Common Council

Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. August 12, 2025 COUNCIL CHAMBERS COUNTY OF CATTARAUGUS STATE OF NEW YORK A Regular Meeting of the Olean Common Council of the City of Olean was held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 7:25 p.m. PRESENT: Aldermen Crawford, Bennion, Forney, McCall, Robinson, and Anastasia ABSENT: None (Ward 2 Vacant) OFFICIALS: 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 At this time a prayer was given by Mr. Caputo, followed by a salute to the flag. READING, CORRECTING, AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS REGULAR MEETING A motion to approve the minutes of the July 22, 2025 Regular Meeting was made by Alderman Crawford, seconded by Alderman Robinson. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS & UNFINISHED COUNCIL BUSINESS Report from Committee of the Whole on PL #86-25, to authorize the creation of Capital Fund #254, CARES UP Grant Funding. Committee recommends approval. Referred to City Attorney for Resolution. Report from Committee of the Whole on PL #88-25, 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. Committee recommends approval. Referred to City Attorney for Resolution. Report from Committee of the Whole on PL #89-25, to authorize the award of the Water Reservoir Tank Cleaning, Inspection, and Mixer Installation Contract to Advance Tank and Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. in an amount of $49,000. Committee recommends approval. Referred to City Attorney for Resolution. Report from Committee of the Whole on PL #90-25, 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. Committee recommends approval. Referred to City Attorney for Resolution. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR Notice of Retirement – Sgt. James Comstock, Olean Police Department Mayor Aiello explained Governor Hochul has signed into law the Room Occupancy Tax Law for the City for an additional two years/ Mayor Aiello explained on July 31, 2025 he sent an update to the Council regarding the situation with the DEC and the Allegheny River. He explained we have a $500,000 grant for help finding the inflow and infiltration issues and the City has recently been awarded a $100,000 engineering planning grant through EFC to support engineering  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. August 12, 2025 and planning efforts for the pump stations. MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS Application for a Liquor License – Union Tea Café, Inc. d/b/a The Carnegie – 116 South Union Street, Olean Liquor License Renewal – St. Stephens Club, 1117-1119 North Union Street, Olean CITY OFFICIAL REPORTS Monthly Report of the City Auditor – month ended July 2025 Balance Sheet, General –Water – Sewer Funds – month ended July 2025 Fiscal Summary as of July 31, 2025 PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND REFERRALS PL #86-25: (Aiello) To authorize the creation of Capital Fund #254, CARES UP Grant Funding. Referred to Committee of the Whole Tuesday, August 12, 2025 by Council President. PL #87-25: (Bennion) To authorize the removal of unused, non-working lighting on North Union Street. Referred to Committee of the Whole Tuesday, August 12, 2025 by Council President. 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. Referred to Committee of the Whole Tuesday, August 12, 2025 by Council President. PL #89-25: (Aiello) To authorize the award of the Water Reservoir Tank Cleaning, Inspection, and Mixer Installation Contract to Advance Tank and Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. in an amount of $49,000. Referred to Committee of the Whole Tuesday, August 12, 2025 by Council President. 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. Referred to Committee of the Whole Tuesday, August 12, 2025 by Council President. PL #91-25: (Aiello) To confirm the Mayoral appointment of Joe Keary as Alderman, Ward 2. Referred to Regular Meeting Tuesday, August 12, 2025 for Resolution by Council President. FINANCE / BILLS None RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION #84-25 PL #86-25 By Alderman McCall, Seconded by Alderman Bennion RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF CAPITAL FUND #254, CARES UP GRANT FUNDING RESOLVED, that the following Capital Fund be created:  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. August 12, 2025 Capital Fund #254 – CARES UP Grant Funding. RESOLVED, that this Resolution is effective immediately. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL. MOTION CARRIED. RESOLUTION #86-25 PL #88-25 By Alderman Crawford, Seconded by Alderman Anastasia RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM LINE ITEM 3120.100 TO LINE ITEM 3120.462 FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SENDING A NEW HIRE TO THE POLICE ACADEMY RESOLVED, that the following transfer be authorized: Account # Description – General Transferred Transferred to From A-01-5-3120.100 Police Department – Personal $5,697 Service A-01-5-3120.462 Police Department – Travel, $5,697 Training BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution is effective immediately. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL. MOTION CARRIED. RESOLUTION #87-25 PL #89-25 By Alderman McCall, Seconded by Alderman Crawford TO AUTHORIZE THE AWARD OF THE WATER RESERVOIR TANK CLEANING, INSPECTION, AND MIXER INSTALLATION CONTRACT TO ADVANCE TANK AND INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS, INC., IN AN AMOUNT OF $49,000 WHEREAS, the Common Council, via Resolution #47-25, transferred and appropriated funding for the Water Reservoir Cleaning, Inspection, and Mixer Installation Project; and WHEREAS, the City of Olean has received and reviewed bids for said Project and recommends the contract be awarded to Advance Tank and Infrastructure Solutions, Inc.; RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the award of the Water Tank Cleaning, Inspection, and Mixer Installation Contract to Advance Tank and Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., in an amount of $49,000. RESOLVED, that the Mayor is hereby authorized to sign any contracts, agreements, and documents related to said contract award. RESOLVED, that this Resolution is hereby effective immediately. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL. MOTION CARRIED. RESOLUTION #88-25 PL #90-25 By Alderman Robinson, Seconded by Alderman Forney 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  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. August 12, 2025 WHEREAS, there are streetlights and wire that need to be removed for the Marcus Park Collaboration Project; RESOLVED, the Common Council authorizes the removal of overhead wire and light fixtures from National Grid pole NG28 to poles 28-1 and 28-2 on West Sullivan Street. RESOLVED, that this Resolution is hereby effective immediately. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL. MOTION CARRIED. Alderman Crawford explained one of the two candidates for Ward 2 Alderman reached out to advise they were no longer able to serve for personal reasons and asked to be removed from the ballot. He explained he asked if they would be in support of the Council authorizing their opponent, Joe Keary, to be appointed to Ward 2 Alderman and they expressed they would be. He explained in the past the Council has not authorized a candidate when there is a contested race but since the candidate has expressed they are unable to serve, he feels this is appropriate. Mayor Aiello explained he did confirm the candidate is unable to serve, so he is appointing Joe Keary and is asking for the Mayor’s confirmation. Alderman McCall explained the Council shares the frustration of not having representation for Ward 2. RESOLUTION #89-25 PL #91-25 By Aldermen Crawford, Seconded by Alderman Bennion RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE MAYORAL APPOINTMENT OF JOE KEARY AS WARD 2 ALDERMAN RESOLVED, that the Common Council confirms the Mayoral appointment of Joe Keary as Ward 2 Alderman. RESOLVED, that this Resolution is effective immediately. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL. MOTION CARRIED. Alderman Crawford explained he has served as Council President seven of the nine years he has served, but at this time he has chosen to resign as he accepted a new job and will be attending meetings via Zoom for the next four months. He explained he feels it is critical and essential when conducting business to make sure the Council President is present at meeting sin person, and he is ready to pass on the gavel effective immediately. He explained he will continue to serve his constituents in Ward 2. Sonya McCall was nominated for Council President by Alderman Anastasia, seconded by Alderman Bennion. Voice vote, ayes Alderman Bennion, McCall, and Anastasia; noes Aldermen Keary, Forney, Crawford, and Robinson. Alderman Robinson was nominated for Council President by Alderman Forney, seconded by Alderman Crawford. Voice vote, ayes Aldermen Keary, Forney, Crawford, and Robinson. Noes, Aldermen Bennion, McCall, and Anastasia. Alderman Robinson elected as Council President. PUBLIC COMMENT Ellen Gleason of 1226 Brook Street explained she lives next to a rental property that has had issues for some time. She explained the property is a mess and is being used as a boarding house. She asked the Mayor and City to do something to take care of this situation.  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. August 12, 2025 A resident of Brook Street explained for two years there have been issues with a property on their street. They explained they do nto know what else to do and explained this has gone on for years and no one has done anything. They explained something has to be done and someone needs to help them. Edith VanDixon of Brook Street explained there have been issues with rats and she has contacted the Mayor and Health Department, although the Health Department has not responded. She explained she is glad she found it and not a child or someone’s pet. She explained Brook Street is a wonderful street and they need help taking it back from the one bad property owner. Christa Carpenter of Brook Street explained residents on Brook Street put together a neighborhood watch and did everything the Mayor and Police Department asked of them. She explained she understands the City’s hands are tied to a point, but we need to get our City back. She explained they need help to do that. Robert Kennedy of 917 Seneca Avenue explained he has been trying to clean up some homeless encampments. He explained he needs the City’s help cleaning them up and he needs somewhere to put the trash. He explained he is going to clean up more tomorrow and hopes the City will help, as he found five camps just walking down the trail. Glen Wahl of Little Valley thanked Mr. Kennedy for his cleanup efforts. He explained the City could have saved money on the I&I issues by teaching residents to fix their downspouts in order to reduce inflow. He explained if the City is not going to enforce the ordinance that prohibits storm water from being drained into the sanitary sewer then it should be repealed. A member of the Seneca Nation of Indians thanked the City for the process that has been made and thanked the Mayor for the update on the grants. He explained he is making a simple request of Olean residents to check their lines to see if the storm water is being drained properly. He explained it is going to be up to the community to make changes. Carmen of North 9th Street explained she has been getting an outrageous bill since she moved to the City and called to find out why. She explained she found out there was water leaking out at the road and it was fixed, but the road and her driveway were destroyed. She explained she is very frustrated that this was not fixed and is frustrated about the antique water system in the City. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Robinson, seconded by Alderman McCall. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:00 p.m. _______________________ Frank Caputo, City Clerk _____________________ Mayor William J. Aiello _____________________ John Crawford, Council President I hereby approve the foregoing minutes Dated: ____/____/________  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. August 12, 2025 STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF CATTARAUGUS CITY OF OLEAN I, Frank Caputo, City Clerk of the City of Olean, do hereby certify that the foregoing minutes of the Common Council of the City of Olean is the true and correct copy of the whole thereof. _____________________ Frank Caputo, City Clerk