Common Council

Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. August 26, 2025 COMMON 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 26, 2025 at 7:40 p.m. PRESENT: Aldermen Robinson, Bennion, Keary, McCall, and Anastasia ABSENT: Aldermen Crawford and Forney OFFICIALS: Mayor William Aiello; Frank Caputo, City Clerk; Bridget Marshall, City Attorney; James Sprague, Director of Public Works, and Tiffany Taylor, Managerial Confidential Administrative Secretary. At this time a prayer was given by Frank Caputo, followed by a salute to the flag. READING, CORRECTING & APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS REGULAR MEETING A motion to approve the minutes of the August 12, 2025 meeting was made by Alderman Robinson, seconded by Alderman Anastasia. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS & UNFINISHED COUNCIL BUSINESS Report from Committee of the Whole on PL #93-25, to authorize the City of Olean to enter into a consulting design agreement with LaBella Associates, D.P.C. for the replacement of the salt shed. Committee recommends approval. Referred to City Attorney for Resolution. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Aiello explained the City received a letter from the DEC regarding the waterwater treatment plant toxicity testing results. He explained there are no acute or ongoing effects to aquatic life or toxicity exceeding action levels, and he explained the treatment discharge from the facility is as clean as or cleaner than the water in the river itself. He explained there will be no further testing until 2029. He explained there will be an important infrastructure initiative over the next several months utilizing funding from the DEC provided to the City. He explained data will be collected over an extended period of time to collect information of sources entering the sanitary sewer system. He explained this data will allow us to see where the inflow and infiltration is the most significant and will enable a more targeted approach to future remediation efforts. MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS None CITY OFFICIAL REPORTS Annual Financial Report – Fiscal Year 06/01/2024-05/31/2025 PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND REFERRALS  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. August 26, 2025 PL #92-25: (Aiello) To reassign the City of Olean Tree Removal Contract 2025- 2026 to Decker Tree Service. Referred to Committee of the Whole Tuesday, August 26, 2025 by Council President. PL #93-25: (Aiello) To authorize the City of Olean to enter into a consulting design agreement with LaBella Associates, D.P.C. for the replacement of the salt shed. Referred to Committee of the Whole Tuesday, August 26, 2025 by Council President. FINANCE / BILLS Alderman McCall explained there have been several checks that needed to be reissued due to an ink issue, and asked if this was corrected. Mayor Aiello explained it has been. Alderman McCall explained she sees costs for the City to spay 5 dogs, and Mayor Aiello explained those were taken in from abuse or found and not claimed, and they needed to be spayed before they could be adopted out. Alderman McCall explained there was a miscellaneous category under sewer treatment and asked if this could be more specific. He asked if the taxes double paid are related to the overpayment of taxes and Mayor Aiello explained it is. Alderman McCall explained parts of the report are portrait orientation and some is landscape, and asked that it all be sent into the same format to be more user- friendly. By Alderman McCall, Seconded by Alderman Bennion The Auditor has processed bills and claims against the City of Olean as per list submitted to each Alderman and recommends payment thereof. WHEREAS, the Auditor has presented to the Common Council, bills and claims against the City of Olean totaling $3,277,550.09 for the budget and recommends payment thereof. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the same be and are hereby audited and allowed, and the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to draw warrants for the payment thereof at the amounts set opposite each respective claim. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL. MOTION CARRIED. RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION #91-25 PL #93-25 By Alderman Bennion, Seconded by Alderman McCall TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY OF OLEAN TO ENTER INTO A CONSULTING DESIGN AGREEMENT WITH LABELLA ASSOCIATES, D.P.C. FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SALT SHED WHEREAS, the salt shed located at the City of Olean garage is not structurally sound and unsafe; and WHEREAS, the City of Olean desires to replace the existing salt shed with materials the City currently has on hand and consulting design services are necessary to design a foundation for the salt shed to utilize the fabric building currently in the City’s possession; and WHEREAS, the City of Olean received proposals from four firms for the design of said foundation and, after full review of the proposals, recommends the award of the consulting design agreement to LaBella Associates, D.P.C. in an amount of $15,000;  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. August 26, 2025 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the City of Olean to enter into a consulting design agreement with LaBella Associates, D.P.C. for the replacement of the salt shed in an amount of $15,000. RESOLVED, that the Mayor is authorized to execute all contracts and agreements in association with said contract award. RESOLVED, that this Resolution is hereby effective immediately. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL. MOTION CARRIED. PUBLIC COMMENT Robert Kennedy of 917 Seneca Avenue explained he has been cleaning up homeless encampments around the City. He explained he has one left by the water treatment plant and needs help with that one as it is longer than a City block. He explained he will be there Saturday if anyone would like to help. Kevin Bartholomew of 737 Bishop Street explained someone got their camper stuck under the Front Street railroad bridge about a month ago. He asked if there can be an arrow installed to designate a detour for the low clearance or additional signage to prevent these issues. He explained the railroad won’t do anything and the City should look into it to prevent additional vehicles from hitting the bridge. John Gordnier of 144 East Riverside Drive explained there has been a spike in homelessness in the past few years and he shared several statements sent to him from others regarding the situation. He explained there are encampments everywhere, littler in abundance, public bathrooms are being destroyed, and there are needles in park where people are trying to sleep at night. He explained the homeless make Olean unsafe and this is an awful problem and something needs to be done. Tim Sherlock of 125 South 189th Street explained he is very happy to hear the Council having conversations about the tree ordinance that he has been battling for several years. He explained the Council is talking about how wrong the law is and how it should be changed, but he has been pushing that for a couple of years. He explained it makes no sense how he is being dictated about City property and being forced to pay to have a tree taken down that was deemed dangerous, when the prior property owner was not allowed to take it down a few years ago because it was deemed to be a healthy tree. Glen Wahl of Little Valley thanked the Mayor and Mr. Camp for information he received tonight. He explained he anticipates the City will continue with inaction about the sewage discharge issue. He explained the City needs to do something to take care of the inflow and iniltration to prevent future discharges. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Robinson, seconded by Alderman McCall. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:20 p.m. _______________________ Frank Caputo, City Clerk _____________________  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. August 26, 2025 Mayor William J. Aiello _____________________ Vernon Robinson, Jr., Council President I hereby approve the foregoing minutes Dated: ____/____/________ 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