Committee, and authorized the Board of Education to apply to the State Department of Education for a School Construction Grant in an amount equal to 80% of eligible project costs. The ordinance appropriated $100 million and authorizes the issuance of bonds to finance the project. The Board of Education approved the project on March 20, 2012. The Council's Education Committee recommended favorable action. (Segarra) (Item #19, 31, and 32)

Director of H&HS - The Council passed a resolution confirming the Mayor's appointment of Dr. Raul Pino as Director of Health & Human Services. Dr. Pino has been serving as acting Director for the past year. He holds both a Doctor of Medicine and a Master's Degree in Public Health. He was previously employed as an epidemiologist with the CT Department of Public Health and was chief of medical services in a 250 bed hospital in Cuba. (Segarra) (Item #30)

Appointment of Council Member – The Council referred, to its Committee of the Whole, a resolution appointing Joel Cruz to the Court of Common Council to complete the unexpired term of Councilman Luis Cotto who is resigning. The City Charter requires that the Council fill such a vacancy with a member of the same political party as his/her predecessor. Mr. Cruz is a member of the Working Families Party, as is Councilman Cotto. (Deutsch, Jennings) (Item #34)

Jobs and the MDC – The Council referred, to its Committee of the Whole, a resolution asking the Hartford Commissioners on the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) to introduce and support a series of measures related to the employment of residents of the MDC's eight member towns on the Clean Water Project and other water and sewer projects. Measures include setting aside jobs for residents, reporting on the results of a disparity study conducted by a consultant to the MDC, implementing recommendations contained in the report of that study, reporting by the MDC to the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities on minority hiring and contracting, and replacing the current system of appointing MDC Commissioners with election of Commissioners. (Deutsch) (Item #40)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. WIC Farmers' Market. Authorization for the City to accept $3,400 from the CT Department of Agriculture as reimbursement for the City's administration of the WIC Farmers' Market nutrition program. (Segarra) Passed
2. Senior Center Funding. Approval to provide a grant of $77,377 to the Parkville Senior Center and $90,773 to the Hispanic Senior Center. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget, & Legislative Affairs and Health & Human Services Committees
3. Envisionfest. Permission for the iQuilt Partnership to serve alcohol in Bushnell Park as part of the Envisionfest event on September 27-29, 2012. (Segarra) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
4. Workers Comp Settlement. Proposed settlement of Workers Compensation claim by Christopher Little for $75,000. (Segarra) Passed
5. Mattress Recycling. Approval to contract with Recyc-Mattresses for recycling of mattresses and box springs collected within the city by the Department of Public Works. (Segarra) Referred to Public Works, Parks, & Environment Committee
6. McKinney Shelter. Authorization to enter into a contract with the Community Renewal Team for management and operation of the McKinney Emergency Shelter at a cost of $627,609 per year. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
7. Commission on Aging. Submission of the annual report of the Hartford Commission on Aging. (Segarra) Received
8. YSB Enhancement Grant. Approval to accept a grant of $10,000 from the CT Department of Education to be used for youth development and recreation services. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
9. YSB Grant. Approval to accept a grant of $160,804 from the CT Department of Education through the Youth Services Bureau program. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
10. Jefferson Street Air Rights. Approval of an air rights easement over Jefferson Street to enable Hartford Hospital to construct a skywalk between their employee parking garage and the hospital campus. (Segarra) Referred to Planning & Economic Development and Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committees
11. Imlay Street Easement. Approval of an easement along the west side of Imlay Street to allow the Aetna Life Insurance Company to install pedestrian lighting. (Segarra) Referred to Planning & Economic Development and Planning & Zoning Commission
12. CRCOG. Appointment of Alex Aponte and Thomas Deller to the Policy Board of the Capitol Region Council of Governments. (Segarra) Tabled
13. Weaver High School. Report by the OMBLA Committee supporting the appropriation of $100 million for the renovation and improvement of Weaver High School and authorization to issue general obligation bonds to fund the project. (Segarra) (also see #19, 31, and 32) Received
14. HUD Funds. Approval of the fiscal year 2012-13 plan for the use of $6.8 million in funds received by the City from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. (Segarra) Passed
15. Delinquent Taxes. Authorization for the Tax Collector to transfer delinquent motor vehicle taxes from 2003 to the "suspense book" as required by State statute. (Segarra) Passed
16. Neighborhood Assistance Act. Approval of a list of nonprofit programs as eligible to participate in the Neighborhood Assistance Act, through which businesses who make contributions to the programs may receive State tax credits. (Segarra) Passed
17. Locust Street Lease. Approval to extend the term of an existing lease for the use of space at 245 Locust Street by the Board of Education for the MD Fox Elementary and High Road special education program. (Segarra) Received
18. Windsor Avenue Lease. Approval to extend the term of an existing lease for the use of space at 184 Windsor Avenue by the Board of Education for the Pathways to Technology Magnet School. (Segarra) Received
19. Weaver Renovations. Report from the Education Committee supporting approval of the renovation of Weaver High School and authorization for the Board of Education to apply for a School Construction Grant, for the project, from the CT Department of Education. (Segarra) (see also #13, 31 and 32) Received
20. Homeland Security Grant. Approval for the City to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with CRCOG, the State of Connecticut, and the Regional Emergency Planning Team so that the City will be eligible to receive federal Homeland Security Grant funds. (Segarra) Passed
21. Emergency Management Grant. Authorization for the City to apply for a grant of approximately $62,400 from the State of Connecticut for emergency management activities. (Segarra) Passed
22. Keep Kids Safe Grant. Authorization for the City to apply for a grant of $45,000 from the CT Office of Policy & Management to initiate a program to educate parents about keeping children safe in cars and provide them with car seats. (Segarra) Passed
23. COPS Grant (PROSPER). Approval for the City to apply for a $50,000 Justice Department grant to support a Police Department program called PROSPER which works to reduce recidivism among ex-offenders. (Segarra) Passed
24. COPS Grant (Shooting Task Force). Authorization for the City to apply for $368,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Justice to pay overtime costs of police officers working on the Shooting Task Force. (Segarra) Passed
25. Officer Safety & Wellness. Approval for the City to apply for up to $200,000 from the federal Justice Department to create informational tools to prevent police officer suicide. (Segarra) Passed
26. JAG Grant. Authorization for the City to apply for a $44,900 Justice Assistance Grant from the State of Connecticut to be used for "hot spot" enforcement by the Police Department during the summer months. (Segarra) Passed
27. Project Safe Neighborhoods. Approval for the City to accept a $25,000 grant from the Connecticut Office of the U.S. Attorney to be used to reduce gun violence through the Shooting Task Force. (Segarra) Passed
28. Section 8 Contract. Authorization for the City to enter into a 5-year contract with Imagineers LLC for operation of the City's Section 8 program. (Segarra) Passed
29. Blighted Housing Special Assessment. Report from the Quality of Life, Public Safety, & Housing Committee tabling consideration of an ordinance establishing a special assessment on blighted housing in the city which will result in owners of blighted housing being liable for an additional tax. (Segarra) Received
30. H&HS Director. Confirmation of the Mayor's appointment of Dr. Raul Pino as Director of Health & Human Services. (Segarra) Passed
31. Weaver Renovations. Ordinance appropriating $100 million and authorizing the issuance of bonds for the renovation of Weaver High School. (Segarra) (see also #13, 19 and 32) Passed
32. Weaver Renovations. Approval of the renovation of Weaver High School and authorization for the Board of Education to apply for a School Construction Grant, for the project, from the CT Department of Education. (Segarra) (see also #13, 19 and 31) Passed
33. Pension Benefits. Ordinance providing an opportunity for police officers and fire fighters who are promoted to non-union positions to choose to change the pension program in which they are enrolled. (Kennedy) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
34. Council Appointment. Appointment of Joel Cruz, of the Working Families Party, as a member of the Court of Common Council to replace Luis E. Cotto effective August 17, 2012. (Deutsch, Jennings) Referred to Committee of the Whole
35. West Indian American Week. Designation of August 5 through August 11, 2012 as West Indian American Week. (Anderson) Passed
36. Trinidad & Tobago Week. Designation of August 26 through August 31, 2012 as Trinidad & Tobago Week in recognition of the 50th anniversary of their independence. (Anderson) Passed
37. Jamaica Week. Designation of July 29 through August 4, 2012 as Jamaica Week in recognition of the 50th anniversary of their independence. (Anderson) Passed
38. Recreation & Community Centers. Establishment of a policy that City recreation and community centers provide services for all ages with normal or extended hours during school vacations and the summer. (Deutsch) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
39. Services to the Homeless. Establishment of a policy that "overflow" shelter services continue to be provided and funded on a quarterly basis until other services have been made available. (Deutsch) Withdrawn
40. Jobs and the Clean Water Project. Resolution requesting that a series of actions be taken by the Metropolitan District Commission in order to increase the number of jobs, which are created as part of the MDC's Clean Water Project, that are filled by residents of the MDC member towns. (Deutsch) Referred to the Committee of the Whole
41. Electronic Certified Mail. Approval to enter into a contract with Pitney Bowes for two systems for electronic certified mail. (Segarra) Passed
42. Mail System Lease. Authorization to lease a mail processing system from Pitney Bowes. (Segarra) Passed
43. Grants. Allocation of $15,000 to the Spanish American Merchants Association, $4,000 to Hartford Communities That Care, $10,000 to the CT Coalition for Environmental Justice, and $5,000 to Organized Parents Make a Difference. (Wooden, Anderson, Aponte, DeJesus, Kennedy) Passed

If you have any questions about the agenda, please call Richard Frieder at the Hartford Public Library, 695-6365, or email Linda Bayer at lbayer@Hartford2000.org. The Council Preview/Review is a joint project of Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library.