City Council

January 3, 2017 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Meeting City Council Room 7:00 PM 7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL SALUTE TO FLAG PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD / 15 MINUTES PRESENATIONS EXEUTIVE SESSION CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of 12/19/16 Pre-Agenda Meeting Minutes 2. Approval of 12/20/16 City Council Meeting Minutes 3. Approve Budget Transfers – Regular (Capital) 4. Approve Payroll: 12/23/16 $1,061,685.09 5. Approve Payroll: 12/30/16 $484,237.37 6. Approve Payroll: 12/31/16 $45,846.37 7. Approve Warrant: 2016 Mid – 16MWDEC2: $13,039.15 8. Approve Warrant: 2016 REG – 16DEC4: $310,403.49 9. Approve Warrant: 2017 REG – 17JAN1: $108,041.38 MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT 1. Announcement: Appointment to the Planning Board 2. Announcement: Appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals 3. Discussion: Charter Commission Update 4. Discussion: Recommendation for the Purchase of Open Space in Loughberry Lake Watershed 5. Announcement: Grants Awarded to the City 6. Announcement: Code of Conduct Rules 7. Announcement: State of the City Address at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. 8. Announcement: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT 1. Nothing at this time. FINANCE DEPARTMENT 1. Announcement: 2016 Bond Rating Update – Moody’s Upgrades City from Aa3 to Aa2 2. Discussion and Vote: Bond Resolution – Canfield Casino City Council Meeting 1/3/17 3. Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Payroll PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Change Order #6 with Bast Hatfield, Inc. for the Ballston Avenue Traffic Improvement Project 2. Discussion and Vote: Approval Easement to the City – 10 Avery Street PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion and Vote: Appointment of Dr. Timothy Brooks as City Health Officer for 2017 SUPERVISORS Matthew Veitch 1. Nothing at this time. Peter Martin 1. Nothing at this time. ADJOURN Page 2 of 7 City Council Meeting 1/3/17 January 3, 2017 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Meeting City Council Room 7:00 PM 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 Vincent DeLeonardis Matthew Veitch, Supervisor Peter Martin, Supervisor 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. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Yepsen called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. PUBLIC COMENT Mayor Yepsen said the public comment period is limited to a total of 15 minutes and individuals are limited to two minutes. Mayor Yepsen opened the public comment period at 7:06 p.m. John Safford of Saratoga Springs stated he is here to pose a couple questions regarding the appointment of Francine Vero as city court judge. He understands the mayor appointed a committee and then disregarded their recommendation of appointment. He would like to know why she chose Ms. Vero over the committee’s recommendation of Jim Doern. Ms. Francine Vero was part of the team that defended the mayor during the ethic question issue. This is either a question of ethics or poor judgment. He has been a dedicated and honorable judge for many years. Mayor Yepsen closed the public comment period at 7:08 p.m. Page 3 of 7 City Council Meeting 1/3/17 Commissioner Franck stated Francine Vero did work with the City in the past. She did an excellent job for the City and feels she will do a great job in the judge position. He reminded the public that Harris, Beach was actually introduced to the City by Scott Johnson. Commissioner Mathiesen stated he would have preferred Judge Doern be re-appointed to the position. Mayor Yepsen stated she is comfortable and confident with her appointment of Francine. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Yepsen moved and Commissioner Mathiesen seconded to accept the consent agenda as follows: 1. Approval of 12/19/16 Pre-Agenda Meeting Minutes 2. Approval of 12/20/16 City Council Meeting Minutes 3. Approve Budget Transfers – Regular (Capital) 4. Approve Payroll: 12/23/16 $1,061,685.09 5. Approve Payroll: 12/30/16 $484,237.37 6. Approve Payroll: 12/31/16 $45,846.37 7. Approve Warrant: 2016 Mid – 16MWDEC2: $13,039.15 8. Approve Warrant: 2016 REG – 16DEC4: $310,403.49 9. Approve Warrant: 2017 REG – 17JAN1: $108,041.38 Ayes – All MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Announcement: Appointment to the Planning Board Mayor Yepsen appointed Amy Durland to the Planning Board as a full time member for 1 year. She is filling the position of a member who has to leave the board due to health issues. Announcement: Appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals Mayor Yepsen appointed Sherri Grey to the Zoning Board of Appeals with a 7 year term. Discussion: Charter Commission Update Bob Turner, chair of the Charter Committee provided an update. He advised that over the past 6 months, the committee has interviewed over 20 former and current Council members; 9 department heads or directors; 6 mayors and city managers from other cities; 2 municipal experts; various members of the 2001, 2005, and 2012 Charter Review Commissions; held a town meeting; conducting a meeting of potential City Council candidates; conducted the first ever survey of City Hall employees; reviewed city charters from 6 other upstate cities; and conducted interviews with numerous community stakeholders. At their December th 13 meeting, they unanimously voted on a resolution calling for the Committee to produce its findings on the existing commissioner form of government not later than February 1st; to continue the developments of amendments to the existing Charter that can be recommended to the City Council not later than February st 1 ; and begin work to prepare a proposal for an alternative form of government to be considered by the Commission with the goal of being placed before the voters in the spring of 2017. They are working on presenting a budget for 2017. They spent $12,000 of the $26,000 allocated in the 2016 budget. Commissioner Scirocco stated he has some concerns. We don’t know why or where the money was spent. Page 4 of 7 City Council Meeting 1/3/17 Bob Turner stated $6,000 paid for Tony Izzo’s services and the other $6,000 was spent on clerk services. They should have pricing on printing this week. Commissioner Scirocco stated the Charter states the Committee is charged with looking at the Charter and making some revisions, not to change the entire form of government. There may be some tweaking required. The entire Charter change has been voted down 2 times. What was the item that made the Committee start looking at changing the form of government? Bob Turner stated they reviewed all the previous reports; interviewed all people who were part of the Council previous to this one; and interviewed all department heads. Commissioner Scirocco stated they are looking at a special election in April without any information being provided to the residents. Why can’t it wait until November when the majority of the residents come out to vote? Bob Turner stated the Committee has not voted to adopt a new form of government. There was a vote of 12-3 to draft an alternative form of government. Commissioner Scirocco stated he will have a hard time allocating any more money without having additional information. Commissioner Franck stated in 2006 the cost for a special election was $30,000. He would expect this to cost much more now. A special election does not have to do with Home Rule Law Section 36. The City would be liable to pay for all costs associated with a special election. He doesn’t believe there is enough time to do a special election in April. Tony Izzo stated there are a lot of rules and regulations. The timeframe is the same whether there is a special election or on the regular ballot. Commissioner Franck asked Tony to confirm if it is up to the City Council or the Charter Commission to decide if there will be a special election. Tony Izzo stated it is up to the City Council and the Commission to decide how this is going to happen. Commissioner Madigan asked for information regarding funding for a special election. Discussion: Recommendation for the Purchase of Open Space in Loughberry Lake Watershed Mayor Yepsen advised a property owner approached the Open Space Committee about a parcel they own and is looking to divide into 2 parcels to develop 2 single family homes. The owner offered the parcel for sale to the City as part of their watershed. The Open Space Committee recommends the City purchase this property to protect our watershed. A dollar amount has not been determined. Announcement: Grants Awarded to the City Mayor Yepsen announced they received $313,699 of Community Development Block Grant money; $303,987 from HUD for rental assistance; $2,500 from New York State for Cleaner Greener Communities; and DEC Climate Smart Program gave the City $1,134,332.50 towards the downtown connector for the Greenbelt Trail. Announcement: Code of Conduct Rules Mayor Yepsen announced the Code of Conduct Rules agreed upon by the Council contained a clause that the Council will review the rules annually. She would like to bring this to the next meeting for a vote. Page 5 of 7 City Council Meeting 1/3/17 Announcement: State of the City Address at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Mayor Yepsen announced the State of the City Address will be held at the City Center on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Announcement: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Mayor Yepsen announced the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration will be held the weekend of January 13, 2017. ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT Nothing at this time. FINANCE DEPARTMENT Announcement: 2016 Bond Rating Update – Moody’s Upgrades City from Aa3 to Aa2 Commissioner Madigan announced the City has been upgraded from an Aa3 bond rating to an Aa2 bond rating. Discussion and Vote: Bond Resolution – Canfield Casino (17-001) Commissioner Madigan stated this project will be paid for with bonds in the amount of $600,000. Commissioner Madigan moved and Commissioner Scirocco seconded to approve the 2017 bond resolution as distributed with the agenda. Roll Call: Commissioner Franck – Aye Commissioner Madigan – Aye Commissioner Scirocco – Aye Commissioner Mathiesen – Aye Mayor Yepsen - Aye Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Payroll (17-002) Commissioner Madigan moved and Commissioner Franck seconded to approve the 2017 budget transfers – payroll which were distributed with the agenda. Ayes - All PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Change Order #6 with Bast Hatfield, Inc. for the Ballston Avenue Traffic Improvement Project (17-003) Commissioner Franck recused himself and left the room. Commissioner Scirocco stated this is for the payment of the provision of temporary traffic signals that were used until the new signals could be installed at the intersection of Ballston and Lincoln Avenue. The change order amount is $76,778.03 of which $3,840 is the City’s portion. Page 6 of 7 City Council Meeting 1/3/17 Commissioner Scirocco moved and Commissioner Mathiesen seconded to authorize the mayor to sign change order #6 with Bast Hatfield, Inc. for the Ballston Avenue Traffic Improvement Project in the amount of $56,422. Ayes – All Commissioner Franck re-joined the meeting. Discussion and Vote: Approval Easement to the City – 10 Avery Street (17-004) Tony Izzo, assistant city attorney, advised a piece of city infrastructure is located on private property at 10 Avery Street. The owner has granted the City an easement should the City need to go on the property. Commissioner Scirocco moved and Commissioner Madigan seconded to approve the easement for the City of Saratoga Springs on property located at 10 Avery Street and authorize the mayor to sign the necessary documents. Ayes - All PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Appointment of Dr. Timothy Brooks as City Health Officer for 2017 (17-005) Commissioner Mathiesen moved and Commissioner Madigan seconded to re-appoint Dr. Timothy Brooks as City Health Officer for 2017. Ayes - All SUPERVISORS Matthew Veitch Nothing at this time. Peter Martin Nothing at this time. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Yepsen adjourned the meeting at 8:27 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 1/17/17 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 7 of 7