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Record of Proceedings

Hartford Common Council Meeting Summary: October 27, 2025

Council Meetings — Monday, October 27, 2025
BodyHartford, Connecticut
SessionCouncil Meetings
DateMonday, October 27, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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2:00

There it is.

2:00

The Patty TJ Gavel.

2:03

Good evening, everyone.

2:04

Would like to call to order this Court of Common Council meeting for today, October 27th, 2025.

2:11

Mr.

2:11

Clerk, can you please call the roll?

2:13

Councilman Biladu?

2:14

Yeah.

2:14

Here.

2:15

Councilman Clark?

2:16

Here.

2:16

Councilman Gale.

2:17

Here.

2:17

Councilman Hernandez.

2:19

Councilman.

2:21

Thank you.

2:22

Councilman Micktham.

2:24

Councilman Rosato.

2:26

Here.

2:27

Councilman Rosetti?

2:28

Here.

2:29

Council President Surgeon.

2:31

And Councilman Thomas.

2:33

Here.

2:34

You have a quorum, Mr.

2:35

President.

2:35

Thank you, Mr.

2:36

Clerk.

2:36

Uh we'd like to thank all the audience from joining us.

2:39

Today we are the broadcasting live from Hartford Public Access TV dot org.

2:43

Um channel the ninety-six on Comcast Exfinity, Channel six zero three two on frontier uh communications.

2:50

Uh let us all stand uh for the Pledge of Allegiance.

3:05

Liberty.

3:08

If we can just remain standing for a moment of silence for uh Jean Holloway, who was a long time city resident and member of the Quartum Common Council for Staff and former DTC chair and vice chair who passed away over the weekend.

3:32

Thank you.

3:41

Madam Majority Leader, you have the floor.

3:56

Thank you, Council President.

3:57

Um I make a motion to sub oh no, I make a motion to approve the minutes of October 14th, 2025.

4:04

Second.

4:04

Motion has been made and promptly second to approve the minutes of October 14th, twenty twenty-five meeting.

4:10

Any discussions on the matter?

4:11

Any discussions hearing us saying none.

4:13

Mr.

4:13

Clerk, can you please call the role?

4:14

On the approval of the minutes, Councilman Villadu?

4:16

Yes.

4:17

Councilman Clark?

4:18

Yes.

4:18

Councilman Gale.

4:19

Yes.

4:20

Councilman Hernandez.

4:21

Yes.

4:22

Councilman McTam.

4:23

Councilman Rosato.

4:25

Yes.

4:25

Councilman Rosetti.

4:27

Yes.

4:27

Council Councilman Surgeon.

4:30

And Councilman Thomas.

4:32

Yes.

4:32

The motion passes.

4:34

Thank you.

4:35

Uh Madam Majority, you have the floor.

4:37

Thank you, Council President.

4:38

I make a motion to suspend the rules to add the following to the supplemental agenda.

4:48

Second.

4:49

Motion has been made and property second to add uh supplemental items items eight point one and eight point two, which would be read at a later moment.

4:55

Any discussions on the matter?

4:57

Hearing us saying none.

4:58

Mr.

4:58

Clerk, can you please call the roll?

5:04

Yes.

5:05

Councilwoman Billadu?

5:07

Yes.

5:07

Councilman Clark?

5:08

Yes.

5:09

Councilman Gail.

5:10

Yes.

5:10

Councilman Hernandez.

5:12

Yes.

5:12

Councilman Micktam.

5:14

Councilman Rosado.

5:17

Yes.

5:17

Councilman Rosetti.

5:19

Yes.

5:20

Councilman Surgeon.

5:21

And Councilman Thomas.

5:26

Yes.

5:27

Pass.

5:27

Thank you.

5:28

Rules are suspended.

5:29

Madam Majority Leader, you have the floor.

5:31

Thank you, Council President.

5:32

I make a motion to place the following items on consent.

5:36

3.3 Mayor Aru Oplom with accompanying resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for and accept a grant in the amount of 323,764 and 95 cents from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office for the calendar year, fiscal year 2026 comprehensive DUI enforcement project.

6:00

3.4 Mayor Auraloplom with accompanying resolution authorizing my administration to apply for and accept a grant and the amount of $28,850 and 34 cents from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office for the fiscal year 2026.

6:17

Click it or ticket day and night campaign.

7:24

And 8.2 Mayor Arul Oplom with an accompanying resolution authorizing the city to lease office space from NHAH 2 LLC to establish a Northeast District Hartford Police Office at 127 133 Martin Street.

7:44

Second.

7:45

Thank you.

7:46

Motion has been made in proper second for the consent calendar items.

7:50

Items 3.3 3.4 5.1 5.2 5.3 6.1 and 8.2.

7:57

Councilman Gale.

7:59

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

8:00

Chair.

8:01

Um just like to comment on uh 5.1 by way of a uh short explanation for the public that this ordinance the design of this ordinance change uh is to ensure that uh when somebody digs up your street and then they put a patch on it if there had been a yellow line there or a white line or a uh uh crosswalk uh or any other kind of street marking, those utility companies are now being told that they have to replace those markings even if it's a temporary patch and the second part of that is um to say that when the city uh mills uh a street to repave it uh that the utility companies have to come out and make sure that their manholes and their uh uh any other uh um cuts in the pavement are raised up to the level of the new pavement so we don't run into these kind of dips that you find uh after some of our streets have been repaved so we hope that these are improvements uh proof of course is be in the pudding but thank you Mr.

9:09

Chair Thank you sir any other discussions of the consent calendar items hearing a saying none Mr.

9:14

Clerk can you please call the roll uh consent calendar items councilman Billadu?

9:19

Yes Councilman Clark, yes councilman Gale, yes councilman Hernandez, yes councilman mictam councilman rosado yes mr.

9:29

Clerk and could you add my name to five point one please?

9:35

Councilman Surgeon and Councilman Thomas Yes pass.

9:40

Did he say my name?

9:42

Yeah, you want you want you want to add your oh you didn't call Mr.

9:50

Clerk?

9:51

I don't think you called the uh majority leader councilman Rosetti, yes, pass you.

10:03

Thank you.

10:04

Uh moving on.

10:05

Uh Madam Majority Leader, the other floor.

10:07

I make a motion to uh refer the receive the following items.

10:11

Uh 4.1 operations management budget and government accountability committee report discussing postponement of the following resolution of the Hartford Court of Common Council for reviewing and amending handicapped parking policies and meter charges in collaboration with the Harvard Parking Authority and the Disability Rights Organizations.

10:30

4.2 Operations Management Budget and Government Accountability Committee.

10:35

Report discussing resolution making various end of year budgetary transfers for the fiscal year ended June 30th, 2025, as well as one additional appropriation to address Board of Education budgetary challenges.

10:50

4.3 operations management budget and government accountability committee report discussing resolution confirming the appointment of Talia Neves to the City of Hartford's ethic commission and 8.1 Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee report discussing resolution authorizing the city to lease office space from NHAH2 LLC to establish a Northeast District Hartford Police Office at 127 133 Martin Street.

11:18

Second.

11:18

Thank you very much.

11:19

Motion has been made in property second on the sorry, I'm not referred on the received items.

11:24

Items 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 8.1.

11:28

Any discussion on received items.

11:30

Hearing was seeing none.

11:31

Mr.

11:31

Clerk, can you please call the roll?

11:33

The received items.

11:33

Councilman Biladu?

11:34

Yes.

11:35

Councilman Clark?

11:36

Yes.

11:36

Councilman Gale.

11:37

Yes.

11:38

Councilman Hernandez?

11:39

Yes.

11:40

Councilman Mickham.

11:42

Councilman Rosotto.

11:47

Councilman Rosetti.

11:48

Yes.

11:49

Councilman Surgeon.

11:51

And Councilman Thomas.

11:53

Yes.

11:54

Pass.

11:55

Thank you very much.

11:56

Moving on.

11:57

Ms.

11:57

Uh Madam Majority Leader, you have the floor.

12:00

Thank you.

12:01

Um I make a motion to refer the following items to Labor Education Workforce and Youth Committee 3.1.

12:08

Mayor Aruan with accompanying resolution confirming the appointment of Madison Seja to be a member of the City of Hartford Board of Education and to public works, parks, recreation, and environment.

12:20

3.2 Mayor Aruan with an accompanying resolution authorizing the City of Hartford to adjust the golf cart course rates and to adopt recommendations made by the golf course over site commission.

12:33

Second.

12:35

Motion has been made in property second on referred items.

12:38

Any discussions on the referred items?

12:41

Any discussions?

12:42

Hearing or seeing none.

12:43

Mr.

12:43

Clerk, can you please call the roll?

12:45

On the referred items.

12:45

Councilwoman Billadu?

12:47

Yes.

12:47

Councilman Clark?

12:48

Yes.

12:48

Councilman Gale.

12:49

Yes.

12:50

Councilman Hernandez?

12:51

Yes.

12:52

Councilman Mickdom.

12:54

Councilman Rosado.

12:56

Councilman Rosetti.

12:57

Yes.

12:58

Councilwoman Surgeon.

13:00

And Councilman Thomas.

13:02

Yes.

13:03

Pass.

13:04

Thank you very much.

13:05

Madam Majority Leader, you have the floor.

13:09

I make a motion to uh go into executive session.

13:14

Second.

13:15

Motion has been made in property second to enter into executive session.

13:18

Mr.

13:18

Clerk, can you please call the roll?

13:20

Councilman Billardo?

13:21

Yes.

13:22

Councilman Clark.

13:22

Yes.

13:23

Councilman Gale?

13:24

Yes.

13:24

Councilman Hernandez.

13:27

Yes.

13:27

Councilman Micktum.

13:29

Councilman Rosado.

13:30

Councilman Rosetti.

13:32

Yes.

13:32

Councilwoman Surgeon.

13:34

And Councilman Thomas.

13:36

Yes.

13:37

Pass.

13:38

Thank you very much to the viewing audience.

13:40

Uh the council now stands at ease as we enter into executive session.

1:11:00

The whole building.

1:11:19

Madam Majority Leader, you have the floor.

1:11:22

Thank you.

1:11:23

Thank you, Council President.

1:11:24

I make a motion to come out of executive session.

1:11:27

Second.

1:11:28

Motion has been made in property second to come out of the executive session and discussion.

1:11:32

Hearing us seeing none.

1:11:33

Mr.

1:11:33

Clerk, can you please call the roll?

1:11:35

Councilman Bilder.

1:11:36

Here.

1:11:38

Yes.

1:11:41

Yes.

1:11:42

Councilman Clark.

1:11:43

Yes.

1:11:44

Councilman Gal?

1:11:45

Yes.

1:11:45

Councilman Hernandez.

1:11:47

Councilman Mickham.

1:11:49

Councilman Rosado.

1:11:51

Yes.

1:11:51

Councilman Rosetti.

1:11:53

Yes.

1:11:53

Councilwoman Surgeon.

1:11:55

And Councilman Thomas.

1:11:57

Yes.

1:11:58

Pass.

1:12:00

Thank you.

1:12:00

Madam Majority, do you have the floor again?

1:12:02

I make a motion to take action on.

1:12:06

Uh Joseph Caruso versus the City of Hartford.

1:12:09

Second.

1:12:11

Motion's been made in property second to take action on executive session item seven point one.

1:12:16

Any discussion?

1:12:17

Hearing us saying none.

1:12:18

Mr.

1:12:18

Clerk can please call the roll.

1:12:19

Councilman Biladu?

1:12:21

Yes.

1:12:21

Councilman Clark?

1:12:22

Yes.

1:12:22

Councilman Gail?

1:12:23

Yes.

1:12:24

Councilman Hernandez.

1:12:25

Councilman Mickham.

1:12:27

Councilman Rosato.

1:12:29

Yes.

1:12:29

Councilman Rosetti?

1:12:30

Yes.

1:12:31

Councilman Surgeon.

1:12:33

Councilman Thomas.

1:12:35

Yes.

1:12:35

The item passes.

1:12:37

Thank you very much.

1:12:38

Uh before we close, just want to make a few announcements that early voting is still taking place at City Hall until November 2nd.

1:12:48

Um the hours are ten to six.

1:12:54

Just contact the registrar's office uh for the actual uh times for voting.

1:13:00

Um also two, don't forget that uh November fourth is uh a general election uh for a board of ed.

1:13:08

Uh polls will open at six o'clock in the morning and they close at eight o'clock.

1:13:13

And there is same day voter registration um here at City Hall.

1:13:17

Uh so and also two City Hall is where you if you register the same day is where you will be voting.

1:13:23

Uh so please, if you're not registered, um please take that opportunity to do so.

1:13:28

I'm here at City Hall, and then uh our clerk staff as well as registered our voters office will be able to take care of you.

1:13:34

And lastly, um, due to the storms that are taking place in the Caribbean tomorrow, category five, our prayers go out to all the families um that have uh friends and relatives um in the island of Jamaica and surrounding areas.

1:13:48

Uh so please uh pray for those individuals, particularly our Council President, uh, Councilwoman Shirley Surgeon, who has family there.

1:13:56

Um, the West Indian Social Club will be accepting donations for those that want to uh provide donations to uh individuals uh in Jamaica, and uh you can reach out uh to them respectively for that.

1:14:09

Um since we have no other business to discuss, this council meeting is now adjourned.

1:14:14

Thank you very much.

1:14:15

Take care, have a good night.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████65%
Transportation Safety█████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████12%
Disability Rights████6%
Public Engagement███4%
Summary of Proceedings

Hartford Common Council Meeting Summary: October 27, 2025

The Hartford Court of Common Council convened on October 27, 2025, to review administrative actions, approve grants, and discuss legislative referrals. The meeting opened with a roll call establishing a quorum, a moment of silence for former Council Member Jean Holloway, and the reading and approval of the previous meeting's minutes. Council members unanimously approved several grant applications, utility repair ordinances, and the establishment of a new police district office, while referring appointments and budgetary matters to appropriate committees. Following an executive session regarding a legal dispute, the council voted to take action and adjourned the meeting with reminders for upcoming elections and a tribute to Councilwoman Surgeon regarding Caribbean storms.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 3.3: Approved a motion by the Mayor to apply for and accept a grant of $323,764.95 from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation for the Fiscal Year 2026 comprehensive DUI enforcement project. (Vote: 9-0)
  • Item 3.4: Approved a motion by the Mayor to apply for and accept a grant of $28,850.34 from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation for the Fiscal Year 2026 Click It or Ticket day and night campaign.
  • Item 8.2: Approved a motion by the Mayor to lease office space from NHAH2 LLC at 127-133 Martin Street to establish a Northeast District Hartford Police Office. (Vote: 9-0)
  • Items 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3: Included in the consent calendar. Councilman Gale provided a statement of support for Item 5.1, explaining that the ordinance requires utility companies to replace street markings (yellow/white lines, crosswalks) after digging and mandates the raising of manholes/pavement cuts to match new repaved levels to prevent dips. (Vote: 9-0)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Councilman Gale: Expressed support for the design changes in Item 5.1 regarding utility pavement marking replacements and manhole leveling. He stated these changes are intended to improve road conditions after utility work and street repaving.

Discussion Items

  • Supplemental Agenda: The Majority Leader made a motion to suspend rules to add Items 8.1 and 8.2 to the agenda, which was unanimously passed.
  • Budget and Accountability Committee Reports: The council received (did not vote to act on immediately) reports regarding: (4.1) postponement of a resolution to review handicapped parking and meter charge policies; (4.2) end-of-year budgetary transfers and an appropriation for Board of Education budgetary challenges; and (4.3) the appointment of Talia Neves to the Ethics Commission.
  • Committee Referrals: The council referred Item 3.1 (appointing Madison Seja to the Board of Education and Public Works/Parks committee) and Item 3.2 (adjusting golf cart rates) to the Labor, Education, Workforce, and Youth Committee.
  • Executive Session: The council entered and exited an executive session to discuss Item 7.1 (Joseph Caruso versus the City of Hartford). Upon returning, the council voted to take action on this item.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous Approval: The minutes of the October 14, 2025 meeting were approved.
  • Agenda Adjustments: Items 8.1 and 8.2 were added to the consent calendar via rule suspension; 8.1 was moved to the consent calendar in addition to the supplemental addition.
  • Legislative Actions:
    • Five consent calendar items were approved without dissent.
    • Council referred budgetary and appointment matters to respective committees.
    • The council voted unanimously to take action on the executive session item regarding Joseph Caruso versus the City of Hartford.
  • Public Announcements:
    • Early voting is available at City Hall until November 2nd (10:00 AM - 6:00 PM).
    • General election for the Board of Education is scheduled for November 4th, with same-day registration and voting available at City Hall.
    • The council expressed solidarity with Councilwoman Shirley Surgeon's family in Jamaica regarding Category 5 storms, with the West Indian Social Club coordinating donations.

Meeting Transcript

There it is. The Patty TJ Gavel. Good evening, everyone. Would like to call to order this Court of Common Council meeting for today, October 27th, 2025. Mr. Clerk, can you please call the roll? Councilman Biladu? Yeah. Here. Councilman Clark? Here. Councilman Gale. Here. Councilman Hernandez. Councilman. Thank you. Councilman Micktham. Councilman Rosato. Here. Councilman Rosetti? Here. Council President Surgeon. And Councilman Thomas. Here. You have a quorum, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Uh we'd like to thank all the audience from joining us. Today we are the broadcasting live from Hartford Public Access TV dot org. Um channel the ninety-six on Comcast Exfinity, Channel six zero three two on frontier uh communications. Uh let us all stand uh for the Pledge of Allegiance. Liberty. If we can just remain standing for a moment of silence for uh Jean Holloway, who was a long time city resident and member of the Quartum Common Council for Staff and former DTC chair and vice chair who passed away over the weekend. Thank you. Madam Majority Leader, you have the floor. Thank you, Council President. Um I make a motion to sub oh no, I make a motion to approve the minutes of October 14th, 2025. Second. Motion has been made and promptly second to approve the minutes of October 14th, twenty twenty-five meeting. Any discussions on the matter? Any discussions hearing us saying none. Mr. Clerk, can you please call the role? On the approval of the minutes, Councilman Villadu? Yes. Councilman Clark? Yes. Councilman Gale. Yes.

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