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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There are 35 items on the agenda. The Council meeting will begin at 8 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers. The next Council meeting will be on Monday, December 8 th at 8 P.M and will be preceded by an open agenda public hearing that will begin at 7:30 PM.
Civilian Police Review Board – The Council will vote on an ordinance that would change the structure of the Civilian Police Review Board. Some of the proposed changes to the board include an increase in the board size and a loss of voting power of the police representatives on the board.
At a public hearing in October several residents, members of the present Civilian Police Review Board, and one of the independent investigators associated with the Board spoke in favor of passage of the ordinance.
At its November 18 th meeting the Quality of Life and Public Safety committee recommended passage of the ordinance. At that meeting Eloy Toppin from the City's Office of Human Relations reported that cities with successful civilian police review systems help develop trust between the citizens and the police department. He reported that elements that build span review boards include complaints received by civilians, not police, power of subpoena vested in the board, and an appointed board with a team of paid, non-police affiliated investigators. (Item #25)
Public Health Response Coordinator - The Council will vote on a resolution authorizing City Manager Lee Erdmann and the Department of Health and Human Services to hire a Public Health Response Coordinator to develop comprehensive preparedness plans in response to the threat of bioterrorism. The City has received a grant from the Connecticut Department of Public Health to fund the position. (Item #4)
No Freeze Policy - The Council will vote on a resolution regarding the implementation of a No Freeze Policy during the upcoming winter season. The No Freeze Policy will seek to guarantee that no one will spend a night in subzero cold. The resolution asks the Capital Region Council of Governments to assist with the implementation of recommendations made by the Commission on Homelessness. It also asks for assistance in implementing the No Freeze Policy from the Governor, the Commissioners of Social Services, and Mental Health & Addiction Services. The resolution further directs the City Manager to seek collaboration from the Capitol Region Conference of Churches in mobilizing resources. The City Manager will also identify up to $100,000 to be contributed from the City to the Salvation Army to help pay expenses related to implementing its part of the No Freeze Policy. (Item #12)
Hiring Private Duty Police Officers - The Council will vote on a resolution directing the City Manager to run an 8-week test program with business districts that have expressed a desire to hire private-duty Hartford Police to increase public safety. The resolution states that the districts would pay one-half of the regular overtime police fee and that the Council would waive one-half of the fee. The Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee forwarded the resolution to the Council with a recommendation that it not be approved. (Item #22)
Policing Task Force – On the recommendation of Mayor Eddie Perez, the Council will vote on a resolution creating a taskforce of community stakeholders to advise the Chief of Police on various police policies including pursuit polices, use of force, and other policies of interest to the community. This item has been to the Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee that recommended passage. (Item #21)
If you have any questions about the agenda call Greg Vickers at CREN, 509-3701 or Richard Frieder at the Hartford Public Library, 695-6365. The Council Preview is a joint project of the Citizens' Research Education Network and the Hartford Public Library.
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