City Council Committees

SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGENDA for Monday, April 21, 2025 5:30 p.m. Room 110 The Council President reserves the right to add or delete any agenda item prior to Committee Meeting. SURA 1 SURA Meeting Gary McCarthy Finance ABAC for the "Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi-Use Path" to Carver Construction, Inc. in Chris Wallin 1 the Total Amount of $298,174.00 2 Update - Purchasing Policy Derek Gugumuck Agreement Between the City of Schenectady and CSEA Local 1000, for the City of Derek Gugumuck 3 Schenectady, Unit #8501 of Schenectady County Local #886 Government Operations 1 Discussion - Schenectady Poet Laureate Carl Williams City Development & Planning 1 Discussion - Renaming of Part of Schenectady Street to Walter Simpkins Way Marion Porterfield Discussion - Ways to Prevent Trash Dumping on Hillside Above I890 and Wyllie & Strong Marion Porterfield 2 Street Surveillance and Fencing Claims 1 Vivian Akhelumele vs. City of Schenectady Maxine Barasch 2 Felix Cardona vs. City of Schenectady Maxine Barasch 3 Robert P. Fopeano vs. City of Schenectady Maxine Barasch 4 David Ping vs. City of Schenectady Maxine Barasch 1  Legislative Request Form DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING CHRISTOPHER WALLIN, P.E., CITY ENGINEER COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: DATE: April 21, 2025 TO: City Council FROM: Christopher R. Wallin, P.E., City Engineer SUBJECT: Award the Bid and Contract for the “Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi-Use Path” to Carver Construction, Inc. in the Total Amount of $298,174.00 TO BE PLACED ON COUNCIL AGENDA OF: April 28, 2025 Background Information: The City of Schenectady received a Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) grant for the creation of a scenic overlook of the Mohawk River within the private development known as Mohawk Harbor. This overlook will be directly adjacent to the existing ALCO bike path. The existing lease for the ALCO bike path will be modified to include the landing as public space. Evaluation/Analysis: The overlook was designed in cooperation with the property owner and Metroplex Development Authority to ensure it fits seamlessly into the owners’ master plan for the site. The landing will be located on the riverbank between the Event Center and parking lot for the Hyatt Hotel. The Purchasing Department solicited and received bids for the “Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi- Use Path” with a low responsive bid of $298,174.00 being received on April 16, 2025, from Carver Construction, Inc. of Coeymans, NY. Recommendation: Award the bid and contract of the “Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi-Use Path” to Carver Construction in the amount of $298,174.00 LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY: Engineering CRW: cd 2  BID SUMMARY TABULATION SHEET DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING BUREAU OF CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN Received by the COMMITTEE ON BIDS of The City of Schenectady, NY at 10:30 A.M. Eastern Daylight Saving Time on the 16th day of April, 2025. Bids for: "Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi-Use Path" PAY ITEM PAY ITEM DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT BIDDER No. 1 EXTENSION BIDDER No. 2 EXTENSION BIDDER No. 3 EXTENSION No. 1 Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi-Use Path 1 LS $493,500.00 $358,635.00 $298,174.00 Total Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi-Use Path: $493,500.00 $358,635.00 $298,174.00 3 BIDDER No. COMPANY NAME ADDRESS C.A.P. SECURITY DEPOSIT 1 Callanan Industries, Inc. PO Box 15097, Albany, NY 12212-5097 Yes Bid Bond 2 Rifenburg Contracting Corp. 121 Defreest Drive, Troy, NY 12180 Yes Bid Bond 3 Carver Construction, Inc. 26 Corporate Circle, Albany, NY 12203 N/A Bid Bond 1 of 2 Signature______________________  BID SUMMARY TABULATION SHEET DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING BUREAU OF CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN Received by the COMMITTEE ON BIDS of The City of Schenectady, NY at 10:30 A.M. Eastern Daylight Saving Time on the 16th day of April, 2025. Bids for: "Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi-Use Path" PAY ITEM PAY ITEM DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT BIDDER No. 4 EXTENSION BIDDER No. 5 EXTENSION No. 1 Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi-Use Path 1 LS $349,550.00 Bid Withdrawn Total Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi-Use Path: $349,550.00 Bid Withdrawn 4 BIDDER No. COMPANY NAME ADDRESS C.A.P. SECURITY DEPOSIT 4 Wm. J. Keller & Sons Construction Corp. 1435 Route 9, Castleton, NY 12033 Yes Bid Bond 5 Krueger Electrical Contracting, LLC 519 Queensbury Avenue, Queensbury, NY 12804 N/A Bid Bond 2 of 2 Signature______________________  4/17/2025 Scott Paluba Department of Engineering 104 Jay Street – Room 205 Schenectady, NY 12305 Dear Mr. Paluba, We were informed that we were the apparent low bidder on the Mohawk Harbor bid, however, based on our understanding of the project as a “Multi-Prime” we only included the electrical scope. Based on this misunderstanding we would ask to withdraw our proposal from consideration without penalty. Please let me know if you need any additional information, and what the outcome of your decision is. Jonathan Krueger Jonathan Krueger President, Krueger Electric LLC 5 2025-03-ENG - Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi-Use Path Addendum No: 1 (Published) Plan Holders List Plan Holders List Organization Name Main Contact Download Date City Province/State Capitol Supply Rick Gambone 04/14/2025 08:23 AM EDT Wayne New Jersey Construction Products E-Gill Rebar Jack Diedrich 04/11/2025 07:29 AM EDT Hopewell Junction New York CSI Estimation Oliver Hazard 04/10/2025 01:12 PM EDT New York New York Rifenburg Contracting William DeMaria 04/10/2025 12:36 PM EDT Troy New York Corporation Carver Construction Sarah Killeen 04/10/2025 12:25 PM EDT Coeymans New York O'Connell Electric David Poucher 04/10/2025 12:22 PM EDT Schenectady New York Lakelands Concrete Aaron Fink 04/07/2025 03:02 PM EDT Lima New York OCS Industries, Inc. Michelle Woodruff 04/07/2025 01:16 PM EDT Poughkeepsie New York Harrison & Burrowes Tammie Pilhofer 04/02/2025 07:47 AM EDT Glenmont New York Bridge Constructors, Inc. LHV Precast, Inc. Robert Willis 04/01/2025 03:15 PM EDT Kingston New York James Horan Attorney at James Horan 04/01/2025 11:49 AM EDT Poughkeepsie New York Law HMA Contracting Corp Katie Snyder-Murray 04/01/2025 08:49 AM EDT Mechanicville New York Peter Luizzi Bros Peter Luizzi 03/31/2025 10:26 AM EDT Watervliet New York Contracting Inc James H. Maloy , Inc Peter Maloy 03/31/2025 08:58 AM EDT Loudonville New York ***DO NOT Gov Solutions 03/30/2025 11:16 PM EDT Los Angeles California REACTIVATE Gov Solution Corp Rifenburg Construction Matt Tozzi 03/28/2025 12:34 PM EDT Troy New York Empire Paving of Richard Longo 03/28/2025 07:47 AM EDT Duanesburg New York Schenectady, Inc. D. A. Collins Construction Ryan Parslow 03/28/2025 07:45 AM EDT Wilton New York Co., Inc. Lead Pursuits LLC Lead Department 03/27/2025 07:36 PM EDT Santa Monica California COMET FLASHER INC JAMES WRIGHT 03/27/2025 04:32 PM EDT WEST SENECA New York Azar Design Co (formerly Peggy Gust-Anger 03/27/2025 04:26 PM EDT Albany New York Foit-Albert) Savignano Construction Gregg Savignano 03/27/2025 10:25 AM EDT Clifton Park New York Services- WBE Eastern Contractors Dustin Henry 03/27/2025 09:44 AM EDT Albany New York Association MJ Engineering, Becky Cahill 03/27/2025 09:24 AM EDT Clifton Park New York Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Land Surveying, P.C. PWXPress Mary Miller 03/27/2025 09:12 AM EDT Jacksonville Florida CFI Contracting, Inc. Michael Martin 03/27/2025 09:12 AM EDT Johnstown New York Niko Development Corp Nick Kenny 03/27/2025 08:42 AM EDT West Hempstead New York Lancaster Development, Steve Ritter 03/27/2025 08:38 AM EDT Richmondville New York Inc. Kubricky Construction Volker Burkowski 03/27/2025 08:35 AM EDT Wilton New York Corp. 04/16/2025 10:20 AM EDT 6 Page 5 of 6 2025-03-ENG - Mohawk Harbor Overlook and Multi-Use Path Addendum No: 1 (Published) Organization Name Main Contact Download Date City Province/State Bonded Concrete Drew Flannery 03/27/2025 08:31 AM EDT Watervliet New York A Potts Construction Suzanne Perry-Potts 03/27/2025 08:30 AM EDT Schenectady New York Company, LLC Peckham Road Corp. Dominique Bisignano 03/27/2025 08:26 AM EDT Hudson Falls New York Wm.J.Keller & Sons Jameson Phillips 03/27/2025 07:20 AM EDT Castleton New York Construction Corp. Delsignore Blacktop Debra Newman 03/27/2025 07:06 AM EDT Troy New York Paving, Inc. Callanan Industries Zach Hewke 03/27/2025 05:51 AM EDT Albany New York Indexing Solutions Joe Campbell 03/26/2025 11:57 PM EDT Elko Nevada Construction Journal Construction Journal 03/26/2025 09:58 PM EDT Stuart Florida Gallo Construction Corp. Karen Gallo 03/26/2025 05:32 PM EDT Watervliet New York CBS Sherri Schweickert 03/26/2025 04:01 PM EDT Felton California Rifenburg Contracting Megan Carey 03/26/2025 02:19 PM EDT Troy New York Corp. Merit Apprenticeship Penelope Hazer 03/26/2025 01:21 PM EDT East Syracuse New York Alliance Raja Contractors Inc Gurpreet Singh 03/26/2025 01:18 PM EDT Bellrose New York M.G. McLaren Donna Murray 03/26/2025 12:40 PM EDT Woodcliff Lake New Jersey Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C. Rifenburg Contracting Brian Barton 03/26/2025 11:44 AM EDT Troy New York Corporation Angelozzi Masonry Michael Angelozzi 03/26/2025 11:23 AM EDT Schenectady New York North America Karen Ericksen 03/26/2025 11:07 AM EDT Grand Junction Colorado Procurement Council, Inc. PBC Carver Construction Gabe Hanoufa 03/26/2025 11:04 AM EDT Coeymans New York Swan Contracting LLC Kelly Prins 03/26/2025 10:52 AM EDT Latham New York Stilsing Electric Inc Michael Stilsing 03/26/2025 10:52 AM EDT Rensselaer New York New Castle Paving New Castle Paving 03/26/2025 10:52 AM EDT Troy New York Schenectady Hardware & Chris Kogut 03/26/2025 10:28 AM EDT Schenectady New York Electric Seacoast Construction Tom Korte 03/26/2025 10:23 AM EDT Milton Georgia Supply LLC Visionart LLC Sabri Koca 03/26/2025 10:22 AM EDT South Hackensack New Jersey Wats International, Inc. Jim Watts 03/26/2025 10:21 AM EDT Poughkeepsie New York Perry Construction LLC David Perry 03/26/2025 10:07 AM EDT Troy New York New York State James Kilby 03/26/2025 10:06 AM EDT Albany New York Department of Labor 04/16/2025 10:20 AM EDT 7 Page 6 of 6  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: FINANCE DATE: APRIL 3, 2025 April 21, 2025 TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: SARA HUGHES, PURCHASING SUPERVISOR/ DEREK GUGUMUCK, COF SUBJECT: PURCASHING POLICY - UPDATE TO BE PLACED ON COUNCIL AGENDA OF April 7, 2025 Background Information: The purchasing policy expired December 31st, 2024. The 2025-2026 procurement policy is attached for Council’s review and discussion. Evaluation/Analysis: Updated Sections: Determination of the Need for Competitive Bidding Purchasing Requirements Procedures Applicable to All Purchases Recommendation: I respectfully recommend that the City Council approve the 2025-2026 purchasing policy. LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY: _Law Department___ 8  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: FINANCE DATE: APRIL 3, 2025 April 21, 2025 TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: DEREK GUGUMUCK, COMMISSIONER OF FINANCE SUBJECT: AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SCHENECTADY AND CSEA LOCAL 1000, FOR THE CITY OF SCHENECTADY, UNIT #8501 OF SCHENECTADY COUNTY LOCAL #886 TO BE PLACED ON COUNCIL AGENDA OF APRIL 7, 2025 Background Information: The City of Schenectady and Schenectady City CSEA Local 1000 AFSCME, AFL CIO Unit # 8501 for the City of Schenectady are parties to a collective bargaining agreement that expired December 31, 2024, the City Administration and the Local Unit # 8501 have entered a new Agreement for the period January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2028. Evaluation/Analysis: The City has negotiated amendments to the existing agreements providing salary and compensation adjustments and other related modifications, copies of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is attached. Recommendation: I respectfully recommend that the City Council authorize this agreement. LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY: _Law Department___ 9  MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN CITY OF SCHENECTADY AND CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC. LOCAL 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO FOR THE CITY OF SCHENECTADY UNIT # 8501-00 OF THE SCHENECTADY COUNTY LOCAL #886 The City of Schenectady (hereinafter “Schenectady”) and Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO for the City of Schenectady Unit #8501-00 of the Schenectady County Local # 886 (hereinafter “CSEA”) hereby agree to the following changes to the Amended January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2024, collective bargaining agreement (hereinafter “Agreement”) between the City and CSEA. The terms of this Memorandum of Agreement shall supersede all prior collective bargaining agreements. Any articles sections or portions of January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2024, agreement not discussed herein shall continue and be incorporated into the successor collective bargaining agreement. Any agreement reached between the parties shall not be effective unless and until they are approved by the Schenectady City Council and ratified by CSEA City of Schenectady Unit. 1. Article V / Compensation Section 1. Effective and retro to January 1, 2025, all employees will have seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) to their base salary. Section 2. Effective January 1, 2025, there shall be a three percent (3%) increase on the Salary Schedule as reflected in Appendix “A.” Section 3. Effective January 1, 2026, there shall be a three and a quarter percent (3.25%) increase on the Salary Schedule as reflected in Appendix “A.” Section 4. Effective January 1, 2027, there shall be a three and a quarter percent (3.25%) increase on the Salary Schedule as reflected in Appendix “A.” Section 5. Effective January 1, 2028, there shall be a three and a quarter percent (3.25%) increase on the Salary Schedule as reflected in Appendix “A.” All wage increases shall be fully retroactive to January 1, 2025. Retroactive pay shall be paid to all individuals who were bargaining unit members during part or the entire time that is covered by the retroactive payment. Any retroactive payment shall be made within sixty (60) days of ratification by both parties. 10  Delete paragraph regarding $500.00 and being vaccinated prior to January 1, 2022. Section 6. Longevity Effective January 1, 2025 5 years $1000 10 years $1300 15 years $1600 20 years $2500 25 years $3000 30 years $3500 2. Article VIII Holidays. (b) Deleted and current (c) becomes (b) (c) In the event City Hall deems a day an official holiday, the employee will receive the day off. 3. Article IX, Vacations, Sick Leave & Other Leave Policy Section 5. Bereavement Leave. Increase from 1 day to two (2) days for death of an Aunt or Uncle. 4. Article X Pension, Health Insurance and Other Insurances V. SPECIALITY DRUG SAVINGS PROGRAM All enrollees and covered dependents shall participate in the specialty drug savings program. The program attaches a thirty (30%) percent copayment (coinsurance) to Specialty Medications. In doing so, the City agrees to an appeals process in which any CSEA employee or covered dependent of the plan that is not reimbursed through the specialty drug manufacturer’s patient/copayment assistance program for the thirty (30%) percent coinsurance for a specialty medication, will be reimbursed by the City so the “out of pocket” cost to the CSEA employee shall not exceed the Preferred Brand copayment had the prescription been filled under the traditional three-tier Schenectady Meds Prescription Program. In the future, the City may raise or lower the copayment (coinsurance) so long as there is no adverse impact upon the employee. Said appeals mechanism shall be coordinated through the Pharmacy Benefit Manager so that there is no up-front cost to the CSEA employee or covered dependent for these specialty medications when copayment assistance is not available or if the CSEA employee or covered dependent does not qualify for the copayment assistance. 11 Moreover, if at any time, the Specialty Drug Savings Program is not available then the CSEA employee or covered dependent will continue to be able to receive such specialty medication prescriptions through either Option A, Option B or Option C of Article X. Section 6. II of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. New Section VI. New York Paid Family Leave A. An employee covered by this agreement shall be entitled to family and medical leave in accordance with federal law, regulations issued pursuant to it, and the City’s family and medical leave policy. B. An employee covered by this agreement shall be entitled to New York Paid Family Leave benefits in accordance with New York State statutes and regulations issued pursuant to it. Employees covered by this agreement shall be entitled to Paid Family Leave benefits at least as favorable as the as those mandated by statute. Paid family leave is funded through employee payroll contributions that are set each year to match the cost of coverage. The rate of the employees’ contributions is reviewed annually and is subject to change by the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Department of Financial Services set the employee contribution rate to match the cost of coverage. Employees covered by this agreement shall pay through payroll deduction to the amount set by the Department of Financial Services effective January 1, 2025. [For context, in 2025, the employee contribution rate is 0.388% of an employee’s gross wages each pay period. The maximum annual contribution rate for 2025 is $354.53.] The maximum annual contribution rate is adjusted yearly. For 2025, an employee eligible for New York Paid Family Leave will receive 67% of the statewide average weekly wage. 2025 12 weeks 68% of employee AWW, up to 67% of SAWW While on New York Paid Family Leave, employees covered by this agreement shall continue to accrue sick, personal and vacation leave. C . If an employee has an event that qualified for leave under both FMLA and New York paid family leave, the two types of leave may run concurrently. The City must notify an employee that the leave qualifies for both FMLA and Paid Family Leave, and that it will be designated as such upon an employee informing the City of his or her intent or request for FMLA/Paid Family Leave. An employee may not receive short-term disability and New York Paid Family Leave benefits at the same time. Employees may not take more than 26 combined weeks of short- term disability and Paid Family Leave in a 52-week period. Employees that qualify for Workers’ Compensation benefits may not use New York Paid Family Leave benefits at the same time as receiving Workers’ compensation benefits. 12  D. An employee covered by this agreement that qualifies for FMLA leave an/ or New York Paid Family Leave may choose to “substitute” accrued paid leave( such as sick leave, personal leave, vacation leave, and compensatory time) for any part of the 12-week period of the FMLA Leave and/or New York Paid Family Leave. The term “substitute” means that paid leave will run concurrently with the unpaid FMLA Leave and/or portion of New York Paid Family Leave. Substituting accrued paid time at the same time as New York Paid Family Leave allows an employee to receive their full salary for all or part of the 12-week leave. An employee cannot receive more than their full wages while receiving New York Paid Family Leave benefits and/or FMLA leave benefits. 5. Article XX Uniforms. Increase Clothing Allowance to four hundred ($400.00) dollars. 6. Article XXVI Termination This Agreement shall become effective January 1, 2025, and the terms of this collective bargaining agreement thereof shall remain in full force and effect until the 31st day of December 2028, or until a successor Collective Bargaining Agreement is negotiated. On or within thirty (30) days before July 1, 2028, upon notice from either party, the parties shall commence negotiations concerning proposals advanced from either party for a 2029 successor agreement. 7. Appendix A Effective upon ratification: Records Access Officer increase to a Minimum Grade 5135 Step 6 Senior Audit and Accounts Clerk increase to a Minimum Grade 5135 Step 6 Real Estate Tax Specialist increase to a Minimum Grade 5135 Step 6 Paralegal II, the employee appointed to the position of Paralegal II will start at Minimum Grade 5340 Step 2 Add in new Job titles: Accounts Payable Clerk 13 CITY OF SCHENECTADY CSEA CITY OF SCHENECTADY UNIT _________________________ ______________________________ Gary McCarthy Stephen McCabe Mayor Unit President ___________________________ Amanda Penny Unit Treasurer __________________________ Angelique M. Bywater Labor Relations Specialist January __, 2025 14 V. SPECIALTY DRUG SAVINGS PROGRAM All enrollees and covered dependents shall participate in the specialty drug savings program. The program attaches a thirty (30%) percent copayment (coinsurance) to Specialty Medications. In doing so, the City agrees to an appeals process in which any CSEA employee or covered dependent of the plan that is not reimbursed through the specialty drug manufacturer’s patient/copayment assistance program for the thirty (30%) percent coinsurance for a specialty medication, will be reimbursed by the City so the “out of pocket” cost to the CSEA employee shall not exceed the Preferred Brand copayment had the prescription been filled under the traditional three-tier Schenectady Meds Prescription Program. In the future, the City may raise or lower the copayment (coinsurance) so long as there is no adverse impact upon the employee. Said appeals mechanism shall be coordinated through the Pharmacy Benefit Manager so that there is no up-front cost to the CSEA employee or covered dependent for these specialty medications when copayment assistance is not available or if the CSEA employee or covered dependent does not qualify for the copayment assistance. Moreover, if at any time, the Specialty Drug Savings Program is not available then the CSEA employee or covered dependent will continue to be able to receive such specialty medication prescriptions through either Option A, Option B or Option C of Article X. Section 6. II of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. 15  MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CITY OF SCHENECTADY AND THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC. LOCAL 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO CITY OF SCHENECTADY UNIT #8501 SCHENECTADY COUNTY LOCAL 886 The City of Schenectady (hereinafter the “Employer” or the “City” and the CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INC., LOCAL 1000, AFSCME, AFL-FIO for the City of Schenectady Unit #8501 of the Schenectady County Local 886 (hereinafter “CSEA”), (collectively the “parties”) are parties to a Collective Bargaining Agreement for a stated term on January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2028 (hereinafter the “Agreement”). WHEREAS the parties agree and acknowledge that in a MOA for a successor agreement, the parties agree to recognize the title of Account Payable Clerk because the parties believe the title to occupied by a current employee and the parties listed the incorrect salary for the Paralegal II; and WHEREAS the parties determined that no employee holds the title of Account Payable Clerk, and the Paralegal II salary is incorrect; and WHEREAS the parties have met and discussed that the City is not looking to hire an Accounts Payable Clerk, and agree to correct the Paralegal II salary; and WHEREAS the parties have reached an agreement and desire to reduce their agreement to writing. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and for other good and valuable considerations it is hereby agreed as follows: 1. The City and CSEA do not voluntarily recognize the title of Accounts Payable Clerk as a CSEA bargaining unit title. 2. The City and CSEA agree that the appropriate salary for the Paralegal II is 5335, Step 6. 16 FOR THE CITY OF SCHENECTADY: FOR THE CSEA CITY OF SCHENECTADY UNIT: ______________________ _______________________ Gary McCarthy Angelique M. Bywater Mayor Labor Relations Specialist Date:_________________ Date:__________________ _________________________ Stephen McCabe CSEA Unit President Date:_____________________ 17  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATION REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: DATE: April 21, 2025 TO: COUNCILMEMBERS FROM: Carl Williams SUBJECT: Discuss - Schenectady Poet Laureate Background Information: Poet laureates are foundational roles that present readings during formal ceremonies and engage in community-oriented literacy projects. Evaluation/Analysis: What is a Poet Laureate The Schenectady Poet Laureate is a cultural ambassador who uses the power of poetry to celebrate Schenectady’s people, foster creative expression, and inspire a deeper connection to community and culture. While serving as the public face for literary expression, the Schenectady Poet Laureate will champion mindfulness and inclusivity to foster a wider appreciation for poetry, innovative thinking, and self-reflection throughout the city. Through their facilitation of special ceremonies and workshops, the Schenectady Poet Laureate will encourage residents to engage in poetry’s power to put words to feelings and improve literacy. This is an honorary volunteer position, appointed by the Nominating Committee - comprised of representatives from (1) Union College, (1) SUNY Schenectady, (1) Schenectady City School District, (1) Schenectady County Board of Trustees, and (2) Schenectady City residents at-large. Qualifications 1) Two-year term limit 2) City resident, 21 years of age 3) Proven history/catalogue of published works or (public) spoken-word performances 18 Role & Contributions 1) Uplift written and spoken-word voices among Schenectady residents 2) Promote youth efforts to increase reading and writing of literature 3) Amplify entertainment and transformative applications of poetry to connect intergenerational audiences 4) Facilitate four (4) literary events and four (4) educational programs in collaboration with local academic institutions within the City of Schenectady 5) Present semi-annual report of activities to Nominating/Review Committee How to apply (self-nominated) - Resume/Curriculum Vitae, work samples (2-3), statement of intent, and references (2-3) Pending approval by Schenectady City Council and nominating/review committee members Recommendation: Review and approve language LEGISLATION WILL BE PREPARED BY_____________________ 19  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: DATE: April 21, 2025 TO: City Council Members FROM: Council President Marion Porterfield SUBJECT: Discussion - Ceremonial renaming of a portion of Schenectady Street to Walter Simpkins Way Background Information: Walter Simpkins was a vibrant and beloved community leader. Since his passing, several people have expressed an interest in ceremonially renaming a portion of Schenectady Street, where he lived. Evaluation/Analysis: Community members want this to be a community-driven effort. They will use the city’s process to gather enough signatures to move this forward. Recommendation: WILL BE PREPARED BY_____ 20  CITY OF SCHENECTADY LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FORM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: DATE: April 21, 2025 TO: City Council Members FROM: Council President Marion Porterfield SUBJECT: Discussion – Ways to prevent trash dumping on hillside above I890 and Wyllie & Strong Street Surveillance and Fencing Background Information: The area above 890 behind Wyllie Street and Strong Street has a massive amount of trash, tires and other materials dumped there. A clean up was organized with One Schenectady assisted by Councilmembers Porterfield and Williams. Over 39 volunteers showed up and tons of garbage and over 200 tires were removed. The neighbors are grateful for that work and concerned about future dumping and the safety of children who play on the area above the hill. Evaluation/Analysis: Ideas were proposed by the Wyllie Street residents on how to create a long-term solution to prevent dumping and make the area safer. Proposals for addressing this issue long-term include: a. A multi-function fence along the hillside (prevent future dumping; define the park space and protect children from falling down hill; possibly create a sound barrier from the highway for neighbors. b. Security cameras are installed and monitored to catch illegal dumping as it occurs. Recommendation: The city work with the residents to develop a plan to stop the dumping, put up more NO DUMPING signs, create fines for those caught dumping and put up fencing to make it difficult to dump down the hillside. Install cameras to catch people dumping. WILL BE PREPARED BY_____ 21  SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL Legislative Request Form Committee: Claims Committee Date: Monday, April 21, 2025 From: Maxine Barasch Subject Vivian Akhelumele vs. City of Schenectady Background Info: Evaluation/Analysis Recommendation Friday, April 18, 2025 22  SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL Legislative Request Form Committee: Claims Committee Date: Monday, April 21, 2025 From: Maxine Barasch Subject Felix Cardona vs. City of Schenectady Background Info: Evaluation/Analysis Recommendation Friday, April 18, 2025 23  SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL Legislative Request Form Committee: Claims Committee Date: Monday, April 21, 2025 From: Maxine Barasch Subject Robert P. Fopeano vs. City of Schenectady Background Info: Evaluation/Analysis Recommendation Friday, April 18, 2025 24  SCHENECTADY CITY COUNCIL Legislative Request Form Committee: Claims Committee Date: Monday, April 21, 2025 From: Maxine Barasch Subject David Ping vs. City of Schenectady Background Info: Evaluation/Analysis Recommendation Friday, April 18, 2025 25