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[2:26] thank you

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[7:27] all right foreign

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[7:54] thank you

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[11:08] thank you

[11:20] I'd like to call the city Caucus meeting

[11:23] to order for Monday June 12 2023.

[11:26] we have 19 items for original

[11:28] consideration if the clerk would please

[11:30] read item number one item number one for

[11:32] original consideration a resolution

[11:34] declaring that the amendment of chapter

[11:36] 264 the zoning of the code of the city

[11:39] of Schenectady relating to the rezoning

[11:41] of multiple Parcels between Hamilton

[11:43] Street Schenectady Street Strong Street

[11:45] and parts of Summit Avenue and Mumford

[11:46] street from the R1 single family

[11:48] residential district to the R22 family

[11:51] residential district will not have a

[11:53] significant impact on the environment

[11:55] discussed in committee with objection on

[11:57] consent item number two item number two

[12:00] for final consideration an ordinance

[12:01] amending chapter 264 zoning of the code

[12:03] of the city of Schenectady changing the

[12:06] zoning classification of multiple tax

[12:07] Parcels located between Hamilton Street

[12:10] Schenectady Street Strong Street and

[12:11] parts of Summit Avenue and Mumford

[12:13] Street discussed in committee with

[12:15] objection on consent item number three for original

[12:18] consideration a resolution accepting the

[12:20] 2022 external audit

[12:22] discussed in committee without objection

[12:24] on consent item number four item number

[12:27] four for original consideration a

[12:29] resolution authorizing an agreement with

[12:30] the Capital District YMCA for the

[12:33] 2023-2024 HUD Continuum of Care

[12:36] discussed in committee without objection

[12:37] on consent item number five item number

[12:40] five for original consideration a

[12:42] resolution authorizing an agreement with

[12:43] Metroplex Development Authority for the

[12:45] North Center Street reconstruction

[12:47] discussed in committee without objection

[12:49] on consent item number six item number

[12:52] six for original consideration and

[12:53] resolution authorizing the waiver of

[12:55] apprenticeship requirements for the

[12:57] Schenectady Municipal Golf Course

[12:59] irrigation installation discussed in

[13:01] committee without objection on consent

[13:03] item number seven item number seven for

[13:05] original consideration a resolution

[13:07] authorizing an agreement with the land

[13:08] reutilization Corporation of the Capital

[13:11] District for Dem for demolition of 715

[13:13] Rankin Avenue discussed in committee

[13:15] without objection and on consent item

[13:17] number eight item number eight for

[13:19] original consideration the resolution

[13:20] authorized on the sale of 715 Rankin

[13:23] Avenue for three thousand dollars

[13:24] discussed in committee without objection

[13:26] on consent item number nine item number

[13:29] nine for original consideration a

[13:30] resolution authorizing the issuance of

[13:32] revocable permit number 675 to 101 State

[13:35] Street partners LLC for two signs that

[13:38] will encroach the city's right away at

[13:40] 101 State Street discussed in committee

[13:42] without objection on consent item number

[13:43] 10 item number 10 for original

[13:45] consideration a resolution authorizing

[13:47] the sale of 1012 Eastern Avenue for one

[13:49] thousand five hundred dollars discussed

[13:51] in committee with objection on consent

[13:53] item number 11 item number 11 for

[13:56] original consideration a resolution

[13:57] authorized on the sale of 2315 van

[13:59] Franken Avenue for fifty two thousand

[14:01] dollars discussed in committee with

[14:03] objection on consent item number 12.

[14:05] for original

[14:06] consideration

[14:08] a resolution commemorating June 14th as

[14:10] Flag Day item number 12 will be taken

[14:13] out of order and presented by council

[14:14] member Patrick

[14:17] item number 13. item number 13 for

[14:19] original consideration a resolution

[14:21] recognizing the celebration of

[14:22] Juneteenth discussed in committee with

[14:24] objection on consent this resolution

[14:26] will be presented at a later date

[14:29] item number 14 for original

[14:30] consideration a resolution recognizing

[14:32] Sergeant Robert Becker

[14:35] discussed and committee with objection

[14:36] on consent they honored uh Sergeant

[14:38] Becker on this past Saturday and the

[14:40] resolution will presented to him

[14:41] personally

[14:43] item number 15. item number 15 for

[14:46] original consideration a resolution

[14:47] authorizing the settlement of a claim by

[14:49] Crystal penicia discussed in committee

[14:52] with objection on consent item number

[14:54] 16. item number 16 under contract and

[14:57] Supply a resolution authorizing mayor

[14:59] are his designee to enter into an

[15:01] agreement with calanan Industries for

[15:03] the 2023 Schenectady chips pavering

[15:05] program base bid and Alternate one and

[15:07] the amount of four million 465

[15:10] 591.33 discussed in committee with

[15:13] objection on consent item number 17 item

[15:16] number 17 under contract and supply

[15:18] a resolution authorized the mayor or his

[15:21] designee to enter into an agreement with

[15:22] still sending Electric Incorporated for

[15:24] the Central Park a diamond Lighting in

[15:26] the amount of seven hundred and sixteen

[15:28] thousand two hundred dollars to

[15:29] discussed in committee with objection on

[15:31] consent item number 18 item number 18

[15:33] under contract and Supply a resolution

[15:35] authorizing the mayor are his Destiny to

[15:38] enter into an agreement with James H

[15:39] Malloy Incorporated for the Michigan

[15:41] Avenue baseball field wall in the amount

[15:43] of eighty three thousand nine hundred

[15:45] and fifty dollars the discussed in

[15:47] committee with objection on consent item

[15:49] number 19 item number 19 under contract

[15:51] and Supply a resolution authorizing the

[15:53] mayor or his designate to enter into an

[15:55] agreement with Newcastle Paving LLC for

[15:58] the North College Street rehabilitation

[15:59] in the amount of 412 000

[16:03] 261.79 discussed in committee with

[16:06] objection on consent

[16:08] there's nothing more to come before the

[16:10] city council caucus I ask for a motion

[16:12] to adjourn moved by Ms Patrick second by

[16:14] Mr Williams all those in favor

[16:16] aye we're adjourned I'd like to call the

[16:18] city council meeting to order for Monday

[16:20] June 12 2023.

[16:23] I'd like to ask for everyone to stand

[16:25] and we'd have a moment of silence

[16:28] and you can reflect as whatever your own

[16:31] beliefs are

[16:44] thank you I'd like to call on the city

[16:46] clerk Samantha Miku for the Pledge of

[16:48] Allegiance

[17:00] liberty and justice for all

[17:03] thank you

[17:08] [Music]

[17:14] item number 12. it's a resolution

[17:16] commemorating June 14th is Flag Day

[17:18] council member Patrick

[17:24] over here

[17:29] Madam president may have the floor you

[17:31] have the floor sir ma'am thank you so um

[17:34] June 14th is Flag Day I'd like to

[17:36] introduce um Jesus Santiago who's the

[17:39] director of Veterans Affairs for

[17:40] Schenectady County who's here today to

[17:43] um take the resolution from us

[17:46] whereas on June 14 2023 millions of

[17:50] Americans everywhere will observe Flag

[17:52] Day

[17:53] and whereas we pause on Flag Day to

[17:55] celebrate the history and symbolism of

[17:58] the flag of the United States of America

[18:01] and whereas what we know fondly as the

[18:03] stars and stripes and Old Glory was

[18:06] adopted by the Continental Congress as

[18:08] the official American flag on June 14

[18:11] 1777 during the Revolutionary War and

[18:15] whereas the first American flag was

[18:16] designed to represent the 13 original

[18:18] colonies with 13 white stars on a blue

[18:22] field and 13 alternating red and white

[18:25] stripes with the Stars arranged in a

[18:27] circle based on the idea that all

[18:30] colonies were equal

[18:32] and whereas in 1782 the Congress of the

[18:35] Articles of Confederation chose the

[18:37] colors for the Great Seal of the United

[18:39] States with these meanings

[18:41] white for Purity and innocence red for

[18:45] Valor and hardiness blue for vigilance

[18:48] perseverance and justice

[18:50] and whereas in 1818 the United States

[18:53] Congress decided to retain the flag's

[18:55] original 13 stripes and add new stars to

[18:58] reflect each new state that entered the

[19:01] Union

[19:01] and whereas in 1916 President Woodrow

[19:05] Wilson issued a proclamation that

[19:07] officially established June 14th as Flag

[19:10] Day

[19:12] and whereas in 1949 national flag day

[19:15] was established by an act of Congress

[19:17] and whereas since 1960 50 stars on the

[19:21] flag represent each state in the Union

[19:24] and whereas Flag Day reminds us that we

[19:27] are one country United despite our

[19:29] disagreements

[19:31] now therefore be it resolved that on

[19:33] June 14 2023 Mayor Gary McCarthy and the

[19:37] city council of the city of Schenectady

[19:39] respectfully asked that all Schenectady

[19:42] residents pause to reflect on the

[19:44] blessings of the United States of

[19:46] America by offering a prayer of

[19:48] Thanksgiving for our democracy our unity

[19:51] and our independence

[19:54] I'd like to make a motion

[19:56] to accept the resolution

[19:58] a second

[20:00] Mr blueberry second all those in favor

[20:03] aye thank you most impact

[20:10] on behalf of the Sandy County Veterans

[20:12] Services I want to thank the council

[20:14] and I'm chair and the mayor I almost

[20:17] promoted you sir I'm sorry

[20:19] if that's willing I want to greatly

[20:21] appreciate it for for this opportunity

[20:23] and if you know any veterans please come

[20:25] out and reach out to us so we can help Okay thank you very much

[20:28] have a great day I keep a joke for you

[20:30] guys thank you

[20:40] click please complete the Roll Call

[20:43] Mr motivaran Mr Toro

[20:46] Mr Farley Mr Williams

[20:49] Miss Patrick

[20:51] Mr palomini Miss Porterfield here

[20:55] I'd ask for approval of the minutes from

[20:56] May 22nd 2023.

[20:59] moved by Mr Williams second by Mr

[21:01] motivaran all in favor

[21:04] the clerk could please read any

[21:06] Communications and petitions

[21:11] Communications presented to city council

[21:13] for Monday June 12 2023 under official

[21:16] there were none under General from Mark

[21:19] Baker an email explaining to health

[21:20] hazard from the radiation of LED street

[21:23] lights

[21:24] and under petitions there were none

[21:27] like the colony City Council Members to

[21:29] provide committee reports

[21:32] any committee reports

[21:35] this time we'll have privilege of the

[21:36] floor on related to the legislative

[21:39] agenda and just before I um actually do

[21:42] that I just want to make a statement an

[21:45] individual came to me because they'd

[21:46] come here to have privilege of the floor

[21:48] and after they spoke to say what they

[21:50] want to talk about they said that they

[21:52] were approached by someone in the

[21:54] audience about what they spoke about so

[21:56] everyone here that comes here to speak

[21:57] has a right to say whatever it is on

[21:59] their mind as long as they're going by

[22:00] the guidelines with profanity and

[22:02] attacking people and all the things that

[22:04] are in our guidelines so other than that

[22:05] we just ask people to respectfully

[22:07] accept that other people have a right to

[22:09] speak here at this committee meeting

[22:11] without any feeling any fear of backlash

[22:13] or from anyone else that's here just

[22:15] wanted to make that statement because an

[22:17] individual did reach out to me and also

[22:19] indicated that other council members had

[22:21] um had observed what happened this well

[22:23] so I just wanted to make it clear that

[22:24] you're all welcome here to say what it

[22:26] is that you have to say as long as you

[22:27] go by the rules that are written out

[22:29] clearly on our statements in terms of

[22:31] the protocol with making making

[22:34] statements here at this rail

[22:36] so we have no one signed up for

[22:37] privilege of the floor for the

[22:39] legislative agenda so I declare that

[22:41] public comment closed

[22:45] I asked for approval of the legislative

[22:46] agenda

[22:48] we'll move by Mr motivir in second by

[22:50] Miss Patrick all those in favor

[22:53] will now have privilege of the floor

[22:55] regarding to General City business and I

[22:57] see that four people are signed up

[22:59] the first person is Kathy Sullivan

[23:04] hello everyone how are you

[23:06] I just really came to see

[23:08] um who might have the courage to look me

[23:10] in the eye tonight

[23:11] um people I've contacted and uh once I

[23:15] gave them my address

[23:17] contact sort of ceased

[23:20] um

[23:20] my address is still fake doesn't exist I

[23:24] moved there 15 years ago it's on hungry

[23:26] Hill

[23:27] 15 years ago

[23:30] and it was fake then it's still fake now

[23:33] the number puts me in the town of

[23:36] Rotterdam not in Schenectady thus

[23:39] denying me the right to vote thus

[23:41] denying me any uh access to any um

[23:46] small business loans anything in the

[23:49] city of Schenectady

[23:51] um

[23:53] there is toxic sludge there are

[23:55] inaccurate pieces of information

[23:58] other pieces that I can't get from

[24:01] everyone that I've asked you know the

[24:04] people that you think that are tasked

[24:07] with helping the community that agencies

[24:11] council members these kinds of people

[24:15] you think that they are here to help you

[24:18] well my education since covet has been

[24:21] different

[24:22] very different information was all I was

[24:25] looking for never asked for anything

[24:27] except information that's what I was

[24:30] looking for information advocacy these

[24:32] sorts of things that's all that's all I

[24:35] moved into where I moved where I live when my son was five years old he's

[24:41] 20 now

[24:43] I didn't know anything about this

[24:45] nothing was disclosed to me there was no

[24:46] certificate of occupancy no one told me

[24:49] anything about the surrounding area busy

[24:52] single mom you drive past things every

[24:54] day you think you all are here to

[24:57] protect us from these sorts of things

[24:58] yeah my my research

[25:01] shows that there's concern

[25:04] in that area period

[25:06] you all either know it or don't but

[25:09] there is no one even has the guts to

[25:11] come and talk to me about what I know

[25:14] about what I've researched I spent three

[25:16] years I've worked since I was 17 years

[25:18] old nearly every day

[25:21] I've paid my dues

[25:24] in a lot of ways that some of you don't

[25:25] know and some of you do

[25:29] all I ask is information I ask respect

[25:32] same respect I gave you when I all voted

[25:35] for all of you all of you I was a

[25:38] Democrat my whole life

[25:40] now I only want to vote for people that

[25:42] can look me in the eye

[25:44] that's all I Came to Say

[25:47] thank you

[25:49] Wayne Harper

[25:58] you know Marion I didn't think I put my

[26:01] name down on four blank lines so that I

[26:04] didn't have to speak that soon but hello

[26:06] Miriam

[26:07] you didn't want to say hello to me at

[26:09] the committee meeting I certainly did

[26:11] say hello sir

[26:12] yeah that's all right now

[26:16] I'm going to send out a request to the

[26:19] community to the 10 people that might be

[26:20] watching

[26:22] today was my start of my fourth week of

[26:25] picketing at the Albany VA hospital that

[26:27] fella from the county he was upset when

[26:29] I told him why would you want to pick it

[26:31] well why wouldn't I he didn't care about

[26:33] my agenda he just got upset because he's

[26:35] with the county

[26:38] um so I'm asking any veterans that might

[26:40] want to come and support me I'll give

[26:42] you my agenda and why I'm there

[26:43] especially any first air Cavalry that

[26:46] might be out there maybe you can get

[26:48] word to them

[26:50] uh the other thing I want to say is I

[26:52] shed my blood for the right to speak

[26:53] here

[26:55] as did a lot of veterans and this

[26:57] business if it's a privilege and I'm

[27:00] going to be looking into that uh what's

[27:02] it what do they call it the open

[27:03] meetings law what is that law is it

[27:06] says it's a privilege I'm going to be

[27:08] looking to see what we can do to change

[27:10] that law

[27:12] and the other thing I get a kick out of

[27:14] it's wear ass season I call it a

[27:17] warehouse

[27:18] because whenever it's an election cycle

[27:20] we get to wear asses we bring them out

[27:22] of woodwork get that wear ass

[27:25] now the last thing

[27:28] those comments I made at the last

[27:30] meeting about Matt and elegant whom I've

[27:32] never met

[27:34] and uh Tom Kennedy who I have met I

[27:39] don't really like them

[27:41] I got an anonymous letter a little

[27:44] letter from someone I want to read it to

[27:46] you because I got to tell you I've come

[27:48] to the conclusion that if not all of you

[27:50] most of you Democrats are crazy

[27:54] yeah and and I really mean that

[27:57] you support GOP and Schenectady I don't

[27:59] know if that was supporting them but I'm

[28:02] not a Dem I'm not a republican they

[28:03] might think I am

[28:05] they are corrupt losers

[28:07] the whole party wake up I Gotta Laugh

[28:10] this stuff makes me laugh at these crazy

[28:13] no no shot

[28:15] um they have no shot them in a landslide

[28:18] your issues stink so you see

[28:22] you just come here to me and in 05 I got

[28:26] a long letter that did a whole mental

[28:28] breakdown and profile it's just amazing

[28:31] and I know it had and like this I don't

[28:33] even know how to get my address

[28:34] but they do they have their methods

[28:36] that's it thank you

[28:41] Edmund Lavin

[28:46] good evening Mr Mayor chairwoman

[28:49] Porterfield City Council Members I have

[28:51] filed an Ethics complaint against all of

[28:53] you for not honoring your oath of office

[28:55] and protecting my constitutional rights

[28:57] of due process and a fair hearing of

[28:59] which three corrupt judges deprived me

[29:01] of in Schenectady civil court

[29:03] should be interesting to see if the

[29:05] mayor keeps me out of his connected he

[29:06] Gazette again

[29:07] that's what he calls transparency in

[29:09] government seems to be more important to

[29:11] Mr McCarthy to cover up for three

[29:13] corrupt judges than to honor his oath of

[29:15] office regarding the Constitution

[29:17] the mayor has said it's not his

[29:19] responsibility yet he believes it's his

[29:21] responsibility to chase down women going

[29:23] through the garbage to collect

[29:24] recyclables and wants them arrested

[29:27] I am told the officer that did not give

[29:29] him a breathalyzer is promoted to

[29:30] Lieutenant

[29:32] he also made his own laws in City Hall

[29:34] that no one could use a camera and had

[29:36] Daniel of YouTube New York State audit

[29:39] that did the video on me falsely

[29:41] arrested for knocking on Plexiglas

[29:43] his law is no longer enforced in city

[29:45] hall because it's against the

[29:47] Constitution yet the charges against

[29:49] Daniel are still pending

[29:51] and he's before fellow Tico

[29:53] I was at the meeting at sccc with Mr

[29:56] McCarthy chairwoman reporterfield but

[29:58] was chased Away by two sheriffs claiming

[30:01] I could be there but my signs couldn't

[30:03] I left even though my first amendment

[30:05] rights allowed me to be there with my

[30:07] signs because if arrested I knew miles

[30:10] Reed would not put me in the Gazette

[30:13] I came back at the end of the meeting it

[30:15] was not hassle because they could not

[30:16] arrest me in front of everyone leaving

[30:19] the mayor and falloutico are two peas in

[30:21] a pod they both think they are the law

[30:22] and make their own rules contrary to the

[30:24] Constitution of the United States they

[30:27] are both corrupt

[30:28] the mayor refused to meet with me

[30:30] because he knows he must turn falatico

[30:32] in for depriving me of my constitutional

[30:34] rights

[30:35] as all of you here must do it is a color

[30:37] of law violation because you didn't act

[30:39] in my legitimate complaint

[30:41] the mayor does not have the right to not

[30:43] hear my complaint and cannot treat me as

[30:45] an adversary that is also a color of law

[30:47] violation this is the same old corrupt

[30:51] Schenectady

[30:52] where the mayor keeps the truth out of

[30:54] the paper and news stations while

[30:56] protesting in front of City Hall I've

[30:58] been told that falatico tells litigants

[31:01] they have no civil rights and changes

[31:03] the Judgment after they leave the court

[31:05] same thing he did to me

[31:07] valetico actually stole money from me I

[31:10] was garnishing wages

[31:12] volatico vacated my judgment 11 days

[31:14] before the Herring and would not release

[31:16] the checks that had come to courthouse

[31:18] before the trial

[31:21] and you all pledge the allegiance to the

[31:23] United States of America

[31:24] we all go before God thank you

[31:30] Mark LaCroix

[31:33] foreign

[31:38] person Council my name is Mark Lacroix

[31:42] because on behalf of my mother Marge

[31:44] LaCroix

[31:45] this past week our home was foreclosed

[31:48] on without any I mean I've done any

[31:51] warning for us to know that it was being

[31:52] foreclosed on for tax purposes we were

[31:55] in the middle of a sale of the property

[31:57] to pay those taxes and to be the

[32:00] satisfied the city and then we get a a

[32:03] notice saying that it's foreclosed upon

[32:05] the city owns the property now

[32:08] um we've been living here for about a

[32:10] little over 11 years we've always done

[32:12] everything we can the property was

[32:13] bought from the city we also have other

[32:15] properties that we pay taxes on this

[32:17] property took a while to fix it up from

[32:20] the the laptop the way it was and so we

[32:23] did fall behind

[32:24] uh when we did try to always pay our

[32:26] taxes on time you know if it did fall

[32:29] pandemic happened my mother and father

[32:31] are both on disability

[32:33] um so it falls on on all of us to pull

[32:35] whatever money we have together to pay

[32:37] the taxes and survive at the same time

[32:40] um and I can honestly say that we've

[32:42] done our due diligence I always

[32:45] seen the city as a fair place a place

[32:47] that there there are going to do their

[32:49] due diligence but we'd not even get a

[32:51] posting on a door saying that the place

[32:54] is being foreclosed on I heard from uh

[32:56] corporate Council that uh two millions

[32:58] were sent out and returned to the city

[33:00] and so we live at our home so there's no

[33:04] way that it would have came and sent

[33:05] went back when we get tons of mail all

[33:07] the time so I am just pleading with the

[33:10] city towards in support of uh Redeeming

[33:13] the property so we can do ourselves we

[33:15] can give the money to the city for the

[33:16] back taxes from 2019 and that um

[33:19] everyone will be satisfied

[33:21] thank you

[33:27] I have no one else signed up to speak so

[33:29] I declare the public comment for up City

[33:31] business closed

[33:33] Simon and miscellaneous business of the

[33:35] council

[33:37] Mr Williams

[33:45] good evening and I would like to thank

[33:46] everyone again for coming out to speak

[33:47] this absolutely is your right and

[33:49] opportunity to vocalize issues to us as

[33:51] a council on our Collective and it's

[33:54] important to exercise that I wanted to

[33:56] take a moment to just address something

[33:58] that I've noticed and it appears to be a

[34:00] concerned effort to discredit the

[34:02] leadership and abilities of council

[34:04] president Porterfield and city clerk Sam

[34:07] uh regarding the last console comments

[34:10] that were made regarding the competency

[34:11] and the gazillion errors

[34:14] I requested to get an understanding of

[34:16] what those Corrections should have been

[34:18] and what was received was a matter of

[34:22] removing two words and capitalizing two

[34:26] words

[34:27] and I don't know if that is apparent to represent a gazillion corrections but

[34:33] and these seats and these roles that we

[34:36] have to advocate for Change and to do so

[34:39] in a collaborative manner

[34:40] in my professional experience I think

[34:43] it's it's respectful to do such in a

[34:45] manner that provides those opportunities

[34:47] uh to to to adjust

[34:51] but then also does it in a manner in

[34:53] which uh continue forth the mindset of

[34:55] this is a city

[34:59] that is

[35:02] that isn't always perfect

[35:05] and this legislation is draft item I

[35:08] think it is important to make sure that

[35:10] we support a collaborative government

[35:12] and I truly believe that the comments

[35:14] that were made during our last council

[35:15] meeting were not reflective of that so

[35:17] I'd like to take a moment to just

[35:18] appreciate the work that was done forth

[35:20] and I believe there will be some

[35:22] additional remarks made regarding the

[35:23] subject additionally I'd like to remind

[35:25] the community that the Summit Avenue

[35:28] Redevelopment project which will

[35:29] generate 38 single-family homes and

[35:32] three two family homes is underway

[35:35] myself and Justin shares were out

[35:37] walking the Summit Avenue area of the

[35:40] community and we received a number of

[35:42] feedback from interested residents

[35:44] please share this information with those

[35:46] of you that are interested in becoming

[35:47] homeowners and I believe this project

[35:49] will have

[35:50] untapped benefits not only for this

[35:53] community but in other communities

[35:54] throughout the city as we attempt to

[35:56] replicate this moving forward

[35:59] I would like to also take a moment to

[36:01] congratulate in advance the new police

[36:03] recruits that will be sworn in this

[36:04] Friday

[36:06] the commitments that you'll undertake to

[36:09] benefit this city are those that you

[36:11] should not take lightly however I'm

[36:12] confident that the training in your

[36:14] personal ethos will guide you throughout

[36:16] these commitments

[36:18] uh next I would like to thank uh the the

[36:20] fathers that exist within the city of

[36:22] Schenectady with the Happy Father's Day

[36:24] coming up and I tried to identify an

[36:25] appropriate quote as I am a new father

[36:28] and the one that I stepped on was when

[36:31] my father didn't have my hand he had my

[36:33] back and I know that there are no

[36:35] perfect parents but definitely the role

[36:37] of shepherding a young individual

[36:38] throughout his his life's very life

[36:40] Journey correction is an undertaking

[36:42] that should not be taken without proper

[36:45] consideration and and respect for the

[36:48] roles uh that that you are charged with being and I would like those

[36:53] individuals that are in these positions

[36:55] of being a father or being a parent

[36:58] um just show my appreciation moving

[36:59] forward

[37:01] and then lastly I would like to

[37:02] congratulate all of the influential

[37:04] people that were responsible for a

[37:07] successful Schenectady High School prom

[37:09] although I was an observer my daughter

[37:11] is not old enough yet

[37:13] um it was a beautiful moment and there

[37:15] was some colorful attire that I would

[37:17] not be so confident to wear myself but

[37:19] the the young individuals seem very

[37:21] excited and joyous moving forward I hope

[37:24] that they truly appreciate the

[37:26] contributions made from volunteers

[37:27] planners and also administrators it is

[37:30] not something that should be taken

[37:31] lightly and definitely it shows the

[37:33] value that we see in them and also in

[37:35] our community collectively thank you

[37:41] mayor

[37:47] we just want to thank everyone for

[37:48] coming out

[37:50] speaking had

[37:54] the prom was there graduation is coming

[37:57] up this next week it's always good to

[38:01] see the enthusiasm and the students face

[38:04] as they go through a significant

[38:07] milestone in their

[38:09] educational process and then also their

[38:12] lives and so hopefully people will be

[38:14] able to come out and enjoy that it's six

[38:17] o'clock I think I'm drawing a blankets

[38:20] next Thursday or next Friday but on the

[38:23] high school campus on the home rule

[38:26] legislation again that is a fairly

[38:29] simple process

[38:31] again but there's technical components

[38:34] of it so the legislative body at the

[38:36] local level has to pass a resolution

[38:40] asking for the authority to do something

[38:44] that is not

[38:45] otherwise granted to a municipal

[38:48] government

[38:49] that is then transmitted to the

[38:51] legislature a specific bill is

[38:54] introduced

[38:56] and once that bill is introduced then

[38:59] the legislative body is again asked to

[39:02] formally endorse and request that that

[39:06] bill be passed

[39:08] once the legislature then passes the

[39:10] bill the governor signs it then the

[39:13] local government is given the

[39:15] opportunity to

[39:17] enact or perform something that is not

[39:20] otherwise available to them by law

[39:24] and what I had suggested was

[39:27] we're all talking about uh

[39:30] rental issues affordability within the

[39:33] community and distressed property

[39:37] so we have a large number of landlords

[39:42] who are totally compliant they provide

[39:44] safe and decent housing they meet the

[39:47] code requirements they do what is

[39:49] expected of them unfortunately there's

[39:52] still a subgroup that does not

[39:54] comply they're the houses the apartments

[39:59] that we generally generate complaints

[40:01] from

[40:03] in that group does not comply with our

[40:07] rental certificate registry

[40:11] in what they asked and what the council

[40:14] had moved forward and again it was just

[40:16] in a disjointed manner that uh

[40:19] again hopefully we can all come together

[40:20] get that put in place is that a landlord

[40:24] would not be able to start an eviction

[40:26] proceeding

[40:27] if they were not

[40:29] a participant in the registry so that

[40:33] they would have to comply with the

[40:35] fundamental rules that we have in place

[40:38] and those rules require that we inspect

[40:42] the property so that it makes sure that

[40:44] it's up to code that it's safe and

[40:45] decent housing and it is something that

[40:49] I think we all agree on unfortunately

[40:51] the timing has not moved as smooth as I

[40:54] think any of us would have liked and how

[40:56] do we now take that going forward to be

[40:59] able to see that that is enacted which I

[41:02] believe will help us get a higher level

[41:04] of compliance with the rental

[41:06] registration and the end product will

[41:09] also be a higher compliance with just

[41:12] the basic safe and decent housing

[41:15] criteria that we want everybody to enjoy

[41:18] in the city and not only the city it's

[41:21] one of the things where we're looking

[41:22] Albany happened to have that passed

[41:25] we're looking to get it passed there's

[41:26] other municipalities that have done it

[41:28] it's one thing in my humble opinion that

[41:30] the legislature should just grant to

[41:33] municipalities across the state so that

[41:35] it would be universally applicable and

[41:38] it would help not only Schenectady but

[41:40] other communities and so I look forward

[41:43] to working with you as we go through

[41:44] that process to try and get that

[41:46] implemented because I believe that it

[41:48] will benefit everybody in the community

[41:51] thank you madam president thank you and

[41:54] I'd also like to follow up on some

[41:56] comments regarding the the home rule not

[41:58] just for the eviction but also for the

[42:00] speeding so Miss Michael and I worked

[42:02] with a summer limits tax office and also

[42:04] Senator tedesco's office and there are

[42:07] Bill numbers for all of those things

[42:09] they did not make it out of committee

[42:12] this time but there are Bill numbers and

[42:13] so when they reconvene they will be

[42:15] taken up again so just if any council

[42:17] member wants the information on the bill

[42:19] numbers we can certainly um you know

[42:21] provide that to you so uh just to know

[42:24] that you know we knew that process was

[42:26] not a process that happens a lot in

[42:28] terms of home rule here so we you know

[42:30] contacted our Representatives our

[42:33] colleagues at the state to make sure

[42:35] that we went through the process and got

[42:37] it done the way it should be done and

[42:39] again we did receive Bill numbers

[42:40] unfortunately we would not be able to um

[42:43] it was not able to get out of the

[42:44] committee this time but we already have

[42:46] we're already ahead of that so when it

[42:47] when the reconvene we'll be able to

[42:50] um to resubmit those so I just wanted

[42:53] everyone to be aware that that process

[42:56] has happened and in in terms of um let

[42:59] me just answer some questions that have

[43:01] been asked to me regarding speed humps

[43:02] we have a couple of speed humps over

[43:04] here in the city

[43:06] um for the for the I'll give you some

[43:07] background I asked for that in 2020 is

[43:10] when I actually started talking about

[43:12] these speed homes and so now we're at

[43:14] the point where we do have two that are

[43:16] down and the council allocated twenty

[43:19] thousand dollars towards towards getting

[43:21] speed humps right now there were two

[43:23] according to our our city engineer

[43:25] they're going to have them down and then

[43:27] they're going to move them so it's like

[43:28] a pilot project so they are there and

[43:31] for those who are continually asking for

[43:33] them this is a pilot project we can

[43:35] certainly talk about having them in

[43:37] other parts of the city as well but just

[43:39] to let people know that it is something

[43:41] that we've been working on for a while

[43:44] and just getting started but hopefully

[43:47] the legislation that was that we started

[43:50] back in 2020 will be able to move that

[43:52] forward more rapidly at this point and

[43:54] get more because speeding is definitely

[43:56] an issue that we have throughout the

[43:57] city

[43:59] also like to just remind everyone that

[44:02] Juneteenth is coming up this Friday

[44:05] there will be a ceremony in Vail Park

[44:08] by Community fathers and then on the

[44:10] 17th we'll be in Central Park and the

[44:12] stage and it should start at one o'clock

[44:16] next Monday is a holiday

[44:19] so we will our committee meeting will be

[44:21] on Tuesday

[44:22] and then I'd like to also say Happy

[44:24] Father's Day to every to all the fathers

[44:28] with that I'll ask for a motion to

[44:29] adjourn

[44:31] over Mr Williams second by Mr Farley all

[44:34] those in favor

[44:35] aye we're adjourned

[44:37] foreign

Schenectady City Council Meeting, June 12, 2023

Transcript