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

Tuesday, October 15, 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 38 items on the original agenda. No additional 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, October 28, 2013 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Monday, October 21, 2013 at 7 PM in the Council Chambers.

Items of Special Interest / Articulos de Especial Interes

Commission on Veterans Affairs – The Council received a report from the Veterans Task Force which gathered information on veterans in Hartford and identified the need for a Commission to advise the Mayor and Council on their needs. The Council referred to its Health & Human Services Committee and to public hearing on November 18th, an ordinance that would create a Commission on Veterans Affairs consisting of eleven members and two alternates who would serve terms of two years. The Commission will educate the community on veterans’ rights and needs, serve as a clearinghouse for information on the status of veterans in Hartford, and evaluate and recommend programs and services that will help veterans meet their basic needs, including housing, employment, and mental health assistance. (Cruz) (Items #19 and 36)

Commission on Refugee and Immigrant Affairs – The Council received a report from its Health & Human Services Committee recommending amendments to an ordinance creating a Commission on Refugee and Immigrant Affairs. The amendments included a requirement that a majority of commission members be Hartford residents. The amended ordinance was referred to public hearing on November 18th. 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. The Council’s Health & Human Services Committee recommends approval. (Segarra) (Items #28 and 33)

Brownfields Grants – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the City to accept three grants of $200,000 each from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Brownfields Clean-up Program. Brownfields are defined as abandoned or underused industrial or commercial sites where redevelopment is complicated by environmental contamination. The City applied for EPA funding for the clean-up of three sites which are located in or near areas that the City is working to redevelop. The funds will be used as follows: 1) to remove an underground oil tank and soil contaminated by petroleum at 40 Chapel Street, 2) to remove soil at 70 Edwards Street which is contaminated by semi-volatile organic compounds and metals, and 3) to remove soil at 393 Homestead Avenue which has been contaminated by volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, PCBs, and heavy metals. The Council’s Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee recommended approval. (Segarra) (Item #29)

Microgrid – The Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City to accept a grant of $2,123,000 from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) 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. The Council’s Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee discussed but did not make a recommendation on this matter. (Segarra) (Item #30)

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

Item # / Articulo

1. Pearl Street Project. Authorization for the City to sell 95-101 Pearl Street to 101-111 Pearl Street Properties and to enter into tax assessment fixing agreements for 95-101, 100, and 111 Pearl Street and the Trumbull on the Park garage. (Segarra) (also see #11) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee, Planning & Economic Development Committee, and Public Hearing on November 18.
   
2. 3 Constitution Plaza. Authorization of a $973,579 loan and a 15-year tax fixing agreement for construction of a new mixed use building on the former site of the Broadcast House. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
   
3. Capewell Townhomes. Approval to accept a $500,000 grant from the CT Department of Economic & Community Development for environmental remediation on the site of the old Capewell factory where townhomes will be constructed. (Segarra) Passed
   
4. Hartford Stage. Authorization to allow the Hartford Stage Company to defer payment of rent on 50 Church Street and to utilize cost savings to undertake capital improvements to the facility. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
   
5. Homeland Security Program. Approval for the City to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement to participate in the Capitol Region Emergency Planning Committee under the State’s homeland security strategy. (Segarra) Referred to Quality of Life, Public Safety, and Housing Committee
   
6. Composting. Authorization to enter into a 3-year contract with Green Cycle/Harvest New England for collection and composting of leaves, brush, and trees collected by the Department of Public Works. (Segarra) Referred to Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee
   
7. Capewell Factory. Approval to accept a $50,000 grant from the CT Trust for Historic Preservation to do preliminary studies and assessments of the former Capewell factory for development of housing units and retail space. (Segarra) Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee
   
8. Greenbaum. Briefing on the case of Greenbaum v. City of Hartford. (Segarra) Received
   
9. Palmieri. Settlement of Palmieri v. City of Hartford. (Segarra) Passed
   
10. Breaks in Service. Authorization to close breaks in service for three employees so that they may qualify for pension credit for all their years of City employment. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
    
11. Pearl Street Brownfield Grant. Approval to accept a $500,000 grant from the CT Department of Economic & Community Development for environmental assessment and remediation at 95-101 and 111 Pearl Street. (Segarra) (also see #1) Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee
    
12. Frog Hollow NRZ. Report by the Frog Hollow NRZ on the implementation of their NRZ strategic plan. (Segarra) Received
    
13. Anti-Blight Report. Report on all buildings being addressed through the Anti-Blight Ordinance during the period June 15 through September 13, 2013. (Segarra) Received
    
14. Commission Appointment. Request for confirmation of the Mayor’s appointment of Mary Painter to the Commission on Addiction & Public Health. (Segarra) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
    
15. Tax Liens. Authorization for American Tax Funding, LLC to assign delinquent tax liens to VMF TL1 LLC. (Segarra) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
    
16. Chabad Chevra. Briefing on the case of Chabad Chevra v. City of Hartford. (Segarra) Received
    
17. Easement Donation. Acceptance of an easement from The Hartford along Asylum Avenue for use as a public sidewalk. (Segarra) Referred to Planning & Economic Development Committee and Public Hearing on November 18
    
18. Asylum Street Intersections. Report by the Planning & Economic Development Committee on discussions held on the nature of the reconstruction of three intersections on Asylum Avenue at Union Place, High Street, and Trumbull Street. (Segarra) (also see #21) Received
    
19. Veterans Task Force. Report by the Veterans Task Force and a recommendation that a Veterans Affairs Commission be established. (Cruz) (also see #36) Received
    
20. Committee Report. Report by the Health & Human Services Committee on discussions on issues of homelessness held at a recent committee meeting. Received
    
21. Asylum Street Intersections. Approval for the City to accept a $3,150,000 grant from the Capital Region Council of Governments to reconstruct three intersections on Asylum Avenue at Union Place, High Street, and Trumbull Street. (Segarra) (also see #18) Passed
    
22. P&Z Appointment. Confirmation of the Mayor’s appointment of Sara Bronin to the Planning & Zoning Commission. (Segarra) Passed
    
23. 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) Passed
    
24. 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) Passed
    
25. 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) Passed
    
26. North End Senior Center. One-year extension of a contract with the Blue Hills Civic Association to operate the North End Senior Center. (Segarra) Passed
    
27. 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) Passed
    
28. Commission on Refugee & Immigrant Affairs. Report by the Health & Human Services Committee on the proposed creation of a new commission to address issues of Hartford residents who are immigrants and refugees. (Segarra) (also see #33) (also see #33) Received
    
29. Brownfield Grants. Authorization to accept three grants of $200,000 each from the EPA to remove environmental pollutants at 40 Chapel Street, 70 Edwards Street, and 393 Homestead Avenue. (Segarra) Passed
    
30. Microgrid Grant. Approval to accept a grant of $2,123,000 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) Passed
    
31. Serving of Alcohol. Authorization for alcohol to be served at events held at the downtown branch of the Hartford Public Library. (Segarra) Passed
    
32. 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) Passed
    
33. Commission on Refugee & Immigrant Affairs. Creation of a new commission to address issues of Hartford residents who are immigrants and refugees. (Segarra) (also see #28) Referred to Public Hearing on November 18
    
34. City Vehicles. Proposed restriction of 24-hour assignment of City vehicles solely to the Mayor, Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Director of Public Works and employees specified in collective bargaining agreements. (Kennedy, McDonald, Deutsch, Cruz, Jennings) Postponed
    
35. Internal Audit. Proposed ordinance authorizing the Internal Audit Commission to hire an outside lawyer. (Wooden) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee and Public Hearing on November 18
    
36. Commission on Veterans Affairs. Proposed ordinance creating a Commission on Veterans Affairs to be composed of eleven members. (Cruz) (also see #19) Referred to Health & Human Services Committee and Public Hearing on November 18
    
37. Appointment. Resolution to appoint Ted See as a member of the Internal Audit Commission. (Wooden) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs Committee
    
38. Deputy Corporation Counsel. Resolution requesting that the Deputy Corporation Counsel be removed from office. (Deutsch) Referred to Operations, Management, Budget & Legislative Affairs 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.