New Britain Common Council Regular Meeting - June 12, 2024
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New Britain Common Council Regular Meeting - June 12, 2024
The New Britain Common Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, beginning with public participation at 7:00 PM and the regular session at 7:46 PM. The meeting included recognition of graduating youth leaders, a presentation on the Holmes School renovation project, adoption of several consent agenda items, and passage of resolutions on Juneteenth, Pride Month, Alzheimer's awareness, immigrant heritage, flag day, a speed enforcement grant, and the Downtown District budget. Public comment featured concerns about flooding infrastructure, police interactions, and unmet city promises. The meeting adjourned at 9:03 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from April 24, May 8, April 24 special, and May 22 special meetings.
- Items A–K and L and 16 (added by amendment) adopted unanimously on roll call vote (15-0). Items included claims reports, zoning recommendations, purchasing reports, and police commission responses on traffic studies.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Frank Chase (Roxbury Road): Repeatedly asked "Where's the money?" regarding the Allen Street Project No. 2, citing ARPA funds and a $4 million transfer he claims was never executed. Demanded transparency and prioritization of the project after 30 years of waiting.
- Nasra Ali (homeless since May 2022): Described an illegal eviction and subsequent harassment, vandalism of her car, and lack of police response despite reports. Expressed fear for her safety and frustration with the mayor's office.
- Vanessa Cologne (new business owner on North Street): Reported that a police officer harassed a customer and then issued loitering tickets to multiple customers. Felt this drives away patrons and harms her business; requested positive community-police relations.
- Charles Smith (Jubilee Street): Complained about broken promises from city officials (specifically Justin Dorsey) regarding reimbursements and park improvements. Expressed disappointment after 36 years of attempting to get issues resolved.
- John Christoph (Lindwood Street): Criticized the administration for touting school construction funding that largely came from state officials, questioned fiscal transparency, noted a tax increase, and asked about audits of ARPA funds and the sale of Village Square.
- John Bord (public comment): Voiced support for Resolution #6 recognizing June as Pride Month, citing increased Human Rights Campaign score and the importance of affirming LGBTQ+ rights.
- Online caller (Johnny Scott): Thanked the council.
- Online caller (unidentified): Commented on summer school transportation issues, saying "it's not beneficial for children to walk" and questioning why busing isn't provided.
Recognition & Presentations
- Youth Leadership Awards: Daniel, a graduating senior and Youth Leadership Council member, received a citation from state legislators. Alanese Jimenez (AJ) received the 2024 Mayor's Medal of Merit for her work with the youth prevention council.
- Holmes School Renovation Presentation: Paul Selena (Director of City & School Relations) and Freddie Karachi (KBA Architects) presented plans for a $70 million renovation (95% state reimbursement). Key details:
- Demolition of a one-story section and addition of a two-story wing.
- New gym, family resource center, school-based health clinic, and bus loop eliminating Nye Street traffic.
- Construction to begin September 2024 with completion by August 2026.
- The project includes solar panels (one of the largest in the district), generators for emergency use, and a 1.5-acre expansion into Stanley Park approved by the Attorney General.
- The council commended state Representative Bobby Sanchez for securing 95% reimbursement and space waivers.
Discussion Items
- Resolution #1 (321 Ellis Street Solar): Alderman Simpson noted the ARUD district master plan amendment will support solar photovoltaic facility development, reducing electricity costs for affordable housing residents. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #2 (Juneteenth): Alderwoman Scott spoke emotionally about the history of slavery and the importance of recognizing June 19, 2023 (state holiday in CT since 2022). Urged attendance at local Juneteenth events. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #3 (Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month): Presented by Alderwoman McAdam; 78,000 CT residents live with Alzheimer's, 178,000 caregivers. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #4 (Immigrant Heritage Month): Alderwoman Barbosa noted immigrants make up 26% of the US population and contribute to New Britain's economy and culture. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #5 (Flag Day): Recognized June 14 as Flag Day and encouraged residents to display the flag. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #6 (Pride Month): Alderman Smedley highlighted the city's Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index score of 87 (aiming for 90). Alderwoman Barbosa shared personal support for her gay daughter. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #7 (Speed & Aggressive Driving Enforcement Grant): Alderman Santiago noted 50.7% of speed crashes occur on weekends, 22% of fatal crashes involve aggressive driving. The $78,749 federal grant will fund overtime for targeted enforcement. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #15 (Willow Brook Flood Study Grant): Alderman Simpson introduced a $300,000 DEEP climate resiliency grant to study and design flood mitigation in Willowbrook Park. Mark Moriarty confirmed it's a planning study only; similar studies preceded other projects. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #16 (Downtown District Budget FY2024-2025): Alderman Santiago presented the budget with a decreased mill rate of 2.9 mils (from 3.25). Alderwoman Beloin-Savedra questioned the $266,000 budget, noting only $50,000 for activities (retail improvement, special events, marketing). Nicole (Downtown District) explained the facade improvement program and events. Alderman Smedley requested earlier submission for committee review. Adopted unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda and Resolutions #1–16 all passed with unanimous votes (15-0).
- Petitions (slow crossing signs on South Main, deaf child sign, traffic study on Pinehurst/Pershing) were referred to the Police Commission.
- Next steps: The Holmes School project will begin demolition in July 2024, with ground breaking in September and completion expected August 2026. The Willow Brook study will proceed. The Downtown District will operate under the approved budget. The speed enforcement grant will fund overtime patrols.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everybody to the June 12th regular meeting of the New Britain Common Council. This is uh public participation, and it is now seven o'clock. Um I see we have names on the list, and anybody who wants to speak will have that opportunity. We just ask that you state your name and address clearly for the record and limit your speaking time to three minutes. Um we will begin tonight with Mr. Frank Chase. Frank Chase, 24 Roxbury Road. Where's the money? Our state legislators report that millions of dollars have flowed to the city of New Britain. Since 2013, the current mayor has prioritized and allocated this money for many other higher profile projects. Now one dollar for the Allen Street project, our most pressing need. Where's the money? Recently, $56 million flowed to the city from ARPA funds. Now one dollar allocated for the Allen Street project, which our current mayor mayor indicates is our most pressing need. Where's the money? Where's the required transparency? The current mayor approved and confirmed with resolutions 36236 and 36258-1, a four million dollar transfer from the general fund to the public works account for the Allen Street Project No. Just weeks before our last election in 2023. These resolutions were used to validate this transfer, but it never happened. We know the $4 million the current mayor promised and allocated for the Allen Street Project No. Is mandated to stay in the general fund for urgent unanticipated expenditures. Where's the money? We, along with the other taxpayers in our neighborhood, have diligently paid our taxes for decades. We are demanding our fair share of money from federal, state, city governments to fund our most pressing need, the Allen Street Project No. We've been waiting patiently for 30 years. As we have detailed for you over the past nine months, with our narratives and articles, the evidence and the facts are revealing. The reality is simple. After 30 years, the OPEG funding shell game continues with shifting project priorities while our tax dollars are lost in the fiscal shuffle. For example, city officials have received an additional four million dollars from the state, which has not been allocated. We want this money for the Allen Street Project number two. Obviously, our skepticism and cynicism is justified based on the current mayor's failed efforts to prioritize and fund the Allen Street Project number two. Yes, the current current mayor has been disingenuous with all of us in Ward 4. Don't get burned by the same flame twice. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Chase. Our next speaker is Nasra Ali. If I sorry if I didn't pronounce that correctly. Hello, good evening. I'm here today because I'm very uh disappointed. I'm homeless at the moment. And I've been homeless since May 19, 2022 to present. From an illegal eviction, West Hartford probate court. I had to run and come to New Britain because that's how terrified I was. In New Britain here, I was parked in front of the police department for my safety. I was given permission to do so. And the entire time, the entire year. My car was vandalized. I was terrorized. I was threatened.
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