It appears as though we will soon find out.
According to section 2-370 of the Hartford Municipal code, this ordinance labeled "Retired employees", states "retired classified or unclassified employees of the city shall be eligible to return to city employment in a temporary classified or unclassified position for a
maximum of 6 months in a fiscal year".
It would seem that several current City hall employees are in violation of this ordinance, among them Hartford's Corporation Counsel and acting City Manager Saundra Kee-Borges. The matter is coming to a head after a quasi -anonymous complaint was made to City Auditor Patrick Campbell. Campbell stated at a recent internal Audit Commission meeting that he was aware who was making the complaint, but they wished to remain anonymous.
Hartford Ordinance 2-370D
The Internal Audit commission (IAC) authorized Campbell to conduct an investigation and determine if any Ordinances were being violated. According to sources, that report has apparently been completed and the results will be apparently be given to Mayor Pedro Segarra tomorrow.
This would seem to potentially put Segarra in a tough spot. If the ordinance is found to be violated, Segarra is bound by Hartford's Charter to act.. Chapter V, section 2.b of the Charter, clearly states that " in addition to the powers and duties specified elsewhere in the Charter or in the Constitution and General Statutes, the Mayor
shall take care that laws and Ordinances be faithfully executed within Boundaries of the City, in so far as it is the obligation of the City and its employees to do so."
From Hartford's City Charter , Chapter 5, section 2b
If Kee-Borges and others are in fact in violation of the ordinance, it doesn't seem to give the Mayor much "wiggle room" other than to enforce the ordinance.
Section 2-370C of the code also states that any 6 month appointments of retirees under the ordinance "will expire automatically at the end of 6 months and shall not to be subject to renewal"
It will be very interesting as to how this plays out, but the code seems to make it pretty clear as to the violation.
It would seem that our Corporation Counsel would be, or should be, aware of ordinances on the books in Hartford, especially when it applies to her.
The ordinance was updated by the Hartford City Council in August of 2005