Former mayor Dan Malloy, Lieberman and Himes pose with city and federal officials during an Urban Transitway ribbon cutting in July.
With both the Board of Representatives conducting its final vote on the budget and an ethics complaint about Board of Finance chair Joe Tarzia to break Tuesday, hopefully you can forgive the belated round up of the Board of Reps meeting Monday night.
Urban Transitway hits roadblock
The biggest news was an unexpected defeat of eminent domain for the Urban Transitway project, in a 20-15 vote. Several board members, led by South End Rep. Terry Adams, D-3, said they were uncomfortable approving such a sweeping city power when the city has reached few settlements with property owners and the project is facing a $40 million shortfall. (Stamford failed to capture $32 million in federal funds for the road widening project in February.)
Land Use committee chair Harry Day, R-13, meanwhile, argued that there none of the affected property owners are opposed to the project. On the contrary, some are “anxious” to have the settlements resolved, Day said.
Board approves library resolution
Despite Republican opposition, the board voted 24-13 to approve a resolution urging the BOF to restore $1.2 million in funding to city libraries through the contingency fund. Those opposed, like Board of Finance chair Joe Tarzia, argued the move would “do an end run” around the city’s charter. City Rep. John Zelinsky, D-11, who abstained, said he couldn’t support a measure that would be “fooling” the public into thinking the money will be restored.
New Human Resources Director Approved
The Board approved a five-year contract for newly-hired human resources director Emmet Hibson,who has jointly led the city of New Haven’s HR and Labor departments for the past two years. Hibson will have a lot to contend with, as he is walking into a department mired by a criminal investigation of a former worker who allegedly stole at least $14,000 in tuition reimbursement checks.
Disputed reappointment, developer approved to Land Use boards
After a month of stalling led by black caucus leader Elaine Mitchell, D-2, the board reappointed longtime Republican Zoning board member Audrey Cosentini. Mitchell, who said Monday she did not feel her concerns had been entirely resolved, had galvanized opposition to Cosentini’s appointment among the board’s black caucus after Cosentini made remarks the caucus interpreted as anti-public housing.
The board also approved developer Roger Quick to the planning board, City Rep. Pat White, D-1, spoke out against the appointment, saying “I don’t think any contractor should be on any land use board.” Even so, Quick won approval in a 20-16 vote, with two abstentions.
The board also approved 19 other appointments, including Sebastian D’Acunto to the Board of Ethics, Dave Winston to Parks and Recreation, Kathleen Lombardo to the Social Services Commission, Tom Lombardo to the South West Regional Planning Agency, Cathy Catrini Freccia to the Health Commission. Winston’s appointment was a changing of the guard, as Parks and Rec chair Tom Lombardo stepped down from the commission.
Police, fire overtime approved
Reps OK’d $350,000 and $150,000 in additional funding for overtime in the police and fire departments, which, as in previous years, have exceeded their overtime budgets for 09/10. In April, the Board of Finance cut both requests by half, from $667,689 and $343,800, respectively.
Open burning law passes
Last but not least, the board approved a new law placing restrictions on open burning on residential property. Check back for more to come on that later.