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Hartford City Council To Hold Confirmation Hearings For Board Of Education Slots

By Jeff Cohen

January 23, 2012

Last week, Mayor Pedro Segarra appointed himself and five others to city’s board of education, replacing five appointees of former Mayor Eddie A. Perez.

Today, Council President Shawn Wooden said he plans to hold confirmation hearings. The press release is below.

For Immediate Release

January 23, 2012

Contact: James R. Sargent, 860-471-2244

City Council announces new Board of Education appointment confirmation process that seeks public engagement

Hartford, CT – Council President Shawn T. Wooden announced today a confirmation process for Mayor Pedro E. Segarra’s appointments to the Hartford Board of Education. This thorough yet expedient confirmation process, unprecedented for the City of Hartford, is adapted from the Connecticut General Assembly’s process for confirming executive nominations to state boards and commissions.

“The public wants a local government that is more transparent and accountable. As Council President, I intend to work very hard to make that happen. Confirming the mayor’s appointments to the Board of Education is among the City Council’s most important duties, and we intend to do so in a way that is thorough, engages the public and accomplishes Mayor Segarra’s very legitimate goal of an expeditious confirmation process. We want to give the new Board of Education the opportunity to begin working together in advance of their first meeting on February 21st,” said Council President Wooden.

A confirmation hearing will be held on Thursday, January 26th at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber. Each appointee will have up to five minutes for an opening statement, and members of the Council will then have up to thirty minutes to ask questions of the appointees. The mayor, also an appointee to the Board of Education, will be granted additional time for his opening statement.

“My colleagues on the City Council and I look forward to hearing Mayor Segarra’s vision for Hartford’s schools, as well as that of the other appointees. We believe that a thorough confirmation process is in the best interest of the children of our city.”

Background information on the candidates will be made available on the city council’s website, along with an opportunity for residents to comment or suggest questions to be asked of the appointees. City residents are encouraged to participate in the process by attending the confirmation hearing and sharing their views with members of the City Council. Hartford Cable Access has also been asked to televise the confirmation hearing to further engage Hartford residents in the process.

Following the January 26th confirmation hearing, a special meeting of the City Council will be held on February 2nd at 7:00 P.M. for the purpose of voting on the appointments. Appointees will be considered individually by the Council.

“This is an exciting opportunity to – for the first time – have a confirmation hearing. Working alongside Mayor Segarra, his appointees to the Board of Education and the people of Hartford, we can give our city a more accountable city government and a selection process that ensures thorough screening and public participation. And, as Council President, I look forward to supporting the efforts of the Mayor, the Board of Education, teachers and parents in giving every Hartford kid the opportunity for an excellent education.”