Finance, Assessment and Taxation Committee

ALBANY COMMON COUNCIL FINANCE, ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION COMMITTEE MINUTES Sonia Frederick, Chair Meeting called by: Sonia Frederick, Chair | Date: September 18, 2023 | Time: 6:05 PM Committee Members Present: Frederick, Chair ☒ Balarin ☒ Farrell ☒ Adams ☒ Keegan ☒ Council Members Present: Anane, Hoey, Johnson, Kimbrough City Personnel Present: Shaniqua Jackson (Deputy City Clerk), Jake Eisland (Research Counsel), Bryan Jimenez (Senior Legislative Aide), Juliette Geraghty (Junior Legislative Aide), Max Thierry (Junior Policy Analyst) Minutes Topic(s) of Discussion:  ORDINANCE 33.82.23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CITY-OWNED PARCELS AT 34 IRVING STREET (TAX MAP PARCEL NUMBER 76.40-2-10), 38 IRVING STREET (TAX MAP PARCEL NUMBER 76.40-2-9), AND 181 MYRTLE AVENUE (TAX MAP PARCEL NUMBER 76.40-2-37) TO CAPITAL ROOTS, INC. Discussion:  The Chair called the meeting to order and introduced Ordinance 33.82.23 as the topic of discussion before opening public comment period.  Public comment was heard.  The Chair read written comment from Ibrahím Pedriñán regarding Ordinance 33.82.23 into the record.  The Chair recognized Council Member Farrell.  Council Member Farrell said that she wished that the Committee were having the discussion further in advance of the Capital Roots grant deadline.  Sean Collins spoke on the ongoing dispute between Capital Roots and its unionizing employees.  The Chair asked whether committee members had any further questions.  Council Member Keegan said that information related to the National Labor Relations Board case had been received by the committee members in advance of the meeting.  The Chair thanked Council Member Keegan.  The Chair recognized Council Member Balarin.  Council Member Balarin asked whether the Committee had received an assessment of the properties in question, to which Council Member Frederick responded. Council Member Balarin spoke on conflicting thoughts regarding the sale and said that he wished to hear more from the legislation’s sponsor.  Council Member Frederick said that Corporation Counsel had notified her that a representative would not be attending the meeting. She read a letter from Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel Brett Williams regarding the sale of the parcels into the record.  The Chair recognized Council Member Adams.   Council Member Adams spoke on the timeframe of the ordinance’s consideration as well as his reconsideration of the ordinance’s passage.  The Chair recognized that Council Member Anane had joined the meeting.  Council Member Frederick asked Council Member Adams how he would like to address the ordinance. o Council Member Adams responded that he would like to postpone a vote upon the ordinance.  The Chair recognized Council Member Hoey.  Council Member Hoey thanked Council Member Adams and spoke on public financial information related to Capital Roots. He said that he appreciated the sponsor’s willingness to delay a vote upon the ordinance.  The Chair recognized Council Member Anane.  Council Member Anane thanked Council Member Adams for holding the legislation and thanked the Council for its support of labor unions.  The Chair recognized Council Member Balarin.  Council Member Balarin thanked Council Member Adams and the speakers.  Council Member Frederick summarized the discussion and stated that consideration of Ordinance 33.82.23 would be postponed until relevant National Labor Relations Board cases had been closed. Public Comment: Darryl McGrath, 6 Irving Street, Albany, NY 12202—Ordinance 33.82.23 Sean Collins, 118 7th Avenue, Troy, NY 12180—Ordinance 33.82.23 Adjourn: The Chair adjourned the meeting at 6:39 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Max Thierry Junior Policy Analyst Albany Common Council