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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 38 items on the agenda: one additional item
was walked in during the meeting. The next Council meeting will be
Monday, July 25th. All nine council members were in attendance.
For a copy of the agenda, visit www.hartford.gov.
Discussion and Business at
the meeting included:
Public Safety Committee: The Council voted against a resolution by
Councilman Kenneth H. Kennedy Jr. (D) requesting that the Police Department
and/or the Corporation Counsel provide to the Public Safety Committee for review,
various documents relating to the incident involving Kendall J. Williams which
resulted in a claim against the Hartford Police Department (HPD). The
resolution requested the following documents be provided: investigation files
of the incident involving Kendall J. Williams, excessive force complaint filed
by Kendall J. Williams, witness statements regarding the incident, updated
copy of HPD’s Code of Conduct, and corrective or disciplinary action
taken by the Police Department to address violent behavior. After some discussion,
the resolution was defeated, with Council members Elizabeth Horton Sheff (G)
and Robert L. Painter (R) stating that existing police department systems should
handle such issues, and if they do not, those systems should be examined. (Agenda
Item #30) Counciman Kennedy cast the only vote in favor, and Councilwomen Elizabeth
Horton Sheff (G) and rJo Winch (D) abstained.
Hartford Human Capital Development Fund: Councilwoman
Elizabeth Horton Sheff (G) had introduced a resolution to establish a Hartford
Human Capital Development Fund (HHCDF) and to draft an ordinance establishing
the Hartford Human Capital Development Board (HHCDB), which will work in conjunction
with the Department of Health and Human Safety to address voids in City programs
to advance the well being of its residents. The HHCDF would be created from
25% of the host benefits received each year from the Connecticut Resource Recovery
Agency (CRRA), which is required to give funds to Hartford and
other impacted communities to mitigate the presence of their facilities (the
Waste-to-Energy Facility, the Regional Recycling Center, and two landfills).
The estimated total host benefit for 2005-2006 is $5,071,710. (Item #29)
After some discussion the Council referred the matter to the Health and Human
Services and the Management and Budget Committees. (Agenda Item #29) Councilman President
Herman LaFontaine (D), Majority Leader John V. Bazzano, Councilman Calixto
Torres (D) and Councilwoman rJo Winch (D) voted against.
Approved on the consent calendar were the following
items:
Tower Street Sewage Overflows: Ordinance appropriating $4.8 million
for the City’s share of the cost of design and construction of renovations
and improvements to the City’s Tower Brook Conduit, to alleviate combined
sewage overflows in the Tower Avenue area. The ordinance authorizes the
issuance of $2.5 million in City bonds or notes to meet a portion of this appropriation. (Item
#18)
Annie Fisher Renovations: Ordinance
to appropriate $38,438,000 for additions and renovations to Annie Fisher Magnet
School and to authorize the sale of $3,850,000 in City bonds to meet the City’s
portion of that appropriation. The remaining costs (approximately 95%)
will be reimbursed by State grants. (Item #17)
Richard J. Kinsella Renovations: Ordinance to appropriate $36,815,000
for additions and renovations to Richard J. Kinsella School which will become
a magnet school for the arts. The ordinance also authorizes the issuance
of $3.7 million in City bonds to meet the City’s portion of that appropriation. The
remaining costs (approximately 95%) will be reimbursed by State grants. (Item
#20)
Summer Youth Employment: Resolution
to accept $10,000 from the Department of Children and Families to create a
six-week employment project for out-of-school Hartford youth through Hartford
Communities That Care (HCTC). Ten students have already been identified
by HCTC to participate. (Item #13) Councilman Jim Boucher (D) abstained
Youth Services Bureau Programs: Resolution
authorizing the Chief Operating Officer to apply for and receive $157,645 from
the Connecticut Department of Education to fund Hartford’s Youth Services
Bureau, which is housed within the Department of Human Services. The
resolution also authorizes the Chief Operating Officer to contract for services
with the Hispanic Health Council, Aspira of Connecticut, Connecticut Coalition
of Mutual Assistance Associations, Catholic Charities/Hartford Street Youth
Project, Family Life Education, Inc., and Blue Hills Civic Association. (Item
#9) Councilman Calixto Torres (D) abstained.
Senior Center Contractual Services: Resolution
authorizing the Mayor to enter into contracts with Parkville Senior Center,
Catholic Charities (Barry Square Senior Center, Southend Senior Center and
Hispanic Senior Center), SAND Corporation (Northend Senior Center), and The
Salvation Army (Salvation Army Senior Center) for the operation and management
of senior centers. The City has allocated approximately $482,000 for
this purpose for the period July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006. (Item
#10)
Among items referred to committee:
Project Safe Neighborhoods: Resolution to accept $50,000 in
grants from the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance,
for the nation-wide Project Safe Neighborhoods program. Project Safe
Neighborhoods is aimed at reducing gun crime by working with local programs
that target gun violence and providing them with necessary resources, as well
as heightening coordination between local, state and federal law enforcement
agencies, with a special emphasis on intelligence gathering, prosecution and
accountability. (Item #2) The resolution was referred to the Quality
of Life and Public Safety Committees.
If you have any questions about the agenda call Brenda Schack at CREN, 509-3702 Liz Dupont-Diehl 509-3701, 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. |
