The Office of Human Relations provides staff support to each of three Commissions established by the Court of Common Council (the Commission on Human Relations, the Hartford Commission on Disability Issues, and the Permanent Commission on the Status of Hartford Women). In addition, the office carries out the following responsibilities as established by various ordinances: acts as the designate of the City Manager for monitoring construction programs; monitors and enforces construction prevailing wage rate requirements; monitors lending practices of City depositories; oversees the City Minority/Women Business Enterprise program, the Vendor/Supplier Equal Opportunity Compliance program, and the Fair Housing program; and provides staff support to the Building Code Advisory Subcommittee of the Commission on Disability Issues.

The Office of Human Relations fosters equality and understanding for all people by supporting the efforts of the City’s policy leaders and the aforementioned three commissions in seeking to establish social and economic justice for all Hartford residents. Also, the office provides advice and comment to the City Manager on matters pertaining to equal opportunity and affirmative action and closely monitors the Davis Bacon Act and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) requirements on City construction projects; and additionally monitors the requirement of Hartford employment residency of City contracts and agreements.

The decrease is the result of filling two vacant positions at the entry level. This year, an additional $10,000 is budgeted for the purchase of telecommunications equipment for the hearing impaired.