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Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Wednesday, November 12 , 2008

Prepared by:
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000

There were 41 items on the original agenda. One additional item was submitted during the meeting. The next regular Council meeting will be held on Monday, November 24, 2008 at 7 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall.

This Review consists of two sections: Items of Special Interest and Action on All Agenda Items. The City's official listing of actions taken on all items on this agenda can be found online athttp://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Agendas/archive.htm  

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

School Bus Emissions – The Council passed a resolution authorizing the City to spend $253,825 to install equipment on 30 public school buses that will bring them into compliance with 2007 emission standards for low sulfur diesel engines. The buses are owned by Logisticare Solutions which has a contract with the City (which runs through 2011) to transport special education and special needs students to and from school. The City will be reimbursed for the cost of these improvements by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. (Item #1)

No-Freeze Shelter – The Council passed a resolution which authorizes the City to enter into a contract with the Salvation Army to operate an emergency shelter during the period of December 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009. This service is intended to prevent homeless individuals who might otherwise stay outdoors from freezing to death during the coldest part of the year. The $92,000 necessary to operate the no-freeze shelter were included in the 2008-09 budget. (Item #2)

Public Comment – The Council referred, to its Legislative Affairs Committee, a resolution amending the Council Rules to extend the period of public comment held prior to the first Council meeting of the month from a half hour to one hour (6:30 – 7:30 PM) and, if one hour is insufficient to accommodate all those who wish to speak, that additional public comment be heard following the conclusion of the Council meeting. (Item #29)

Budget Resolutions – The Council postponed action, until November 24, 2008, on ten resolutions on budget matters submitted by Councilman Pedro Segarra, Chair of the Operations and Management & Budget Committee. A summary of the resolutions follows:

Item # 30: That there be an immediate cessation of violations of the Hartford Municipal Charter and/or Code as they relate to provisions requiring a balanced budget and providing reports to the City Council.

Item # 31: That the layoffs implemented by the Mayor be suspended until a clear plan that outlines a legal rationale is submitted to Council for approval. Council shall approve the layoffs.

Item # 32: That there be immediate compliance with all Committee of the Whole (City Council) non-financial resolutions related to budget years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 that are related to the City's budget and finances.

Item # 33: That sanctions be imposed on persons responsible for any intentional and/or willful violations of the Hartford Municipal Charter and Code, specifically related to a balanced budget and providing reports to the City Council.

Item # 34: That an immediate freeze be placed on all salary increases and promotions of City employees except as required by law or Charter.

Item # 35: That there be a freeze on all new equipment and vehicle purchases except as required by law.

Item # 36: That the Mayor implement an immediate hold on all Capital Improvement Projects that may result in an increase in the City's debt.

Item # 37: That subpoena power be granted to the Chair of the Operations, Management & Budget Committee to request financial information and to have access to all documents acquired from the City from external agencies and/or governmental branches by way of subpoena.

Item # 38: That the City Council appoint a three person ad-hoc committee composed of members of Council to work with the Mayor and the Unions to look for ways that Unions can assist the City in resolving the deficit and stabilizing its finances.

Item # 39: That the Mayor implement an immediate system-wide hiring freeze within the City of Hartford and that any and all hiring must be only upon approval by seven members of City Council (excluding hiring protected by the Hartford Municipal Charter and Code).

Item # 40: That a multi-year approach be developed to balancing the budget so as to protect the fund balance.

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. School Bus Retrofit. Approval to spend $253,824 to retrofit 30 school buses used to transport special needs students to make the emissions standards for low sulfur diesel powered engines. The City will be reimbursed by the State of Connecticut for all funds expended. Passed
2. No Freeze Shelter. Authorization to contract with the Salvation Army to provide nighttime shelter, between December 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, for homeless individuals who would otherwise be on the street. Passed
3. Friends of Parks Groups. Approval for the City to enter into standardized license agreements with Friends of Parks groups that maintain or otherwise take responsibility for certain parks and/or parks programs. (No specific groups are mentioned.) Referred to PW, P&E Committee
4. Husky Sports Program. Allocation of $13,035 as partial funding for the UConn Husky sports and mentoring program at Kelvin D. Anderson Center. Referred to PW, P&E Committee
5. Executive Session. Request to enter into Executive Session to discuss Hennigan v. City of Hartford. Executive Session
6. 2007-08 Budget Deficits. Letter from the Operations, Management & Budget Committee indicating that a detailed report will be presented at the Council meeting concerning budget deficits in last year's budget. Received
7. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for "Memory Walk" sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association on October 5, 2008. Passed
8. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for "Community Street Fest" held by Liberty Christian Center on August 30, 2008. (appears to be the same as #19) Passed
9. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for Rochambeau Day sponsored by the Governor's Foot Guard on September 20, 2008. Passed
10. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for Adventist Youth Program to be held at Elizabeth Park on September 13, 2008. Passed
11. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for "Veterans Salute" sponsored by the VFW on September 25-29, 2008 at Brainard Airport. Passed
12. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for the American Cancer Society's "Making Strides Against Cancer" event on October 5 in Bushnell Park. Passed
13. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for SS. Cyril & Methodius Church's sidewalk procession on October 5. Passed
14. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for The Hooker Day Parade, sponsored by the Hartford Business Improvement District on October 26. Withdrawn
15. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for the "Lord of Miracles Procession" being sponsored by the Brotherhood of Miracles of Peru on October 19. Passed
16. 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. Tabled
17. School-Community Partnerships: Report by Council's Education Committee tabling action on funding for the Partnership pending further Board of Education action. Received
18. Monument in Bushnell Park: Authorization to install monument to workers killed on the job. Postponed
19. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for "Community Street Fest" held by Liberty Christian Center on August 30, 2008. (appears to be the same as #8) Postponed
20. 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. Tabled
21. Procurement. Amendments to the procurement section of the Municipal Code. (Not included in the agenda package. Available in Town Clerk's Office.) (Also see item #10) Postponed
22. Appointment. Appointment of Toscha M. Pertillar to the Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Passed
23. Appointments. Appointment of Kenneth B. Lerman and Robert Luckritz to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Passed
24. Ordinance. Note: The intent of the item is not clear. The Council Agenda says this is an ordinance to amend Chapter X of the Charter. The title of the item says "First Quarter Supplemental Appropriations Ordinance". And the body of the document repeats the language of the Charter regarding transfers of appropriations from one classification or department to another. Referred to OMB Committee
25. First Quarter Report. Report not included in agenda package. Referred to OMB Committee. Public Hearing on December 15th.
26. Library's Audit Report. Resolution to take certain actions on report. Failed
27. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for "Body Shredders: Exercise in the Park" sponsored by the New England Carousel Museum and Bushnell Park Carousel held on October 25, 2008. Referred to PW,P&E Committee
28. Fee Waiver. Request for fee waiver for "Freedom Run to Benefit the CT National Guard" held on November 8, 2008. Referred to PW,P&E Committee
29. Public Comment at Council Meeting. Change to the Council Rules to schedule a public comment period from 6:30 to 7:30 PM before the first Council meeting of each month and additional time at the end of the Council meeting as needed to hear all public comment. Referred to Legislative Affairs Committee
30. Cessation of Charter/Code Violations. Resolution calling for an immediate cessation of violations of the Charter and/or Municipal Code related to requirements for a balanced budget and provision of monthly and quarterly reports to the Council. Postponed
31. City Layoffs. Resolution requiring that layoffs be suspended until Council receives and approves a legal rationale and approves layoffs. Postponed
32. Compliance. Resolution requiring that the City comply with all non-financial resolutions passed by Council relating to last year's and this year's budgets. Postponed
33. Sanctions. Resolution requiring that sanctions be imposed on anyone responsible for willful and/or intentional violations of the City Charter and Municipal Code requiring a balanced budget and monthly and quarterly reports to Council. Postponed
34. Pay Raises & Promotions. Resolution requiring that there be an immediate freeze on salary increases and promotions of City employees. Postponed
35. Purchasing Freeze. Resolution requiring that there be an immediate freeze on all equipment and vehicle purchases. Postponed
36. Capital Projects. Resolution requiring a hold on all Capital Improvement Projects that would increase the City's debt. Postponed
37. Subpoena Power. Resolution granting subpoena power to the Chair of the Council's Operations, Management & Budget Committee to request any and all financial information and to have access to other documents. Postponed
38. Ad-Hoc Committee. Appointment of a 3-person committee of councilmembers to work with the Mayor and City unions to seek ways to reduce the City's deficit and stabilize its finances. Postponed
39. Hiring Freeze. Implementation of a City hiring freeze with exceptions to be approved by 7 members of Council. Postponed
40. Fund Balance. Resolution requiring a multi-year approach to balancing the City's budget to protect the fund balance, i.e. emergency funds. Referred to OMB Committee
41. Hartford Knights. Allocation of $25,000 to the Hartford Knights after-school program at Simpson Waverly School. Referred to PW, P&E Committee
42. MD Fox Elementary School. Authorization to allocate $54.4 million and to issue $13.4 million in bonds for the renovation and improvement of MD Fox Elementary School. Referred to OMB Committee