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[0:02] foreign

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[0:36] foreign

[1:24] thank you

[1:56] foreign

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[3:28] thank you

[3:40] foreign

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[6:42] thank you

[6:55] foreign

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[9:48] foreign

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[10:40] to call the city council committee

[10:43] meeting to border for Monday December 19

[10:45] 2022.

[10:49] ladies and gentlemen tonight ladies and

[10:52] gentlemen the meeting is in order

[10:55] hello the meeting's in order

[10:57] thank you

[10:59] the first committee is finance

[11:02] thank you good evening everyone of

[11:04] course item is the 2823 New York State

[11:06] stop DWI planned Brands assistant team

[11:12] good evening

[11:17] requesting that we accept the 2023 New

[11:21] York State stop DUI Grant it's 22 000

[11:24] there is no matching funds involved we

[11:27] use this for Staffing to

[11:29] accept the advice

[11:34] any questions

[11:37] go ahead please so um with the police

[11:39] department I see that it's coming

[11:40] through the county

[11:42] to the police department yes will the

[11:44] county be involved at all in doing the

[11:46] actual

[11:47] um UWI itself

[11:49] so the high enforcement of the patient

[11:52] than they are yeah so the regular

[11:54] um funds are just forced into dpd and

[11:57] the high enforcement we work with other

[12:00] agencies so maybe Schenectady and maybe

[12:02] Niskayuna that is for the high bills

[12:06] high visibility the six thousand dollars

[12:07] that's in conjunction with the other

[12:09] agencies but then all that money comes

[12:11] through the city okay thank you

[12:14] any other questions

[12:15] I'm moving second all in favor all right

[12:18] thank you the next item is just a

[12:20] reminder the application for ReStore New

[12:22] York around Seven Grand

[12:24] reminder the public hearing is scheduled

[12:26] for the 27th of this month

[12:29] the next item is the home called for

[12:32] public hearing and home Consortium

[12:34] allocation plans this plan is here

[12:43] um so this request is in relation to

[12:45] your home park

[12:47] um our home Consortium which consists of

[12:49] the city of Schenectady and Troy and

[12:51] also the town of common room was

[12:53] allocated

[12:55] 3832

[12:57] 771 million dollars through the home art

[13:00] program and this is administered through

[13:03] HUD so it's separate from our

[13:06] um our other apartment allocations we've

[13:09] had to go through a pretty extensive

[13:10] planning process to come up with the

[13:13] allocation plan that we've included the

[13:15] summary of and the whole plan is located

[13:17] in the spaces that are noted

[13:21] um this allocation plan isn't funding to

[13:25] direct organizations it's just looking

[13:26] at the uses for the funding so the

[13:28] eligible activities that the funding can

[13:30] be used for so that includes affordable

[13:34] housing development uh non-congregate

[13:36] shelters Supportive Services and the

[13:40] tenant-based rentals assistance so those

[13:42] are the four different categories that

[13:44] we looked at how to break up the funding

[13:46] in terms of its uses once we submit this

[13:49] allocation plan to HUD we will then

[13:52] there will then be an RFP process for

[13:54] service providers and organizations to

[13:56] apply for that funding so we are looking

[13:59] to call for a public hearing that would

[14:02] be held on Tuesday December 27th at 7 pm

[14:05] during the regularly scheduled council

[14:07] meeting and this is just for purposes of

[14:09] hearing comments on

[14:11] the public comment period is open

[14:14] through January 6th

[14:17] questions

[14:23] all in favor

[14:25] the next item is

[14:28] regards to the arpa allocation and

[14:31] supportive here thank you so at our last

[14:33] committee meeting a couple weeks ago we

[14:35] had this on the agenda to ask for an

[14:37] update to see where we were with the art

[14:39] applications we heard from organizations

[14:42] who were expecting letters and when they

[14:45] were going to get their funding so

[14:47] um I know that there was some action

[14:48] taking place that has taken place so at

[14:50] this point in time I was wondering where

[14:52] we are with that in terms of the

[14:53] timeline in terms of the contracts and

[14:56] you know when people can kind of expect

[14:59] to see some movement on their

[15:01] applications on their Awards

[15:04] so

[15:06] I indicated before I sent out the

[15:08] letters to roughly 20 groups for the

[15:10] background information

[15:13] there are some contingencies in those

[15:17] with the exception of the YW and safe

[15:21] Inc I think those contracts are this

[15:25] much ready to yeah I think the Mr Marty's been working in

[15:31] the law department on putting the

[15:32] contracts together

[15:34] obviously one of the the letters

[15:36] included I think Financial documentation

[15:38] another documentation that had to come

[15:40] in I believe that was going to go

[15:42] through the development department I

[15:43] don't know exactly where that stands in

[15:45] terms of receiving documentation from

[15:47] those organizations I anticipate that

[15:50] the contracts will go out before the end

[15:52] of the week this week you know once it's

[15:55] reviewed obviously by the development

[15:57] department

[15:59] obviously we spoke about the

[16:01] contingencies you know some of the

[16:05] contracts well excuse me some of the

[16:07] allocations required

[16:10] a match contingency be met before we

[16:14] enter into contracts so I believe when

[16:18] the letters were sent out from the

[16:20] mayor's office they included the

[16:21] resolutions so that those organizations

[16:23] would see what the council authorized or

[16:26] didn't authorize at that time so

[16:28] obviously there were allocations for all

[16:33] but not authorizing contracts just yet

[16:37] for many

[16:38] so the ones that didn't have

[16:40] contingencies are the ones that the

[16:42] contracts would be correct so I believe

[16:44] that's the YWCA I believe there was no

[16:47] contingency for

[16:49] um I mean I think the resolution came

[16:51] around at the beginning of the meeting

[16:53] today I believe there's no contingency

[16:55] for the Green Market I think there was

[16:58] work that may have already been done by

[17:01] clockers that the council authorized

[17:04] funding for so we'd have to check

[17:06] obviously one of the things we'd have to

[17:08] do on that end is verify that that work

[17:10] had been done then you know obviously if

[17:12] the work has already been done received

[17:14] receipts and see what worked actually

[17:16] you know what they said in order to

[17:19] reimburse them for that that funding

[17:22] um

[17:27] and I believe there was some other I

[17:29] think as the mayor said safe Inc and I

[17:32] you know I don't want to be quoted

[17:34] um I believe there were at least uh two

[17:36] other organizations maybe not on this

[17:38] resolution from

[17:40] um from August 22nd but there was a

[17:43] resolution from September 12th uh where

[17:45] I think there was certain uh

[17:48] organizations that didn't have any

[17:49] contingencies

[17:51] thank you just yet if you have anything

[17:53] to add to that

[17:55] okay thank you and we'll just we'll keep

[17:59] bringing this forward so we can keep

[18:00] track and people can hear um where

[18:02] things are to light

[18:03] thank you

[18:08] that there were no continues and the

[18:10] other resolution though there I don't

[18:12] believe there were contingencies

[18:17] thank you yep thank you

[18:20] do you want us back because this was a

[18:21] hell door from last two weeks

[18:25] yes to bring it back in two weeks two

[18:27] weeks yes so we can just stay updated

[18:29] okay

[18:32] the next item is a

[18:35] little discussion regarding the Aquatic

[18:37] Center

[18:38] um

[18:40] allocation of our location and also to

[18:43] look at the fourth set of allocation

[18:45] that we did when the resolution was

[18:48] passed we discussed verbally at a table

[18:50] here in regards to our timeline but we

[18:53] never end up on the resolution

[18:55] so you want to discuss in terms of

[18:58] on the second set of allocation we had

[19:00] given them 12 ones but this Forest

[19:03] allocation there was no timeline so we

[19:06] just want to address it should we attach

[19:07] a timeline to the fourth set of

[19:09] allocation like what we have done for

[19:12] the second third of our location so I

[19:13] want to discuss is some very new to the

[19:15] table in terms of one set doesn't have a

[19:17] timeline the other step has a timeline

[19:21] I think that we should put a form

[19:23] timeline with regards to this allocation

[19:25] also I discussing Mr Colden I missed the

[19:28] uh they think that we should also if

[19:31] you're not mistaken

[19:33] certainly I'm sorry go ahead certainly

[19:36] it's up to the council in terms of what

[19:37] it would like to do in terms of you know

[19:39] setting the deadline when contingencies

[19:41] have to be met in the September 12th

[19:44] resolution for many of the organizations

[19:47] that had to meet financial goals they

[19:51] did not do it as Mr mood Barrett said in

[19:54] the August 22nd resolution so certainly

[19:57] it's completely up to the Council on how

[20:00] to handle that

[20:02] so I was thinking about since we passed

[20:04] this in August we should apply here 12

[20:06] months the same as we did for the second

[20:08] arm set

[20:12] so that would be for any of these that

[20:14] not just the acquired I know this says

[20:16] the Aquatic Center but it would be any

[20:18] of the ones

[20:19] um that we were looking at the Aquatic

[20:21] Center and I realized that all of them

[20:23] had a chance timeline

[20:27] I think for us to be consistent we

[20:30] should apply um a timeline in addition to that we

[20:34] have we are we have given we're given

[20:36] time on how we can spend this money so

[20:37] there's the allocation timeline there's

[20:39] a time time limit spent so if we leave

[20:41] it open-ended then you know that may put

[20:43] in a position that even though we

[20:45] allocate if they don't match it all

[20:46] they're matching and they're not there

[20:48] what do we do in that case so I would

[20:50] say that we would need to do that

[20:53] good ideas and um you know obviously the

[20:56] resolution that was passed out the first

[20:59] resolution of August about the 22nd all

[21:02] it was was and we discussed it obviously

[21:04] that at that meeting and you know I

[21:06] remember obviously asking exactly what

[21:09] you wanted to do as a council and it was

[21:11] just allocating the funds for that

[21:13] particular purpose but not authorizing

[21:15] the contract whereas the other

[21:17] resolution from September the council

[21:20] you know allocated the funds for the

[21:23] particular project and also authorizes

[21:25] the mayor but

[21:26] um to enter into those agreements but

[21:28] for those agreements where the

[21:30] organization had to have or had to meet

[21:33] a contingency before they could enter

[21:36] into the contract they had to meet that

[21:38] contingency right so this these would

[21:41] still have to come back to the council

[21:43] because there hasn't been any

[21:45] authorization to have the mayor enter

[21:46] into these contracts

[21:52] if they have to raise other money there

[21:54] still needs to be some timeline in place

[21:56] for them to to do that because if they

[21:57] don't then we've left it open and

[21:59] conceivably could be to the end of the

[22:01] time that we have to spend money which

[22:02] won't work so we have to figure out some

[22:05] type of timeline

[22:06] um in order I I believe in order to do

[22:08] that

[22:10] okay

[22:11] it actually um

[22:13] 12 months

[22:14] on the second set of application so I'm

[22:16] thinking about we do the same for this

[22:18] one here do an amendment to include the

[22:20] timeline be 12 months from when we

[22:23] passed it

[22:25] I'm just suggesting that

[22:28] Mr Colton is saying that they we haven't

[22:30] entered the timelines were given to

[22:32] those that were a contract was assigned

[22:33] with and this doesn't have one is that

[22:39] what I had indicated was the resolutions

[22:42] are obviously different in that this one it's only you know you're you

[22:48] allocated funds for a particular

[22:50] projects the other one from September

[22:53] you both allocated and authorized the

[22:56] mayor but set those contingencies for

[22:59] those contracts where you know they had

[23:01] to raise additional funding those

[23:03] organizations had to raise additional

[23:04] funding certainly the council can put a

[23:08] one-year contingency and you know for

[23:10] these allocations so that you can let

[23:13] those organizations know that this isn't

[23:16] you know you're not you're not going to

[23:17] go a year and a half down the road

[23:18] you're not going to go two and a half

[23:19] years down the road we're gonna be you

[23:21] know the city council can certainly say

[23:22] we're going to hold this allocation here

[23:24] for a year and in that year you have to

[23:27] come back and and show us that you have

[23:29] the funding in place to move ahead with

[23:32] the project

[23:33] that's certainly the prerogative that

[23:35] can be the prerogative of the council

[23:37] and that's what I'm leaning towards

[23:39] because if it's one set is treated

[23:41] differently from the second set it's not

[23:43] fair

[23:45] well I agree with that um I think that

[23:48] we

[23:48] probably need to have uh you know a

[23:51] spreadsheet or something that actually

[23:52] showed

[23:54] um all of the allocations all of the

[23:57] decisions that we made

[23:59] um and and you know it will say this one

[24:01] had this uh contingency this one had

[24:05] that consider you see this one had no

[24:06] contingency unless everybody has a

[24:10] complete memory of every single

[24:13] uh project and what we said about each

[24:16] of the various projects

[24:21] I would suggest that we need to see that

[24:22] but I think I I support making the

[24:25] timeline

[24:26] consistent across all of the projects

[24:29] that we agreed on now would we have to

[24:31] go back and re-vote on on these since we

[24:34] didn't do that

[24:36] I'm not following you the first

[24:37] resolution the one that was from August

[24:39] since we didn't put that language

[24:43] you don't have to you don't you would

[24:45] have to vote if you're going to be

[24:47] resolving to put a contingency and that

[24:50] doesn't currently exist within the

[24:51] resolution okay yes so the Resolute the

[24:55] second resolution was one year that took

[24:57] you if you want to be consistent that

[24:58] took you to September 12th if you wanted

[25:01] 23.

[25:07] any thoughts how we move forward

[25:11] well miss Patrick is asking for um for

[25:14] it well no I mean that a spreadsheet

[25:16] just to be clear on what what we're

[25:17] asking

[25:19] I'm okay saying that we want to just

[25:21] stretch it we want to make sure that all

[25:24] of the allocations are consistent with

[25:26] one another I'm just saying that it's

[25:29] there's several that had these kinds of

[25:31] contingencies around the money and

[25:34] that's not

[25:35] it's not clear it's not in here I mean I can go back to all of my notes and

[25:39] kind of scratch it out one by one but

[25:42] just wanted to make that clear that it

[25:44] wasn't just the Aquatic Center oh no

[25:46] there's never several hours we're

[25:48] thinking about um the reason why because

[25:50] we have mentioned verbally here that

[25:52] we're going to give the Aquatic Center

[25:53] 21st of December

[25:55] this year oh I was looking to bring it

[25:59] to the table to give them an extension

[26:01] but then realize that speaking to us

[26:03] holding on them

[26:06] so that's why I brought it up for him

[26:09] for the sake of clarification if I may

[26:11] so the council did authorize the

[26:13] contracts for this resolution for Green

[26:15] Market for

[26:18] safe Incorporated for

[26:21] um

[26:21] the city center for the little league

[26:24] and for the hearing aid Community

[26:27] Foundation which means

[26:29] they did authorize well we know the city

[26:32] projects we would have to put that up to

[26:34] Ben in any of them

[26:35] but Miracle on frag had a contingency

[26:39] had to meet funding requirements Capital

[26:42] Region Aquatic Center needed to meet

[26:44] funding requirements the Schenectady

[26:47] Foundation sitcom and city of

[26:48] Schenectady needed to meet funding

[26:51] considerations or contingencies rather

[26:53] so that would cover

[26:57] you know for the purpose of this

[26:58] resolution those organizations that had

[27:00] funding contingencies

[27:10] there's like four of them what companies

[27:12] second page correct everything on that

[27:15] back page but for the city of

[27:18] Schenectady Foundation yeah

[27:23] go ahead uh I just want to also point

[27:25] out that that one with um I I don't

[27:28] remember the financial contingency on

[27:30] the Schenectady Foundation sitcom SUNY

[27:32] Schenectady but that also does include

[27:34] concern for the hungry so I just wanted

[27:36] to clarify that

[27:38] um because that was part of that package

[27:39] also it's in the third column if you

[27:41] look in the language of the third column

[27:43] it said it includes concern for the

[27:46] hunters so I just wanted to make sure

[27:47] that that was

[27:48] they would be getting their contract as

[27:50] well but I don't remember what the

[27:52] financial contingency was there the

[27:56] [Music]

[27:56] um

[28:00] though the first the contract hasn't

[28:02] even been authorized by the city council

[28:04] so you still have to come back right it

[28:06] was only the allocation for a particular

[28:08] purpose so the council hasn't authorized

[28:10] a contract yet with any of those

[28:12] organizations right right

[28:14] and certainly I'd have to go back I

[28:17] don't have the documents related to

[28:20] you know the financial

[28:23] contingencies for that project

[28:25] that would be something that would have

[28:27] been in the packets

[28:29] um you know I think when the council is

[28:30] considering everything to begin with

[28:32] nice okay

[28:36] so I'm suggesting we go ahead and um to

[28:39] get the document that Miss Patrick's

[28:41] asking for and also for those if we

[28:43] haven't authorized a contract and I

[28:44] don't and I have to agree with Miss

[28:45] Patrick I don't remember us there being

[28:47] a contingency for the uh for the food

[28:49] access and all the different agencies so

[28:52] if we could just have that information

[28:53] I'm Sorry Miss Patrick Miss Dia yeah

[29:01] I I think for that one it was more of a

[29:03] question of how the funding was going to

[29:05] be distributed because the request was

[29:07] more than what the million dollars or I

[29:09] think that was allocated was so I think

[29:11] that's all that was was just make sure

[29:13] everybody was on the same page about how

[29:15] the funding was going to get broken up

[29:17] okay

[29:21] yeah that makes sense because it was

[29:23] presented to us as a bulk number when in

[29:26] fact there were four different agencies

[29:28] uh organizations I should say asking for

[29:32] four different amounts of money so that

[29:34] you're you're I absolutely remember now

[29:36] because it was six hundred dollars for

[29:38] Schenectady Foundation it was X for the

[29:41] others X you know y z

[29:43] um and how would that have played out we

[29:46] did not discuss so

[29:48] and I think led to some confusion on the

[29:50] agency's parts as well I got some calls

[29:54] about that afterwards

[29:58] so thank you how can we move forward in

[30:01] terms of an amendment or a resolution so

[30:04] it's a 12 months starting from

[30:07] August 22nd you want to go 12 months or

[30:11] just from my clarification this is up to

[30:14] the council obviously

[30:16] going from the date of this resolution

[30:18] or being consistent with the second

[30:21] resolution and giving them until

[30:22] September 12 2023 right so I think

[30:28] that's one question that I would have

[30:30] and then I would suggest that you know

[30:33] it's not necessarily

[30:34] creating a new it's not necessarily A

[30:37] mending resolution it's referring back

[30:39] to this old resolution whereas the city

[30:40] council passed this previous resolution

[30:43] I can refer to this and um

[30:46] say related to that resolution that city

[30:49] council is going to create if you're

[30:51] going to do this a deadline in which the

[30:54] contingencies have to be met and what

[30:56] those contingencies are

[30:58] there any objection we're in terms of

[31:00] instead of August September

[31:02] I'm going to September to be consistent

[31:05] I'm fine with it because we we actually

[31:07] haven't done anything and no one's got

[31:08] anything yet so we're eating into the

[31:10] time already so fine with that all right

[31:16] oh no

[31:20] all right so I will need a motion to um

[31:24] do we know what those contingencies are

[31:26] you know okay

[31:27] I think we should I think we should get

[31:30] the contingency

[31:33] get the stuff more in more detail

[31:35] because it was more than one item that

[31:37] we wanted

[31:41] yeah you can't vote on this yeah

[31:44] okay so let's um follow up with the

[31:47] detail of all the contingency items for

[31:49] Forest allocations like an allocation

[31:51] and then we both zoom in the timeline

[31:54] for the course so we can do that in two

[31:57] weeks time okay yeah

[31:59] all right

[32:02] any other item before Finance

[32:05] motion to adjourn second all in favor uh

[32:08] thank you I'd like to call to order City

[32:11] development and planning and I am going

[32:13] to not move the agenda around a little

[32:14] bit um so we're going to ask for item

[32:18] number five to come first discussion

[32:21] recommendation from the Planning

[32:23] Commission Iraq regarding 308 State

[32:24] Street so Ms kitchen would you like to

[32:27] join us here sure

[32:30] um do I have to stand there yes you have

[32:32] to stand here

[32:33] [Music]

[32:35] um excuse me Mr Brown do you want to do

[32:36] that or you can come and do it it's up

[32:38] to you

[32:50] thank you

[32:53] good evening my name is Gloria I am the

[32:57] chairperson of Schenectady Heritage

[32:59] Foundation which is a an advocacy group

[33:02] for historic preservation in Schenectady

[33:05] County so we appreciate the opportunity

[33:08] to make this presentation to the city

[33:12] government in order to uh

[33:17] try to get overnight to start Zoning for

[33:21] the group of parcels that are now

[33:24] gathered under the address of 308 State

[33:28] Street originally of course they each

[33:31] have separate addresses but

[33:33] the current owner has Consolidated them

[33:37] into one parcel known as three out of

[33:39] eight so just want to clarify that that

[33:42] when we're saying 308 we're really

[33:44] talking about four different buildings

[33:47] um

[33:51] so I guess we can go to our next slide

[33:53] this is a very short PowerPoint just to

[33:56] explain our Viewpoint

[33:58] we're going to talk about what overlay

[34:01] historic zoning is and

[34:04] uh what is it why are we doing this now

[34:08] what is the criteria for such domain and

[34:13] why are we interested in

[34:16] having this selling for 308 State Street

[34:19] and then just to review a group of our

[34:23] supporters that are with us in seeking

[34:27] this semining change

[34:31] now over the zoning historic overlay

[34:34] historic zoning

[34:36] um the only thing it really does is to

[34:39] add

[34:40] schenectady's historic district

[34:42] commission as a

[34:44] public entity that will overstay any

[34:48] changes or

[34:50] to the exterior of a property that

[34:53] houses so we have there's no different

[34:56] than on

[34:59] it's actually no different than any

[35:02] other historic district or landmark

[35:04] building in the city

[35:07] it does not change any of the uses that

[35:11] are allowed by the law

[35:13] under this under the current zoning and

[35:16] it doesn't restrict what you can do with

[35:18] your property at all as you can see just

[35:22] three of these examples that I picked

[35:24] out

[35:25] in the staff cases District we have

[35:28] Arthur's Market

[35:30] and then the Union Street Corridor

[35:32] historic district we have

[35:35] an office building I believe the address

[35:37] is 508 and the restaurant chenu which

[35:42] has also been used for different

[35:44] purposes over the years and

[35:47] um as a matter of fact one of our

[35:49] council members has her business in on

[35:52] in the United States Corridor which has

[35:55] the same overlay assembly so there's no

[35:58] restriction at all about what you can do

[36:00] it's just that you need or reside from

[36:03] our historic district Commission

[36:06] now you might ask why this is the timing

[36:09] right for overlay and stirred Zoning for

[36:12] these buildings well

[36:14] um The Heritage Foundation feels like

[36:18] Schenectady is really at a turning point

[36:20] now

[36:21] with its zoning and development and

[36:25] rebuilding revitalization of downtown we

[36:28] really support

[36:30] building on the success of Metroplex has been around for 20 years

[36:37] now give or take

[36:39] and we think they've done a fabulous job

[36:43] we don't always agree with everything

[36:45] that's happened we've lost

[36:48] some of our very nice architecture

[36:51] downtown as we all know

[36:54] but generally speaking we think we're at

[36:57] a point now where

[36:59] um we want to move away from the 1960s

[37:03] version of urban renewal where it's

[37:07] really almost like a scorched Earth a

[37:09] type of policy where

[37:11] if a developer was interested in doing a

[37:15] project in your town you were so

[37:18] desperate you had to accept anything

[37:20] that they said well we think that we're

[37:23] far beyond that point in Schenectady we

[37:26] have

[37:28] really good examples of our historic

[37:30] district

[37:31] our historic architecture that have been

[37:34] retained and repurposed for a variety of

[37:38] abuses and you want that as a matter of

[37:42] fact in our comprehensive plan from 2020

[37:47] is specifically stated that we want to

[37:51] use overly Disturbed zoning in order to

[37:54] protect the best of our historic

[37:58] architecture and when we have this

[38:02] appreciation for not only our history

[38:05] but our research built an environment we

[38:09] get a diversity of buildings which

[38:12] attracts A diversity of businesses and

[38:15] of residents and we feel very strongly

[38:18] that that's what what creates a thriving

[38:21] city which is worse it's going to have

[38:25] to do is moving towards now here's the criteria for overlay

[38:31] historic Zone you all got a packet from

[38:34] us I don't think I need to read all of

[38:36] this here but it's basically

[38:39] um that if a historic building has these

[38:43] qualities as identified with historian

[38:46] people or events Etc

[38:49] um these are the uh this is the criteria

[38:55] where we make a decision you know this

[38:57] is what we use we don't use oh can we

[39:00] afford X Y and Z we don't use uh all

[39:04] these other things that doesn't match

[39:07] such and such

[39:08] we are focused on on these criteria

[39:14] you're doing a great job

[39:17] of course the the uh

[39:20] the most important building in this

[39:23] stretch of State Street

[39:26] is the Masonic temple the former Masonic

[39:29] temple and this is an old postcard which

[39:32] really

[39:33] shows up probably around

[39:36] um

[39:37] 1920 or so

[39:40] um

[39:41] and it definitely does possess

[39:43] special character or historic or

[39:46] aesthetic interests or value as part of

[39:49] our cultural political economic or

[39:52] social history of our locality region

[39:56] State and the coordination

[40:00] um

[40:01] the Masonic temple was

[40:05] built by the Brown family actually but

[40:08] the Masons took it over about a decade

[40:12] after it was built and as we go on to

[40:15] our next slide we'll see the the mesos

[40:19] were incredibly important in

[40:21] schenectady's history if you look over

[40:24] on on our

[40:26] portraiture of Mayors in this corner of

[40:30] this

[40:30] a room

[40:32] two-thirds of those men

[40:35] and of course Karen Johnson would not be

[40:37] able to join Mason she would have been

[40:40] on the Eastern start but two-thirds of

[40:42] them were Masons and and many of them

[40:44] actually were Grand Masters

[40:47] um the Masons started in Schenectady

[40:50] before the Revolutionary War and also in

[40:55] their pack that there are many examples

[40:57] of some of the artifacts that this group

[41:01] of men still still has and they have a

[41:04] wonderful archive called historic

[41:07] documents

[41:08] but to get back to their Beginnings in

[41:12] the Schenectady George Washington

[41:13] actually visited them several times and

[41:17] slept in The Stockade in a building

[41:19] there and uh he was he himself was a

[41:22] grand master in Virginia

[41:24] but our Masons here actually grew the

[41:29] food that kept Washington's troops alive

[41:32] during the

[41:34] war in Valley Forge

[41:38] now the temple that we're seeing now was

[41:41] built by the Brown family and they had

[41:43] their furniture store there

[41:45] in the early part of the 1900s

[41:49] and one of Mr Brown's daughters Helen

[41:52] brown created Brown School which

[41:55] actually is still obviously in a school

[41:59] today

[42:01] one of her very important people in

[42:04] Schenectady Joseph Yates

[42:06] who was our first mayor and I'm sure his

[42:09] portrait is up there but he was the

[42:12] eighth governor of New York State the

[42:13] supreme court of justice and he was a

[42:16] master at our particular the seven

[42:19] o'clock

[42:20] and as I said before most of our Mayors

[42:23] have been Commission

[42:26] so the the current temple on also of

[42:31] Mississippi criteria for

[42:34] architecture okay

[42:37] it is

[42:39] we're going too fast now sorry yeah

[42:42] thank you little bodies and

[42:45] distinguishing characteristics of both

[42:47] neoclassical and Italian Renaissance

[42:50] Revival architectural Styles which um

[42:53] people have questions about it you can

[42:55] ask me later but it's uh these are just

[42:58] some of the details and an overall view

[43:01] of the building

[43:05] Southern Masonic temple is also an

[43:08] example of the work of a designer whose

[43:10] work

[43:11] significantly influenced an age and era

[43:15] it was designed by William Neal Smith

[43:19] that little plaque is from the larger

[43:23] plaque that the Masons actually took off

[43:25] of the building when they sold them and

[43:28] um

[43:29] he was a contemporary of The Architects

[43:33] that built this building

[43:35] and also many buildings in lower

[43:38] Manhattan and

[43:40] a lot of them are in this historic

[43:43] district called The Stone Street

[43:44] historic district but he was quite

[43:47] influential and

[43:49] um

[43:49] both in New York City and in Upstate New

[43:53] York Little Falls City Hall right here

[43:56] is another example of this building

[44:02] oh this is a panoramic view of the

[44:06] intersection of State Street and Erie

[44:07] Boulevard

[44:09] and you can see that it really does

[44:12] occupy the unique location and it's very

[44:16] imposing in this intersection on

[44:20] imagine it without that building there

[44:22] but if you have overly disturbs only at

[44:27] least it offers some protection to the

[44:31] best of our historic buildings it's

[44:33] become it's obviously a very familiar

[44:35] visual feature in this area this

[44:38] neighborhood

[44:41] now just moving on to the other

[44:43] buildings in the streetscape between

[44:46] Erie Boulevard and the railroad overpass

[44:50] again it's the first four buildings this

[44:54] building here was

[44:56] um on the left

[44:58] most recently the Chamber of Commerce

[45:00] building

[45:01] and when I did research on these

[45:04] buildings

[45:05] they all were built in approximately the

[45:09] mid part of the 1800s

[45:12] there's very little changed over all

[45:15] those centuries it was just really

[45:17] amazing

[45:18] and this building has a direct

[45:21] association with our first bank the

[45:23] Mohawk bank which started in The

[45:25] Stockade in 1807.

[45:28] and in 1820 it moved to the star Cave

[45:30] Inn

[45:31] a person wasn't the second in them

[45:33] because they were doing so well

[45:36] and by 1907 the bank became a national

[45:40] bank and they moved to State Street but

[45:42] in a block lower than where they ended

[45:45] up and after several mergers and

[45:48] Acquisitions they ended up in the

[45:52] Chamber of Commerce building

[45:53] and uh in the bottom right you can see

[45:57] one of the early checks

[46:00] so they were witnessed to almost all of

[46:04] the major events in Schenectady over the

[46:06] centuries you know dealing with

[46:08] financing the earth now to financing

[46:12] some of our some of our buildings that

[46:15] we're trying to say it now

[46:18] and the next buildings were Consolidated

[46:22] into rednecks clothing store I think

[46:24] most people are familiar with that

[46:27] before that they they really housed a

[46:31] great variety of small businesses in

[46:34] Schenectady which of course is a great

[46:36] business model we really are trying to

[46:39] do that now so we're not a one company

[46:41] Town anymore and I think we all know how

[46:44] that turned out

[46:45] but redness itself was established in

[46:49] 1941 it's almost 70 of course years ago

[46:52] and over those years they were the go-to

[46:55] place to close all of our industrial

[46:59] workers that were here helping to build

[47:02] Schenectady and to what it is today just

[47:05] masses of mostly men

[47:08] went to these stores to get their

[47:11] uniforms you know their their workflows

[47:14] my dad included

[47:18] Schenectady and if you look in the upper

[47:21] left corner photo you can see that the

[47:24] buildings are very little changed from

[47:26] those days even

[47:29] before those days uh the big difference

[47:32] is of course when the college building

[47:34] is gone

[47:36] and the Trustco Bank has taken over more

[47:39] buildings

[47:44] so our supporters so far

[47:46] um

[47:47] both the historic district Commission of

[47:50] Schenectady and the Planning Commission

[47:52] support this zoning change unanimously I

[47:57] don't know if I was ever at a meeting

[47:58] where those groups unanimously passed

[48:01] and what they did with this and in the

[48:04] community we have the support of both

[48:06] the city and the county historians the

[48:09] preservation League of New York State

[48:12] Schenectady County Historical Society

[48:14] Wisconsin Association and the GE Realty

[48:18] Club association

[48:19] and importantly the Past Masters of

[48:23] Saint George's Masonic lodge number six

[48:26] which began

[48:29] actually couldn't begin here they began

[48:32] much earlier than that but ended up in

[48:36] Schenectady like that building and

[48:38] several architects in many individuals

[48:41] so far

[48:45] so just to rehash why we're looking to

[48:50] get this protective Zoning for this

[48:52] group of buildings

[48:55] um we want to preserve our historic

[48:58] resources and follow our comprehensive

[49:00] plan you can see right here it says I

[49:04] don't know if you can read it in action

[49:05] 2. provide historic district overlay

[49:08] protection so many for important

[49:11] buildings this is part of the historic

[49:13] preservation

[49:15] section in our 2020 comprehensive plan

[49:19] so this is what the community has agreed

[49:24] they want to Schenectady to be doing

[49:26] this we also want to build on

[49:28] metroplex's success and we want to have

[49:32] that to support a vibrant and diverse

[49:35] downtown

[49:36] so you can see in this this is a very

[49:38] old photograph and you can see the

[49:41] redness buildings they haven't changed

[49:44] very much this is prior to the Mason's

[49:48] building their new building here

[49:50] because that is the brown furniture

[49:53] company so we know that this photo is

[49:55] from around the turn of the last century

[49:59] but here we have redness with the bay

[50:01] window the chamber building we're

[50:04] essentially the same which is

[50:07] pretty impressive after all these years

[50:09] it shows that these buildings are very

[50:11] adaptable and they've become sort of an

[50:13] iconic Corner in our community so I'm

[50:17] happy to answer any questions if anybody

[50:19] has them

[50:23] any questions

[50:25] so

[50:27] um what do you have your packet all the

[50:28] way thank you very much all the

[50:31] information that Miss kittson has gone

[50:32] over and also a letter from the Planning

[50:34] Commission asking the city council to um

[50:37] recommend it to the city council to

[50:39] amend the overlay uh historic district

[50:41] to include 308 State Street

[50:46] any questions regarding that

[50:49] um

[50:50] all those in favor yes

[50:54] kind of getting ahead of where you at

[50:57] yeah because it's going to involve oh

[51:00] the public account Seeker that's right

[51:02] uh that's right just designating the

[51:05] city council's lead agency going through

[51:08] the secret process

[51:11] through this 30-day public comment

[51:13] period correct

[51:15] um and then also a call for public

[51:18] hearing at some point to change the code

[51:20] yes if I'm missing anything uh call for

[51:23] a couple caring seeker and

[51:27] all right so and it's a question of it's

[51:30] not although it's not required you have

[51:32] to do a public hearing to change the

[51:34] code

[51:35] um you can do a public hearing for the

[51:37] secret process you at least have to do a

[51:39] 30-day public comment period

[51:42] um as part of Seeker okay so it's going

[51:45] to be the lead age that I would do it

[51:48] everything separately lead agency

[51:51] um opening and opening up the secret

[51:53] we've done in the past you've done that

[51:54] together

[51:55] um and then the 30-day public comment

[51:58] period and then a call for a public

[51:59] hearing

[52:02] so we need a motion for all three of

[52:04] those I would do um one motion for lead

[52:07] agency and opening up the secret process

[52:09] of the 30-day comment period and then

[52:12] separately

[52:13] um you'd want a resolution to uh do a

[52:16] call for a public hearing

[52:17] um for the zone changes and you're

[52:20] inclined also as part of the Seeker to

[52:22] do a public hearing you can certainly do

[52:25] that as well

[52:28] okay so the first one is um I would need

[52:31] a motion to

[52:34] um name the cities of the agency and to

[52:35] do a Seeker for the city council to be

[52:37] the lead agency and open up the 30-day

[52:41] public comment period for the Seeker

[52:43] okay so moved second all's in favor

[52:46] um this next is to do a motion for the

[52:49] call for public hearing for the zoning

[52:52] correct does that have to be the way are

[52:54] you planning is

[52:55] the change to the code are you delaying

[52:58] that until after the secret period

[53:01] yeah so that's they're not going to do

[53:04] that

[53:05] sorry I just want to make sure that we

[53:06] have the order correct on this

[53:09] um

[53:10] I don't think yeah I think you have to do the secret

[53:12] period first and then so that will come

[53:15] back to the council for the uh

[53:20] Mr Marnie do you want to adjust this

[53:23] um sure they could run can you can you

[53:26] please sorry

[53:30] um I do believe they could run together

[53:32] uh if the council is inclined they could

[53:35] run the public hearing

[53:37] um this would just be a public hearing

[53:38] for purposes of

[53:40] giving more public comment uh on the uh

[53:44] on the zoning change

[53:47] so we're looking at Seeker would be

[53:51] Monday right we'd open up the public

[53:54] comment period events Monday that would

[53:56] be a 30-day period you could do the

[53:58] hearing at the conclusion of that or you

[54:00] could run it simultaneously

[54:02] I think the question was the actual code

[54:04] change really overlay that would happen

[54:06] after that resolution would have been

[54:09] correct that would happen after okay

[54:11] after the Seeker or republican period

[54:13] has been closed okay

[54:16] thank you so we um then the next

[54:19] opportunity to call for a 30-day

[54:21] um public comment

[54:23] right that's part of the initial lead

[54:26] agency opening up the 30-day public

[54:28] comment period for the purpose of Seeker

[54:30] okay right and then you can also do the

[54:32] call for separately separate resolution

[54:34] call for a public hearing to let the

[54:36] code okay

[54:38] but you could actually take action to

[54:40] amend the code until after the public

[54:42] comment period has ended thank you but

[54:44] we can still call we can still call you

[54:46] can still do a call for public hearing

[54:47] okay

[54:49] so it's a motion to call for public

[54:50] hearing so much second cause in favor

[54:53] aye

[54:56] okay we're gonna move back to the top of

[55:00] the agenda

[55:01] so um

[55:03] building code changes for banquet

[55:07] facilities

[55:11] good evening again

[55:13] um so this request is based on a lot of

[55:17] requests that we've received recently

[55:20] um

[55:22] banquet halls

[55:24] um so the current is open code permits

[55:26] banquet facilities in the C3 Waterfront

[55:28] mixed-use District but that's the only

[55:30] District that they are currently

[55:31] permitted in and are you stable

[55:34] um so due to this limitation we've been

[55:36] seeing people trying to figure out ways

[55:38] to operate you know similar facilities

[55:41] whether it's trying to do a social club

[55:43] or a private Lodge and there's a lot of

[55:45] like there's not a clear consensus from

[55:49] the definitions that were in the code

[55:50] about what each of these things were so

[55:53] what we're proposing here is a zoning

[55:56] chain request to allow for more

[55:58] opportunities for business owners to

[56:00] provide banquet facilities to serve the

[56:02] community in commercial districts the

[56:04] Planning Commission is aware of these

[56:07] issues and discussions for the need to

[56:10] change the zoning code you can see in

[56:12] the use table we are proposing to allow

[56:14] it in all of our commercial districts

[56:16] aside from the C1 district and also to

[56:20] allow in the M1 and M2 districts

[56:23] um

[56:24] I mean I think that's kind of what the

[56:28] general overview so there's two requests

[56:30] here

[56:31] um similar because it's a zoning code

[56:32] change we're looking for the council to

[56:35] pass a resolution declaring the agency

[56:37] for the environmental review for these

[56:39] changes we've also provided

[56:42] um the definitions that were amended to

[56:45] clarify thank the facility and private

[56:48] uh private club

[56:51] and launched

[56:54] and this is related to

[56:57] an item that's further down the agenda

[57:00] when it comes to the certificate of use

[57:01] process

[57:03] um so that's going to be for for the

[57:05] daily agenda so we're looking again to

[57:07] the council first the player lead Agency

[57:10] for the environmental review

[57:12] any questions council members questions

[57:20] all those in favor um and so item number

[57:23] two the call for public hearing for

[57:26] zoning change

[57:27] tell me second all those in favor

[57:32] thank you and the third item agenda is

[57:36] agenda item is approval to extend the

[57:38] cdbg contract with the Miracle on Craig

[57:40] street please yeah sure so we've been

[57:43] working with America you can come up as

[57:46] well

[57:49] um to focus on the Redevelopment of the

[57:52] Carver community center this has been a

[57:54] work in progress for some time we're

[57:56] back here tonight to discuss extending

[57:59] our timeline for the CDG contract and

[58:02] also extension of the timeline that's in

[58:05] the current use agreement both of these

[58:08] are I believe set to end at the end of

[58:11] this year and we want to give an update

[58:14] from we have tap on board who's

[58:16] providing healthy control services via

[58:18] Garden Health Center of tab and we also

[58:20] have members from the Miracle on Craig

[58:22] street so they're going to give a quick

[58:24] update on where the project is and the

[58:27] next steps and then we can discuss these

[58:31] um amendments to the to the timelines

[58:33] okay

[58:39] good evening

[58:41] um council president mayor council

[58:43] members my name is Barb Nelson I'm an

[58:45] architect with tap vllc and I'm a

[58:48] director at teping we are a 54 year old

[58:51] non-profit architecture and planning

[58:53] office and we do a lot of projects like

[58:56] this we work with very distressed

[58:58] buildings I'm sorry I don't have photos

[59:00] for you but we do have a presentation of

[59:03] the floor plans is that right

[59:06] we have them in our packets all right

[59:10] okay I sent a slight difference Dan

[59:12] that's the best thing do you think you

[59:15] can board up here

[59:18] um

[59:18] questions

[59:23] [Music]

[59:26] yeah what you're finding your packet are

[59:28] the architectural drawings uh to date

[59:31] um we are maybe 20 30 finished with our

[59:34] architecturals

[59:36] um

[59:36] and the engineers are on board we've had

[59:39] uh hopes to to finish and get this out

[59:41] to fit in by the end of the year

[59:44] um we're just swamped and that's just

[59:46] not happening but we have promised to be

[59:50] outdated in February so that we can have

[59:53] good competitive prices and we can be in

[59:56] construction this spring the condition

[59:59] of the building I'm sorry I don't have

[1:00:01] photos it's just been really tragically

[1:00:04] vandalized for 10 years

[1:00:06] but the uh the good news is that it

[1:00:10] wasn't Community Center it will be a

[1:00:12] community center again it's not a change

[1:00:14] of views the code issues are not

[1:00:17] [Music]

[1:00:18] you know terribly hard to comply with so

[1:00:22] we are working to at this point to

[1:00:26] design

[1:00:28] the facility pretty much putting it back

[1:00:31] to the facility that it was so we're

[1:00:34] trying to keep costs as low as possible

[1:00:36] uh speak to the budget a little bit we

[1:00:40] understand that America has received or

[1:00:43] been awarded a million uh 250 000. we

[1:00:48] are doing our best to meet that as a as

[1:00:51] a budget the biggest issue there is the

[1:00:55] mechanical systems that have all been

[1:00:57] damaged

[1:01:00] removed

[1:01:02] as you can imagine copper and steel

[1:01:04] everything is really been damaged and

[1:01:07] taken out windows are severely damaged

[1:01:10] or missing entirely so so my current

[1:01:15] budget that I that I've been you know

[1:01:19] trying to monitor is closer to a million

[1:01:22] five but we're doing everything we can

[1:01:24] to to bring that down with every

[1:01:26] decision we make whether it's a movable

[1:01:28] wall or not if we don't have to move it

[1:01:30] we're just trying to work as as much as

[1:01:34] we can within the parameters of the

[1:01:36] existing building

[1:01:38] the program for the building which I

[1:01:41] could let the board members speak to

[1:01:44] um is is also pretty much tailored to

[1:01:46] the building so there'll be three

[1:01:49] um classroom type spaces they may be

[1:01:52] rented to small startup businesses they

[1:01:55] may be utilized for programs there's a

[1:01:58] good size space that was the library

[1:02:00] which also could be used for civic

[1:02:02] meetings or rented for individual

[1:02:04] programs on an event basis and then

[1:02:07] there's the auditorium which is not a

[1:02:09] regulation basketball court but good

[1:02:13] perhaps court and and after school and practices as well as volleyball

[1:02:19] badminton yoga whatever else and

[1:02:21] banquets and Community meals

[1:02:25] and there will be a kind of a lounge or

[1:02:27] Lobby for for informal meeting as well

[1:02:30] so we're aside from just doing the

[1:02:33] architectural plans and the engineering

[1:02:34] plans we are working with the miracle

[1:02:37] board to lay all of that out the uses

[1:02:42] and the spaces available laid out in a

[1:02:44] program document so that they can

[1:02:47] develop a performer you know this kind

[1:02:49] of space could be rented on a monthly

[1:02:51] basis and bring in this much a year this

[1:02:54] kind of space might be an event and

[1:02:56] program area so you might have a rental

[1:02:58] for you know two nights a week or five

[1:03:00] weeks or certain class that kind of

[1:03:02] thing so we're trying to

[1:03:04] bring all that data together so that

[1:03:08] we are able to look at

[1:03:12] you know the potential income for the

[1:03:14] building and the potential operating

[1:03:15] costs and and it's looking you know

[1:03:18] right now we're just using very

[1:03:19] conservative numbers but a facility

[1:03:22] income of roughly fifty thousand dollars

[1:03:24] certainly looks like we'll cover the uh

[1:03:26] the utilities and basic maintenance

[1:03:28] certainly there's going to have to be

[1:03:30] you know fundraising that goes into

[1:03:33] sapping and things like that but right

[1:03:35] now our objective is to complete our

[1:03:37] plans

[1:03:38] by the end of January and we very much

[1:03:42] hope that you will grant them the

[1:03:44] extension so that we can complete this is actually a historic building

[1:03:48] it was I guess the original Center

[1:03:51] burned and was replaced in some friends

[1:03:55] of mine grew up there oh yeah yeah you

[1:03:57] remember that place for me but this

[1:04:00] particular building was built in the 70s

[1:04:01] when 50s and Schmidt they're very

[1:04:03] um well-known architects in this area

[1:04:05] and it is on the historic register so

[1:04:08] we're doing our best to really keep it

[1:04:10] intact work with what's there and it's

[1:04:13] really a sound sturdy building it's just

[1:04:15] the Mechanicals have been completely

[1:04:16] ripped out so um so that's where the

[1:04:18] majority of our cost is

[1:04:20] any questions I do have a question the

[1:04:23] last time there was a presentation here

[1:04:25] um there was a talk about um putting up

[1:04:27] a fence to kind of protect the perimeter

[1:04:29] of the parking lot which people are

[1:04:30] using to well Park whatever they feel

[1:04:33] like and now that the scent Winter's

[1:04:34] here I'm sure it's going to become even

[1:04:37] more so in the parking lot and I don't

[1:04:38] see that it's happened yet right right I

[1:04:40] was asked to help with the fence and I

[1:04:43] suggested that we get a a survey and

[1:04:45] then we finish our

[1:04:47] preliminary site planning so that we

[1:04:49] know exactly where the fences should go

[1:04:51] and whether we should be changing

[1:04:52] locations of gates and whatnot so that

[1:04:56] may be on me but we'll we'll be wrapping

[1:04:58] that up again before the end of January

[1:05:01] we don't have to wait until this

[1:05:02] construction documents are complete we

[1:05:04] had a meeting with us before last month

[1:05:07] November and um I'm sure we could

[1:05:10] probably get that result at the next

[1:05:12] meeting okay so we do have some vids but

[1:05:14] I need to talk to those bidders and find

[1:05:16] out what plan they based

[1:05:18] mixtures the plan that we're that we're

[1:05:21] ending up with there's things like

[1:05:22] exiting from the auditorium we need

[1:05:24] sidewalks you know to public area so

[1:05:28] I just want to make sure the fences line

[1:05:30] up with uh so we don't have to redo

[1:05:32] anything we don't want to have to redo

[1:05:34] anything okay questions Miss Patrick yes

[1:05:38] um could you remind me what the

[1:05:39] contingency on the funding is on this

[1:05:41] one

[1:05:43] I think she's talking about I'm sorry

[1:05:46] um

[1:05:47] uh yes so I believe it was because we

[1:05:51] didn't have architectural drawings to

[1:05:52] price to figure out what the cost of the

[1:05:54] project was

[1:05:56] um we didn't know if it would exceed the

[1:05:58] funding that was allocated from what I'm

[1:06:00] understanding now they are trying to

[1:06:02] keep the budget within that that number

[1:06:07] um but we have to really wait to see

[1:06:09] what the bids come back at and at that

[1:06:11] point we'll know you know we have I

[1:06:13] think we've been more issues Barb and

[1:06:15] the team has been working on General

[1:06:17] Clause estimates but until we put it out

[1:06:18] to bid we won't have that number it

[1:06:20] sounds like that will be in February and

[1:06:23] then we'll see if there is more funding

[1:06:25] that needs to be raised for the actual

[1:06:27] construction however I think a lot of

[1:06:30] the additional fundraising will be for

[1:06:32] the actual operating cost of you know

[1:06:34] running the building and and moving into

[1:06:37] that so I think before we anticipated a

[1:06:41] much larger number but I think we're now

[1:06:43] trying to tailor it to the funding

[1:06:45] that's available and with when the bids

[1:06:48] come back we'll see if um we need to

[1:06:51] there needs to be additional funding for

[1:06:54] the that you know that the arbor

[1:06:56] funds will be continuing on so we want

[1:06:58] to we need to make sure we can complete

[1:07:00] the construction of course

[1:07:01] um but we just don't have the number the

[1:07:04] hard numbers just to say what that

[1:07:06] number is and that's really the cdbg

[1:07:09] funding no prescribing no I'm talking

[1:07:12] about the art book ones right yeah the

[1:07:14] cwg funding is

[1:07:17] um is is sort of separate and that was

[1:07:19] for the to pick the Design Services

[1:07:22] right there was also the fence that was

[1:07:24] going to be completed this summer

[1:07:26] um but it was it just didn't make sense

[1:07:28] to move forward with that until we

[1:07:30] actually think related to the design of

[1:07:32] the building and more comprehensive look

[1:07:34] at the site and what needed to happen so

[1:07:36] the contingency on the 1.25 article

[1:07:39] funding was that the fundraising that

[1:07:41] Carver needed to do in order to complete

[1:07:44] the project would be completed within

[1:07:46] Now

[1:07:48] by September of 2020.

[1:07:53] um right yes so that's still that Still

[1:07:57] Remains and it's just a question of what

[1:07:58] is that final construction cost going to

[1:08:00] be

[1:08:01] does it fit within the money that's

[1:08:02] allocated or is there additional funding

[1:08:04] that's needed

[1:08:06] no

[1:08:07] swings so thank you for the presentation

[1:08:10] I think a lot of members in the

[1:08:11] community are really excited to see this

[1:08:13] process move forward you know a lot of

[1:08:15] work has been done I know you mentioned

[1:08:16] that your current budget uh it's

[1:08:18] currently projected at 1.5 million are

[1:08:21] there any other outliers or questionable

[1:08:23] areas that have repeated concern I

[1:08:25] appreciate it being mild but I think a

[1:08:27] lot of us want to make sure we're

[1:08:29] putting in place a resource that is

[1:08:31] beneficial and is not shortchanging the

[1:08:33] community that's in directing right

[1:08:36] well I was glad to see that Craig street

[1:08:38] is receiving a full

[1:08:41] revitalization so that I didn't need to

[1:08:43] have sidewalks in the trees in my budget

[1:08:46] anymore that kind of thing I can tell

[1:08:48] you that the house on Dwayne street is

[1:08:49] not included in our in that current

[1:08:52] budget that was

[1:08:56] so that that's an add-on sort of the

[1:08:58] work that we've been doing

[1:09:00] um but we'll

[1:09:02] we're also working with the seat Center

[1:09:04] just find out what items can be done

[1:09:07] what elements of the work can be done as

[1:09:09] training exercises as as educational

[1:09:11] opportunities

[1:09:13] um it's going to be a lot of sheep

[1:09:14] breath

[1:09:15] to be placed a lot of painting a lot of

[1:09:18] you know some minor carpentries so we'll

[1:09:21] be working with the seat to see how we

[1:09:23] can we can bring those numbers down and

[1:09:26] we'll be looking to find contractors

[1:09:28] that'll you know work with us creatively

[1:09:30] but it'll be a full competitive process

[1:09:33] and when we select a contractor it will

[1:09:34] start so we've got a couple things in

[1:09:37] there that we've

[1:09:38] um identified as Alternatives that we

[1:09:40] can pull out you know if the numbers

[1:09:42] come in too high what's the left

[1:09:45] um we want to build a corridor through

[1:09:47] the courtyard we can actually take that

[1:09:50] out there's a number of things like that we could kind of peel back and that

[1:09:56] can be done at a later time

[1:09:58] um but but yes our intent is to make the

[1:10:01] building whole not to leave any part of

[1:10:05] it you know undone for a later time

[1:10:08] and to provide the facilities that will

[1:10:11] be needed and useful in the neighborhood

[1:10:15] the swings and just the secondary

[1:10:17] consideration I know there have been

[1:10:18] volunteers actively working

[1:10:20] currently I think would be smart to kind

[1:10:23] of identify that cost savings as a way

[1:10:26] to appreciate their work done and how

[1:10:27] that has saved some dollars yeah

[1:10:32] good evening everyone

[1:10:39] I'm Juliana Obi I am one of the board

[1:10:42] members of Miracle on Craig and also a

[1:10:44] former sanctity Community member and to

[1:10:46] your point we have

[1:10:48] um we did figure out what the dollar

[1:10:50] amount was for the volunteers over the

[1:10:52] years we have saved about sixty thousand

[1:10:54] dollars just having volunteers come by

[1:10:58] um we are very anxious as well to have

[1:11:01] that fence put up just to continue to

[1:11:03] safeguard our building but thank you to

[1:11:06] our every weekend I think during the

[1:11:09] summer probably from May all the way

[1:11:11] until November we are volunteering or

[1:11:14] having volunteers come out to help keep

[1:11:16] the area clean the last thing that we

[1:11:18] want is for the building to be an

[1:11:20] eyesore to the community so we are very

[1:11:23] aware of the need for volunteers and the

[1:11:27] consistency that it takes to keep and

[1:11:30] maintain that that area looking up and

[1:11:33] decent until construction is well

[1:11:35] underway so thank you for asking that

[1:11:38] and I do want if I if I may I do want to

[1:11:41] speak to you I know that a question for

[1:11:44] everyone including board members uh

[1:11:46] folks that are interested in the project

[1:11:49] supporters of the project whether

[1:11:51] Financial or just in spirit are always

[1:11:53] wondering is our sustainability and what

[1:11:55] that looks like when the doors are open

[1:11:57] so we did put together we will share

[1:12:00] with Kristen

[1:12:01] um we did put together what a projected

[1:12:03] first year budget would look like when

[1:12:05] the doors are open speaking to some of

[1:12:08] the partners that we would have in the

[1:12:10] space speaking to the membership that we

[1:12:13] would charge to use some of the spaces

[1:12:15] that barb was talking about and how that

[1:12:18] can help us flourish when those doors

[1:12:20] are open so we'll make sure that this

[1:12:22] committee hits all of um all of that and

[1:12:25] it is just a projected definitely

[1:12:27] looking to work with organizations and

[1:12:30] businesses that are already up and

[1:12:33] running and very successful in the area

[1:12:36] that can speak to what we want this

[1:12:38] community center to be whether it be

[1:12:40] partnering with new choices or

[1:12:42] Schenectady school district

[1:12:44] C Center of course and other agencies

[1:12:47] and bringing those folks on to partner

[1:12:49] with us to rent space out of and be a

[1:12:52] consistent partner so that we aren't

[1:12:54] having to go month by month and say you

[1:12:57] know we're bringing in this little bit

[1:12:58] of money but really having those

[1:13:00] long-term contracts so as the building

[1:13:03] starts to be worked on we'll be able to

[1:13:06] do walk-throughs with those agencies so

[1:13:07] that we can show them what projected

[1:13:09] space would look like and getting some

[1:13:11] mlus and contracts together for that

[1:13:13] sustainability

[1:13:15] are there plans uh it was brought up

[1:13:17] that you know one point where we may not

[1:13:19] be enough so are there it's a lot of

[1:13:21] money though um

[1:13:23] what are the plans for all the

[1:13:25] fundraising we're getting matching funds

[1:13:27] to have are those kind of um are you

[1:13:30] working on those things at the same time

[1:13:31] yes absolutely so now that we can almost

[1:13:34] we can't take a breath but we can almost

[1:13:37] take a breath in not having to fundraise

[1:13:40] for the you know the humongous project

[1:13:43] um the 1.2 1.5 whatever it's going to

[1:13:46] cost we are now as a board looking for

[1:13:50] donors to

[1:13:52] I guess increase the numbers you know we

[1:13:54] had an amazing event on Saturday

[1:13:57] um this weekend thank you for your

[1:13:58] attendance um mayor thank you for your

[1:14:00] attendance as well and those while it's

[1:14:03] amazing to have those people in that

[1:14:05] space

[1:14:06] um that have been supporters for the

[1:14:07] seven years we've been working on this

[1:14:08] project we are absolutely at the same

[1:14:11] time that Barb and her team is doing

[1:14:12] their thing on the back end we are also

[1:14:14] doing ours to make sure that we can

[1:14:16] cover any additional costs and not just

[1:14:18] the building costs once the building is

[1:14:19] done we have to furnish the building as

[1:14:21] well so we're talking Furniture

[1:14:22] technology applying for Grants applying

[1:14:26] for anything that makes us more energy

[1:14:27] efficient anything that makes clean

[1:14:30] water you know in the building so the

[1:14:32] list goes on but now as a board we are

[1:14:35] able to kind of dig into

[1:14:38] um another type of funding to cover more

[1:14:41] of the

[1:14:42] um the overhead you know costs and

[1:14:44] things that it will to make this

[1:14:46] building look beautiful like it deserves

[1:14:48] to be on the inside and out

[1:14:52] and uh Mr Farley yeah so I I just I

[1:14:56] think it's noteworthy that when we talk

[1:14:57] about sustainability that we also think

[1:14:59] about

[1:15:00] um the longevity

[1:15:02] um which you know I I think about this

[1:15:04] project um less than seven years I think

[1:15:06] that that is actually a strength I think

[1:15:08] that's something that's very unique

[1:15:09] about this project is that

[1:15:11] um there was we were very intentional I

[1:15:14] was fortunate enough to be a part of

[1:15:15] some of this initially very intentional

[1:15:18] about getting

[1:15:19] um input from the people that lived in

[1:15:21] the community and I and I think that

[1:15:24] when you have that level of buying and

[1:15:27] you have that level of being really

[1:15:28] culturally responsive

[1:15:30] um and understanding the needs wants

[1:15:32] concerns and strengths of the community

[1:15:34] that that you know combined effort is

[1:15:37] something that speaks to sustainability

[1:15:39] in a way that we generally don't talk

[1:15:41] about but I think that it is equally as

[1:15:43] important and extremely noteworth

[1:15:46] any other questions or comments

[1:15:49] okay we have two things before us

[1:15:50] tonight uh the first is to approve the

[1:15:53] extension of the cvbg contract with

[1:15:55] Miracle on Craig Street which is you

[1:15:57] know thank you well which Miss Nelson

[1:15:59] spoke to

[1:16:01] all entertain a motion so second all

[1:16:05] those in favor

[1:16:07] and the second one is to approve or

[1:16:09] amend the youth agreement with Miracle

[1:16:11] on Craig Street unless there's more

[1:16:12] questions or discussions around that

[1:16:16] I think they answered everything within

[1:16:18] their within their um presentation but

[1:16:20] everyone anyone has additional questions

[1:16:22] regarding or not

[1:16:25] all's in favor

[1:16:27] aye

[1:16:27] [Applause]

[1:16:29] thank you very much thank you for coming

[1:16:34] okay and uh we're gonna actually do an

[1:16:37] iPhone 5 so item six

[1:16:39] will be a housing Town Hall follow-up

[1:16:42] discussion

[1:16:45] thank you so I'm excited to announce

[1:16:47] that uh this past December 1st we

[1:16:49] successfully held the housing Town Hall

[1:16:51] where we had members from both sides of

[1:16:54] the conversation tents landlords

[1:16:56] homeowners also members of local

[1:16:58] organizations just present in speaking

[1:17:00] to our city council I think by all

[1:17:03] accounts it was a success it was

[1:17:05] definitely very well attended and the

[1:17:07] feedback that I got was very positive I

[1:17:09] thought this would be an appropriate

[1:17:10] opportunity to hear from the other

[1:17:12] council members the reflections on the

[1:17:14] event I thought on Baseline

[1:17:16] consideration and provided a lot of

[1:17:18] members of our community the opportunity

[1:17:19] to see one of our very vital resources

[1:17:23] the boys and girls club and then

[1:17:25] secondly I thought it was a nice

[1:17:27] opportunity for interaction so I think

[1:17:30] commonly when we hear of discussion it's

[1:17:33] very easily are people to become

[1:17:34] defensive I thought one of the the

[1:17:36] Staples of that evening was the ability

[1:17:39] for people to listen from all accounts

[1:17:42] I wanted to take time to this address uh

[1:17:45] some of the tenant concerns tenant

[1:17:46] recommendations and also landlord

[1:17:48] concerns and landlord recommendations I

[1:17:50] want to preface this this is not all

[1:17:52] inclusive just the reflection of some of

[1:17:53] the the discussion items that were

[1:17:56] brought up from a tenant standpoint some

[1:17:58] of the concerns were month-to-month

[1:17:59] leases the payment history however still

[1:18:02] being asked to leave secondly it was

[1:18:04] properties sold right from underneath

[1:18:06] good on-time tenants and we're speaking

[1:18:08] more about the transience factor and

[1:18:11] then also rents raising higher than

[1:18:13] wages some of the 10 recommendations

[1:18:15] centered around more stability and

[1:18:17] leasing agreements also addressing

[1:18:19] landlords who aren't taking care of

[1:18:21] their properties and also instituting

[1:18:23] programs that turn into lapitative

[1:18:25] properties into more affordable housing

[1:18:27] for low-income and impoverished

[1:18:29] communities and shifting gears some of

[1:18:31] the landlord concerns were sent around

[1:18:34] an appropriate level of government

[1:18:36] involvement putting that mildly and

[1:18:39] understanding that Solutions of me to

[1:18:42] take into account

[1:18:42] Rising expenses and why are homeowners

[1:18:46] considered easier targets secondly there

[1:18:49] was landlords are simply looking to make

[1:18:50] ends meet will there be a cap on supply

[1:18:53] chain labor costs and also other

[1:18:55] Associated Rising expenses and also

[1:18:58] perceptions of police being Protestant

[1:19:00] or anti-landlord and some of the

[1:19:04] landlord recommendations center around

[1:19:06] segmenting larger larger portion of our

[1:19:09] new developments to low-income families

[1:19:11] offering incentives for landlords and

[1:19:13] then also I know slick from their share

[1:19:17] at the time bar was present talking

[1:19:19] about the landlord licensing program so

[1:19:21] very uh powerful conversations that were

[1:19:25] present I know some of the concerns were

[1:19:27] around rent stabilization and rent

[1:19:30] controls and I'm excited to identify

[1:19:32] that there were a lot of recommendations

[1:19:34] to include that but also understanding

[1:19:37] what our city council is authorized to

[1:19:39] do before I turn it over to the

[1:19:41] counselmers I thought it was important

[1:19:43] I appreciate the comments that I

[1:19:45] received from Chris Mullen initially

[1:19:47] when this conversation was brought

[1:19:48] forward it was understood to have

[1:19:51] quarterly meetings and one of his

[1:19:52] suggestions was having this be

[1:19:54] specialized around a topic to kind of

[1:19:56] spur the community to address an issue

[1:19:59] rather than just having it just be

[1:20:01] present four times a year and also I

[1:20:04] appreciate Maurice Brown giving insight

[1:20:06] into how the structure of the meeting

[1:20:07] was very necessary so that we captured

[1:20:10] information the proper way and also

[1:20:12] welcome the appropriate information

[1:20:13] so again thank you to everyone

[1:20:16] um looking forward to hearing your

[1:20:18] comments and incorporating those into

[1:20:20] potential next town hall in the future

[1:20:22] topic depending

[1:20:25] um are there questions

[1:20:27] all right so mayor I wanted to ask you a

[1:20:30] specific one that was brought up about

[1:20:31] the um the landlord licensing program

[1:20:34] that's being discussed

[1:20:36] that was mentioned at the meeting

[1:20:38] so could you just tell us a little bit

[1:20:42] slick mentioned it but didn't really get

[1:20:45] into it the ongoing discussion with some

[1:20:48] of the council members with select some

[1:20:51] of the staff

[1:20:52] it's a they're updating a handbook it's

[1:20:57] a point we're not

[1:20:59] think prepared to come back with a final

[1:21:01] recommendation yet but it's still being

[1:21:03] evolved and looked at handbook for the

[1:21:07] landlords correct

[1:21:09] that was done

[1:21:11] a number of years ago and it's just

[1:21:14] being updated now

[1:21:19] any questions or comments

[1:21:23] um I can't say that I did hear um from

[1:21:25] the Department of development there and

[1:21:26] so on the tenant side they do have

[1:21:28] updated tenant handbooks as well so

[1:21:30] those are there and already available

[1:21:35] so Mr yes Mr Williams so I guess in

[1:21:38] conclusion I'd like to make sure I'm not

[1:21:40] speaking for the council I think the

[1:21:41] next steps definitely include working

[1:21:43] more collaboratively with some of our

[1:21:45] local organizations we're probably

[1:21:46] better suited to help impact this

[1:21:49] conversation so our own danger

[1:21:51] appropriate I would like to forward

[1:21:53] these meeting minutes

[1:21:54] agencies and then we can bring this back

[1:21:57] up for follow-up discussion to identify

[1:22:00] how to start actioning or evaluating

[1:22:03] what are actionable items from the notes

[1:22:07] any feedback at all from Council Members

[1:22:09] based on the news sir yeah

[1:22:12] Mr Farley so awesome I have a lot of

[1:22:15] feedback as far as the town hall I think

[1:22:18] that it was a great success I think any

[1:22:20] time that we increase access to

[1:22:23] government

[1:22:24] um we will increase participation and I

[1:22:27] think that just by judging of the number

[1:22:29] of people

[1:22:31] um that were there this is clearly a

[1:22:34] issue that's resonating with our

[1:22:36] residents and so we want to continue to

[1:22:38] do that so I think that you know I'm

[1:22:39] really impressed and happy with with the

[1:22:42] turnout that we had there

[1:22:44] um I think that um the issue when um I

[1:22:47] brought it forward

[1:22:49] just in the conversation

[1:22:52] um here and that we had at our larger

[1:22:56] council meeting

[1:22:58] I don't think that we really got to

[1:23:00] appreciate or understand the full

[1:23:02] breadth of the issue until we have the

[1:23:04] town hall I think that just the

[1:23:07] attendance alone and people's ability

[1:23:09] you know we talk about this issue as one

[1:23:12] side landlord side tenant side what I

[1:23:15] was most impressed by was that there was

[1:23:17] a lot of

[1:23:19] um Common Ground there and there was a

[1:23:21] lot of shared concerns shared values and

[1:23:25] shared expectations

[1:23:26] um for us as a community so I think that

[1:23:28] we are closer

[1:23:31] um to or in more agreement with one

[1:23:33] another than we think and I think that

[1:23:35] that's why we have to be really

[1:23:37] intentional about creating the

[1:23:39] conditions such as a town hall where

[1:23:41] people can demonstrate that so I just

[1:23:43] want to say that I was really really

[1:23:45] happy about the town hall the

[1:23:47] participation and

[1:23:49] um again I want to make sure that you

[1:23:51] know to slick and any other council

[1:23:54] members who are working on this

[1:23:56] when I brought this forward to council I initially said I welcome everyone as a

[1:24:02] thought partner and I

[1:24:04] want to encourage you to uh you know

[1:24:07] please include me in those conversations

[1:24:10] um and let's continue to work together

[1:24:11] to find a solution

[1:24:15] so uh Mr Williams and I did attend the

[1:24:17] slickville last slick meeting

[1:24:20] Schenectady landlords and influence too

[1:24:22] influencing change for those of you that

[1:24:23] don't know the acronym and one of the

[1:24:26] some of the feedback we got was

[1:24:28] specifically that they would like to see

[1:24:30] more of an interaction at that

[1:24:32] particular meeting we listened to what

[1:24:34] people had to say they were you know

[1:24:36] they gave their opinions thoughts

[1:24:38] experiences which I thought was very

[1:24:40] important so but what what was

[1:24:43] articulated at the Slick meeting from

[1:24:45] the members that were there that they

[1:24:46] wouldn't want to have more of a back and

[1:24:49] forth that they you know say what they

[1:24:50] exam saying us you know have a to

[1:24:53] actually engage in dialogue as opposed

[1:24:55] to the um how we how we presented the

[1:24:58] town hall I don't think

[1:25:01] there would be any opposition we would

[1:25:03] just have to figure out what that would

[1:25:04] really look like and I'm not sure how

[1:25:05] that would look in town hall format but

[1:25:07] I wanted to bring that forward and also

[1:25:09] during the feedback that was given at

[1:25:10] that meeting we got a lot of positive

[1:25:12] feedback people were happy that it

[1:25:14] happened and thought that it went well

[1:25:16] and I will say not that I expected

[1:25:18] anything different

[1:25:20] um that there was you know there was

[1:25:21] respect everybody respected the other

[1:25:23] person's opinion it didn't get it was

[1:25:24] not controversial as someone who tried

[1:25:27] to kind of imply in a meeting I was in

[1:25:29] recently I'm like that didn't happen it

[1:25:30] was not this it wasn't that it was just

[1:25:32] this is where I stand and this is how I

[1:25:34] see it and this is you know where I

[1:25:36] stand in South I see and like I always

[1:25:38] say how you see it depends on where you

[1:25:40] sit so we got to see both sides and how

[1:25:42] they saw it and um and I think they were

[1:25:44] came people came away with an

[1:25:46] appreciation for how the other person

[1:25:47] saw something they may not have had had

[1:25:50] they not had to inherited firsthand from

[1:25:53] the other person's account so as we move

[1:25:55] forward on to taking consideration all

[1:25:58] the feedback that we've gotten whether

[1:25:59] it's at the meeting the follow-up

[1:26:01] meeting slick head and and people can

[1:26:04] still you know give their input to

[1:26:06] council members and council members of

[1:26:08] course are very much encouraged to give

[1:26:11] their input because it's a very serious

[1:26:13] problem that we have we're having here

[1:26:14] in the city and so we want to make sure

[1:26:17] that we're ongoing in terms of

[1:26:20] addressing it

[1:26:22] so Mr Williams you'll follow up with the

[1:26:26] notes

[1:26:28] any other discussion regarding this

[1:26:31] anything else to copy for uh City

[1:26:34] development and planning

[1:26:36] if not on a motion to adjourn so moved

[1:26:40] second all those in favor

[1:26:52] okay gotcha um I'd like to call our

[1:26:55] daughter cover my operations we have

[1:26:57] four

[1:26:58] items on the agenda um

[1:27:01] first or we're going to call a

[1:27:03] discussion regarding the new Schenectady

[1:27:06] uh

[1:27:07] because try teaching by Mr O'Neil

[1:27:09] president workfield thank you as you

[1:27:12] know Mr Gold Neal came to see us a

[1:27:14] couple of weeks ago and did a

[1:27:16] presentation on new Schenectady and we

[1:27:19] didn't take any formal action and he

[1:27:22] then reached out to me and said that you

[1:27:24] know he really wanted some things really

[1:27:26] specific and concrete from the council

[1:27:29] so he's here again tonight to just say

[1:27:32] that and because we didn't have any

[1:27:34] there was no formal action taken we

[1:27:35] discussed it I can tell you he said that

[1:27:38] he didn't feel like he got much feedback

[1:27:40] so he's back tonight to kind of

[1:27:43] articulate to us exactly what he would

[1:27:46] like to see the comments have happened

[1:27:48] well maybe not let me see if I don't

[1:27:51] know okay for the camera okay here we

[1:27:53] are

[1:27:54] I'm back tonight because I really would

[1:27:56] like to get a sense from the Schenectady

[1:27:58] city council about how you feel about

[1:28:00] this the whole purpose of our effort was

[1:28:04] to gain reputation for Schenectady

[1:28:06] that's what we started with a long time

[1:28:09] ago over the last 30 years A lot has

[1:28:11] happened and in the past few weeks

[1:28:14] there's a lot has happened we have

[1:28:16] finally

[1:28:17] decided to work with a with a plan that

[1:28:21] would bring our reputation back the

[1:28:23] theme that we have picked is new

[1:28:25] Schenectady and we have we are in the

[1:28:29] process of finalizing a major billboard

[1:28:31] campaign that will basically say we are

[1:28:35] new Schenectady we have been talking

[1:28:39] with CBS about programming there and

[1:28:41] they're very excited about the

[1:28:43] opportunity not only for Schenectady but

[1:28:45] for the opportunity it gives them as a

[1:28:48] business to promote their business in

[1:28:50] Schenectady to promote Schenectady

[1:28:52] businesses we've also talked with said

[1:28:55] newspaper and they too are very excited

[1:28:57] about the opportunity of promoting

[1:28:59] Schenectady just the other day a couple

[1:29:02] days ago I got some interesting

[1:29:03] information as we get the ceg the center

[1:29:07] for economic growth

[1:29:09] report looks at growth gross national

[1:29:12] product if you will for the region 218

[1:29:15] counties in Northeastern United States

[1:29:17] this is over the past few months this

[1:29:19] has just come out Schenectady County had

[1:29:22] the second highest increase of 8.2

[1:29:24] percent in New York state

[1:29:27] the entire Northeast we rank 15. the

[1:29:31] other very positive finding is that our

[1:29:33] growth was across the board in real

[1:29:35] estate Hospitality tourism manufacturing

[1:29:37] research and development so what's

[1:29:40] happening here is is really hitting some

[1:29:43] very strong cars we did a market

[1:29:46] research with about 500 people this past

[1:29:49] weekend here's what we discovered we

[1:29:52] discovered that 70 percent are aware of

[1:29:57] what's going on in this community so

[1:30:00] people do know there are always people

[1:30:02] in the community who don't have a clue

[1:30:04] and I'm always surprised how do you

[1:30:06] drive around this community and not know

[1:30:07] that there's good stuff going on we got

[1:30:10] problems but we're working on them to

[1:30:12] see that you are

[1:30:14] also we got information that the female

[1:30:17] sanctity feel very strongly 70 percent

[1:30:21] feel that we should be promoting

[1:30:23] ourselves and telling people about what

[1:30:25] we're doing so that's been my role ever

[1:30:28] since I took this responsibility I don't

[1:30:31] get paid a heck of a lot it's a matter

[1:30:33] of fact I don't get anything but the

[1:30:35] opportunity really was for us to create

[1:30:38] a reputation for ourselves and I think

[1:30:41] we're now at the point where we're ready

[1:30:43] to go and the theme of new Schenectady

[1:30:46] was the very best one that we could

[1:30:48] choose because new can get dropped off

[1:30:50] at any time if we should so choose but

[1:30:53] by using the word new it's going to

[1:30:55] cause people to ask the question what

[1:30:59] are you talking about what do you mean

[1:31:00] and so that's what I want to try to do

[1:31:03] I've been moving ahead we've got a

[1:31:05] beautiful billboard campaign

[1:31:07] CBS wrgb is excited I talk to those

[1:31:11] people and said you guys forgot what

[1:31:12] major famous and they but we're talking

[1:31:15] about I said television was invented

[1:31:17] here you don't tell anybody about it

[1:31:19] you've got lots of things to be to be

[1:31:21] famous for and so here we are and I

[1:31:24] really like to know also I think you all

[1:31:27] know that one of the things that we did

[1:31:29] we decided to write a book about what

[1:31:31] happened here think about it a history

[1:31:33] book on what's happened in Schenectady

[1:31:36] over the past 30 years

[1:31:38] that's pretty exciting the author is

[1:31:40] Phil Patrick he's a famous local author

[1:31:42] he's he's a professor at College teaches

[1:31:45] writing and he has written the book and

[1:31:48] as a matter of fact he had given me some

[1:31:51] copies that I'd like to share with with

[1:31:53] the council so you too can read the

[1:31:55] history of Schenectady what's actually

[1:31:57] happened here over the past 30 years I

[1:32:00] really would appreciate your feedback on

[1:32:02] it I think it's it's quite an

[1:32:04] achievement so my question is do you

[1:32:07] support the idea of us working hard to

[1:32:10] promote new Schenectady we are new

[1:32:13] Schenectady and talking about ourselves

[1:32:15] as new Schenectady do you support that

[1:32:19] position

[1:32:21] don't everybody answer once

[1:32:24] so I perch okay so

[1:32:28] um I guess I would start by saying um

[1:32:31] there's nothing more powerful than a

[1:32:33] narrative about a city or a place or

[1:32:36] even circumstances and I think that you

[1:32:39] know I have friends and family that

[1:32:41] don't live too far from here but when

[1:32:43] they come to visit

[1:32:44] um have been like

[1:32:46] bring them downtown to a show and you

[1:32:49] know they're they're very impressed with

[1:32:50] uh our city here and you know I've heard

[1:32:53] that over and over yeah that's one of

[1:32:55] the things that drives me yeah so I

[1:32:57] would so though I'm encouraged when I

[1:32:59] hear they're like oh that's wow then it

[1:33:01] does kind of beg the question of well

[1:33:02] what did you think about Schenectady you

[1:33:05] know for you to be so surprised that this is your experience now so I

[1:33:08] think that you know just those type of

[1:33:10] exchanges and the fact that you're

[1:33:12] saying that you've had a similar uh

[1:33:14] conversations kind of um you know it's a

[1:33:18] testament to the fact that we need to

[1:33:20] make sure that we're better at telling

[1:33:22] our story so I think that was very clear

[1:33:24] in the research the community the people

[1:33:26] that we researched to understand 70 said

[1:33:29] you need really to promote yourselves

[1:33:31] better yeah yeah yeah so um so I

[1:33:34] appreciate all the work that's happening

[1:33:35] in Schenectady

[1:33:37] um I think that yeah any anything that

[1:33:39] will allow us to better tell that story

[1:33:41] to communicate to the people the type of

[1:33:43] community that we are and I think even

[1:33:44] going back to our our earlier

[1:33:46] conversation

[1:33:47] right down towards the town hall we just

[1:33:49] had I left feeling we are a community of

[1:33:51] solutions you know people then just come

[1:33:53] with complaints people came with

[1:33:55] Solutions suggestions and pledging you

[1:33:57] know some level of support so yeah I I

[1:33:59] you know and I I definitely uh support

[1:34:02] uh the idea of branding ourselves

[1:34:06] um in a way that is engaging her name is

[1:34:08] I'm sorry I'm I'm councilman Farley okay

[1:34:10] yeah yes yes new councilman

[1:34:14] good for you

[1:34:19] no worries anybody else got a feeling

[1:34:33] do you support this and right words

[1:34:36] matter and I say to our entire Community

[1:34:38] we're not saying Schenectady is perfect

[1:34:40] this is not perfect Schenectady it's new

[1:34:42] Schenectady and I appreciate you trying

[1:34:44] to uh be our biggest cheerleader so

[1:34:48] that's something that a lot of people

[1:34:49] struggle with I think now is the perfect

[1:34:50] time to uh take a pause and appreciate

[1:34:54] the the strides that have been made and

[1:34:57] I can absolutely see our our vocal

[1:35:00] Community getting behind that

[1:35:01] um I I do not think that it is a

[1:35:04] far-fetched to say that uh

[1:35:06] trying to

[1:35:08] differentiate between the the old

[1:35:11] perspective of how people use

[1:35:13] Schenectady is something that I battle

[1:35:14] with day in and day out people come here

[1:35:16] and they are the assumptions of coming

[1:35:19] to an inner city and it's frustrating

[1:35:21] um but I think the way that we combat

[1:35:23] that is identifying how we've made

[1:35:25] improvements in such areas and how we're

[1:35:27] continuing to build on this new

[1:35:29] narrative so yep I want to support

[1:35:30] everybody thank you sir anybody else

[1:35:36] yes

[1:35:37] hello how are you

[1:35:40] um I think that first I want to say

[1:35:42] thank you for everything that you've

[1:35:44] done already to this point in terms of

[1:35:47] trying to boost our reputation and get

[1:35:50] the word out to folks that it is a new

[1:35:52] Schenectady

[1:35:54] um and I think anything that we can do

[1:35:55] to try to as you and I have discussed

[1:35:59] try to enhance our reputation and bring

[1:36:02] more positive spin to what has been

[1:36:04] happening here over these last couple of

[1:36:07] decades

[1:36:08] um is is very powerful and I appreciate

[1:36:10] all the work that you've been putting

[1:36:11] into it any other council members have

[1:36:15] something to say yes

[1:36:16] thank you good evening so absolutely as

[1:36:21] far as the new Schenectady here to me

[1:36:24] Schenectady Schenectady and has a

[1:36:27] special place in my heart I thank you

[1:36:29] for everything that you do as far as

[1:36:32] new I'll go with it

[1:36:36] but it's connected and it'll always be

[1:36:39] Schenectady and um it has a lot of

[1:36:43] history

[1:36:44] and has a lot of good people and has a

[1:36:46] lot of great businesses and

[1:36:49] um I'll go with that new and improved

[1:36:52] [Music]

[1:36:54] as a marketing tool which we know you're

[1:36:57] a genius at so I don't know if I go that

[1:37:00] far not even my mother would go that far

[1:37:03] so I'm I'm I'm I'm I mean I mean if

[1:37:07] you're willing to put the time and

[1:37:08] effort into this that I mean as long as

[1:37:11] we just remember it's always ice guys

[1:37:13] I've done most of the creative work I am

[1:37:16] our advertising I have done that I've worked with Sean Gonzalez he's a price jumper he's offered to help

[1:37:23] with the Billboards and so forth so I

[1:37:26] have gotten some help but most of it I'm

[1:37:28] doing myself the best part anybody else

[1:37:30] got a comment sir thank you thank you

[1:37:33] what are you doing and I like in

[1:37:35] Schenectady I'm very supportive of the

[1:37:37] work that you're doing and highlighting

[1:37:38] the positive things that's happening in

[1:37:40] Schenectady so I want to thank you and

[1:37:42] I'm very supportive of it and whatever

[1:37:44] help I can

[1:37:45] me I'm glad to help in any way possible

[1:37:48] to help you promote Schenectady and

[1:37:50] Schenectady is here for all of us thank

[1:37:51] you thank you

[1:37:53] councilman thank you I think it's been

[1:37:57] mostly said so

[1:37:59] um say what you have to say sure I just

[1:38:01] did

[1:38:02] so I wish you well and I think it'll go

[1:38:05] very well and you think it's a good idea

[1:38:07] I think it's something that will help

[1:38:10] with the marketing in the city and

[1:38:12] that's a good thing okay okay I got what

[1:38:15] I needed a box of books I'm going to

[1:38:18] open and leave it for you

[1:38:19] but I I think it's important to kind of

[1:38:22] push back and get a clear answer I think

[1:38:24] everyone else and Mr Gold into your

[1:38:27] credit is asked everybody my friends

[1:38:29] call me

[1:38:31] thank you Neil golden

[1:38:35] I think it's appropriate to give me yes

[1:38:37] or no answer so I would like to get you

[1:38:39] we just got a struggle so I think

[1:38:41] I'm gonna take a vote

[1:38:44] beautiful

[1:38:45] I don't know if that's exactly how that

[1:38:47] works I just wanted I'd like to go in

[1:38:50] from our mayor

[1:38:51] I support it

[1:38:55] yes so um I think that we have to have

[1:38:59] my story so the full support of the

[1:39:02] council the question becomes what that

[1:39:04] support looks like do we offer

[1:39:05] resolution

[1:39:06] or do we just offer a lot of support

[1:39:08] because as I had a conversation with the

[1:39:10] mayor today and he was bringing up some

[1:39:12] you know all the things that have

[1:39:14] happened that all of us know the things

[1:39:15] that how things have improved downtown

[1:39:17] the development all the many many things

[1:39:19] that could be part of it which just to

[1:39:21] be clear we're not changing the name of

[1:39:23] the city right simply um using his

[1:39:25] marketing to say Schenectady is new and

[1:39:28] all the things that have happened over

[1:39:30] time used it when they said and retired

[1:39:32] and then it went away but what happened

[1:39:34] to their sales when they said it was

[1:39:36] amazing and it will happen here too

[1:39:38] people will ask all of us what do you

[1:39:40] mean no and then you explain to them and

[1:39:42] what people are telling you that's what

[1:39:44] I found out so okay I also think it's

[1:39:47] noteworthy that we don't you know this

[1:39:49] isn't just you know

[1:39:51] um a shiny new name this is really a

[1:39:54] name that's reflecting the work that has

[1:39:56] already been done and that's continuing

[1:39:58] to happen I think that's a really

[1:39:59] important distinction

[1:40:01] um because it's not just a name it's it

[1:40:03] we're we're not renaming it we're we're

[1:40:06] saying that we want to make sure that

[1:40:07] when we reference Schenectady we include

[1:40:10] the Renaissance that's happening and

[1:40:12] that's continuing to happen so

[1:40:16] discussion on that

[1:40:19] so um

[1:40:21] so the question becomes to be supported

[1:40:24] in form of a resolution or a letter of

[1:40:26] support right

[1:40:29] to say we don't have to have a letter

[1:40:31] yeah

[1:40:33] I can see your faces and I can see how

[1:40:36] you're responding and every time we've

[1:40:39] talked to any organization group of

[1:40:41] people there always have been a series

[1:40:43] of smiles and I think the fact that we

[1:40:46] can see what's already happened here

[1:40:48] speaks for us the fact that so many

[1:40:50] people want us to to talk about it and

[1:40:53] show our pride is going to help this community to show itself is a

[1:40:58] better place look I was born here in

[1:41:00] 1937.

[1:41:03] who's the mathematician figured it out

[1:41:05] okay

[1:41:07] but thank you for your attention

[1:41:09] everybody thank you

[1:41:11] okay well thank you for coming back

[1:41:13] thank you everybody thank you you're

[1:41:15] welcome

[1:41:16] okay so our next item is the civilian

[1:41:19] police review board or

[1:41:21] mayor McCarthy no no we're not going oh

[1:41:24] we're not there yet number one okay

[1:41:29] uh

[1:41:37] Christopher Martin for uh cph

[1:41:47] hello again uh so in connection with the

[1:41:50] zoning changes in this DIY proposed with

[1:41:53] respect to the bank facilities and

[1:41:55] private clubs and lodges we are also

[1:41:57] proposing an upbeat to the city

[1:41:59] certificate of use process for those

[1:42:02] that are aware of the certificate use

[1:42:04] process is something that most

[1:42:06] businesses many businesses are required

[1:42:07] to go through in the city it's about

[1:42:09] some kind of law environment and it's

[1:42:11] specifically for purposes of ensuring

[1:42:13] that those businesses are operating with

[1:42:15] all those correct approvals if they have

[1:42:16] their their health department permitting

[1:42:18] and their liquor licenses and it's

[1:42:21] specifically geared before

[1:42:22] restaurants

[1:42:24] bars any premise for or alcohol is being

[1:42:27] served on the premise

[1:42:29] convenience stores and second hand

[1:42:32] dealers

[1:42:34] so those businesses all come they make

[1:42:37] an application they support their all of

[1:42:40] their documentation insurance

[1:42:41] requirements and uh they um

[1:42:45] can get a certificate of use with the

[1:42:47] changes especially allowing banquet

[1:42:49] facilities now in all commercial

[1:42:51] districts arguably under the security

[1:42:53] use process any any business that was

[1:42:56] providing food on site or alcohol I'd

[1:43:00] say would already need to require but we

[1:43:01] thought it would make sense to provide

[1:43:03] some clarification and ordinance to make

[1:43:05] sure that the public was very crystal

[1:43:07] clear that those businesses would be

[1:43:09] required so we've added banquet

[1:43:12] facilities to the certificate of use

[1:43:15] chapter for the nuisance ordinance in addition to

[1:43:22] private clubs or lodges while we were

[1:43:26] amending the ordinance we we thought

[1:43:28] that we would also add

[1:43:31] tobacco and cannabis retail and

[1:43:34] consumption lounges as a newer use that

[1:43:38] hasn't previously been contemplated and

[1:43:41] that included modifying a portion of the

[1:43:43] ordinance as cannabis is now illegal and

[1:43:47] our ordinance contemplated that being

[1:43:49] needed so we've made those changes there

[1:43:52] was one recommendation that I did

[1:43:54] receive with respect to the definition

[1:43:55] of the cannabis

[1:43:58] and tobacco construction lounges and

[1:44:00] that was to remove the Anwar language

[1:44:02] and just stage four so it would be

[1:44:04] tobacco or cannabis retail and

[1:44:08] consumption

[1:44:13] [Music]

[1:44:15] okay

[1:44:16] any any questions comments on this

[1:44:22] language

[1:44:31] um because you just can't go over that

[1:44:32] again so I wasn't clear but uh some of

[1:44:34] the feedback I got was that that was

[1:44:35] confusing

[1:44:36] um it might be a little confusing the

[1:44:39] idea was that if you had cannabis and

[1:44:41] tobacco or you were cannabis or tobacco

[1:44:44] that really requires good use but really

[1:44:46] the more capture both okay even if they

[1:44:49] were in one business if they had one or

[1:44:51] the other capture both so it's just a a

[1:44:54] language question and that would include

[1:44:56] game show

[1:44:58] um so vape shops smoke shops cannabis

[1:45:02] retail where cannabis is cannabis Sports

[1:45:05] battle are the primary item being so

[1:45:08] consume documents

[1:45:14] um

[1:45:24] so

[1:45:26] obviously one of the

[1:45:28] businesses that currently the code uh

[1:45:31] anticipates needs to get a certificate to be used as a convenience

[1:45:34] store I've noticed something that we've

[1:45:38] heard of I don't believe that there's

[1:45:39] been a lot of vape shops and smoke shops

[1:45:40] that have been opening and they do not

[1:45:43] necessarily fall within the definition

[1:45:44] of convenience store the way we have it

[1:45:46] defined in The Code by you know

[1:45:51] by including Vape Shops and and smoke

[1:45:55] shops and also these cannabis retail

[1:45:59] consumption locations we are capturing

[1:46:02] those businesses that you know they may

[1:46:05] sell chips right and they may have you

[1:46:09] know beverages but they don't fall

[1:46:10] within the definition of convenience

[1:46:12] store because they don't have the daily

[1:46:15] um you know products that you might find

[1:46:17] in convenience store which is what is

[1:46:18] anticipated in the definition of

[1:46:20] convenience store so part of that you

[1:46:22] know I think is the pro the thought

[1:46:25] process we have and including these

[1:46:28] businesses and certainly they're a

[1:46:30] concern for code enforcement purposes

[1:46:33] and that's one of the um

[1:46:36] requirements after you get a certificate

[1:46:38] of use is that you get a an inspection

[1:46:40] of the premises to make sure that it's

[1:46:41] safe because you're going to have people

[1:46:43] from the public going there and

[1:46:44] potentially staying some time in there

[1:46:48] so that was I think again part of part

[1:46:52] of the thought process in terms of

[1:46:54] banquet facilities and private clubs or

[1:46:56] lodges is Mr Marty indicated we're

[1:47:00] looking to change the zoning code as it

[1:47:01] relates to that this is really

[1:47:04] somewhat similar to you know a food

[1:47:08] establishment when you talk about a

[1:47:09] banquet facility in a private club or

[1:47:11] Lodge and or a bar in a bar is any place

[1:47:14] that serves alcohol so it doesn't mean a

[1:47:17] bar in maybe the sense that we think of

[1:47:19] a bar you know so if you serve alcohol

[1:47:21] you're considered a bar under the code

[1:47:24] so this makes it clearer since we're now

[1:47:27] you know potentially going to allow

[1:47:29] these facilities within the city to make

[1:47:33] sure that it is completely understood

[1:47:35] that they too um are subject to having

[1:47:38] to get a certificate of use

[1:47:43] we got it remember I got it go

[1:47:45] um so what I was curious about is

[1:47:49] how will this affect um existing

[1:47:52] business like will there have to be code

[1:47:54] enforcement going back to businesses

[1:47:55] that are already operating or are they

[1:47:58] what's your sense of businesses that are

[1:48:01] existing out there that don't have the

[1:48:03] certificate

[1:48:05] um you see what I'm saying like so with

[1:48:07] respect to banking facilities and

[1:48:09] private clubs and lodges if they are

[1:48:11] already selling food or have alcohol on

[1:48:14] the premise they would be required to

[1:48:15] have a certificate to use some of the

[1:48:17] current code so even if you're doing

[1:48:18] like a BYOB you still need a liquor

[1:48:20] license and you still need a certificate

[1:48:22] of use from the city that's connected so

[1:48:25] those businesses are already really

[1:48:27] required to get the certificate use

[1:48:30] um there may be obviously we don't have

[1:48:31] any cannabis retail yet so the only

[1:48:34] businesses that may be existing uh are

[1:48:37] the tobacco retail and consumption

[1:48:39] lounges and the vape shops so there are

[1:48:42] many of them throughout the city that do

[1:48:44] not accurately have some pretty uses

[1:48:46] that they were not captured as a

[1:48:48] convenience store

[1:48:50] so how will

[1:48:53] we

[1:48:55] um be getting the word out and this is

[1:48:57] for in public hearing I understand but

[1:48:59] you know getting the word out to those

[1:49:01] existing businesses and then is that a

[1:49:04] code enforcement piece in terms of who's

[1:49:06] going to go out there and okay that's a

[1:49:09] great question the city council has

[1:49:11] changed the code in the past related to

[1:49:13] certificates of use it actually used to

[1:49:15] be that the certificate of use was just

[1:49:18] good you didn't have to renew it now you

[1:49:20] have to renew it annually and

[1:49:22] um in the past what has happened is code

[1:49:24] enforcement has sent out letters to

[1:49:26] businesses saying you need to have a

[1:49:27] certificate of use and they've given

[1:49:29] them a period of time to make sure that

[1:49:31] they are responsive right

[1:49:33] um you know most of those businesses we

[1:49:36] know their retail locations we know how

[1:49:38] to you know send them mail so that they

[1:49:40] actually receive it or would we already

[1:49:42] have something on file because maybe

[1:49:43] they pulled a permit in the past and we

[1:49:44] can send something directly to the

[1:49:46] business owner

[1:49:47] um so we have we do send letters out to

[1:49:51] let them know that's what's happened in

[1:49:52] the past that's what I anticipate will

[1:49:54] happen if the council were to make these

[1:49:56] changes to the code we'd make sure that

[1:49:59] you know because you know the idea here

[1:50:01] is that we're look we're not looking to

[1:50:02] punish anybody for not having it we're

[1:50:04] looking to make sure that people

[1:50:06] actually comply with the law that we

[1:50:08] know that their promises are safe

[1:50:10] um so we want to encourage people to you

[1:50:13] know apply for their certificates views

[1:50:15] provide us with the necessary

[1:50:16] documentation and get the inspections

[1:50:18] Etc

[1:50:19] um so we'll be sending you know when I

[1:50:21] say we it's the city it doesn't it

[1:50:23] hasn't come from the Law Department it

[1:50:24] comes it has come from code enforcement

[1:50:27] in the past yes

[1:50:30] so

[1:50:32] thank you for people so you're seeing

[1:50:34] people who don't right now have a

[1:50:37] certificate to use they will there will

[1:50:39] be an expectation for them to get one

[1:50:41] what were we thinking about a timeline

[1:50:43] for that I'm just thinking about I'm a

[1:50:44] small business and there's things like

[1:50:46] I'm just you know I want to make sure

[1:50:47] that we're being fair and Equitable to

[1:50:49] our small business owners you know I

[1:50:51] can't answer that question what the

[1:50:52] timeline is

[1:50:54] um you know because I don't issue those

[1:50:55] tickets obviously that comes from code

[1:50:57] enforcement I think generally though you

[1:51:00] know um

[1:51:01] there's there's a realistic expectation

[1:51:04] uh you know that people will you know

[1:51:07] comply and um and to be honest in the

[1:51:10] past before anybody's sent to court you

[1:51:13] know for not having a certificate of use

[1:51:15] we make sure that a letter is gone out

[1:51:17] you know that that was a question

[1:51:18] because they get a letter to notify them

[1:51:21] that they need to have a certificate of

[1:51:22] use when they go through the planning

[1:51:25] um through site plan approval process

[1:51:27] one of the things that comes up from

[1:51:28] development is hey you're opening a

[1:51:30] business that's subject to having a

[1:51:32] certificate of use you need to make sure

[1:51:33] you get that before you open up and you

[1:51:36] know usually they're in the past there's

[1:51:37] been some back and forth I know I've had

[1:51:39] correspondence with Mr mudiveran about

[1:51:41] this where somebody doesn't have a

[1:51:43] certificate of use then they apply and

[1:51:45] maybe they don't have all the

[1:51:45] documentation so it's been denied

[1:51:47] they're not being sent to court right

[1:51:49] away right we're working with them to

[1:51:50] make sure that you know they get the

[1:51:52] documentation that they need now there's

[1:51:55] this thing on the other hand with some

[1:51:57] people just kind of ignore the fact that

[1:51:59] the law is you know such where you need

[1:52:01] get a certificate of use and you know we

[1:52:03] try to you know get them to comply

[1:52:04] obviously we can't you know we can lead

[1:52:07] them to water and tell them here's the

[1:52:08] application here's to hear the things

[1:52:09] you have to submit but we can't you know

[1:52:12] force them to submit it so in those

[1:52:13] instances they do get sent to court

[1:52:16] um in terms of you know an actual

[1:52:17] timeline

[1:52:19] I don't have that you know I can't tell

[1:52:21] you I think it's you know we use some

[1:52:23] discretion and we're reasonable

[1:52:26] um you know obviously this is just a

[1:52:27] call for a public hearing and maybe you

[1:52:29] know there's some thought to be flushed

[1:52:31] out if this goes ahead and how we're

[1:52:33] going to you know internally notify

[1:52:36] those business owners to let them know

[1:52:38] that you know if this goes through you

[1:52:40] know if it does go through what we will

[1:52:42] be doing in terms of notifying them

[1:52:45] um

[1:52:46] no I don't think that is something

[1:52:48] that's going to happen overnight where

[1:52:49] all of a sudden you know the council

[1:52:51] passes uh the change to the code and the

[1:52:54] following day if people haven't applied

[1:52:56] they're going to get tickets right I

[1:52:58] think there'll be a notification process

[1:53:00] like there is with renewals

[1:53:02] um to let people know that you know hey

[1:53:05] the code's changed and now you're

[1:53:06] subject to you know this particular

[1:53:09] sexual law that you weren't previously

[1:53:10] you know having to follow and here's

[1:53:15] what you have to do

[1:53:19] more during a public hearing but I do

[1:53:21] think that

[1:53:23] um if we are changing something and we

[1:53:26] know as to what date and effect that change would be in fact I think

[1:53:31] that it wouldn't be too much of an

[1:53:33] expectation to say that if a letter goes

[1:53:36] out on this day

[1:53:38] or you know whoever we send that letter

[1:53:41] out to has this amount of time because I

[1:53:43] appreciate the ability to be flexible

[1:53:47] people I think that's important however

[1:53:48] when we have matters of compliance and

[1:53:51] we use discretion then we open the door

[1:53:54] for inequity so I think that we should

[1:53:56] just really as a say to be paying close

[1:53:58] intention to that

[1:54:00] and certainly if the council was to

[1:54:03] agree to these changes

[1:54:06] um you know you can go with an effective

[1:54:07] date right so potentially you can go

[1:54:09] this is effective 30 days from you know

[1:54:12] passage so that you know during that

[1:54:14] time period Then you know that gives

[1:54:16] code enforcement time to reach out

[1:54:19] um and you know knowing that in 30 days

[1:54:21] this is now going to be an effect and

[1:54:23] you have to be ready to go in 30 days to

[1:54:25] apply and you know for your certificate

[1:54:27] of use and have your paperwork in so

[1:54:29] that you're not out of compliance right

[1:54:33] since there are specific businesses that

[1:54:35] currently do not are going to fall under

[1:54:38] this but don't have it and we know what

[1:54:39] those businesses are are we going to be

[1:54:42] making them aware of at least the call

[1:54:44] for public hearing I don't know how many

[1:54:45] people like read the paper and recognize

[1:54:48] even what this code means and what it

[1:54:50] may mean for them so these particular

[1:54:52] businesses are now going to be impacted

[1:54:55] by this are we going to be sending a

[1:54:56] letter I suggest that to let them know

[1:54:58] that doesn't come from I mean that's

[1:55:00] certainly up to the the council some

[1:55:01] letters to those businesses in the past

[1:55:03] that hasn't come from the Law Department

[1:55:04] businesses or you know certain folks are

[1:55:06] impacted by a change to the code this

[1:55:10] one of those things where you kind of

[1:55:11] just have to pay attention to what's

[1:55:12] going on at the city

[1:55:15] um you know that's certainly that's you

[1:55:17] know city council can you know look at

[1:55:19] some letters out I don't have a listing

[1:55:21] of all those businesses obviously it's

[1:55:23] not something that our office has we

[1:55:24] don't maintain a list of all the vape

[1:55:26] shops or smoke shops in the city of

[1:55:28] Schenectady in my office that is that's

[1:55:32] not to say that you know there is an

[1:55:34] ability to you know identify them maybe

[1:55:37] in another department

[1:55:39] so if they exist and there must be a way

[1:55:41] to if they're doing business in the city

[1:55:42] of Schenectady but there's got to be a

[1:55:43] way for us to identify that their their

[1:55:45] hair and doing business well I think

[1:55:47] part of the process is that this is one

[1:55:49] of the reasons why you know I think also

[1:55:51] we're requiring a certificate of use

[1:55:52] because we may not always be able to

[1:55:54] identify every single smoke shop or vape

[1:55:57] shop if we create a requirement that we

[1:55:58] can then follow up to see if they have

[1:56:00] the certificate of use you know I can

[1:56:02] tell you obviously anecdotally just you

[1:56:04] know being around the city I see a lot

[1:56:05] of smoke shops I don't know you know who

[1:56:07] the owner is I don't know the exact

[1:56:09] address and I certainly could you know

[1:56:11] list every single one because I haven't

[1:56:14] seen them all I just know that there are

[1:56:16] quite a few out there but certainly the

[1:56:19] Law Department doesn't maintain a list

[1:56:21] of those you know smoke shops and vape

[1:56:23] shops I'm sure I can do a Google Search

[1:56:25] right and then figure out where they are

[1:56:27] but there may be another department in

[1:56:29] the city that has that information but

[1:56:30] the Law Department doesn't have that

[1:56:34] well I really think there's a way we

[1:56:36] should be able to tell businesses that

[1:56:37] this is going to happen it's and you

[1:56:39] haven't had to have it before when

[1:56:40] you've opened your business but you have

[1:56:41] to have it now or this is coming or even

[1:56:43] have give them an opportunity to come to

[1:56:45] the public hearing I think that's uh if

[1:56:46] it's if it's not something like you you

[1:56:48] spoke to the other ones already know

[1:56:50] that when they start their business but

[1:56:52] we are considering

[1:56:54] um doing something different to

[1:56:56] businesses that did not need it before

[1:56:57] so I think even making them aware of the

[1:56:59] public hearing if we can figure out a

[1:57:01] mechanism to do that it's important so

[1:57:03] that people won't come and say well I

[1:57:05] didn't know

[1:57:09] so I we I believe we should really try

[1:57:11] to figure that out well we can't come in

[1:57:13] and said they didn't know

[1:57:16] it's very good to work with them this

[1:57:19] need it was new as of whatever day we

[1:57:21] you know if we pass it the person to

[1:57:24] um effect here's the applications to me

[1:57:26] we'll make an appointment with Cole to

[1:57:28] come to make sure your compliance your

[1:57:30] building and hold on it I mean because

[1:57:34] again

[1:57:45] they're not always reading that

[1:57:47] Christmas paper going to the website to

[1:57:50] see what's in it but again so they're

[1:57:52] not compliance to come in here's your

[1:57:54] application will work with you that's

[1:57:56] that which is exactly my point that

[1:57:58] they're not reading they're looking

[1:58:00] every day and paying attention because

[1:58:01] they're running their business so

[1:58:02] therefore we should figure out a way to

[1:58:04] let them know not only does it let them

[1:58:06] know um it gives them an opportunity to

[1:58:08] come to the public hearing and to see it

[1:58:10] because they have to say so I I again

[1:58:12] will reiterate that I we need to if

[1:58:15] these businesses we're changing

[1:58:16] something then it's way different than

[1:58:18] what we're currently doing that we can

[1:58:20] figure out a way I can't imagine it's

[1:58:22] that difficult to make um make these

[1:58:24] businesses aware there's got to be a

[1:58:26] list somewhere

[1:58:28] so the first office worked for us we

[1:58:30] could ask the clerk's office to work

[1:58:32] with the assessor's office to find out

[1:58:34] the businesses and send out a letter

[1:58:37] that works for me

[1:58:40] yes

[1:58:44] so many signs all that other stuff well

[1:58:47] the department with the Department of

[1:58:48] development have any of that information

[1:58:52] we probably don't have a comprehensive

[1:58:54] list because it would just be the ones

[1:58:56] that have come to us for other people's

[1:58:59] so I think probably working between the

[1:59:02] Departments you could come up with

[1:59:04] something but we don't have a

[1:59:06] comprehensive like I wouldn't want to

[1:59:07] include some and not other and I would

[1:59:10] want to make sure that we did it

[1:59:11] comprehensively obviously so

[1:59:14] um working with the clerk's office I

[1:59:15] would ask that we come up with a

[1:59:17] comprehensive list so they can know

[1:59:19] about this I think it's important

[1:59:22] and not when after it's all said and

[1:59:24] done they didn't give a chance to give

[1:59:25] their input and now it's said and done

[1:59:27] because others or and maybe sometimes no

[1:59:29] one comes in public hearings so this is

[1:59:31] impacting people's business itself

[1:59:35] oh man clarification yeah specifically

[1:59:39] are you are you looking for us to make

[1:59:42] an attempt to notice the businesses that

[1:59:43] already aren't covered so this is

[1:59:45] specifically just the tobacco uh retail

[1:59:49] and consumption because this is a change

[1:59:51] for them is that correct that would be a

[1:59:53] change for them anybody else had already

[1:59:54] had food or alcohol

[1:59:56] right only the ones and this is a change

[1:59:59] for them so they're aware that the

[2:00:01] others already knew that in all our

[2:00:03] spirits

[2:00:06] well

[2:00:07] we'll support you as much as we can but

[2:00:09] I just want to make sure that we're

[2:00:10] trying to be as Fair as we possibly can

[2:00:12] to our business owners we're making

[2:00:13] changes

[2:00:15] quick question so um

[2:00:19] under the code right now as a new system

[2:00:22] we think about like places like uh kind

[2:00:24] of like a convenience store like this

[2:00:26] like our Cumberland Farms stores they

[2:00:28] all fall under that right now

[2:00:31] correct yeah

[2:00:34] beginning was around stations

[2:00:45] any other questions any other thoughts

[2:00:48] on that

[2:00:52] um

[2:00:52] because I'll make a motion for a call

[2:00:55] for public hearing

[2:00:57] someone second all's in favor

[2:01:00] aye okay

[2:01:02] thank you thank you though

[2:01:09] okay so next on our agenda uh there's a

[2:01:13] civilian police review board uh mayor

[2:01:16] McCarthy

[2:01:17] thank you Mr chairman the police

[2:01:19] Community review board is made up of uh

[2:01:22] individuals recommended by different

[2:01:23] entities within the city uh spect United

[2:01:28] neighborhoods is set in the name of

[2:01:31] DeSoto it was a primary member in Ms

[2:01:35] Isaacs is an alternative

[2:01:38] to you and us for your favorable

[2:01:40] consideration

[2:01:46] any further discussion thoughts on that

[2:01:52] I'll accept emotion I'll move it second

[2:01:55] all those in favor all right thank you

[2:02:01] okay so the next on our agenda

[2:02:04] there's a discussion around the Clean

[2:02:06] Slate act uh council member Williams

[2:02:09] thank you so this is definitely a very

[2:02:12] uh Progressive topic please simply put

[2:02:15] his uh

[2:02:16] racially objectivity Public Safety but

[2:02:19] most important it's an economic Justice

[2:02:21] Bill we have a few speakers and

[2:02:23] attendance tonight I'll call up shortly

[2:02:25] by just providing some background Clean

[2:02:27] Slate act which is past the New York

[2:02:29] State Senate I do have the bill numbers

[2:02:31] it's currently sitting in the assembly

[2:02:33] will automatically seal conviction

[2:02:35] records now I feel part of the issue

[2:02:37] with that is understanding what records

[2:02:39] are sealable so quickly three years for

[2:02:42] misdemeanors and seven years for

[2:02:44] felonies it allows individuals to move

[2:02:46] on and fully return to this Society so

[2:02:48] part of the issue that I think is at

[2:02:51] hand is the effects of covid and they

[2:02:53] are long lasting and to none of which

[2:02:56] are more notable than unemployment and

[2:02:59] lack of affordable safe housing

[2:03:01] so partly that this community of

[2:03:04] individuals with convictions the stigma

[2:03:07] commonly associated with a person having

[2:03:10] such is that it places them at a

[2:03:13] tremendous disadvantage absentee

[2:03:15] considerations for time served and

[2:03:17] continue conduct so this bill simply put

[2:03:21] eliminates barriers to stable employment

[2:03:24] and housing which are foundational

[2:03:26] pillars of any successful household that

[2:03:29] is not an arduable that's a fact so

[2:03:31] taking the necessary steps to align our

[2:03:33] community with other municipalities that

[2:03:35] have joined these efforts seeks to

[2:03:37] bolster our community so we continue to

[2:03:40] talk about a new Schenectady and I wish

[2:03:42] Mr Gold was still present and how we can

[2:03:45] take active steps to ensure that these

[2:03:47] individuals who have served their time

[2:03:50] who have continued to put forth the best

[2:03:53] efforts

[2:03:55] making sure that these types of

[2:03:58] penalties are not long lasting or

[2:04:00] Perpetual punishments that place them at

[2:04:02] a continued lose-lose situation so I

[2:04:05] think it's an appropriate time and I

[2:04:07] want to make sure I get their bios

[2:04:09] correct I would like to ask Trent refers

[2:04:12] to come up

[2:04:14] yeah

[2:04:17] who is the founder of tech Valley

[2:04:19] Hospitality shuttle in 2016 to improve

[2:04:22] the accessibility of food medicine and

[2:04:25] employment opportunities in or around

[2:04:27] the

[2:04:28] amaround the Catalan District in New

[2:04:30] York today the shuttle service also

[2:04:32] provides transportation to more than 50

[2:04:34] hotels including those owned by Marriott

[2:04:37] Hilton and weddings and clients include

[2:04:41] Starbucks and FedEx and I'll have the

[2:04:44] discretion of council president

[2:04:45] Portugues wanted to highlight the

[2:04:47] automatic ceiling I'm just going to read

[2:04:49] verbatim from an information packet that

[2:04:51] we received from misdemeanors it's three

[2:04:53] years for sentencing excluding in time

[2:04:55] spent incarcerated and for felonies it's

[2:04:58] seven years from some same excluding any

[2:05:00] time spent incarcerated and also the

[2:05:02] person that's eligible for this are

[2:05:04] those that have completed their jail

[2:05:05] time prison time that have completed

[2:05:07] probation and paroles the convictions to

[2:05:12] be cleared is not

[2:05:13] uh excludes as sexual offenses and then

[2:05:17] they must have not accrued subsequent

[2:05:20] New York State convictions or any

[2:05:22] pending charges during our wait period

[2:05:24] so Trent I appreciate you being here

[2:05:25] just provide some life experience around

[2:05:28] how

[2:05:29] well a good evening everybody how you

[2:05:32] doing uh my name is Trenton Griffin bro

[2:05:34] like what I said I'll operate Tech

[2:05:36] Valley show I also have another business

[2:05:38] GB Logistics

[2:05:40] um I'm my business is I bring third and

[2:05:44] fifth as biopox Citizens in the capital

[2:05:46] Region's largest by a box so together if

[2:05:49] you put my businesses together I

[2:05:51] probably am the biggest African-American

[2:05:53] employer in the capital region match

[2:05:56] that with my organization Tech Valley

[2:05:58] show this year was just nominated

[2:06:00] actually the first black owned business

[2:06:02] to ever be nominated by the Albany

[2:06:04] Business Review as one of the best

[2:06:06] places to work give you a little

[2:06:08] historical data like that from pouring

[2:06:10] about 100 people Fleet of Route 50

[2:06:12] vehicles at this time

[2:06:14] um but at one point I was identified as

[2:06:18] o5a1273 that was my dig number in 2004

[2:06:22] 2005 when I went Upstate to prison for a

[2:06:25] four to 12 year prison sentence for a

[2:06:28] important narcotic sales

[2:06:30] um I say this is all relevant because

[2:06:34] one I had to go through so many barriers

[2:06:38] upon release I was continually told no

[2:06:40] or not given jobs

[2:06:42] um I was I actually couldn't go back to

[2:06:45] college immediately because I wasn't

[2:06:46] able for like eligible for certain

[2:06:48] grants and things of that nature

[2:06:51] um at the time my wife now was living in

[2:06:54] housing but housing wouldn't let me stay

[2:06:56] with her because of I was a convicted

[2:06:58] felon so I literally have lived through

[2:07:01] the effects of what this bill is going

[2:07:04] to be able to help others not have to go

[2:07:06] through and I think that's very

[2:07:08] important because as I started with

[2:07:11] um being someone who now operates some

[2:07:14] of the largest uh back-owned businesses

[2:07:16] in the area best places to work

[2:07:17] highlighting forms Bloomsburg

[2:07:21] um you know just has a lot of positive

[2:07:23] things going on

[2:07:25] um

[2:07:27] I I'm one of the very few who are able

[2:07:32] to come out and redefine their lives in

[2:07:34] their way because of the barriers but I

[2:07:36] do believe in my heart if some of these

[2:07:38] barriers were immune you would see a lot

[2:07:40] more success stories just like that and

[2:07:43] additionally on top of understanding the

[2:07:46] effects from our business I'm gonna put

[2:07:48] my business cap on now and all we hear

[2:07:51] about is the great resignation how

[2:07:53] employers are struggling to find

[2:07:55] employees at this time but my

[2:07:57] organization actually through our driven

[2:07:58] to work program we help employees we

[2:08:01] have helped employers find employees and

[2:08:04] the big portion of these employees are

[2:08:07] individuals who were formally

[2:08:08] incarcerated so I know for a fact that

[2:08:11] there's many local businesses of Mr

[2:08:15] golub who was Justin here I know golovum

[2:08:17] employs a lot of individuals who come

[2:08:19] home from incarceration

[2:08:21] um and a lot of other major Employers in

[2:08:23] the area do the same and so a bill like

[2:08:26] this is in my opinion and no greater

[2:08:28] being someone who's actually lived

[2:08:30] through it but on top of that the

[2:08:32] economic effects that I have on this

[2:08:34] region actually on the whole state is is

[2:08:37] also makes it a no-brainer in my mind

[2:08:39] you have over 30 000 people incarcerated

[2:08:42] in jail right now prisoners and dogs

[2:08:43] right now

[2:08:45] facts show that 95 of people who are

[2:08:47] incarcerated are going to be released so

[2:08:50] you have merely 28 27 000 people who are

[2:08:53] going to be released back into the

[2:08:55] community and it also see we also see

[2:08:58] that recidivism breaks about half of the

[2:09:00] people will go back to jail but would it

[2:09:02] feel like this I can almost guarantee

[2:09:04] that you will see that number go from

[2:09:07] half to probably half of that percentage

[2:09:09] as well half of the barriers if you

[2:09:11] can't find employment most people are

[2:09:15] going to be stuck doing things that they

[2:09:17] probably shouldn't be doing and a lot of

[2:09:19] times you can't find employment because

[2:09:21] you're being punished for something that

[2:09:23] you already serve time for so again a

[2:09:26] bill like this is absolutely a

[2:09:28] no-brainer in my opinion from from a

[2:09:30] business standpoint from my business hat

[2:09:32] on as well as from the fact that I

[2:09:34] actually have lived through the effects

[2:09:36] of what this bill is hoping to change

[2:09:42] Thomas questions

[2:09:46] so at this time I'd like to bring the

[2:09:50] president uh invite Carmel Griffin who

[2:09:52] was born and raised in Schenectady New

[2:09:54] York Carvel is the father of Ford will

[2:09:55] be known in the future as the father of

[2:09:57] investing his investment philosophy his

[2:10:00] minimal debt buy and hold while buying

[2:10:02] within the same Community as you grew up

[2:10:04] in over video new city council everybody

[2:10:07] else my name is Carver from formerly

[2:10:10] known as

[2:10:12] 1101-3052 now the difference between me

[2:10:15] and his journey is I was a federal

[2:10:18] prison so when you go to federal prison

[2:10:21] you don't have the same barriers the

[2:10:23] state prison when you're released so

[2:10:25] when I was releasing I wanted to get a

[2:10:27] job I didn't have that same period of

[2:10:31] somebody telling me no so my

[2:10:33] mother-in-law she worked at momentum

[2:10:35] performance material at the center of

[2:10:36] Waterford

[2:10:37] and she told me to come over here you're

[2:10:40] gonna have to take a test I took a test

[2:10:43] I passed it it was a math test passed

[2:10:45] the math test I went to the interview

[2:10:47] and the best thing about the interview

[2:10:49] was I got some face time like this

[2:10:52] because if you look at me

[2:10:55] I don't look like nothing I'm just at

[2:10:59] 113052 with no charges that were drug

[2:11:03] charges right so when I got that

[2:11:05] FaceTime it was in front of five

[2:11:07] separate people they actually decided to

[2:11:09] hire me

[2:11:10] so I got hired when I got hired I go

[2:11:13] into a building that was outside the

[2:11:15] chemical plant it was more manufacturing

[2:11:17] and my mother has been in that building

[2:11:19] 30 years so she walked me in there and

[2:11:21] she showed me what to do and everything

[2:11:24] there was test driven it wasn't what

[2:11:29] your knowledge was about anything if you

[2:11:31] could pass that test if we trained you pass that test you'll move up so I

[2:11:37] ended up moving up I ended up playing

[2:11:39] chess over there and I went into the

[2:11:42] chemical plant but when I got into the

[2:11:44] chemical plant it was a little more

[2:11:45] different it was more no nobody looked

[2:11:48] like me really I was in the building

[2:11:49] with 50 people and I worked in methadone

[2:11:52] and Salat times and uh sulfuric acid if

[2:11:56] you know the black rail cars that you

[2:11:57] see run around I unloaded them into

[2:11:59] asylums and stuff like that I checked

[2:12:01] with a lot of temperatures things of

[2:12:03] that nature so it won't super sure I get

[2:12:06] into this building and I'm in the

[2:12:08] building I'm doing well right

[2:12:10] and somebody starts to research me they they figure out some way that

[2:12:15] they've researched me so now they had a

[2:12:18] meeting about me being in the building

[2:12:21] was I danger we had sulfuric acid we had

[2:12:25] methanol we have chloride so

[2:12:29] it was just an awkward position and one

[2:12:32] person actually stepped up for me I was

[2:12:34] on my shift and he ended up having the

[2:12:35] same birthday as me the same bill maybe

[2:12:37] so he trained the hell out of me like

[2:12:40] when I say when everybody else was

[2:12:43] sleeping on that third shift he had me

[2:12:46] up making sure I was going to be

[2:12:48] successful

[2:12:49] and it it just was it it was Monumental

[2:12:54] it was somewhere that I'm looking at I'm

[2:12:55] like there's nobody in these places that

[2:12:58] look like you know anybody that was

[2:13:00] working there was action that looked

[2:13:02] like me nine times out of ten was the

[2:13:04] janitors working for I forgot the

[2:13:07] company but I'm sitting here at night

[2:13:10] time making forty dollars an hour and

[2:13:11] I'm sleepy

[2:13:12] we are sleep next to computers as long

[2:13:15] as nothing's going wrong in this

[2:13:16] chemical plant

[2:13:18] you sleep you're making money everybody

[2:13:20] in there is making seventy to a hundred

[2:13:22] thousand dollars doing literally nothing

[2:13:25] and I couldn't believe it I'm like are

[2:13:27] you serious all I gotta do is show up

[2:13:29] here so long story short me inclining

[2:13:33] trying to get to the next level

[2:13:40] so one week was three to eleven you'll

[2:13:43] be off the weekend then you work 11-7

[2:13:46] for seven days and you worked seven and

[2:13:48] three so when you're working with

[2:13:49] somebody in this place excuse my

[2:13:51] language I slept okay and pooped

[2:13:53] everything everything happened there we

[2:13:55] had a kitchen workout everything is like the fire like a fire company if you

[2:14:01] do everything man so it was my time to

[2:14:04] uh some test came and you could pass

[2:14:06] tests you can move on so I didn't know

[2:14:09] it I didn't know the information but I

[2:14:12] knew I could pass the test

[2:14:13] at any time of them it took the test I

[2:14:16] passed the test I went to another ship I

[2:14:19] had nobody to hover over you on that

[2:14:21] other ship

[2:14:23] that should the person that I took his

[2:14:26] job basically he was my trainer I took

[2:14:30] his job because he didn't take the test

[2:14:32] but I did take the test so they moved me

[2:14:36] in his position and his job was to train

[2:14:39] me and he would lose his extra five

[2:14:42] dollars an hour because what happens is five people on the ship if one person

[2:14:47] doesn't come in the low man on the

[2:14:50] bottom which is me I have less seniority

[2:14:51] I automatically make an extra five

[2:14:53] dollars an hour you have 60 days you

[2:14:56] have 90 days you have 120 days that you

[2:14:59] don't come to work because you've been

[2:15:01] there before it's time vacation so

[2:15:03] automatically I'm making twenty to

[2:15:05] thirty thousand dollars extra I was

[2:15:07] going to be able to have that once I

[2:15:10] moved into that but I couldn't get

[2:15:12] that when I moved into that shift

[2:15:13] because there was some opposition people

[2:15:16] gaining up on them knowing that I didn't

[2:15:18] know the job

[2:15:19] and it was just it just didn't work out

[2:15:21] but needless to say during that time I

[2:15:25] stayed in my 401k they matched five

[2:15:28] percent I put 15 into my 401k I saved my

[2:15:31] 401k after taxes they usually tell you

[2:15:34] to say the pool okay before taxes

[2:15:36] whatever it is you save some money you

[2:15:38] know you're not saving much money it's

[2:15:40] fifty dollars a hundred dollars you know

[2:15:41] I see but long story short when it was

[2:15:44] time for me to Exit momentum on a

[2:15:46] positive note and I seen my time wasn't

[2:15:48] going to be here anymore I took my 401k

[2:15:51] and I invested in the housing I invested

[2:15:53] in Schenectady so I own multiple

[2:15:55] properties commercial property in

[2:15:57] Schenectady right now so I'm saying that

[2:16:00] to say the foundation for anybody coming

[2:16:03] home from prison or any of these

[2:16:05] situations you need you need a

[2:16:07] foundation it's like a house if you

[2:16:09] start building it on something that has

[2:16:11] a bad Foundation eventually it's going

[2:16:13] to crack it's gonna fall so having this

[2:16:17] clean sleep act and just Savage somebody

[2:16:19] to have sex time to say hey I'm this I'm

[2:16:22] not this piece of paper and it's seven

[2:16:24] years that's a long time though

[2:16:28] to be doing something correctly

[2:16:30] especially coming from a situation in

[2:16:32] the environment that Savage come from we

[2:16:34] haven't had uh we just haven't had the

[2:16:36] same opportunity because I know I know

[2:16:38] why it happened

[2:16:39] you know with a lot of people that look

[2:16:41] like you know don't look like me just

[2:16:42] coming from that environment need this

[2:16:44] right here it's a it's it's the case of

[2:16:47] somebody when everybody's trying to

[2:16:49] survive you're going to do something

[2:16:51] when you're trying to survive but if

[2:16:53] you're already living you got to have it

[2:16:55] so you can make certain different

[2:16:56] decisions you you can actually make a

[2:16:59] decision you were not making people that

[2:17:01] are surviving aren't making decisions

[2:17:03] whatever they did they didn't make that

[2:17:05] decision they just walked and the

[2:17:07] decision was kind of made formed from

[2:17:09] the environment that they came to me but

[2:17:11] when you're able to live have somewhere

[2:17:13] to go and have a job you can equal to me

[2:17:16] a decision a formal decision

[2:17:19] that's all I have to say thank you for

[2:17:21] listening

[2:17:23] thank you

[2:17:25] all right so thank you to both those

[2:17:27] individuals who by all accounts are

[2:17:29] success stories I understand that um

[2:17:32] conviction there are certain

[2:17:33] expectations to make sure that you can

[2:17:35] return the proper way and these

[2:17:37] individuals have done so and have

[2:17:38] highlighted The Continuous issues that

[2:17:40] they experience after having served

[2:17:42] their time and continue to do certain

[2:17:45] actions thereafter it's safe to under

[2:17:48] it's important to understand that there

[2:17:50] is currently a ceiling process that's

[2:17:53] available to individuals with

[2:17:55] convictions however it is implemented by

[2:17:57] less than one percent of individuals

[2:17:58] with convictions which causes you to

[2:18:01] pause and then asks what is the

[2:18:03] effectiveness of said legislation if it

[2:18:06] is in itself a barrier to these

[2:18:08] individuals returning to society so I

[2:18:11] see the automatic ceiling process as a

[2:18:13] way to again remove some of those

[2:18:15] barriers being intentional with our

[2:18:17] language there are multiple quotes one

[2:18:20] of which I wanted to read verbatim

[2:18:22] because all too often the consequences

[2:18:24] of criminal record last for life which

[2:18:26] can mean Decades of diminished job

[2:18:28] opportunities so I had a very thoughtful

[2:18:30] conversation with one of our Civic

[2:18:32] leaders in the city and we talked about

[2:18:34] how we have this Arbor funding which is

[2:18:36] very limited in nature if you understand

[2:18:38] this is a one-time use

[2:18:41] this platform but it's this is an

[2:18:44] intentional opportunity to remove these consequences or or frustrations or difficult Natures for these

[2:18:51] individuals to provide continuous

[2:18:54] economic gains for our community you

[2:18:56] know we're building and growing within

[2:18:59] so I'm excited to hear from the other

[2:19:02] council members and this is a bill

[2:19:03] that's received countless support from

[2:19:05] all different individuals partially

[2:19:08] Business Leaders and one of the more

[2:19:10] prominent individuals to join this

[2:19:12] conversation is JP Morgan out of the

[2:19:14] conversations that I've had throughout

[2:19:15] the city I've heard nothing but but

[2:19:18] positive feedback and if we were to

[2:19:21] proceed look forward to identifying

[2:19:22] those those organizations at a later

[2:19:24] date

[2:19:26] any thoughts and further conversation on

[2:19:28] this

[2:19:30] okay

[2:19:31] um I did I don't think this is part of

[2:19:32] this but I did want to point out that

[2:19:34] the New York State Business Council also

[2:19:36] supports this Sports clean slate and for

[2:19:39] the same reason because employers are

[2:19:41] having problems finding

[2:19:43] um employees and so from a business

[2:19:46] perspective from an economic perspective

[2:19:47] makes sense so it's not just I know

[2:19:50] sometimes people look at this type of

[2:19:52] legislation and think it's only like

[2:19:54] perhaps grass or Grassroots

[2:19:55] organizations or people who are impacted

[2:19:58] by it but not necessarily it's based on

[2:20:01] what it can do and how it can impact

[2:20:03] people economically and in their lives

[2:20:07] going forward and so that there isn't

[2:20:08] that recidivism rate which has been

[2:20:11] spoken to there are other organizations

[2:20:13] recognize all of that and say okay then

[2:20:15] you know we're willing to take this and

[2:20:17] so the New York State Business Council

[2:20:19] is one of those organizations and as

[2:20:21] we're considering it um I I think that

[2:20:23] all council members when you have the

[2:20:25] opportunity to where it says learn more

[2:20:27] at the bottom of the handout that was

[2:20:29] provided to all of you that that you can

[2:20:30] take the time to to do that and to look

[2:20:32] at it and for us to consider you know

[2:20:35] how we can also support this because it

[2:20:38] doesn't just impact communities around

[2:20:39] us it also impacts our community because

[2:20:42] anyone who's released from incarceration

[2:20:44] is returned to the community from which

[2:20:46] they were incarcerated so that means if

[2:20:49] they were incarcerated from Schenectady

[2:20:50] that's where they release them too so

[2:20:53] um just wanted to say that I I think it

[2:20:56] makes sense and it's you know about

[2:20:57] economic Justice and you know we talked

[2:21:00] about housing and how people can't

[2:21:01] afford housing so this impacts

[2:21:05] a a number of things

[2:21:09] yeah I guess I would just add that I I

[2:21:12] share uh the same kind of settlements as

[2:21:14] Trent you know that I think it's it's a

[2:21:16] no-brainer I think that the

[2:21:19] um as it's written there are uh certain

[2:21:22] considerations and protect the factors

[2:21:24] that one you know might jump out to

[2:21:26] anyone to say like you know what about

[2:21:27] you know someone who was convicted you

[2:21:30] know of a sexual crime against a child

[2:21:33] or something like that I think that um

[2:21:36] you know those type of things will are

[2:21:38] clear and things that you know has a

[2:21:40] concern a Community member might pop

[2:21:43] into your head you know you know what

[2:21:45] are their protective factors for someone

[2:21:46] in those um circumstances in in

[2:21:50] and it's plainly written that someone

[2:21:52] um and that and set circumstance really

[2:21:53] wouldn't be eligible for this I just you

[2:21:57] know it's kind of sad that you know we

[2:21:59] are where we are in a society that we

[2:22:01] have to you know convince people of the

[2:22:04] humanity of others and providing them

[2:22:07] access and opportunity not to a handout

[2:22:10] not even necessarily a hand up it's

[2:22:13] really allowing them to to put their

[2:22:15] hand in and contribute to society and I

[2:22:18] think that um you know

[2:22:20] it's not lost on me that as

[2:22:24] so much work has went into this and I

[2:22:27] appreciate the uh you got sharing um you

[2:22:30] know your personal stories and and I

[2:22:33] would definitely consider you guys

[2:22:34] exceptional people

[2:22:36] um but we can't govern for the exception

[2:22:39] right you know we have to make sure that

[2:22:41] we're governing that uh in ways that

[2:22:44] give everyone the opportunity and

[2:22:46] someone shouldn't have to be as Dynamic

[2:22:49] and as brilliant as as maybe the

[2:22:51] gentleman that were here before us

[2:22:53] um it could be a regular old Joe like

[2:22:55] myself but have an opportunity

[2:22:57] um to uh contribute to society and I

[2:23:00] know that that not only does that

[2:23:02] increase protective factors but

[2:23:03] obviously there's an economic argument that um is pretty clear in a

[2:23:08] diminishing job market faced with

[2:23:11] inflation and so on so there's so many

[2:23:13] other reasons that we should just

[2:23:15] support this but if for nothing else

[2:23:17] that it just makes pretty plain common

[2:23:21] sense to do so so I but I'm almost

[2:23:23] troubled by the fact that

[2:23:26] we're we're just getting here to to

[2:23:28] support something like that that's

[2:23:29] probably my biggest issue with it so

[2:23:31] it's an absolute over here for myself I

[2:23:33] welcome any other comments or questions

[2:23:35] on this

[2:23:41] um so three years

[2:23:48] and seven years what happens in the

[2:23:50] three years you're still billed as

[2:23:54] I'm sorry you're still building us you

[2:23:57] know just getting out of prison you're

[2:23:58] still built as a number of employers

[2:24:02] um people who you work at the department

[2:24:03] from they all still can have that

[2:24:05] information is that correct

[2:24:07] until you yeah until you've completed

[2:24:11] that that time frame yes right right

[2:24:16] to me it doesn't make a lot of sense

[2:24:20] um you know for them getting out they

[2:24:23] want to get out and get moving

[2:24:26] um so I'm wondering where the three

[2:24:27] years and the seven years come from

[2:24:30] you know what I'm trying to say

[2:24:32] right so just it's three years from

[2:24:35] sentencing not not from release

[2:24:39] um three years from sentencing

[2:24:42] not including not including the time

[2:24:44] spent in jail though right

[2:24:47] excluding any time excluding any time

[2:24:50] it's holding any time of course right

[2:24:55] I'll just share today

[2:24:58] it will trigger after a person's

[2:25:00] finished confirmation right so after

[2:25:03] time serve often being probation and

[2:25:06] parole then the three years is active

[2:25:09] misdemeanor seven years

[2:25:14] so then I mean so we're looking at

[2:25:16] someone can return to the community have

[2:25:18] some post supervision parole or

[2:25:20] something like that for maybe a couple

[2:25:21] years

[2:25:23] and then the cloud starts I'm going to

[2:25:26] stay successfully completed that which

[2:25:28] is again I think made me if I understand

[2:25:31] what you're saying here

[2:25:32] what are they doing in the meantime

[2:25:35] they still played three or seven years

[2:25:37] yeah yeah that's one of the records are

[2:25:39] sealed I think that's just the

[2:25:40] clarifying point right that's right

[2:25:42] that's what you want to do yeah

[2:25:45] so

[2:25:47] enough there's still a felony

[2:25:50] misdemeanor but they still have that tag

[2:25:52] with them

[2:25:55] and that's after completing

[2:25:57] post-supervision whatever that is so

[2:25:58] it's extremely unfortunate that again I

[2:26:00] think that this is something that we're

[2:26:02] not even scratching the surface as to

[2:26:04] where we we need to be um but uh

[2:26:06] [Music]

[2:26:07] we are here present program

[2:26:11] so are you are you saying what happens

[2:26:13] in the time well they're no no one's

[2:26:15] just

[2:26:20] after three or seven years

[2:26:22] [Music]

[2:26:23] you know I'm just thinking you know me

[2:26:26] as a as an employer or as a landlord or

[2:26:29] something

[2:26:30] um you know I would want to know

[2:26:33] who I was renting to who I was employing

[2:26:36] and within that three to seven years if

[2:26:38] you come then I'm obviously no oh okay

[2:26:48] sorry saying like you support this or

[2:26:52] are you saying I'm just saying three to

[2:26:54] seven here I mean you're already

[2:26:57] you're out

[2:26:58] just hope you're not waiting three years

[2:27:00] to look for a job or an apartment but

[2:27:03] you already

[2:27:06] yeah I think what this is getting at is

[2:27:09] that when you get out you gotta you know

[2:27:12] provide for yourself and for your family

[2:27:13] so in order to be a productive member of

[2:27:15] society you likely go on a job search

[2:27:17] and in that three years or that seven

[2:27:20] years

[2:27:22] um after completing your sentence and

[2:27:24] whatever Pro supervision you're still

[2:27:27] less competitive than someone

[2:27:32] um than others even after kind of

[2:27:34] serving it's equality or the appointment

[2:27:36] that we're able to get isn't the same

[2:27:39] quality as somebody else basically it's

[2:27:42] like we're we're just surviving we're

[2:27:45] scratching instead of having an

[2:27:46] opportunity to ask somebody else has

[2:27:48] that doesn't have the same situation of

[2:27:51] course and I think it comes back to

[2:27:53] FaceTime because when you're just

[2:27:54] looking at these pieces of the paper

[2:27:55] even when you see my name cardo

[2:27:57] it's not John

[2:27:59] there's a difference

[2:28:01] [Music]

[2:28:03] no I know I think that you know that highlights you know that we know

[2:28:07] that when we look at our incarcerated uh

[2:28:12] people in our society right now we are

[2:28:15] black and brown people are

[2:28:17] disproportionately

[2:28:19] um impacted uh and there's been a lot of

[2:28:22] um work around you know

[2:28:24] some some reform and things like that so

[2:28:27] I think like as we know that that's the

[2:28:28] direction that we're heading and then

[2:28:30] you know we have to not be afraid to uh

[2:28:33] talk about the fact that uh this

[2:28:36] disproportionately impacts already

[2:28:37] marginalized communities and creates

[2:28:39] conditions in which people are

[2:28:42] far more likely to have less

[2:28:44] opportunities meaning that they have

[2:28:46] less opportunities to to support

[2:28:49] themselves or family increasing the

[2:28:50] likelihood of someone choosing a

[2:28:54] different path so if we want if we want

[2:28:57] people to stay home and be productive

[2:28:58] members of society we want to be after

[2:29:00] they've already paid their debt to

[2:29:02] society we want to be doing everything

[2:29:04] in our power to increase access for them

[2:29:07] to have a job and it's a safe place to

[2:29:09] live and not just can't believe we're

[2:29:11] still trying to figure that out that was

[2:29:13] a yeah anyone else gotta talk about that

[2:29:20] oh Johnson with regards to the Bill's

[2:29:24] delay in the assembly do you know the

[2:29:26] reason why the bill is being delayed are

[2:29:29] put on hold

[2:29:31] uh I can't talk to that I know it was

[2:29:34] currently sitting in a committee as of

[2:29:37] May of this year hopefully with a new

[2:29:39] cycle as of January and looking to get

[2:29:42] more support for municipalities

[2:29:43] highlighting this as an issue that they

[2:29:46] would like to see progress forward this

[2:29:47] is part of the reason why cities

[2:29:49] throughout New York State have been

[2:29:50] joining into this they're not going to

[2:29:52] say fight but into this discussion about

[2:29:55] how this is economically feasible and it

[2:29:58] also taking demands of Mr Farley's voice

[2:30:01] from himself it is something that's been

[2:30:03] earned already so as miss the total

[2:30:05] highlight yes three years and seven

[2:30:07] years respectively is a long time

[2:30:09] comparatively speaking there's nothing

[2:30:11] currently available right now so if it's

[2:30:14] better than the alternative

[2:30:19] I think

[2:30:21] you probably know that there's not a lot

[2:30:23] of them you know this isn't something

[2:30:24] that is like partisan you get a lot of

[2:30:26] bipartisan support around this for

[2:30:29] different reasons and there's uh you

[2:30:32] know lots of organizations and agencies

[2:30:33] that

[2:30:34] um are traditionally uh pretty

[2:30:37] conservative and

[2:30:39] um I have really uh been uh vocal

[2:30:42] supporters of this because it makes

[2:30:44] sense you know it is an economic sense

[2:30:47] here too and I again I hope that we

[2:30:49] don't have to appeal to the uh economics

[2:30:53] in order for people to see the value in

[2:30:55] this because we're talking about human

[2:30:56] lives but if we need to go to that level

[2:30:58] it's there as well it's pretty sad so I

[2:31:01] never thought so they're just looking

[2:31:04] for a support resolution

[2:31:06] towards the assembly Honda Center to

[2:31:09] resolution I want to be dispatchable she

[2:31:12] would say I probably recommend a

[2:31:14] statement support to where it's

[2:31:15] currently still needed at so it's safe

[2:31:17] to be assimilate but one to bring it

[2:31:19] back uh in two weeks for uh

[2:31:22] discussion but at this point I just

[2:31:24] wanted to kind of approach the topic see

[2:31:27] that there are any opinions or comments

[2:31:29] or concerns

[2:31:30] trying to do all the content as a

[2:31:33] conservative cursive

[2:31:34] and then bring it back to us

[2:31:37] president program okay so um there was

[2:31:39] also and I'll share this article with

[2:31:41] everyone there's a there was a panel and

[2:31:44] they're talking about how things like

[2:31:46] act will address the workforce so as Mr

[2:31:49] Williams has said for us to just take a

[2:31:51] look at the information that's provided

[2:31:53] for us visit this website formulate any

[2:31:55] other questions we have and also to I

[2:31:58] would forward this and also about the

[2:32:00] New York State Business Council just so

[2:32:02] we have all the information in making an

[2:32:05] informed decision as as

[2:32:08] in terms of whether we think it proven

[2:32:10] to support this particular piece of

[2:32:12] legislation so so I'll forward that and

[2:32:15] any other information that I have so

[2:32:17] that you'll have all the information

[2:32:18] today we talked about the power of

[2:32:21] language and how language matters and I guess I have another issue with this

[2:32:25] besides the fact that we have the

[2:32:26] convincing people um it's also like kind

[2:32:28] of the language I think clean sleep

[2:32:30] doesn't really capture it because it's

[2:32:32] almost as if we're wiping away you know

[2:32:36] someone's deep but that's not what we're

[2:32:38] doing here they've already they've

[2:32:40] provided us as prep that maybe we should

[2:32:42] have knives talk to them about coming up

[2:32:44] with a better

[2:32:47] Billboards are not at that but really

[2:32:49] clean sleep is kind of suggestive of

[2:32:51] something that this doesn't represent

[2:32:53] this is this is after someone has

[2:32:55] already paid their debt to society

[2:32:57] um uh in full and then there's some time

[2:33:01] after that you know so again this isn't

[2:33:04] uh wiping anyone sleep clean if anything

[2:33:07] it's just really

[2:33:08] it's a community benefit that we can get

[2:33:11] a more qualified robust Workforce going

[2:33:13] so

[2:33:14] okay so we'll look to bring that back in

[2:33:16] a couple weeks and talk discuss it

[2:33:17] further after the council has had

[2:33:20] time to research it

[2:33:23] like the entertainment motion surgery

[2:33:26] seconds

[2:33:37] vacation

[2:33:41] [Music]

[2:33:47] oh we just adjourned the California

Schenectady City Council Committee Meeting, December 19, 2022

Transcript