Hartford Common Council Meeting - October 14, 2025: Indigenous Honors and Key Housing Vote

This regular hybrid council meeting, held on October 14, 2025, was called to order by Council President Shirley Surgeon. The meeting began with ceremonial honors recognizing Indigenous leaders and organizations, followed by consent, referral, and postponement actions. The primary discussion centered on the redevelopment of 110 Washington Street, a city-owned property currently used as a warming center, into affordable housing.

Special Presentations

• Chief Charles A. Teal Sr. : Recognized for decades of public service with the Hartford Fire Department and for his work with Lee Mixashan Rozzi to pass a February 24, 2025 council resolution acknowledging the historical impact of colonialism on Indigenous communities. Chief Teal also shared historical anecdotes about Hartford’s Native American heritage.
• Lee Mixashan Rozzi: Honored as an acclaimed composer, educator, activist, and Indigenous advocate. In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of Native people participating in civic life without needing federal recognition to prove identity.
• Sukiyag Intertribal Council: Formally recognized by the council for preserving the region’s Indigenous heritage. The council proclaimed Saturday, October 25, 2025, as “Sukiyag Fest Day” in support of the sixth annual Sukiyag Harvest Fest. Musical performances and ceremonial songs were offered by the drum group.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approved: The minutes of the September 22, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously (7-0-2, with Councilmembers Hernandez and Rosado absent).
• Consent Items: The following items were placed on the consent calendar and passed in a single vote (7-0-2):
  • 6.1: Write-off of certain receivables.
  • 6.2: Appointment of Octavia Rodney to the Internal Audit Commission.
  • 6.3: Resolution establishing a Board of Education Equity and Funding Task Force.
  • 6.4: Transfer of two city-owned properties to Sina for development of two-family homes.
  • 6.5: Transfer of four city-owned properties to Habitat for Humanity of North Central Connecticut for owner-occupied residences.
  • 7.2: Authorization for the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with Community Renewal Team for crisis response services under the HEART Team Initiative (one-year term with extension options).
• Item 6.6 Removed: Councilmember Gale requested that item 6.6 (redevelopment of 110 Washington Street) be removed from consent and placed on the action calendar for separate discussion.

Referrals and Postponements

• Referrals: Several items were referred to committees without discussion:
  • Health & Human Services: 3.1 (cook/prep services for senior center lunch program).
  • Public Works, Parks, Recreation & Environment: 3.2 (grant for dock repairs at Riverside Park and Mortonson Plaza), 3.4 (appointment of Don Merritt to Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission).
  • Operations, Management, Budget & Government Accountability: 3.3 (year-end budget transfers and additional appropriation for Board of Education), 3.5 (appointment of Talia Neves to Ethics Commission).
  • Planning, Economic Development & Housing: 3.6 (appointment of Leon Stapleton to Zoning Board of Appeals), 3.7 (appointment of Leah Reyes to Zoning Board of Appeals).
• Postponement: Item 5.1 (ordinance amending municipal code sections 31-87 and 31-95 regarding post-construction/post-repaving street safety) was postponed to October 27, 2025, with a public hearing set for October 20, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The motion passed unanimously (7-0-2).

Discussion Items

• 110 Washington Street Redevelopment (Item 6.6): Council President Surgeon and Majority Leader Rosetti moved to place the item on action.
  • Councilmember Micktum expressed support for the affordable housing proposal but opposed proceeding without a concrete plan to replace the warming center currently operating at 110 Washington Street. He argued that the council has a duty to compel the administration to prioritize vulnerable populations and that promises alone are insufficient. He did not formally move to postpone but urged colleagues to delay the vote until a replacement site is secured.
  • Council President Surgeon (also Chair of the Planning, Economic Development & Housing Committee) clarified that the administration committed to keeping the warming center at 110 Washington for the 2025–2026 winter and to making the warming center a monthly agenda item in the PEDH committee to begin planning for an alternative site for subsequent winters. She noted that the project has been pending since a 2021 RFP and that delaying further could miss the construction window. She proposed giving the administration six months to secure a new location.
  • Councilmember Micktum replied that while he respects the sincerity of those making promises, he believes the council should use its power to force action rather than rely on commitments.
  • Council President Surgeon concluded by urging passage, stating the council can revisit the issue if no alternative site emerges after the winter.

Key Outcomes

• Vote on 6.6 (110 Washington Street Redevelopment): The resolution authorizing the redevelopment of 110 Washington Street into affordable housing passed with 5 votes in favor (Councilmembers Bility, Clark, Gale, Rosetti, Surgeon, Thomas), 1 opposed (Councilmember Micktum), and 2 absent (Councilmembers Hernandez, Rosado).
• Consent Calendar Approved: All listed consent items passed 7-0-2.
• Referrals and Postponements Approved: Unanimous.
• Next Steps: The city will continue operating the warming center at 110 Washington for the 2025-2026 winter. The PEDH committee will monitor the search for a permanent alternative location on a monthly basis.