City Council

December 5, 2016 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting 9:30 AM PRESENT: Joanne Yepsen, Mayor Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Christian Mathiesen, Commissioner of DPS STAFF PRESENT: Meg Kelly, 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: Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW CALL TO ORDER Mayor Yepsen called the meeting to order at 9:37 a.m. PRESENTATIONS 1. Open Space Advisory Committee – no comments. 2. Saratoga Mobile App – no comments. 3. Skidmore Students Survey on Housing – no comments. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Yepsen moved and Commissioner Franck seconded to go into executive session to discuss collective bargaining regarding the CSEA City Hall employees potential contract at 9:38 a.m. Ayes – All Council returned at 10:04 a.m. Mayor Yepsen announced there was nothing decided while in executive session. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of 11/1/16 City Council Meeting Minutes 2. Approval of 11/14/16 Pre-Agenda Meeting Minutes 3. Approval of 11/15/16 City Council Meeting Minutes City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting December 5, 2016 4. Approve Resolution for the Use of the Insurance Reserve – 20 5. Approve Resolution for the Use of the Insurance Reserve - 21 6. Approve Budget Amendments – Insurance Reserve 7. Approve Budget Amendments (Increases) 8. Approve Budget Transfers – Regular 9. Approve Budget Transfers – Regular (Capital) 10. Approve Payroll: 11/18/16 $505,228.07 11. Approve Payroll: 11/23/16 $496,834.37 12. Approve Payroll: 12/2/16 $487,227.35 13. Approve Warrant: 2016 Mid – 16MWNOV2: $14,704.89 14. Approve Warrant: 2016 REG – 16DEC1: $4,604,854.00 15. Approve Warrant: 2016 REG – 16 DEC2: $739,640.70 No comments. MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: ASA Agreement Re: Pitney Farm Mayor Yepsen stated this is an agreement with the Agricultural Stewardship Association. They are a non-profit organization that has agreed to be the third party enforcer on the conservation easement. Discussion and Vote: Resolution for Humanity, Respect & Inclusiveness No comments. Discussion: Draft Compete Streets Plan Mayor Yepsen advised this is a new policy and plan for the City. She is aware there are concerns from Council members and asked if she should leave this on her agenda for discussion or remove it. Commissioner Madigan suggested leaving this item on the agenda for discussion. Commissioner Scirocco stated they are still reviewing. Commissioner Mathiesen stated they are trying to work through it. This should be left on the agenda as discussion so the public knows they are working through it but concerns have been raised. Commissioner Franck advised he read through some but discussion would be good. Mayor Yepsen advised she will leave this item on the agenda as a discussion. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Establishment of Pay at the Rate of $100 per Hour up to $8,000 for the Assistant City Attorney to Counsel the Charter Review Commission, as Approved in the Budget 6/28/16 No comments. Appointment: City Court Judge No comments. Announcement: Special City Council Meeting on Affordable Housing – December 14, 2016 No comments. Page 2 of 6 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting December 5, 2016 Announcement: Openings on Boards No comments. Announcement: The 2017 Community Development Block Grant Applications Are Now Available from City Hall’s Office of Planning and Economic Development No comments. Mayor Yepsen added 2 items to her agenda: Discussion and Vote: Resolution for ADA Notice and Announcement: Post Fire Activity. Discussion of Fire at 26 Caroline Street Mayor Yepsen advised the Building Department has been involved in responding to the needs of the people affected by the fire. The Preservation Foundation has made an offer to set aside funds to have the City hire an independent engineer to make a determination. If it is an eminent safety issue we can’t take it to DRC. Due to the snow there is more weight on the building. Commissioner Scirocco stated he received e-mails regarding saving the façade of the building. His emails are saying it could be saved. Vince DeLeonardis, city attorney, stated they did not receive any indication that the façade is salvageable. Professional engineer Bill Gailor has gone into the building and determined the fire has devastated the structure. His findings are the building should be demolished. It is a real safety issue with demolition is the only outcome. Mayor Yepsen asked if the city engineer has been through the building. Commissioner Scirocco stated he would suggest a structural engineer be hired to go through the building. Vince advised the building inspector issued an order to demolish. Steve Shaw, building inspector, stated it is an issue of access. There is no practical access to the rear of the building. You can’t get heavy equipment in there in a safe manner. The wall between this building and Sperry’s is an old cinder block wall; which is questionable during any demolition. There are also wires in the way. Samantha Bosshart of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation asked if a court action has taken place as the ordinance states. Mayor Yepsen stated that has not happened. Samantha advised that would supersede the Design Review Commission. Also, while in this meeting, a report from Don Freidman, a structural engineer was received. He provided 3 scenarios - demolition, preservation of the building, and preservation of the façade. All 3 scenarios require the same approach. She read the report she received. She feels an independent structural engineer should be hired. Commissioner Madigan asked if Don Friedman went into the building. Samantha stated he did not. She asked why a demolition permit was issued without court action. Steve Shaw advised an actual demolition permit has not been issued as they are waiting for them to shut off and properly cap the water and sewer. The gas was capped last week. We don’t have a procedure in place for something like this as other cities do. They need to get one in place. If he doesn’t see substantial movement of this today he will bring it to court tomorrow. Page 3 of 6 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting December 5, 2016 Matt Veitch, acting as treasurer of the Preservation Foundation, stated they have the money and offer the $2,000 to the City for the structural engineer to look at the building. The City Council agreed to have Ryan-Biggs contact as the independent structural engineer to look at the building. Commissioner Madigan moved and Commissioner Scirocco seconded to move forward with this as an emergency for the third structural opinion. (16-440) Ayes - All ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT Set Public Hearing: Amendment to City Code for Special Events Commissioner Franck stated this relates to time filing of applications. Discussion and Vote: Approve Risk and Safety Manual No comments. Award of Bid: Municipal Solid Waste to Casella Waste Management, Inc. No comments. Discussion and Vote: Safety Committee Resolution Marilyn Rivers, director of risk and safety, advised they deleted the director of public works from the resolution and added the IT manager and the DPW business manager. FINANCE DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Accept Donation from Skidmore for the Downtown Special Assessment District Wayfinding Project (Correction to 11/01/16 Donation Acceptance) No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Payroll No comments. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Benefits No comments. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Contract with Orkin for Integrated Pest Management Services No comments. Discussion and Vote: Approval to Pay Invoice – W.J. Morris Excavating, Inc. for the Crescent Street Emergency Sewer Line Repairs Page 4 of 6 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting December 5, 2016 Tim Wales, city engineer, advised the Zion Church had an issue with the lateral connection. It ended up being an issue with the City’s pipes and we needed to call in W.J. Morris Excavating as he had the heavy equipment needed to do the repairs. The amount due to W.J. Morris Excavating is $38,000. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Change Order #1 with Wm. J. Keller & Sons Construction Corp. for Casino Dr./BOCES Waste Water Pump Station Upgrades No comments. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Saratoga County Agreement for Intermunicipal Recycling Commissioner Scirocco stated this is a 2 year contract where the City will receive payment from the County. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Agreement Addendum One with Clark Patterson Lee for the East Side Storm Drainage Project Tim Wales, city engineer advised this is to begin design phases to begin improving conditions next year. Commissioner Scirocco added 1 item to his agenda: Set Public Hearing: 2017 Water and Sewer Rates. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Contract with North Country Snow & Ice Management No comments. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for Mayor to Sign Agreement with BPI Mechanical Services for HVAC Services No comments. Commissioner Mathiesen added 5 items to his agenda: • Discussion and Vote: Contract with Brycer, LLC • Discussion and Vote: BPI Invoices • Discussion: Fire on Putnam & Caroline • Discussion: 3 Year Anniversary Re: Land on Eastern Ridge for EMS • Announcement: Condolences SUPERVISORS MATTHEW VEITCH 1. Saratoga County Tax Cap Override Vote PETER MARTIN 1. County Budget 2. Senior Advisory Committee Page 5 of 6 City Council Pre-Agenda Meeting December 5, 2016 ADJOURN Mayor Yepsen adjourned the meeting at 11:07 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 12/20/16 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 6 of 6