City Council

CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ONE ROOSEVELT SQUARE, ROOM 104 TANESIA M. WALTERS, J.D., M.P.A. MOUNT VERNON, NY 10550 DONNA M. JACKSON City Clerk Main (914) 665-2352 Deputy City Clerk Fax (914) 668-6044 www.cmvny.com A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF THE MOUNT VERNON CITY COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022. Scheduled for 7:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, Mount Vernon, New York. *** Due to the ongoing pandemic, this meeting was held in the council chambers, with virtual participation via ZOOM and CMVNY Facebook. The meeting was not closed to the public, however, the maximum number of in-person occupants was limited *** PRESENT: Derrick Thompson, Danielle Browne, Esq., Lisa A. Copeland, Cathlin Gleason and Edward Poteat ABSENT: None PRESIDING: Derrick Thompson, President OTHERS: Tanesia M. Walters, City Clerk; Donna M. Jackson, Deputy City Clerk; Kristen Reed, Chief of Staff; Elias Gootzeit, Legislative Assistant; Brian G. Johnson, Corporation Counsel; Darren Morton, Ed.D., Comptroller; and Timothy Allen, Director of Communications. CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Derrick Thompson called the meeting to order and provided general house- keeping rules, including encouraging citizens to share the meeting on social media and what to do “in case of emergency”. Council President Thompson explained the 3-minute-plus-1 public comment rule. He then asked Councilwoman Browne to lead the council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council President then proceeded to the swearing in of the Deputy City Clerk and subsequently the Public Speakers session of the evening (listed below as public comment). AWARDS / PRESENTATIONS / SWEARING IN The ceremonial swearing in of the Deputy City Clerk, Donna M. Jackson. PUBLIC COMMENT Sonya Murray – residing at 151 Summit Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY. Spoke to thank the Public Works and DPW for the paving of the streets. Thanked the Council for interactions with YCOP youth. Following up with issues in the MVPD – air conditioner issues. Kathy Chisholm – residing at 23 South Ninth Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY. Requested programs for Senior Citizens. Mentioned parking, infrastructure, and abandoned car issues with municipal lot and how it impedes engagement by seniors. Mentioned broken Doles Center bathroom. Requested information on youth programming. Mentioned garbage collectors don’t empty garbage cans fully.  City Council Meeting Minutes – 8/10/2022 Page 2 Luetta Mason – residing at 527 South 7th Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY. Registered issues with Doles Center and perceived mold issues; chairs on rollers are a risk issue. Discussed fixing the Armory, and vine removal from the building. Geoff Munroe – (online Zoom participant) residing at (address withheld), Mount Vernon, NY. Discussed food instability caused by COVID and other social issues, and the Free People’s Market request to use 142 South 4th Ave. Stated the group seeks to use the land, not own it. Lauren Carter - (online Zoom participant) residing at 120 Archer Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY. Registered her concerns on safety and police presence for Cityfest, as well as concerns regarding removal of Mayoral portraits, and the police contract. Brian Johnson – Corporation Council, CMVNY, 1 Roosevelt Ave, Mount Vernon, NY. Discussed lawsuits and insurance claims. The council body responded to the speakers’ concerns. REFERRAL SESSION Roll Call administered by City Clerk Tanesia M. Walters REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES AND ACTION THEREON To the Council: The LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC WORKS Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: Item No. 1 (2ND READING) Local Law No.4 of 2022 – Establishing Best Value Procurement Item No. 2 (1ST READING) Local Law No. 5 of 2022 - Local Law Authorizing and Requiring the use of videoconferencing by all public bodies within the City of Mount Vernon, New York. Item No. 3 (EVENT PERMISSION) An ordinance granting permission to Rose Luangisa, Founder of Luangisa African Gallery, permission to close a portion of Hawthorne Terrace and Euclid Avenue as part of the 5th Wakanda Celebration at Traphagan School (Saturday, September 3, 2022-rain date: Sunday, September 4, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) Item No. 4 (EVENT PERMISSION) An ordinance granting permission to the Mount Vernon Classic Car Club of New York to host its 10th annual "I Know You Got Soul" Classic Car Show at Brush Park and the Department of Public Safety to close West 7th Street between South 3rd & 4th Avenues - (Saturday, September 17, 2022, from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - rain date: Saturday, September 24, 2022, from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Item No. 5 (EXTEND AND AMEND) An ordinance to extend and amend the contract with Green Mountain PipeIine Services, Inc. Item No. 6 (EXTEND AND AMEND) An ordinance to extend and amend the contract with Arcadis of New York, Inc. - Sewer Consultant. Item No. 7 (TRANSFER OF FUNDS) An ordinance requesting permission to transfer funds within the Department to cover negative balances - ($346,501.99). Item No. 8 (AUTHORIZATION) An ordinance authorizing the Department of Public Works to purchase fifty (50) new City trash cans ($19,036.00, ARPA Funds under NYS OGS Contract #PC67 464). Item No. 9 (TRANSFER OF FUNDS) An ordinance authorizing a transfer of funds within the Department of Public Works to cover the salaries of newly hired seasonal cleaners ($60,000.00, from A1620.442 (Cleaning) to A1490.104 (Part-Time/Seasonal Salaries). 2  City Council Meeting Minutes – 8/10/2022 Page 3 Item No. 10 (Add On/ACKNOWLEDGMENT) An ordinance authorizing the City of Mount Vernon, NY to acknowledge the gift of four (4) pear trees from Neighbors That Care, Inc. Item No. 11 (Add On/AUTHORIZATION) An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation ("NYS EFC") to accept grant funds in the amount of $500,000.00 to fund outside consultant engineering services - (Revenue Code A3902, State Aid, Planning Studies) to be appropriated to Budget Code A1440.405, DPW Engineering Office; Contracted Outside Services) throughout the contract period Item No. 12 (Add On/AUTHORIZATION) An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation ("NYS EFC") to accept grant funds in the amount of $500,000.00 to fund sewer cleaning and closed-circuit inspection - (Revenue Code A3901, State Aid, Operation & Maintenance of Sewer) to be appropriated to Budget Code A8120.405, DPW Sanitation and Storm Sewers; Outside Contracted Services) throughout the contract period. Item No. 13 (Add On/AUTHORIZATION) An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation ("NYS EFC") to accept grant funds for capital improvement projects throughout the City ($55000,000.00 Revenue Code H3990, State Aid, Sewer Cap Pro) to be appropriated to Budget Code A8120.405, DPW Sanitary and Storm Sewers; Outside Contracted Services) throughout the contract period. Item No. 28 (Add On/AUTHORIZATION) An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a Professional Consultant Agreement with Cynthia Owens to perform accounting services within the Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply ("BWS") ($150,000.00 - Account Code: 001-521-52100, Salaries & Wages - Administrative Staff). Respectfully submitted, Danielle Browne, Esq., Chair Cathlin Gleason, Co-Chair Received, passed and filed. Passed by the following vote: Ayes: President Thompson, councilmembers; Browne, Gleason, Poteat, Copeland Nays: None Absent: None **Note: • Item No. 2- is a first read and did not require a vote • Item No. 3- received a vote of 4 Ayes (Thompson, Gleason, Poteat, Copeland) and 1 Nay (Browne) To the Council: The HUMAN RESOURCES Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: Item No. 14 (EXECUTE DOCUMENTS) An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Interactive Health LLC (contract period: July 1, 2022 - September 30, 2022. $15,000.00, Budget Code A73 16.405). Item No. 15 (TRANSFER OF FUNDS) An ordinance authorizing the transfer of funds between the Department of Recreation and the Department of Public Works to facilitate the security installation plan at Memorial Field - (total amount of $145,000,00 to be transferred as follows: $20,000.00 from Originating Account # A7021.110, Memorial Field Overtime to Account #A7111.430, Memorial Field Renovations; and $125,000.00 from Originating Account # A7021.458, Memorial Field Other Expense to Account #A7111.430, Memorial Field Renovations). 3  City Council Meeting Minutes – 8/10/2022 Page 4 Item No. 16 (TRANSFER OF FUNDS) An ordinance authorizing the transfer of funds within the Department of Recreation - (Amount: $41,696.00 from Account Code: A7140.101 = Salaries and Wages to Account Code: A71141.101, Salaries and Wages). Item No. 17 (AMENDMENT) An ordinance amending Ordinance No. 15, adopted on July 13, 2022, entitled "AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE, COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS AND THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY YOUTH BUREAU AND ACCEPT FUNDS IN THE AMO[JNT OF $71,428.00" - (Account Code A7319.203, Equipment; and Account Code A7319.405, Contracted Outside Services). Respectfully submitted, Lisa Copeland, Chair Edward Poteat, Co-Chair Received, passed and filed. Passed by the following vote: Ayes: President Thompson, councilmembers; Browne, Gleason, Poteat, Copeland Nays: None Absent: None To the Council: The PUBLIC SAFETY AND CODES Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: Item No. 18 (Add On/RESOLUTION) A resolution appointing Tamika A. Coverdale, Esq. to the Taxicab Commission of the City of Mount Vernon, New York (August 11, 2022 – August 10, 2025). Item No. 19 (ACCEPT DONATION) An ordinance authorizing the Mayor's office to accept the donation of a steel door with sidelights from the Friends of Mount Vernon Animal Shelter 501(c)3. Item No. 20 (EMERGENCY) An ordinance declaring an emergency situation for the purchase of an emergency service unit vehicle - ($275,000.00, Budget Code A3120.203 ARP). Item No. 21 (TEMPORARY HELP LINE / FUND REALLOCATION) An ordinance authorizing the Building Department to add a Temporai7 Help Line, reallocate funds within the Salary Line A3620.101 from the vacant Code Enforcement Officer position and create an Office Assistant position within the Department of Buildings - (reallocate: $25,000.00, Salary Line A3620.101). Item No. 22 (AUTHORIZATION) An ordinance authorizing the Fire Department to accept four (4) 2022 Ford F550 4X4 Wheeled Coach of LI Proliner Rescue Ambulances ($1,239,636.00, Urban Renewal Agency ("URA") and paid for with HUD CDBG Program Funds). Item No. 23 (Add On/AUTHORIZATION) An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into an annual renewal agreement with Dell Technologies for the purchase of Microsoft 365 Licenses (contract period: September 1, 2022 - August 31, 2022; $69,928.61 in Budget Line A3120.4 16). Respectfully submitted, Cathlin Gleason, Chair Danielle Browne, Esq., Co-Chair Received, passed and filed. Passed by the following vote: Ayes: President Thompson, councilmembers; Browne, Gleason, Poteat, Copeland 4  City Council Meeting Minutes – 8/10/2022 Page 5 Nays: None Absent: None To the Council: The FINANCE AND PLANNING Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: Item No. 24 (AMENDMENT) An ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20, adopted on July 13, 2022, entitled "AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A TRANSFER OF FUNDS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT FOR OVERTIME EXPENSES" - (Account Code A1355.110, Overtime). Item No. 25 (AUTHORIZATION) An ordinance authorizing an increase in the Standard Mileage Reimbursement Rate (from: 50.5 cents per mile to 62.5 cents per mile). Item No. 26 (AUTHORIZATION) An ordinance authorizing the transfer of funds and the position of Code Enforcement Manager from the Department of Planning & Community Development to the Department of Buildings. Item No. 27 (AUTHORIZATION) An ordinance authorizing the Comptroller to enter into an agreement with JP Morgan Chase for the Commercial Purchase Card Program. Respectfully submitted, Edward Poteat, Chair Lisa Copeland, Co-Chair Received, passed and filed. Passed by the following vote: Ayes: President Thompson, councilmembers; Browne, Gleason, Poteat, Copeland Nays: None Absent: None OTHER BUSINESS/CLOSING COMMENTS Councilwoman Browne mentioned the Director of Constituent Services, Eric Crump, as a resource for community inquiries. Eric Crump can be reached at (914) 609-7786 or by email ECrump@cmvny.com. President Thompson also shared information on Mount Vernon Pride Day at Brush Park on Saturday (8/13/22). He also asked that we keep the family of former Mayor Thomas in our prayers as they mourn the loss of a loved one. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:12 p.m. Donna M. Jackson, M.Ed., Deputy City Clerk 5