Common Council Agendas and Minutes

COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS Tuesday, July 24, 2018 - 7:00 P.M. Regular Meeting Common Council Chambers Mayor Morse led in the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:10 PM Roll call was taken PRESENT: ABSENT: Mayor Morse None Council President Briggs Council Member Smith Council Member Russell Council Member McCarthy Council Member Napier Council Member Koniowka Public Comment: Sara Stevens, Remsen St., “I have a concern with a restaurant in the Music Hall. It could be a fire hazard. I just wanted to express my concerns.” Mayor Morse, “They are required to meet all NYS and Fire codes.” Sara Stevens, “Also a concern with the time frame, the visitor center has to jump quickly to move.” Mayor Morse, “Michael Jacobson has worked very closely with the Visitor Center and Historical Society to be sure everyone has agreed. We will work with you to get all your items and move it to a new place.” Theresa Bourgeois, Central Ave., “I love the Music Hall, I am surprised to see it shift from a public place to commercial. It has long been a public space.” Mayor Morse, “The City has spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to re-vitalize the Music Hall. The space downstairs is old. This is a vibrant opportunity. Having an established restaurant in the Music Hall will bring in a lot of people. The developer is investing a half a million dollars into renovations. This is another step in bringing downtown back to life. We give as much information as we can to the public to keep them informed with meetings and workshops that everyone is welcome to attend.” Council Member Koniowka, “The public had very little information on this project until last week. I think this is the first true public discussion.” Common Council Regular Meeting 07/24/2018 Page 2 of 5 Mayor Morse, “I will share that this is the first time people are getting the opportunity to see the actual restaurant, but the concept of moving the Visitor Center and bringing in a restaurant has been going on since we started this work 1 ½ years ago. We talked about moving the Visitor Center to a larger space. This has been a discussion for a long time.” Council Member Russell made a MOTION to approve the minutes from the June 26, 2018 and the June 27, 2018 meetings. Seconded by Council Member Smith. All members voted “AYE”. The motion passed. Council President Briggs, and Council Members Smith, Russell, McCarthy, Napier, and Koniowka presented Resolution No. 49 for the year 2018 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS USING THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THREE SEPARATE GRANTS Council Member Russell made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 49 for the year 2018, seconded by Council Member Napier. All members voted “AYE”. Resolution No. 49 for the year 2018 passed. Council President Briggs, and Council Members Smith, Russell, McCarthy, Napier, and Koniowka presented Resolution No. 50 for the year 2018 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMPROMISE AND SETTLEMENT OF PENDING LITIGATION Council Member Russell made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 50 for the year 2018, seconded by Council President Briggs. All members voted “AYE”. Resolution No. 50 for the year 2018 passed. Council President Briggs, and Council Members Smith, Russell, McCarthy, Napier, and Koniowka presented Resolution No. 51 for the year 2018 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A LEASE AGREEMENT REGARDING THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE COHOES MUSIC HALL Mayor Morse, “As you know from the conversation, the long goal has been to find a tenant for the downstairs of the Music Hall. This was the biggest news in the Times Union. Many people speaking out about how incredible it would be and how they would love to see a restaurant in the Music Hall. How it would improve the number of people who would visit the Music Hall and downtown. We are lucky to have this happen now, during our growth of downtown. Part of working with the Music Hall, there were some grants provided in the past to the Music Hall. In order to make any changes, we need to have Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation on board with us. Community Development has been working hand in hand with them. Everything we would do, is contingent on the State Approval.” Common Council Regular Meeting 07/24/2018 Page 3 of 5 Council Member Napier, “According to this letter, we cannot make any changes to the Music Hall until after May 22, 2019. We cannot alter, sell, or make any changes without approval. Are we opening ourselves up?” Mayor Morse, “No because we would not move forward without the States approval.” We can pass the Resolution now and wait to begin until we receive approval from the State.” Corporation Counsel, “We can pass a Resolution contingent on meeting all regulations.” Council President Briggs made a MOTION to Amend Resolution No. 51for the year 2018 to add the phrase “upon receipt of approval from the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation”. Council Member Russell seconded the motion. All members voted “AYE”. Council President Briggs made a MOTION to approve the Amendment of Resolution No. 51 for the year 2018, seconded by Council Member Russell. All members voted “AYE”. Resolution No. 50 for the year 2018 will be amended. Council Member Koniowka made a MOTION to table Amended Resolution No. 51 for the year 2018, because I do have some concerns as to the renovation of the space.” Mayor Morse, “We follow all of New York State Fire Codes, nothing will be put in that does not. We want to protect the Music Hall and our residents.” Council Member Napier, “Music Hall is not just any building, it is an extraordinary gem we have in our community, we need to be sure we are being respectful” Council Member Russell, “The Music Hall has added protection because of the sprinklers in there now. Putting the restaurant in there, because it has occupied space, they need to have additional protection. With a new restaurant, they will need to put in hood system in that will have additional fire protection.” Council Member Koniowka withdrew the motion to table Resolution No. 51 for the year 2018. Council Member Koniowka made a MOTION to approve Amended Resolution No. 51 for the year 2018, seconded by Council Member Russell. All members voted “AYE”. Amended Resolution No. 51 for the year 2018 passed. Council President Briggs, and Council Members Smith, Russell, McCarthy, Napier, and Koniowka presented Resolution No. 52 for the year 2018 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A LEASE AGREEMENT REGARDING SPACE LOCATED AT THE COHOES PUBLIC LIBRARY Common Council Regular Meeting 07/24/2018 Page 4 of 5 Council Member Russell made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 52 for the year 2018, seconded by Council President Briggs. All members voted “AYE”. Resolution No. 52 for the year 2018 passed. Council President Briggs, and Council Members Smith, Russell, McCarthy, Napier, and Koniowka presented Resolution No. 53 for the year 2018 A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND PARK PLAYHOUSE, INC. Owen Smith, Park Playhouse, “I appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight. Park Playhouse already feels at home here in Cohoes because of the kind words from the Mayor and the Council and the residents. We are excited about being a part of the Music Hall and the City. This is really exciting for us. This will allow us to expand our theater in a place we love.” Council Member Napier made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 53 for the year 2018, seconded by Council Member Russell. All members voted “AYE”. Resolution No. 53 for the year 2018 passed. Council President Briggs, and Council Members Smith, Russell, McCarthy, Napier, and Koniowka presented Resolution No. 54 for the year 2018 A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO PLACE 12 SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE CITY Council Member Koniowka made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 54 for the year 2018, seconded by Council Member Russell. All members voted “AYE”. Resolution No. 54 for the year 2018 passed. Council President Briggs, and Council Members Smith, Russell, McCarthy, Napier, and Koniowka presented Resolution No. 55 for the year 2018 A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ENDORSING THE APPLICATION OF THE COMMUNITY BUILDERS, INC. FOR A GRANT FOR A PARK PROJECT AT ERIE POINT Council Member Russell made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 55 for the year 2018, seconded by Council Member Smith. All members voted “AYE”. Resolution No. 55 for the year 2018 passed. Public Comments: Timothy Thibodeau, Massachusetts Ave., “I would like the Council to clarify a decision that I received from the Ethics Board from a meeting on May 8th. The letter I received stated the Council made a decision. Is this true?” Common Council Regular Meeting 07/24/2018 Page 5 of 5 Mayor Morse, “Let the record reflect, the Council did not take any action.” At 9:10 PM the Common Council President Briggs made a MOTION to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Russell. All members voted “AYE”. The Common Council Meeting was adjourned. ______________________________ Lori A. Yando, City Clerk