City Council

Minutes of the Finance Meeting Troy City Council May 24, 2017 6:00 PM The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Council President Mantello Pledge – Mike Cusack Council President Mantello requested a moment of silence for the victims of tragedy in Manchester, England. Roll Call: Council Member Gulli, Council Member Sullivan-Teta, Council Member McGrath, Council Member Bodnar, Council Member Doherty, Council Member Ashe-McPherson, Council President Mantello. Absent: Council Member Donohue (arrived at 7:05 pm) In attendance were Mayor Madden, Deputy Mayor Kurzejeski, Corporation Council James Caruso, Deputy Comptroller Piotrowski, Superintendent of Public Utilities Chris Wheland, Deputy Corporation Counsel Vincelette and approximately fifteen members of the public. Council President Mantello asked Tim O’Byrne, Project Manager and Ming Tran, Project Associate from The Community Builders (TCB) to address the Council about the proposed acquisition and development of the former Leonard Hospital. O’Byrne stated that the city asked them to look at the property for redevelopment opportunities. He stated the property is full of asbestos and TCB would do the abatement and the building would be demolished and they would provide new construction for 100 to 120 apartments. O’Byrne stated TCB is looking to get this property back on the tax rolls. He stated the project is being financed by federal and state housing tax credits and they will begin making applications to the NYS Homes and Community Renewal. They are proposing units for individuals with an income of $35,000 to $52,000 and $50,000 to $75,000 for a family of four. He further stated the rents are not subsidized and are paid by the tenants and the premise is to keep the rents affordable for the income bands they are targeting. O’Byrne stated there is a supportive housing component for this project which is 45+/- units and they are a partnering with Unity House with the intention to provide Human/Social Services available to residents as they achieve independence and that this is permanent not assisted housing and that this additional service is part of the property management. O’Byrne noted their other project is the former Mooradian building. Council President Mantello asked what the occupancy rate is at Mooradian’s and he stated they are at approximately at 75% after about a month. Council President Mantello asked about them applying for a Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) and asked how much they would be applying for. O’Byrne stated they don’t have a specific number however they have preliminary numbers and they are looking at other sources as fall back. Council member McGrath wanted to clarify that CFA funds are not from city funds and he further stated that the City pays the school taxes and library taxes on city owned properties. Council member Ashe-McPherson asked if they have approached the IDA for a pilot. O’Byrne stated they have not, and at this point they are approaching the City Council for purchase of the property. Council member Doherty commended them on their projects as he they have two housing projects in his district. Council President Mantello stated she realizes this is a serious issues and she knows that there are numerous police calls and the city has been sued two times. She stated TCB has a good track record however she noted there were emergency calls to Tapestry (Mooradians). O’Byrne stated he is not aware of any specific issues but they could be due to getting the alarm system operational. Council member Gulli asked if the 30% - 40% supportive housing units are just for disabled. O’Byrne stated explained they are proposing supportive for people who have achieved independence but need with life skills or access to transportation and at Tapestry they have property management, a community life office and a social worker on staff. Council member Gulli asked for more specifics on the disabilities. O’Byrne stated this can encompass disabled, former alcohol or addiction issues, veterans and children aging out of the foster care. Council member Gulli asked if they would be background checks and O’Byrne stated they do back ground checks and there are property rules and regulations that have to be followed. Council President Mantello asked O’Byrne to have a public meeting, Council member McGrath asked if the meeting could be held at the Mooradian building. Council President Mantello asked if O’Byrne could arrange this meeting with Gulli, Ashe-McPherson and Sullivan-Teta. Council President Mantello stated she received an email from the Deputy Mayor regarding the Mobilitie poles. Council President Mantello asked about the Beman Park/ Hutton Street pole and Peter (Mobilitie) stated they are unable to find a structure that National Grid will allow an attachment. Council President Mantello requested a three minute break. Council President Mantello noted the Mobilitie legislation was tabled and Council member McGrath made a motion to untable, 2nd by Council member Sullivan-Teta. Council President Mantello noted that one pole is moving to RPI and on the initial plan it was for $1000 and will it be reduced by $1000. Council President Mantello stated she had three major issues after the initial presentation the first issue is the Hutton Street pole and to try to find an alternative. Danielle (Mobilitie) responded they exhausted all the existing poles and they can keep the pole their or remove it. Mantello asked why can’t you look at a different pole, like a camouflage pole. Peter (Mobilitie) stated it will still be a 45’ pole. Council member Doherty noted as a point of order we have motion on the floor to untable. Council President Mantello explained we have a motion and a 2nd and this is the discussion. Council President Mantello asked about the revenue and Danielle (Mobilitie) responded that the revenue is what they presented at the prior meeting as Troy has seventeen sites. Council voted 7 yes, 1 no (Mantello) to untable and resolution #43 was added to the agenda. Consideration of Ordinances ORD #43 ORDINANCE APPROVING SETTLEMENT OF TAX CERTIORARI PROCEEDINGS INSTITUTED BY JENNIFER REID ON THE ASSESSMENT ROLL OF THE CITY OF TROY Ordinance passes 6 yes, 2 no (Mantello, Ashe-McPherson) ORD #44 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING SALES BY THE PROPOSAL SALE METHOD OF CITY-OWNED REAL PROPERTIES. Council member Ashe-McPherson stated that she has been struggling with this ordinance and that she will be voting no. Ordinance passes 6 yes, 2 no (Ashe-McPherson, Gulli) ORD #45 ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2017 SEWER FUND BUDGET Council member Ashe-McPherson stated that she will vote no on this ordinance as she voted no in the sewer rate increase. Ordinance passes 6 yes, 2 no (Ashe-McPherson, Sullivan-Teta) ORD #46 ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SPECIAL GRANTS FUND BUDGET FOR THE CDBG PROGRAM Ordinance passes by a unanimous vote Council member Donohue arrives at 7:05 pm ORD #47 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE TO CREATE A CAPITAL PROJECT ENTITLED FIRE BOAT AND AMEND THE 2017 GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE THE LOCAL SHARE OF FUNDING FOR SAID CAPITAL PROJECT Council member McGrath explained the city has to pay 25% of this grant which equates to $90,000+ and the fire department will sell their existing boat for $51,000 and the City has to transfer $4000 from the General fund. He further stated that his issue is that there was a 14.5% tax increase, layoffs and the swimming will be not be open but we will buy the fire department a new boat. Council member McGrath asked about shared services with the Sheriff’s department. Deputy Comptroller Piotrowski stated this ordinance is for accounting purposes and that questions regarding the boat would be better answered by Chief Garrett. Council President Mantello requested that Chief Garett attend the next Regular Council meeting should this ordinance move forward. Council member Sullivan-Teta made a motion to table ordinance #47, 2nd McGrath. Motion to table passes 7 yes, 2 no (Doherty, Kopka). Council member Ashe- McPherson asked if the boat has been sold. Deputy Comptroller Piotrowski stated no as ordinance #48 declares the boat surplus so it can be sold. Council President Mantello asked Council member Sullivan- Teta is she was making a motion to table ordinances #48 and #49 as they are tied to ordinance #47. Sullivan-Teta made a motion to table ordinances #48 and #49, 2nd McGrath. Motion to table passes 7 yes, 2 no (Doherty, Kopka) ORD #48 ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN CITY OWNED PROPERTY AS SURPLUS AND DIRECTING THE COMPTROLLER TO DISPOSE OF SAID PROPERTY (TABLED – see above discussion) ORD #49 ORDINANCE ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDING FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND AMENDING THE 2017 GENERAL FUND AND CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND FOR SUCH FUNDING (TABLED – see above discussion) ORD #50 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE TO CREATE A CAPITAL PROJECT ENTITLED TROY URBAN TRAILS AND AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDING FOR SAID CAPITAL PROJECT Council member McGrath asked if there is any money coming for the General fund and Deputy Comptroller Piotrowski explained that it is in-kind services for the Planning Department. Ordinance passes by a unanimous vote ORD #51 ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN CITY OWNED PROPERTY AS SURPLUS AND DIRECTING THE COMPTROLLER TO DISPOSE OF SAID PROPERTY Ordinance passes by a unanimous vote ORD #52 ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2017 GENERAL FUND BUDGET Council President stated that she will abstain as this is for the engineering report regarding the pools and she had requested this report in September when it was announced that the pools would not be open. Ordinance passes 8 yes, 1 abstain (Mantello) Consideration of Resolutions RES #48 RESOLUTION OF CITY COUNCIL APPROVING HOME RULE MESSAGE REGARDING AMENDMENT OF NEW YORK STATE TAX LAW AND AUTHORIZING FORWARDING OF SAME TO NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE Council President Mantello stated that she will abstain due to her employment in the New York State Senate and that her boss can potentially be voting on this legislation. RES #43 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH MOBILITIE, LLC. Council member McGrath stated that Mobilitie brought in comparables as they were asked and although it is not perfect he is thrilled that the city will be getting revenues and he will be voting yes. Council President Mantello thanked Mobilitie for their presentation and for taking down some poles. She further stated she liked to see increased revenue from Mobilitie when they tap onto extenders like they did in Rochester. Council President Mantello noted that she was disappointed that the Hutton Street pole was not taken down and that the Council has not been provided a with a visual for the water tower so she will be voting no. Resolution passes 8 yes, 1 no (Mantello) RES #49 RESOLUTION APPOINTING COMMISSIONERS OF DEEDS FOR THE CITY OF TROY Council President Mantello made a motion to amend the resolution to add Jeff Pirro and Jeff Belschwinder to the resolution, 2nd Ashe-McPherson. Amended resolution passes by a unanimous vote RES #50 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION BY THE CITY OF TROY FOR A DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE GRANT Council member Ashe-McPherson asked the Deputy Mayor what area this is targeting. Deputy Mayor Kurzejeski stated this is for lower River Street, encompasses Taylor #1 and #2 and modifications to the Congress Street Bridge. She further explains that the Comprehensive Plan concept is to extend River Street into parts of South Troy and to tie the unoccupied store fronts on River Street into the downtown. Council member Bodnar asked if how we did the last year on the grant. Deputy Mayor Kurzejeski stated that last year we came in second place. Ordinance passes by a unanimous vote RES #51 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH FIRST FINANCIAL RESOURCES, INC. FOR CREDIT COLLECTIONS RELATING TO AMBULANCE BILLING. Council member McGrath asks if this is the same firm we are currently using. Deputy Comptroller Piotrowski stated that this is a new firm and they are for collection purposes. Council President Mantello asked if an RFP went out. Deputy Comptroller Piotrowski stated an RFP went out and they received two responses and after review this vendor is the preferred the choice as they have a relationship with Comstar. Council President Mantello asked what the fee is and Deputy Comptroller Piotrowski responded it is 25%. Council member Gulli asked how much the other company would charge. Deputy Comptroller Piotrowski responded 18%; however when they asked the other company about how the process would work the other company did not answer in a timely fashion. Council member Doherty asked if we are meeting expectations with the receivables and Deputy Comptroller Piotrowski responded that we are ahead of projections from last year. Deputy Comptroller Piotrowski further noted that the primary criteria are a percent paid not a flat fee so if they don’t collect they don’t get paid. Ordinance passes by a unanimous vote. Adjournment Motion to adjourn McGrath, 2nd Ashe-McPherson Meeting adjourned 7:29 pm An audio recording of this meeting is on file in the City Clerk’s Office Patti O’Brien City Clerk