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[1:24] thank you
[1:56] foreign
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[3:28] thank you
[3:40] 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