Common Council

Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. December 9, 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, December 9, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. PRESENT: Aldermen Robinson, Bennion, Forney, McCall, Crawford, and Anastasia ABSENT: Alderman Keary OFFICIALS: Mayor William Aiello; Frank Caputo, City Clerk; Lens Martial, City Auditor; Brad Camp, Water and Sewer Superintendent, and Tiffany Taylor, Managerial Confidential Administrative 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 November 25, 2025 Regular 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 #121-25, to amend the City of Olean Code of Ordinances Section 2-38 to authorize the date, time, and location of Regular Common Council meetings to be amended by Council resolution. Committee recommends approval. Referred to City Attorney for Resolution. Report from Committee of the Whole on PL #131-25, to reschedule the December 23, 2025 meeting of the Olean Common Council to Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Committee recommends approval. Referred to City Attorney for Resolution. Report from Committee of the Whole on PL #135-25, to appropriate $20,000 from Capital Fund #249, Sewer Study, as a local match for New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Engineering Planning Grant #2279 for the phase I pump station inflow and infiltration improvements and evaluation. Committee recommends approval. Referred to City Attorney for Resolution. Report from Committee of the Whole on PL #136-25, to authorize free parking on West State Street and North Union Street, as well as in all City of Olean parking lots, on November 26, 2025 through January 2, 2026. Committee recommends approval. Referred to City Attorney for Resolution. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR None MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS Application for Liquor License – JS Bar LLC d/b/a Ben-Anchor Bar & Grill – 833 East State Street, Olean CITY OFFICIAL REPORTS  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. December 9, 2025 Monthly Report of the City Auditor – month ended November 2025 Quarterly Report of the City Auditor – three months ending November 30, 2025 Fiscal Summary as of November 30, 2025 PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND REFERRALS PL #131-25: (Robinson) To reschedule the December 23, 2025 meeting of the Olean Common Council to Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Referred to Committee of the Whole Tuesday, December 9, 2025 by Council President. PL #132-25: (McCall) To amend the City of Olean Code of Ordinances Section 2-40 to amend the order of the Common Council agenda, as well as to amend Section 2-60 to include policies and procedures for public comment at regularly scheduled Council meetings. Referred to Regular Meeting Tuesday, December 16, 2025 for Resolution by Council President. PL #133-25: (Aiello) To authorize the direct the City Auditor to close Capital Fund #231, North Olean Sewer Reconstruction. Referred to Regular Meeting Tuesday, December 9, 2025 for Resolution by Council President. PL #134-25: (Aiello) To award the Buffalo Street Stormwater Pumping Station Improvements Project to CP Ward in an amount of $162,500. Referred to Regular Meeting Tuesday, December 9, 2025 for Resolution by Council President. PL #135-25: (Aiello) To appropriate $20,000 from Capital Fund #249, Sewer Study, as a local match for New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Engineering Planning Grant #2279 for the phase I pump station inflow and infiltration improvements and evaluation. Referred to Committee of the Whole Tuesday, December 9, 2025 by Council President. PL #136-25: (Aiello) To authorize free parking on West State Street and North Union Street, as well as in all City of Olean Parking Lots, on November 26, 2025 through January 2, 2026. Referred to Committee of the Whole Tuesday, December 9, 2025 by Council President. FINANCE / BILLS None RESOLUTIONS A motion to suspend the rules was made by Alderman Robinson, seconded by Alderman Forney. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. A motion to amend Resolution #125-25 to reflect the version published November 8, 2025 was made by Alderman Robinson, seconded by Alderman Forney. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. RESOLUTION #125-25 PL #121-25 By Alderman Bennion, Seconded by Alderman Robinson  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. December 9, 2025 TO AMEND THE CITY OF OLEAN CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 2-38 TO AUTHORIZE THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGS TO BE AMENDED BY COUNCIL RESOLUTION RESOLVED, that the City of Olean Code of Ordinances Section 2-38 is hereby amended as follows: Sec. 2-38. Regular meetings of the Common Council; meeting time and place Regular meetings of the Common Council shall be held in the Council Chambers, Municipal Building, on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month to proceed after the Committee of the Whole, unless rescheduled prior by Council resolution. The Common Council shall hold regular meetings at least twice in each month. At any regularly scheduled meeting attended by 2/3 of the Aldermen in office, the Council may, by majority vote, set the date, time and place of the next regularly scheduled meeting. When such Council vote is taken, the following meeting shall be held at that date, time, and place stated and the succeeding meetings shall be as otherwise provided by this rule. RESOLVED, that this Resolution is hereby effective immediately. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL EXCEPT ALDERMAN BENNION, WHO VOTED NO. MOTION CARRIED. RESOLUTION #129-25 PL #131-25 By Alderman Robinson, Seconded by Alderman Anastasia TO RESCHEDULE THE DECEMBER 23, 2025 MEETING OF THE OLEAN COMMON COUNCIL TO TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2025 RESOLVED, that the December 23, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Olean Common Council is hereby rescheduled to Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Olean Municipal Building. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL EXCEPT ALDERMAN BENNION, WHO VOTED NO. MOTION CARRIED. RESOLUTION #131-25 PL #133-25 By Alderman Robinson, Seconded by Alderman McCall TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE CITY AUDITOR TO CLOSE CAPITAL FUND #232 WHEREAS, the City of Olean has determined Capital Fund #232, North Olean Sewer Reconstruction, has no balance and is no longer being used, RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes and directs the City Auditor to close Capital Fund #231, North Olean Sewer Reconstruction. RESOLVED, this Resolution is effective immediately. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL. MOTION CARRIED. RESOLUTION #132-25 PL #134-25 By Alderman Anastasia, Seconded by Alderman Robinson TO AWARD THE BUFFALO STREET STORMWATER PUMPING STATION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT TO CP WARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $162,500  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. December 9, 2025 WHEREAS, the City of Olean has appropriated $377,408.61 in Capital Fund #221 for the Buffalo Street Stormwater Pumping Station Improvements Project, essential for ensuring the continued protection of public infrastructure, mitigation of flood risks, and; and to maintain reliable stormwater management for residents and businesses; and WHEREAS, after a Request for Proposals, bids were received and qualifications of the contractors was considered, and CP Ward has communicated the experience, technical expertise, and reliability necessary to successfully complete the project; and WHEREAS, the City of Olean Water and Sewer Superintendent recommends the award of the Buffalo Street Stormwater Pumping Station Improvements Project to CP Ward; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the award of the Buffalo Street Stormwater Pumping Station Improvements Project to CP Ward in the amount of $162,500. RESOLVED, that this Resolution is effective immediately. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL. MOTION CARRIED. RESOLUTION #133-25 PL #135-25 By Alderman Anastasia, Seconded by Alderman Forney TO APPROPRIATE $20,000 FROM CAPITAL FUND #249, SEWER STUDY, AS A LOCAL MATCH FOR NEW YORK STATE ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES CORPORATION ENGINEERING PLANNING GRANT #2279 FOR THE PHASE I PUMP STATION INFLOW AND INFILTRATION IMPROVEMENTS AND EVALUATION WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Olean, through Resolution #31-25, created a Capital Fund #249 and transferred $50,000 to said capital fund for costs associated with a sewer study; and WHEREAS, the City of Olean has been awarded New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Engineering Planning Grant #2279 in an amount of $100,000 with a $20,000 local match for engineering, planning and evaluation for inflow, infiltration, and pump station capacity evaluation; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the appropriation of $20,000 from Capital Fund #249, Sewer Study, as a local match for New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Engineering Planning Grant #2279 for the phase I pump station inflow and infiltration improvements and evaluation. RESOLVED, that this Resolution is effective immediately. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL. MOTION CARRIED. RESOLUTION #134-25 PL #136-25 By Alderman McCall, Seconded by Alderman Anastasia RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FREE PARKING ON WEST STATE STREET AND NORTH UNION STREET, AS WELL AS IN ALL CITY OF OLEAN PARKING LOTS, ON NOVEMBER 26, 2025 THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2026  Journal of Proceedings OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLEAN, N.Y. December 9, 2025 IT IS RESOLVED, that there shall be free parking on West State Street and North Union Street, as well as in all City of Olean parking lots from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on November 26, 2025 through January 2, 2026. ROLL CALL, AYES ALL. MOTION CARRIED. PUBLIC COMMENT Alderman McCall explained there will be a public hearing on the proposed changes to the City Charter on December 22, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the John Ash Community Center. Mayor Aiello explained residents can contact his office for a copy of the proposed changes. Alderman Anastasia explained he feels the hearing should have waited until January or February, and Alderman Robinson explained he also feels this is bad timing. Mayor Aiello explained another date can be scheduled later on, if the committee chooses. Steve Rogers of North 4th Street explained he feels there are public servants who are guilty of misconduct and explained this is a criminal offense in New York State. He explained there are issues that are allowed to persist that should not, and negative actions do not get better if they are not checked. He explained we need to drag the problems out of the shadows into the light. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Robinson, seconded by Alderman Forney. Voice vote, ayes all. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:50 p.m. _______________________ Frank Caputo, City Clerk _____________________ 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