City Council

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL April 23, 2012 The Meeting was called to order by the Council President Denise Brucker at 7:12 p.m. in Room 209, City Council Chambers at City Hall. Ms. Brucker called upon Reverend David Heise of the Stanford Methodist Church to deliver the invocation. Ms. Brucker called upon Mayor McCarthy to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The Deputy City Clerk called the roll and the following members of the City Council answered to be present: Present – Councilmembers Lisa Perazzo, Carl Erikson, Vincent Riggi, Barbara Blanchard and Denise K. Brucker Absent – Margaret C. King Also Present –Deputy Clerk Charles W. Thorne and Corporation Counsel John Polster. At this point of the meeting Ms. Brucker asked, if there were no objections to she would like to take Agenda Item #22, 23 & 24 out of order. Resolution NO. 2012-72 Mr. Erikson called upon Joanne Little, Sr. Associate Athletic Director, Beth Taimi, Associate Athletic Director, Eric McDowell, Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information, Jeff Weinstein, Assistant Sports Information Director, of the Union College Athletic Department and Taylor Reid, Senior Defenseman from Calgary, Alberta to join him inside the rail to receive a resolution congratulating the Union College Men’s Hockey Team on its Outstanding and Historic Season. Taylor Reid thanked the Mayor, the Council and the fans for their support and spoke about what an exciting season it had been. Mr. Erikson moved the resolution; it was seconded by Ms. Perazzo. Resolution NO. 2012-73 Ms. Perazzo invited members of Re-Tree Schenectady to join her inside the rail to accept a resolution recognizing Arbor Day. Members thanked the Mayor and the Council. Ms. Perazzo moved the resolution; it was seconded by Mr. Erikson. Resolution NO. 2012-74 Ms. Porterfield called upon Amy Robinson, Board President and Diane Fisher; Executive Director of the Schenectady Day Nursery to join her inside the rail to accept a resolution recognizing the 110th Anniversary of the Nursery. Ms. Porterfield moved the resolution. April 23, 2012 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS: Revisions to Chapter 167 of the Code of the City of Schenectady Regarding Vacant Buildings. Ms. Brucker invited all who wished to address the Public Hearing to come forward. James Oxford, Schenectady Resident – Expressed concerns about the large number of vacant buildings in Mont Pleasant, especially in regard to the safety of children during the upcoming summer. Seeing no further speakers to come before the City Council, Ms. Brucker declared the Public Hearing closed. Abandonment of Daniels Avenue in the City of Schenectady Pursuant to New York State Second Class Cities Law § 101. Ms. Brucker invited all who wished to address the Public Hearing to come forward. Seeing no speakers to come before the City Council, Ms. Brucker declared the Public Hearing closed. Revisions to Chapter 156-7.1 and Chapter 121-4 of the Code of the City of Schenectady Regarding Open Fires. Ms. Brucker invited all who wished to address the Public Hearing to come forward. Seeing no speakers to come before the City Council, Ms. Brucker declared the Public Hearing closed. Abandonment of Agnes Street in the City of Schenectady Pursuant to New York Second Class Cities Law § 101. Ms. Brucker invited all who wished to address the Public Hearing to come forward. Seeing no speakers to come before the City Council, Ms. Brucker declared the Public Hearing closed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ms. Perazzo moved the minutes of the City Council meetings of April 16, 2012 be approved as submitted by the City Clerk. It was seconded by Mr. Riggi. Hearing no objections, Ms. Brucker declared the minutes approved as submitted. COMMUNICATIONS: Official: From the Mayor, a list of appointments dated April 23, 2012 From the Commissioner of General Services, a letter recommending the award of “Fertilizers, pesticides and turf suppliers for the Municipal Golf Course,” to the lowest bidder. From the Commissioner of General Services, a letter recommending the award of “Sodium Hypochloride Build Liquid Chlorine for the Utilities and Facilities 2012 Pool Season” to the lowest bidder. April 23, 2012 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 General: A letter from the Bellevue Preservation announcing their May meeting to be held on Thursday, May 10 at 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Petitions: None COMMITTEE REPORTS: None PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (LEGISLATIVE ITEMS) Ms. Brucker invited all who wished to address the Legislative Agenda to come forward. The following speakers rose to be heard and their remarks are summarized: Mary McClaine, Schenectady Resident – 15 Love – This is one of the best items I ever seen on a City Council Agenda. With this program, 1400 at-risk children are going to learn how to play tennis and the only cost to the City is the removal of the tree trunks and to re-surface the ground. The Youth Tennis Foundation will do the rest. The foundation is to be applauded for its efforts. Someone cares enough to teach the young folks a new skill. I hope this is the beginning of many programs to come. I would like to see volunteers come forward to teach other forms of recreation to the youth in the community. Things like plying bridge, tap dancing interests in hobbies – all good indoor activities and skills that are not taught in schools. I often think back to my childhood. My family lived in the City. My siblings and I had it all. Near our home was a community center owned and operated by the Methodist Churches of South Jersey. Everyday after school, we would go there for classes. Professionals would come from the suburbs to teach the classes. One day it would be a piano lesson, another day sewing, another theater arts, etc. It was possible because people cared enough to teach lifetime skills to children and the children made the effort to learn. This tennis program is a great idea. Let’s do more. I don’t think encumbering snow plowing budget funds is a good idea. How many council members would handle their own household funds in the same way? The northeast caught a break this year. It was a mild winter. The monies not used for snow plowing and removal should be set aside as a cash reserve and not used for a construction project in Steinmetz park. The project has waited this long it can wait some more. A yes vote on this resolution is Voodoo economics. P.D. Voorhis, Schenectady Resident – Asked if the law firm the City is contracting with is located in the City. She also questioned the arithmetic in the related to the Steinmetz Park Grant. Seeing no other speakers to come before the City Council, Ms. Brucker declared the Privilege of the Floor on the Legislative Agenda closed. April 23, 2012 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 INTRODUCTION OF AND ACTION UPON LOCAL LAWS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: Resolution No. 2012 – 75 (Roll Call Vote) Adopted 5:1:1 Voting AYE: Blanchard, Brucker, Erikson, Perazzo and Porterfield Voting NO: Riggi Absent: King Resolution No. 2012 – 76 (Roll Call Vote) Adopted 4:2:1 Voting AYE: Brucker, Erikson, Perazzo, Porterfield Voting NO: Blanchard and Riggi Absent: King Ms. Perazzo made a motion that Council approves the Consent Agenda and the motion was seconded by Mr. Erikson. Consent Agenda – Resolution No. 2012 – 77 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 78 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 79 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 80 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 81 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 82 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 83 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 84 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 85 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 86 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 87 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 88 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 89 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 90 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 91 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 92 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 93 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 94 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – 95 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – CS-06 Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2012 – CS-07 Adopted Unanimously April 23, 2012 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: Ms. Brucker invited all who wished to address the City Council on any matter of City business to come forward. The following speakers rose to be heard and their remarks are summarized: Joy Hall, Schenectady Resident – Made suggestion that more traffic control devices be placed on Erie Boulevard. Harry Brand, Schenectady Resident – Criticized the amount of savings reported by the recycling plant, saying larger savings were promised. P.D. Voorhis, Schenectady Resident – Stated she hasn’t received Mr. Winkler’s, Mr. Shilling’s or Mr. Wilson’s resumes. Nor has she received an invitation to tour Foster Avenue. She also criticized the condition of the former SACC building. Joe Rodriguez, Schenectady Resident – Said he owns a home on Moyston Street that is assessed significantly higher than the neighboring houses. He also complained about the condition of the street. James Oxford, Schenectady Resident – Thanked the Council and Vince Riggi for help in Mont Pleasant. He also said that trash has been piling up outside of Buildings on Crane Street building. James & Sharon Schmidt – Expressed concern about the quality of life, blight and crime in Mont Pleasant. Seeing no other speakers to come before the City Council, Ms. Brucker declared the Privilege of the Floor closed. Miscellaneous Business of the Council Ms. Perazzo – Announced the upcoming meeting of Bellevue Preservation. She also noted that the plowing funds being used to start the Steinmetz park renovation will be repaid by the grant money in the Fall of this year. Mr. Riggi – Announced that St. John the Evangelist parish will be holding a fundraiser for the school. He also said we need safe and clean neighborhoods. And he called for an austerity budget. Mr. Erikson – told Mr. Riggi, he has always been available to meet regarding finances. He stated that increased recycling would save hundreds of thousands of dollars. He also complimented the 15 Love project and Steinmetz Park project and voiced his support for the new auto policy. Ms. Porterfield – Thanked everyone who participated in her swearing in ceremony and thanked the woman who spoke about the conditions in Mont Pleasant. Mayor McCarthy – Stated that the Neighborhood Code Enforcement Compliance Review has been in place for a year. Incases where notices have been ignored warrants have been issued. This is a systematic process, not a quick fix. Packaged home sales and mortgage programs have been initiated with banks and April 23, 2012 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 realtors. The land bank has been enacted and vacant building legislation has been passed. Ms. Brucker – noted that this is the first time in her memory that a systematic plan is being followed. She said it took a long time get where we are and it will not get out overnight. Recess: Seeing no further business to come before the City Council, at 8:22 p.m. Ms. Brucker declared the meeting recessed until Monday, May 7, 2012. A true record By Charles W. Thorne Deputy City Clerk