City Council

l\UNUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED lVlEETING OF THE SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL January 11, 2016 The City Council Meeting was called to order by the City Council President Leesa Perazzo at 7 :02 p.m. in Room 209, City Council Chambers at City HalL Ms. Perazzo asked Rev. Dave Chetram to provide the invocation. Ms. Perazzo then called on Joy Hall 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 - Council members, John Ferrari, Edward Kosiur, John Mootooveren, Leesa Perazzo, John Polimeni, Marion Porterfield, and Vincent Riggi Also Present - Deputy City Clerk Chad Putman, Corporation Counsel Carl Falotico and Mayor Gary were no to Resolution No. 2016-4 - A Resolution Recognizing Sa'fyre Terry. Sa'fyre, family and friends were on hand and they extended their gratitude for the recognition by the Mayor and City Council. resolution was by Ms. Porterfield and seconded by Mr. Mootooveren The resolution passed unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. Regarding Property Assessed Clean Energy Finance Elyssa Rothe, Director of Municipal Membership, Energize NY - Provided a brief summary of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. She noted the program is in partnership with NYSERDA and provides funding for businesses to outfit their facilities with energy efficient products. She noted lower cost energy bills are attractive to businesses looking to open in the city. She noted the would be collecting payments on financing provided to the businesses and would a resource  Minutes ,2016/ 2 of 6 ;::,clt:m g no other come forward, Ms. Perazzo declared to closed. APPROV AL OF MINUTES: Ms. Perazzo asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the December 28,2015 Council meetings as submitted by the City Clerk; Mr. Mootooveren made a motion to approve the Mr. Kosiur seconded the motion. Communications Presented to the City Council for Monday, January 11, 2016 Official: From the Mayor a list of appointments dated January 11, 2016 David Director of Operations recommending the award Demolition and Debris Removal 738 Albany Street to Bronze Contracting. Water Wastewater recommending the award of the to Thatcher Company New York, From Paul Water & Wastewater recommending award of the contract to J ones Chemical, Inc. General: Petitions: None COMMITTEE REPORTS Mr. Ferrari, Public Services & Utilities - "The effect of fluoride on oral health over the past 70 years is undeniable. The Center for Disease Control identifies community water fluoridation as one Health 20 th " It is alongside of  Minutes ,2016/ 3 of UIULUll.'" will enhance immediate neighborhood surrounding the development, which on new $17 Joseph L. Allen HH"",",U 51 new apartments." PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (LEGISLATIVE ITEMS) Ms. Perazzo invited all who wished to address the Legislative Agenda to come forward: P.D. Voorhis, Schenectady - Noted that 738 Albany Street is a substantial property and blends with Summit Towers. She noted the neighborhood around the property is a disaster. She added the property should be into a mall with a focus on energy efficiency, landscaping and parking. lVIary l\IcClaine, Schenectady - "Item #4 - Just like clockwork, every January, Council spends is not is not Recently someone wrote a letter to the that suggests people talk My to the fluoride problem is to to Albany, find out drinking water and come back to Schenectady and do that same thing. You did it V'''H~C'~;''. Likewise, go to Utica. Ask about their fleet cars, do the same thing. Go to Amsterdam. Inquire as to how many part-time elected officials receive medical coverage at tax payers' they for Schenectady. And we don't need an interim Police Chief. was charge New York State Police before he came to Schenectady. He certainly is capable of handling our city police force. Schenectady is in debt. Use chiefs salary to start paying off the debt to the Foster Avenue facility. The city has been paying interest but no principal since the garage was built. That is not a healthy way to spend taxpayer money. Those are my solutions to the city's indebtedness. As for item #3 demotion and debris removal of 738 Albany Street. Why don't these contracts also include the removal of vegetation? The vegetation is still on the lot of the first property that was demolished on Eastern Avenue. When the work is done on these places, the project should be left in pristine condition. That is how this body will start to beautify neighborhoods. "  Council Minutes ,2016 4 of 6 PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: Ms. Perazzo then all who to address the Council on any matter of City business to come forward. following speakers rose to be heard and their remarks are summarized: Anthony Carota, Schenectady - Noted his attendance at the State of the City address provided the Mayor on January 1. He extended praise to the city fire department for their response to the manhole explosion on State Street. He also extended his praise to the city police department for a number of arrests made recently. Regarding the Mayor's State of the City he noted there are positives and the city is looking better. However he noted not all crime is down and then listed number arrests and sex offenders living in the city compared to the rest of the state. He held up a graph and noted Schenectady is higher than the average. He added the mayor may insist that crime is down, but the residents don't believe crime is down because they don't feel Jason Planck, Schenectady - Noted the deadline related to filing for the STAR exemption is six the property on a is needs to a ,",V'U""-" member Polimeni made Washington D.C. news to a tax. Society of Agents is concerned about this proposal for a bed tax given the potential the revenue will be used as a slush fund. He noted they are fighting against a bed tax and they asked him to stay in touch related to local efforts. He then spoke on the license and asked the City Council to be diligent related to securing an apprenticeship agreement. He noted that other municipalities have done this and the city needs to take a stance. added the needs to establish a policy and procedure related to affirmative action and hiring practices. Joy Hall, Schenectady - Noted the city has a problem with the condition of the sidewalks on Albany Street. She added there also needs to be lines for parking. She noted this needs to happen on Lark Street as well. Mary McClaine, Schenectady - "I fail to understand how any member of City Council can stand in this chamber and tell the community that the departing president treated everyone the same. Can Council members see from where they sit at what moment that timer is activated on I to microphone ticking  Minutes .2016 5 6 Schenectady. She asked about a cost analysis and Seeing no other speakers to come before the City Council, Ms. Perazzo declared the Privilege of the floor closed regarding City Business. l\nSCELLANEOUS BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL lVls. Porterfield - Noted January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Proctors hosted a recent event organized by SAFE, Inc. She also noted the National Alliance on Mental Illness based in Schenectady is hosting a peer to peer support program for veterans with co- occurring disorders. She noted the event is taking place on February 19 and is free for veterans. She added registration for the event is open until January 15 and interested parties can obtain more information by calling 626-5347. Mr. Riggi- Reminded residents that March 1 is the deadline to file for the STAR exemption He that Bellevue Inc. on AUVvLU,',,- at He added guest speakers. He then noted Jack's Place will be hosting a fundraiser at Mallozzi's on January 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 and reservations are encouraged. He noted will help a lot of people and is a positive for the city. lVIs. Kosiur- Extended a welcome to new Council member John Polimeni. He then noted the Woodlawn Neighborhood Association will host its annual pasta dirmer fundraiser at the Hibernian on State Street. The event will take place on January 13 and funds will benefit the redevelopment of Woodlawn Park. He also noted Sa'fyre Terry has touched the lives of so many people and he asked for volunteers to help with opening Christmas Cards at the warehouse location in Rotterdam. He noted volunteers are needed Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. He also encouraged residents to make reservations if they are planning to attend the Jack's Place benefit on January 20. He then noted the Schenectady Public Library will host a single-parent workshop at the Crane Street location. He added more information about this event related to school age children can be found on the library website. He later noted the Human Rights Commission will host a Martin Luther celebration at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church on January at 2:30  Minutes ,2016/ 6 of 6 Commission will host a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and H.HJ.H.'" "·U!',.tH0 on at discussion will take place at Schenectady County Community College on January noting the next City Council Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 19 in respect of the MLK holiday on January 18th. Adjourned: Seeing no further business to come before the City Council, Ms. Perazzo asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was moved by Mr. Kosiur and seconded by Mr. Ferrari and the meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m. Schenectady Deputy