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Prepared by: Citizens’ Research Education Network,
Hartford Public Library, and Hartford 2000
There were 35 items on the agenda: four additional items were introduced at the meeting. The next Council meeting will be held on Monday, December 8 th at 8 PM and will be preceded by an open agenda public hearing that will begin at 7:30 PM.
Hilton Hotel – The Council passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Eddie Perez and City Manager Lee Erdmann to “defend the rights of the city” with relation to the proposed sale of the Hartford Hilton Hotel. MERISTAR SUB 8C is proposing to sell the hotel to the Procaccianti Group of Rhode Island. The Procaccianti Group intends to close the facility for 18 months, refurbish it, and reopen it as 4 star hotel . According to the resolution the Procaccianti Group has not provided the city with written assurances that it will reopen the facility as a hotel. The Hilton is presently the largest hotel and banquet facility in Hartford and employs 150 people, 80 of whom are city residents.
The City has various rights and options to purchase the hotel based on previous agreements. The present resolution suggests that the City could seek other developers as partners with whom the City could develop the hotel.
Civilian Police Review Board – The Council postponed action 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 its November 18 th meeting the Quality of Life and Public Safety committee recommended passage of the ordinance.
Public Health Response Coordinator – The Council passed on consent a resolution authorizing the City Manager 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.
No Freeze Policy – The Council passed a resolution regarding the implementation of a No Freeze Policy during the upcoming winter season. The No Freeze Policy seeks to guarantee that no one will spend a night outside 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 and 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.
Hiring Private Duty Police Officers – The Council voted down a resolution which would have directed 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. Under the resolution business districts would pay one-half of the regular overtime police fee and 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. Council members in favor of the resolution argued that it would increase public safety. Those opposed argued it would not be fair to create a less expensive program for other businesses that some businesses were already paying full price for private duty officers. Additionally they argued that costs to the city were unclear.
Policing Taskforce – On the recommendation of Mayor Eddie Perez, the Council passed 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 had been to the Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee which recommended passage.
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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