City Council

SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL February 11, 2013 State of the City Mayor Gary R. McCarthy At 7:00 pm, prior to the start of the City Council Meeting, Mayor Gary McCarthy provided a State of the City Address and the remarks are noted below. Schenectady City Council Margaret King – Council President, Denise Brucker, Barbara Blanchard, Carl Erikson, Leesa Perazzo, Vincent Riggi, Marion Porterfield History of Schenectady •Schenectady settled in 1661, part of Dutch colony of New Netherland. Settlement was led by Arent Van Curler of Nijkerk in the Netherlands •Feb 8, 1690 attacked and overrun by forces of France and their Indian allies, who burned the town. All but 60 of the inhabitants killed (The Schenectady Massacre) •In 1765 Schenectady was incorporated as a borough •It was chartered as a city in 1798 •In 1887 Thomas Edison moved his Edison Machine Works to Schenectady •In 1892 Schenectady became the headquarters of the General Electric Company •General Electric generated the first regular television broadcasts in the United States in 1928 •Historic population of Schenectady: 13,655 in 1880; 31,682 in 1900; 92,061 in 1950 •Current site of City Hall was the original site of 30-bed Ellis Hospital in 1893 (moved to Rosa Road in 1906) •Jay Street City Hall building completed in 1933 - designed by a prominent New York City architectural firm McKim, Mead, and White (MMW) •Added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 11, 1978 POLICE DEPARTMENT •Number of Calls for Service in 2012 - 81,091 (5.1% Decrease) •Accidents Recorded Through COMPSTAT - 3,050 (Down 13.5%) •Part 1 Crime (Down 8.8%) While Upward Trend Statewide •27 New Neighborhood Cameras for a Total to Date Of 122 •911 Hang-Up Calls – 1,619 •Burglar / Intrusion Alarm Responses – 2,271 •Animal Control Complaints – 1,314 •“Assist a Person” Calls Numbered – 2,413 •Calls to Check a Subject – 2,521 •Disturbance Calls for Small Groups – 1,153 •Domestic Calls – 929 Group Annoying – 944 •Juvenile Incidents – 739 Larceny Reports – 1,132 •Loud Music Calls – 1,402 Nuisance Calls – 1049 FIRE DEPARTMENT •Fire Department Answered 15,251 Calls for Service In 2012 – (Up 4% Over 2011) •537 Fires •EMS / Rescue Calls - 9,802 Schenectady City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Page 2 of 11 •ALS Calls – 2,309 •BLS Calls – 6,998 •ALS Trauma Center (Albany Med) – 39 •ALS, Helicopter Transport – 3 •Hazardous Conditions – 386 •Service Calls – 1,103 •Good Intent – 1,123 •False Calls – 2,228 •Severe Weather – 4 •Other – 54 •Mutual Aid Given – 74 •Mutual Aid Received - 213 •Code Violations Reported - 380 CODE ENFORCEMENT 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS •Issued a Total of 2,456 Building and Electrical Permits In 2012 •2012 - Instituted a Vacant Property Monitoring Program •Focusing On Improving Compliance W/ Rental Property Registration (70% Properties Currently Not Participating) •Implementing Rental Rehab Programs Addressing Hundreds of Distressed Properties (2 Dozen Homes in 2013) FEES 2011 ACTUAL 2012 ACTUAL Admin Fees $13,450 $24,050 Business Licenses $16,125 $19,575 Building Permits $225,398 $381,226 Electric Permits $157,677 $205,202 Elec Licenses $14,600 $19,850 Vacant Property $58,720 $177,400 No Permit Fee $5,500 $16,500 Cert Of Occupancy $13,400 $4,650 Rental Prop Fee $101,575 $115,875 GENERAL SERVICES / ENGINEERING 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS •Improved 9.5 Miles of Public Roads with City, County & Private Contractor Crews •Began Reconstruction of Erie Boulevard Project •Rehabilitated Surface of Central Park Pool •Received “Safe Routes to School” Grant For $379,000 with SCSD •Coordination Of All Maintenance & Repairs Of General Services Vehicles With Schenectady County Repair Facility Costing $1,199,367 •Generated Revenue from Schenectady County for Body Work Totaling $79,589 •Dispensed & Tracked 314,971 Gallons of Fuel •Mechanical Division Refurbished 3 Medium & Heavy Duty Trucks, Four Plows, Two Wings, and Railings at City Hall •Edison Avenue Culvert Replacement Project - $803,000 – FEMA Funded LAW DEPARTMENT 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS •Performed Tax Foreclosures on 160 Properties •Filed 112 Tax Certioraris Schenectady City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Page 3 of 11 •Assisting With Collection of Restitution for 86 Claims for Damaged City Property Collecting $26,000 •Collected Fines of $103,000 for 1,101 Code Prosecutions •Responded To 1,002 Foils and 223 Subpoenas Currently 85 Open and Outstanding Claims and 48 Pending Lawsuits UTILITIES DEPARTMENT 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS •Performed 728 Work Orders for the Installation/Replacement of Signs (Up From 474 in 2011) •Performed 156 Work Orders for the Posting of Temporary No Parking Signs •195 Calls for Traffic Signal, Fire Alarms and Dispatch Equipment Issues •Reported 296 Street Light Outages from Staff and Residents to National Grid (333 in 2011) •Laid Down 600 Gallons of Street Marking Paint •Replaced 80 Sets of Street Name Signs DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS •HOMES/Key to the City Program – over 100 houses closed on throughout Schenectady •Consolidated Plan – received $1.9 million in CDBG; $313,000 in HOME, and $200,000 in ESG money from HUD •Consolidated Plan – monitored 21 sub-recipient organizations with 58 projects •97% of CDBG money benefited low / moderate (LM) income persons •22 housing units rehabbed for homeowners •5 (five) new homeowners through SHDFC assistance •427 homeless persons sheltered and received support services •9,679 LM persons assisted through public service funding •Tax Increment Finance Law - passed with 2012 budget •Created Regional Land Bank that will commence operations in 2013 •Liberty Park Study complete WATER DEPARTMENT 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS •Produced and pumped over 5,018,000,000 gallons of water or approximately 13.75 million gallons per day •Redeveloped one well (5A) as part of our ongoing well maintenance program •Replaced 4 valves, 2-24” 1-14” and a 36” transmission line valve at the well fields •10 emergency water main repairs by City crews •Repaired approximately 50 damaged fire hydrants and replaced 25 old fire hydrants •Installed 30 new water valves within its distribution system and replaced approximately 2,100’ of city water main as part of its ongoing maintenance program SEWER DEPARTMENT 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS •Division Maintains 320 Miles of Sanitary & Storm Sewers •Responded To 3,021 Calls for the Inspection of Sanitary Mains, Removing Sewer Blockages and Other Specific Sewer Related Problems •Responded To 2,772 Requests for Locations through the Underground Facilities Protection Organization •The Sewer / Water After-hours Emergency Operation Truck (538) Responded To Over 1000 Calls for Assistance •Closed Circuit Television Operation – (Truck 550) Performed Inspections of 48,145 Total Feet of Sanitary and Sewer Systems Schenectady City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Page 4 of 11 WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS •2012 completed the first year the plant was brought back to City operation from private operation •Overall financial savings to the city exceeded $1,000,000 •The WWTP co-gen facility reduced energy costs by approximately $280,000.00 in its first year of operation •The Schenectady WWTP processed 4,180,000,000 gallons or an average 13.2 million gallons of wastewater per day which produced approximately 8,000 tons of sludge All regulatory requirements were met in 2012 No permit violations FINANCE DEPARTMENT •Expecting a Modest General Fund Surplus For FYE 12/31/2012 •Processed 10,897 Payroll Checks •Started Emailing Direct Deposit Advices to 162 Employees •First Year of Emailing W2’s To Employees (67) •Issued 6,889 Accounts Payable Checks •Issued 1,658 Purchase Orders to Vendors •Collected 51% of the 2011 Property Tax Liens 2013 Budgeted Revenues Totaling $78,071,679 •$31,356,109 – Real Property Taxes, 40.16% •$30,314,880 – Other Revenues, 38.83% •$11,719,000 – Sales Tax Revenue, 15.01% •$ 3,128,694 – Appropriated Debt Reserves, 4.01% •$ 1,552,996 – New Initiatives, 1.99% COST OF DOING BUSINESS DEPARTMENT 2013 BUDGET TOTALS Police Department $29,000,675 Fire Department $17,809,517 General Services $6,537,930 Waste Collection $5,979,252 Utilities / Lighting $3,129,056 Finance Department $2,193,518 Code Enforcement $1,514,077 Parks Department $1,359,650 Law Department $1,357,035 Development $1,049,277 City Clerk $357,945 Mayor $284,951 City Council $181,973 Schenectady City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Page 5 of 11 DEMOGRAPHICS POPULATION OF THE CITY OF SCHENECTADY – 66,135 DPSF18. HOUSING Niskayuna Princetown Rotterdam City of OCCUPANCY Schenectady Universe: Total housing units Total: 9,006 874 13,003 30,095 Occupied housing 8,645 95.99% 826 94.51% 12,314 94.70% 26,633 88.50% units Vacant housing 361 4.01% 48 5.49% 689 5.30% 3,462 11.50% units: For rent 72 0.80% 4 0.46% 235 1.81% 1,386 4.61% Rented, not 6 0.07% 1 0.11% 4 0.03% 58 0.19% occupied For sale only 67 0.74% 6 0.69% 141 1.08% 404 1.34% Sold, not 27 0.30% 1 0.11% 37 0.28% 81 0.27% occupied For seasonal, 80 0.89% 7 0.80% 70 0.54% 88 0.29% recreational, or occasional use All other vacant 109 1.21% 29 3.32% 202 1.55% 1,445 4.80% DEMOGRAPHICS POPULATION OF THE CITY OF SCHENECTADY – 66,135 MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES NISKAYUNA DUANESBURG ROTTERDAM CITY OF SCOTIA GLENVILLE SCHENECTADY $247,600 $216,000 $165,100 $114,300 $146,900 $183,100 City of Schenectady Our Biggest Liability/Our Biggest Asset Our Real Estate City of Schenectady Home Ownership Made Easy in Schenectady H O M E S Coordinated Effort City Council Mayor All City Departments Neighborhood Organizations Businesses Metroplex Schenectady County Industrial Development Agency Land Bank Schenectady City School District Multi Year Effort Steady Incremental Improvements House by House Block By Block Real Long Term Results City of Schenectady - State of the City; Mayor Gary R. McCarthy February 11, 2013 Schenectady City Council: Margaret King, Denise Brucker, Barbara Blanchard, Carl Erikson, Leesa Perazzo, Vincent Riggi, and Marion Porterfield Schenectady City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Page 6 of 11 MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL February 11, 2013 The Meeting was called to order by the Council President Margaret King at 7:31 p.m. in Room 209, City Council Chambers at City Hall. Ms. King called on Marva Isaacs to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The City Clerk called the roll and the following members of the City Council answered to be present: Present – Council members Denise Brucker, Leesa Perazzo, Marion Porterfield, Carl Erikson, Margaret C. King, and Vincent Riggi Absent – Barbara Blanchard, Councilmember Also Present –City Clerk Charles W. Thorne, Assistant Corporation Counsel Carol G. Falotico and Mayor Gary R. McCarthy. At this point, Ms. King asked if there were no objections, she would like to take Agenda Item number 9 & 12A out of order. There were no objections. Resolution No. 2013 – 23 - Ms. Perazzo read and presented a Resolution honoring Beyer Furs, a business established in 1837 by Van Horne & Sons. Beyer Furs has been in business for over 175 years in Schenectady and Christa Bray is the current sole operator. The resolution was moved by Ms. Perazzo and seconded by Mrs. Brucker. The resolution passed unanimously. Resolution No. 2013 – 24 – Ms. Porterfield read and presented a Resolution Recognizing and Commending the Historic Achievements of African-Americans and Declaring February 2013 African American History Month. The resolution was moved by Ms. Porterfield and seconded by Ms. Perazzo. The resolution passed unanimously. Ralph Boyd, a 94 year old, WW II Veteran accepted this Resolution and expressed his gratitude. He stressed the importance of community and working together. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. Amend the Fee Structure for Park Pavilion Rentals Seeing no speakers signed up to speak City Council, Ms. King declared the Public Hearing closed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ms. King asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the January 28, 2013 meeting as submitted by the Clerk; Ms. Perazzo made a motion to approve, Mrs. Brucker seconded the motion. Schenectady City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Page 7 of 11 COMMUNICATIONS: Official: From the Mayor a list of appointments dated Monday, February 11, 2013 Letter received from Paul LaFond, the Director of Water & Wastewater, recommending the Hydrofluosilicic Acid lowest BID be awarded to Thatcher Company of NY in the amount of $45,600.00 to be charged to the 2013 Operating Budget. Letter received from Paul LaFond, the Director of Water & Wastewater, recommending the Sodium Hypochlorite lowest BID be awarded to Surpass Chemical Company of Albany in the amount of $66,060.00 to be charged to the 2013 Operating Budget. Letter received from Paul LaFond, the Director of Water & Wastewater, recommending the Chlorine Gas lowest BID be awarded to Jones Chemical, Inc. of Warwick, NY in the amount of $20,075.00 to be charged to the 2013 Operating Budget. General: Letter received from the Schenectady Veterans of WW II Inc., addressed to Mayor McCarthy and the Schenectady City Council, extending gratitude for a check received on January 22, 2013. Letter received from the American Legion Post, 1005, addressed to the Schenectady City Council, dated January 30, 2013, extending gratitude for the money that was donated to the Post. Communication received from Julia Lewis announcing the Bellevue Preservation Inc. monthly meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 14 at 7pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1911 Fairview Ave. Guest speaker will be William Frank, Director of the Schenectady County Veterans Service Agency, the public is invited. Petitions: None COMMITTEE REPORTS: Health & Recreation – Ms. Porterfield announced new community action around the development of the dog park in Central Park. She noted the group is planning to do some fundraising and improvements with the site. Ms. Porterfield also noted the Woodlawn Preserve is also conducting meetings. Finance – Mr. Erikson introduced Laurence Spring, Superintendent of the Schenectady City School District who presented on the inequity in State Aid to schools. Mr. Spring provided copies of presentation which are available on the Schenectady City School District website. Highlights include the district offers top notch programs despite inequity in State funding. Mr. Spring reported Schenectady receives 54% of the aid the state has determined it should receive based on a self-prescribed state formula. He also highlighted if Schenectady received 82% of the aid recommended in this formula this would increase funding by $38 million and would allow Schenectady City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Page 8 of 11 for more mental health programs, education supports in middle and high school and lower school taxes by one-third. Mr. Spring encouraged the greater community to contact local State Representatives and request action on the inequality in State funding to Schenectady. Mr. Erikson also highlighted his enthusiasm about the number of competitive bids received for the above noted Water & Wastewater requests for chemicals and thanked the City staff involved in this bid. Public Safety – Mrs. Brucker referenced the ordinance amending Chapter 93 of the City of Schenectady relating to the Civilian Police Review Board noting to two changes including the board being made up of 9 members, rather than 11 and that the board is now more inclusive with fewer restrictions on board member eligibility. Mrs. Brucker then asked community members who are interested in participating on the Civilian Police Review Board send their resume to the Mayor’s office. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (LEGISLATIVE ITEMS) Ms. King invited all who wished to address the Legislative Agenda to come forward. The following speakers rose to be heard and their remarks are summarized: Jason Plank – Spoke on the 2013 Budget Amendment making the following points. He disagrees with the Mayors comments related to the authority of the City Council regarding pay. He noted the discrepancy between pay raises and job promotions and went on to highlight the need for ADA participation in developing job descriptions and fair pay. He expressed concern about the precedent of a $4,000 hiring bonus and then noted the biggest expense for the city is pay and pensions. He reminded the City Council it is within their power to pass or fail the ordinance. Rev. Phil Grigsby – Director of SICM, reported he appreciated the details in the Mayor’s State of the City Address. He noted he sees the benefit of focusing on housing and partnership. He added, how much he appreciates having the Schenectady City School District Superintendent at the City Council meeting and presenting. Rev. Grigsby then asked for further consideration and implementation related to the Police Review Board sections 93 -11, 93-12 & 93-16 which address Mediation, Hiring of Independent Investigators and the Board making Policy change recommendations. Connie Richardson – Expressed her gratitude to the City Council for working with the Police Review Board and making the necessary changes. As the acting Chair, she noted more board member participation is needed with two recent Board resignations. Linda Kelleher – Spoke on the Civilian Police Review Board, expressing her concern the City Council removed the Hamilton Neighborhood Association and the Independent Hamilton Hill Neighborhood Association from the list of potential board members. She expressed her belief these neighborhoods need representation and without their assured participation on the board their communities voice will be silenced. Mary McClaine – “Putting fluoride in the Schenectady’s drinking water isn’t about who is talking to whom. It’s about cost. It’s about toxicity. It’s about lobbyists and where there are lobbyists, there are kickbacks. This book belongs to Barbra Blanchard. She lent it to me to read. According to the authors, “fluoride is a by-product of hazardous waste.” The authors’ also posed the lobbyists convinced congress to go with the program. Now, let’s fast forward to the packet that Council members received at the Committee meeting. Under the Public Service and Utilities heading there are 3 items listed (1) Sodium Hypochloride (2) Chlorine Gas (3) Fluoride. Schenectady City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Page 9 of 11 Chlorine Gas is a New York State Dept of Health mandated chemical for the treatment of City water. Fluoride is not mandated. Therefore, Albany has never used fluoride in its water and many near-by towns stopped the practice years ago. Schenectady insists on spending the money on this toxic chemical. Last year, the cost was $54,000 for the fluoride. This year the bid is $45,600. That is an $8,400 difference. What does the difference mean? Is the city putting less fluoride in the water this year? Or was the city overcharged for last year’s order? Does anyone know? Ethics Board – Regarding the Ethics Board Appointment, Mr. Della Salla should not be appointed to the Ethics Board. He is past President of the Teachers’ Union, he chaired the teachers’ Executive Committee and he chaired the teachers negotiating team. His pro-union stance would not make for an objective Ethics Committee member. Select someone else.” Seeing no other speakers come forward, Ms. King declared the Privilege of the Floor on the Legislative Agenda closed. INTRODUCTION OF AND ACTION UPON LOCAL LAWS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: Mr. Erikson made a motion that Council approves the Consent Agenda and the motion was seconded by Ms. Perazzo. Consent Agenda – Ordinance No. 2013 – 001 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Ordinance No. 2013 – 002 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2013 – 025 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2013 – 026 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2013 – 027 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2013 – 028 ....................................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2013 – CS - 001 ............................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2013 – CS - 002 ............................Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2013 – CS - 003 ............................Adopted Unanimously Ordinance No. 2013 – 003 – An Ordinance Re-Appropriating various items within the 2013 Budget. The motion was moved by Mr. Erikson and seconded by Ms. Perazzo 5:1:1 Voting AYE: Brucker, Erikson, King, Perazzo, and Porterfield Voting NAY: Riggi Absent: Blanchard Mr. Riggi –. Expressed concerns related to job description(s) and compensation. He referenced a Referendum passed two yrs ago which vested the City Council sole and exclusive authority to set the number of City Officers and employees for each department and to fix salaries, compensation and benefits for all city employees. (voted: NAY) Resolution No. 2013 – 029 – A Resolution appointing members to Schenectady’s Board of Ethics. The motion was moved by Ms. Perazzo and seconded by Mrs. Brucker. 5:0:1 Schenectady City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Page 10 of 11 Voting AYE: Brucker, Erikson, King, Perazzo and Riggi Voting Nay: None Present: Porterfield Absent: Blanchard PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: Ms. King 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: Marva Isaacs, Schenectady – Reported her grandson was shot on Friday and is currently in Albany Medical Center. Reported she appreciates the Chief of Police and the Mayor for their support. She is encouraging the public and elected officials to take illegal guns off the streets. Jason Plank, Schenectady – Reported he appreciated having the Schenectady School District Superintendent present tonight and noted Schenectady is a “Minority – Majority District” and he asked the City Council to consider taking up a resolution requesting the State Legislature to re- visit State Aid to schools. He added 72% of children in Schenectady are eligible for a free lunch and the most important literacy test is a job application. He also reported March 1 is the deadline for filing all tax exemptions. He closed by adding the benefits of a 1/3 cut in School taxes. Harry Brand, Schenectady – Stressed the importance of the City to balance its books and to not rely on State funding to have a neutral budget. He stressed the importance of city employees living within the City and that the City is losing more home owners than its gaining through the HOMES program. He added from his research there are Ten City Employees whose combined salaries total nearly $1.5 Million dollars, much of that coming from overtime. Joy Hall, Schenectady – Asked the City Council to consider having signs near intersection which read, “Don’t turn on red”. She asked the City to salt hills and for the police to do more patrols. Seeing no other speakers to come before the City Council, Ms. King declared the Privilege of the Floor closed regarding City Business. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL Ms. Perazzo – Reported she took part in a Community Study offered in conjunction with the Schenectady Superintendent of Schools which 70-80 other people participated. She noted the Superintendent is open to new ideas and working to do more with less. Ms. Perazzo reported she is grateful Mr. Papas is back doing business with the City in relation to the HOMES program. She ended by reporting she receives her paystub via email, saving the City printing costs. Mr. Riggi – Shared the passing of two Bellevue residents, one of which introduced him to Hillhurst Park. He noted the accuracy of City Employee Carol Olsen regarding the recent winter storm weather forecast. He noted he would like to see the Residence Board up and running, adding passed waivers have run out. He then asked the Mayor to further describe for residents if and why a snow emergency would be called. Mr. Erikson – Referenced back to the Mayors’ State of the City Address and the use of “Urban Pioneers”. Then elaborated on the Superintendents remarks related to funding disparities and this Schenectady City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Page 11 of 11 being the biggest opportunity to impact school taxes. He asked residents to contact their local State elected officials regarding this issue. Ms. Porterfield – Complemented City employee, Carl Falotico (Law Dept.) for going above and beyond in helping a City resident. She reported the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Association will host a Valentine’s Day party at 7pm, at the Faith Deliverance Tabernacle Church, 1028 Ostrander Place, open to public. Ms. Porterfield also noted it is tax prep time and there are free services available for families and people with incomes below $51,000, noting more information available at 2-1-1. Ms. Porterfield ended by reminding the public February is Heart Disease Awareness Month. Mayor McCarthy – Responded to Mr. Riggi’s request for more information related to the rational for a “State of Emergency” and a “Snow Emergency”. He noted a State of Emergency has been declared two-times by his office, most recently in relation to Hurricane Sandy. He added a Snow Emergency triggers street parking ordinances to assist with clearing streets during a storm. He ended by noting the School Districts have a state formula to rely on which municipalities do not. He added Schenectady is at the low end of State funding for Municipalities in comparison to other comparable municipalities, which results in higher taxes for residents. ADJOURNED: Seeing no further business to come before the City Council, Ms. King asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting, moved by Mr. Erikson and seconded by Mr. Riggi at 8:49 p.m. A true record By Charles W. Thorne Schenectady City Clerk