City Council

June 21, 2011 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Meeting Agenda 6:55 PM – P.H. – 4 Way Stop Sign @ Intersection of Nelson, Madison & Spring 7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL SALUTE TO FLAG PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD / 15 MINUTES PRESENTATION(S) CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of 6/15/11 City Council Minutes 2. Approval of 6/7/11 City Council Minutes 3. Approve Budget Amendments 4. Approve Budget Transfers 5. Approve Payroll 6/20/11 $420,854.72 6. Approve Payroll 6/17/11 $390,087.89 7. Approve Warrant 2011 Mid 11MWJUN2 $1,046,183.81 8. Approve Warrant 2011 Regular 11JUN2 $330,427.61 MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: Approve Contract with Jupiter Services for Asbestos Removal at the Former Waterfront Restaurant 2. Discussion and Vote: Easement Agreement – 1 Madison Avenue 3. Discussion and Vote: Easement Agreement – 24 Vermont Street 4. Discussion and Vote: Summer Concert Series Donation ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion: Options Available After Board of Assessment Review Decision FINANCE DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: Department of Public Work Payroll Transfers 2. Discussion and Vote: Department of Public Safety Payroll Transfers 3. Discussion: City Finances PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 1. Announcement: Paving Schedule City Council Meeting 6/21/11 PUBLIC SAFETY 1. Set Public Hearing: Amend Chapter 58 of the Code of the City of Saratoga Springs Entitled Alarm Systems 2. Discussion and Vote: 2011 NYRA Agreement for Racing Season 3. Discussion and Vote: 4 Way Stop Sign at Intersection of Nelson Ave., Madison St., and Spring St. SUPERVISORS Joanne Yepsen 1. County Board of Supervisors June Meeting 2. County Budget Analysis 3. Local Law on Veteran Funeral Restrictions Public Hearing Matt Veitch 1. County Public Safety Committee 2. County Budget Report ADJOURN Page 2 of 7 City Council Meeting 6/21/11 June 21, 2011 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Meeting City Council Room PRESENT: Scott Johnson, Mayor Ken Ivins, Commissioner of Finance John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Richard Wirth, Commissioner of DPS Joanne Yepsen, Supervisor (arrived @ 7:05 p.m.) Matthew Veitch, Supervisor STAFF PRESENT: Shauna Sutton, Deputy Mayor Kate Jarosh, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Sharon Kellner-Chille, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW (arrived @ 7:15 p.m.) Frank Dudla, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Joe Scala, City Attorney 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. PUBLIC HEARING Four Way Stop at Nelson Avenue, Madison Avenue, and Spring Street Mayor Johnson opened the public hearing at 6:56 p.m. Patty Hasbrouck of 1 Madison Avenue thanked the Council for installing the stop signs. Seeing the cars slow down and become aware of what’s going on in that intersection is great to see. She has heard her neighbors all say how great it is to see the stop signs and what a difference they have made. Mayor Johnson closed the public hearing at 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Page 3 of 7 City Council Meeting 6/21/11 PUBLIC COMENT Mayor Johnson opened the public comment period at 7:01 p.m. Mayor Johnson said the public comment period is limited to a total of 15 minutes and individuals are limited to two minutes each according to the rules approved in February of 2004 by the City Council. No one spoke. Mayor Johnson closed the public comment period at 7:02 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Johnson moved and Commissioner Ivins seconded to approve the consent agenda as follows and modified: 1. Approval of 6/15/11 City Council Minutes 2. Approval of 6/7/11 City Council Minutes 3. Approve Budget Amendments 4. Approve Budget Transfers 5. Approve Payroll 6/20/22 $420,854.72 6. Approve Payroll 6/17/11 $390,087.89 7. Approve Warrant 2011 Mid 11MWJUN2 $1,046,183.81 8. Approve Warrant 2011 Regular 11JUN2 $330,427.61 Mayor Johnson advised he has a change to the June 15, 2011 minutes which he submitted to the clerk. The change involved the explanation of the contracts with SIEBA on page 3. Commissioner Ivins stated the amount of the regular warrant, 11JUN2, has changed from $330,427.61 to $329,582.61. Ayes - All MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Approve Contract with Jupiter Services for Asbestos Removal at the Former Waterfront Restaurant (11-179) Mayor Johnson moved and Commissioner Wirth seconded to authorize the mayor to sign the contract with Jupiter Services for the asbestos removal in the amount of $8,800. Commissioner Scirocco stated on page 2 of the contract it states the project manager should be the city engineer. He suggested the project manager be the Commissioner of Public Works. Mayor Johnson stated just below that it states all questions should be directed to the city engineer. Commissioner Scirocco stated all questions should also be directed to the Commissioner of Public Works and he will forward to the appropriate person from there. Mayor Johnson stated he has no problem with that. The changes will be made to the contract. Ayes - All Page 4 of 7 City Council Meeting 6/21/11 Discussion and Vote: Easement Agreement – 1 Madison Avenue (11-180) Tony Izzo, assistant city attorney stated this item as well as the next one relates to easements. A survey of each property has been done and shows a portion of the building encroaches into a portion of a City street. The property at 1 Madison Avenue encroaches into the City’s property by 1.5 feet and is a concrete stairway. The owner is asking to be able to keep the set of stairs exactly where it is now. Mayor Johnson confirmed this is the common process that is followed with a request for an easement. Tony Izzo advised it is. Mayor Johnson stated they did revise the easement so that in the event the current stairs are removed and are looked to be replaced, the issue will then be further addressed. Mayor Johnson moved and Commissioner Ivins seconded to approve the easement agreement as described. Ayes – All Discussion and Vote: Easement Agreement – 24 Vermont Street (11-181) Tony Izzo stated this issue involves a concrete stairway and small portion of a building and is 1.5 feet from the City street. Mayor Johnson stated this property is up to 1 foot. Mayor Johnson moved and Commissioner Ivins seconded to approve the easement agreement as described. Ayes – All Discussion and Vote: Summer Concert Series Donation (11-182) Mayor Johnson announced the receipt of 2 donations; one from the Saratoga Springs Republican Committee in the amount of $100 and another from Price Chopper in the amount of $100. Mayor Johnson moved and Commissioner Ivins seconded to accept the donations as described. Ayes - All ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT Discussion: Options Available After Board of Assessment Review Decision Commissioner Franck advised after you have received a response from the Board of Assessment Review for a grievance filed, and if you are not satisfied with their decision, the next step available to you is to challenge the assessment of your property by filing a petition with the Saratoga County Clerk. Filing with the County Clerk must happen within 30 days of the final filing of the assessment roll - which is on or about July 1st. This ‘challenge’ is called a SCAR or Small Claims Assessment Review. There are specific requirements and qualifying events for filing for SCAR, therefore, I would suggest going to the NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services web page for additional information. The web page is www.orps.state.ny.us. There is also the ability for an article 7 which tends to be for commercial property. FINANCE DEPARTMENT Page 5 of 7 City Council Meeting 6/21/11 Discussion and Vote: Department of Public Works Payroll Transfers (11-183) Commissioner Ivins moved and Commissioner Scirocco seconded to approve the Department of Public Works payroll transfers as previously distributed to the Council. Ayes - All Discussion and Vote: Department of Public Safety Payroll Transfers (11-184) Commissioner Ivins moved and Commissioner Wirth seconded to approve the Department of Public Safety payroll transfers as previously distributed to the Council. Ayes – All Discussion: City Finances Commissioner Ivins stated the last day to pay back taxes for the in-rem proceedings has passed. Our attorney has prepared and filed a summary judgment for the remaining parcels unpaid. We have collected $602,790.17; there is $279,978.00 still outstanding. Once we receive the judgment, the Council will set the starting bid for each parcel for the auction which will be based upon the recommendation of the Real Estate Committee. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Announcement: Paving Schedule Commissioner Scirocco announced the paving for this week. The following streets were milled: Worth Street from Jefferson Street to Vanderbilt Avenue; Circular Street from Park Place to Union Avenue; Circular Street from Caroline Street to Lake Avenue; Caroline Street from Broadway to Henry Street. Weather permitting; they will also pave these streets. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Set Public Hearing: Amend Chapter 58 of the Code of the City of Saratoga Springs Entitled Alarm Systems Commissioner Wirth set a public hearing for July 5, 2011 at 6:55 p.m. Discussion and Vote: 2011 NYRA Agreement for Racing Season (11-185) Commissioner Wirth advised the City will provide NYRA with firefighters and $74,775 for the services. Commissioner Wirth moved and Commissioner Ivins seconded to authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with NYRA for the 2011 racing season. Ayes – All Discussion and Vote: 4 Way Stop Sign at Intersection of Nelson, Madison, and Spring (11-186) Commissioner Wirth stated the stop signs were installed on an emergency basis and he felt this was a serious situation that had to be dealt with. The signs were installed on a temporary basis and would now like to make them permanent. Page 6 of 7 City Council Meeting 6/21/11 Commissioner Wirth moved and Mayor Johnson seconded to approve the installation of 4 way stop signs at the intersection of Nelson Avenue, Madison Avenue, and Spring Street. Ayes - All SUPERVISORS Joanne Yepsen County Board of Supervisors June Meeting Supervisor Yepsen reported there was a full County Board meeting today. They approved a grant for public health emergency preparedness; a grant for the Crime Victims Board, applications for the Youth Bureau 2011, and accepted federal funds for a workforce investment program. County Budget Analysis Supervisor Yepsen reported the Board requested a 6 month budget summary and analysis for Maplewood Manor. They will take this to the Law and Finance Committee for processing in hopes of avoiding shortfalls in the future. Local Law on Veteran Funeral Restrictions Public Hearing Supervisor Yepsen reported a local law was adopted unanimously today which prohibits the disruption of military funerals. This local law will go into effect right away. Matt Veitch County Public Safety Committee Supervisor Veitch reported they are approaching the end of the radio system project and starting to implement the radios. They also accepted a grant for the Crime Victims Board in the amount of $68,352. County Budget Report Supervisor Veitch reported they received the 6 month county report. The report included Maplewood Manor and the decreases in state aid to the County. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Johnson moved and Commissioner Ivins seconded to adjourn the meeting. Ayes – All There being no further business, Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 7:29 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Page 7 of 7 City Council Meeting 6/21/11 Approved: 7/5/11 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 8 of 7