Common Council Meeting Minutes

To view the legislation referenced in the below City of Utica minutes, please click the Common Council – Regular Meeting highlighted link. A full November 15, 2023 list of legislation can be found following the minutes. To search for a The meeting is called to order at 7:02 P.M. specific word or phrase, click the F key while Melissa Sciortino, City Clerk; holding down the Andrew Castilla, Deputy City Clerk control key. Type the Michael Galime, Common Council President desired word or phrase into the text box. To Present: Katie Aiello, 1st District Councilmember; view the full recorded Robert Burmaster, 2nd District Councilmember; Common Council Celeste Friend, 3rd District Councilmember; Meeting, please visit the Frank Meola, 4th District Councilmember; City of Utica YouTube Venice Ervin; 5th District Councilmember; page Joseph Betrus, Jr., 6th District Councilmember; Mark Williamson, Councilmember at Large; Samantha Colosimo-Testa, Councilmember at Large; Frank DiBrango, Councilmember at Large & President Pro-Temp Also Present: Anthony Garramone, Esq., Common Council Attorney; Ed Noonan, Deputy Chief, UPD; Stephanie DiGiorgio, Corporation Counsel; Scott Ingersoll, Chief, UFD Brian Thomas, Commissioner, Urban and Economic A motion to waive the reading of the minutes from the previous meeting made by Councilmember Meola The motion is seconded by Councilmember DiBrango None opposed: Minutes accepted and reading waived 3 Speakers signed up for Public Comment Period A motion to waive the Thursday Rule for all pieces made by Councilmember Meola Motion seconded by Councilmember Williamson None Opposed Thursday Rule waived PRO. ORD. 1 – ORDINANCE REMOVING TRAFFIC ISLAND A motion by Councilmember Meola to introduce and place Pro. Ord. 1 in Committee of the Whole Motion seconded by Councilmember Williamson None Opposed Placed in Committee of the Whole PRO. ORD. 2 – REQUESTING A TRAFFIC STUDY FOR THE TRAFFIC ISLAND AT EASTWOOD AVE. AND DUNHAM ROAD A motion by Councilmember Meola to introduce Pro. Ord. 2 Motion seconded by Councilmember Burmaster A motion by Councilmember Meola to amend Pro. Ord. 2 striking “and engineering study” replacing it with “with input from DPW, UFD, UPD, as well as a cost analysis of removal” Motion seconded by Councilmember Williamson None Opposed A motion by Councilmember Meola to change Pro. Ord. 2 to Pro. Res. 2 Motion seconded by Councilmember Williamson None Opposed PRO. RES. 2 – REQUESTING A TRAFFIC STUDY FOR THE TRAFFIC ISLAND AT EASTWOOD AVE. AND DUNHAM ROAD Ayes: Aiello, Burmaster, Meola, Ervin, Betrus, Williamson, Colosimo-Testa, DiBrango – 8 Nays: Friend – 1 Adopted PRO. RES. 3 – COMMISSIONER OF DEEDS A motion by Councilmember Meola to move Pro. Res. 3 Motion seconded by Councilmember Betrus Ayes: Aiello, Burmaster, Friend, Meola, Ervin, Betrus, Williamson, Colosimo-Testa, DiBrango – 9 Nays: 0 Adopted PRO. RES. 4 – RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ADJUSTMENT TO THE 2023-2024 SOLID WASTE SERVICE CHARGE A motion by Councilmember Meola to move Pro. Res. 4 Motion seconded by Councilmember Williamson Ayes: Aiello, Burmaster, Friend, Meola, Ervin, Betrus, Williamson, Colosimo-Testa, DiBrango – 9 Nays: 0 Adopted A motion to discharge PRO. RES. 24 – RESCIND AND REPLACE DESIGNATION OF OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER 2022-2023 from Committee of the Whole made by Councilmember Aiello Motion seconded by Councilmember Meola None Opposed Discharged from Committee of the Whole A motion to adjourn made by Councilmember Meola Motion seconded by Councilmember Burmaster President Galime Adjourned: 7:39 P.M.  Submitted to council by: Councilman Williamson Proposed Ordinance No. 1 Submitted to council on: 11 / 13 / 23 Proposed Resolution No. Sent to Council Attorney on: 11 / 13 / 23 Thursday Rule Waiver Required? Y Date of Legislation: 11 / 15 / 23 Explanation provided to council on: / / ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY OF UTICA Department of Legislation Common Council Sponsored By: Councilmember Williamson Ordinance Removing the Traffic Island at Eastwood Ave. and Dunham Road WHEREAS, A traffic island has been erected at the intersection of Eastwood Avenue and Dunham Road, and WHEREAS, said traffic island was erected without a police or engineering study having been submitted to the Common Council for its review prior to the construction, and WHEREAS, there have been multiple complaints from residents, school bus drivers and others, stating that the construction of the traffic island was ill thought out and could be dangerous. The design could lead to a great deal of driver confusion when and if Utica experiences a major snow storm, and BE IT ORDAINED, by the Common Council of the City of Utica, that the traffic island constructed at Eastwood Avenue and Dunham Road, without the benefit of a traffic study, police and engineering department presentation to the Common Council, be demolished and eliminated returning the roads to their original configuration immediately. MEMBERS AYES NAYS MEMBERS AYES NAYS ADOPTED OR DISAPPROVED BY 1 K. Aiello 6 J. Betrus THE FOLLOWING VOTE: 2 R. Burmaster 7 M. Williamson AYES _______ NAYS _______ 3 C. Friend 8 S. Colosimo-Testa DATE ADOPTED _____/_____/ 2023 4 F. Meola 9 F. DiBrango 5 V. Ervin 10 M. Galime Certify To: Budget, Comptroller, DPW, UFD, UPD, Engineering Resolution: 1 City of Utica Department of Legislation In Common Council Sponsored by: Councilmember Meola November 15, 2023 Resolution Requesting a Traffic Study for the Traffic Island at Eastwood Ave. and Dunham Road WHEREAS, A traffic island has been erected at the intersection of Eastwood Avenue and Dunham Road, and WHEREAS, said traffic island was erected without a police or engineering study having been submitted to the Common Council for its review prior to the construction, and RESOLVED, a traffic study, with input from DPW, UFD, UPD, as well as a cost analysis of removal, shall be performed and submitted to the Common Council that contains direction of travel, needed traffic signs, possible lighting needed and if the traffic island should be completely removed, returning the roads to their previous design prior to the unauthorized construction Yeas: Aiello, Burmaster, Meola, Ervin, Betrus, Williamson, Colosimo-Testa, DiBrango – 8 Nays: Friend – 1 Adopted. STATE OF NEW YORK, CITY OF UTICA ) City Clerk’s Office ) ss. ) I hereby certify that I have compared the foregoing copy of a Resolution of the Common Council with the record of proceedings of the Common Council of said City of Utica, duly made and on file in this office, and that same is a correct transcript therefrom and of the whole of said Resolution. In TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto affix the Corporate Seal of said City, and subscribe my name, this 16th day of November, 2023 ____________________________________________________________________________ Melissa R. Sciortino, City Clerk Certify To: Budget, Comptroller Resolution: 2 City of Utica Department of Legislation In Common Council Sponsored by: Councilmembers Meola, Williamson November 15, 2023 COMMISSIONER OF DEEDS RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby approve the following person eligible for appointment to Commissioner of Deeds in and for the City of Utica, New York within the term ending December 31, 2024: Jessie Wilson 460 Hinds Rd Fort Edward, NY 12828 (County Clerk Employee) Yeas: Aiello, Burmaster, Friend, Meola, Ervin, Betrus, Williamson, Colosimo-Testa, DiBrango – 9 Nays: 0 Adopted. STATE OF NEW YORK, CITY OF UTICA ) City Clerk’s Office ) ss. ) I hereby certify that I have compared the foregoing copy of a Resolution of the Common Council with the record of proceedings of the Common Council of said City of Utica, duly made and on file in this office, and that same is a correct transcript therefrom and of the whole of said Resolution. In TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto affix the Corporate Seal of said City, and subscribe my name, this 16th day of November, 2023 ____________________________________________________________________________ Melissa R. Sciortino, City Clerk Certify To: Budget, Comptroller Resolution: 3 City of Utica Department of Legislation In Common Council Sponsored by: Councilmembers Meola, Williamson November 15, 2023 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ADJUSTMENT TO THE 2023-2024 SOLID WASTE SERVICE CHARGE WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 1, Subdivision 12 of Local Law No. 1 of 1990, a person may appeal a determination made regarding the levy of the Solid Waste Service Charge; and WHEREAS, said local law further provides that where an application involves the request for a refund plus interest or modification of the Solid waste service Charge after the bill for same has been sent, such application must be approved or disapproved by the Common Council; and WHEREAS, the following applications have been made and William A. Rabbia, Executive Director for the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Management Authority, the acting “Agent” for the City of Utica, has reviewed same and recommended approval thereof; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, the Common Council of the City of Utica hereby approves the applications for adjustment to the City of Utica Solid Waste Service Charge for the fiscal year 2023-2024 as follows: see attached list. Yeas: Aiello, Burmaster, Friend, Meola, Ervin, Betrus, Williamson, Colosimo-Testa, DiBrango – 9 Nays: 0 Adopted. STATE OF NEW YORK, CITY OF UTICA ) City Clerk’s Office ) ss. ) I hereby certify that I have compared the foregoing copy of a Resolution of the Common Council with the record of proceedings of the Common Council of said City of Utica, duly made and on file in this office, and that same is a correct transcript therefrom and of the whole of said Resolution. In TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto affix the Corporate Seal of said City, and subscribe my name, this 16th day of November, 2023 ____________________________________________________________________________ Melissa R. Sciortino, City Clerk  Submitted to council by: Councilmember Aiello Proposed Ordinance No. Submitted to council on: 03 / 15 / 23 Proposed Resolution No. 24 Sent to Council Attorney on: 03 / 15 / 23 Thursday Rule Waiver Required? Y Date of Legislation: 03 / 15 / 23 Explanation provided to council on: / / ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY OF UTICA Department of Legislation Common Council Sponsored by: Councilmember Aiello RESCIND AND REPLACE DESIGNATION OF OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER 2022 – 2023 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Utica, New York does hereby rescind and replace the following: RESCIND: that Observer-Dispatch be, and is hereby designated as, the official newspaper in and for the City of Utica, New York for the ensuing two years. REPLACE: that Daily Sentinel be, and is hereby designated as, the official newspaper in and for the City of Utica, New York for the term ending December 31st 2023. MEMBERS AYES NAYS MEMBERS AYES NAYS ADOPTED OR DISAPPROVED BY 1 K. Aiello 6 J. Betrus THE FOLLOWING VOTE: 2 R. Burmaster 7 M. Williamson AYES _______ NAYS _______ 3 C. Friend 8 S. Colosimo-Testa DATE ADOPTED _____/_____/ 2023 4 F. Meola 9 F. DiBrango 5 V. Ervin 10 M. Galime