foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
thank you
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
thank you
[Music]
foreign
thank you
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
foreign
thank you
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
thank you
foreign
[Music]
did you
she mad at me
Rose texted me is John drinking and I
texted him
we go
okay
is that like for court yeah okay
I'd like to call the city council the
city Caucus meeting to order for Monday
April 24th 2023
we have three public hearings this
evening if the clerk could please read
public hearing number one abandonment of
a portion of Amelia Street
public hearing number two abandonment of
a portion of Larch Street and public
hearing number three
amending section 248-18 of this
Schenectady city code to designate
Fuller street from South Church Street
to South Ferry Street on one-way Street
we have nine items for original
consideration if the clerk would please
read item number one item number one for
final consideration an ordinance to
enact chapter 265 of the code of the
city of Schenectady discussed in
committee with objection on consent item
number two item number two for original
consideration
a resolution amending the 2022-2023 HUD
annual action plan to reallocate funds
from the paving line item to the Park's
Improvement line item discussing
committee with an objection on consent
item number three item number three for
original consideration a resolution
authorized in the city to enter into an
agreement with New York state division
of Criminal Justice to secure give grant
funding for the non-fatal shooting
initiative discussed in committee
without objection and on consent item
number four item number four for
original consideration a resolution
allocating 36 600 of cdbg funds to the
2023 tree planting collaborative and
authorizing the mayor to enter into an
agreement with Community fathers
Incorporated to manage the program the
discussed in committee with the
objection on consent item number five for original
consideration a resolution recognizing
Asian American and Pacific Islander
Heritage Month
this item will be taken out of order and
presented by council member Williams
item number six item number six for
original consideration a resolution
recognizing just in our chairs
this item also will be taken out of
order and
um oh I'm sorry yes and also and also by
councilmember Williams
item number seven item number seven for
original consideration a resolution
recognizing judge Robert Hoffman this
item will be taken out of order and
it'll be my pleasure to be able to
present this resolution item number
eight item number eight for original
consideration a resolution recognizing
Jay a brown this item will be taken out
of consideration out of order and
presented by council member Farley item
number nine item number nine under
contract and Supply a resolution
awarding the bid and contract for
improvement to Hillhurst and Fairview
Parks base bid and add alternate number
two to Carver Construction Incorporated
into the amount of 436 395 dollars
discussed and committee with objection
and consent
if there's nothing more to come before
the city council caucus I asked for a
motion to adjourn
moved by Miss Patrick second by Mr
Williams all in favor
we are adjourned I'd like to call the
coordinate city council meeting for
Monday April 24th 2023.
and I'd like to call on rev konicky for
the prayer and invocation
to love grantedly carrying out our
duties and obligations we may hold love
before all else may our commitment to
the common good be a reflection of that
love may our personal convictions never
outpace obscure or run over the Dignity
of our neighbor give us your Abundant
Blessings this evening and always amen thank you brothers and sisters
would like to take a moment of silence
in honor of Bill masucci who hurled
Schenectady Little League into the 1954
Little League World Series in 2004 Mr
masucci was inducted into the
Schenectady City School District
athletic Hall of Fame and he passed very
recently so a moment of silence please
thank you thank you I'd like to call on
Greg Hoffman to lead us in the pledge
Allegiance
thank you
if the clerk of please complete the Roll
Call
Mr motiveran President Mr Toro here Mr
Farley here Mr Williams
Miss Patrick Mr palamini Mrs Porterfield
president
at this time we'd like to present the
resolution to judge Robert Hoffman and I
would ask councilman Council majority
leader mutavaran to please assume the
chair
foreign
I'd like to invite judge Hoffman and his
family to join me behind the rail
s
how are you good evening
may I have the floor yes you have the
floor thank you I'd like to offer this
resolution recognizing The Honorable
Robert Hoffman and his service at city
court judge whereas honorable Robert
Hoffman was raised in Schenectady and
you graduated from Bishop Gibbons High
School in 1970. he married his high
school sweetheart Catherine Woods a
graduate of schenectadys Linton and
whereas judge Hoffman returned to
Schenectady in 1979 after completing
college at Niagara University and law
school at Stetson University College of
Law in Florida
and whereas judge Hoffman began his
legal career in Schenectady working for
three law firms before opening the
Hoffman law firm in 1992 which became
Hoffman and Nevada ski
close enough okay pllc in 2007. he
developed a successful practice
specializing in what he called happy law
focusing on real estate and real estate
planning for over 15 years and whereas
judge Hoffman a respected member of the
local legal Community served as
president of the Schenectady County Bar
Association as was the recipient of the
lawyer in service to the community award
in 2013. and whereas just judge Hoffman
served on the Schenectady County
Legislature from 2011 to 2014 where he
was involved in the creation of and
served as chairperson for the
Schenectady County land bank before his
election to the Schenectady City Court
which he took when he took the bench in
2015.
and whereas as a Schenectady City Court
Judge The Honorable Robert Hoffman
served fairly and compassionately to all
parties who appeared before him he is
very proud of his work and the
alternative treatment program and even
returned to City Court last week to
witness the announced completion of the
program by a person who he diverted to the alternative
program
and whereas away from judicial duties
judge Hoffman was known to many in the
city as coach due to his longtime
involvement in Youth Sports in the city
having coached many children all of his
all three of his sons in the Schenectady
Basketball Club he co-founded Partners
from the Schenectady Basketball Club
teams he coached went on to become the
backbone of Schenectady High School's
1998 and 20 in 2001 state championship
teams and whereas judge Hoffman has
always had a love for the outdoors in
1993 he completed all 46 of the
Adirondack high peaks with his family
congratulations
his Pursuit Contin continues as he nears
completion of the Northeast 111 in
addition judge Hoffman was instrumental
in founding the not-for-profit
Schenectady disc golf club from now disc
cap bringing disc golf to Schenectady
Central Park and fostering the growth of
the sport in the Capital District
and whereas judge Hoffman is also a
sports fanatic as many city court staff
can attest judge Hoffman is especially
passionate about basketball and baseball
particularly for the Yankees
if asked he would certainly provide an
update on how all of his fantasy sports
teams were performing
and whereas of all judge Hoffman's great
achievements
none stand greater than his family
he is the proud grandfather of seven
five granddaughters and two grandsons
and he will spend his well-earned
retirement enjoying watching them pursue
and achieve their goals
now therefore be resolved that the Mayor
Gary R McCarthy and the Schenectady city
council do hereby pause in our
deliberations to honor and to celebrate
the honorable Judge Robert Hoffman for
the compassion dedication and care for
the city of Schenectady that he has
demonstrated over the past 40 years as a
valued fixture in the city of
Schenectady as an attorney a coach a
legislator and a judge I'd like to move
the resolution may have a second
all in favor hi congratulations
resolution is passed
okay wow that was all in there
um well um
being a judge for the city was probably
the crowning glory for my career I
couldn't have thought of a better way
for me to combine everything that I had
done and serve the city so it was it was
a great honor I miss it I miss the
people
um don't miss some of the stuff but you
know what goes on in this building every
day is important and we took it to heart
and you know we love everybody in the
city we love everybody who came from out
of the city the county and you know the
city court staff is wonderful a lot of
people work with them every day you know what goes on here and they were
so great you know when I was in private
practice I had one or two employees here
I had 32 people and I never got a phone
call so that was a pretty good pretty
good career I was pretty well protected
and uh it was just my honor and a real
pleasure and I the only thing that
wasn't in here was that when I was in
college and
during the Summers I was worked for the
city of Schenectady in the garbage truck
so this is kind of a fitting Circle
comes around as I finish my career in
the city as well so Marion thank you so
much thank you for the kind words
whoever wrote this I have a suspicion
who had their hand in this but it I I
appreciate the accolades I appreciate it
everything that we do we do for the city
and for our family
thank you
[Applause]
the next resolution is for recognizing
Justin chairs
at this time I'd like to invite Justin
shares and his family up to the podium
may have the floor you may
at this time I have the honor of
presenting a resolution recognizing
Justin our chairs whereas just in our
chairs was born September 22nd 1990 in
Schenectady New York as one of five
children to John Senior and Desiree
chairs
he was raised in Schenectady New York
where he graduated from Schenectady High
School Hudson Valley Community College
with an associate's degree
Hartwick College with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Grand Canyon University with a
master's degree and whereas Justin is a
member of the Eastern Parkway United
Methodist Church formally sat on the
commission for religion and race team
leader youth group New York conference
UMC youth leader the altabari court
number 28 youth group mentor of the
Albany reading program volunteer at the
Sikkim lunch summer lunch youth program
and coached Schenectady Youth Basketball
in Beaumont Pop Warner and whereas
currently Justin is illustrious
potentate
of al-jabari Temple number 121 located
in Albany New York whose membership
consists of residents from Albany
Schenectady and Troy
the altavari temple is part of the
ancient Egyptian Arabic order Nobles
Mystic Shrine of North and South America
and its jurisdictions which is primarily
a benevolent charitable and fraternal
organization its membership is dedicated
to the principle of fostering Civic
economic and educational development
programs throughout the world
senior Warden of Tuscan Lounge number 85
of the Schenectady New York and whereas
Justin is an educator throughout the
Capital District currently working in
Niskayuna school district and previously
worked as a union representative of
school-related professionals through
nysit Justin is the loving son and
brother father of an amazing
four-year-old and stepfather to three
young adults and a law-abiding citizen
he received a unanimous vote to now sit
on the New York State Board of Directors
for Citizens actions in New York vice
president of the noble ECP chair of
Public Safety and forever advocate of
young students and their families was a
dedicated young member of Albany Street
United Methodist Church he is a
confirmed Catholic at the Sacred Heart
Saint Columbus Saint Anthony and whereas
as a community Mentor teacher and small
business operator Justin continues to be
a leader and role model for our use now
therefore be resolved that the
Schenectady city council and Mayor Gary
R McCarthy do hereby pause in their
deliberations to recognize Justin Arch
shares is continued contributions and
dedicated service to our community the
shrine them and Prince Hall free masonry
I'd like to move this resolution
may I have a second
membership Aaron all those in favor
aye
congratulations
[Applause]
thank you so much I appreciate it Mr
Williams moving forward and present this
to me it means a lot to me
um
so I did a lot so far I think I don't
know I got a lot more work to do though
but I appreciate the opportunity to
continue to do good work in our
community you know I always ask that
people continue to push me forward and
that my my church family continues to
pray for me so I have the strength to do
the good work that I have so it's been a
blessing to be able to be the the
youngest illustrious potentate in the
Northeast right now and continue to push
forward with the charitable work we have
the share we're sponsoring the youth
auxiliary to go down for competition in
Tampa and in Louisiana next year as well
as supporting a young man who was in a
recent accident out in Troy my
charitable ball went to donating some to
his medical funds as he recovers now at
Albany Med so there's just so much that
I want to continue to do I want to
continue to represent our elders and my
veterans and my children to the best of
my ability I will promise I'll always be
an advocate but I just want to take a
moment to give a special thank you to um
first off a wonderful Congressman Paul
tonko who is just an outstanding man
holds um you know no no ill will towards
anyone ever no matter what and shows his
true character always he was able to
make it to my event uh give me a
proclamation from the United States
Congress on behalf and said some
wonderful words about me which just
shows what kind of person he is through
our history of those that know and I
also want to give a big thank you to our
Madam president who came with wonderful
words for me you know I was a I was
mildly discouraged our mayor wasn't
going to be able to make it and I know
you know our council is running around I
know Madam president is running like
crazy and she walked through the door
with a big smile amazing hug for me told
me how proud she was of me as she always
does for so many in our community and it
just it helped make my night so I want
to thank you madam president for showing
up for this you know historic moment in
my life and the career for Shrine them
so thank you so much and as always thank
you Mr Williams for once again
presenting this to me I appreciate you
sir
[Applause]
our next out of order resolution will be
a resolution recognized in
Asian-American Heritage Month
so those that are here to receive a
resolution please come forward
and I would ask councilmember Williams
to present this resolution
come on over
you may have the floor you may sir
I have the privilege of presenting the
resolution recognizing Asian American
and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
whereas Asian American and Pacific
Islander Heritage Month
takes place in the United States each
May and was permanently designated aapi
Heritage Month in 1992 and whereas the
month of May was chosen for aapi
heritage month because it commemorates
the immigration of the first Japanese
people to United States on May 7 1843
and whereas the 2023 National theme for
the officer and not observance of Asian
American native Hawaiian and Pacific
Islander heritage month is advancing
leaders through opportunity this year's
theme is a continuation of the advancing
leaders theme series which began in 2021
and whereas opportunity is defined as a
set of circumstances that make it
possible to do something opportunity can
be built it can be assessed it can be
achieved or can be given it has been the
foundation of our great nation and thus
America is known to be the land of
opportunity each year thousands of
immigrants from all over the world come
to the United States to gain access to
these opportunities no matter who you
are capable ones must lend a hand to
those in need and provide an opportunity
for them to advance as well and whereas
the Asian Pacific Islander American
public affairs Association which has a
capital region chapter is a
not-for-profit organization with over 40
chapters Across the Nation
the mission of the organization is to
advance Asian Pacific Islander
communities through increased leadership
and Civic engagement
representing one of the fastest growing
populations in the United States apapa
collaborates with other diverse
organizations public officials and
Community leaders to create awareness
and support the fight hate crimes
address systemic racism and provide
opportunities for our Collective voices
to be heard and whereas during Asian
American and Pacific Islander heritage
month we proudly celebrate Asians and
Pacific Islanders and the United States
and pay tribute to the generations who
have enriched and strengthened our
nation the U.S is home to millions of
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
representing a diverse array of cultures
and traditions now therefore be it
resolved that the Schenectady city
council and Mayor Gary R McCarthy do
hereby pausing their deliberations to
recognize Asian American and Pacific
Islander heritage month and celebrate
the unique Journey for all aapi
immigrants and citizens in the United
States and their unique life experiences
Traditions cultures and contributions to
the local community and our country I'd
like to move the resolution I'd like a
second please second by Mr mood of Aaron
all those in favor
aye congratulations
I would like to share some words
okay here we want to post with that yeah
well thank you thank you to the city
council and um
Madam president for recognizing the API
month in John muthware in our long-term
friend and John up there thank you all
um so as a growing Community as you
rightly said we are the fastest growing
community and we feel this comes with a
lot of responsibility as well not just
growing in numbers but growing with some
responsibility
we are empowering our Asian communities
through these 40 chapters and especially
in the capital region with the Civic
engagement and most of our new
immigrants doesn't know how the system
works in the country so we are trying to
engage them into the ruling system as
they become the citizens and you know
that's one of our foremost things to
kind of become you know get them to
become a voter and then participate in
the system so as we have a flagship
program we engage our youth the the
college graduates or the high school
graduates Into Summer internship program
and some of our proud interns work for
state and city as permanent employees
now so over the years we have achieved
you know probably uh 50 to 60 of these
uh in the last five years
um they've they've got their permanent
jobs so that that gives us satisfaction
and thanks to all our leaders from
various communities you know we have the representation from Indian Pakistani
Chinese Korean Afghani and
indo-caribbean Japanese and you know 15
countries in the capital region but we
are growing and thank you all for your
support if there is anything the Asian
Community can do in the city or in the
county
we're all here thank you
[Applause]
okay so tonight's a night of
celebrations we have one more uh
ceremonial resolution recognizing Jia Brown and I'd
like to call on council member Farley to
present the resolution
thank you
come on up
Madam president may I have the floor
yeah okay let's get ready to rumble I'm
joking okay
so uh um I have the honor
um to present uh Mr Johnny Brown with
this resolution
um whereas the city of Schenectady takes
pride in this residence to exhibit who
exhibit outstanding achievements and
serve as ambassadors of Goodwill for our
city and whereas Johnny Brown and young
boxing Talent from Schenectady has
achieved great success in his sport with
a record of 13-1 he's fought in Madison
Square Garden and was recently uh
featured in Showtime Showbox and whereas
Jai Brown has not only excelled in the
ring but has also demonstrated a
positive attitude a strong character
that have entered earned him the respect
and admiration of the community and
whereas yai Brown has become a Goodwill
Ambassador for the city of Schenectady
representing our community with pride
distinction in his travels and
interactions with other boxers and
boxing fans now now therefore be
resolved that the city of the city
council and Mayor Gary R McCarthy do by
hair pause and their deliberations to
recognize and commend
around for his outstanding boxing record
his appearances his prestigious venues
such as Madison Square Garden showtime
and Showbox and his contributions as a
Goodwill Ambassador of our city and
outstanding Community member I want to
say that Jay Brown represents the
resilience in the fighting heart that it
takes to be somebody and stand up and
for the city and I'm just always always
you know want to just show our
dedication our appreciation for your
dedication
um you embody the spirit of those who
come before us we stand on the shoulders
of giants they didn't always know if
they were going to win the fights but
they always went in there and fought for
people such as you and I in our larger
community so I'm extremely grateful for
a young man so with that like the
hunters to you
I would like I would like to move the
resolution may I have a second please
Mrs Patrick all those in favor
congratulations motion path
I just want to thank you I want to thank
uh the whole city everybody who came
today I want to thank you guys
um I've been through a lot and it's not
about just staying on the ground it's
about how you get up how you come back
and I'm ready to come back stronger and
I'm ready to put on for Schenectady and
I just want to show everybody including
the kids that uh if you if you picked to
work in anything's possible I just want
to thank God again
[Applause]
thank you
okay so now we have three public
hearings this evening
and remind you that we've extended the
public hearing comment for to four
minutes and I also respectfully ask that
any person that wishes to speak on the
Public Public comment period during the
public comment period only speak to the
subject relevant to the public hearing number one abandonment of
Amelia Street
I have no one signed up
so I would declare that public hearing
closed
public hearing number two abandonment in
the portion of large Street
I have no one signed up to speak so I
declared that public that hearing closed
public hearing number three amending
section 248-18
of the Schenectady city code to
designate Fuller street from South
Church Street to South Ferry Street a
one-way Street I have no one signed up
to speak so I declare that public
hearing close
it asks for approval of the minutes from
April 10 2023
moved by Mr Williams second by Mr Farley
all those in favor
aye if the clerk would please read any
Communications and petitions
vacations presented to city council for
Monday April 24 2023 under official
there were none under General from PD
Voris an email addressing the
difficulties she's faced with a court
decision to evict her from her apartment
and under petitions there were none
thank you I'd like to call on council
members to provide any committee reports
seeing none this time they will offer
privilege of the floor related to the
legislative agenda
I have no one signed up to speak so I
declare
and your name is Sir
okay you're signed up under City
business
this is the legislative agenda anything
that's on the agenda that's printed is
what I'm calling on right now there will
be one more opportunity and that's where
you've signed up
[Music]
yes and your opportunity will come this
is regarding the legislative agenda the
printed that's here and these are the
topics that people have the opportunity
to speak on at this moment
so I have no one signed up to speak so I
would declare the public comment on the
legislative agenda closed
as for approval of the legislative
consent agenda motion by Ms Patrick
second by Mr mood of Aaron all in favor
at this time we have privileged over the
floor regarding General City business
and I have four people who are signed up
to speak the first person is
uh laven Jr Edmund Lavin Jr
good evening chair chairwoman
Porterfield and mayor McCarthy council
members
chairwoman Porterfield I owe you an
apology for the way I spoke to you at
the last council meeting I'm sorry I was
not aware that this was like a court and
there cannot be a dialogue
after the meeting last meeting Tuesday I
called the mayor's office sent an email
requesting a meeting Thursday I called
again Friday I went in person
secretary said mayor is not responsible
for judges judge works for unified court
system is not under mayor's payroll
mayor is responsible for the false
arrest of Daniel the man that did the
video of Me on YouTube New York State
audit
Daniel has harassed by a court guard and
then office was closed to him when he
went to file for an intention of Sue
Daniel was falsely arrested for knocking
on Plexiglas this was during working
hours
Daniel is also not employed by the mayor is going to do nothing about
my complaint even though a federal law
has been broken
and is unconcerned about the three
corrupt judges working in City Hall I am
claiming that three judges in the court
clerk's office under orders from the
judges conspiracy bribed me of my civil
rights to due process and a fair hearing
and giving proof the case number is
sc-002853-19 SC
all of you I'm sure have access to court
files this is a color of law violation
I want valetico Frost and Hoffman
charged with conspiracy to deprive you
on my civil rights to due process in a
fair area
I was pulled into court
with no Affidavit of service
no judge can act on any motion without
Affidavit of service I called the
clerk's office
they asked what the name was not the
court case number
valentique will never expected me to
come to court and was going to give her
a default judgment
I did come to court he vacated my
judgment the same day 9 10 11 days
before the herring
she can't get back in court without
having the reason a valid reason she
didn't appear for the first Harry
none was asked of her none was given
I believe Mr Hoffman Judge Hoffman uh
vacated either my first or second motion
to reinstate my
default judgment
so there's a conspiracy between three
judges in the city clerk's office the
city clerk's office was told what to do
I just want to read civil rights laws
taking away the person's right of due
process and unreasonable seizure
in case of depration of property the
color of law statute would be violated
by unlawfully obtaining or maintaining a
person's property which oversteps or
misapplies the official's authority
summary judgment
opportunity to have a trial and should
not be subjected to punishment without
having been afforded the opportunity of
the legal process
I'm going to have to ask you to
summarize because your time has expired
I'm going to have to ask you to
summarize because your time is up
just wanted to say everyone here on the
council
deprivation of rights under color of law
this statute makes it a crime for any
person actor under cultural law statute
ordinance regulation accustomed to
willfully deprived or cause to be
deprived for many person those rights
privileges or immunity secured protected
by the Constitution and laws of the
United States
acts under color of law
you have to summarize we really your
time is over I've given you I've
extended the time I got two sentences that's it go ahead X
unlawful acts must be done while such
official is purporting or pretending to
act in a performance of his or her or
official duties this definition includes
in addition to law enforcement officials
individuals such as Mayors Council
persons judges
thank you are responsible for turning these
judges in
I'll be here tomorrow to put my intent
to sue thank you you forgot your sign
foreign
Mary McLean
good evening tonight I want to address
an issue that I have mentioned on many
occasions while attending Council
meetings over the past 40 years
the issue is as relevant today as it was
in the past
and the issue is litter
Schenectady
is a dirty City
neither the mayor or the previous
City officials
made cleanliness
a priority
to my knowledge
sweeping
litter from the city's streets
isn't even a line item in the sanitation
workers union contract
furthermore
businesses are encouraged to open shop
in the city
and they are not obligated to keep their
properties clean
on April 1st a friend drove me to church
for the four o'clock mass at St John the
Evangelist
we went by way of Albany Street
the street was filthy
it was filthy last year
it was filthy in 2011 when the present
council president won her first City
Council seat
from what I have been reading in the
newspapers
litter
a fruit a litter-free city is not a
priority for the new city council
members
they ran with a chip on their shoulders
in a Personal Agenda and if you can't
stand the heat get out of the kitchen
I also read that there was a Renaissance
in Schenectady how so
and something about a new Schenectady
where
I suggest council members bend over
and pick up cigarette butts off the city
streets like I used to do it's good for
the waistline it's good for the city
folks you can't go to the ball with a
dirty face thank you thank you
Tracy Collins
foreign
my name is Tracy Collins I live on the
corner of Queen Philomena Boulevard in
King's Road in the city
my house was built in 2006 by the
company I worked for
it was as a rental I was a property
manager there until 2019 when my wife
and I built bought the house
we have had our trees destroyed
our fence has been just damaged multiple
times
our sprinkler system's been damaged
our siding has been damaged
our gas meter has been hit by flying
debris prompt and National Grid to
investigate our house could have been
blown up
this is caused by speeding Vehicles up
and down Kings Road
King's Road you can take directly The
Colony without having to take State
Street which has traffic lights
and terrarium without going on Route 7
which has traffic lights going up and
down Kings Road you can go as fast as
you want
the city police department mayor's
office has informed us there's nothing
they can nothing not enough enforcement
they can do to monitor speed they're
speeding in all the city
how many houses have been damaged seven
times involving a truck
being damaged in my driveway by speeding
on Kings Road
there are multiple children seniors
staff and I keep from Kingsway community
and nursing home that walked the
neighborhood every day
the seniors are sometimes pushed in
wheelchairs and Walkers by AIDS
we are asking for stop signs on Kings
Road to slow this traffic down
I will use Council Road as an example
between Route 7 and ball Town Road
since we have been told that there will
be no enforcement of the speed limit we
are asking for stop signs we need to slow traffic down
March 16 2023 at 3 46 A.M
was the latest our house our property
was damaged by a coward and yes I'll say
a coward who ran from the scene but left
his vehicle behind
please get copies of the action report
there are two of them and come to see
our property we have done everything we
can to protect our family and ourselves
this is not enough we need stop signs on
Kings Road please help us thank you
Kevin Brown
good evening my name is Kevin Brown
I live across the street from my
neighbor my friend Tracy
he and I share the same concern
my wife and I have been in our house on
the corner of Queen Philomena and Kings
for 27 years used to be quiet Street
hardly any traffic
I'd say in the past year and a half two
years I've seen more traffic accidents
and more near-misses than
that makes me comfortable
I implore you as Tracy had we need some
help up there you know as Tracy
mentioned you know the police said they
can't do a lot they can't enforce these
issues that concerns me Our concern is
what is it going to take to get
somebody's attention a fatality my own
son and granddaughter almost got run
over in front of my own house this was
less than a month ago this really
concerns me so I implore you I'm asking
you please get us some help up there get
us some stop sign please enforce get the
police to enforce the traffic the
traffic rules up there because it's
getting a little out of hand so that's
what I wanted to say thank you thank you
um my understanding there's a gentleman
here who didn't know about signing the
paper in the blue shirt that wanted to
speak so if you could come forward and
please tell us your name you have three
minutes
this first time coming here so I
apologize okay and your name is my name
is Robert witowski I'm the son of
Charlene Peak I'm representing her and
my neighbor James Turley
go ahead
this is it involves the the Amelia paper
Street I grew up in the neighborhood I
was born in 1970 so I've been in
Schenectady my whole most of my life my
mom lived in a
the home that is right on the paper
street
she was raised there she still is there
she's in her 70s
they moved in around 1953. my
grandfather worked with the city on
maintaining the Amelia paper Street
with clearing the trees bringing in dirt
putting down grass seed doing a lot of
you know yard maintenance and my my
mother and uh
and my uncles and my aunts were taking
care of the yard for many years and then
we took over the yard and we're
maintaining it for the many years my mom
wrote a letter to the city I'd like to
read it
um
and it says that I have lived in this
house since 1953 I was three when my
family moved in back then the lot next
to my house had many trees on it my dad
asked the city about the lot and freeze
they told my dad they were going to
build a road
and cut the trees down my dad my
grandfather helped the city take the
trees down but they never built a road
so my dad started Mowing and fertilizing
the yard and I remember bringing a
little girl and my dad would be
putting my hands on the push lawnmower
we had and we would push it with with me
hanging on I guess that's what she said
when my parents divorced in 1958 us kids
mowed the lawn and kept it up one one by
one my siblings left and my mother moved
in with my brother so I was left to take
over the house and also the lot
I never stopped we were talking about 67
years that we have been dealing with
this paper Street
the city plows come by and they leave
this big pile of snow because the city
goes up Amelia Street and Rotterdam goes
up Amelia Street so there's this big
pile of snow every year for 70 years in
front of that driveway
just last winter I I snow blowed it out
we've been maintaining that yard for
many years in essence we feel like
that's been our yard right but it's been
a city yard right
um
we've played basketball and baseball
there with with all the kids in the
neighborhood and
it would have been nice if the city
developed this paper Street and we had
the the garage that was situated in such
a way to have access to the paper street
but it never happened
we have a neighbor in the back James
Turley who moved in and he started
bringing his
um his boat through the paper Street and
putting ruts in the yard and my mom was
really upset with him
and told him he came over and gave her
flowers and apologized and spent
thousands of dollars to take down a tree
so that he can bring his boat out the
other way
we have other neighbors that aren't so
considerate of the yard and are still
putting ruts in it so I asked that you
know we closed the paper Street and uh
and we let the neighbors um buy those
parcels
thank you all right thank you
okay so I have no one else signed up to
speak so I declared the public comment
for um City business closed
at this time I asked for miscellaneous
business of the council
councilmember Williams
as always I'd like to thank everyone
that came out and spoke as definitely
your opportunity to vocalize your
concerns to us as a council and to the
mayor mayor's office as well I'd like to
get into my announcements I first would
like to say we received an announcement
from the office of cannabis management
letting us know that as recent
regulation changes with regards to the
Cannabis industry throughout the New
York State have changed they are asking
us to promote some other educational
material as to why you should buy legal
and it's definitely their way of
discussing and identifying additional
benefits to buying regulated cannabis
products so there's recently opening of
dispensaries throughout New York state
if you would like more information about
this campaign the why buy legal New York
campaign please visit their Department
website on New York State
second we talk about transparency and a
lot of that is just giving access to
information which is why I'd like to
identify that the Schenectady County
Sheriff's Department is now recruiting
candidates for an update for an upcoming
correctional officer exam the salary is
between 41 000 and 63 000 and you're
applying deadline is May 8 2023 and the
exam date to test is June 24th 2023. the
requirement for this job opportunity is
only having a high school diploma or GED
and you must pass a fitness test as well
as having a valid New York state
driver's license if you need more
information about this please I would
recommend either going down or looking
online or you can actually send me an
email to provide you more information on
that as well an additional job
opportunity is the Schenectady job
training agency and career center is now
hiring job coaches for The Summer Youth
Employment Program if interested please
email your resume to Schenectady
sjta at DFA Dot state.ny.us
and then my last announcement is um we
received a notice from one of our local
community activists staying that with
the passing of our local law amending
the vaping the inclusion of vaping and
cannabis use and the smoke-free and free
of city parks uh you doing this and
identifying that promoting health and
wellness and these recreational areas is
important and that as we all enjoy the
outdoors with the warming of the weather
please do so with the understanding that
it is a shared space that is all my
announcements thank you thank you
Miss Patrick
hello everyone I'd like to First say
that I just wanted to thank all the
volunteers throughout the city that came
out on Saturday Earth Day to do various
neighborhood cleanups
um we you know it was really fantastic
to see so many people out and especially
a lot of young people that came out to
help the volunteers
um along the lines of sustainability I
also am thrilled that the 62 electric
golf carts that we approved are at the
golf course the golf course is off and
running and so I hope that folks will
enjoy those carts and our beautiful golf
course for the rest of the season I want
to congratulate the folks that are going
to be honored on Wednesday evening this
week for the Schenectady City School
District's Educational Foundation dinner
including I have to say I have to put in
a plug for our rotary President Nick
Clay is one of the folks that's getting
one of those Awards along with other
folks and so congratulations to them all
I want to announce that the friends of
the Schenectady County public libraries
spring book sale is May 6th and 7th you
can get great deals on all sorts of
books and especially the children's
books are just fantastic deals so I hope
folks will come out for that I think
they still need some volunteers as well
and then finally I wanted to thank the
folks that put together our fair housing
luncheon which was April 14th it was
just an amazing event where there were
educational opportunities for realtors
and developers and you know Advocates
from the non-profit organizations that
work on Fair Housing to come together
and learn together it was just a great
day so I just wanted to show my
appreciation for that as well thank you
no one else
for coming out tonight to voicing
whatever your concerns are and we always
want to hear what our public is thinking
about
um we heard we heard we had some
celebrations tonight and we heard some
things about things we need to do better
so it's good to have a balance and Miss
Patrick just talked about a lot of
things that have happened throughout the
city that we have to celebrate and I
also want to congratulate the YWCA and
palette for the opening of their stride
program there at 508 State Street I went
to the opening it was very nice and
there were the women that will be served
there are just really excited about the
opportunity to be empowered and to
what's near and dear to my heart is that
they also have a clothing closet there
so that women can be prepared to go out
to work once they uh once they get the
um the training that they're going
through and also there's a group called
mission accomplished I want to
congratulate them as well for just
graduating a cohort of students who will
be going on to college and they're
operating out of the seat Center so our
young people are doing things in
Schenectady so I just want to
congratulate them all and so once again
thank you all for coming out tonight and
thank you thank you council members and
this
um time I'd ask for a motion to adjourn
all those in favor
aye we're adjourned thank you have a
good night
foreign