The City Council will conduct its final session of the legislative season on the eve of the general election Monday 7 p.m. in City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace. Agenda items include “Disposition of Property located at “The Davidson Block” in Downtown North and Authorizing a Tax Incentive Agreement in support of the Block’s Historic Renovation and Redevelopment as a Mixed-Use Residential, Retail and Commercial Complex.” Prior to the full council meeting, Ethan Book, Republican City Council candidate in the 131st District is scheduled to speak on “The Fall of Rome and several correction factors.” Fiscal watchdog John Marshall Lee is scheduled to address the council on “The City Council’s To-Do List.” The general election is Tuesday. A new City Council will be seated the first week of December.
Council agenda:
MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON (CONSENT CALENDAR):
*133-12 Public Safety and Transportation Committee Report re: Request that a Streetlight be Installed on Utility Pole #2231 located in front of 72 Orland Street.
*137-12 Public Safety and Transportation Committee Report re: Grant Submission: State of Connecticut Department of Transportation Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program.
*138-12 Public Safety and Transportation Committee Report re: Grant Submission: State of Connecticut Office of Policy & Management: Youth Services Prevention Grant Program.
*162- 12 Public Safety and Transportation Committee Report re: Request that a Streetlight be Installed on Utility Pole #1029 located near 55 Hillcrest Road.
*163-12 Public Safety and Transportation Committee Report re: Request that a Streetlight be Installed on Utility Pole #6363 located near 1257 Kossuth Street.
*177-12 Public Safety and Transportation Committee Report re: Grant Submission: State of Connecticut Office of Policy & Management’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC) re: Right Response CT Network Program.
*119-12 Economic and Community Development and Environment Committee Report re: Disposition of City-Owned Properties to the Housing Authority(HACB).
*120-12 Economic and Community Development and Environment Committee Report re: Disposition and Redevelopment of City-Owned Property located at 18-20 Island Brook Avenue.
*135-12 Economic and Community Development and Environment Committee Report re: Disposition of Property located at “The Davidson Block” in Downtown North and Authorizing a Tax Incentive Agreement in support of the Block’s Historic Renovation and Redevelopment as a Mixed-Use Residential, Retail and Commercial Complex.
*170-12 Economic and Community Development and Environment Committee Report re: Disposition of City-Owned Properties re: Downtown North Redevelopment Area for the development of a Commercial Office Complex.
*158-12 Miscellaneous Matters Committee Report re: Refund of Excess Payments.
*180-12 Miscellaneous Matters Committee Report re:Settlement of Pending Litigation with Antonia Dieujuste.
*181-12 Miscellaneous Matters Committee Report re: Settlement of Pending Litigation with Maria Diaz.
*183-12 Miscellaneous Matters Committee Report re: Appointment of Eric L. Johnson, Sr. (D) to the Fair Housing Commission.
MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
176-12 Public Safety and Transportation Committee Report re: Grant Submission: United States Department of Justice– FY 2013 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Grant Program.
178-12 Public Safety and Transportation Committee Report re: Grant Submission: United States Department of Justice– FY 2013 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.
159-12 Miscellaneous Matters Committee Report re: Settlement of Pending Litigation with Kelly Smith
Off topic but how much do you think will be voting at Black Rock school and Longfellow come Tuesday. My predictions Black Rock 600-700 Longfellow 250-300.
Ah yes, the “Davidson” block. That’s only been an eyesore for about 25 years.
Ethan Book on the fall of the Roman Empire. Very timely. John Marshall Lee on a council “To Do List” … just in time for election.
Try the first session, not the last session to provide them with direction.
Oh Bob, JML has been providing them with direction and sound ideas for years. What I hear from council members sitting now is they feel attacked by JML–and that is a very telling statement about how they hear citizen messages of our concerns and suggestions.
Oh Jennifer, they’ve also been talking about the two theaters for 40 years. Even Paul Newman (RIP) got involved and nothing happened. I understand John Marshall Lee has been a source of enormous recommendations, but what has been done? Nothing. Why? Because they DON’T KNOW HOW!!! (The city’s administration and city council.)
Bob,
I am not sure we have met and discussed any substantive issues, but I have put myself on the public speaking section of more than 50% of the CC meetings in the past year at least. I will guess you have not been present, nor have you looked at the TV replays, and have also missed the minutes of the CC meetings where my comments have been emailed to the City Clerk office and are available on line.
You would quickly hear the variety of issues on which I have commented, most of which have some connection to the state of our City finances, over which the CC has not and does not provide meaningful attention or oversight.
Jennifer Buchanan is correct. I hear the same thing from many of the Council members, but the issue is I am attacking the “sin” of which they are guilty, “neglect of their full legislative responsibility and duty,” and not the “sinner.” Instead of anger at me, they could question my comments to my face, as I do to them at these meetings. But they do not question me. They could tell me I have my facts wrong. But they do not do that either. They still feel attacked because deep down they know they are not playing an unconflicted quality role as elected representatives, and they feel they have excuses that should keep them from criticism.
I acknowledge they are overtasked with responsibilities. But with a discussion and vote they could deal with that in several ways, including using funds within their budget for support and assistance. But they do not. They have essentially maintained a ‘descending’ status quo during the past two years inasmuch as the 2013 budget eliminated all legislative assistance from their budget and they have allowed City Finance director Anne Kelly-Lenz to provide tardy financial reports with less info than her predecessor did, making finances less intelligible to most CC members.
I shall continue to attack structural issues, CC duties, Charter violations, ignorance of Ordinances and general failure to trust members of the public who have the capacity, experience, and integrity to assist in the public mission. Time will tell.
JML–you have many many fans and I am one of them. Thank you for you tireless efforts.
Q. Do you notice the number of items up for CC vote tomorrow night? Why so many more than an average evening?
Q. Do you know where you can get whatever backup material is available to public distribution? At the City Council committee meetings (several of which will meet tomorrow evening previous to the CC meeting and therefore will prevent you from reading the back and forth detail of those meetings, or likely see the detail handouts (if any are presented to the Committee) regarding the fiscal efficacy of these matters?
Q. Do you think the Finch administration believes change may be very likely after November 5 in the way the CC decides to operate?
Time will tell.