During the Nov. 21 meeting of the Hartford City Council, the council created an occupational tax sinking fund, heard an update on the closing of a street, received a report from the Hartford Police Department (HPD) and earmarked money for the city's Christmas parade and downtown stroll.
— The Hartford City Council approved a motion to create an occupational tax sinking fund and to deposit $6,000 each month into the fund from the occupational tax money.
The city council has discussed such a fund in the past, but never created it or decided how much money to deposit in the fund. According to city clerk Lisa Martin, after reading minutes from past meetings, the council wanted to wait until it had an idea of what the occupational tax would bring in before setting up the sinking fund.
As of Nov. 21, the city has collected $75,784.22 in occupational taxes. The city already earmarked some of the occupational tax money for the salary of the occupational tax fund administrator and other miscellaneous office expenses. During a special-called meeting on Nov. 7, the council approved a motion to use occupational tax money to pay off a loan for sewer repairs at around $4,000 per month. Mayor Charlotte Hendricks also mentioned during the discussion she had a couple of things she wanted to discuss with the council that may entail the use of occupational tax money.
Council member Tony Ward recommended setting aside $2,000 a month into the occupational tax sinking fund. That would be $24,000 a year. He believed the city needed to set some money aside in case of disasters, like another ice storm. None of the council members voiced any disagreement with this notion.
Ward made a motion the city council put $2,000 a month or $6,000 a quarter into an occupational tax sinking fund retroactive to when the occupational tax ordinance was approved. Council member George Chinn seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 4-0 vote. Council members Jerry Scoggins and Roxanne Allen were not present for the meeting.
— City attorney Tara Ward gave an update on the process to close a part of White Avenue. Because the hospital will own all the property along the section of White Avenue to be closed, it will only need to sign an acknowledgment stating it wants the section of the street closed.
The hospital requested the city council look into closing a section of White Avenue for a possible expansion in the future. The street would be closed from the Gillespie Avenue intersection to just past the entrance of a parking lot to the hospital off White Avenue. A part of White Avenue will stay open at the McMurtry Avenue intersection.
Tara Ward said the city’s easements will remain in place even if the city closes that section of the street. She needed a “good estimate” on the length of the street to be closed, but she has already started to write the ordinance.
Tony Ward wanted to make it clear the hospital does not own all the property on White Avenue and does not want the whole street closed.
— During the October meeting of the Hartford City Council, Tony Ward asked if the council could get a monthly police report from the HPD. He was told it shouldn’t be a problem and Hartford Police Chief Leroy Embry was at the November meeting to provide the report to the council.
In October the HPD arrested eight people, served two warrants and wrote 11 traffic citations. The HPD filed six misdemeanor charges, two felony charges and two DUI charges.
As of Nov. 21, the HPD has arrested four people, served two warrants and written nine traffic citations. It filed one misdemeanor charge and one felony charge.
For the year the HPD has had 1,646 service calls.
— Near the end of the meeting, council member Bob Clements asked the council to approve $2,000 to be spent on gifts and expenses for the city’s Christmas parade and downtown stroll.
McEnroe made a motion the city council earmark $2,000 for expenses of the Christmas parade and downtown stroll. Clements seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 4-0 vote. Again, Scoggins and Allen were not present for the meeting.