Hartford council approves Sister Cities program structure despite one dissent

The Hartford Court of Common Council voted to adopt a resolution establishing the membership and initial structure of the City of Hartford Sister Cities program at its Jan. 26, 2026 virtual meeting.

Councilwoman Shirley Surgeon said she opposed placing the resolution on action and voted against it, saying she had received complaints that longtime community participants were not included among the program’s initial appointees. “I have received a complaint on that. So I did not want to vote for this item because I disagreed with the way the initial program was put together,” Surgeon said during the meeting.

The motion to take action on Item 7.1 was made by Majority Leader Kelly Billadoux and seconded; the clerk called the roll and the resolution passed with the council recorded voting in favor except for Surgeon. Council President TJ Clark presided over the action. The council did not record other amendments to the resolution during the discussion.

Why this matters: A sister‑cities program establishes formal exchange relationships that can shape cultural, educational and economic outreach. Surgeon’s objection centers on the selection and composition of the program’s initial membership and suggests some community stakeholders feel excluded from the restart of a program that council members said had been inactive for years.

What the council did: The council approved the procedural motion to adopt the resolution as presented. Surgeon raised concerns and registered a No vote; the resolution nonetheless passed by roll call.

Next steps: The resolution, as adopted, sets the initial membership and structure for the Sister Cities program. The council did not record further instructions, referrals, or requirements for additional public outreach during the meeting; implementation steps and appointments were not specified on the record.

The meeting adjourned immediately after the vote.