City Council

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL December 28, 2015 City Council Meeting was called to order by the City Council President at Room 209, City Council Chambers at City Hall. asked Rev. Baron to provide the invocation. Ms. King then called on Chad Putman to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The City Clerk called roll and the following members of the City Council answered to be present: Present Council members, John Ferrari, Margaret King, John Mootooveren, Leesa Perazzo, Marion Porterfield, and Vincent Riggi Kosiur were no omectlOns. Schenectady Millennial and the Boys & Girls Club to the presentation. were no objections. Council member Ferrari and Millennial members presented a check valued at $1,245 to the Boys & Girls Club of Schenectady. The funds were raised during a Pub Crawl hosted by Millennial on November 21, 5. representative the Boys & Club extended his appreciation to the their and effort. this point, Ms. King asked if there were no objections, she would like to take agenda item number 10 & 11 out of order. There were no objections. Resolution No. 2015-342 - A Resolution Recognizing the Muslim Community in the City of Schenectady. Representatives from the Muslim community and the Islamic Center of Schenectady were on hand and they extended their gratitude for the recognition by the Mayor and City Council. He added the members of the Muslim community are as American as it gets and they appreciate the support of the city in this matter.  Minutes December 51 of 5 PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. Incorporating 810 Arch Street into Arch Street no speakers come declared the public to APPROVAL OF MINUTES: asked for a motion to approve minutes from the December 2015 Council meetings as submitted by the Deputy City Clerk; Mr. Riggi made a motion to approve the minutes, Mr. Ferrari seconded the motion. Communications Presented to the City Council for Mondav, December 28, 2015 Official: a 15. General: Petitions: COMMITTEE REPORTS None PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (LEGISLATIVE ITEMS) King all who to address the Legislative Agenda to come forward: P.D. Voorhis, Schenectady - Noted her intent to speak on the contract on the agenda related to golf course tree removal and the selection of a bidder who's place of business is more than 200 miles away. She noted this is a great distance for a business to travel with equipment for such a job. She also She  Minutes December 20151 3 5 conscientious ".~"-.l it to Frank Wicks, Schenectady - Noted his appreciation of the Council the youth program, the Muslim community and the leadership of King. He then spoke on police He noted he put together a report of2015 abuses by the police department that he submitted to the U.S. Department Rights Division. He added that he reported this before and he is not sure what they will do with it. He then spoke about two specific incidences including a tasing incident and a city settlement involving a Union College student He noted a third incident involving a traffic stop and the of a frivolous ticket. He noted there needs to be some way for residents to report concerns rather him coming to Council. 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: a U",.'LAV'U was Consent Agenda ~GOiDH;G Unanimously .£"'-LVUL'-'U Unanimously Resolution Unanimously Resolution No. 2015 - 347 .................................... Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 5 - 348 .................................... Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 5- .................................... Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2015 - 350 .................................... Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2015 - 351 .................................... Adopted Unanimously Resolution No. 2015 - CS - 28 .............................. Adopted Unanimously PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:  Minutes December 20151 4 of 5 $30,000 and she thanked the big donors as wen. She noted on to ITleeUn (.UHHH''-'L Mayor related to property going through foreclosure. She closed by noting future looks bright. P.D. Voorhis, Schenectady - Noted she is disappointed the Council did not host an election of the Council officers this evening. She noted someone with experience should be selected for leadership roles. She noted each important committee that meets should have representation from the Council at the meeting. The committee's include the City Planning Commission and the Technology and Energy Commission. She then noted she did not appreciate the talk about phobias of people and added she believes Schenectady is a community that exploits peoples' phobia. She closed by noting she has taken courses on religion and she hopes everything goes well for that community and that they contribute. Mary McClaine, Schenectady "As long as Council members use this venue for puffery I am going to tell you it isn't so. Schenectady's city government doesn't do good work. Point the last mother at is height of insensitivity, I don't know what Point the county has a double AA rating because City Council gave them an eight contract that limits the funds the city receives from the county. Therefore, the county has the money and the city has yet to start paying the principal on the Foster A venue facility. Point I out meeting on December 11, the Christmas tree lights were out. peopie the building, a meeting in room 110 and the tree are out. on electricity spends money on Point #4, this summer Council voted to black top my street. Seven homes on the street have shoulders. The shoulders are cracked. The street was done. The shoulders were not Consequently, half the road is old and half is new. That is what I see every day when I open my door to pick-up the newspaper. No money for my street but plenty for union contracts. Point #5, Council voted to renovate the all-purpose room at Steinmetz Park. The city's inept engineering department allowed the contractor to install an exposed galvanized heating tunnel across the new ceiling. No one would do that in his own family room but the city did it in my neighborhood. I want that monstrosity out of there. Point #6, the new Ellis Hospital sign the city gave the hospital 1  Minutes December 2015/ 5 5 can eXjJ,ect paper about Mr. Riggi- Extended his best wishes to the residents in the New Year. He then thanked Ms. King her service and thanked for treating everyone fairly. He added that he hopes she stay involved and enjoy her new found free time. Ms. Porterfield- Extended her best wishes to everyone heading into the holiday weekend. She added that she is looking forward to the year's first snowfall. She then thanked Ms. King for her leadership and wished her well in her future endeavors. Mr. Mootooveren - Wished Ms. King the best and thanked her for her years of service on the Council. He noted that he has learned a lot from her during her time on the Council. He closed wishing residents a happy new and to be safe with the coming snow been an to as with all of the redevelopment downtown, the upcoming Mohawk Harbor and VUC'HHJ. the Mayor's new initiatives like the HOMES Program and the building demolition finally allowed us to the neighborhoods to make improvements. I like to feel that I made to all efforts by being a team player and helping and concert the Metroplex, the Chamber, and our state elected officials. \\-'bile I'm happy to be going into retirement, there are certainly things I will miss, especially working with our wonderful City staff. The Mayors have assembled a great team over the years and it's been a pleasure to work in partnership with them to move our City forward. So thank you to all of you who have supported me. I leave feeling proud of all of our collective accomplishments. I wish the new Council all the best as they deal with the many complex issues that will come before them and I wish all of you a very Happy 2016!" Adjourned: