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[10:45] iPad

[10:54] first item accepting money from the New

[10:57] York State DOT or X State uh this is our

[11:00] chips money we get an annual allocation

[11:02] every year

[11:04] um sometimes it varies depending on the

[11:06] state budget

[11:07] this year we are getting a standard

[11:10] chips program along with extreme winter

[11:12] recovery uh

[11:14] top which is uh pave our potholes paved

[11:17] New York and the state touring route the

[11:20] total of all funding sources is 4.8

[11:23] million dollars and total change

[11:25] um

[11:27] this is uh the largest allocation that

[11:29] we've gotten the biggest note is the

[11:32] state touring route money which this

[11:34] year was around two million dollars that

[11:36] is a new allocation in the budget for

[11:39] the last couple years and is not

[11:40] guaranteed in the future so

[11:43] you know I don't I don't know if uh if

[11:46] they do know they take it away what's

[11:48] gonna what's gonna happen I'm sure once

[11:49] you give someone missed Palace all over

[11:51] the state money like that it's going to

[11:53] be harder to take it away but I just

[11:56] wanted to make sure that you're aware

[11:57] that was a new allocation about three

[11:58] years ago which is why our totals are so

[12:00] high

[12:11] Woodland Preserve

[12:14] this is a

[12:16] State Grant administered by dazny

[12:19] this was I believe both of these grants

[12:21] were

[12:22] um

[12:24] oh I've got a stick's office uh sorry

[12:27] just took me a second this particular

[12:28] Grant we needed some money to do some

[12:30] re-establishment in the Woodlawn

[12:32] preserve for habitat and um they had a

[12:36] municipality who remained nameless that

[12:39] was not active on the list of using this

[12:41] money so it was reallocated to us as we

[12:43] had a need we will be using this to do

[12:46] some stump work which we've already

[12:48] awarded and we're also going to be using

[12:51] it to do some preservation creation for

[12:53] the Lupine hopefully with the carnival

[12:55] butterfly then some trail maintenance

[12:57] and some work all in The Preserve so

[13:00] this is to the agreement has been signed

[13:04] that we have to accept the money Finance

[13:06] won't move unless we accept the money so

[13:08] that's what this is

[13:18] yep so the friends of the greenhouse

[13:20] working in cooperation with Cornell

[13:22] Cooperative they apply for received a

[13:25] Sam Grant through Stax office for 125

[13:28] 000 they originally wanted to use it for

[13:31] a

[13:32] Pavilion

[13:35] um and to use it as a pavilion area

[13:36] however they decided that it would be

[13:39] better served to their mission statement

[13:41] if they remove the existing Greenhouse

[13:44] number four and install a new Greenhouse

[13:47] which they're calling a teaching

[13:48] Greenhouse the current greenhouses are

[13:50] not large enough to hold classes and

[13:52] work on tables so this new Greenhouse

[13:56] would allow them to do more teaching and

[13:58] educational events

[14:00] screen

[14:01] questions

[14:03] a little bit second all in favor all

[14:06] right thank you thank you

[14:10] the next item is authorization to enter

[14:15] Schenectady Community Action Program for

[14:18] rental assistance replacing cbub

[14:27] good evening everybody

[14:29] um we are looking to allocate some of

[14:31] our unspent cdbgcb funding towards

[14:34] rental assistance with scap we know that

[14:38] with the e-wrap funding kind of ending

[14:40] and some of the esgc Lee funds that

[14:43] we've allocated for rental assistance

[14:45] have been have been spent and they're

[14:47] really if there's a gap right now in

[14:49] terms of funding available for rentals

[14:50] rental assistance so we're just

[14:53] requesting to allocate this funding for

[14:55] that purpose

[14:56] um scap also wrote up a narrative of

[14:59] some of the issues of the challenges

[15:00] that they're facing and trying to solve

[15:03] we think it's a good use of the funding

[15:05] and also in line with what our plan was

[15:08] for cdbgcb in terms of neighborhood

[15:10] stabilization

[15:12] um so we're just looking for to

[15:14] authorize the mayor to enter a contract

[15:16] with skep for them not to exceed amount

[15:18] of 200 000 for rental assistance

[15:22] questions go ahead please thank you so

[15:25] scap will be actually paying rent that's

[15:28] in their areas

[15:30] yes do they have like I don't see the

[15:33] exact guidelines do you know like how

[15:34] many months is there uh you know how

[15:36] they're usually it's just three months

[15:38] um yeah they have we could send you the

[15:40] pro their program guidelines if that's

[15:42] something you want to see I don't know

[15:44] all the details but I know typically

[15:46] it's a three-month period but with the

[15:49] CV money I think it can be up to six

[15:51] months okay yeah because people have

[15:53] asked about you know how this program is

[15:55] going to work because I said we've got

[15:57] other requests for legislation to do

[15:59] something kind of similar so I just want

[16:00] to know how this program worked and you

[16:02] know and maybe have an idea of how many

[16:04] households I think they did say how many

[16:06] households 52 yep and so how long this

[16:09] money would actually last and if you

[16:11] didn't mean to look at something so it's

[16:13] not it's not going to be a new program

[16:14] it's actually it's just going to be

[16:15] building on what they're already doing

[16:17] for rental assistance but it's just

[16:18] providing some more funding for it it's

[16:21] not a new program it's in line with what

[16:23] they've been doing

[16:24] um and and you know the the guidelines

[16:28] would remain pretty much the same like I

[16:31] just want to get a sense of how long

[16:32] this one would last

[16:34] yeah yeah

[16:36] um and I I don't like I said I don't

[16:39] know all the details but I do think that

[16:42] they were estimating that right now you

[16:47] know they they could be spending up to a

[16:50] hundred thousand per month

[16:51] um in rental assistance so

[16:55] um I don't want to say we can get the

[16:58] details but that is what I've been you

[17:00] know what our discussions have reflected

[17:02] so it's definitely High need yeah it's

[17:04] definitely great to have the details

[17:06] thank you for your um

[17:12] identification of this program and just

[17:15] how they can fill this need that is so

[17:17] vascular in our community based on your

[17:19] conversations with uh the sky would you

[17:22] say that this 200 000 fully meets the gaps that have been identified or

[17:28] where it is not I don't think there's

[17:31] any amount of money that could probably

[17:32] be the gaps with you know as we all know

[17:35] after the eviction works are lifted and

[17:38] just everything that has come with that

[17:40] there is a need that we definitely um

[17:43] can't meet on our own you know we do

[17:45] have access to some other funding but

[17:46] we're trying to be a partner and making

[17:48] sure that we're doing what we can

[17:51] um and because we have the CV funding

[17:54] um available and we need to spend that

[17:56] down as well it's I think it's just a

[17:58] great boost for it and then it follow-up

[18:01] question uh would it be appropriate then

[18:02] in getting your recommendation for us to

[18:04] uh potentially when you look at

[18:07] evaluating applying funds to help fill

[18:10] up that Gap as well

[18:12] I think that would probably take some

[18:14] review and would be you know

[18:17] discussion to to consider with the mayor

[18:19] and Council thank you

[18:23] so um I think that this is great I think

[18:26] that that there's a Clarity in the

[18:28] community so I'm totally supported that

[18:30] um my question is can come to your

[18:33] limited scope or through your

[18:34] conversation with scap are they gonna

[18:36] like do you know that is there any way

[18:38] that they can take this money kind of

[18:39] Leverage it to maybe apply for MoneyGram

[18:42] money do they have it yes I I did that

[18:44] is what you know I I know that they do

[18:46] that with all the funding we provide and

[18:48] they get you know there's different ways

[18:50] it can be leveraged and they're always

[18:52] really good about you know not having a

[18:54] sole source but trying to

[18:56] um you know build out a plan that

[18:58] leverages the funding they receive

[18:59] because I think it's good for people to

[19:01] know that if we're talking about 200

[19:03] Grand and it's such a great need that

[19:06] this money will be leveraged hopefully

[19:08] to hold more to to meet their need and

[19:10] you know hopefully not right and

[19:12] hopefully you know the state will also

[19:13] come out with some more resources

[19:16] um being made available for the purpose

[19:18] because it is definitely a high need

[19:19] thank you go ahead please I I

[19:24] Rodriguez say that era was going to open

[19:27] back up

[19:28] that

[19:30] uncertain but it's possible yeah right

[19:34] now

[19:36] absolutely but you you know it may yeah

[19:39] I think like I said I think the state is

[19:41] going to have to do something whether

[19:42] it's e-wrap or another source

[19:45] um I could see that happening yeah

[19:49] go ahead in terms of the guidelines is

[19:52] Gap and if you don't know this if you

[19:53] could find out so if there's individuals

[19:55] who

[19:57] um whose income didn't change but

[19:58] because there was legislation saying

[20:00] they didn't have to pay their rent and

[20:01] therefore we didn't so they have

[20:03] guidelines to look at that to make sure

[20:05] that anyone who whose income remained

[20:07] the same would still not be timed

[20:08] because it just didn't pay that I mean

[20:10] do they would they be able to have

[20:12] access to this as well

[20:14] I would imagine that in their intake

[20:16] process they would collect that that

[20:18] kind of documentation

[20:21] that's important I mean if people added

[20:23] the uh the ability which simply didn't

[20:25] do it then you know this should really

[20:27] be for people who just didn't have the

[20:29] means because they their loss of income

[20:31] or whatever the case was yeah and so I

[20:33] would like to know specifically I mean

[20:35] at the end of the day I think it's

[20:36] related directly to homeless prevention

[20:38] so and I don't want to speak for scout

[20:41] but I would think if that were the case

[20:44] but someone's still facing homelessness

[20:45] because now they don't have a place to

[20:47] live and they would apply you know and

[20:50] I'm not sure exactly how they they read

[20:52] through those things but if someone's

[20:54] facing homelessness they're facing

[20:55] homelessness yeah it's my understanding

[20:57] I think we should consider like

[20:59] prioritizing people who did it so we can

[21:01] talk about that but if you can find them

[21:04] thank you

[21:09] do you want that as a condition on the

[21:12] money well I would certainly like to

[21:13] take a look at that mayor because you

[21:15] know these people who by know you know I

[21:18] understand so that was what you're

[21:19] saying just wondering if you want that

[21:21] in there I'd like this to move ahead and

[21:26] so the review might take a longer period

[21:29] of time so if it was the condition was

[21:31] that this is going to go to individuals

[21:33] whose income is adversely affected

[21:36] because of covid whatever as opposed to

[21:41] people who may have made what I'll call

[21:44] Poor choices in terms of managing their

[21:46] resources

[21:48] just put it in the resolution going

[21:50] forward as opposed to holding it up for

[21:52] additional review well I would

[21:55] definitely say that for me that needs to

[21:57] be a priority

[21:59] I would say

[22:01] um you know once this gets approved then

[22:03] we still have to do the contract with

[22:04] scam and come up with the agreement so I

[22:07] think that there is an opportunity to

[22:09] you know to include you know the things

[22:12] that that the council in there would

[22:13] like in the in the agreement

[22:15] forward but I just wanted to make sure

[22:18] that we're not trying to manage scaff I

[22:20] think they have the expertise the years

[22:22] of working with this population

[22:25] I think that you know they've done an

[22:28] amazing job for decades I think I can't

[22:31] be specific about that but

[22:34] um you know I think that if we give them

[22:36] the money I think what we're saying is

[22:37] we trust your background We Trust what

[22:41] you've been doing in our community to

[22:43] help especially the most vulnerable

[22:45] population that's facing homelessness

[22:47] and eviction so I just want to caution

[22:50] against putting too many restrictions on

[22:53] the funding moving forward and I know

[22:54] that's my non-profit hat sitting on my

[22:57] shoulders but you know

[22:59] I appreciate that that comment I think

[23:02] that um you know they're the ones who

[23:04] are kind of boots on the ground dealings

[23:05] but

[23:08] um you know certainly if there is a

[23:11] prior prioritization we would also just

[23:14] have to make sure that ethically they

[23:16] can Implement that and it would be you

[23:19] know something to discuss let me just be

[23:20] clear I don't first this is a once in a

[23:22] lifetime thing called what is and I

[23:24] don't think we're micromanaging but as

[23:25] funders we do get to say that our money

[23:27] should be spent in the best way possible

[23:29] people

[23:30] um their income didn't change and they

[23:33] didn't pay the rent I think that the

[23:34] people whose income did change should be

[23:36] on the top of the list to make sure that

[23:38] they get the help Miss Tia has already

[23:40] said there's way more people out there

[23:42] than even money so we should be

[23:43] prioritizing those by who by no fall

[23:46] through their own we're not able to meet

[23:47] their obligations

[23:50] I hear what you're saying but I just

[23:56] emphasize that you know I really trust

[23:59] the work that they're doing and I think

[24:00] that they probably do have those kinds

[24:02] of priorities Etc

[24:04] um that they face on a day-to-day basis

[24:06] so I just want more effects

[24:09] I was just going to add it seems like

[24:11] again it's another situation of

[24:13] um

[24:13] yes in all right so we look at whatever

[24:16] parameters that scap has existing

[24:19] um and if those existing parameters

[24:21] don't satisfy that from areas to this

[24:24] being covered then we can you know talk

[24:26] with them about about that language but

[24:28] I'm pretty sure that everyone would

[24:30] agree that we want to impact the people

[24:32] with the highest uh need and I think

[24:35] that's kind of part of that so if we do

[24:37] that there's a way to look at their

[24:40] existing processes I'm sure that they

[24:42] have made some adjustments due to

[24:44] um covet as well and if not we can just

[24:46] say hey you know we want to make sure

[24:47] how do we ensure that this is we're

[24:49] using this to really impact the people

[24:50] the mostly and I think everyone will be

[24:52] talking kind of the same language when

[24:53] it comes to that

[24:57] and this has a point of reference all

[24:59] these common Council when they pass

[25:01] similarities of legislation designated

[25:03] money for this population who need they

[25:05] could apply a certain number of

[25:06] restrictions so it's not anything that

[25:08] we're doing that's in common I

[25:09] definitely understand uh council

[25:11] president porterfield's position and I

[25:13] think as long as we do that

[25:14] collaborative release we make sure that

[25:15] we're meeting our needs as a council but

[25:18] also adhering to their functionality I

[25:20] think it is something that we can do in

[25:22] streamline that without affecting the

[25:24] people that need the money

[25:27] I just do want to say that we also did

[25:30] give them um funding for homeless for

[25:33] covet support for homeless people um

[25:35] during the aqua discussion so I just

[25:37] wanted to remind everybody about that as

[25:39] well

[25:40] all right any other companies concerns

[25:43] may have a motion to remove this some

[25:46] water removing we're moving

[25:50] good point we're moving to fun

[25:57] without the provisions

[26:02] [Music]

[26:03] going to provide the documents do you

[26:06] request it no so what I'm asking I'm not

[26:09] necessarily asking for those documents

[26:10] but I want us to be able to have those

[26:12] priorities in our contract that we say

[26:14] we like it prioritized in this way is

[26:16] that possible you can put whatever yeah

[26:18] you can put those prescriptions around

[26:19] can you can just be explicit with what

[26:22] it's going to be subject to terms where

[26:24] you know I don't want to take words out

[26:27] of you know the mouths of any of the

[26:29] council people if there are terms that

[26:31] you're going to require in there outside

[26:33] of what's being proposed coming from the

[26:35] development department in the mayor's

[26:37] office on this I just would like you to

[26:39] just obviously be you know tell me

[26:41] exactly what it's going to be subject to

[26:46] so it doesn't seem like that would hold

[26:50] this up at all it seems like we can we

[26:52] could move forward with this and then at

[26:54] the appropriate time where you know

[26:55] there there could be some added language

[26:57] if need be because there might be

[26:59] language that's existing you should

[27:00] probably tell me what the criteria is

[27:03] one solution to go forward so what I

[27:07] would like to see in the resolution is

[27:08] that that they prior I'm not saying that

[27:10] other people can't benefit but the

[27:12] priority means to those who face are

[27:15] facing homelessness because their loss

[27:17] of income or whatever it was and

[27:19] um by no fault to Rome and those whose

[27:21] income didn't change

[27:23] um they would need their priority well I

[27:26] won't say they wouldn't get um help at

[27:28] all but the priority would be to those

[27:30] who had loss of income or facing

[27:32] homeless as a result of that and there

[27:34] was no change in their income and

[27:35] ability to pay and that's what's causing

[27:37] this

[27:40] I'll

[27:42] always forget that I understand what

[27:44] you're saying I think the population

[27:45] we're talking about is all extremely low

[27:47] income so even if they didn't have a

[27:49] change in income they're still extremely

[27:52] low income

[27:53] I hear what you're saying yeah

[27:56] I mean the fact is there's some people

[27:59] who I've heard said that you know didn't

[28:01] have to pay rent didn't pay rent because

[28:02] they didn't have to pay rent not because

[28:03] they didn't have the ability to pay

[28:04] around so that's not uh I'm not

[28:06] anecdotal I mean I hear what you're

[28:08] saying but we can't I'm sorry but I just

[28:10] don't think that scalp I mean I really

[28:12] trust that scap is is expertise um Miss

[28:16] diode and her her staff's expertise in

[28:18] working with them

[28:20] um I would I would not want to vote for

[28:22] something that would put additional

[28:23] restrictions in but I know that will

[28:26] happen next week so

[28:28] um I don't I'm not on this committee

[28:30] so move it with the understanding to add

[28:32] those to uh those languages

[28:37] I'm not I think that we should be helping people that really need the help in in this

[28:44] situation final software they're all

[28:46] that's how I see this

[28:49] cool nature to play what

[28:51] um

[28:53] the subject to so authorizing this

[28:57] agreement subject to uh placing language

[29:00] within the agreement stating that the

[29:02] funding will be prioritized for people

[29:06] who are facing homelessness

[29:10] due to loss of income not

[29:14] with due to no fault of their own

[29:18] that's essentially what I've gathered

[29:21] from that

[29:23] go ahead again is it any fault of their

[29:25] own that inflation has has increased

[29:27] prices of everything around us I mean I

[29:30] just feel like that's a very I don't

[29:32] know how we make those judgment calls

[29:34] nor do I think that I want to make that

[29:36] judgment call The Challenge if I may I

[29:39] think the challenge will be

[29:42] well

[29:43] certainly the intent

[29:46] from the council or members of the

[29:47] councils there when scap is dealing with

[29:50] somebody they're now having to make that

[29:52] determination on whether or not the this

[29:56] is somebody's fault or not somebody's

[29:58] fault when using these resources and

[30:01] obviously I think there may be a level

[30:03] of subjectivity on whether or not

[30:06] somebody's responsible for their

[30:08] circumstances

[30:10] so I think there there is there may be

[30:13] some difficulty in their operations in

[30:16] determining who gets the funds and who

[30:17] doesn't because

[30:19] you know everybody's gonna have a story

[30:21] when they come in right so I I think

[30:23] where we might be getting hung up on

[30:25] Amazon around the language of fault of

[30:27] their own I think that if that if we are

[30:30] delinquishers that we are going to

[30:32] prioritize people who have um had loss

[30:35] of income and facing homelessness I

[30:37] think that I would imagine that that's

[30:39] probably

[30:40] really in line with what scap is doing

[30:43] anyway and sufficient enough language

[30:45] that we're gonna

[30:47] therefore that would get you out you

[30:49] know out of that place I think that

[30:50] you're talking about now you're in the

[30:51] group you're like now we're being really

[30:53] uh

[30:54] yeah

[30:56] we're making no judgment calls but I

[30:58] think that the intention is just

[30:59] prioritize people who needed the most

[31:00] due to Lost income that's fine

[31:04] it doesn't have to be false if they're

[31:06] wrong it's a subject of prioritizing the

[31:09] funds for people who are facing

[31:11] homelessness due to loss of income

[31:12] during covet is that

[31:17] however Ms Patrick that doesn't satisfy

[31:20] her well no I was sometimes

[31:22] not on this subcommittee

[31:24] um I just stand with what I've what I've

[31:26] previously said

[31:28] um and I just really know that

[31:30] population is you know

[31:32] that's good yeah I was just gonna say I

[31:35] mean um I think if I were to reach out

[31:38] and get some comment from scat that

[31:40] might resolve the issue if we know

[31:42] specifically what is is happening but

[31:48] so are we going to move forward

[31:54] I understand the support Field's point I

[31:58] actually agree with it the problem I

[32:02] have is how to improve loss of income

[32:05] in a lot of ways I mean some people will

[32:08] be able to other people won't

[32:10] and if we're waiting for steps

[32:13] information

[32:15] why not just move it forward

[32:19] as is

[32:22] and just move forward because apparently

[32:25] they have some sort of guidelines

[32:28] and I'd like to make sure that the

[32:29] guidelines are including that and I

[32:30] would love to have seen them today

[32:32] um

[32:37] just because it's it's I don't know how

[32:40] many of you I mean I'm just know that

[32:43] it's happening that there are people who

[32:45] just landlords have been complaining

[32:46] that people have not lost their income

[32:48] and are still not paying me rent we've

[32:50] heard from the landlords so I just want

[32:52] to make sure that as we're helping

[32:53] people we're helping those priorities

[32:55] and those who are not in that situation

[32:57] if you've ever been to any landlord

[32:58] meetings you'll hear it all the time

[33:00] you have a this program that's capital I

[33:04] mean Brooklyn is they've been doing this

[33:05] for years

[33:06] so at least they have something in place

[33:09] to carry on this program right so yeah

[33:13] they've just seen they've been doing it

[33:15] over here we've been following it

[33:17] so I don't doubt that but I just want to

[33:19] make sure that people who didn't pay

[33:22] them because they don't want to aren't

[33:24] the ones

[33:25] please

[33:27] so we can we can get a copy of the

[33:30] guidelines or how to go about doing it

[33:32] for us

[33:39] let's get this money out there the

[33:41] contract signed whatever they've been

[33:42] doing it we've been funding it for a

[33:44] long time let's see but let's just pass

[33:46] it as it is without any restrictions on

[33:48] the money

[33:49] at this point

[33:51] there's a restrictions

[33:58] without arm restrictions

[34:00] so it seems like we could

[34:03] potentially move forward right now

[34:05] getting it out of committee

[34:07] um as it is right now and

[34:11] explore what guidelines that scap has

[34:13] existing and so those two things can

[34:16] happen right yes okay so it seems like

[34:19] we're wrong I have one other question so

[34:22] if if doesn't have those five ones then

[34:24] if scat doesn't say

[34:27] if that's not part of it that's my

[34:29] question to the council actually not Mr

[34:31] Young

[34:34] I guess you'd vote against it next week

[34:35] giving them the funding um

[34:44] guidelines

[34:45] if they're not and I doubt but they

[34:48] would be not I'm sorry I don't weather

[34:54] so that's what we can use the same

[34:56] guidelines that they have currently to

[34:58] administer this one right so my question

[35:00] is if they don't have the guidelines

[35:02] saying that there was no you know a

[35:04] person who didn't pay rent just because

[35:06] they didn't pay rent because you could

[35:07] find that information out from the

[35:08] landlord or from wherever they get you

[35:10] know they're um not having homelessness

[35:12] anymore

[35:14] that's my question

[35:18] well with the council move this ahead

[35:20] does the uh could check tomorrow to see

[35:24] what the criteria is and their General

[35:27] Conformity on that

[35:29] have it ready to go for next Monday

[35:32] night

[35:33] as long as the general as long as that's

[35:35] there that's that's just my concern I've

[35:37] heard from the landlord's been to other

[35:39] meetings about how people are not paying

[35:40] their rent and have the ability

[35:43] so just want to make sure the people who

[35:45] don't pay the rent because they couldn't

[35:46] make sure they get the benefit from this

[35:48] Mr Coleman if I can make a suggestion

[35:51] um moving ahead as it was presented

[35:53] tonight

[35:55] um subject to obviously receiving you

[35:58] know the the guidelines that they have

[36:01] already set up and if they are not the

[36:04] guidelines that the council generally

[36:06] agrees with obviously can you know at

[36:10] the time of the resolution there would

[36:11] be time you vote on it then the

[36:14] languages are there you can always you

[36:17] know make an amendment to the resolution

[36:18] to add

[36:19] language that the council generally

[36:22] would be comfortable with

[36:24] and again hopefully we don't get to that

[36:27] point hopefully those guidelines that

[36:28] Scott followers are going to you know be

[36:31] amenable with counseling

[36:35] all right

[36:37] any other discussion today

[36:40] all in favor thank you the next item is

[36:44] authorization the Android contract or

[36:46] Schenectady County drug trading Agency

[36:48] for the summer youth employment

[36:53] um so this is related to the youth

[36:55] employment piece of the tree

[36:56] collaborative program

[36:58] um planning to move forward again goal

[37:00] is to plant 100 trees

[37:02] um recently we moved forward the portion

[37:04] for the the project management this is

[37:06] for the Youth Employment piece with sjta

[37:08] so it's for our contract with them to

[37:10] employ the needs for the program

[37:13] questions

[37:14] concerned we have a lotion

[37:17] all in favor all right the next item is

[37:21] follow-up are a contract

[37:26] yeah

[37:27] so yeah I asked the rooms to be put back

[37:30] on the agenda we haven't talked about in

[37:32] several months to see where we are with

[37:34] the contracts how much money has been

[37:36] expended not just allocated but actually

[37:39] spent so

[37:41] um I asked for it from we have and you

[37:43] both everyone should have information

[37:45] from the finance department and then

[37:48] Miss Diaz can just tell us the contacts

[37:50] are at this point

[37:52] um yeah so we've executed three of the

[37:55] contracts

[37:56] um that we have for the development

[37:57] projects um specifically

[38:00] um the other there's there's four more

[38:02] that are kind of in the final stages of

[38:04] just you know negotiations with bcni and

[38:07] for um seat Center and for the

[38:09] Schenectady Foundation

[38:12] um the remaining projects we're still

[38:14] waiting for the pre-contract

[38:16] requirements to be met so for people to

[38:18] actually submit the documentation to go

[38:21] to contract

[38:22] um and then there are other ones where

[38:26] we have gotten no response

[38:29] um I think the Aquatic Center is one

[38:32] um

[38:33] so I mean you know I'm not gonna I

[38:35] wasn't going to go through line by line

[38:36] but essentially we've executed three

[38:38] contracts we have four that are pretty

[38:40] much ready to go

[38:42] um and then the remaining is either has

[38:43] contingencies or we're waiting um on the

[38:46] pre-contract requirements we have had

[38:48] communication with most of the projects

[38:52] um

[38:53] you know in response to the pre-contract

[38:55] questions and things like that so it's

[38:57] been ongoing communication but we're

[38:59] just waiting for those those items to be

[39:01] able to move forward these three

[39:03] contracts that we have we already

[39:04] executed uh the YWCA for their critical

[39:07] Capital needs State Inc for Steakhouse

[39:11] and um Bethesda House of Schenectady for

[39:13] the Care House support housing

[39:17] and those were three that were kind of

[39:19] critical needs as well so

[39:21] um

[39:22] it was good that they've been been

[39:24] executed

[39:30] okay

[39:34] please can we get a listing of the

[39:39] contracts that have not provided any

[39:41] responses to you yep the only reason why

[39:44] I believe that is I think we should be

[39:45] proactive with money that's returned

[39:47] back and try to identify additional

[39:50] needs which include new projects for

[39:53] consideration or how do we triage what

[39:55] has already been submitted

[40:07] so I know that the green Mark in

[40:11] particular says that they'd sent their

[40:12] information in so is there a like a time

[40:15] frame when they can expect that or if

[40:17] you have one off the top of your head um

[40:20] information

[40:22] as far as I'm aware okay

[40:24] so okay so it would be kind of a

[40:27] specific discussion okay

[40:41] so all the things up here like the

[40:43] empowerment program none of that would

[40:46] be included in materials in terms of

[40:48] that that's all City stuff yes the city

[40:50] stuff is not we're not overseeing okay

[40:58] all right um and then the other reason

[41:00] for bringing this forward I'm sure that

[41:01] you maybe I'm not sure but it may have

[41:03] heard um I had a conversation with Mr

[41:06] Ferrari last week that there was some

[41:08] conversation that the federal government

[41:09] might be trying to claw back some money

[41:11] if money wasn't spent from not just

[41:13] Schenectady but other other

[41:14] municipalities so I just want to make

[41:16] sure that they're like being on top of

[41:18] making sure the money's allocated and

[41:20] spent so that that doesn't um apply to

[41:22] us he didn't give us the specific

[41:24] guidelines maybe

[41:25] um Derek knows those I don't know but I

[41:28] just wanted to you know let everyone

[41:29] know that that's happening that's at

[41:31] least been a conversation so we don't

[41:33] want that to happen you never want to

[41:35] give back grant money or have it taken

[41:36] back from you so

[41:38] um so we really should be like moving

[41:40] ahead and um also I guess this is really

[41:43] a question for the mayor in terms of um

[41:46] will we be able to hire a consultant to

[41:47] help oversee some of these these

[41:50] projects

[41:51] I know that we discussed it like months

[41:53] ago you said that that was in the works

[41:54] can we continue to review it at this

[41:57] point we've not hired anybody but we're

[41:59] still moving through the process of

[42:01] getting contracts in place and then

[42:03] being able to administer and going

[42:05] forward

[42:07] um so when we I know that we also losing

[42:09] somebody from development so is that

[42:12] something we can do you know more

[42:13] quickly I know that he's been really

[42:15] involved with with doing it so it seems

[42:17] like um

[42:18] density

[42:19] okay

[42:22] um so that seems like it's like more of

[42:24] a critical need now that we're losing

[42:26] another person again in a conversation

[42:28] with Mr Ferrari said that he would be

[42:30] able to manage this in the short term so

[42:34] we can continue to do ongoing

[42:36] Recruitment and move forward this

[42:39] process of getting the contracts in

[42:41] place

[42:43] and so I guess in in terms of writing

[42:46] the contracts is that coming out of the

[42:47] Law Department has drafted a

[42:53] contract that can be used pretty much

[42:56] for all of the projects involving

[42:59] outside agencies

[43:01] we're working though with development

[43:03] when they have to be

[43:05] um you know I think tailored to the

[43:06] particular project so I know we've been

[43:10] working with Miss Dia and Mr Gray in

[43:13] terms of doing that fine Tailoring

[43:17] so this does that mean you provided them

[43:20] a template and they're just filling in

[43:21] the blanks because you provided them

[43:23] with the time with and

[43:25] um they've done asked questions about

[43:26] you know if if something has to be

[43:28] tailored for a particular project or

[43:30] particular agency we've done stuff in to

[43:33] provide assistance

[43:35] and then we review it before it gets

[43:37] finalized for the mayor

[43:43] so how about I guess how

[43:45] is it in terms of your office able to be

[43:48] able to generate all this stuff is I

[43:49] mean if it's uncomfortable to talk about

[43:51] publicly let me know but

[43:53] I mean you know we just have to come up

[43:56] with the program and what the guidelines

[43:59] are and just all of the details and that

[44:01] takes time you know I think it takes

[44:02] time with any contract that we do

[44:04] because of all the stimulus funding yeah

[44:06] it's a lot you know it's a lot more that

[44:08] both development and law have to

[44:11] um

[44:12] you don't have to have to make work

[44:14] so yeah it's you know

[44:18] I don't know what else to say about yeah

[44:20] it's a lot it's a lot of extra work

[44:22] um but we were trying to manage it

[44:24] accordingly

[44:26] um

[44:29] I think a lot of it also happens once

[44:31] the contracts are executed just ensuring

[44:33] compliance making sure that people are

[44:35] reporting that's going to be the biggest

[44:37] because everybody's going to want to see

[44:39] you know the council is going to want to

[44:40] see it what did the ARP of funding that

[44:43] we allocated what did it do right we

[44:46] want to be able to track that so that

[44:47] happens later on once the money's

[44:50] actually being spent a lot of it's not

[44:52] happening early on it's just getting the

[44:53] documentation as the seat said and

[44:56] reaching out to the organization is

[44:58] trying to make sure that you know if

[44:59] they have funding contingencies that

[45:01] they haven't lined up so we have a

[45:03] better sense of is this project going to

[45:05] move forward is it not going to move

[45:06] forward

[45:07] mm-hmm

[45:12] please I appreciate

[45:15] um

[45:16] I don't imagine any Department that's

[45:18] going to get up there and say we're

[45:20] drowning and I appreciate it more

[45:22] definitely comes at a cost and

[45:25] definitely that that cost is the

[45:27] teamwork that you're doing and your

[45:29] ability to do it efficiently and

[45:30] effectively and that's something that we

[45:32] have to weigh but for myself I think

[45:34] whenever a year given whenever I'm

[45:36] giving more tasks what helps is seeing

[45:38] the light at the end of the tunnel I'm

[45:39] sorry Mr Mayor you said that you're in

[45:41] the stages of bringing on a Consulting

[45:43] service if you wouldn't mind just

[45:44] clarifying what stage are you vetting

[45:47] applicants are you receiving applicants

[45:49] or where's yeah if you don't mind I've

[45:51] extended an offer to one person who

[45:55] enjoying the planning department staff

[45:57] anticipate that happening the next

[46:00] couple of weeks

[46:01] again Mr Ferrari is telling me that he's

[46:04] able to

[46:06] handle this in the short term

[46:09] and then depending on

[46:12] what I'll say the complexity of some of

[46:15] the contracts whether we would use some

[46:18] of the Consultants that we already have

[46:20] under contract

[46:22] the engineering department whether

[46:24] there's

[46:27] building buildings it's different than

[46:30] it's a program delivery and so

[46:34] as we move through this it stole

[46:37] somewhat fluid in terms of what the

[46:39] actual demand will be in how complex it

[46:43] will be

[46:45] at this point we haven't gotten a lot of

[46:48] the information back so that we're able

[46:49] to enter into contracts

[46:52] you know that is moving forward

[46:55] thank you

[47:01] well would it be helpful to have a

[47:02] Consultants to win the follow-up that's

[47:05] like like these people who aren't you

[47:07] know sitting in their context for

[47:08] whatever reason if you may need texts

[47:10] you support would it be helpful for that

[47:12] I understand what Mr Colden is saying

[47:14] that at the end they need somebody to do

[47:16] with the compliance but we're not only

[47:19] are we giving them a timeline we're also

[47:21] operating on a timeline and that this

[47:23] money has to be allocated and then spent

[47:24] by a certain time so the law where we it

[47:27] lingers out there then you know we're in

[47:30] um Jeopardy of not either having it

[47:32] taken back or not being able to spend it

[47:35] um in the way that we initially

[47:36] allocated it so does it make sense now

[47:39] for us to be looking for someone who can

[47:42] actually follow up with people if if the

[47:45] department of development is not doesn't

[47:46] have the the staff to do it

[47:52] well yes I am looking at that

[47:55] the actual contracts that are in place

[47:57] in our workload that we will staff at an

[48:00] adequate level to make sure that we can

[48:03] appropriately administer those to get

[48:06] the projects done and

[48:08] have compliance and the money is

[48:10] expended in an appropriate manner

[48:16] okay would you like to see us back in

[48:21] two weeks please

[48:29] the next item is the annual Pharmacy

[48:32] exterior building for the Earth

[48:36] several years ago we started this

[48:38] program

[48:41] and this program has been it's a success

[48:43] story out there in the community

[48:49] so what I'm looking for because with

[48:52] your support to continue this

[48:54] programming this year

[48:56] and I have this evening Gmail use on the

[48:59] back of documents last year we were able

[49:02] to give back to our community in 17 000

[49:04] to 100 million dollars

[49:08] or exterior building for it and that has

[49:11] to do with 90 rooms for me at 123 the

[49:14] jungle four minutes and 29 stands for

[49:17] minutes

[49:18] so I

[49:20] because of the success we're getting

[49:22] from the program I realized so

[49:31] exterior work of the building

[49:35] any questions

[49:38] all in favor

[49:40] um thank you any other business oral

[49:42] Finance yeah I just wanted to mention

[49:44] one more thing we didn't ask Mr Google

[49:46] want to um to speak at all regarding the

[49:49] um the financial piece of this is there

[49:51] anything you wanted to discuss with us

[49:52] regarding friends or piece of the arpa

[49:54] funding is there any questions

[49:58] that I sent to you

[50:03] I'm sorry

[50:12] um

[50:20] so we have three projects on this list

[50:24] that are construction

[50:25] uh we have a few that are in the design

[50:27] base do that on hold and a few that are

[50:31] attending if you know more on these

[50:34] sites where the project is but if you're

[50:37] looking at the numbers where we actually

[50:39] spent in conferences how much you have

[50:42] left over uh

[50:43] okay so like specifically when we

[50:48] when I said when you sent it I asked the

[50:50] email

[50:51] um I was looking through all of them I

[50:53] was looking specifically it said that I

[50:55] mean we know that that's the um General

[50:57] Brown's been broken we know that's all

[50:59] happened but the one million still sits

[51:01] so I was wondering how that

[51:04] looks like that

[51:07] I mean and basically from what I

[51:10] understand it's uh if there's a

[51:13] shortfall or if there's another project

[51:14] that might be allocated towards the

[51:17] certain product from doing this at the

[51:19] park

[51:24] to answer that question for you

[51:29] I did but we didn't spend any of it on

[51:31] the project is that what you said we

[51:33] haven't it's it's been allocated but

[51:35] there hasn't been any actual specters

[51:37] coming out of that obviously

[51:40] okay I will ask Mr wrong because I'm not

[51:47] really clear on how that works when the

[51:48] actual work has been done we've seen it

[51:49] since it's been done so I'm sure

[51:52] ready

[52:03] foreign

[52:12] so you have actual 408 000 617.79 that's

[52:17] actually being spent out of that right

[52:18] and this is well then

[52:21] that that is just a Central Park that's

[52:24] just an overall if there's any other

[52:25] improvements that are required so it is

[52:27] to walk away some of the lighting

[52:29] movements

[52:44] see

[52:45] we have uh four million approximately

[52:49] actual uh 9.5 million conversations

[52:55] all right

[52:57] good question is this money been

[53:00] contracted uh so with the breakout sheet

[53:04] I don't know if you have that department

[53:06] analysis

[53:09] um did you see the codes next to it says

[53:12] cn97 so on so forth those are the

[53:16] contracts we have otherwise we don't put

[53:18] it in our nearest accounting system

[53:23] okay what's up all right thank you

[53:27] any other questions motion to a jar

[53:31] all in favor thank you

[53:34] I'd like to call the order of student

[53:36] development and planning we have mine

[53:38] items on the agenda

[53:40] the first item is just a reminder for

[53:43] the determination of the secret

[53:46] of the environmental significance of

[53:50] rezoning parcels between Hamilton and

[53:52] Schenectady strong streets and parts of

[53:54] Summit Avenue and the public hearing

[53:56] will be on May 22nd

[53:59] any questions about that okay something

[54:02] motion

[54:07] the parcels between Hamilton Schenectady

[54:10] strong streets and parts of Summit

[54:11] Avenue Muslim street from R1 to R2

[54:16] and the public hearing for that will be

[54:17] also on 522.

[54:20] any questions

[54:22] okay item number three an appointment

[54:25] through the civilian police review board

[54:27] mayor McCarthy

[54:30] the police Community review board is

[54:32] comprised of members that are

[54:35] submitted from various groups

[54:39] from their submission but we're supposed

[54:42] to submit to I submit names to the

[54:45] council there is one position that is at

[54:48] my discretion going forward into the

[54:51] council for your consideration Mr

[54:53] Magoo's name

[54:58] any questions yeah another question um a

[55:01] comment I just wanted to thank Rose for

[55:03] her years of dedication to this board I

[55:05] think a lot of people forget that it

[55:06] functions very much that the intent of

[55:09] being an objective voice with respect to

[55:11] how investigations are completed at the

[55:13] police department

[55:14] sometimes those conversations can become

[55:17] a little testy but I appreciate any

[55:19] individual that's willing to volunteer

[55:20] their time to support this process

[55:23] moving forward and she very much has

[55:25] remained in place and I would like to

[55:28] publicly just appreciate her and I look

[55:29] forward to this new individual stepping

[55:31] in and filling that needs as well

[55:33] any other questions or comments

[55:36] um

[55:39] thank you uh the ceremony resolution is

[55:43] for the Caribbean National National

[55:45] Heritage Month Mr motive Aaron thank you

[55:48] June is being recognized as a national

[55:50] Caribbean American Heritage monthly

[55:53] resolution to recognize the contribution

[55:56] towards our city

[55:58] any questions

[56:03] uh ceremonial resolution recognizing

[56:05] Pastor Felicia Collins Mr Palomino yes

[56:07] uh Pastor Collins has been called to

[56:10] another church she served our community

[56:12] very well and I think it's appropriate

[56:15] we recognize her questions or comments

[56:18] I'm moving second all the favor all

[56:21] right thank you uh item number six the

[56:23] ceremony resolution of recognizing uh

[56:25] five months 2023 there was a request

[56:28] that was sent to us to do a ceremony

[56:30] resolution for that to be presented on

[56:32] June 3rd at the event and so um he's

[56:35] putting that forward for resolution any

[56:37] questions

[56:41] the last three items will be an

[56:43] executive session for property sales so

[56:46] at this time I'd like to entertain a

[56:47] motion for Teresa

[56:52] thank you

[56:54] I'd like to call to order our government

[56:57] operations one item on the agenda and

[56:59] you have to go into executive assessment

[57:01] for this item

[57:02] yeah

[57:05] okay good I've submitted the council for

[57:08] your approval and then to the collective

[57:11] bargaining agreement which

[57:15] is

[57:19] Executives

[57:24] the council has questions if you go into

[57:28] executive session and do some things

[57:29] that will just be public information on

[57:32] it and what the questions

[57:34] thank you

[57:38] I'm fine

[57:42] and one of the components of this which

[57:46] we're trying to do across the board is

[57:50] under the pay system that has existed in

[57:53] the city for as long as people can

[57:54] remember

[57:55] we pay people

[57:58] before they've actually worked so you

[58:02] get your paycheck on Thursday for work

[58:06] that we hope they'll do on Friday

[58:10] everybody works on Friday very hard

[58:13] uh

[58:14] it's been looked at in the audits it's a

[58:18] it's flagged as an item in in this uh

[58:22] we're looking to eliminate that so that

[58:27] there'll be a lag payroll so the work

[58:29] you do this week you will get paid

[58:33] next week

[58:35] and in that we're going to give the

[58:38] employees one extra week of pay at the

[58:42] end of the year to balance it out you

[58:44] have today in the pay system

[58:47] uh

[58:49] depending on when the calendar is

[58:53] that individuals end up with a very

[58:56] small paycheck or mid-size paycheck

[59:00] almost never you get a full paycheck and

[59:03] so it's to balance that out at the end

[59:04] of the year negotiated with the Union to

[59:07] again

[59:10] smooth that out at the end and then also

[59:12] bring us into compliance so that we'll

[59:14] have a lag in the payroll so that it

[59:18] will allow for uh

[59:21] the elimination of the possibility of

[59:24] somebody getting paid and they're not

[59:25] actually doing the work

[59:29] what's being proposed in the in what you

[59:33] have before you is for new as it applies

[59:36] right now if you're new buyers

[59:38] um we haven't

[59:39] come to terms yet with this is obviously

[59:42] for CSEA

[59:44] like that to apply at some time in the

[59:47] future for obviously all employees with

[59:49] such a neglective bargaining so as it

[59:52] applies now before the new folks coming

[59:55] on board for csca

[59:59] but the anticipation will be that this

[1:00:02] will eventually apply to everyone we

[1:00:04] just have to obviously because we've

[1:00:06] been going through this system for such

[1:00:07] a long time

[1:00:09] figuring out how to exactly get that

[1:00:12] accomplished one and to negotiate an

[1:00:15] agreement with the unions because it is

[1:00:17] such a collective bargaining so that

[1:00:19] will come back to the city council at a

[1:00:21] future oil so this is just from the new

[1:00:24] Iris with CSEA

[1:00:26] so this

[1:00:28] makes a lot of sense to me

[1:00:30] um I guess my own question would be

[1:00:33] um it was just something that you know

[1:00:34] what was the function of it operating

[1:00:36] the way that it's operating up until

[1:00:38] this point is that just another one of

[1:00:40] those things that just happened that way

[1:00:41] because they've been happening that way

[1:00:42] or is there uh uh you know some thought

[1:00:46] around this or they just serve a purpose

[1:00:48] I wish I could tell you I'm sorry

[1:00:52] so that it was put in place

[1:00:56] 50 years ago six years ago one of those

[1:01:00] things is happening yeah and the obvious

[1:01:02] concern is that somebody

[1:01:04] works I don't know gets paid on a

[1:01:06] Wednesday that's it you some people hits

[1:01:09] their accounts on Wednesday for me it's

[1:01:11] a Thursday but some people actually just

[1:01:12] pretend on one set if they're not there

[1:01:14] on Friday they would have this mayor

[1:01:16] indicated gotten paid for a day that

[1:01:18] they didn't work which is

[1:01:19] obviously not ideal clearly allows us to

[1:01:23] resolve that issue

[1:01:26] so what other contracts so right now

[1:01:28] this is for CSEA new empires going

[1:01:31] forward when would this come up again

[1:01:33] for other this will apply to all the

[1:01:36] references new employees who will apply

[1:01:38] to all CSEA after the first of the year

[1:01:41] so after

[1:01:43] January 1st or whatever that first paper

[1:01:45] it is everybody will be effectively a

[1:01:48] lag payroll and we're trying to

[1:01:52] negotiate it in the other contracts

[1:01:55] where that is applicable

[1:01:58] so it's not just new hires it's everyone

[1:02:00] it would be new hires between now and

[1:02:04] the end of the year after January 1st

[1:02:07] it'll apply to everybody in CSEA

[1:02:10] bargaining units for this agreement okay so um

[1:02:17] that's not how it's written here

[1:02:20] attached to this is the Moss

[1:02:28] any other questions comments as soon as

[1:02:30] we're on this

[1:02:32] [Music]

[1:02:39] so

[1:02:46] second

[1:02:48] I thought I was unboxing so it's me and

[1:02:51] no no it's me

[1:02:57] I rent Donna I write this down wrong

[1:02:59] every week okay sorry about that it's

[1:03:02] like there's four people in the

[1:03:03] community

[1:03:05] okay

[1:03:11] Mr Golden I don't have the mou attached

[1:03:28] that is it

[1:03:30] this is one said new Arizona but I'm

[1:03:32] looking for what he explained

[1:03:34] I don't have no I don't have what you're

[1:03:36] looking at but it's fine I'll get it

[1:03:38] okay I don't have that okay well he said

[1:03:42] there's an mou in the machine because

[1:03:44] that one says new hires that one says

[1:03:49] [Music]

[1:03:52] all CSE employees will receive an extra

[1:03:55] check so that the employer shall move

[1:03:58] from a Payday

[1:04:00] uh payroll Jewel lag payroll

[1:04:04] and then it's all CSE employees that's

[1:04:07] affected the last pay period of December

[1:04:10] 20.

[1:04:13] okay

[1:04:17] because I'm looking at that I'm not sure

[1:04:24] it didn't coincide with discussion so I

[1:04:26] just want to make sure

[1:04:29] I like to reconvene

[1:04:31] um

[1:04:32] see developmental planning

[1:04:34] oh

[1:04:37] and then we'll go to the second session

[1:04:41] I'd like to reconvene City development

[1:04:43] planning the final items are um for

[1:04:46] executive session so I'd like to ask for

[1:04:48] motion to go in the second session um

[1:04:50] all's in favor all right okay the public

[1:04:53] will have to leave

Schenectady City Council Committee Meeting, May 15, 2023

Transcript