Council president broadens proposal to fund Hart team; committee sends amended resolution with favorable recommendation

The committee took up a resolution to allocate $500,000 of cannabis tax revenue to Health and Human Services to support the Hart team and approved an amendment to broaden funding sources and remove a strict cap.

Council President TJ Clark described the measure as a response to "community outcry" about mental-health response capacity after two police-involved incidents in which the Hart team was deployed. Clark said the team was initially funded with ARPA dollars and the city should pursue multiple revenue streams rather than rely only on cannabis tax receipts.

"This resolution...is an idea I had in...response to the community outcry regarding mental health services," Clark said, explaining the intent to sustain the program beyond its ARPA start. Clark proposed amended language authorizing the allocation "of up to $500,000 from any sources of revenue available to the city of Hartford." The committee approved that amendment.

Julian Frond, director of the Office of Management and Budget and Grants, told the committee the Hart team has sufficient funds to operate through June 30 and that the city is pursuing additional grants, including potential DOJ funding. Frond also raised whether capping support at $500,000 would be problematic if the city secures more funds; committee members agreed to clarify the language to allow "such other amount as the city is successful in obtaining." Clark added, "I don't wanna cap it," when discussing the intent to avoid an artificial ceiling.

A motion to send the amended resolution back to the full Court of Common Council with a favorable recommendation carried unanimously. Committee members said the measure signals a priority on mental-health response capacity; the item is expected to be considered at the council meeting on May 26.