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Friday, May 6, 2016

A POSSIBLE SOLUTION

A lot has been made this week of the layoff's of two of Hartford's Animal Control Officers. Here is a potential solution.

Apparently, the Hartford Police mounted Unit is also being disbanded as of July 1, 2016.The Mounted unit is currently  housed in a modern stable building on Vine Street in Hartford. That building will no longer be used horse related use after July 1st.

 Currently, the Hartford Police Department rents or leases space for the "dog pound" in Bloomfield. The cost for that space is apparently over $200,000 per year. The dogs in doggie jail are fed and cared for by the Hartford Animal Control Officer's, so that is a fixed cost whether the dogs are housed in Bloomfield or Hartford.

The Hartford Mounted Unit Horse stables should be converted into kennels so Hartford can house their own dogs instead of transporting them to Bloomfield. It would save a huge amount of man hours being in Hartford. Instead of Hartford officers having to transport the felonious K-9's  out of town for their incarceration, it would just be a quick trip to Vine Street. The same for their releases as well and also for their care and feeding. All local.

It would, most importantly, free up a couple hundred thousand dollars for the Bloomfield shelter, that could then be transferred into  the payroll account to pay for the two ACO's that were laid off

We can not afford to give away another City building when it means cost savings as well as jobs. The Police stable is a modern facility that could easily be retrofitted to a kennel use. The heat and utilities are already there and the cost should remain the same or even a little less with the reduced heating costs for dogs as opposed to horses.

It might just be an idea that seems too simple and makes too much sense, but it is definitely worth looking at as we try to find creative ways to deal with our dire budget crisis.

Any other suggestions?

MORE OBSCENITY FROM THE HARTFORD SCHOOLS, AND THIS TIME IT IS NOT EDUARDO GENAO

Hartford Superintendent of Schools Beth Narvaez
 
These salaries are obscene, especially at a time when upwards of 250 people are facing layoffs due to budget cuts. Does anyone on this list have a conscience when they hear about layoffs for their lower paid colleagues. I know the Superintendent was questioned at her Council Budget hearing if she would consider giving something back. Not surprising there was no answer. But she is still taking her 3% pay raise this year. Leadership by example

Even more obscene is that most of the people on this list have no direct contact with children or their educations.

Please , can someone explain to me how we can justify these salaries for administration  and we can't find money for the front line educators in the class rooms, actually impacting children's lives.

I am really not sure how we justify paying an Executive Director ( whatever that position is) as much or more than we pay our Police Chief, Fire Chief , or for that matter our Mayor.

And the most obscene is paying a Superintendent $257,500 annually. Especially when she has failed so many children, especially a 13 year old child that was victimized by one of her highly paid disciples. And no one can convince me she had no prior knowledge of his behavior.

The list wasn't broken down by those salaries that actually are made by Hartford residents, but I will bet my Powerball tickets that there are very few on the list spending their paychecks in Hartford

FROM HPD: 64 MADISON STREET NARCO RAID


On May 5, 2016 the Hartford Police Department  Vice and Narcotics Unit with the assistance from the Hartford Shooting Task Force and the HPD Emergency Response Team executed two simultaneous search and seizure warrants at 64/66 Madison Street 1st and 2nd floor. The detectives have received several citizen complaints about individuals selling drugs from this residence. Upon executing the search warrants detectives located a male fleeing from the first floor apartment to second floor where he was stopped by ERT members. Detectives were able to recover 60 grams of cocaine, 40 bags of heroin, a small amount of marijuana and U.S. currency. Two people located in the front of the residence were found to be in possession of narcotics and placed under arrest.

Arrested: Julian Solis DOB 3-12-94 LKA 64-66 Madison Avenue
CHARGES: Interfering with a search warrant, possession of narcotics, possession with intent to sell narcotics

Arrested: Jesus Garcia DOB 7-24-82 LKA 50 Hillside Avenue
CHARGES: Criminal Trespass 3rd, Possession Narcotics

Arrested: Victor Rodriquez DOB 1-17-74 LKA 15 Ward Place
CHARGES: Criminal Trespass 3rd, Possession Narcotics

Evidence: 60 grams of cocaine, 40 bags of heroin, a small amount of marijuana
Evidence: $902.00 U.S. currency

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

ANOTHER LAYOFF UPDATE, THE HUMAN SIDE


The list of names of laid off Hartford employees begins. These are civilian positions from the Hartford Police Department.


SAVE THE DATE, SATURDAY MAY, 14TH, 2 WORTHWHILE EVENTS, BRAIN TUMOR AWARENESS WALK AND ANDREW'S PARALYMPIC QUEST FUNDRAISER

 Two worthwhile events are coming up next Saturday, May 14, 2016.

The first one is a walk for Brain Tumor Awareness  in Suffield. The walk is being organized by the wife of a Brain tumor survivor that I met while I was going through rehab at Mt. Sinai after my stroke. Rick was discovered to have a brain tumor over a year ago after a medical episode at his home . Rick underwent surgery and chemotherapy to attempt to remove the growth. His rehab is still omgoing.

If you have the time, meet us at the Suffield green for the second annual Brain Tumor Awareness Walk! Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. We'll gather on the Town Green in Suffield, CT. at 10:00, walk to a turn around point . If you are unable to attend, any donation to help the effort can be made by clicking here https://www.booster.com/2016-walk-with-us-for-bta?share=4781462146232965&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=mobile-campaign-page-share&utm_medium=social&ref=facebook_social_mobile-campaign-page-share&utm_content=2016-walk-with-us-for-bta&type=1&side=front
2016 Walk With Us for Brain Tumor Awareness.

 The second event of the day is a fundraiser for my nephew Andrew. Andrew is still in training to compete in the Paralympics in 2018 in Korea.

The event is a spaghetti dinner at the Enfield Elks Lodge at 138 North Maple Street in Enfield , beginning with a social hour at 4:00PM and dinner served at 5:00PM. The flyer is below. Hope to see you at both events if possible. If you are unable to attend Andrew's event, you can donate any amount here.

Thank you for your support for both events

HARTFORD LAYOFF UPDATE

 
A sign of things to come?
 
 
Although no specific information has been released from Mayor Bronin's Office yet, here is some information from the online budget at Hartford.gov.

Corporation Counsel: The primary changes are the annualization of salary funded for partial year as well as a restructure of the administrative and professional support functions, which includes the elimination of 5 positions through layoffs.

Office of Communications and New Media: The net decrease is the result of the elimination of 4 positions through 3 layoffs and the elimination of a vacancy.

Metro Hartford Innovation Services: The FY2017 Recommended Budget for MHIS also includes reductions comprised of 1 layoff and the elimination of 1 vacancy.

Finance: eliminating 9 positions, 2 vacant and 7 layoffs, offset by the transfer of 10 existing positions for Procurement and 3 new Account Payable positions to implement centralization City-wide. The Recommended Budget for FY2017 in Finance represents major efficiencies to be realized.

Human Resources: elimination of 3 positions,
2 vacant, including a vacant Deputy Director, and 1 layoff and reductions in non-personnel accounts offset by a onetime funding in the a

Department of Families, Children, Youth and Recreation: he net decrease is the result of restructuring recreational programs to focus on areas of high demand, adjustments in funding to community agencies and the elimination of 4.9 positions through 3 layoffs, 1 vacancy and 0.9 shift to grants.

Police: elimination of 25 non-uniformed positions, 18 vacant and 7 layoffs.

Public Works: the elimination of 24 positions, comprised of 17 vacant and 7 layoffs, as well as anticipated attrition and reductions in non-personnel accounts.

Development Services:
the elimination of 6.85 positions through 2 layoffs, 4 vacancy eliminations and a 0.85 FTE position shifted to grants.

Health and Human Services: A total of 6 positions are eliminated, 2 vacant which includes a Deputy Director, 4 layoffs, 1 shift to part-time and shifting 2 positions to grant funding.