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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

INSUBORDINATION?

 
 
In looking into and reviewing the documents from the "SAMA Deal"numerous very interesting e-mails were turned over to me pursuant to an FOI request. One though will most likely ruffle some feathers and shine a light on how this administration views Hartford's legislative body.

At least two Council people, Raul deJesus and David MacDonald expressed concerns about the legality of the land deal and whether it was proper.

Numerous documents and opinions will show that it most likely was not completed in accordance with State statutes, but as Councilman deJesus pressed on with his insistence and need to feel comfortable with his decision on the manner, both Deputy Corporation Counsel and Corporation Counsel Saundra Kee-Borges  both seemed to joke about Councilman DeJesus's mental stability and wrote back and forth about it in the e-mail below.

After DeJesus stopped by the office of Deputy Corporation Counsel L. John vanNorden, Van Norden fired off an e-mail to his boss corporation Counsel Saundra Kee-Borges he expressed his frustration with DeJesus's insistence for documents, which apparently Van Norden thought were trivial.

Kee- Borges replied to Van Norden, "OMG" which for those not e-mail or text savvy, is known to mean "Oh My God". The VanNorden  replied back within minutes to Kee-Borges "Seriously! Is he unstable? I mean this is monomaniacal". Kee-Borges replises 2 minutes later "I think he has problems" Van Norden's response eight minutes later was in reference to deJesus suffering from mental illness was "Apparently. This is obsessive".

Since when has a Councilperson doing his due diligence before a vote become a sign of mental illness. Maybe the stability of two City attorneys actually putting something like this in writing for public view and drawing the mental stability of someone who is their boss as a member of the Corporation's Board of Directors should be questioned.

I don't always agree with MacDonald or DeJesus, but I do commend them  for standing strong when the stink gets too strong to ignore

WELL WORTH THE TIME TO CLICK

I have been working on a land deal between the City of Hartford, the Spanish American Merchants Association and Hartford Hospital for several months now. The City has been slow complying with my FOI requests ( surprise, surprise) but there are thousands of documents and e-mails to review and make sense of.

In the meantime, Len Besthoff has also been digging into this and his report aired last night.

There is much more to this that will eventually come out, but in the meantime take a look at Len's report and see what you think by clicking here

Monday, April 8, 2013

WHY DON'T HARTFORD PARENT'S MATTER?

Newtown, Newtown, Newtown. No one can deny that was a terrible tragedy, but is it any worse than the hundreds of shootings and deaths that take place every year in our urban areas? Do Hartford parents feel any less pain when their children are murdered at the barrel of a gun than parent's in Newtown?

Today as the President of the United States visits Hartford, media accounts have stated that his visit is not open to the public. Only University of Hartford Students and faculty, Newtown parents and invited guests will be in attendance. What about the parents or family members of Hartford homicide victims. Are their deaths any less tragic than the children of Newtown?

Or is it because , as I am sure most people outside of Hartford assume, our victims are drug dealers and gang members who just happen to fall as victims of their lifestyles so the violence is just expected in our urban areas. Children in Newtown apparently don't deserve their fate to be determined by a firearm as so often happens to loved ones in Hartford.

Hartford;s mothers and fathers shed the same tears as Newtown parents. Hartford;s parents also have to face the same realization that their loved ones will never be coming through the front door again. Hartford;s pain is no less than Newtown's and our victims deserve the same recognition until real change in gun laws happens

To overlook Hartford;s families is just plain wrong. They should be in the audience today also

Sunday, April 7, 2013

MAYOR SEGARRA: TIME TO JOIN AAA

A Hartford resident and regular reader of WTP sent me an e-mail tonight detailing discounts at the Hotel Palomar for Triple A members. Why is it that our residents get it when City Hall doesn't? Oh right, because they have to live within their means. Too bad though,  Jose Colon Rivas maybe could have used one of the animal print bathrobes , grrr, available in the rooms with the triple A discount. Although the 42" flat screen television is smaller than the one the Mayor's Chief of Staff purchased for his office on the p-card.


Toggle available room typesBest Available Rate: starting at USD 249.00
Our best most flexible rate. 10% commisionable

Toggle available room typesAAA and CAA: starting at USD 224.00
Valid for card carrying AAA or CAA members. Must show membership card at the time of check-in.

  • Deluxe Guest Room with Two Double Beds

    • 2 Double Beds
    • 350 sq. ft.
    • Legendary Italian Frette Linens
    • Animal Print Bathrobes…grrrr!
    • Etro Bath amenities, ooh la la!
    • 42" LCD flat-screen TV
    • Oversized Desk (postcards anyone?)
    • iHome docking station
    • In-room recycling program
    • Organic Honor Bar
    • Free Wi-Fi for Kimpton InTouch Guest Loyalty Program
    • Hosted Evening Wine Reception
    • All rooms are non-smoking
Daily Rate:
USD 224.00
Nightly Taxes:
USD 34.87
Total Stay:
USD 258.87

DOES THE LAW MATTER IN HARTFORD?

 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

CITY CREDIT CARDS, THE FULL REPORT BY USER

Below is the City's report for all credit card users. Feel free to comment on any purchases. Much more to come on this I am sure.