In a burst of uncharacteristic fervor, Chairman Richard Wareing told the Hartford Charter Revision Commission that the City Council has power, just no willpower. This was in response to what he described as a succession of council-members coming forward with the complaint that current Corporation Counsel is unresponsive to their needs. Commissioner Anderson disagreed with Wareing that the apparent problem between Corporation Counsel and some members of the City Council is personality-based; she suggested that the problem is a structural one.
Although there was some review of the language of possible amendments to the charter, most of the meeting was spent in public comment. Mike McGarry, who provided the commission with a letter of suggestions from the Hartford Republican Town Committee, announced that “the charter as written does not jive with state law,” and that while “20 voters could demand that the city hold a special election,” this would not “solve the problem of the charter.” Ronald Armstrong stated that the “business of the city should not be run from the mayor’s office.”
Councilman Cotto asked the commission if they would consider clarifying some language in the charter related to the ability to waive fees that are related to events like parades. A brief glance over any City Council minutes shows that granting partial fee waivers has been routine. Cotto said that he was advised by Corporation Counsel that the Public Works, Parks and Environment Committee can not really do this, as it is allegedly not allowed for in the charter. Cotto’s request was not for or against being able to continue granting fee waivers, but simply to have the language regarding this clarified. Commissioner Rowtham-Kennedy attempted to turn this request into fodder for her own agenda. She implied that there is a possibility that Corporation Counsel is giving incorrect advice, and asked Cotto if there had been any discussion at a City Council meeting about removing the current Counsel. In as far as I could tell, the initial request of addressing the language regarding the fee waivers was brushed aside.
Most of the public comment time was used in a dialogue between the commission and Councilman Segarra, who previously served as Corporation Counsel during the 90s. He was able to share some of his experiences when he filled that role, providing another perspective on what Corporation Counsel’s obligations should be. He said that Counsel should be “representing the best interest of the city as a whole– not the Council, not the Mayor.” Commissioner Brandon asked Segarra if he believed Corporation Counsel should take an active or passive role. He responded by saying, “you have to have some ability to voice your concern about law” even when it’s unpopular with City Council or the Mayor. Right now, the way he described John Rose was passive– at least in certain interactions. Segarra also urged the current government to contact the previous charter revision commission for comment and clarification when there are charter questions, rather than asking an outside party. Likewise, he suggested Corporation Counsel go back into the records to seek precedent, rather than reinvent the wheel each time an issue arises.
The Hartford Charter Revision Commission now meets weekly on Thursday evenings at 6pm in Council Chambers.