Council Review
Hartford City Council Meeting

Monday, December 14, 2009

Prepared by:
Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library

There were 31 items on the original agenda. No additional items were submitted during the meeting. A special Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 5:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers in Hartford City Hall. The next public hearing will be Monday, December 21, 2009 at 7 PM.

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 at: http://www.hartford.gov/government/Town&CityClerk/Minutes/council_meeting_minutes.htm

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Outsourcing of City Services – The Council tabled a resolution stating that the City administration should be restrained from continued outsourcing and privatization of City services and calling for City Council and union organizations to engage legal counsel to monitor and enforce this restraint. The resolution states that private organizations have been engaged by the City to perform services left unattended as a result of the reduction in City staff. (Item #9)

Pedal Cabs – The Council postponed consideration of an ordinance governing “pedal cabs”. The ordinance defines a pedal cab as “a multi-wheeled vehicle propelled by human power, capable of transporting passengers…and which is made available to the public as a mode of transportation”. The ordinance requires drivers to secure a license for $25 annually, requires owners to register their vehicles for $50 per year, and regulates equipment and operation for safety purposes. A public hearing was held on this matter on October 19. The Operations, Management & Budget Committee recommended postponement pending revisions to the ordinance and the Council has previously postponed consideration of the item. (Item #15)

Illegal Dumping – The Council postponed consideration of ordinance amendments which would make it illegal to dump solid waste in Hartford in any location not licensed for dumping. Fines, which were previously set at $100 per day, are proposed to be changed to $1,000 for a first offense and $5,000 for every subsequent offense. The amendments would also result in better signage in locations found to be significantly problematic for dumping. A public hearing was held on this matter on October 19 and the Council previously postponed action. (Item #16)

Council Officers – The Council appointed Council Members to four leadership positions within the Court of Common Council for a two-year term, from January 1, 2010 through January 1, 2012: Pedro E. Segarra as Council President, Luis E. Cotto as Minority Leader, rJo Winch as Majority Leader, and James M. Boucher as Assistant Majority Leader. (Item #18)

Winter Shelter – The Council referred, to its Operations, Management and Budget Committee, two resolutions which, together, would allocate $66,000 for the operation of a temporary shelter for homeless women and children during the winter months. The shelter would be operated by the Salvation Army at their Marshall House facility. (Item #23 and 24)

LIST OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS

Item #

1. Morgan Street Garage. Approval of technical amendments to the joint ownership agreement between the State of Connecticut and the City of Hartford for operation of the Morgan Street garage. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee and Public Hearing on December 21, 2009
2. Dial-a-Ride. Authorization to apply for and accept $136,668 in grant funds from the Greater Hartford Transit District for operation of the Dial-a-Ride transportation program. Passed
3. Health Grant. Approval to apply for and receive $191,237 from the State of Connecticut for health education and prevention programs. Passed
4. Executive Session. Request to go into executive session to discuss Cintron v. Vaughn. Executive Session
5. Health & Human Services. Report from the Council’s Health & Human Services Committee on discussions held on December 7th regarding the “no-freeze” shelter, H1N1 update, anti-blight efforts, the no-smoking ordinance and rent-up of 110 Asylum Street. Received
6. Education. Report from the Council’s Education Committee on discussions at a December 3rd meeting on State funding for Hartford’s magnet schools. Received
7. Public Works Staff. Report by the Public Works, Parks & Environment Committee on discussions held on November 24th with staff and union representatives of the Department of Public Works regarding the behavior of a manager and shortage of staff. Received
8. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees associates with “Sigourney Square Family Festival of Asylum Hill” sponsored by the Asylum Hill Congregational Church held in Sigourney Square Park on August 22, 2009. Passed
9. Outsourcing. Proposal to prevent the City from engaging private organizations to perform maintenance and other services traditionally performed by City employees. Tabled
10. Educational Grants. Resolution asking the Superintendent of Schools to participate with community and parent groups in seeking grant funds for after-school and other enrichment programs. Received
11. Alcohol. Permission to serve alcohol at the Keney Park Pond House at a birthday party on February 1, 2010. Passed
12. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees and street closings for the Hartford Marathon Foundation’s “Freedom Run to Benefit the CT National Guard” held on November 14, 2009. Passed
13. Fee Waiver. Waiver of fees for a sidewalk procession held by SS. Cyril and Methodius Church on October 11, 2009. Passed
14. Living Wage. Amendments to the City’s Living Wage ordinance, including increasing the definition of a living wage to 120% of the federal poverty level for a family of four plus health benefits and decreasing the amount of a contract that triggers the living wage ordinance from $50,000 to $20,000. Postponed
15. Pedal Cabs. Regulation of bicycle-type vehicles used as public transportation for up to three riders. Postponed
16. Dumping. Proposal to make it illegal to dump solid waste in Hartford in any unlicensed location and to increase fines from $100 per day to $1,000 for first offense and $5,000 for subsequent offenses. Postponed
17. City Treasurer. Resolution to give a pay increase to the City Treasurer effective January 1, 2010. Referred to Labor & Workforce Development Committee
18. Council Officers. Appointment of Pedro Segarra as Council President, Luis Cotto as Minority Leader, rJo Winch as Majority Leader, and James Boucher as Assistant Majority Leader each for a two year term January 1, 2010 through January 1, 2012. Passed
19. Meeting Cancellation. Cancellation of the December 28th Council meeting due to the holiday season. Passed
20. Allocation. Allocation of $2,000 to the Mutual Housing Leadership Academy. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
21. Allocation. Allocation of $1,000 to the Skateboarding Task Force. Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
22. State Funding. Resolution urging Hartford’s State Legislators to oppose proposed cuts to State funding for municipal aid and other services. Passed
23. Allocation. Allocation of $3,000 from Civic & Cultural account to Salvation Army-Marshall House for overflow shelter for the homeless. (also see #24) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
24. Allocation. Allocation of $63,000 from the Rainy Day Fund to Salvation Army-Marshall House for overflow shelter for the homeless. (also see #23) Referred to Operations, Management & Budget Committee
25. Committee Meetings. Resolution revising the Council Rules to schedule Legislative Affairs Committee meetings on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM and Planning & Economic Development Committee meetings on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM. Passed
26. Former Elected Officials. Resolution supporting the inclusion of former elected officials on Hartford task forces, boards, and commissions. Passed
27. Public Works Employees. Resolution supporting the men and women of Public Works and requesting review of DPW staffing levels prior to 2010-11 budget discussions. Referred to Labor & Workforce Development Committee
28. Health. Resolution encouraging State and Federal Government to address healthcare disparities between racial and ethnic minority groups and Caucasians. Passed
29. Allocation. Resolution correcting a resolution passed on October 26, 2009 in which $2,000 was allocated to the Handz-On Program and deleting allocations to ACORN, Friends of Keney Park, and Cultural Awareness & Youth Basketball. Passed
30. Allocation. Resolution correcting a resolution passed on July 13, 2009 in which $1,200 was allocated to the Greater Hartford Pro-Am. Passed
31. Allocation. Allocation of $1,000 to the Office of Youth Services. Passed

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, 547-1663 X21. The Council Preview/Review is a joint project of Hartford 2000 and the Hartford Public Library.