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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 83 items on the regular agenda: eleven more were
added on the supplemental agenda. All
of the Council members were present. The next Public Hearing is on Monday August 16. The next Council meeting will be September
13.
Living Wage Ordinance
– After much discussion, the Council postponed action on an ordinance which
would establish a living wage for all service workers "employed for work
performed in execution of service contracts with the City of
Hartford." The Council voted to
send the ordinance to the Operations, Management, Budget, Education, and Labor
Committee for discussion.
City Charter Revision
– The Council passed a resolution creating a Charter Revision
Commission. The Commission, made up of
between 5 and 15 electors, will review the city’s present governance structure
and make recommendations for change. The Council has 30 days under the resolution to appoint a
Commission. The Commission will have a
budget of $30,000. This is same
resolution did not have sufficient votes for passage at the Council’s June 14
meeting.
Financial Disclosure
– The Council referred to Public Hearing August 16 and to the Operation,
Management, Budget, Education and Labor Committee an ordinance amending the
disclosure requirements for Hartford officials. The proposed ordinance would extend the requirement to file a
statement of financial interest to several department deputies and assistants,
to members of the Hartford Parking Authority and to Commissioners of the
Hartford Economic Development Commission. The proposed ordinance would also require appointees to a position
requiring a statement of financial interest to file a statement for the
calendar year preceding their appointment.
City Hiring Policy
– The Council withdrew a resolution which would have modified the city’s hiring policy. The resolution would have changed the city’s
policy of filing of vacant positions posted as “open competitive” to
individuals who are Hartford residents. The resolution would have rescinded two previous resolutions, which
encourage hiring of Hartford residents.
Affirmative Action
Plan -- The Council postponed action on a resolution establishing a new
Affirmative Action Plan for the city. The plan sets hiring goals and enforcement policies for city departments
for "minority" males and females and white females. The plan is intended to “remedy past
discrimination employment patterns.” The city's last plan was passed February 1995.
Library Appropriation
– The Council passed an appropriation ordinance for $4 million, which
authorizes an increase in the amount slated for renovations for the Hartford
Public Library’s central branch. The
original bond appropriation of $16 million was determined to be insufficient to
complete the work. Both the Commission
on the City Plan and the Planning, Economic Development, and Zoning Committee
recommended passage of the ordinance.
Bushnell Park Pond
– The Council sent to Public Hearing August 16 and to the Operations,
Management, Budget, Education, and Labor Committee, an ordinance appropriating
an additional $224,700 for the repair of the Bushnell Park Pond. Funds appropriated for the repair of the
pond by the Council in May of 1998 were insufficient to pay of the work. Both the original $250,000 and this
appropriation will come from the Hartford Parks Trust Fund.
Rehabilitation/Mothballing/Demolition
Funds -- The Council consented an ordinance appropriating $5,553,600 for
rehabilitation, demolition, and mothballing of vacant and blighted buildings.
The funds represent a portion of the $12 million available to the city by the
State Bond Commission. The Capital City
Economic Development Authority (CCEDA) approved the city’s request for the $5.5
million at its June 16 meeting. The
remainder of the $12 million will be used for rehabilitation of residential
buildings throughout the neighborhoods.
Urban Act Bond Funds
-- The Council also passed an ordinance appropriating $4 million for
revitalization initiatives proposed by the Neighborhood Revitalization
Zones. The $4 million is the first
installment of $12.2 million in Urban Act II funds which will be made available
in three installments.
If you have any questions about the agenda, call the Council at 522‑4888 or Greg Vickers at CREN, 249‑1416. The Citizens' Research Education Network is a non‑profit information center for Hartford community‑based organizations. |
