Common Council Agendas and Minutes

COMMON COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - 7:00 P.M. Common Council Chambers Roll call was taken. PRESENT: EXCUSED: Mayor Keeler Council Member Higgins Council President Biggs Council Member Izzo Council Member Soloyna Council Member McCarthy Council Member Trudeau Public Comment: Dan - Caldwell Banker Representing BDJ with a summary proposal to convert 169 Mohawk Street into 25 market rate apartments. There will be 16 1-bedroom and 9 2-bedroom apartments. We are going to try to restore the exterior appearance of the building. We want to work together with the historical department and the building/planning department. This project will be self funded, and we would like to get to work right away. Carl Godfrey says we are trying to clean up and keep improving our city. Mayor Keeler asks if Carl can digitalize so we can get people copies of their plans. Carl agrees. Paula Brewer-Cohoes Citizen (Please see attached) Joe Ritchie- Asks if there is an update on the sale of Saratoga Sites. Brian Kremer says it is a grey area and we have to work it out. Mayor says they want to build 2 warehouses there. Joe Ritchie- wants to maintain the historical building for the library can we push off this sale for a month or so to see what the public wants? Mayor Keeler says he believes 3 to 1 the people are in favor of selling the building. Theresa Bourgeois-I urge a pause of the sale of this Anchor Building in our community. Mayor Keeler says We are trying to preserve the building. Theresa Bourgeois asks does this company have experience of historic preservation. Its not clear that this company has any experience. These numbers don’t make sense based on what my research says and we need to pause on this sale. Once it’s gone its gone. Mayor Keeler says we should take this opportunity to turn it over to a private investor. Theresa Bourgeois -We should have more community input. I really think it’s a large step to lose this building, we already lost our community center. Donna Smith-Aria’s Imporium- We need new retail businesses. We need a person to help Steve Napier with the Business Development of Cohoes. What can we do to improve the traffic. There are lots of vacant buildings and we are all struggling. Mayor Keeler says we can’t force people to open up and I don’t mean to discourage you we love having you here. Donna Smith- says maybe we can make a website? I’m just getting worried we need to send people to our shops. Danielle Cherniak- City Historian-(Please See Attached) Pete Frangie-Resident of Cohoes- The numbers Don’t work Union-vs-Private Contracting. The numbers really don’t add up. It’s only about 5% more expensive for prevailing wage. I emailed 5 or 6 years ago when you had the money I asked if you needed help and I got No Acknowledgement. I appreciate what you want to do preservation is on top. I guess what I’m lost with is there doesn’t seem to be a master plan. We just keep plucking City properties and selling them. Mayor Keeler says these are municipal properties that serve no use to the City. Different projects are happening downtown that will bring a lot of market rate apartments to patronize these businesses. Pete Frangie- you said the same thing when Harmony Mills was built. You all said with these apartments they are going to be flooding Remsen Street. Mayor Keeler says look at Harmony Mills before the rehab it was burned down it was in ruins. Pete Frangie- but it’s done nothing for our downtown. Mayor Keeler says but it saved the building and a piece of our History. Pete Frangie- lets talk about the elephant in the room part of downtown is surrounded by streets that are deteriorated. Mayor Keeler says I’ll speak for Sharon when I say that is insulting. We’ve been working as the Mayors before me have for decades on that downtown. Pete Frangie-I’m happy to take a walk with you anytime. Mayor Keeler says I’d love to see it I’m downtown a lot. Pete Frangie – says as am I Pete Frangie- lets get an assessment survey lets get 3rd party proposals. What steps have we taken? Mayor Keeler says you keep bringing up the Community Center Pete but the County is taking that over. There are a lot of good things going on here Pete but you refuse to see it. Block by Block we are working on it. Council Member April Trudeau asks Carl Godfrey about what the rents will be for the new apartments? Carl Godfrey-the target is $1800.00- $2200.00for 1 to 2 bedroom and we always rent to young professionals. Pete Frangie-lets set a plan, lets be transparent with the community, lets have a plan what is your plan? That’s all I ask. Gil Either-life long Cohoes resident- County Legislator-I saw Dan McCoy at the St Patrick’s Day Parade and he told me the end of spring for the Community Center. Sharon Butler-says she sent the floor plans to Albany County a week and a half ago. Gil Either- lets get beyond this Library and stop moving backwards. Council Member Izzo asks Carl Godfrey about how long will this project take start to finish? Carl Godfrey- probably 2 years and we would like to start this fall. Approval of the minutes for the December 17th, 2024, January 28th, February 25th, March 11th, 2025 meetings. Council President Biggs made a MOTION to approve Minutes for the December 17th, 2024, January 28th, February 25th, March 11th, 2025 meetings. Seconded by Council Member McCarthy. All members voted “AYE.” The motion passed. Ordinance No. 1 for the year 2025 An Ordinance authorizing the resurfacing and/or paving of certain streets in the City of Cohoes. Council Member Soloyna made a MOTION to approve Ordinance No. 1 for the year 2025. Seconded by Council Member Izzo. All members voted “AYE.” The motion passed. Ordinance No. 2 for the year 2025 An Ordinance approving the sale of a city- owned parcel. TABLED Resolution No. 11 for the year 2025 A Resolution declaring the Month of April Fair Housing Month in the City of Cohoes. Council President Biggs made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 11 for the year 2025. Seconded by Council Member Izzo. All members voted “AYE.” The motion passed. Resolution No. 12 for the year 2025 A Resolution authorizing the granting of revocable licenses for use of city property and authorizing service agreements with various youth leagues and public service organizations. Council Member McCarthy made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 12 for the year 2025. Seconded by Council Member Soloyna. All members voted “AYE.” The motion passed. Resolution No. 13 for the year 2025 A Resolution approving an excess Workers’ Compensation and Employment Liability Indemnity Insurance Contract. Council Member McCarthy made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 13 for the year 2025. Seconded by Council President Biggs. All members voted “AYE.” The motion passed. Resolution No. 14 for the year 2025 A Resolution approving a Shared Services agreement between the City of Cohoes and the Village of Green Island. Council Member Soloyna made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 14 for the year 2025. Seconded by Council Member Izzo. All members voted “AYE.” The motion passed. At 7:55 PM Council President made a MOTION to adjourn. Council Member McCarthy seconded the motion. All members voted “AYE.” The Common Council Meeting concluded. ______________________________ Roni Miorin, City Clerk