Hartford City Council Regular Meeting – September 8, 2025

The Hartford City Council held its regular meeting on September 8, 2025, to approve minutes, consider consent and receive calendar items, refer several proposals to committees, postpone an ordinance, and vote on the appointment of a new Chief of Police. Councilmembers absent were Majority Leader Rosetti (excused) and Councilman Gale (attending an MDC meeting).

Consent Calendar

• The council approved a consent calendar (vote: unanimous among those present) including:
  • Resolution accepting $1,875 in grant funds from the Metropolitan District (MDC) for the 15th annual OMW Legacy Community Health and Wellness Fair.
  • Resolution authorizing the Hartford Police Department to accept a donated passenger vehicle from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) for the auto theft unit.
  • Resolution establishing a sister cities program.
  • Resolution confirming the reappointments of Richard Holland to the Commission on Cultural Affairs.
  • Resolution raising the pride flag at City Hall for Hartford Pride Week.

Discussion Items

• Appointment of James C. Rivella as Chief of Police (Item 5.1): The council considered a resolution confirming the appointment. Councilman Mickdom spoke in opposition, citing three reasons: (1) dissatisfaction with the search process, noting that community input from groups like the North Hartford Safety Coalition was not honored and that multiple candidates were not presented; (2) concerns that Chief Rivella’s strategy to increase police staffing to 450–470 officers mirrored that of the previous chief, which did not reduce crime according to data; (3) failure to address how immigrant residents would be kept safe, as the Council President cut off the chief’s response. Councilman Thomas also voted no. The resolution passed 5-2 (yes: Biladu, Clark, Hernandez, Rosado, Surgeon; no: Mickdom, Thomas; absent: Gale, Rosetti).

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved: The minutes of the August 11, 2025, meeting were approved unanimously.
• Receive Calendar: Items 4.1 (confirming appointment of James C. Rivella as Police Chief—later acted upon) and 4.2 (report on the sister cities program) were received and placed on file (vote: unanimous among those present).
• Referred Items: Several items were referred to committees:
  • Item 3.1 (commemorative street sign for Detective Robert Bobby Garden) to the Public Dedication Committee.
  • Item 3.6 (lease of office space for Northeast District Police Office at 127–133 Martin Street) to the Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee.
  • Items 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5 (property transfers for development of two-family homes, four owner-occupied residences, and redevelopment of 110 Washington Street) to the Planning, Economic Development, and Housing Committee, each with a public hearing set for September 15, 2025, at 7 p.m. and an 824 review.
  • Items 3.7 (write-off of certain receivables) and 6.2 (appointment of Octavia Rodney to the Internal Audit Commission) to the Operations, Management, Budget, and Government Accountability Committee.
• Postponement: Item 5.3 (ordinance amending chapter 31 regarding post-construction street safety) was postponed to the September 22, 2025, council meeting. Council President clarified that the substantial change to the ordinance would require sending it back to committee and possibly a new public hearing.

The meeting adjourned after the vote on the police chief appointment.