In response to projections of increasing General Fund budget deficits for the foreseeable future, the Court of Common Council authorized a Committee to research ways to restructure the municipal government.

The Committee’s formal name is the “Hartford Committee on the Restructuring of City Government,” and it was created on May 20, 2014 via a non-financial resolution associated with the adopted budget.

The Committee will be comprised of a total of twelve members; three Council members, three members of the Administration, three representatives of City employee unions, and three experts in government reorganization. The resolution stated that all the members would be confirmed by City Council by July 1, 2014.

The resolution empowers the Mayor to appoint the three members of the administration and the three government reorganization experts. Mayor Segarra submitted five names to the Court of Common Council for confirmation in advance of the July 14, 2014 Council meeting. He appointed three members of the Administration and two reorganization experts.

• Darrell Hill, Chief Operating Officer
• Jose Colon Rivas, Director of Families, Children, Youth and Recreation
• Albert Ilg, Acting Finance Director
• William Cibes
• Thea Montanez

Allan Taylor, Legislative and Legal Advisor to the City Council, confirmed that the City Council’s three seats on the Committee were filled at the August 11, 2014 meeting.

• Kenneth Kennedy
• David MacDonald
• Larry Deutsch

Mr. Taylor also noted that the union representative positions were filled at the same time.

• Nazario Figureoa, representing the police union
• Vince Fusco, representing the fire union
• Marc Nelson, representing all other unions

The resolution identifies seven specific ideas that the Commission may consider, and leaves the door open to other ideas that are brought to the Commission’s attention by essentially anyone.

An interim report is requested by October 30, 2014, and the final report is to be issued with recommendations by December 30, 2014.