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Council Preview
Hartford City Council Meeting

Wednesday, October 27, 2008

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

The Council meeting will begin at 7 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers. The next Council Meeting will be Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 7 PM (change of date due to Veterans Day holiday) and will be preceded by a public comment period at 6:30 PM. The next public hearing will be Monday, November 17, 2008 at 7 PM.

There are 45 items on the agenda. Below is detailed information about items of special interest to neighborhoods. Following those details is a listing of all agenda items, in layperson's language. The complete official agenda for the Council meeting is available online by clicking on "Council Agendas" at the following web site: http://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Agendas/archive.htm  

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Previously Submitted Items:

The following items were previously on the Council Agenda and were included in the Council Preview/Review. They were referred to committees and/or public hearing or action was postponed by the Council. They are now on the agenda again for action.

Barriers to City Employment – The Council will consider a resolution directing the City's Human Resources Department to review the City's civil services processes to determine what barriers to City employment may exist for individuals with criminal records. The resolution also requires that such barriers be eliminated and that a report of the review process be submitted to the Council within 90 days. The Council's Labor & Workforce Development Committee considered the item, but did not have a quorum at its meeting and, therefore, did not take a position. (Item #24)

New Agenda Items

Director of Development Services. The Council will vote on a resolution appointing David B. Panagore as Director of Development Services. Mr. Panagore most recently was the Chief Development Officer for the Massachusetts Finance Control Board and has served in key positions in the San Jose Redevelopment Agency and the Boston Redevelopment Authority. (Item #1)

Surveillance and Communications Equipment for Schools – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Mayor to accept a grant from the COPS 2008 Secure our Schools (SOS) grant program in the amount of $40,966 from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The funding will be used to purchase state-of-the-art surveillance and communications equipment for eleven high-risk Hartford public schools. The schools selected all have high truancy, suspension, and detention rates. (Item #2)

Grant to Hire Additional Police Officers – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the Mayor to accept the COPS 2008 Universal Hiring Program (UHP) Grant in the amount of $225,000 from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The funding will be used to hire three additional police officers this fiscal year. The grant covers up to 75% of the officers' salary and fringe benefits for a three-year period. The officers will enhance the Hartford Police Department's community policing initiatives. (Item #3)

Delinquency Prevention Grant – The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing the acceptance of $297,371 over three years from the Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The funding will support the Hartford Street Smart to Business Smart Entrepreneurship Grant Program. (Item #5)

Commission on Cultural Affairs - The Council will consider an ordinance to revitalize the Commission on Cultural Affairs. Among the changes are an increase in the number of members of the Commission from 20 to 22 and further definition of the groups that must be represented on the Commission. The ordinance also calls for the Commission to develop and submit to the Council an arts policy by January 1, 2010 and every five years thereafter. The Director of Cultural Affairs will staff the Commission. (Item #36)

Charter Revision Commission – The Council will vote on a resolution calling the first meeting of the newly empanelled Charter Revision Commission for Thursday, November 6, 2008, at 6:00pm. A number of tasks will be performed at the first meeting, among them the selection of a Chairperson. (Item #44)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Appointment. Appointment of David B. Panagore as the Director of Development Services.
2. COPS Grant. Approval to accept $40,966 from the US Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to purchase surveillance and communications for 11 public schools.
3. Cops Grant. Approval to accept $225,000 from US Dept. of Justice COPS to hire 3 additional police officers for the next three years. Grant pays 75% of salaries and fringe benefits.
4. Pension Calculations. Authorization to allow seven City employees to add previous periods of employment with the City to their current period of employment for purposes of pension calculation.
5. Delinquency Prevention Grant. Approval to accept $297,371 from the Dept. of Justice to be used for the "Street Smart to Business Smart" program for delinquent youth. The City will contract with community for operation of the program.
6. Parkville Business Association. Report by the Operations, Management & Budget (OMB) Committee recommending that the Council identify and allocate an unspecified amount of funds for staff and operating expenses of the Parkville Business Association.
7. Bulkeley School. Report from OMB Committee on a proposed appropriation of $790,000 for construction of student bathrooms at Bulkeley High School and approval of issuance of $190,000 to pay for the City's share of the costs. The Committee tabled the item pending submission of additional information. (also see item #29)
8. Two Schools. Report from the OMB Committee on a proposed appropriation of $92.5 million for construction/renovations of the Journalism and New Media High School ($40 million) and the International Baccalaureate School ($58 million) and approval of issuance of $31 million in bonds to pay for the City's share of the cost. The Committee tabled the item pending submission of additional information. (also see item # 30)
9. Transfer Center. Report by the OMB Committee recommending approval of a proposed appropriation of $1.1 million for construction and renovation of the bulky waste drop-off station at the Hartford Landfill into the Hartford Bulky Waste and Recycling Transfer Center. (Also see item #31)
10. Procurement. Report by the OMB Committee indicating they received amendments to the procurement section of the Municipal Code and are making no recommendation at this time. (Also see item #32)
11. Basketball League. Request that the City provide $3,500 to the Juan Castillo Latin-American Basketball League for youth. The OMB Committee considered the item but made no recommendation.
12. Soccer. Approval to identify $7,500 for the Martin Luther King Junior Soccer League. The OMB Committee considered the item but made no recommendation.
13. Cemeteries. Request to the Mayor to identify $100,000 for the purpose of addressing the deterioration of Hartford's five public cemeteries through fencing, signage, and landscaping. The OMB Committee considered, but tabled this item.
14. West End Community Center. Request to the Mayor to identify $35,000 to be granted to the West End Community Center for repairs and renovations to its building. The OMB Committee recommends that the Center apply for CDBG funds.
15. Fee Waiver. Request for a fee waiver for the Columbus Day Parade and celebration to be held on October 10-12, 2008. The OMB Committee recommends approval.
16. Sheff Movement. Request for $5,000 to match funds provided by various foundations and organizations to carry out activities and strategies that support full implementation of Sheff v. O'Neill decisions. The OMB Committee recommends approval.
17. Soccer. Approval of a $7,500 grant for the Hartford Jaycee's Soccer Program. The OMB Committee recommends approval.
18. Blue Hills Civic Association. Approval of a $10,000 grant to the Blue Hills Civic Association for a homeownership counseling program. The OMB Committee recommends approval.
19. Minority Contracting. Request that the Mayor identify up to $80,000 for workforce empowerment efforts by the Minority Contract Council. The OMB Committee recommends approval.
20. HOPE. Request that the Mayor identify up to $5,000 for outreach activities of Hartford Organizing for Power & Equality (HOPE). The OMB Committee recommends approval.
21. Ebony Horsewomen. Request that the Mayor identify up to $10,000 for the Ebony Horsewomen for youth programming. The OMB Committee considered the item but did not make a recommendation.
22. Hartford Preservation Alliance. A report from the OMB Committee recommends approval of an unspecified amount of funds to the Hartford Preservation Alliance.
23. Audit. Request to the Internal Audit Commission to perform audit of contractual processes and arrangements relating to health premiums paid by retirees. The Labor and Workforce Development Committee considered the item, but did not have a quorum at its meeting and, therefore, did not take a position.
24. Barriers to Hiring. Proposal to review the City's current civil service processes and eliminate any barriers that may prevent applicants with criminal records from securing employment with the City of Hartford. . The Labor and Workforce Development Committee considered the item, but did not have a quorum at its meeting and, therefore, did not take a position.
25. 18 Chapin Place. Approval to sell City-owned property at 18 Chapin Place to Mahadeo Ajodhi for $16,000 for construction of a house. The Housing Committee recommends approval.
26. Monument in Bushnell Park: Authorization to install monument to workers killed on the job.
27. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for a summer outing held by Liberty Christian Center on August 17, 2008.
28. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for "Community Street Fest" held by Liberty Christian Center on August 30, 2008.
29. Bulkeley School. Appropriation of $790,000 for construction of student bathrooms at Bulkeley High School and approval of issuance of $190,000 to pay for the City's share of the costs. (also see item #7)
30. Two Schools. Appropriation of $92.5 million for construction/renovations of the Journalism and New Media High School ($40 million) and the International Baccalaureate School ($58 million) and approval of issuance of $31 million in bonds to pay for the City's share of the cost. The Committee tabled the item pending submission of additional information. (also see item #8)
31. Transfer Center. Appropriation of $1.1 million for construction and renovation of the bulky waste drop-off station at the Hartford Landfill into the Hartford Bulky Waste and Recycling Transfer Center. (Also see item #9)
32. Procurement. Amendments to the procurement section of the Municipal Code. Not included in the agenda package. (Also see item #10)
33. Reappointment. Reappointment of Jeffrey A. Zyjeski to the Civilian Police Review Board.
34. Reappointment. Reappointment of Edwin Vargas, Jr. to the Planning & Zoning Commission.
35. FOI Appeals. Proposal to require City staff who have been fined for violation of the CT Freedom of Information Act to reimburse the City for the costs of appeal of those fines, if the fines are not reversed upon appeal.
36. Commission on Cultural Affairs. Proposal to increase the number of members of the Commission, further define what groups should be represented on the Commission, and require that the Commission develop an arts policy by January 1, 2010 and every five years thereafter.
37. Elected Officials' Disclosures. Proposal to require the Mayor, Treasurer, and Council members to advise the Ethics Commission if, during their term in City elected office, they have been sued by the State for recovery of public funds.
38. Appointment. Appointment of Toscha M. Pertillar to the Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
39. Appointment. Appointment of Kenneth B. Lerman to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
40. Council Rules. Proposed changes to the Council Rules that 1) would allow suspension of Council rules by a majority vote rather than unanimous consent, 2) would forbid the use of "placeholders" on the agenda, and 3) add a requirement that the Council President must approve the placement of any item on the agenda that was submitted after the Agenda Deadline.
41. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for the Hartford Metropolitan Area Youth Choir's "Youth Jam 2009" on May 9, 2009 in Bushnell Park"
42. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for St. Francis Hospital Foundation's "Walk in Memory of Kate Kuhn Woodbury MD" on May 6, 2008 in Elizabeth Park.
43. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for My People Clinical Service's "Pre-Thanksgiving" event on November 25, 2008 in the City Hall Atrium.
44. Charter Revision. Calling of the first meeting of the Charter Revision Commission on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 6 PM.
45. Living Wage. Acceptance of the recommendations of the Living Wage Task Force and referral to the corporation Counsel for drafting amendments to the Living Wage Ordinance by November 24, 2008.

If you have any questions about the agenda, please call Richard Frieder at the Hartford Public Library, 695-6365, or Linda Bayer at Hartford 2000, 509-3710. The Council Preview/Review is a joint project of Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library.