General Services, Health and Environment Committee

COMMON COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING GENERAL SERVICE, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE Mike O’Brien, Chair Meeting called by: Mike O’Brien, Chair Date: 3-18-21 Time: 5:30PM Committee Members Present: O’Brien, Chair ☒ Anane ☐ Fahey ☒ Flynn ☒ Johnson ☒ Invitees/Speakers Joe Coffey, Commissioner of Water Department Council Members Present: Robinson, Hoey, and Conti City Personnel Present: John-Raphael Pichardo, Bill Trudeau Minutes Agenda Item (s): RESOLUTION NUMBER 27.31.21R RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL HONORING THE LIFE OF WARREN ADRIAN MACKEY AND RENAMING A PART OF LIVINGSTON AVE IN HIS HONOR ORDINANCE 4.31.21 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 371(WATER AND WATERWAYS) AND CHAPTER 42 (DEPARTMENTS AND COMMISSIONS) IN RELATION TO LEAD PIPES The Chair called the meeting to order. Warren MacKey was a greatly respected member of the Albany community who died earlier this year. Speaking at the meeting were his wife, Denyse MacKey and his daughters Madison and Makayla. They spoke beautifully as to Warren’s life, his accomplishments, and his devotion to his family and to his community. They gave eloquent testament to the outstanding person that he was and noted that they will be founding a charitable foundation in his honor. Also speaking to the memory of Warren MacKey was the Resolution sponsor, Jahmel Robinson. Several other Council members also spoke of their memories of Mr. Mackey as also did Bill Trudeau. A motion was made by Committee Member OBrien and seconded by Committee Member Flynn for a favorable recommendation to the Resolution. The motion passed unanimously. Water Commissioner Joseph Coffey spoke as to the need for this ordinance. The existing Code of the City of Albany still made some reference to lead pipes in the water supply system and in homes. However, NY State and Federal regulations have not allowed new lead piping to be used in water systems since 1940. This ordinance updates the Code to comply with Environmental Protection Agency Rules. Commissioner Coffey noted that Albany tests its drinking water for lead regularly and is well in compliance with lead in water regulations. He noted that Albany offers water testing to individual homes built before 1940 and the Albany Water Department is dedicating two million dollars in its Capital Budget to lead water main replacement. There were no members of the public who commented on the ordinance. A motion was made by Committee Member OBrien and seconded by Committee Member Fahey for a favorable recommendation for the ordinance. The motion passed unanimously. This meeting was held following Governor Cuomo’s executive order 202.1. It live streamed on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/albany.commoncouncil/ using Zoom as the meeting platform. Link to meeting recording: https://www.facebook.com/albany.commoncouncil/videos/3414203072012769 Respectfully Submitted, Michael O’Brien, Chair General Service, Health AND Environment Committee