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Committee endorses two nominees for Hartford Housing Authority
Summary
The Planning, Economic Development and Housing Committee voted to send two mayoral nominations, Grace Brangwin and Joanne Guzman, to the full Hartford City Council with favorable recommendations after brief introductions and committee discussion of housing authority priorities.
The Planning, Economic Development and Housing Committee voted to send two mayoral nominations to the full Hartford City Council with favorable recommendations: Grace Brangwin and Joanne Guzman. The committee chair, Councilwoman Shirley Surgeon, opened the meeting and framed the appointments as volunteer leadership to serve residents of city‑owned housing.
Brangwin, who said she has lived in Hartford for about four years and resides in Frog Hollow, told the committee she works in government relations at the Connecticut Business and Industry Association covering health care and housing policy. "I'm very excited to be appointed as a commissioner for the Hartford Housing Authority," she said, adding she hopes to use her policy expertise to "make a sustainable and tangible impact for those living in city owned properties."
Committee members praised both candidates and urged them to engage with ongoing housing developments. Councilman John Gale flagged two recent housing authority projects—one on Granby Street that was intended to include single‑family homeownership units and a mixed‑income design and a project with a commercial phase on Albany Avenue—and said he wants new commissioners to be aware of unfinished elements and to help pursue promised components. Councilwoman Marilyn Rossetti, who previously chaired the housing authority, said financing issues had delayed homeownership elements but that the housing authority still intends to pursue that goal.
The committee made separate motions to forward each nomination to the full council with favorable recommendations. Both motions were seconded and approved by voice vote with no opposition or abstentions noted. Chair Surgeon said the full council will vote on the appointments at its February 23 meeting.
The committee’s endorsement sends the nominees to the next step in the formal appointment process; the council’s confirmation vote will determine whether Brangwin and Guzman join the Hartford Housing Authority.
