City Council

OFFICE OF CITY CLERK SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK AGENDA FOR THE COUNCIL CAUCUS AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 22, 2024 Room 209 7:00 p.m. ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 01 Council Member A RESOLUTION Amending the Memorandum of Understanting between the City of Schenectady and the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL- CIO (CSEA); CSEA Schenectady Unit #8501, Schenectady County Local 886 Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 02 Council Member A RESOLUTION Amending Resolution 2022- 224 to Modify the Use of Funds for COCOA House Votes Required 4 FINAL CONSIDERATION 03 Council Member A RESOLUTION Amending Resolution 2023- 223 Authorizing the Sale of 1507 Carrie Street for $90,000.00 to Specify Purchaser Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 04 Council Member A RESOLUTION Amending Resolution 2022- 224 to Modify the Use of Funds for Better Community Neighborhood, Inc. for the Hamilton Hill Infill Development Project Votes Required 4 1 Friday, January 19, 2024 Page 1 of 2  Monday, January 22, 2024 Room 209 7:00 p.m. ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 05 Council Member A RESOLUTION Authorizing the Mayor, or his Designee, to Enter into an Agreement with New York State Unified Court System (UCS) for a Five-Year Term from 2023-2028 Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 06 Council Member A RESOLUTION Amending Resolution 2021- 111 Authorizing the Sale of Multiple Properties to Better Community Neighborhoods, Inc. Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 07 Council Member A RESOLUTION Authorizing the Amendment of Revocable Permit No. 636 to The Whistling Kettle to Include a Sign, a Retractable Awning, and a Door that Encroaches the City's Right-of-Way at 138 Jay Street Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 08 Council Member A RESOLUTION Authorizing the Issuance of Revocable Permit No. 678 to the Rabbit Lounge for a Sign that Will Overhang the City's Right-of-Way at 158 Jay Street Votes Required 4 ORIGINAL CONSIDERATION 09 Council Member A RESOLUTION Recognizing Black History Month 2024 Votes Required 4 CONTRACT & SUPPLY 10 Council Member A RESOLUTION Awarding the Bid and Contract for the "Police Station Server-Monitor Room HVAC & Chiller Replacement" to RMB Mechanical, Inc. in the Amount of $174,000.00 Votes Required 2 Friday, January 19, 2024 Page 2 of 2  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO:_____________________ Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution ratifying the Mayor’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO (CSEA); CSEA Schenectady City Unit #8501, Schenectady County Local 886. D RESOLVED, the Council of the City of Schenectady ratifies the Mayor’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO RA (CSEA); CSEA Schenectady City Unit #8501, Schenectady County Local 886 regarding clarifications on how to calculate and pay emergency call-outs and calls within a three hour time block. A copy of the said MOU shall be placed on file with the Schenectady City Clerk. Approved as form this FT ____day of January 2024 _______________________ Maxine Barasch Corporation Counsel 3  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2022-224 to Modify the Use of Funds for C.O.C.O.A. House, Remove a the Condition that C.O.C.O.A. House Secure Additional Commitments, and Identify a Disbursement Schedule. WHEREAS, on September 12, 2022, the Schenectady City Council approved Resolution 2022- 224 (attached hereto) that, among other things, appropriated $500,000 in ARPA funding for C.O.C.O.A. House’s “Expansion to Hamilton Hill Learning Center”; and D WHEREAS, C.O.C.O.A. House has requested a change in the use of funding identified hereinabove; RA NOW, THEREFORE BE IT, RESOLVED, that the City Council amends Resolution No. 2022-224 by modifying the use of FT the funds appropriated for C.O.C.O.A. House to be used, instead of for property development, for costs for salaries; FURTHER IT BE RESOLVED, that the City Council amends Resolution No. 2022-224 by removing the condition that the terms include a requirement of C.O.C.O.A. House to secure additional commitments of $3,600,000.00 from other sources; and FURTHER IT BE RESOLVED, that the funds shall be dispersed in an amount not to exceed $200,000 per year. Approved as to form this ____ day of January, 2024. ____________________________ Maxine L. Barasch, Esq. Corporation Counsel 4  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2023-223. RESOLVED, that Resolution No. 2023-223 (attached hereto), passed by the City Council on December 11, 2023 is amended as follows: in the fourth paragraph, “to 1507 Carrie Street” is deleted, and “to Reekamal Thakurprashad” is entered in its place. DRA Approved as to form this ____ day of January, 2024. FT ____________________________ Maxine L. Barasch, Esq. Corporation Counsel 5  D 6 RA FT  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2022-224 to Modify the Additional Commitments Required for Better Community Neighborhoods, Inc. to Receive ARPA Funds for its Hamilton Hill Infill Development Project. WHEREAS, on September 12, 2022, the Schenectady City Council approved Resolution 2022- 224 that, among other things, appropriated $500,000 in ARPA funding for Better Community Neighborhoods, Inc.’s “Hamilton Hill Infill Development Project”; and D WHEREAS, Better Community Neighborhoods, Inc. has requested a change in the amount of RA additional commitments it must secure to receive the above-identified ARPA funding; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT, RESOLVED, that the City Council amends Resolution No. 2022-224 such that the additional FT commitments required for BCNI to receive the ARPA funding shall be “$500,000” instead of $8,500,000. Approved as to form this ____ day of January, 2024. ____________________________ Maxine L. Barasch, Esq. Corporation Counsel 7  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Awarding the Mayor to Enter into an Agreement with the NYS Unified Court System for the Provision of Cleaning, Maintenance, Minor Repairs, and Improvements to the City of Schenectady’s Court Facilities for the Period of April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2028 WHEREAS, counties and cities are required by law to furnish and maintain adequate court facilities for use by trial courts of the State of New York; and D WHEREAS, Chapter 686 of the Laws of 1996 was enacted to invest the State of New York with the fiscal responsibility of managing the interior cleaning of court facilities and the performance of minor repairs therein, and with the ability to cover the costs thereof; and RA WHEREAS, Chapter 686 of the Laws of 1996 requires the State of New York to contract with political subdivisions of the State for the cleaning of court facilities, as well as minor and emergency repairs thereof WHEREAS, the municipality is responsible for furnishing and maintaining court facilities FT NOW THEREFORE BE IT, RESOLVED, that the Mayor is hereby authorized to execute an agreement with the New York State Unified Court System for the provision of cleaning, maintenance, minor repairs and improvements to the City of Schenectady’s court facilities, for the period of April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2028; and be it further RESOLVED, that the form and content of such agreement shall be subject to review by Corporation Counsel; and it is further RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall take effect immediately. Approved as to form this 22nd day of January 2024 __________________________ Maxine Barasch, Esq. Corporation Counsel 8 NYS Unified Court System Court Cleaning and IVIinor Repairs Department City of Schenectady 113880 Contract : UCS05-C30051 6-5000280 Department: 5000280 Fund:22501 Account: 50301 Period: April 1 2023 - March 31,2024 -1 Contract FY22 FY21 FY2O FY19 FY18 FY17 FY16 FY15 Expense Cateqory Budqet Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual EXPENS EXPENS EXP EXPENSE EXPENSE EXPENSE EXPENSE EXPENSE 1. Cleani 3. HVAC Cleani Costs 2. Trash Removal and Costs $ $ $ 83,874 1,740 120 $0 $o $o $70,0s1 $1,296 $4,400 $60,536 $1,296 $o FT $41,738 $1,296 $0 $ 37,938 $ $ 1,200 $48,872 $1,200 $o $47,765 $1,200 $o $46,805 $1,200 $o $47,605 $1,200 $0 4 5. 6.100 otal enant SES 7. Buildin n rk Reimburseable Maintenance $ $ $ $ 8s,734 266,400 352,134 36,966 DRA $ $ $o $o $ 75,747 $2,068 $ 77,815 $2s,543 $ 61,832 $0 $ 61,832 $21,851 $ 43,034 $7,984 $ 51 ,018 $17,7s4 $ 39,138 $ 72,676 $ 11 1,814 $ 19,313 $50,072 $10,038 0 60,1 1 0 $22,405 $48,965 $7,172 56,1 37 $23,950 $48,005 $757 48,762 $21,488 $48,805 $22,069 70,874 $56,805 Maintenanee $ $o $ $ $ $ $0 $0 $o $0 9. Total Maintenance Costs $36,966 $0 $ 25,543 $ 21;851 $ 17,754 $ 19,313 $22,405 $23,950 $21,488 $56,805 10. Maintenance 25o/o = $ 9,242 $0 $ 6,386 $ 5,463 $ 4,439 $ 4,828 $5,601 $5,988 $5,372 $14,201 11 Direct Costs $ 361,376 $0 $ 84,201 $ 67,295 $ 55,457 $ 116,642 $65,711 $62,125 $54,1 34 $85,075 12 Overhead 5o/o $ 18,069 $o $ 4,210 $ 3,365 $ 2,773 $ 5,832 $3,286 $3,1 06 $2,707 $4,254 ra otal $ 379,444 $o $ 88,411 $ 70,659 $ 58,229 $ 122,474 $68,997 $65,231 $56,841 $89,330 9  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2021-111. RESOLVED, that Resolution No. 2021-111 (attached hereto), passed by the City Council on May 24, 2021, is amended as follows: in the first paragraph, “430 Hulett Street 49.32-4-33” is deleted from the parcels, D and RA in the fourth paragraph, “Eighty-Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($85,500.00)” is deleted and “Nine Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($9,500.00)” is entered in its place. Approved as to form this FT ____ day of January, 2024. ____________________________ Maxine L. Barasch, Esq. Corporation Counsel 10  D 11 RA FT  D 12 RA FT  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution authorizing the Amendment of Revocable Permit No. 636 to The Whistling Kettle for a Sign with Accent Lighting and an Awning That Will Encroach the City’s Right-of-Way at 138 Jay Street, Schenectady, N.Y. WHEREAS, The Whistling Kettle was approved for Revocable Permit #636 for a sign and a retractable awning that would overhang the City’s right-of-way at 138 Jay Street, Schenectady, New D York and would now like to include a door as well; and WHEREAS, the City Engineer recommends the amendment of the permit for the sign and a RA retractable awning to also include a door; and WHEREAS, said revocable permit shall be subject to standard conditions that include, but are not limited to, the required indemnification of the City for any and all lawsuits stemming from the installation of these items, securing and maintaining liability and casualty insurance, and the FT maintenance of the encumbrance on City property; and WHEREAS, said permit shall be subject to revocation at the discretion of the City Engineer: NOW THEREFORE BE IT, RESOLVED, that the City Engineer is hereby authorized to Amend Revocable Permit No. 636 to The Whistling Kettle for a sign and retractable awning to include a door that will all encroach the City’s right-of-way at 138 Jay Street, Schenectady, New York. Subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as may be justified in his expert professional opinion to safeguard the interests of the City. Approved as to form this 22nd day of January 2024 __________________________ Maxine Barasch, Esq. Corporation Counsel 13  D 14 RA FT  D 15 RA FT  D 16 RA FT  D 17 RA FT  D 18 RA FT  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution authorizing the Issuance of Revocable Permit No. 678 to The Rabbit Lounge for a Sign That Will Overhang the City’s Right-of-Way at 158 Jay Street, Schenectady, N.Y. WHEREAS, The Rabbit Lounge would like to install a sign that will overhang the City’s right-of-way at 158 Jay Street, Schenectady, New York; and D WHEREAS, the City Engineer recommends the issuance of a permit for the sign; and RA WHEREAS, said revocable permit shall be subject to standard conditions that include, but are not limited to, the required indemnification of the City for any and all lawsuits stemming from the installation of these items, securing and maintaining liability and casualty insurance, and the maintenance of the encumbrance on City property; and FT WHEREAS, said permit shall be subject to revocation at the discretion of the City Engineer: NOW THEREFORE BE IT, RESOLVED, that the City Engineer is hereby authorized to issue Revocable Permit No. 678 to The Rabbit Lounge for a sign that will overhang the City’s right-of-way at 158 Jay Street, Schenectady, New York. Subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as may be justified in his expert professional opinion to safeguard the interests of the City. Approved as to form this 22nd day of January 2024 __________________________ Maxine Barasch, Esq. Corporation Counsel 19  D 20 RA FT  D 21 RA FT  D 22 RA FT  D 23 RA FT  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Recognizing Black History Month 2024 WHEREAS, each February we acknowledge the struggles, adversity, strength and history of the Black American experience in the United States. This year’s theme, “African Americans and the Arts”, recognizes African Americans’ contributions in the fields of visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary and other forms of cultural expression. D WHEREAS, Black History Month first originated as part of an initiative by writer and educator Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who launched Negro History Week in 1926. Woodson chose February for reasons of tradition and reform. It is commonly said that Woodson selected February to encompass the birthdays of two Americans who RA played a prominent role in shaping black history, namely Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, whose birthdays are the 12th and the 14th, respectively; and WHEREAS, Black History Month remains a powerful symbolic celebration and a time for acknowledgement, reflection, and inspiration. Despite an inequitable social system, African Americans have FT found ways to survive, advance, and thrive. Black Americans have struggled to protect their physical and intellectual autonomy through innovation, lobbying, litigation, and legislation helping each other as well as the community and African American artists have used art to preserve history and community memory and for empowerment as well. These efforts have fueled perseverance and hope for the future. Our nation has benefitted from those efforts by progressing towards a more equitable society, even though we still have a way to go; and WHEREAS, African American spirituals, gospel, folk music, hip-hop, and rap have been used to express struggle, hope, and calls for solidarity in the face of racial oppression. Music has been used to illustrate societal issues including white- and state-sanctioned violence (i.e. Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”), (Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”) as motivation, for strength against harassment, and bringing attention to oppression. Black artists, writers, photographers, and musicians who participated in the Black Arts Movement, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Chicago Black Renaissance were the soundtrack and the visual representation of resistance movements. These individuals created art that supported the resistance movements, but also provided a space for Black people to express love and joy. Creatives used poetry, fiction, short stories, plays, films, and television to counter stereotypes and to imagine a present and future including Black people in it; and WHEREAS, during Black History Month and throughout the year, we reflect on more than 400 years of Black history in America in communities across the country, paying tribute to the generations of African American who struggled with adversity to fully achieve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in American society. Black History is American history: 24  NOW, THEREFORE BE IT, RESOLVED, that the Schenectady City Council and Mayor Gary R. McCarthy do hereby pause in their deliberations to recognize the month of February 2024 as “Black American History Month” in the City of Schenectady. Approved as to form this ____day of January, 2024. ____________________________ Maxine Barasch, Esq. Corporation Counsel DRA FT 2 25  CITY COUNCIL SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK RESOLUTION NO. Councilmember offered the following: A Resolution Awarding the Bid and Contract for the “Police Station Server-Monitor Room HVAC & Chiller Replacement” to RMB Mechanical, Inc.in the amount of $174,000.00 WHEREAS, the HVAC and chiller units that are used at the Schenectady Police Department to control the temperature in the server and monitor room, have reached the end of D their service life; and WHEREAS, The Engineering Department solicited and received bids for “Police Station RA Server-Monitor Room HVAC & Chiller Replacement”. A low base bid was received on December 20, 2023, from RMB Mechanical, Inc., of Schenectady, NY, A total amount of the award is $174,000.00. Financing for this project will be provided through a capital budget code that was set up for Facilities; and FT NOW THEREFORE BE IT, RESOLVED, that this Council, Acting as a Board of Contract and supple under C5-9 of the City Charter, confirms and ratifies issuance of a contract with RMB Mechanical, Inc. for the “Police Station Server-Monitor Room HVAC & Chiller Replacement” in the amount of $174,000.00; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Mayor or his designee is authorized execute the contracts identified hereinabove, the terms of which shall be set by Corporation Counsel. Approved as to form this 22nd day of January 2024 __________________________ Maxine Barasch, Esq. Corporation Counsel 26  D 27 RA FT  D 28 RA FT