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Friday, March 5, 2010

HAS THE HARTFORD CITY COUNCIL FINALLY REACHED ITS LIMIT?

Monday nights Council agenda promises to be full of action.

The meeting starts with the obligatory State of the City address by Mayor Perez. This in and of itself could prove historic as this might be the last State of the City Address by Perez before he heads off to prison, depending how his upcoming trial goes.

Two items added to the agenda also might prove quite interesting.

The relationship between the Council members and Corporation Counsel John Rose has been contentious almost from the start. After several recent incidents, it appears that at least some Councilmembers have decided enough is enough. Councilperson Deutsch had called for a vote of "no confidence" in John Rose. This is more symbolic than anything else. According to the City Charter, the Mayor hires and fires the Corporation Counsel. The Council does have the power to remove Rose, but only after a hearing and a vote that would require seven votes.

If nothing else has been learned, councilmembers this past year realized they need to learn to count their votes. After the unsuccessful overthrow attempt of former Council President Torres, councilpeople quickly learned how to count to seven. Any attempt to remove Rose most likely wouldn't be able to get the seven votes with Councilpeople Torres and Winch almost definitely siding with Perez. Cotto and Airey-Wislon typically do not agree with the majority of the Council when it comes to an "anti" Perez move.

Another surprising twist though is an agenda item introduced by Counciperson Kennedy. Kennedy had requested the Council go into executive session to discuss the role of the Corporation Counsel.

Apparently John Rose, upon hearing of the agenda items, sent a memo to Council President Segarra demanding that any hearings be held in public and be an "open and public hearing and airing". Rose further demands that all actions be conducted with the "sunshine law's" also known as the Freedom of Information laws. I know, I know, I'm thinking the same thing also, but FOI does apply to everyone.

Numerous questions have arisen regarding the actions of the Corporation Counsel and has even forced the City Council to hire outside counsel to advise them in their performance.

The 5th District Town Committee suit over the past couple weeks has also raised issues as to whether Rose was representing the City or the Town Committee slate. The City of Hartford is his client, the Giles slate is not.

This meeting promises to unveil a couple more chapters in Hartford's Theater of the Bizarre beginning with the State of the City Address

Rose to Segarra 3-4-10

Segarra+Reply+to+Rose+4!3!10[1]

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

News flash Rose. Your reputation is already sh*t.

Why should the city pay this clown Rose as well as outside firms for real legal advice? Isn't the city looking for ways to save money?

The real issue here is Eddie Perez. As you said Kevin, he hires and fires the head of corporation council. As long as he has that power corporation council will never serve the best interest of city council and the tax payers of Hartford.

Anonymous said...

rosie, rosie what can we say except that you have no more morales. you have decided to run the show the way you want. people r really starting to you for what is worth the mayors person you forget who pays your salary. we the tax payer you must understand soon or later it will come back & bite you. rosie has wasted to much of the citys $$$ Council President Segarra aka soon to be the next Mayor you will run rosie..run rosie ..run you say all you have is your rep to protect guess what you have already damaged it hanging out with the likes of eddie

Anonymous said...

John Rose cant even beat a non lawyer like Kevin Brooman in Court....he is about 0 for 12 against Brookman

Anonymous said...

wasn't rose representing olga as the registrar? i mean, the suit was regarding things olg did/did not do as registrar of voters. so, where is he defending the slate?

Anonymous said...

OK Brookman, Here's your chance to be in two places at once. Isn't the coronation of RubInStain scheduled for the same time as the council meeting?