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I'd like to call the city Caucus meeting
to order for Monday August 28 2023
we have seven items for original
consideration if the clerk would please
read item number one for final consideration
an ordinance pursuant to section 101 of
the second class cities law abandoning a
portion of large Street
discussed in committee with objection on
consent item number two item number two
under original consideration a
resolution adopting the post-issuance
compliance policy discussed in committee
with objection on consent item number
three item number three for original
consideration a resolution adopting the
amended 2023-2024 annual action plan
discussed in committee without objection
on consent item number four item number
four for original consideration a
resolution approving the city's annual
Municipal separate storm sewer system
ms4 report for 2023 discussed in
committee without objecting on consent
item number five item number five for
original consideration a resolution
authorizing authorizing the sale of a
vacant land in the town of Rotterdam
identify as sbl
60.17-2-26 or twenty thousand dollars
discussed in committee with the
objection on consent item number six for original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the settlement of a claim by American
state company as severagi of Jeffrey
Brier
discussed in committee with objection on
consent item number seven item number
seven under contract and Supply a
resolution authorizing an agreement for
sludge transportation and disposable
disposal 2023 the county wastes
recycling services incorporated
discussed and committed with the
objection on consent if there's nothing
more to come before the city council
caucus I'd ask for a motion to adjourn
moved by Mr motive Aaron second by Mr
Williams all those in favor
aye we're adjourned I'd like to call the
city council meeting to order for Monday
August 28 2023.
and I'd like to call on Reverend Ronald
hunt for the prayer invocation
I ask for blessings on the people who've
been called to lead this community in
which we live work and play
members of the councils the employees
the mayor and those of you making for
and wanting change in our communities
help our leaders to just not ask how do
we fix this but what do we need to learn
how might we need to change and to whom
do we need to listen help our community
by bringing Creative Solutions to our
challenges I was very encouraged at the
last meeting of all the Creative
Solutions that people brought along with
the challenges to the community I remind
all of us as Citizens
because we all forget from time to time
especially in the noisiness of what
passes his political debate today that
these officials are not only leaders but
also servants and that is their
responsibility and ours to serve the
common good of all a little stability
goes a long way at any
remind them that no matter where we live
everyone is our neighbor our sibling and
throughout the ages prophets have called
the leaders of our people to respect and
protect the least of those among us our
children the elderly poor those who are
hungry those who have no homes those who
are ill and body mind or Spirit
strangers and immigrants in our midst
those who live on the margins those who
are alone those who are somewhat
forgotten grant them and us the wisdom
and courage to know and do what is right
and good and true may they and we speak
out when it is time to speak out and
listen patiently and receptively when it
is time to listen may they and we always
be guided by the spirit of community by
the spirit of justice and by the spirit
of love this we pray in the name of all
that we hold sacred regardless of
individual deities that all that behold
good and right and true may it be so
thank you I would like to ask for a
moment of silence today we said goodbye
to Tammy Bell Lentz she got a great
send-off at practice theater I was
honored to officiate that ceremony for
her she was one of a kind person and
when we missed in Schenectady her heart
was always
in the civility part of what we just
discussed thank you very much
thank you I'd like to call on Michael
zabinski Boy Scout Troop number 357 to
lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance
I apologies to the flag of the United
States
thank you
the clerk would please complete the Roll
Call
Mr motiveram President Mr turo
Mr Farley
Mr Williams
Miss Patrick is absent Mr palomini Miss
Porterfield here
I'd ask for approval of minutes for
August 14 2023
moved by Mr Farley
taken by Mr Williams all in favor
aye
the clerk would please read any
Communications and petitions
Communications presented to the city
council for Monday August 28 2023 under
official there were none under General
there was an email from Sophia Golem
requesting that the Schenectady city
council adopt a budget that prioritizes
Community well-being under petitions
there were none
thank you calling on city council
members for any committee reports
this time we have privilege over the
floor related to the legislative agenda
I see no one signed up
so I declare the public comment on the
legislative agenda closed
asked for approval of the legislative
agenda
moved by Mr motivaran
second by Mr Farley all in favor
aye
this time we'll have privilege of the
floor regarding General City business
and I see three people are signed up to
speak
first person is David
and Mary and the last time one last time
I can read is Gilmore
and I'm just for if you've not been here
before we do have a three minute time
limit you'll hear a timer
um we have copies
good evening mayor McCarthy and city
council we are here this evening to
express our frustrations and concerns
over the activities that are allowed to
take place in and around the grounds of
grout Park athletic field and Northern
River School
located on Amsterdam Ave and Hamburg
Street in the city of Schenectady we
have been homeowners of 239 Abbotsford
Road in the city for 18 years and have
tolerated and endured excessively loud
music emanating from the athletic field
and school grounds for many years
however the last four to five years the
sheer volume and multiple sources of
Music have become absolutely unbearable
with at least six Vehicles playing
different songs simultaneously at
deafening tones
the music again bird and a five to eight
block radius as well as across i-890
over to Watt Street
it is so loud it hampers the Sirens from
emergency vehicles in the area
known only has the Music Volume reached
a climax the tailgate block party like
atmosphere has become dangerous and
unlawful
we have reached our limit Our lives our
mental and physical health and our right
to peace and happiness are heavily
impacted by the inconsiderate and
dangerous behaviors of the groups of
people that have taken over grout Park
and Amsterdam Avenue as a whole we feel
mentally exhausted anxious from this
going this ongoing and ever worsening
situation as there is no way to block
out the noise and know where to escape
from in search of quiet as it permeates
every corner crevice and square inch of
our home
no we no longer host Gatherings of
family and friends in our yard due to
the severity of the noise and related
behaviors coming from Amsterdam Avenue
our guests no longer enjoy coming over
weekends or feel safe overall we are
physically affected experienced nausea
and headaches from the incessant
pounding and shrieking of the music One
literally cannot hear oneself think we
experience elevated blood pressure from
the stress frustration and agitation the
situation causes we call the
non-emergency police number every time
these behaviors take place and become
too difficult to tolerate we have been
informed by responding officers upon
their follow-up to our complaints and
concerns of multiple tickets and arrests
as well as their recognition of the
large unruly Gatherings of people and
number of vehicles on Amsterdam Avenue
there was a large police response
dispatched to grout Park the weekend of
June 18th with body camera footage that
confirms our concerns and what we
experience throughout the spring and
summer
which also sparked a one-day police
detail of grout Park on June 25th
however no matter how many times the
police respond to curtail the noise and
conduct of the groups occupying grout
Park athletic field and Northern River
School parking lots they start right
back up within a few minutes of the
police leaving often to a more menacing
and defiant level
to us this feels like harassment torment
and assault on our senses we are
pleading for change regarding the
utilization of grout Park field as well
as changes in enforcement of the city's
noise ordinance code 360. and increased
Patrols in this area of the city
respectfully
thank you
Ed laven Jr
good evening
when a crime of obstruction of justice
perpetrated by three judges against the
citizen is brought before the city
council meeting and citizen ask for
their help what is their Duty the
council has a duty to investigate the
matter and take appropriate action if
the citizens claim is substantiated
the mayor is committing obstruction of
justice and treason and if foul guilty
cannot hold public office
and you must meet with me I've already
voiced the crimes that have been
committed at this council meeting
it's not a choice
your chief law enforcement officer in
the city of Schenectady
same for all council members you all
swear an old to the Constitution when
you do nothing it is obstruction of
justice it is in your duty to help me
not three corrupt judges that are
impressing for jail time
is this what you signed up for
the cover-up for corrupt judges
and do nothing for citizens
your affecting change
thank you
Wayne Harper Schenectady
what do I say
I have the right and if you folks have
the privilege you say we have the
privilege to speak
um
I want to talk about something that
bothers me greatly because I Endure it
every day
about code enforcement and Bellevue is in Decline and Gary you and
I have talked some time ago
I say to police when they do their
patrol should be able to log
the more blatant
code issues people parking on the front
lawn
debris in the yard garbage can you know
those kind of things that you can
visually see they should be able to
enter that into their computer and let
that go to code enforcement
and they should be acted on
them and the other thing I'm noticing
once you're cited and you don't address
the situation
there needs to be a harsher penalty
because that's the that's the only thing
that some people understand
uh they think they live on an island
they're only ones they don't care
whatever they do is fine
uh and I shouldn't have to go out like I
did the Fourth of July and confront
somebody about the fireworks and I told
them look I'll give you to 11 o'clock I
won't call the police
but after that I'm gonna have to call
him because you're doing it right in
front of my house and then he threatens
to set one off in front of my door so
this is what that's why you hate to have
to confront these people because it
could have been worse than that and I'm
not as young as I used to be I can't be
fighting with these people and neither
should I have to
so I think and I've said 24 26 2428
Campbell Avenue that guy works for
Niskayuna or a contiguous town I don't
know if it's Niskayuna or or wherever
and he parks that truck in the front of
his house and you can see the rut where
he's been doing it and I've mentioned
this how many times now and you would
think somebody would address it because
Bellevue is going fast that's the only
way to put it and I'm not looking for
Perfection believe me when I tell you
I mean I do the best I can and I have my
own issues but I don't park on my front
lawn and Hillary bugs me about mowing
that lawn more than I'd want to mow it
uh but you know this stuff it needs to
be there's a lot of things in this city
that needs to be looked at and they need
to crack down on it and get everyone
involved I called a man that's supposed
to head the Bellevue neighborhood
association I don't feel that uh he may
I said I'll give you a week to think
about it but maybe we ought to do it
right along and we'll note the biggest
violators or the most blatant and see
what city hall will do about it but I
don't know that he'll call me because
I'm just a lone voice down here and in
closing Marion I want to thank all those
veterans that I ask that come and help
me when I was picketing the Albany VA
hospital because not a one showed up and
I expected a little more than that
especially for any first cab veterans
first Cavalry that may have been out
there but you know what I don't know no
they're probably only what 10 or 20
people that watch these meetings what do
you figure Doreen 10 or 20 on a good day
thanks Marion thank you
I have no one else signed up to speak so
I declare the public comment of City
business clothes
this time any missed
musumotiver
thank you just an announcement
um
regards to the Narcan trading we're
having um this Wednesday from 6 to 8 pm
at the bridge Christian Church
735 Green Street so just a shout out to
our community if you have the time
please attend this training and equip
yourself with the knowledge and a kit so
that you can assist our neighbors in
need so once again at 7 35 Crane Street
a bridge Christian church and that is
this Wednesday August 30th from 6 to 8
P.M thank you
yes training is free and the kit is free
thank you madam president I just want to
remind everyone that um kids are getting
ready to gear up to get back to school
so you know just to be a little more
diligent paying attention to you know
speed limits stop signs things like that
you know our streets are going to be
crowded with young anxious people um
going to and from school so it's just
going to take a community effort to keep
them safe so just want to remind our
people that thank you thank you
Mr palomini
we're entering budget season or getting
prepared for Budget a number of holes
have been created in the budget from
last year that need to be addressed as
we move forward throughout the rest of
the year we're very likely to have a
significant recession which will impact
all of us will impact the economy
will impact our budget for sure the
rising interest rates will also continue
to
be a factor in our budget negotiations
that we need to consider
we've tried to change the at least when
I was a finance chair to try to change
the approach to budgets of looking
Beyond just what we have in front of us
looking at it as more of a policy
approach looking as more of a multi-year
approach and I would hope that we would
do that this particular year in General
given the economic situation given that
inflation is very unlikely to go away
anytime soon
there's billions if not trillions of
dollars still in the economy that hasn't
been spent
and will factor into inflation for some
time so those are all factors that we
need to consider like I said we've we
created some holes in the budget last
year creating deficit situations if not
for the fiscal management of the mayor
but those are things that we'll need to
address and try to consider as we take
hopefully take a multi-year approach
mayor
I didn't appreciate everyone who came
out tonight good to see the Boy Scouts
here
next week we have Monday off because of
Labor Day hopefully everybody will enjoy
the last weekend of the summer and as Mr
Farley pointed out kids are going back
to school so use a little bit of extra
caution when you're driving or
going throughout the community
in in the weekend after that we have one
of the best weekends in Schenectady
where you have the Caribbean fest you
have the Greek Fest have the sons of
Italy
uh Stockade art show and we also do a
health fair around City Hall so
hopefully people will start to mark that
on their calendar
they've put me in charge of the weather
I hope it's going to be a very nice day
but want people to come out and enjoy it
and see all the good things that are
happening in our community thank you
madam president
thank you everyone for coming as well
and thank the Boy Scout Troops and
especially thank Michael zabinski I
asked you after you got here actually
asked your mom
so thank you for leading Us in the
pledge really appreciate that as the
mayor has already stated and so to the
folks that regarding grout Park I would
just like to have a minute to talk with
you after the meeting if you don't mind
so as the mayor stated this Monday is a
holiday that means our committee meeting
will be on Tuesday at 5 30 so there will
not be a committee meeting this coming
Monday will be Tuesday so with that I
will wish you all a happy labor day and ask for a motion to
adjourn
ing
no sir I'm I'm sorry
how you do I will I will explain it
we'll have one someone explain to you
how it happens in the per in the future
sorry about that
ask for a motion to adjourn
second by Mr Williams all in favor
aye we're adjourned have a good weekend
ask for a motion to let us speak