Committee OKs amendment to ordinance aimed at restoring utility covers and pavement markings after repaving

The Hartford City Public Works, Parks, Recreation & Environment Committee on Sept. 24 accepted an amendment and voted to send an ordinance amending Chapter 31, Article 3 (sections 31-87 and 31-95) back to the full council with a favorable recommendation and an instruction that it return to public hearing.

Councilman John Gale, co-sponsor of the ordinance with Councilman Amielcar Hernandez, said the change is intended to address safety and maintenance problems that appear after milling and repaving, including manhole covers and utility access points left below the new pavement grade and pavement striping that is not restored. "Let me give you a little bit of background and then, tell you where I think we are tonight," Gale told the committee as he summarized the proposal and its negotiation with city staff and legal counsel.

The ordinance, introduced April 14, was revised following meetings among Councilman Gale, Councilman Hernandez, Director of Public Works Chris Hayes and assistant corporation counsel Coombs. Director Hayes told the committee that the Department of Public Works "is in full support" of the final version signed off by corporation counsel. Gale and Hernandez had earlier sought additional street-inspection capacity in the DPW budget so the city could enforce the policy; committee discussion noted at least one street-inspection position was hired, though the transcript did not specify a precise number.

The amendment under consideration is titled "amendment to street excavations 4-14-25 version v8-21-22-25 (2)," according to committee remarks. Committee members voted to accept that amendment, and then voted to send the ordinance as amended to the full council with a favorable recommendation. Committee members also asked the report to note that, per corporation counsel, the ordinance must be returned to a public hearing before final action.

No formal roll-call tally was recorded in the committee transcript; the meeting record shows the motion was made and seconded and passed by voice vote. The committee did not adopt the ordinance at this meeting — it only approved the amendment and recommended the amended ordinance go to the full council and back to public hearing.

Next steps: the ordinance will be placed on the full Hartford City Council agenda for a public hearing and subsequent council consideration. The committee record indicates DPW staff supported the changes and that enforcement capacity was a factor in timing the ordinance.