Committee of the Whole

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2025 – 7:05 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS – OLEAN MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN ATTENDANCE WERE: ALDERMEN CRAWFORD, BENNION, FORNEY, McCALL, ROBINSON, AND ANASTASIA. OTHERS: MAYOR WILLIAM AIELLO; LENS MARTIAL, CITY AUDITOR; JAMES SPRAGUE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS; BRAD CAMP, WATER AND SEWER SUPERINTENDENT; ERIC MAUROUARD, FIRE CHIEF; TIFFANY TAYLOR, MANAGERIAL CONFIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY, AND MICHIKO MCELFRESH, MAYOR’S SECRETARY. Alderman Crawford called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and asked that the record show that all Aldermen with the exception of the vacancy in Ward 2. 1. PL #86-25: (Aiello) To authorize the creation of Capital Fund #254, CARES UP Grant Funding. Chief Maurouard explained the City was awarded a $40,000 grant through the New York Office of Mental Health. He explained this is the second round of funding. He explained we received the first round previously and this funding is to sustain the program and reimburse the City for eligible expenses. He explained on the accounting side we don’t have a revenue line set up for this money, as well as no expenditure line, so he would like to have a Capital Fund created for all revenue to go into and all expenses to come out of. A motion to approve PL #86-25 was made by Alderman McCall, seconded by Alderman Bennion. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Referred to Regular Meeting for Resolution. 2. PL #87-25: (Bennion) To authorize the removal of unused, non-working lighting on North Union Street. Director Sprague explained this is one of the memos he sent to the Council. He explained we have moved forward bringing in a vendor who has presented a solution but they have not made it here yet. He explained they had to order equipment that they did not have in stock and they are still waiting to receive the equipment and electrical components. He explained they will provide assistance with testing and we will be one step farther as the experts will be here when we plug them in. Alderman Crawford asked if we know the timeline, and Director Sprague explained they do not know when the electrical components will be received. Alderman McCall explained the first step is to see if they work before we spend $12,000 to get them up and running. Director Sprague explained this is correct, and the testing costs $400-some dollars and involves buying one set up, taking it down the street and plugging it in. Alderman McCall explained business owners love the idea of them working and love the idea of what it will add to the atmosphere. He explained they share in our frustration, though, that they are an eyesore hanging there. She explained she does not want to go another six months waiting to figure this out. Alderman Crawford asked if we can get a date in the next two weeks so we can have an ETA on the parts ordered. Director Sprague explained he will get this information for the next committee meeting. Alderman Bennion asked about the issue with the controls and asked if the new controls will fit into the poles. Director Sprague explained the expectation is that they will fit into the poles. Alderman Bennion explained we will be out all of the money for the control boxes we already purchased that do not fit into the poles, and Director Sprague explained that at the end of the day if this solution works, we will have a bunch of stuff on the shelf that we do not have a need for. Alderman Bennion explained the cost then beings to hodge podge the system together and we lose out on the costs of the materials we did not use from the first design. He explained he still says to cut our losses and take them down. Alderman McCall asked if we can sell or return the unused materials and Alderman Bennion responded they are four years old. Alderman McCall explained she would just like to see where we can recuperate some costs. Alderman Crawford explained if we get the lists working or take them down, the control boxes that were originally purchased do not fit and we really need to focus at this point on if additional funding is needed to get new control boxes to see if we can get the lights going or not. He explained we need a timeline so we know when they will be coming to test them. Alderman Bennion explained he was fine with the timeline previously, and now we are going to wait longer and this will again get kicked down the road. He explained we need to cut our losses. He explained he know s it is not our money we are losing but if we test them and they don’t work, then we are losing our money. Alderman McCall explained she wants to see if they turn on. A motion to postpone PL #87-25 for one month was made by Alderman Crawford, seconded by Alderman Bennion. Voice vote, ayes all except Alderman Bennion, who voted no. Motion carried. 3. PL #88-25: (Aiello) To authorize the transfer of $5,697 from line item 3120.100 to line item 3120.462 for costs associated with sending an employee to the Police Academy. Mayor Aiello explained we already have two officers at the academy in Alfred, and this will be to send one more to the academy in Chautauqua County. He explained we have extra funds in personnel service due to shortages in the departments with retirements. He expaliend this will help us get closer to full staff. Alderman Crawford explained he feels this is a great arrangement that keeps the officer on for five years, otherwise they have to pay fund back for what we paid for the academy. A motion to approve PL #88-25 was made by Alderman Crawford, seconded by Alderman Anastasia. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Referred to Regular Meeting for Resolution.  4. PL #89-25: (Aiello) To authorize the award of the Water Tank Reservoir Tank Cleaning, Inspection, and Mixer Installation Contract to Advance Tank and Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. in an amount of $49,000. Mr. Camp explained we received four bids for this project and explained this is the company he suggests we award the contract to. Alderman McCall asked if a robot or a scuba diver will be doing the work, and Mr. Camp explained a scuba diver will be doing the work. A motion to approve PL #89-25 was made by Alderman McCall, seconded by Alderman Crawford. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Referred to tonight’s Regular Meeting. 5. PL #90-25: (Aiello) To authorize the removal of overhead wire and light fixtures from National Grid pole NG28 to poles 28-1 and 28-2 on West Sullivan Street. Mayor Aiello explained for the Marcus Park Project, a few streetlights that will not be needed need to be removed, and the City needs to authorize the removal in order for National Grid to proceed. A motion to approve PL #90-25 was made by Alderman Robinson, seconded by Alderman Forney. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Referred to tonight’s regular meeting. 6. Adjournment A motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Crawford, seconded by Alderman Anastasia. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:25 p.m.