Committee of the Whole

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2025 – 7:40 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS – OLEAN MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN ATTENDANCE WERE: ALDERMEN CRAWFORD, BENNION, McCALL, ROBINSON (VIA ZOOM), AND ANASTASIA. OTHERS: MAYOR WILLIAM AIELLO; FRANK CAPUTO, CITY CLERK; LENS MARTIAL, CITY AUDITOR; BRIDGET MARSHALL, CITY ATTORNEY; JAMES SPRAGUE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS; CAPT. DAVE BAUER, CODE ENFORCEMENT SUPERVISOR, AND TIFFANY TAYLOR, MANAGERIAL CONFIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY. Alderman Crawford called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. and asked that the record show that all Aldermen were present except Alderman Forney, who was excused, and with the exception of the vacancy in Ward 2. 1. PL #73-25: (Aiello) To award the 2025 Pavement Preparation and Overlay Contract to Lake Shore Paving in an amount not to exceed $2,331,808.00. Director Sprague explained we received bids for this annual contract. He explained after we received the bids we did some work with the apparent low bidder and disqualified that bidder, so this is the second lowest bid and the lowest responsible bid. He explained we have reached out to them and they are ready to go as soon as we receive Council authorization. He explained this is a company we have worked with previously and they have done good work for the City in the past. Alderman Crawford asked if this is for the CHIPS paving and Director Sprague explained it is. Alderman Crawford asked if this amount is within the CHIPS budget, and Director Sprague explained it is. A motion to approve PL #73-25 was made by Alderman McCall, seconded by Alderman Bennion. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Referred to Regular Meeting for Resolution. 2. PL #76-25: (Aiello) To award the Cattaraugus County – Olean Airport Apron and Automobile Parking Rehabilitation Contract to Lake Shore Paving in an amount of $870,362.38. Mayor Aiello explained this is the construction portion of this project. A motion to approve PL #76-25 was made by Alderman Crawford, seconded by Alderman McCall. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Referred to Regular Meeting for Resolution. 3. PL #77-25: (Aiello) To authorize the Mayor to execute a Grant Agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration for funding associated  with the Cattaraugus County – Olean Airport Terminal Pedestrian and AOA (Airport Operations Area) Vehicle Gate Replacement design portion. Mayor Aiello explained this is a federal grant for this project that consists of a 5% State match and 5% local match. Alderman McCall asked how much the grant amount is and Mayor Aiello responded it is $33,250, which is specified in the resolution. Alderman McCall explained it is important for residents to know with these grants for the airport, a majority of the funding is Federal and State. Mayor Aiello explained these grants are 90% Federally funded, 5% State funded, and have a 5% local match. He explained we receive money from the County to assist with the local match. A motion to approve PL #77-25 was made by Alderman Crawford, seconded by Alderman Bennion. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Referred to Regular Meeting for Resolution. 4. PL #78-25: (Bennion) To authorize the removal of unused, non-working lighting on North Union Street. Alderman Bennion explained the string lights have been on North Union Street for two years and have not worked since they were installed. He explained several times the Council has asked to get this figured out so there are not a bunch of unlit lights over North Union Street. He explained it is going to cost more to get the issue taken care of and the lights working, and he doesn’t want to spend the money and wants to get the lights down and over with. Mayor Aiello explained we have been working with a company who can get them working for $12,130 plus a $480 testing fee. He explained we are waiting on the electric division to test the lights to make sure they still work, and he asked the Council give another month to see if we can get them lit. If we cannot by then, he explained we could take them down. He explained we still have money in the capital fund to pay for this to get the lights taken care of. Alderman Bennion asked when this information was received from the company who can fix the lights, and Mayor Aiello explained this was reported several times to the Council. Alderman McCall asked if we will be paying $12,000 and then find out that they do not work. Alderman Crawford explained the electric division will see if the lights work first as an in-house cost. He explained the $12,130 is for programming and the $480 is for testing of the programming and teaching the City to use the programming. He explained he has heard about this for a long time and he is willing to give it one more month. He asked if have a signed contract and deliverables date yet and Mayor Aiello explained we do not. Alderman Crawford explained he would be interested to hear about that. Alderman Bennion asked what the holdup is on getting them tested, as this has been repeatedly discussed. Mayor Aiello explained we are waiting for the electricians to get them inspected, and they have a lot on their plate right now. Alderman McCall asked if they will be tested in two weeks. Director Sprague explained he thinks we will have to talk to the vendor to get their equipment to override the chips in the strips, which is his latest understanding when speaking with the electricians. Alderman McCall asked if this means we can’t test them in house without something from the vendor and Director Sprague explained this is correct. He explained our attempts were stalled due to the unusual lighting system. Alderman Anastasia explained he thought we were involved in litigation regarding this issue and Alderman Crawford explained there is only the potential for litigation. Alderman Bennion explained we keep circling around this issue and we should just take them down. Alderman McCall asked if this is not addressed today, if the Council can have a date to see if the lights even work, because there is no point in continuing this conversation if the lights do not work. Alderman Crawford explained his definitive date is one month, and in one month we can confirm they are working and be under contract to complete the job with a deadline date, or we can take them down. A motion to postpone PL #78-25 for one month was made by Alderman Crawford, no second. Motion defeated. A motion to approve PL #78-25 was made by Alderman Bennion, no second. Motion defeated. 5. Adjournment A motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Crawford, seconded by Alderman McCall. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:55 p.m.