City Council

December 3, 2012 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Pre- Agenda Meeting PRESENT: Scott Johnson, Mayor Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Christian Mathiesen, Commissioner of DPS STAFF PRESENT: Shauna Sutton, Deputy Mayor Lynn Bachner, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Sharon Kellner-Chille, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Joe Scala, City Attorney Matthew Veitch, Supervisor Joanne Yepsen, Supervisor EXCUSED: Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS Swearing in Ceremony for New Firefighters Mayor Johnson asked if a half hour is necessary to swear in the new firefighters or if 15 minutes would be enough. Commissioner Mathiesen stated a half hour is enough. PRESENTATION 1. Visitor Center Exterior Roof Project and Canfield Casino Handicap Ramp Project 2. Urban Forestry Update 3. GAPS Report Commissioner Franck stated Supervisor Veitch will be doing a powerpoint and a copy of the report will be provided to each Council member. Mayor Johnson stated there is one additional presentation which will be the County regarding the sewer rates. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting December 3, 2012 CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve Budget Amendments (Decreases) 2. Approve Budget Amendments (Increases) 3. Approve Budget Transfers - Regular 4. Approve Payroll 11/21/12 $443,349.87 5. Approve Payroll 11/30/12 $405,81.026 6. Approve Warrant: 2012 Mid – 12MWNOV2 $507,035.23 7. Approve Warrant: 2012 Reg – 12DEC1 $5,357,897.69 Commissioner Madigan advised the warrant is unusually high this time due to the New York State Retirement Taxes. Because they are paying it early they will be saving several thousands of dollars in interest. MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT 1. Announcement: 2013 Community Development Block Grant Applications Mayor Johnson stated the applications are available in the office and on the City’s website. The deadline is January 31st. 2. Set Public Hearing: Amend the 2012 Capital Budget for Spring Run Trail Mayor Johnson stated this is the final bill for the project. They will have the final figure by the end of today, approximately $20,000. 3. Discussion and Vote: Change Date of January 1, 2013 City Council Meeting Mayor Johnson stated they discussed this previously and agreed to hold the meeting on Wednesday, January 2nd. Commissioner Mathiesen asked if it would make sense to set the schedule for the whole year as he is sure they will not want to hold a meeting on election night this year. Mayor Johnson stated they normally discuss that closer to the date as more of a public awareness. Commissioner Madigan stated she wanted to discuss the agenda meeting for the January 2nd meeting; hold it on Monday, December 31st. 4. Announcement: Brown Bag Lunch Mayor Johnson stated this will be on Gideon Putnam. 5. Announcement: Gideon Putnam Anniversary and Exhibit at the Visitor Center Mayor Johnson stated this in relation to Gideon Putnam’s death. There is an exhibit being launched at the Visitor’s Center. ACCOUNT’S DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: Acceptance of the State Archives Grant – 2013 Building Department Files Commissioner Franck stated Nancy Wagner just broke the $500,000 mark on grants. Page 2 of 4 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting December 3, 2012 Nancy Wagner advised this is our 27th grant. This grant is to complete the inventory of the building permit files. There were so many planning records we didn’t get to the building files. This is a non matching grant; no City funds. This grant brings us to $501,845.00 for records management. 2. Award of Bid: Extension of Bid for Hydraulic Dump Trailer No comments. 3. Reappointment: Board of Assessment Review Commissioner Franck stated he will be re-appointing Camille Daniels for another 5 year term. FINANCE DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: 2013 City Fees No comments. 2. Announcement: 12/08/12 Property Auction Commissioner Madigan stated they will be auctioning 3 properties on December 8th in the City Council Chambers at 10 am. The properties are Ingersol Road, 292 West Circular Street, and 382 Lake Avenue. 3. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Payroll No comments. 4. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Benefits No comments. 5. Discussion and Vote: Budget Amendments - Benefits No comments. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: Authorization to Pay Invoice to Alpine Environmental Services – Visitor Center Commissioner Scirocco stated Alpine did the monitoring at the Visitor Center. They worked for an additional 7 days; therefore we owe them an additional amount. Debbie LaBreche of the Engineering Office stated it was hard for Alpine to estimate how much time the project would take. It ended up they went 14 days beyond their 21 day estimate. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: Waiver of City Music Hall Fee for One Night Commissioner Mathiesen states this involves a forum sponsored by Saratoga Wire. It is in regards to controversy surrounding the assault of a woman on September 1st in the City. The forum is from 7 – 9 p.m. on Wednesday. Page 3 of 4 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting December 3, 2012 Mayor Johnson stated his concern is it is not a City sponsored event to waive the fee. Commissioner Madigan stated they could vote on it. Tony Izzo stated there has to be an affirmative finding by the Council that there is a value to the public that is equal to or greater than the value of the payment of the fee. It would be on a case by case basis. 2. Announcement: Swearing in Ceremony for New Fire Fighters No comments. SUPERVISORS JOANNE YEPSEN Supervisor Yepsen stated she would be adding the following to her agenda: County Budget for 2013; lease for Mental Health Facility; Racing Commissioner Resolution; and December Board Meetings. MATTHEW VEITCH 1. Technology Committee 2. County Budget Public Hearing ADJOURN Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9:49 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 1/15/13 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 4 of 4