Council Review/Revisión del Concejo
Hartford City Council Meeting/La Reunión del Concejo Municipal

Monday, September 9, 2013 /lunes, 9 de septiembre, 2013

Produced by Hartford 2000, Inc., the Hartford Public Library, and the Office of Councilman Joel Cruz, Jr.
Producida por Hartford 2000, Inc. en conjunto con la Biblioteca Pública de Hartford y la Oficina del Concejal Joel Cruz Jr.

There were 26 items on the original agenda. No items were added to the agenda during the meeting. The City’s official listing of actions taken on all items on this agenda can be found online at: http://www.hartford.gov/council-minutes.

The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, September 23, 2013 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Monday, September 16, 2013 at 7 PM in the Council Chambers.

Items of Special Interest / Articulos de Especial Interes

Microgrid – The Council referred, to its Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee, a resolution authorizing the City to accept two grants from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). A grant of $2.0 million will be used for construction of an electricity generation system on the site of Parkville School which will be used, in the event of a power outage, to provide electricity to the school, library, senior center, C-Town Supermarket and Shell gas station. A grant of $60,000 will reimburse the City for the costs associated with preparing the application for the $2.0 million grant. (Segarra) (Item #5)

Project Longevity – The Council referred, to its Quality of Life, Public Safety, & Housing Committee, a resolution accepting a $59,700 grant from the CT Office of Policy & Management to be used to fund a program coordinator to implement Project Longevity, a partnership between the Hartford Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The project is a comprehensive initiative designed to reduce gun violence using three approaches 1) the community as an anti-violence moral voice, 2) access to social support services to those who will accept them, and 3) swift and serious legal consequences for groups who engage in violent acts. Stakeholders who will be involved in the project include community members, law enforcement agencies, and social service providers. (Segarra) (Item #10)

Anti-Blight Program - The Council adopted an ordinance that amends provisions of the Anti-Blight Program. Changes include: 1) allowing a new owner of a blighted property to request a 30-day extension of time to remedy blighting conditions, 2) allowing the City to grant an exception to the special assessment imposed upon blighted property if rehabilitation is underway or ownership has recently changed, and 3) requiring re-approval of tax deferrals on rehabilitated properties if work is not completed within two years. The Council’s Quality of Life, Public Safety, and Housing Committee recommends approval. (Segarra) (Items #20 & 21)

Commission on Refugee and Immigrant Affairs – The Council referred, to its Health & Human Services Committee, an ordinance to create a Commission on Refugee and Immigrant Affairs. The ordinance was developed by a task force set up by the Hartford Public Library and supported by Council resolution. The Commission will be a means for immigrant and refugee voices to be heard, to facilitate civic engagement among refugees and immigrants, and to recognize and address issues of importance to new arrivals in Hartford from other countries. The Commission will have up to 21 members and will make recommendations concerning government policies and actions and the coordination and delivery of services. (Segarra) (Item #23)

Action on All Agenda Items / Decisiones sobre todos los artículos de la agenda

Item # / Articulo

1. Emergency Shelter Grant. Approval to accept $494,178 from the State of Connecticut for operation of the Stewart B. McKinney Shelter for homeless men. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
   
2. Ryan White Grant. Approval to accept $3,803,013 in Ryan White Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to provide services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
   
3. No Freeze Shelter. Authorization to enter into a $92,000 contract with Immaculate Conception Shelter & Housing Corporation for operation of a shelter program for homeless men during the winter months. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
   
4. North End Senior Center. One-year extension of a contract with the Blue Hills Civic Association to operate the North End Senior Center. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
   
5. Microgrid Grant. Approval to accept grants of $60,000 and $2,063,000 from the CT Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection for construction and installation of energy generation equipment to serve Parkville School and Senior Center, Dwight Library, C-Town Supermarket and Shell gas station during power outages. (Segarra) Referred to Public Works, Parks, & Environment Committee
   
6. Fund Transfers. Authorization to transfer fiscal year 2012-13 funds from unused balances in a number of departments to the Registrars of Voters Office to cover over-runs and to the Pension Fund in accordance with a previous agreement. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
   
7. Serving of Alcohol. Authorization for alcohol to be served at events held at the downtown branch of the Hartford Public Library. (Segarra) Referred to Public Works, Parks, & Environment Committee
   
8. Dial-a-Ride Grant. Approval to accept a grant of $137,239 from the Greater Hartford Transit District for operation of the City’s Dial-a-Ride program serving elderly and disabled individuals. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
   
9. Settlement. Request that the Council enter into Executive Session to discuss the settlement of the Palmieri v. Hartford case. (Segarra) No action taken
   
10. Project Longevity. Approval to accept a grant of $59,700 from the CT Office of Policy & Management for the implementation of Project Longevity, an anti-gun violence initiative. (Segarra) Referred to Quality of Life, Public Safety, & Housing Committee
    
11. Education Committee Report. Report of a meeting of August 19th at which a draft agreement between the City, Board of Education, Parkville Senior Center, and Parkville Community Association was discussed. Received
    
12. Tax Assessment Fixing Agreement. Authorization for the City to enter into an agreement with Country Realty Company (affiliated with New Country Motor Group) to fix, at a reduced value for seven years, the assessed value of property at 7H Weston Street which will be developed for a Mini Cooper dealership. (Segarra) Postponed to Sept. 23
    
13. Mounted Patrol. Approval for the Police Department to accept financial and other donations for support of the horse patrol. (Segarra) Passed
    
14. Verizon Lease. Approval of a lease with Verizon Wireless for use of space on the roof of the downtown branch of the Hartford Public Library for installation of cell phone communication equipment. (Segarra) Passed
    
15. Traffic Signals Improvement. Authorization to accept grants totaling $3,150,000 from the Capital Region Council of Governments for the replacement and upgrade of eight signalized intersections in downtown Hartford. (Segarra) Passed
    
16. GRG Appointment. Confirmation of the Mayor’s appointment of Barbara Ruhe to the Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. (Segarra) Passed
    
17. Disability Issues Reappointment. Confirmation of the Mayor’s reappointment of Kathy Marseglia to the Commission on Disability Issues. (Segarra) Passed
    
18. Library Events. Approval for the Hartford Symphony and Hartford Public Library to serve alcohol at four events at the downtown Library during September and October. (Segarra) Passed
    
19. Fire Prevention. Approval to accept a grant of $209,602 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the purchase and installation of smoke alarms and stove top fire suppressors in homes in Hartford. (Segarra) Passed
    
20. Report on Anti-Blight Program Amendments. Report from the Quality of Life, Public Safety, and Housing Committee recommending proposed changes to the Anti-Blight ordinance to comply with changes in State law and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program. (Segarra) (also see #21) Received
    
21. Anti-Blight Program Amendments. Changes to the Anti-Blight ordinance to comply with changes in State law and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program. (Segarra) (also see #20) Passed
    
22. Retirees. Changes to restrictions on re-employment of retirees in unclassified positions to require salaries to be reduced by the amount of the employees’ pensions. (Kennedy) Postponed indefinitely
    
23. Commission on Refugee & Immigrant Affairs. Proposed creation of a new commission to address issues of Hartford residents who are immigrants and refugees. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee and Public Hearing on Sept. 16
    
24. City Vehicles. Proposed restriction of 24-hour assignment of City vehicles solely to the Mayor, Police Chief, and Fire Chief. (Kennedy, McDonald, Deutsch, Cruz, Jennings) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee and Public Hearing on Sept. 16
    
25. Recreation Centers. Institution of a permitting process for use of City Recreation Centers by private instructors. (Aponte) Referred to Public Works, Parks, & Environment Committee
    
26. Use of Exercise Facility. Establishment of a policy to allow current and retired Firefighters and retired Police Officers to use the exercise facility at the Public Safety Complex. (Kennedy, Anderson, Jennings) Referred to Quality of Life, Public Safety, & Housing Committee

If you have any questions about the agenda, please email Linda Bayer at Htfd2000@aol.com or Fernando Marroquin at Marrf001@hartford.gov . The Bilingual Council Preview/Review is a joint project of Hartford 2000 and the Office of Councilman Joel Cruz, Jr.

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta acerca de la agenda, por favor envie un correo electronico a Linda Bayer, Htfd2000@aol.com o Fernando Marroquin, Marrf001@hartford.gov . La Agenda Bilingüe de las reuniones del Concejo Municipal es un proyecto de Hartford 2000 y la Oficina del Concejal Joel Cruz, Jr.