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[14:24] tonight

[14:33] good evening

[14:35] before the start of the meeting I'd like

[14:37] to turn the floor over to Mayor McCarthy

[14:39] for the firefighters promotional

[14:41] ceremony mayor McCarthy

[14:56] thank you madam president

[14:59] Chief Marino

[15:20] foreign

[15:47] good evening everybody

[15:57] I would like to thank

[15:59] the city council president Miriam

[16:01] Porterfield

[16:02] all the members of the city council and

[16:05] mayor McCarthy to have the opportunity

[16:08] to celebrate the promotion of two of the

[16:11] fire department's newest officers

[16:16] although tonight is a celebration of two

[16:18] individuals moving up the ranks

[16:20] it is much more than that

[16:23] tonight is a glimpse into the future

[16:26] as the fire department transitions to a

[16:29] younger Department we will have more of

[16:31] these ceremonies

[16:33] the firefighters who have learned from

[16:35] our seasoned officers will move up

[16:38] they will be held to a high standard as

[16:41] every member of the department is

[16:43] they will work they will work diligently

[16:46] every day to earn the trust of those

[16:48] they work with and those they serve

[16:52] our fire department is steeped in many

[16:55] traditions

[16:57] the tradition that all other Traditions

[16:59] are derived from is this

[17:01] the tradition of Excellence in everything we do each day

[17:08] I am confident that Captain Davis and

[17:11] Lieutenant Wayan will continue to be the

[17:14] best officers possible

[17:16] they will continue to hold up the values

[17:18] of the fire department and continue to

[17:21] serve the citizens of our community

[17:24] as I stated earlier

[17:26] tonight is a glimpse into the future

[17:29] a future we can all be confident in

[17:36] Captain Tom Wayne you want to come up

[17:38] please

[17:40] foreign

[17:51] lieutenant John Wayne

[17:53] 13-year veteran of the Schenectady Fire

[17:55] Department

[17:56] appointed to the department January 25th

[17:59] 2010.

[18:01] Lieutenant Wayne attended the New York

[18:03] State Fire Academy in Utica New York

[18:05] where he received his professional

[18:07] firefighter certification

[18:10] he received his paramedic certification

[18:12] from the State University of New York at

[18:15] Cobleskill

[18:16] Lieutenant Wayne has received two

[18:18] certificates of accommodation from the

[18:21] Schenectady Fire Department

[18:23] he has served on the Executive Board of

[18:25] the Schenectady permanent firefighters

[18:27] Association and currently serves on the

[18:30] executive board for the Schenectady fire

[18:32] parties Union Local 28.

[18:35] Lieutenant Wayne is assigned to rescue

[18:37] one on the first platoon protecting the

[18:40] Hamilton Hill Neighborhood and the

[18:42] downtown district

[18:43] Lieutenant way and is married to his

[18:45] wife Amanda together they have a son

[18:47] Chase robber

[18:50] Lieutenant Wayne is a fifth generation

[18:52] firefighter his father Tom Wayan is a

[18:56] retired captain from the Scotia fire

[18:57] department with over 20 years of service

[19:01] Captain Wayne will pin his son this

[19:03] evening

[19:10] 108 just two seconds

[19:15] I'm going to raise your right hand and

[19:17] swear after me I State your full name

[19:21] do solemnly swear that I will support

[19:26] and uphold the Constitution of the

[19:28] United States

[19:31] and that I will support and uphold

[19:37] the constitution of the state of New

[19:39] York

[19:41] and the charter and the laws of the city

[19:43] of Schenectady

[19:47] in that I will Faithfully discharge the

[19:49] duties

[19:51] as a lieutenant

[19:54] in and for the city of Schenectady

[19:58] to the best of my ability so help me God

[20:00] to the best of my bills

[20:03] congratulations

[20:04] [Applause]

[20:19] congratulations

[20:36] Will Lauren come up please

[20:53] Captain Brendan Davis is a 13-year

[20:56] veteran of Schenectady Fire Department

[20:59] appointed to the department March 14

[21:01] 2010.

[21:03] Captain Davis attended New York State

[21:05] Fire Academy in Utica New York where he

[21:07] achieved his professional firefighter

[21:09] certification

[21:12] he has an associate's degree from Hudson

[21:14] Valley Community College in paramedicine

[21:17] he was promoted to the rank of

[21:19] Lieutenant December 5th 2016.

[21:22] Captain Davis received a certificate of

[21:25] recognition as a telecommunications

[21:27] specialist

[21:29] a distinguished service award and

[21:31] Emergency Medical Services and two

[21:33] certificate certificates of

[21:35] accommodations from the Schenectady Fire

[21:37] Department

[21:39] he has served as a schenect as the

[21:41] secretary for the Schenectady

[21:42] firefighters Cancer Foundation

[21:46] Captain Davis has assigned to Engine 4

[21:49] on the fourth platoon protecting the

[21:50] north side

[21:52] Captain Davis is married to his wife

[21:54] Lauren and together they have three

[21:56] children Adeline Hannah and Cameron

[22:00] Captain Davis comes from a long line of

[22:02] firefighters

[22:04] both of these gentlemen are steeped deep

[22:06] into fire service

[22:08] Captain Davis's Father Bill Davis who

[22:11] was here this evening is retired with 26

[22:14] years of service

[22:16] as the deputy chief with the Albany Fire

[22:18] Department

[22:19] Captain David's wife Lauren will pin her

[22:22] husband tonight

[22:27] sir do you want to raise your right hand

[22:29] swear after me I State your full name

[22:34] do solemnly swear that I will support do

[22:37] you solemnly swear that I will support

[22:38] and uphold the Constitution of the

[22:40] United States

[22:43] and that I will support and uphold

[22:47] the constitution of the state of New

[22:49] York

[22:51] and the charter and the laws of the city

[22:53] of Schenectady

[22:57] and that I will Faithfully discharge the

[22:59] duties

[23:01] as a captain as a captain in and for the

[23:05] Schenectady Fire Department

[23:08] to the best of my ability so help me God

[23:12] congratulations

[23:14] [Applause]

[23:31] might as well be in the photograph here

[23:39] I was going to ask you to get speech now

[23:42] no but this is a proud day for these

[23:44] individuals for their families again the

[23:47] men and the women of the Schenectady

[23:49] fire department do an excellent job

[23:51] every day

[23:52] they take heroic efforts and make it

[23:56] look routine and so I'm proud to make

[23:58] these promotions tonight and thank the

[24:00] men and women for the service they give

[24:02] this city every day

[24:04] [Applause]

[24:44] hey thank you

[24:56] oh

[25:00] I'd like to call the city Caucus meeting

[25:02] to order for Monday May 8th 2023

[25:05] we have one public hearing this evening

[25:07] if the clerk would please read

[25:09] public hearing number one to amend the

[25:11] 2022-2023 HUD annual action plan

[25:15] we have 17 items for original

[25:17] consideration if the clerk would please

[25:19] read item number one item number one for

[25:22] final consideration an ordinance

[25:24] amending section 248-18 of the city

[25:27] Schenectady city code to designate

[25:30] Fuller street from South Church Street

[25:31] to South Ferry Street a one-way Street

[25:34] discussed in committee with objection on

[25:36] consent item number two item number two

[25:39] for original consideration a resolution

[25:41] calling for a public hearing rezoning

[25:43] Parcels between Hamilton Street

[25:45] Schenectady Street Strong Street and

[25:47] parts of Summit Avenue and Mumford

[25:48] street from an R1 single-family District

[25:51] to R2 to family District discussed in

[25:54] committee without objection on consent

[25:55] item number three item number three for

[25:58] original consideration a resolution

[26:00] calling for a public hearing for the

[26:02] determination of the environmental

[26:03] significance of rezoning parcels between

[26:06] Hamilton Street Schenectady Street

[26:07] strong streets and parts of Summit

[26:09] Avenue and Mumford street from R1 single

[26:12] family District to R2 to family District

[26:14] discussed in committee with the

[26:16] objection and on consent item number

[26:18] four item number four for original

[26:20] consideration a resolution declaring the

[26:23] city council as a lead Agency for the

[26:25] State Environmental Quality review

[26:26] regarding the rezoning of parcels

[26:28] between Hamilton Street Schenectady

[26:30] Street strong streets and parts of

[26:32] Summit Avenue and Mumford street from R1

[26:34] single-family District to R2 to family

[26:37] District discussed in committee with the

[26:39] objection on consent item number five for original

[26:42] consideration a resolution referring the

[26:44] proposed rezoning Parcels between

[26:46] Hamilton Street Schenectady Street

[26:48] strong streets and parts of Summit

[26:50] Avenue and Mumford street from our one

[26:52] single family District are to two family

[26:54] District to the Planning Commission

[26:56] discussed in committee with objection on

[26:58] consent item number six item number six

[27:00] for original consideration a resolution

[27:02] adopting the 2023-2024 HUD annual action

[27:06] plan discussed in committee with

[27:07] objection on consent item number seven for original

[27:11] consideration a resolution authorizing

[27:13] the mayor to renew the contract with

[27:15] Mohawk Ambulance Service discussed in

[27:18] committee with the objection on consent

[27:19] item number eight item number eight for

[27:22] original consideration a resolution

[27:24] authorizing the mayor or his designee to

[27:26] enter into an agreement with New York

[27:27] State DOT for the implementation and

[27:30] funding in the first instance 100 of the

[27:33] federal aid and state Marshall study

[27:35] program Aid eligible costs of a

[27:37] Transportation federal age Aid project

[27:39] and appropriating funds for Franklin

[27:41] Street cycle track city of Schenectady

[27:43] Franklin Street from not Terrace to J

[27:46] Street pins

[27:48] 1761.60 discussed in committee with

[27:51] objection on consent item number nine for original

[27:54] consideration a resolution author Rising

[27:57] the sale of 91 Division Street for forty

[27:59] five thousand dollars discussed in

[28:01] committee with objection on consent item

[28:03] number 10. item number 10 for original

[28:05] consideration a resolution authorizing

[28:07] the settlement of a claim by Geico as

[28:09] sub suburkey of Omar a Nagi

[28:13] discussed in committee with objection on

[28:15] consent item number 11. item number 11

[28:17] for original consideration a resolution

[28:18] authorizing settlement of a claim by

[28:20] Michael renick and Sandra renick

[28:23] discussed in committee with objection on

[28:25] consent item number 12. item number 12

[28:27] for original consideration a resolution

[28:29] authorizing the city of Schenectady to

[28:31] settle a tax tertiary with Crosstown

[28:33] Plaza sclp with regard to 2330 watt

[28:37] Street and Watt Street

[28:40] discussed in committee with objection on

[28:41] consent item number 13. item number 13

[28:44] for original consideration and

[28:45] resolution recognizing mental health

[28:47] awareness month this item will be taken

[28:49] out of order and rent and presented by

[28:51] council member Farley

[28:53] item number 14. item number 14 under

[28:55] contract and Supply a resolution

[28:57] awarding the bid and contract for the

[28:59] Congress Street retaining wall

[29:00] replacement to rifenberg contract

[29:02] incorporation in the total amount of 274

[29:04] thousand dollars

[29:06] discussed and committed with objection

[29:07] on consent item number 15. item number

[29:10] 15 under contract and Supply a

[29:11] resolution awarding the bid in contract

[29:13] for the Forest Road intersection

[29:14] improvements base bid and ALT out

[29:17] at alternate number one to Carver

[29:20] Construction Incorporated in the total

[29:21] amount of six hundred and one thousand

[29:23] one hundred and forty five dollars

[29:24] discussed in committee with objection on

[29:26] consent item number 16. item number 16

[29:29] under contract and Supply a resolution

[29:30] awarding the bid and contract for the

[29:32] North Center Street reconstruction to

[29:34] calendar and Industries Incorporated in

[29:36] the total amount of 594 500 discussed in

[29:40] committee with objection on consent item

[29:42] number 17 item number 17 under contract

[29:44] and Supply a resolution awarding the bid

[29:46] and contract for the replacement of

[29:48] Kings Kings Road Bridge over CSX Amtrak

[29:52] New York State DOT pin number 1758.95 to

[29:55] win Construction Services in the total

[29:58] amount of five million three hundred and

[29:59] fifty four thousand eight hundred and

[30:00] ninety eight dollars and fifty cents

[30:02] discussed in committee with objection on

[30:04] consent

[30:05] if there's nothing more to come before

[30:06] the city caucus I'd ask for a motion to

[30:08] adjourn moved by Mr Williams second by

[30:10] Miss Patrick all those in favor we're

[30:13] adjourning I'd like to call the city

[30:15] council meeting to order for Monday May

[30:17] 8th 2023.

[30:20] and I'd like to call on Reverend Ronald

[30:21] hunt for the prayer invocation

[30:29] city council this week this is my wish

[30:32] we call upon our better angels to those

[30:34] hear the news of the city and its

[30:36] citizens with mutual respect

[30:38] we are thankful for this opportunity to

[30:40] seek to improve our city and its

[30:42] citizens to offer thanks for those

[30:44] elected and not who work tirelessly to

[30:47] help make this a better place to live

[30:50] work and play

[30:52] we remember our neighbors who are

[30:54] unhoused or housing insecure those who

[30:56] need employment or are underemployed and

[30:59] hope that we will work to increase

[31:01] access to Safe affordable and

[31:03] comfortable housing we give thanks and

[31:05] we are healthy enough to be here today

[31:07] we remember our neighbors who struggle

[31:09] with chronic illnesses with addictions

[31:12] with the burden of medical debt and pray

[31:15] that we would work to increase access to

[31:17] dignified adequate and Affordable Health

[31:19] Care

[31:20] we give thanks for the education that

[31:22] has prepared us for the responsibility

[31:23] of leadership

[31:25] we remember our neighbors who are

[31:27] struggling in school or are in

[31:29] struggling schools and pray that we

[31:32] would work to continue to increase

[31:33] access to an educational prepare all our

[31:37] children to 6 to succeed in life

[31:39] we remember our neighbors who live with

[31:41] debilitating poverty and hope that we

[31:43] would work to increase the pathways out

[31:46] of generational Financial struggle

[31:49] we give thanks for the welcome we

[31:50] receive this evening from colleagues and

[31:52] friends who value our contribution to

[31:55] the betterment of life in our city let

[31:58] us dream for just one minute for a

[32:00] larger goal a city and a world where

[32:02] everyone flourishes and where we no

[32:05] longer know anything but peace thank you I'd like to call on Lieutenant

[32:11] Christopher APPA for the Schenectady

[32:12] fire department to lead us in the Pledge

[32:14] of Allegiance

[32:17] Verizon

[32:19] to supply

[32:27] one nation under God indivisible with

[32:30] liberty and justice for all

[32:34] thank you

[32:40] if the clerk would please complete the

[32:41] Roll Call

[32:45] Erin

[32:48] Mr Farley

[32:49] Mr Williams

[32:51] Miss Patrick Mr palomini Ms Porterfield

[32:54] here thank you we have one out of order

[32:56] resolution this evening and I'd like to

[32:59] call on um it's a resolution recognizing

[33:01] Mental Health Awareness Month I'd like

[33:03] to call on council member Farley to

[33:05] present this resolution

[33:07] and the folks that are here to receive

[33:09] the resolution please join us behind the

[33:10] rail

[33:19] Madam president may have the floor

[33:22] you have the floor thank you

[33:32] okay so whereas May is mental health

[33:35] awareness month which was established in

[33:37] 1949 to increase awareness and the

[33:39] importance of mental health and mental

[33:41] Wellness in Americans lives and to

[33:43] celebrate recovery from mental illness

[33:44] and whereas this year Mental Health

[33:46] Awareness Month the theme is more than

[33:48] enough campaign it's an opportunity for

[33:51] all of us to come together and remember

[33:53] the inherent value of which we all hold

[33:56] no matter our diagnosis our parents

[33:58] social economic status background or

[34:01] ability we want every person to know

[34:03] that if all you did was wake up today

[34:05] well that's more than enough no matter

[34:08] what you are inherently worthy of more

[34:10] than enough life and whereas taking care

[34:12] of your mental health is equally as

[34:14] important as taking care of your

[34:15] physical health those living with mental

[34:17] illness or disorders whether ongoing or

[34:20] temporary often find that the effects in

[34:22] many areas of their life including their

[34:24] personal relationships and work and

[34:26] whereas the majority of suicides

[34:28] worldwide are related to mental health

[34:30] disorders depressions depression

[34:32] substance abuse and psychosis are the

[34:35] biggest risk factors and whereas in 2020

[34:37] about one in five American adults

[34:40] experience a mental health condition in

[34:42] given years one in six young people have

[34:44] experienced a major depressive episode

[34:46] and one in 20 Americans have lived with

[34:48] a serious mental health illness such as

[34:50] schizophrenia bipolar disorder or a

[34:52] major depression and whereas mental

[34:54] health issues can affect anyone and

[34:56] impact people from all levels of

[34:58] Societies or occupations including our very important First Responders

[35:03] whereas mental health issues can affect

[35:05] anyone and impact people from all levels

[35:07] our society occupations including our

[35:10] First Responders now therefore be

[35:11] resolved that the city the Schenectady

[35:14] city council and Mayor Gary R McCarthy

[35:16] dupe hereby pause and their

[35:18] deliberations to recognize Mental Health

[35:19] Awareness Month the efforts of

[35:21] Schenectady Police Department and its

[35:23] peer support team to address and offers

[35:25] long-term physical mental health

[35:27] wellness and the American Foundation For

[35:29] Suicide Prevention and the working area

[35:31] of Mental Health I'm honored to present

[35:34] this to you all for doing such important

[35:36] work thank you I would like to I would

[35:39] like to entertain motion

[35:43] I said I will accept emotion oh uh you'd

[35:46] like to move the resolution I may have a

[35:48] second yeah second by Mr all those in

[35:51] favor

[35:52] aye relationships thank you thank you

[35:55] information

[35:58] I'm going to make this really quick but

[36:00] I do just wanted to say something um I

[36:02] just want to thank you all for this

[36:03] resolution I hope you can hear me and um

[36:06] although we are thank you for taking

[36:09] that from me so um this is wonderful and

[36:12] great um but we need more and that's

[36:14] what I'm here to tell you guys that we

[36:16] need more we need

[36:18] um more funding for programs that we can

[36:20] educate our parents in the community so

[36:23] that they can understand what mental

[36:24] health looks like in this day and age

[36:26] and in this era and how it looks

[36:28] different from before because it looks

[36:30] different today than it did before we

[36:32] need funding for Advocates who can

[36:34] assist parents with mental health

[36:35] education and decisions we need to

[36:37] understand that some of these parents

[36:39] struggle with their own mental health

[36:41] and they need to address those before

[36:43] they can address some mental health with

[36:45] their children we need more clinicians

[36:47] who look like this community that the

[36:49] people in this community and who know

[36:51] how to understand the cultural

[36:53] differences and how they play a part in

[36:55] mental health and their treatment of

[36:57] Mental Health

[36:58] we also need a clinicians who are

[37:01] seasoned and who will stay in our

[37:03] community did you guys know that

[37:05] Schenectady is the only County in New

[37:07] York state who doesn't have who

[37:10] contracts with private agencies instead

[37:13] of using accounting mental health clinic

[37:15] that is available to the residents and I

[37:18] don't understand why because in 2009

[37:21] Schenectady was in a devastating suicide

[37:24] contagion which right here where I lost

[37:26] my niece and my son so suicide and

[37:29] mental health do go together so why

[37:31] can't we have that clinic the same way

[37:33] all the other Counties have that clinic

[37:35] so we can have season and clinicians

[37:38] that stay here because they're getting

[37:39] salaries and benefits and they're not

[37:42] getting paid because someone didn't show

[37:44] so they don't get paid and then they

[37:46] leave we need more this is what our

[37:49] children need this is what our parents

[37:51] need

[37:52] um

[37:53] we we just need more and um whether this

[37:56] is beautiful and I'm always grateful we

[38:00] still need more our children are still

[38:02] suffering and our parents are suffering

[38:04] and they don't know how to take care of

[38:06] our kids so we need more from the

[38:08] mayor's office and I hope that this year

[38:10] and this election will show some

[38:13] differences and what you guys are going

[38:14] to do for mental health and suicide in

[38:16] our County thank you

[38:19] [Applause]

[38:21] excuse me excuse me could we wait we

[38:23] also have members here from the peer

[38:25] support from the police department with

[38:27] for the other resolution and would ask

[38:29] them to speak as well absolutely

[38:32] thank you sir

[38:35] good afternoon or excuse me good evening

[38:38] ladies and gentlemen of the council

[38:39] mayor McCarthy Miss Porterfield

[38:41] I'm Zachary weekly I'm a sergeant with

[38:44] the Schenectady Police Department I am

[38:46] co-director of our Department's peer

[38:48] support team this is my colleague

[38:49] Jonathan govel he's a sergeant he's a

[38:52] very important player in our

[38:54] Department's peer support team

[38:55] originally how this came about Miss

[38:57] Porterfield got in touch with my my code

[39:01] the other co-director Sergeant Matthew

[39:03] Dearing about attending tonight's event

[39:07] Matthew was very disappointed because he

[39:10] had a conflicting event coincidentally

[39:12] his conflicting event

[39:14] Sergeant Matthew Dearing and detective

[39:16] Michael krounce

[39:17] left Philadelphia today Philadelphia

[39:20] Pennsylvania on bicycles to ride to

[39:24] Washington D.C ultimately ending at the

[39:26] National Law Enforcement Officers

[39:28] Memorial

[39:30] um

[39:31] it's part of What's called the ride to

[39:33] remember and today they left in honor of

[39:36] our fallen brother Corey Shields Corey

[39:39] was a

[39:42] these a 10-year veteran of the

[39:44] Schenectady Police Department and he

[39:46] served for 10 years with honor before

[39:48] his untimely death

[39:50] and

[39:52] um

[39:52] Schenectady has always since I've been

[39:55] here done

[39:56] a good you know a lot to try to take

[39:59] care of their officers and

[40:02] um

[40:02] you know inquiries untimely departure

[40:06] we've kind of used that to add fuel to

[40:08] the fire and we realized that you know

[40:10] there's a lot that needs to change for

[40:11] the police department and for the

[40:13] community

[40:14] and um it's just some stats I want to

[40:16] point out

[40:18] um there's a lot of information out

[40:19] there but on average uh civilian who's

[40:24] not a first responder goes through an

[40:27] average of about two traumatic incidents

[40:29] in their lifetime First Responders to

[40:31] include police officers and the

[40:33] firefighters that were just in the room

[40:35] deal with about 700 traumatic incidents

[40:38] over the course of a 20-year career and

[40:41] there's a 30 percent chance that a

[40:44] police officer is going to depart his

[40:45] 20-year career with a mental health

[40:48] issue that he didn't come into the

[40:49] career with

[40:52] so that being said Corey became the

[40:55] driving force behind our reason to

[40:57] change things for the department and for

[41:00] the city because

[41:03] um

[41:03] you know mental health isn't something

[41:05] that's specific just to police officers

[41:07] and Trauma isn't specific just to police

[41:09] officers we deal with it at a higher

[41:11] frequency but it's it's something that's

[41:13] everybody's responsibility

[41:15] and so when we took over the peer

[41:17] support team Matt and I had

[41:20] two goals right off the bat number one

[41:23] is to break down the stigma associated

[41:25] with

[41:27] saying I'm not okay I need help all

[41:30] right and the second thing is

[41:33] to promote help seeking Behavior so I'll

[41:37] Stand I'll stand in front of you all and

[41:39] I'll tell you I'm a police officer I

[41:40] have been for 14 years five years ago I

[41:42] started talking with a therapist on a

[41:44] regular basis and it's one of the most

[41:45] important decisions that I've ever made

[41:47] in my life and it was a great decision

[41:49] and I say that because I want other

[41:51] people to know that it's okay to do the

[41:54] same and

[41:56] you know for Quarry we're going to

[41:58] change this because if we have

[42:00] healthy police officers who are able to

[42:02] come to work deal with these traumatic

[42:04] incidents deal with them and process

[42:07] them in a healthy manner they can go to

[42:09] work the next day and provide better

[42:11] service to the community and not only

[42:14] are they going to you know be well

[42:16] adjusted themselves to provide that good

[42:18] service right they can relate to the

[42:21] people that that they're dealing with

[42:22] because like I said everybody deals with

[42:23] drama and if you've come and if you've

[42:25] dealt with drama and you're you know

[42:27] thriving afterwards you know who better

[42:29] than to help somebody who's walking

[42:31] through it themselves so

[42:34] you know Corey was a great friend to

[42:36] everybody I don't know many people that

[42:38] Corey didn't get along with and in his

[42:40] after his passing you know I've

[42:42] reflected for a long time and kind of

[42:45] what I've realized is that Corey didn't

[42:47] see the differences that set us apart

[42:49] right the differences that are so

[42:50] popular in today's culture what Corey

[42:53] saw was uh you know a reason to befriend

[42:56] somebody he literally had friends from

[42:58] all circles all walks of life and so all

[43:02] I would say is this all right let's look at what brings us together

[43:05] let's look at what bonds us as a

[43:07] community and let's let's focus on that

[43:09] if you know somebody that's having a

[43:11] hard time

[43:12] two best thing you could do even if you

[43:15] think they don't want to hear from you

[43:16] call them say hey how you doing I

[43:17] haven't talked to you in a while what's

[43:19] going on right

[43:20] thank you

[43:29] I'd like to thank both groups for coming

[43:31] when we were talking about doing this

[43:33] resolution one of the things that was

[43:35] important to realize that this doesn't

[43:36] just affect one segment of the

[43:39] population but all many segments of the

[43:41] population as you heard the officers say

[43:43] so thank you again all for coming and

[43:45] for telling your stories and sharing the

[43:46] information with us thank you very much

[43:54] foreign

[43:56] we have one public excuse me we have one

[43:59] public hearing uh this evening and a

[44:01] reminder we've extended the public

[44:02] comment for the public hearing portion

[44:04] to four minutes and I also ask that

[44:06] anyone who's speaking at the public

[44:08] hearing States just stick to the subject

[44:09] of the public hearing

[44:11] I have one person signed up Kathy

[44:13] Sullivan

[44:16] good evening

[44:18] um I realize uh a little lacks in my due

[44:21] diligence prior to my arriving here

[44:23] tonight after uh coincidentally I just

[44:25] decided it was important for me as a

[44:27] member of this community to begin

[44:29] speaking and airing what's happening

[44:33] here in this town that maybe some of you

[44:36] aren't aware of

[44:38] um

[44:39] I have two topics of concern and I will

[44:41] keep this topic

[44:43] concise to what the topic is about uh

[44:46] the HUD I didn't even know there was a

[44:48] HUD plan or I would have done my due

[44:51] diligence and researched a little more

[44:54] I've spent three years researching

[44:57] um I am a parent of a Notre Dame Bishop

[45:00] Gibbons graduating class 2020. so

[45:04] lockdown

[45:06] um full boat scholarships

[45:08] that we had to

[45:11] not accept things like that

[45:14] um through redistricting uh where I live in the hungry Hills section of

[45:19] Schenectady a small Enclave a corner

[45:23] tale of Bellevue I know you probably

[45:25] know

[45:26] Mount Pleasant is directly correlated

[45:30] based on my research I ramble a bit but

[45:33] what brought me to their strange

[45:36] circumstances that went on around me

[45:38] where I live I've come to realize

[45:40] through lockdown lemons to Lemonade is

[45:43] where I'm bringing this I hope

[45:45] my son everything that we all knew

[45:49] changed observed the world around you

[45:52] who you are what's happening around you

[45:55] and how you can make this place where we

[45:57] live better and

[45:59] for my children

[46:04] too late for me

[46:07] a couple good years left maybe but for

[46:09] my children

[46:11] my grandchildren I am here I live in the

[46:14] hungry Hill section I am 400 feet from

[46:17] an EPA DEC confirmed

[46:22] super fun site National priority list

[46:25] it's been removed I could go on and on

[46:27] I've done so much research regarding

[46:29] contamination I'm also a thousand feet

[46:31] from the cheltingham landfill

[46:34] uh one one thing leads to another I've

[46:37] done so much research I've done so much

[46:39] self-advocacy to help my children and

[46:41] for my children to see me

[46:43] standing up for them and what's right

[46:45] and how are we going to change this and

[46:47] if we can't talk about it we're never

[46:48] going to change it ever

[46:51] there's so many layers of what I

[46:55] perceive to be uh

[46:58] disguising covering up things uh it's no

[47:01] news to us we see it all in the movies

[47:02] all of that but when you actually don't

[47:06] know

[47:07] if you're safe where you live I can't

[47:10] tell you what that does to a person and

[47:12] a family

[47:13] and as a mother just a single mother

[47:16] there's no resources and what that means

[47:20] and what environmental justice means

[47:23] what a disadvantaged community is

[47:27] my children some are biracial some are

[47:30] half Italian I'm Irish through and

[47:32] through we're multi

[47:34] faceted family with lots of different

[47:37] issues confronting us here in this city

[47:41] and I lead this family and I've decided

[47:44] through coven through all of this that

[47:46] I'm going to lead my family without fear

[47:51] when I when you look at the research

[47:53] room that you're actually living in this

[47:55] face this face

[47:57] is what you're doing here all of you

[47:59] this face and all my little faces

[48:02] they're brown they're beige they're gray

[48:04] they're whatever color

[48:06] that's who I'm representing here today

[48:08] okay and when you live so in close

[48:12] proximity to these sites

[48:15] everything in your world has changed I

[48:18] have a bachelor's degree also

[48:20] and so I've used my my my my mind to

[48:24] research and what I've found is is we're

[48:27] not being told the truth so about

[48:29] certain things these points of

[48:31] contamination my address just give me

[48:34] let me give you one example through

[48:35] redistricting I was prevented from

[48:37] voting in a primary last year that's the

[48:40] Civil Rights human rights I don't know

[48:41] what violation it is I'm not here

[48:43] with anger I went through anger and give

[48:46] me one more second I apologize

[48:48] um my address doesn't exist

[48:50] there's five different street names in

[48:53] one block radius where I live five

[48:55] different street names Congress Street

[48:57] rerouting

[48:58] uh it's it's years years ago were any of

[49:04] us alive when this all began that's a

[49:05] question

[49:07] how do we fix it how do we make it

[49:08] better I'm not here because I want

[49:10] anything except information I want to

[49:12] know I want to help my community and I

[49:15] need help doing that so when I've been

[49:18] advocating through multi-agencies

[49:21] uh I don't get the calls don't get

[49:23] returned the emails don't get returned

[49:25] okay so that's I'm the face of what

[49:27] we're all doing moving forward let's

[49:29] make it better that's all I'm here thank

[49:31] you thank you

[49:33] I have no one else signed up to speak so

[49:36] I did

[49:42] sir you are signed up for City business

[49:44] and that was for the that was for the

[49:46] public hearing regarding the HUD annual

[49:49] action plan is that what you wish

[49:52] no sir

[49:53] okay you signed the correct form we just

[49:56] have not arrived to that under the

[49:58] agenda yet

[49:59] it's okay

[50:01] so I have no one else signed up to speak

[50:04] so I declare the public hearing Number

[50:05] One close

[50:07] comments will be filed with uh the

[50:09] office of development

[50:12] I'd ask for approval of minutes for

[50:13] April 24 2023.

[50:16] moved by Mr Miller second by Mr Williams

[50:18] all those in favor

[50:20] aye

[50:22] and I now ask the clerk to read any

[50:24] Communications and petitions

[50:26] Communications presented to city council

[50:29] for Monday May 8 2023 under official

[50:31] there were none under General from Petey

[50:33] Voris an email addressing item number

[50:35] one stating that it is a nightmare

[50:38] creation that resembles a white cane

[50:40] Zone created by CDTA item number five

[50:43] she asked what the planning what the

[50:46] planning knows about zoning and

[50:48] suggested the committee members of the

[50:50] zoning commission be shifted to

[50:51] facilitate transparency item eight she

[50:54] states is ridiculous because there is

[50:56] not enough bike traffic to drastically

[50:58] alter the street item 17 she states that

[51:01] the amount of the contract is huge but

[51:03] it's a win-win for transparency

[51:06] from Paula Breslin an email asking for a

[51:08] recognition of Michael zippieri for a

[51:10] presentation of plaques to Schenectady

[51:13] and Rotterdam police departments for the

[51:15] dedication and service and starting a

[51:16] diversity diversity committee as a forum

[51:19] to discuss issues affecting our

[51:21] communities these are both overdue and

[51:23] in and needed in the city and we thank

[51:25] Michael for taking the initiative and

[51:27] stepping up as he's done under petitions

[51:30] there were none thank you

[51:32] asking him council members to provide

[51:34] committee reports

[51:36] any committee reports

[51:39] this time we'll have privilege of the

[51:40] floor related to their legislative

[51:42] agenda

[51:43] I have no one signed up to speak so I

[51:45] declare the public comment on the

[51:47] legislative agenda closed

[51:49] I'll ask approval of the approval of the

[51:52] legislative consent agenda

[51:55] moved by Miss Patrick second by Mr

[51:57] motivaran all those in favor

[52:00] at this time we will have privilege of

[52:02] the floor regarding General City

[52:04] business I have

[52:06] two people signed up the first is Athena

[52:10] pagnotti

[52:14] she present

[52:16] no

[52:18] okay

[52:20] um so it looks like that individual is

[52:22] not here and the second person I have is

[52:25] Ed

[52:26] Lavin Jr

[52:30] I apologize I'm 80 deaf in one air and

[52:33] 65 in the other so I can't hear you

[52:35] you're too far away uh good evening City

[52:38] Council Members mayor Cheryl under

[52:40] Porterfield

[52:41] why is it that no one is outraged by my

[52:43] complaint that three corrupt judges

[52:45] conspire to violate my right to due

[52:46] process and a fair hearing this is the

[52:49] third or fourth time I am coming to this

[52:51] Council I have given you the laws that

[52:53] were broken by these three judges I

[52:54] would like to know what has been done

[52:56] about my complaint

[52:57] the mayor refuses to see me and treats

[52:59] me as an adversary which is a color of

[53:01] law violation

[53:02] valetico is the Golden Boy hatchet man

[53:05] for McCarthy he ripped that building

[53:07] down on State Street in Erie Boulevard

[53:09] and was rewarded with a judgeship a

[53:10] 10-year term he ran on a post

[53:13] how is Insurance paid for the building

[53:15] minus a hundred thousand deductible when

[53:17] it was willfully torn down sounds like

[53:19] Insurance brought to me an underwriter

[53:21] had to be in on it apparently

[53:23] constitutional laws are not followed by

[53:25] falatico or McCarthy

[53:27] Tanika Frost signed two motions without

[53:29] Affidavit of service in my case the

[53:31] second after first was waited out

[53:33] stating Affidavit of service needed she

[53:36] is now a Supreme Court judge in New York

[53:38] especially Schenectady New York

[53:40] corruption is rewarded and you move up

[53:42] the ladder the mayor has effectively

[53:44] kept me out of the newspaper as

[53:46] evidenced by the two articles written in

[53:47] a Gazette about the last council meeting

[53:50] on the 24th of April Gazette put in

[53:52] stories about garbage complaint and

[53:55] speeding on King's Road complaints and

[53:57] nothing about my complaints about three

[53:59] corrupt judges

[54:00] the mayor has also put the gabash in my

[54:02] next billboard

[54:03] Lamar will not put up the new billboard

[54:06] I promise you mayor McCarthy if you do

[54:08] not address my complaint before I am

[54:10] done protesting at City Hall 10 people

[54:12] 10 million people will know all about

[54:14] you and falatico and now blatantly

[54:16] corruption is rewarded in Schenectady

[54:19] and put in his Counsel on notice if

[54:21] anything happens to me while protesting

[54:23] it will be because of McCarthy or

[54:24] falatico because I have no enemies with

[54:27] the exception of these two corrupt

[54:28] individuals

[54:29] valetico has become an embarrassment to

[54:32] himself his family and this city as have

[54:34] you mayor for not addressing my concerns

[54:37] and the federal laws that were broken by

[54:38] these three corrupt arrogant corrupt

[54:40] judges

[54:42] these are for the city council members

[54:43] these are all the laws that were broken

[54:45] and some paperwork thank you thank you

[54:50] I have no one else signed up to speak so

[54:52] I declare the public comment of City

[54:53] business closed

[54:56] this time any miscellaneous business of

[54:58] the council

[55:00] Mr Williams

[55:07] I first would like to begin by thanking

[55:09] everyone that came out to speak and then

[55:10] also following suit with uh the two

[55:13] organizations highlight of the

[55:14] importance of mental health uh it's

[55:16] absolutely something that should not go

[55:17] undervalued and as we recognize through

[55:21] covid and this ongoing pandemic is that

[55:24] more of an emphasis cannot be placed on

[55:26] valuing yourself and not being afraid to

[55:28] ask questions and highlight when you

[55:30] need assistance definitely myself I've

[55:32] gone through a lot of struggles and

[55:34] trials and tribulations as many other

[55:37] residents when the community however it

[55:39] wasn't until I asked and self-identified

[55:41] that I could not do this all on my own

[55:42] and I started asking questions and

[55:44] asking for assistance and recognizing

[55:46] that there were not just resources

[55:47] available to me as a service member but

[55:50] also people within my closed Circle that

[55:52] were willing to talk and help out and

[55:54] oftentimes we assume what's not

[55:56] available to us but if we just reach out

[55:58] I think that is one of our our priding

[56:01] attributes in Schenectady our diverse

[56:04] community of individuals that are always

[56:05] willing to help and support each other

[56:07] and that is something that I look

[56:09] forward to always being a champion of in

[56:12] addition to that I would like to thank

[56:14] the increased presence of police

[56:15] officers as we look to tackle speeding

[56:18] throughout the city in the newspaper

[56:20] we've highlighted a King's Road as one

[56:22] area specifically that unfortunately

[56:24] needs more attention at this present

[56:26] time and as the mayor is taking diligent

[56:29] steps to see if we can evaluate other

[56:31] means to put in place stop signs there

[56:33] are appropriate means to go about that I

[56:36] know that the mayor and council

[56:39] president Porterfield in addition to

[56:40] Chief Clifford were present during the

[56:42] Woodlawn neighborhood association

[56:43] meeting and they were their present

[56:45] willing to take questions and actions

[56:47] are being evaluated but as we look to do

[56:51] traffic studies which unfortunately are

[56:53] required aspect of this work I would ask

[56:56] that neighborhood in particular to be

[56:57] patient we are also evaluating I pause

[57:01] myself I'm looking at additional means

[57:03] to see if there are ways where we can

[57:05] utilize some technological assistance

[57:07] where we recognize that Staffing is very

[57:11] much

[57:12] something that we have to work around

[57:14] with regards to putting actual police

[57:16] officers in these neighborhoods but

[57:18] definitely my plea to the community is

[57:23] I was like oh wow it's three minutes

[57:26] uh definitely my plea to the community

[57:28] is be cognizant of how your actions

[57:32] affect those around you I know

[57:34] oftentimes in a world where immediacy

[57:36] and ex getting to point A to point B is very much a matter of seconds saved

[57:43] but it is by the grace of God that we

[57:46] have not had any traumatic incidences or

[57:49] loss of life due to this this issue so

[57:52] definitely please take an extra second

[57:53] I'll leave 15 minutes earlier it is not

[57:56] worth it it is not worth it and as we

[57:58] look and evaluate ways to affect

[58:00] speeding throughout the whole city

[58:01] please be patient if you have any

[58:03] questions or comments I myself am always

[58:05] available as well as I imagine the rest

[58:07] of my council members as well definitely

[58:10] I I

[58:12] we can do this together just be patient

[58:14] let's work together

[58:16] thank you

[58:19] mayor

[58:23] thank you madam president I appreciate

[58:25] everyone that came out tonight does the

[58:28] weather starts to shift would also

[58:30] encourage people uh

[58:33] we're all cognizant of the litter issue

[58:36] and everybody doing a little bit

[58:39] picking up your property the front of

[58:41] your business or store makes a big

[58:43] difference collectively throughout the

[58:46] city

[58:47] and again the council has initiated a

[58:50] proposal as we get in

[58:52] farther in the summer hopefully

[58:54] everybody will buy into that and it

[58:57] takes a

[58:58] burden off the city where the city staff

[59:01] cannot do everything we have to rely on

[59:03] the residents Property Owners to police

[59:07] themselves Mr Williams talks about some

[59:10] of the things of actual speeding

[59:13] picking up for letter also makes a

[59:16] difference and I want to wish everyone a

[59:19] Happy Mother's Day for next weekend we

[59:21] have a lot of great venues as we move

[59:24] away from the traditional Mother's Day

[59:28] at home take your mother out bring her

[59:30] to downtown one of the great restaurants

[59:32] serve venues in Schenectady and I want

[59:35] everyone to have a great time thank you

[59:37] madam president thank you mayor I'd also

[59:39] like to thank everyone that came out

[59:41] tonight um shout out to the duri family

[59:43] I see like they're hearing a regular so

[59:45] I gotta shout you out

[59:47] um and also I wanted to congratulate the

[59:49] firefighters that received a promotion

[59:51] tonight it's always good to see our

[59:52] First Responders and um being able to

[59:55] move up and to thank them also for the

[59:57] wonderful work that they do here in our

[59:59] community and I'd also like to

[1:00:01] congratulate uh Miss Nevins who there

[1:00:05] was an event in Central Park for those

[1:00:06] of you who weren't able to attend there

[1:00:10] was a community event where a lot of

[1:00:12] agencies organizations the fire

[1:00:14] department the police department were

[1:00:15] there to talk about the services they

[1:00:17] provide to individuals in the community

[1:00:19] so it was a really well attended event

[1:00:20] nice event a lot of children so

[1:00:22] congratulations to uh Jess Nevins for

[1:00:25] putting that together along with the

[1:00:27] life alternative diversion program

[1:00:29] and I also would like to also wish

[1:00:31] everyone uh all mothers a Happy Mother's

[1:00:34] Day and all of you have a great weekend

[1:00:35] with your mothers thank you and those

[1:00:37] are who are also remembering their

[1:00:39] mothers as I am thank you at this time

[1:00:41] I'd like to ask for a motion to adjourn

[1:00:45] movements through Williams second by Mr

[1:00:47] motivaren all those in favor we're

[1:00:49] adjourned have a good night

Schenectady City Council Meeting, May 8, 2023

Transcript