City Council

August 11, 2010 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Meeting Agenda 12:30 P.H. – 2011 – 2016 Proposed Capital Program 12:30 PM CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL SALUTE TO FLAG PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD / 15 MINUTES PRESENTATION(S) None EXECUTIVE SESSION None CONSENT AGENDA None MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: Appointment to Civil Service Commission ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT None FINANCE DEPARTMENT None PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT None PUBLIC SAFETY None SUPERVISORS None ADJOURN City Council Meeting 8/11/10 August 11, 2010 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS Public Hearing: 2011 – 2016 Capital Program City Council Room 12:30 PM PRESENT: Scott Johnson, Mayor Ken Ivins, Commissioner of Finance John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Richard Wirth, Commissioner of DPS STAFF PRESENT: Shauna Sutton, Deputy Mayor Kate Jarosh, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Michele Boxley, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Frank Dudla, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Joe Scala, City Attorney ABSENT: Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW RECORDING OF PROCEEDING The proceedings of this meeting were taped for the benefit of the secretary. Because the minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings, the minutes are not a word-for-word transcript. Mayor Johnson pulled the one agenda item he had on his agenda with Council consent; therefore there was no need for a Council meeting. Mayor Johnson opened the floor to the public to comment on the 2011–1016 Capital Program at 12:34 p.m. Al Callucci of 9 Lexington Road stated the current proposal of $300,000 for the Casino needs to be doubled. That is not allowing the City to get ahead of the game. The building is deteriorating faster that we can repair it. We need to give the department the ability to get ahead of the game. Also, there should be a centralization in payroll. It will free up people to do other things and would pay for itself. In addition, a parking facility is needed in the City. This too would pay for itself. Lew Benton of 29 Thoroughbred Drive encouraged the Council to add to the Capital Budget the restoration of the Trask Memorial. Just because this did not get funded through past grant attempts does not mean it is not worthy. The City is approaching it centennial year and a presentation of the Trask Memorial and the Spirit of Life was made just a couple of weeks after the incorporation of the City. He provided a hand-out to the Council with an abbreviated history of the memorial. The memorial was completed and installed in 1915. We have a moral obligation to maintain this. We have a national treasure that has fallen into a state of disrepair. If the City went forward with the repair it would be at a reduced cost of about $290,000. The longer we wait the more cost and more damage there will be. The City seems to have money for projects some would question. We need to get serious about establishing a fund to maintain critical public spaces. Kyle York of 59 Railroad Place stated he whole heartedly endorses what Mr. Benton just said. He disagrees there is a horrendous budget – there are just horrendous expenses. At the end of the last City Council meeting, there was a vote in favor of the purchase of a $21,000 lawn mower for DPW. He would Page 2 of 3 City Council Meeting 8/11/10 prefer to see that mower put into the Capital budget or the City look into the purchase of a used mower to save money. Mayor Johnson adjourned the public hearing at 12:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 8/17/10 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 3 of 3