City Council

October 15, 2013 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Pre- Agenda Meeting PRESENT: Scott Johnson, Mayor Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Christian Mathiesen, Commissioner of DPS Joanne Yepsen, Supervisor Matthew Veitch, Supervisor STAFF PRESENT: Shauna Sutton, Deputy Mayor Lynn Bachner, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Sharon Kellner-Byrnes, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Matt Dorsey, City Attorney EXCUSED: John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2014 Comprehensive Budget No comments. PRESENTATION Update Water Model – The Chazen Companies Commissioner Scirocco advised he has invited Chazen Companies tonight to give the Council an update on the progress. Vietnam 50th Commemoration Partnership Program Commissioner Mathiesen advised he will speak about this tonight with Supervisor Yepsen. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Discussions regarding proposed, pending or current litigation. City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting October 15, 2013 CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of 9/30/13 Pre-Agenda Meeting Minutes 2. Approve Budget Amendments – Increases 3. Approve Budget Transfers - Regular 4. Approve Payroll 10/04/13 $408,582.96 5. Approve Payroll 10/11/13 $410,287.49 6. Approve Warrant: 2013 REG – 13OCT2 $1,104,606.75 7. Approve Warrant: 2013 Mid – 13MWOCT1 $599,098.76 No comments. MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: SEQRA Lead Agency for Proposed Zoning Map Amendment at 3368 South Broadway (Turf Hotels) Kate Maynard of the Planning Department stated before the Council tonight is initiating coordinating review among the involved agencies and for the City Council to determine if they want to be lead agency. Mayor Johnson stated this is unique as the Planning Board may be the better agency to be lead. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Contract to Sell Portion of Maple Avenue Right of Way to Randy Martin Matt Dorsey, city attorney, advised the building that currently houses Town, Ryan & Partners on Maple Avenue. The owner of this property, Randy Martin is trying to get the sliver of land to square off his parcel. This has been reviewed by the Real Estate Committee, DPW, and DPW. The Real Estate Committee is recommending the sale. The amount set forth in the contract is $4,750. Discussion and Vote: Donation of Phones to Domestic Violence Mayor Johnson advised the City has 63 used cell phones that have been turned back in to be upgraded. The value of these phones total $200. Discussion and Vote: Amend the Previous Resolutions of the City Council Entitled “Resolution for Benefits for the Mayor and Commissioners” Mayor Johnson advised this goes back to 1989 with modification in 1993 to add life insurance. The motion is to re-examine if they want to continue with this. This allows a member of the Council with 10 years continuous service and age 55 to retire and received free health care for life. He feels this is excessive. They are asking employees to bear more of the costs of health care. He brings it forward now as we are instituting a new round of negotiations with the unions. It is only fair that the Council look at what is available. Also, it is a far stretch to reach those conditions. Commissioner Madigan stated she has many issues with this. The first being there is no current resolution attached for review. As he has stated in the past, it is a matter of policy and procedure, we should have the current resolution for the public of what they will be voting. It is a little late to bring this forward now. Mayor Johnson stated he checked with the city attorney and it is not needed to have a resolution for this matter as they are amending a current resolution. That is not required procedurally; so should not be the issue before this Council. It is an important issue to demonstrate to the City employees that we also share in the burden. Maybe we should change it to 20 years as there is no City employee now that can retire with anything less than 20 years. Why should the City Council get that? Page 2 of 5 City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting October 15, 2013 Commissioner Madigan stated spending 10 years on a City Council is a long time. There is 1 person, if elected, will meet the 10 year qualification. This is grand standing and there is no reason bringing this forward this close to an election. Commissioner Mathiesen stated it would be helpful to see the wording of the resolution. There are opportunities to amend it to make it as fair as possible for the current members and future members. Mayor Johnson stated this has nothing to do with the election. He is asking the Council to do their fair share before he asks City employees to do more. Commissioner Madigan stated she feels strongly that without seeing the resolution in advance, it should not be placed on the agenda for a vote. There are things that can be done such as grandfather in this administration. She has been told in the past when she has tried to bring something forward at the last minute that based on policy and procedure she would have to wait for the next meeting. There are future meetings including workshops coming up. Mayor Johnson advised he will be adding ‘Discussion and Vote: Accept USTA Grant Money in the Amount of $300”. ACCOUNT’S DEPARTMENT Announcement: Voting district Locations Deputy Sharon Kellner-Byrnes advised this is an announcement to remind the residents that the location for District 14 has been moved to the City Recreation Center; and Districts 3, 4, 8, 9, and 25 have been moved back to the City Center. FINANCE DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Standard Workday Resolution Commissioner Madigan advised this is for Matt Dorsey, city attorney. Discussion and Vote: Resolution to Establish Reserve Fund for Bonded Indebtedness Commissioner Madigan advised this request is to establish the reserve fund, not to fund it. Discussion and Vote: Resolution to Establish Insurance Reserve Commissioner Madigan advised this is the same as above; establish the reserve fund but not fund it. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Payroll No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Benefits No comments. Set Public Hearing: Second Public Hearing for the 2014 Comprehensive Budget No comments. Announcement: 2014 Comprehensive Budget Workshops Page 3 of 5 City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting October 15, 2013 No comments. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign a Curb Contract Commissioner Scirocco advised this is for 64’ of granite curbing at 2 Waterbury Street. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign an Agreement with CT Male for the Upgrade of Three pump Stations Tim Wales, city engineer, advised the agreement is for the study of the upgrade of the 3 oldest/worst pump stations. This is also 50% funded by National Grid. Discussion and Vote: Donation Downtown Fall Festival Commissioner Scirocco stated the 12th annual DBA Fall Festival is coming up. He will be asking the Council to waive the fee for rides on the Carousel for children who dress in costume. Discussion: Update on the Ballston Avenue Traffic Improvement Project Between Hamilton Street and Lincoln Avenue – Greenman Pedersen, Inc. Commissioner Scirocco stated he believes this project will start sometime in 2014. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War No comments. Set Public Hearing: Amend City Code Chapter 225 Article 9, Section 225-77, Schedule XII; Stop Intersections Commissioner Mathiesen stated this has to do with the stop sign that was installed earlier this summer at the corner of Jumel Place and Ludlow Street. They would like this to be a permanent change. Set Public Hearing: Amend City Code Chapter 225-94, Schedule XXIX; Alternate Side of the Street Parking to Everyday During the Saratoga Thoroughbred Racing Meet Commissioner Mathiesen advised this is in regards to Madison Street. Alternate side of the street parking from Wright Street to Crescent Street during the racing season would be helpful. Discussion: Resolution to Accept Purchase Offer of 500 Broadway (Collamer Parking Lot) from The Algonquin Building LLC & for the City to Purchase Tax Parcel 179-3-1 on Union Avenue Commissioner Mathiesen stated there is a change to the 3rd paragraph; “assess” should be changed to “appraised value”. Discussion: State Liquor Authority Approval for Last Call Change for Essex and Warren Counties No comments. Announcement: Change of Date for Public Safety Forum from October 24th to November 7, 2013 at 7 p.m. in City Council Room Page 4 of 5 City Council Preliminary Agenda Meeting October 15, 2013 Commissioner Mathiesen advised they changed the date due to the League of Women Voters’ are holding a debate that evening for the mayor and supervisors. SUPERVISORS JOANNE YEPSEN Supervisor Yepsen advised the following items will be on her agenda: Vietnam Commemorative Committee; Full Board Meeting Report; and Impacts of the Government Shut Downs on County DSS Programs. MATTHEW VEITCH Supervisor Veitch advised he has one item for his agenda; Update on the Conflict Defender Department. ADJOURN Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 10:04 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Secretary to City Council Approved: 11/4/13 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 5 of 5