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More Hennessy Bonus News

By Jeffrey B. Cohen

August 31, 2009

If Matt Ritter gets his way, folks like Matt Hennessy won't get bonuses from the city as they walk out the door.

Ritter -- who said he wasn't aware of the program last week but is crusading on it this week -- has circulated a resolution and a draft ordinance to his colleagues in order to review and revise the city's "Exceptional Service Increment" program. That's the same one by which Hennessy, the mayor's chief of staff, is getting an extra $11,450 just as he leaves the city's employ next month.

In the draft ordinance, Ritter wants to include language prohibiting such payments to people who leave the city within three months of their approval. (Bob MacDonnell/Hartford Courant)

"It doesn't make any sense to me to incentivize people who are not employed by the city anymore," Ritter said. "What are you incentivizing? To work harder somewhere else?"

Below are Ritter's resolution and draft ordinance, as well as the city's existing ESI guidelines.

Also, under "Related Links" are the forms, signed by Mayor Eddie A. Perez, authorizing Hennessy's $11,450 payment. Note that the two forms were received by the city's personnel department at 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 14 -- 22 minutes before Hennessy's resignation was announced to the city council.