General Services, Health and Environment Committee

COMMON COUNCIL MEETING GENERAL SERVICE, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE Jack Flynn, Chair DATE: Wednesday, February 15th, 2023 LOCATION: Council Chambers-2nd Floor. City Hall TIME: 6:15 PM Or Directly after Caucus TOPIC(S) OF DISCUSSION/CONSIDERATION:  RESOLUTION NUMBER 5.12.22R A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF PASTOR JOSEPH ELGIN TAYLOR SR. AND RENAMING A PORTION OF LUDLOW ALLEY IN HIS HONOR  RESOLUTION NUMBER 9.21.23R A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL HONORING THE LIFE OF BEVERLY BARDEQUEZ AND RENAMING A PORTION OF RAPP ROAD IN HER HONOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: YES Council Member Love introduced the following: RESOLUTION NUMBER 5.12.23R A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF PASTOR JOSEPH ELGIN TAYLOR SR. AND RENAMING A PORTION OF LUDLOW ALLEY IN HIS HONOR WHEREAS, Pastor Elgin Taylor, Sr. is the Shepherd and leader of the Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, a historic church in Arbor Hill in the City of Albany; and WHEREAS, he was born in Albany and educated in the Albany public school system. He began his Christian journey in the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church. In 1985 Pastor Taylor graduated from the Albany Business College and later would take classes at the Andersonville Theological Seminary and the Wise School of Ministry; and WHEREAS, Pastor Taylor began his ministerial training in 2006 under the Reverend Ronald Grant of Shiloh Baptist Church of Hudson where Pastor Taylor served as the executive minister to the pastor and the minister of music. Pastor Taylor was ordained as a minister in 2010 and would become the seventh pastor of Sweet Pilgrim in March of 2010; and WHEREAS, not only is Pastor Taylor a dedicated man of God and committed to leading the members of Sweet Pilgrim Baptist Church, but he is also a loving husband to and father to his son Elgin II; and WHEREAS, Pastor Taylor has continued to follow the vision given to him as the Pastor of his congregation by continuously rebuilding God’s temple making it a beautiful place to worship and be spiritually fed; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Albany honors the life and contributions of Pastor Joseph Elgin Taylor, a committed, dedicated, caring man of faith and member of the Albany Community by renaming Ludlow Alley “Pastor Joseph Elgin Taylor Sr. Way” in his honor; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council directs that two signs shall be produced reading “Pastor Joseph Elgin Taylor Sr. Way,” which shall be placed in consultation with the Division of Traffic Engineering. To: Danielle Gillespie, City Clerk From: Joyce Love, Council Member Re: Common Council Legislation Supporting Memorandum Date: January 6, 2023 RESOLUTION 5.12.23R TITLE A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF PASTOR JOSEPH ELGIN TAYLOR SR. AND RENAMING A PORTION OF LUDLOW ALLEY IN HIS HONOR GENERAL PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION To officially celebrate the contributions of Pastor Elgin Joseph Taylor and create an honorary street sign at the proposed location. NECESSITY FOR LEGISLATION AND ANY CHANGE TO EXISTING LAW To celebrate the life of Pastor Joseph Elgin Taylor Sr. FISCAL IMPACT None. Council Member Clarke introduced the following RESOLUTION NUMBER 9.21.23R A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL HONORING THE LIFE OF BEVERLY BARDEQUEZ AND RENAMING A PORTION OF RAPP ROAD IN HER HONOR WHEREAS, Beverly Ann Bardequez was born on April 13, 1949 in Albany, NY, and was the daughter of the late Edward and Girlie Ferguson; and WHEREAS, upon graduation from New Lebanon Central High School she was employed by the New York State (NYS) Department of Social Services and later the NYS Department of Health, before leaving to pursue a Bachelor of Arts Degree from The State University of New York at Albany; and WHEREAS, upon her graduation, Beverly obtained employment with the Educational Opportunity Center, a Division of Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY, where she worked as the Enrollment Services Manager until her retirement; and WHEREAS, Beverly took pride in assuming her role as the President of the Rapp Road Historic Association formerly held by Emma Dickson and worked tirelessly to preserve the Rapp Road legacy; and WHEREAS, during her tenure as President, the “Crossroads: The History of Rapp Road and the Great Migration” documentary was featured on PBS, and the Rapp Road Historic Association walking tour was established; and WHEREAS, the Rapp Road Historic Association exhibit was featured and presented at many locations throughout New York State, including the New York State Museum; and WHEREAS, Beverly was recognized for her dedication to the association, receiving numerous citations and awards – most notably in 2003 when she was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award; and WHEREAS, she has been posthumously awarded the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition at the 11th Annual Mississippi Day Celebration on September 10, 2022 and received recognition from the Albany Common Council for her contributions to the city of Albany on October 17th, 2022; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Albany honors the life and legacy of Beverly Bardequez and renames the portion of Rapp Road between South Frontage Road and Springsteen Road in her honor; and  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council directs that two signs shall be produced reading “Beverly Bardequez Way,” which shall be placed in consultation with the Division of Traffic Engineering. To: Danielle Gillespie, City Clerk From: Jake Eisland, Research Counsel Re: Common Council Legislation Supporting Memorandum Date: February 7, 2023 RESOLUTION NUMBER 9.21.23R TITLE A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL HONORING THE LIFE OF BEVERLY BARDEQUEZ AND RENAMING A PORTION OF RAPP ROAD IN HER HONOR GENERAL PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION To officially celebrate the contributions of Beverly Bardequez by renaming a portion of Rapp Road and create an honorary street sign at the proposed location. NECESSITY FOR LEGISLATION AND ANY CHANGE TO EXISTING LAW To rename a portion or Rapp Road after Beverly Bardequez, whose valuable contributions to the City of Albany merit this honor. FISCAL IMPACT None.