|
Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 47 items on the regular agenda; eleven were added
on the supplemental agenda and one was walked in at the Council meeting. All of the Council members were
present. The next Public Hearing is on
Monday October 18. The next Council
meeting will be October 11.
Hartford Schools
State Board of Trustees -- On the Recommendation of Mayor Peter’s and
Council members Stewart, O’Connell, McGarry, Airey-Wilson, and Watkins, the
Council passed a resolution which calls for an extension of the tenure of the
State Board of Trustees of the Hartford Public Schools. In 1997 the state dissolved the elected
Hartford Board of Education and replaced it with the State Board of
Trustees. According to the resolution,
the State Board has improved Hartford schools’ operating systems and
implemented “policies intended to increase student achievement.” The resolution recommends that the tenure
of the State Board be extended to June 30, 2002. All of the Council members voted in favor of the measure except
for Council member Caro.
Financial Disclosure
– On the recommendation of the Mayor, the Council passed an ordinance amending
the disclosure requirements for Hartford officials. The proposed ordinance
extends 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 ordinance also
requires appointees to a position requiring a statement of financial interest
to file a statement for the calendar year preceding their appointment.
Al Fresco Ordinance -- The Council passed an ordinance which
allows neighborhood businesses to create temporary outdoor structures in order
to create open air or al fresco
venues for dining and sales. Under the
ordinance, businesses can erect these temporary outdoor extensions up to their
property line between May 1 and October 31 each year. At a Public Hearing prior to the last Council meeting 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.
Hartford Grand List
– The Council referred to the Operations, Management, Budget, Education, and
Labor Committee 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 passed Council members McGarry’s resolution requesting that City
Manager Kee Borges determine the feasibility of contracting with Huck River
Adventures to operate The Lost Park River Tour. Park River flows under Bushnell Park.
Bushnell Park Pond
– The Council consented 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 for the work. Both the original $250,000 and this appropriation of $224,000 will come
from the Hartford Parks Trust Fund.
People of Color --
The Council tabled a resolution which would change the language of city
documents. The resolution would remove
the term "minority" from city documents and replace it with
"People of Color." According
to the resolution, "minority" implies inferiority and majority
implies superiority. A communication
from the Health and Human Services Committee argued that the change should not
be made because the term “minority” is required in certain documents required
by the federal government.
Burnt Hill – The
Council referred to the Planning, Economic Development, and Zoning Committee
and to a Public Hearing on October 18 a resolution authorizing the City Manager
to execute an agreement settling a lawsuit filed in regard to a deed
restriction on a parcel of property attached to property the city owns in
Farmington. The lot adjoining the
city’s property, known as Burnt Hill, has deed restrictions which prohibit development
of the lot. In the proposed settlement,
the city would receive $1,000 and a 26’ easement and in return the adjoining
parcel would be granted a release of the restriction to build.
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. |
