The City of Hartford wants to stop employees from taking home city issued cars after a series of high profile problems.
The weekend crash on Farmington Ave. and Prospect Ave. in Hartford got the attention of city leaders.
“This has to change,” explained City Councilor Ken Kennedy.
Police say Rhonda Moniz-Carroll, the Deputy Director of Hartford’s Public Works Department caused it.
She was allegedly driving drunk in her city take home car.
Just months ago, the Mayor’s former Chief of Staff took his city SUV without permission after he resigned.
Police found it vandalized by his apartment.
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“Absolutely there is a problem with use and oversight of city vehicles,” explained City Council President Shawn Wooden.
On Monday night, the Hartford City Council introduced a new ordinance to get rid of these take home cars for supervisors and department heads.
The new ordinance would mean the Mayor, Police Chief, and Fire Chief would have take home cars. The idea now needs to be approved.
“The take home cars need to go,” Ken Kennedy added.
Mayor Pedro Segarra does not know how many workers have city cars.
He does not have a specific number and says there could be around 50.
City Councilors don’t know an exact number either.
An audit will be performed in the next few weeks to get those numbers.
They will vote on the ordinance in October.
Meanwhile, the Mayor fired Moniz-Carroll following her arrest on Saturday night.
“He knows what’s in a police report is hearsay,” said her husband, Kevin Carroll.
He says the drunk driving accusations were not true.
He said the Mayor made the move without having all the facts.
“There’s no due process that was given here,” Carroll added.
It is a decision the Mayor stood by.
“Obviously we expect our employees to comply with regulations,” Mayor Pedro Segarra said.
