Common Council Agendas and Minutes

COMMON COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, April 22, 2025 - 7:00 P.M. Common Council Chambers Roll call was taken. PRESENT: EXCUSED: Mayor Keeler Council President Biggs Council Member Izzo Council Member Higgins Council Member Soloyna Council Member McCarthy Council Member Trudeau Public Comment: Joanne Cohoes Resident: Why is the Firehouse not on today’s meeting since there are only 8 days left? Shawn Higgins: Chief Fahd met with the director of operation for Mohawk Ambulance they have looked at both locations and temporarily are working out a location where they will be May 1 until we come up with a further plan. Joanne: so, the Firehouse is staying open? Mayor: I don’t know where that was on the agenda because it was never discussed to pull the Fire truck out of there. As far as everyone is concerned it’s a Fire House with the potential to house an ambulance as well. Theresa Bourgeois: See Attached Mike Durocher: 62 Breslin Ave Also your City Comptroller. I just want to point out some things that have been brought up about 169 Mohawk St. We were pretty clear during budget season when we had the library discussion about saving that building and I think we pretty much said that the council at the time were all happy and the City Administration has moved on. There was word that we were going to demolish it and that was never the case. We said at the time we were going to sell it. And now we’re here and we’re trying to sell it. The City is not able to fund that building anymore. Plus, this other building we have already just finished the roof we’re $140,000.00 in. The city matches $43,000.00 so that’s 43% match that’s a lot of money. I just want to let you know the Auditor was here 2 weeks and pretty much told you where all the Bond money went. It went to the Floating Solar Project. That was almost $700,000.00 spent none of the engineering was covered in funding of the grant we received. The City matches supposed to be $195,000.00 its well over 1.2 million dollars right now and they are getting started up again in May. There very well could be a lot more matches going on. The windows that they are voting on tonight is a little less than $700,000.00 left in Bond money. The Bid for tonight is $880,000.00 with engineering we are talking $956,000.00 which the city has probably already paid 70% of that to get to where we are today. That money was Bonded 4 years ago. Unfortunately plans don’t always come to fruition. Its just not happening. We are invested in 75 Remsen St. as the Cohoes Public Library which everybody at the time when we bought it $450,000.00 was all for it. That is our new Library that’s where the money is going to go. This other building I believe will be saved by this gentleman here and his partner. The goal was to not have to have the building demolished. As of May we are going to be uninsured over there and you know what that means, the city will be liable for any brick that falls on somebody’s head. We will not have insurance on that building by mid-May. You need to know this. Its very vital that we do something about it because we can’t go on operating with that building on our dime. Thank you Gil Either: Keeping you posted all along, Dan McCoy spoke with me this afternoon. The County Executive in case you don’t know. He will be here Friday at 10:00am to make an announcement to the community center that they now own the building. Now as a taxpayer I’m a little disappointed that we were here a couple weeks ago and talked about the Firehouse on the hill and trying to get it resolved. I don’t see it resolved. I thought we would have the Fire Engine there and the ambulance there is still what we are doing? Nothing has changed, has it? Mayor: like I said earlier the Fire trucks Stays and we are trying to work the ambulance into that building. Initially the concern was the ambulance needed their own dormitory wing if you will to separate the entities. They have to be in the city that’s our main concern that they are in the city. Gil Either: I constantly hear about the Firehouse on the hill from people in the city mostly on the hill. So if they can get an answer and stop worrying just tell them it’s going to get done. What I do know the library you guys decided to put it on Remsen St. Am I wrong in saying that? Mayor: No, you are right. Gil Either: So, with that being said I don’t know how he’s going to build this place, but I honestly believe you should move forward, and you should pass this tonight. Because the library is not going back were Theresa and some of you may want it. Let’s move forward with the Library on Remsen St. You guys should pass this tonight to have this guy go to work and build it. If he doesn’t build it the way he is supposed to shame on him! But the people in Cohoes want this done that’s my opinion. Mayor: Thank you Daniele Cherniak: I have comments about the visitors center. I was in the visitors center a few months ago for civil city business the space was being used as a workshop for building stage sets. That does not seem to be an appropriate use of that space. There were panels of wood stacked up against exhibits and power tools laying around. I would hope that kind of use would not be condoned. Mayor: I told Owen if you need to do things like that in the visitors center you are allowed to use it just clean up afterwards. That is the case going forward it is not a storage space for him. Daniele: It was there for an extended period of time. Owen: May I speak to this. The elevator went down November 22 and stayed down for a period of time. While we were loading in the et for A Christmas Story the musical that played all throughout the month of December. Unfortunately, with the elevator down we had to take apart a number of pieces of scenery we had to put that there so it could be brought up 3 flights of stairs. My staff did that with no extra pay, no extra accolades they did it because they wanted the show to go off without a hitch. That show brought in 6,000 people to Cohoes. So while I’m sensitive to what you’re saying what the Mayor said is absolutely accurate. We asked, we communicated with Mr.Napier about our use of that space that was an emergency situation. I have staff that vacuum and dust that space every week just in case there is a municipal need for the space. Its really important in Public Forums like this that we don’t talk about stuff if we don’t have the background on it. Adam Biggs: It was 100% clean when we were there, and nothing was stacked up. Joe: I love the new trees planted on 787. Are they any updates in general about what is going on with Norlite. It’s been over a year. Mayor: I have heard rumors but have not spoken directly with Norlite and that’s all I can really say about it. Peter Frangie: Arlington Rd Cohoes. I don’t know what side to lean on with this library thing anymore. It’s sad to see it go. If it does get voted that way. I think everyone had some good things to say about it. You know Mike is 100% correct and if there’s anything I know from the past when I was Treasurer, we’re not good landlords we don’t manage buildings well but if there’s anything in details it’s pretty gross mismanagement of funds on projects. So, I would say get to know your assets. So, council could understand where we are today. What’s in a project, what’s in design, where we are heading.$455,000.00 to acquire a building 2.5 million putting into a new library that Is well over 3 million we could have put into the old one if we owned it. We could have enhanced the old one and provided us with municipal use. Mayor: That is not true Peter because the DRI wouldn’t have gone for 2.5 million fir that building. Peter: Why not? Mayor: They wouldn’t have. I was in on discussions, and they wouldn’t have gone for that. Peter: Okay That’s Fine. Understand where your assets are. You know right now the Mayor is selling everything and whatever we have we can’t manage. I think we can manage it we just need to understand it better and what we have out there and what it is worth. I do think that building could have been used municipally. I would love to see what you’ve exhausted in trying to make it a municipal use building. I’m not sure that exists or what those details were I personally communicated with you 3 years ago asking you to try to use those funds/grants you had to kick off that project and you said after you were done with the new structure. So obviously that money existed because you responded to me saying after we’re done with City Hall we will take care of the Library. Mayor: We just shifted where that Library is 75 Remsen St. We have a plan Pete I don’t know if you like it or not but there is plans for everything. Ordinance No. 2 for the year 2025 An Ordinance approving the sale of a city- owned parcel Council Member McCarthy made a MOTION to approve the sale of the city owned parcel. Seconded by Council Member Higgins. All members voted “AYE.” The motion passed. Council President Adam Biggs: We want the public to understand that the council members all 6 of us worked really hard to research and get answers to the questions there was a lot of comments about our decision to table this a second time, but we wanted to make sure we did our due diligence. I want the public to understand that we had an opportunity to do a walk through no more than 3members present in 2 groups. Carl did answer all our questions one of the questions being do you have additional funds. Carl: Yes, I have 3.5 million in additional funds. George Soloyna: Some people have questions about the historical for the building. Carl did point out that he hired an individual that worked for RedByrne for over 20 years. She is an Architect He hired her to make sure everything gets done properly. The only thing being changed is the interior. Shawn Higgins: I would ask that the building is secured to try to eliminate vandalism. Resolution No. 16 for the year 2025 A Resolution directing and approving (A) The Deviation By The City Of Cohoes Industrial Development Agency relating to the terms and conditions of a certain Pilot Agreement to be entered into between City of Cohoes Industrial Development Agency and Erie Boulevard Hydropower, LP in connection with the Erie Boulevard Hydropower, LP (The “Project”) and (B) The undertaking of the Project By They Agency. Council Member McCarthy made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 16 for the year 2025. Seconded by Council President Izzo. All members voted “AYE.” The motion passed. Resolution No. 17 for the year 2025 A Resolution approving an agreement with Park Playhouse, Inc. regarding the Cohoes Music Hall. Council Member McCarthy made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 17 for the year 2025. Seconded by Council Member Higgins. All members voted “AYE.” The motion passed. Resolution No. 18 for the year 2025 A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a contract regarding the City Hall Window Replacement Project, Phase 1. Council Member McCarthy made a MOTION to approve Resolution No. 17 for the year 2025. Seconded by Council Member Soloyna. All members voted “AYE.” The motion passed. At 7:44 PM Council President Biggs made a MOTION to adjourn. Council Member Solonya seconded the motion. All members voted “AYE.” The Common Council Meeting concluded. ______________________________ Roni Miorin, City Clerk