City Council

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL September 28, 2015 Council Meeting was called to order by the Council President Margaret King at 7:03 p.m. in Room 209, City Council Chambers at City Hall. King asked Rev. Hawk Stone to provide the invocation. Ms. King then called on former Council member Denise Brucker to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. City Clerk called the roll and the following members of the City Council answered to be present: Present Council members, John Ferrari, Margaret King, Ed Kosiur, John Mootooveren, Leesa Perazzo, Marion Porterfield, and Vincent Riggi Thome, Corporation Counsel Falotico and Mayor McCarthy a on (""n1"",... " , . " . , p Manufacturing Day, October 2 at noted more information is at Made Going on Facebook. were no would to take agenda numbers were no objections. Resolution No. 2015-246 A Resolution Recognizing the Month of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Fronk and her children along with representatives from the Melodies Center at Albany Medical Center were on hand and they extended their gratitude for the recognition by Mayor and The resolution was moved by Mr. Mootooveren and seconded by Ms. Perazzo. The resolution passed unanimously. Resolution No. 2015-247 - A Resolution Recognizing the Schenectady County Community College Music Department for the song entitled, "Schenectady's the Place". Cliff Brucker, and Official: Mayor a 5. General: Petitions: COl\fMITTEE REPORTS - Noted we are headed into budget season and on October 6 UH',unn~' stress. She added Schenectady is one congratulated recent report. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (LEGISLATIVE ITEMS) Agenda to come forward: Seeing no come King declared the Privilege of the Floor on the Legislative Agenda closed. INTRODUCTION OF AND ACTION UPON LOCAL LAWS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: Mr. Mootooveren made a motion that Council approves the Consent Agenda and the motion was  Council Minutes 2015 3 of 5 Resolution 5 .......Adopted PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: King then invited all who wished to address the Council on any matter of City business to come speakers rose to be and remarks are summarized: Anthony Carota, Schenectady - Reference a video on social media related to an individual using street drugs. He noted ABC News 10 did a report on this. He noted the reporter went to the Mayor's office related to the video and reports the Mayor declined the interview. Regarding the Chief of Police leaving for a new position in Vermont, he noted he is happy about this. He noted the police are lying and he then referenced incidents related to the city's animal shelter. He added last month the police were arresting innocent people. He noted something is up with the cops and he knows it. Patricia Rush, Schenectady Noted she is submitting a petition to reconstruct Oxford Place and streets are apparent. She all the residents on She then the cover sheet attached to the Maryland taxes average $7000 per year. Our streets are , we mow them, we trees on They look put out our garbage on the right day and neatly so. We recycle. We keep our homes in good repair and our yards trees and flowers. Rarely is there a time that we call for police or fire services. are registered to vote and we do vote. Weare good neighbors and we believe Schenectady. So is the problem? streets on Oxford Place and Maryland Avenue are deplorable condition! come see. ask that you put Oxford Place and Maryland Avenue on 16 of streets that need repair and reconstruction. Ask National Grid now to help with this reconstruction. We truly appreciate your consideration, but we do need your help now." Tony Buonome, Schenectady - Noted something needs to be done regarding the pedestrian crossing at State Street and the entrance onto I 890 by Schenectady County Community College. He noted students are coming in and out of the community college at that location and not stopping for traffic. He noted he almost hit a student the other day and suggested the school security guards and the City Council need to do something about it.  201 5 island garden, I out the roots and then put ;')c:nelleC:Ia(l) decision makers. That is out of their realm of common on way meeting last Monday, I noticed are four picnic benches on the front lawn of city hall. There benches are a rust !_1<UHL",,'-' one bench is painted blue. Why? Did the city run out of paint? Was the told to go paint benches and he grabbed whatever can of paint he saw in the storage area? What other explanation is there for such absurdity? Example (4) last Thursday, September it was the time I saw the interior of the restored building in Steinmetz Park. I wanted to one on that side railing would build a family room and have it look like what was that community room. The high ceiling features beams and trusses. Below them, the '''!''',..,Tl is exposed. duct runs from wall to walL Why wasn't that duct covered administration cares about beauty I object to tax the Recreation Advisory Commission. a representative Miracle playground. of a timeline related to the installation of new V"--'IJAB,",'" playground equipment parks. He noted with the submission of purchase orders the new playground equipment the city can expect to receive delivery within three weeks. He then extended his appreciation to the city staff who have been engaged in the process and noted their follow up and professionalism is commendable. He noted about one week prior to delivery of the playground equipment the city will send staff out to prepare the sites for the installation of the new playground equipment. He added they will also remove the old equipment. He noted moving forward the Recreation Advisory Commission will meet on the third Thursday of each  Minutes '''''''Torn 2015 5 of 5 Mr. Ferrari - Mexican Radio is hosting an event to World Vegetarian Day. restaurant 1 U""'JV"""'-" on 1. Horne will host a memorial ceremony family pets on October 10 at 2:00 He added the service is open to the public. He then ,-. . u, ... ",,-, Councilmember Riggi and on wedding anniversary. Mr. Riggi - He thanked Councilman Ferrari for the acknowledgement Noted he was glad to see another house on Van Curler is being sold. He noted the work is beautiful and it was previously slated to be demolished. He commended to construction team on their work and ongoing investments in the city. He then announced Bellevue Preservation neighborhood association will a with candidates for Mayor and City Council on October 6 at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. He added there will be an opportunity for residents to submit questions for the candidates. He closed by encouraging the public to attend. Mayor McCarthy Noted Councilwomen Perazzo highlighted the recent New York State Comptroller's report which found the City of Schenectady was found to have zero fiscal stress. the is one of three state to rp{"Pl 'iF" stress H~'H"'l and city department heads for managing H%W""'"' '>.../VHHHh" .. expenses and revenues. is some talk about a fiscal cliff, which added does not He noted fiscal creates opportunities within the city to pave more streets and homeownership. noted releasing his budget to the City Council on October 1st. He noted there are owned by authorized sale through foreclosure process. noted private investments are taking place with regards to horne ownership in the He is setting an example other to follow. closed will help to create a basis for stability the city. Adjourned: Seeing no further business to corne before the City Council, Ms. King asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was moved by Mr. Kosiur and seconded by Mr. Mootooveren ~"l'-."'- meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.