City Council

March 16, 2015 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Pre- Agenda Meeting PRESENT: Joanne Yepsen, Mayor Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Christian Mathiesen, Commissioner of DPS STAFF PRESENT: Joe Ogden, Deputy Mayor Lynn Bachner, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Maire Masterson, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Vince DeLeonardis, City Attorney Matthew Veitch, Supervisor Peter Martin, Supervisor EXCUSED: Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW CALL TO ORDER Mayor Yepsen called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. PRESENTATION 1. Church Street Waterline Improvement Including Looping Tony Izzo, assistant city attorney, advised this is the identical proposal brought forward from November 2014 with updated figures. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Collective bargaining – executive session will take place immediately following pre-agenda on 3/16/15. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve Resolution for the Use of the Insurance Reserve – 6 2. Approve Resolution for the Use of the Insurance Reserve – 7 3. Approve Resolution for the Use of the Insurance Reserve – 8 4. Approve Resolution for the Use of the Insurance Reserve – 9 5. Approve Budget Amendments – Insurance Reserve 6. Approve Budget Amendments (Increases) 7. Approve Budget Transfers – Regular 8. Approve Payroll 3/6/15 $489,301.25 9. Approve Payroll 3/13/15 $439,478.05 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting March 16, 2015 10. Approve Warrant: 2015 Mid – 15MWMAR1 $122,646.88 11. Approve Warrant: 2015 REG – 15MAR2 $3,965,803.19 Commissioner Madigan stated item #11 is so large due to the first quarter county tax payment and health insurance premium payment. MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Announcement: Mayor’s Desk Mayor Yepsen advised she will be reporting on meetings she recently attended. Announcement: Upcoming 2015 Comprehensive Plan Public Workshops Mayor Yepsen advised the next workshop is scheduled for March 24th at 6 p.m. Announcement: Update on 2015 Centennial Mayor Yepsen announced plans have been made for April 7th, the day the City was incorporated. Appointment: Mayor’s Commission on the Arts No comments. Discussion and Vote: Rules of Conduct No comments. Discussion and Vote: Contract w/ SSPF for CLG Historic Preservation Speaker Series Brad Birge of the Planning Department stated this agreement with the Preservation Foundation is to implement we received last year. It is a $12,000 grant and we will be providing about $4,000 in in-kind services. There will be 4 presentations locally. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Contract with PBA Mayor Yepsen advised this will be the discussion during executive session. Mayor Yepsen advised she is adding one item to her agenda: Discussion: Proposal from Adirondack Trust to Purchase Parcel from the City. Tony Izzo, assistant city attorney, advised the Adirondack Trust wants to purchase from the City, for $31,000, a portion of Long Alley. The Real Estate Committee has reviewed and approved the sale. It can be acted upon by Council at any time. The Council agreed to hold off on moving on this as there are many questions that still need to be answered. ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT Nothing at this time. Page 2 of 5 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting March 16, 2015 FINANCE DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Revise 2013 fund Balance Excess Recommendation Commissioner Madigan advised that the amount that will be needed for the re-design of the website is much less than originally expected. She will be re-directing some of the funds to a professional revenue analysis. Discussion and Vote: Budget Amendment – 2013 Fund Balance Excess No comments. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Agreement with Camoin Associates Commissioner Madigan advised this is the company she has chosen to hire to do a revenue analysis. She will have them do an analysis of current revenue lines, case study analysis, and meeting with the Chamber, Convention and Tourism, and members of each of our departments. This company does not have professional liability insurance and she has a statement from them that says never have never had it. Commissioner Franck stated he has worked with this firm through other municipalities and has nothingbut praise for their work. He does believe they can get the insurance for them. That would be the only thing holding his vote up. Commissioner Madigan advised Camoin has received a waiver from the City of Saratoga Springs to work on the Beaver Pond project and every town/village in the area. If they are not able to get she will still bring this forward for a vote as this is the company she has settled on hiring. Mayor Yepsen asked what Commissioner Madigan hopes to accomplish by doing this analysis. Commissioner Madigan stated there is the chance we will see reduced VLT revenue. Commissioner Franck stated he was under the assumption that Commissioner Madigan had put together a Revenue Committee to look at these things. Commissioner Madigan advised she changed her mind. Commissioner Franck asked why we don’t have employees write a grant to have a grant pay for Camoin’s services to do this rather than using taxpayer money. Commissioner Madigan advised this is not a lot of money and her department is busy with a lot of large projects. She does not have the staff to project manage a committee made up of community members. Commissioner Franck asked Commissioner Madigan to ask Camoin to add to the scope that they apply for a grant to cover the work they do. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Payroll No comments. Discussion and vote: Budget Transfers – Benefits No comments. Page 3 of 5 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting March 16, 2015 PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: 2015 Water & Sewer Rates and Resolution No comments. Discussion and Vote: Sick Bank Request No comments. Announcement: Submit the 2014 Department of Public Works Annual Report No comments. Discussion: Update on the Ballston Avenue reconstruction Project Detour No comments. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: To Amend City Code, Article 225, Section 225-72, Schedule VII One Way Streets No comments. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Agreement with Vander Molen Fire Apparatus Commissioner Mathiesen advised this company will be servicing our fire equipment. Announcement: Public Safety Forum on March 26, 2015 at 7 pm in the City Council Room Commissioner Mathiesen stated the focus of this forum will be on traffic safety. Discussion and Vote: mayor to Sign Agreement with New York State Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security for EVOC Training Sergeant Prestigiacomo advised this is for 2 week training session in October to enhance the skills of our officers in the field. SUPERVISORS MATTHEW VEITCH 1. Personnel Committee Supervisor Veitch added one item to his agenda: Deceased Veteran’s Honors PETER MARTIN 1. Social Programs Committee 2. Public Health Committee 3. Equalization and Assessment Committee 4. Vietnam Veterans 5. State Legislative Agenda Page 4 of 5 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting March 16, 2015 EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Yepsen moved and Commissioner Franck seconded to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of Collective bargaining at 10:16 a.m. The Council returned at 11:22 a.m. Mayor Yepsen advised this issue discussed is on tomorrow’s agenda. ADJOURN Mayor Yepsen adjourned the meeting at 11:22 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 4/7/15 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 5 of 5