Health and Human Services committee postpones ordinance creating African American and Black History and Culture Commission until public hearing

The Hartford City Council Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday voted to postpone action on an ordinance that would create an African American and Black History and Culture Commission until after a scheduled public hearing.

Chair Councilman TJ Clark opened the meeting and called item 2.9, an ordinance amending the Hartford Municipal Code (Chapter 2, Article 5, Secs. 2-296 through 2-299, Division 10) to establish the commission, and placed the public hearing date for Monday, June 16, 2025, at 7 p.m. Councilman Gail moved to postpone consideration so the committee could hear public feedback; Clark seconded. The committee adopted the motion by voice vote. "It's generally not our practice to discuss a matter in committee until the public has had an opportunity to provide us with some feedback," Gail said when moving postponement.

The motion sends the ordinance back to the committee's next meeting after the June 16 public hearing. No substantive discussion of the ordinance's provisions took place at Tuesday's meeting.

The committee did not take further action on the ordinance during the session and indicated the item will return to committee following the public comment period and the scheduled hearing.

For reference, the ordinance as read at the meeting amends Chapter 2, Article 5, Sections 2-296 through 2-299 (Division 10) of the Hartford Municipal Code to establish an African American and Black History and Culture Commission; the ordinance text and any additional materials will be available ahead of the June 16 public hearing.