PLEASE TAKE THE POLL ABOVE

Please take a moment to click on an answer above and let me know what you think, feel free to add a comment under the original posting, HFD Adds new Deputy Chief

CHURCHES ON MAIN STREET HEALTH FAIR THIS WEEKEND

Churches+on+Main+Street+Health+Fair

SEGARRA PUTS LID ON PUBLIC INFORMATION

Here we go again, in an Administration that talks constantly about transparency, apparently they don't want the media to be part of it.

Mayor Pedro Segarra's Media spokesperson  recently put a lid on City Hall employees answering questions or providing information to any media people or journalists. In an e-mail circulated to City Hall Staff, Segarra's spokesperson  Maribel La Luz  stated "If any journalist e-mails or leaves a voicemail, please let me know before responding,If a journalist gets you on the phone, tell them to contact me directly with their request. We need to be aware of developing stories. Thank you for your cooperation"

In a building that leaks information like a sieve, this may prove to be a difficult task, as well as illegal.Former Mayoral spokesperson Sarah Barr had issued a similar order that all FOI requests and requests for information had to go through her and Corporation Counsel at the time John Rose. I complained to the FOI Commission that filtering information and documents unnecessarily delayed the release of Public Information as required by the FOI Laws.

After a hearing , the Commission agreed with me and determined the policy was illegal and Barr and the City were ordered to stop.

I can understand that Mayor Segarra wants to control his message and the propaganda coming out of City Hall, but what do they have to hide. Everything conducted in that building is Public information and with some people in City Hall with a conscience, the information eventually will get out.

Ms. La Luz might want to take an FOI course to get herself up to speed on the Public's right to know. This is the public's business she is dealing with, not a press release for a Shakira concert.

WILL CHARTER CHANGE HAPPEN?

Hartford currently has the required Charter revision Commission doing its mandatory 10 year review of the City Charter. The Charter requires that it be reviewed every 10 years or sooner if properly requested.

Some of the proposed changes may not be sitting well with Hartford's politicians, Mayor Segarra included.

One of the proposals that has recently surfaced , was apparently endorsed unanimously during a subcommittee meeting of the Charter Revision Commission. The details outlined in an e-mail from John Kennelly to Commission members, obtained under the FOI Act recommends the elimination of the Registrar of Voters Office.

According to the e-mail "All members agreed that this office should be professionalized and de-politicized in accordance with potential changes to state statute. This would include making this an appointed office. This professionalization should include some form of certification for the office holder."

During conversations with several state representatives, it would seem that there would be support for any legislative change required to make this happen. Hartford's registrars of Voters Office is far from the "professional" operation many would like to see.

The majority of the subcommittee also seems to support the return to a fully elected board of education. All members agree that the Mayor should not be allowed to serve on the Board, according to Kennelly's e-mail.

The members also supported the concept of a budgetary line item veto for the Council, the makeup of the present Council as being appropriate,and  4 year terms as opposed to returning to 2 year terms.

Although none of these recommendations are a done deal by any stretch, they potentially will serve as the foundation for any Charter revision recommendations. Any changes to the Charter must be approved by the Council , and eventually by the voters during a referendum.

The Registrar of Voters change seems like the most likely to move forward and the legislature may possibly make the change in conjunction with Secretary of State Denise Merrill before the Charter does.

HPD OFFICER"S FIREARM STOLEN

Today has been a busy day with the police sources. Several phone call have reported that Probationary Hartford Police Officer Luis Feliciano, the subject of a recent posting on the blog, has now reported to the Springfield police department that his firearm issued to him by the City of Hartford has been stolen. Feliciano apparently reported to Springfield PD that the weapon was stolen during a burglary of his home.

This raises more questions as to how Officer Feliciano has secured his weapon, as is apparently required under the Departments Code of Conduct.  This will most likely not rest well with Chief Rovella and others who are working hard to get illegal guns off the street , not to add more.It would appear that the weapon was not secured in a gun safe or other means to prevent its theft.

A request for comment on the theft was made to HPD but no comment is available at this time.

UPDATE 4:11PM- HPD Spokeperson Nancy Mulroy confirmed the theft of Feliciano's firearm and that the Springfield police were investigating the burglary of Feliciano's home.

Here is the original posting regarding Officer Feliciano

LOBSTERGATE: THE FINAL CHAPTER...HOPEFULLY

Hartford Police sources are confirming what is most likely the final chapter in the alleged lobster larceny case of Officer Natoya Guthrie. Sources are confirming that Hartford police Chief James Rovella has accepted the resignation of Officer Guthrie from the Hartford police department earlier today. Guthrie was seen at the Hartford Police Department earlier this afternoon turning in her city issued uniforms and equipment.

 

former Officer Natoya Guthrie

 

 

This appears to be the final chapter in what has been referred to as "lobstergate" by commenter's here on the blog. Guthrie was under investigation for the alleged thefts of lobster and other seafood from the self checkout line at the Stop and Shop store on New Park Avenue in Hartford.

You can read the original posting here

Apparently there were videos detailing more than one instance of the alleged thefts that could have resulted in Guthrie's arrest on larceny charges if pursued. As soon as I obtain those videos, they will be posted here.

HARTFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT CREATES NEW DEPUTY CHIEF POSITION...FOR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERS'S HUSBAND

Although no press releases or fanfare or promotion ceremonies have been obvious, a new Deputy Chief position has quietly been created in the Hartford Fire Department for the husband of Hartford's acting Chief Operating Officer Sandra Key Borges. The position was filled by her husband Terry Waller. Waller previously held the position of Captain with HFD according to Fire Department sources.

The position apparently is being used to cover for another Deputy Chief who sustained a paralyzing injury and is out on long term medical leave. The injured Chief's absence, from what I am told, had incurred no additional costs to cover his shifts since Captains are eligible to cover for Deputy Chief's at regular pay rather than overtime pay.

The timing of the position is interesting for a couple reasons. First is that recently Mayor Segarra has ordered lay-offs and furlough days for City employees because of budget payroll shortages. The furlough days included command positions in both the Fire and Police Departments.

More importantly is the court order hanging over the Fire Department to re-instate Deputy Chief Dan Nolan to his previous position of Deputy Chief after his wrongful termination by Mayor Eddie Perez and the City of Hartford.  Nolan , a respected Army veteran is currently finishing his military commitment after spending over a year serving in Afghanistan.

Nolan is expected to notify the City of his intent to return to work anytime between now and February 12, 2013. If I know Dan, it will be sooner than later as I am sure that he is anxious to get back to the career that he loves and was forced out of by a corrupt Mayor.

It should be interesting to see where the money is coming from for these positions

A BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Saturday November 10th was the birthday of the United States Marine Corps and downtown Hartford played host to several hundred Marines attending the Marine Corp Ball at the Hartford Hilton.

From Wikipedia, The history of the United States Marine Corps began with the founding of the Continental Marines on 10 November 1775 to conduct ship-to-ship fighting, provide shipboard security and discipline enforcement, and assist in landing forces. Its mission evolved with changing military doctrine and foreign policy of the United States. Owing to the availability of Marine forces at sea, the United States Marine Corps has served in nearly every conflict in United States history.

 It attained prominence when its theories and practice of amphibious warfare proved prescient, and ultimately formed a cornerstone of the Pacific Theater of World War II. By the early 20th century, the Marine Corps would become one of the dominant theorists and practitioners of amphibious warfare. Its ability to rapidly respond on short notice to expeditionary crises has made and continues to make it an important tool for American foreign policy.

The Marine Corp is an organization rich in tradition and pride and their birthday is celebrated annually with huge fanfare by Marines. I am proud to say that my father was a Marine and I currently have a nephew serving in the Marine Corp on active duty. I can't call my father a former Marine, even though he has passed away, because he made it clear to us "once a Marine, always a Marine" and he made that clear by flying the Marine Corp flag at his home, a tradition that my mother still holds today as she makes sure the red Marine Corp flag is flying in front of her house.

It was an impressive sight to see hundreds of marines downtown last night in their "dress blues" and it was also impressive to see the number of people going up to them and saying "thank you" for their service.

The Hartford Courant also had a great story today about the scrifices some of these young men and women have made for our country, you can read that story here.

As a sidenote, no Lieutenant's were harmed in the celebration of this event