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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 87 items on the regular agenda: eleven were added
on the supplemental agenda. Council member O’Connell was absent. The next Public Hearing is on Monday,
September 20. The next Council meeting is September 27.
Living Wage Ordinance
– The Council withdrew an old version of the living wage ordinance and
referred a newer version to Public
Hearing, September 20. The
ordinance would establish a living wage for all service workers "employed
for work performed in execution of service contracts with the City of
Hartford." Under the withdrawn
ordinance, only those projects which cost in excess of $25,000 would have been required to pay the
“living wage.” Under the new ordinance only those projects which cost in excess
of $100,000 would be required to pay the wage.
The Council also passed a resolution affirming that it
“recognizes the need for a living wage ordinance in the City of Hartford.” The six democrats voted in favor of the
resolution: Council members McGarry and Airey-Wilson abstained.
Al Fresco Ordinance -- The Council began with a public hearing
on an ordinance which would allow neighborhood businesses to create temporary
outdoor structures in order to create open air or al fresco venues for dining and sales. A representative of the Farmington Avenue Merchants Association
(FAMA) spoke in favor of the ordinance; three residents spoke against it. The FAMA member said the business community
was wholeheartedly in favor of the ordinance. Those who opposed it argued that the ordinance was poorly written and
would allow inappropriate structures. Under the ordinance, businesses could erect temporary outdoor extensions
up to their property line between May 1 and October 31 each year.
Rodent Control –
On the recommendation of Mayor Peters and the entire Council, the Council
passed an ordinance directing the City Manager to implement the Rodent Control
Integrated Management Program. The
Program calls for “coordinated inspection, baiting and clean up of all
residential and commercial properties in the city, a public education and
awareness campaign and the implementation of semi-automatic trash removal for
all residential one to six family properties.
First and Last –
The Council passed on consent a resolution allowing the sale of the vacant lot
at 754 Maple to First and Last Tavern for $50,000. The new owner plans to manufacture baked goods, pasta, and sauces
for sale and distribution.
Hartford Grand List
– The Council postponed action on Council member O’Connell’s recommendation
that the new Grand List be made available for release on October 1. The Grand List, a list of all of the city’s
taxable property, is normally published in late November. Under O’Connell’s
resolution the list would be made public before the November election so that
voters can “be better informed of their possible future taxes.”
Park River Tours –
The Council referred to the Parks and Recreation Committee a resolution
requesting that City Manager Kee Borges determine the feasibility of
contracting with Huck River Adventures to operate The Lost Park River
Tour. The Park River flows under
Bushnell Park.
Affirmative Action
Plan -- The Council referred to the Health and Human services committee 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.
Park Pools – The
Council passed two resolutions affecting the city’s swimming pools. The first authorized the City Manger to
identify funds to erect a pre-engineered cover for the Goodwin Park pool. The second resolution directed the City
Manger to engage a contractor to recommending appropriate action to fix the
pool at Pope Park.
The Gathering Place
– The Council referred to the Operations, Management, Budget, Education, and
Labor committee, a resolution reprogramming $26,000 in Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) funds to The Gathering Place. The Gathering Place, in conjunction with the Knox Park
Foundation, is proposing to create a youth training and employment
program. The program, the Urban Greens
Project, will grow vegetables year round in greenhouses for downtown
restaurants.
Sigourney Park –
The Council passed on consent a resolution transferring funds from the Rocky
Ridge Rehabilitation project to the Sigourney Square Park Improvements
project. The funds will go to pay for
additional sidewalk replacement and to make up for an underestimation of
quantities needed for the completion of the Sigourney project.
Community Court –
The Council passed on consent a resolution allowing the City Manager to use
U.S. Department of Justice Comprehensive Community Funds to contract with the
Paul and Lisa Foundation for technical assistance. The Paul and Lisa foundation will aid Community Court personnel
develop an intervention and prevention strategy for prostitutes.
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. |
