Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, September 8, 2003

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

There were 81 items on the agenda: 11 were added during the meeting. The next Council meeting will be Monday, September 22, at 8 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers.

Homeownership Counseling Funds — The Council passed a resolution allocating $150,000 from the Homeownership Initiative – Housing Counseling Pool to Hartford Areas Rally Together ($75,000) and the Urban League of Greater Hartford ($75,000) for their homeownership counseling and education programs. The Homeownership Initiative – Housing Counseling Pool is composed of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from previous Council allocations.

Community Development Block Grant Funds for Neighborhoods of Hartford, Inc. — The Council will passed a resolution allocating $1 million to Neighborhoods of Hartford, Inc. The funds were previously allocated from Program Year 28 and 29 Community Development Block Grant funds. Neighborhoods of Hartford is a non-profit established to manage the activities associated with the City’s homeownership initiative.

Bushnell Park Overlook Project — The Council passed a resolution allocating $100,000 from the Hartford Parks Trust Fund to the Bushnell Park Overlook Project. The purpose of the Overlook Project is to build an overlook on the capital lawn which would include a Puerto Rican Family Monument and an ice rink. The Bushnell Park Foundation will receive the funds and oversee the project.

Funding for Rental Units in Northeast Neighborhood — The Council referred to the Housing Committee and to the Operations, Management, and Labor Committee a resolution that would allocate $500,000 in HOME Program funds to The Community Builders, Inc., towards the acquisition and renovation of 100 rental housing units in 10 buildings in the Northeast neighborhood. The buildings to be renovated are at 150-160 Earle Street, 170-180 Earle Street, 188-190 Earle Street, 182-188 Westland Street, 47-57 Winchester Street, 226 Martin Street, 139-141 Martin Street, 131-141 Naugatuck Street, 201-219 Clark Street, and 270-272 Barbour Street. The total development cost of the project is nearly $8.3 million. During the public hearing a representative from the Northeast NRZ expressed concern with the lack of movement on the part of The Community Builders in the project.

Feasibility Study for Hispanic Senior Center — The Council passed a resolution directing the City Manager to identify $5,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help fund a feasibility study for the Hispanic Senior Center. The resolution also directs HHS to work with the Hispanic Senior Center to evaluate the appropriateness of a building on John Street that has been offered by the Community Renewal Team as a possible location for the Center, which is currently located at 95 Park Street.

Substance Abuse Initiative — The Council referred to the Operations, Budget, and Management Committee and to the Health and Human Services Committee a resolution asking the City Manager to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to, within 90 days, complete a programmatic and financial feasibility study to develop an Office of Substance Abuse Prevention in the city of Hartford. It is anticipated that, if established, this office could effectively organize substance abuse prevention campaigns and advocate for increased accessibility to substance abuse treatment programs for Hartford residents. During the public hearing that preceded the meeting, several residents spoke in favor of creating the office.

Local Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP) Projects — The Council passed two proposed ordinances concerning appropriations in the Capital Improvement Fund for nine LoCIP projects totaling $2,850,000. The projects include: Relocation of Police Training Academy and Traffic Division to 525 Main Street ($300,000), Police Headquarters Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Improvements ($300,000), Department of Public Works Maps and Record Storage Facility ($100,000), Automated Fuel Control and Accounting System for Vehicle Fueling Station ($150,000), Truck Wash Facility ($500,000), Sand/Salt Storage Building ($325,000), Replacement of Roof at Vehicle Maintenance Building ($550,000), City Bridges Conditions Study ($125,000), and Street Resurfacing and Repairs ($500,000).

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.