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[10:57] public hearing number one the 2022

[11:00] Consolidated annual performance and

[11:02] evaluation report the keeper

[11:04] we have 18 items for original

[11:06] consideration if the clerk would please

[11:08] read item number one item number one for

[11:10] original consideration a resolution

[11:11] calling for a public hearing amending

[11:13] 248-18 of the city code to designate J

[11:16] Street from Liberty Street to Union

[11:19] Street a two-way street

[11:21] discussed in committee with objection on

[11:23] consent item number two item number two for original consideration a

[11:27] resolution authorized in the mayor or

[11:28] his designee to process outstanding

[11:31] accounts in the best interests of the

[11:32] city and collect any money due for

[11:34] mortgages assigned to the city from

[11:37] Schenectady local Development

[11:38] Corporation

[11:40] Mr boulderberry I'd like to ask uh

[11:45] discussion to correct the languages

[11:48] I need a second

[11:51] okay we will ask for a roll call during

[11:53] the council meeting

[11:57] item number three for original

[12:00] consideration a resolution authorizing

[12:02] the sale of 405 11th Street for twenty

[12:06] six thousand one hundred and forty eight

[12:07] dollars and fifty one cents discussing

[12:10] committee without I'm sorry roll call Mr

[12:12] palomini

[12:15] item number four item number four for

[12:18] original consideration a resolution

[12:19] authorized in the sale of 841 Oakwood

[12:21] Avenue for a hundred thousand dollars

[12:24] discussing committee without objection

[12:26] on consent item number five item number

[12:29] five for original consideration a

[12:30] resolution authorizing the sale of 874

[12:32] Emmett Street or fifty five thousand

[12:35] three hundred and twenty four dollars

[12:36] and eleven cents roll call Mr palomini

[12:39] item number six item number six for

[12:41] original consideration a resolution

[12:43] authorizing the sale of 1005 Congress

[12:46] Street for twenty five thousand seven

[12:47] hundred and seventy seven dollars and

[12:48] ten cents roll call Mr palamini item

[12:52] number seven item number seven for

[12:54] original consideration a resolution

[12:56] authorizing the sale of 1038 Glenwood

[12:58] Boulevard for thirty five thousand five

[13:00] hundred dollars

[13:01] disgusting committee with the objection

[13:03] on consent item number eight item number

[13:06] eight for original consideration a

[13:07] resolution authorizing the sale of 1040

[13:09] Wendell Avenue for sixteen thousand nine

[13:12] hundred and ninety nine dollars and

[13:13] ninety seven cents

[13:15] uh roll call by Mr palamini item number

[13:18] nine item number nine for original

[13:19] consideration a resolution authorizing

[13:22] the sale of 1153 Phoenix Avenue for one

[13:25] hundred and forty one thousand dollars

[13:27] discussing committee with objection on

[13:29] consent item number 10 item number 10

[13:32] for original consideration a resolution

[13:33] authorized in the sale of

[13:36] 2008 State Street for eighty seven

[13:38] thousand dollars

[13:40] discussed and committee without

[13:41] objection on consent item number eleven for original

[13:45] consideration a resolution of amending

[13:48] resolution 2022 224 to modify the time

[13:50] period for electric city food

[13:52] Cooperative Incorporated to secure

[13:55] required Financial commitments

[13:57] roll call by Mr palomini

[13:59] item number 12.

[14:02] for original

[14:03] consideration a resolution amending

[14:05] resolution 2022 224 to modify the time

[14:08] period for young women's Christian

[14:10] Association of Schenectady DBA YWCA

[14:14] Northeastern New York to secure required

[14:16] Financial commitments roll call by Mr

[14:19] palamini item number 13. item number 13

[14:22] for original consideration a resolution

[14:24] amending resolution

[14:26] 2023-029 to modify the time period for

[14:29] Miracle on Craig Street to secure a

[14:31] required Financial commitments

[14:33] roll call by Mr palomini item number 14 for original

[14:38] consideration a resolution amending

[14:40] resolution 2022-224 to modify the use of

[14:43] funds for a Schenectady Community Action

[14:45] Program Incorporated roll a call by Mr

[14:48] palamini

[14:49] item number 13.

[14:51] excuse me item number 15. item number 15

[14:53] for original consideration a resolution

[14:55] recognizing Suicide Prevention month

[14:58] this item will be taken out of order and

[15:00] presented by a council member Patrick

[15:02] item number 16. item number 16 for

[15:05] original consideration a resolution

[15:06] recognizing National Hispanic Heritage

[15:08] Month this resolution will be presented

[15:10] at a later date discussed in committee

[15:12] with objection on consent item number 17 for original

[15:16] consideration and resolution recognizing

[15:18] Army veteran first lieutenant George W

[15:21] Keough

[15:23] item number 17 will also be presented at

[15:25] a later date it's been discussed in

[15:27] committee without injection on consent

[15:31] item number 18. item number 18 for

[15:34] original consideration and resolution

[15:35] recognizing Army veteran private Joseph

[15:37] E Kehoe

[15:39] this item again will be presented at a

[15:41] later date and discussing committee with

[15:43] objection on consent

[15:46] if there's nothing more to come before

[15:47] the city council caucus I'll ask for a

[15:50] motion to adjourn motion by Miss Peck

[15:52] second by Mr motiv Aaron all in favor

[15:54] we're adjourned I'd like to call to

[15:57] order the city council meeting from

[15:58] Monday September 25th 2023

[16:01] Ronald Hunter lives in a prayer

[16:04] invocation

[16:07] good evening

[16:08] let's reflect for a moment first let me

[16:11] say thank you on behalf of all who have

[16:13] gathered here today

[16:14] thank you for many and Abundant

[16:16] Blessings thank you for life itself for

[16:19] the measure of Health we have we need to

[16:21] fulfill our callings for knowledge for

[16:23] assessments and for friendship thank you

[16:25] for the ability to be involved in useful

[16:27] work and for the honor of bearing

[16:28] appropriate responsibilities

[16:30] thanks as well for the freedom to share

[16:32] and listen to information and counsel

[16:34] from your constituents which includes

[16:36] the freedom to respectfully disagree

[16:38] with our many branches of government yes

[16:41] we have the right to seek our redress

[16:43] whether it is here at a peaceful protest

[16:46] or especially a voting booth in ancient

[16:49] books it is said that citizens ought to

[16:51] obey the governing authorities since

[16:53] those very authorities were established

[16:54] to promote peace order and Justice in

[16:57] present times things can seem more

[17:00] complex therefore I pray for our mayor

[17:02] for the various levels of city official

[17:04] also present and in particular for this

[17:06] assembled Council I'm asking that you

[17:09] will graciously grant them wisdom to

[17:11] govern amid the conflicting interests

[17:13] and issues of our times a sense of the

[17:15] welfare and true needs of our people

[17:17] Akeem throws for justice and rightness

[17:19] confidence in what is good and fitting

[17:22] the ability to work together in harmony

[17:24] even when there is honest disagreement

[17:26] personal peace in their lives and joy in

[17:29] their tasks

[17:30] may this communication and this meeting

[17:32] be very productive thank you very much

[17:36] I'd like to call on Mike superiority to

[17:37] lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance

[17:53] thank you

[18:01] if the clerk who please call the roll

[18:12] Miss Porterfield here thank you thank

[18:15] you we have one out of order resolution

[18:17] um

[18:19] recognizing Suicide Prevention months

[18:21] we'd ask the uh it was going to be

[18:23] presented by council member Patrick so

[18:25] we'd ask the members of the fire and

[18:27] police department that are present to

[18:28] accept the resolutions please step

[18:30] behind the rail

[18:32] thank you

[18:44] how are you come on

[18:49] hello how are you

[18:52] Madam president may have the floor you

[18:54] have the floor thank you

[18:58] well this is suicide prevention Munch

[19:00] month

[19:01] um for 2023 and we have a special uh

[19:04] resolution for that

[19:06] whereas September is National Suicide

[19:08] Prevention month a month to remember the

[19:11] lives lost to Suicide the millions of

[19:13] people who have struggled with suicidal

[19:15] ideation and acknowledge the individuals

[19:18] families and communities that have been

[19:20] impacted it is also a time to raise

[19:23] awareness and discuss this highly

[19:25] stigmatized Topic in addition to

[19:28] shifting public perception this month is

[19:30] used to spread hope and Vital

[19:33] Information to people affected by

[19:34] Suicide and whereas suicide is the act

[19:38] of intentionally causing One's Own Death

[19:40] mental disorders including depression

[19:42] bipolar disorder autism spectrum

[19:45] disorders schizophrenia personality

[19:47] disorders anxiety disorders physical

[19:49] disorders and substance and substance

[19:52] use disorders are risk factors for

[19:54] suicide

[19:56] the majority of suicides worldwide are

[19:58] related to mental health disorders

[20:00] taking care of our mental health is

[20:02] equally as important as taking care of

[20:04] our physical health

[20:05] and whereas according to the Center for

[20:08] Disease Control and prevention the CDC

[20:10] in 2021 suicide was responsible for 48

[20:15] 183 deaths which is about one death

[20:18] every 11 minutes

[20:20] the number of people who think about or

[20:23] attempt suicide is even higher

[20:26] in 2021 an estimated 12.3 million

[20:30] American adults seriously thought about

[20:32] suicide 3.5 million planned a suicide

[20:35] attempt and 1.7 million attempted

[20:38] suicide

[20:39] and whereas suicide is the second

[20:41] leading cause of death among Youth and

[20:43] Young adults between the ages of 10 and

[20:45] 24 years old the suicide rate for

[20:48] veterans is more than 50 percent greater

[20:50] than for non-veteran adults

[20:53] First Responders including Law

[20:55] Enforcement Officers firefighters

[20:57] Emergency Medical Services

[21:00] EMS clinicians and Public Safety

[21:03] telecommunicators responders may be at

[21:05] an elevated risk for suicide because of

[21:07] the environments in which they work

[21:08] their culture and stress both

[21:10] occupational and personal

[21:12] and whereas 988 is the three-digit

[21:16] National Suicide and crisis Lifeline HHS

[21:19] launched in collaboration with the

[21:21] states in 2022 Americans can now connect

[21:25] with trained counselors that offer real

[21:28] support in times of Crisis since the

[21:31] July 2022 launch 988 has received more

[21:35] than 5.5 million calls texts and chats

[21:39] and in July 2023 text and chat were made

[21:42] available in Spanish and whereas suicide

[21:45] is preventable and no one should go

[21:47] through a crisis alone now therefore be

[21:50] it resolved that the Schenectady city

[21:52] council and Mayor Gary R McCarthy do

[21:55] hereby pause in their deliberations to

[21:57] recognize Suicide Prevention month and

[22:00] encourage everyone if you know someone

[22:02] you know needs help Reach Out call 9-1-1

[22:05] call or text 988 for the National

[22:08] Suicide Prevention line or text Got 5 to

[22:12] 741 and 741 and be it further resolved

[22:16] that as the world joins together during

[22:18] Suicide Prevention month to honor the

[22:21] memories of those we have lost to

[22:22] suicide and their loved ones that we

[22:24] commit to be kind to everyone because

[22:26] you never know what someone is going

[22:28] through

[22:30] I'd like to make a motion to pass this

[22:33] resolution I need a second please

[22:36] second by Mr Blue Baron all in favor

[22:38] aye motion passions congratulations

[22:40] thank you

[22:43] so I was hoping that you would introduce

[22:45] yourself and say a few words and then

[22:47] we'll pass the microphone down

[22:48] absolutely

[22:50] uh good evening ladies and gentlemen of

[22:52] the council Mr Mayor ladies and

[22:54] gentlemen my name is Zachary weekly I

[22:56] along with my um with another sergeant

[22:59] that I work with Matthew Dearing who

[23:01] couldn't be here tonight uh co-direct

[23:03] our Department's peer support team and

[23:06] with me direct me directly to my left is

[23:08] Dr Kelly Tobin who is The Clinical

[23:11] Director for the police department's

[23:13] peer support team

[23:15] years ago when

[23:18] Matt Dearing and I took over the peer

[23:19] support team we realized that our

[23:21] biggest hurdle in the first job that we

[23:23] had was to break down some of the

[23:25] barriers and the stigma associated with

[23:28] help seeking Behavior right especially

[23:31] in law enforcement

[23:33] there there's this

[23:35] machismo that goes along with our job

[23:37] and a lot of people think that it's not

[23:40] okay to ask for help and it's not okay

[23:42] to not be okay so

[23:46] get rid of that I appreciate

[23:48] um the city council

[23:50] um taking the time out of your agenda to

[23:52] bring suicide awareness month to to

[23:55] everybody's attention because I think

[23:58] the more we talk about it the more the

[24:01] easier it is for somebody who's going

[24:02] through a hard time to

[24:05] um the easier it will be for them to

[24:06] talk about it

[24:08] um

[24:09] that's really all I have thank you thank

[24:11] you

[24:12] hello good evening thank you for having

[24:15] me here and and for this amazing award

[24:18] is fantastic

[24:20] um

[24:22] like Zach was saying I was asked to come

[24:25] and take on a position as The Clinical

[24:28] Director

[24:29] it was supposed to be a graceful and

[24:33] gradual coming in and we unfortunately

[24:36] had a suicide and so forged by fire here

[24:40] I came and as I got to know everybody at

[24:44] the police department and the officers I

[24:46] could feel that stigma when I came in

[24:49] the atmosphere would change in the room

[24:51] and

[24:55] I think they really thought that I was

[24:57] there because they were in trouble not

[24:59] because they

[25:01] could seek me out if they needed to

[25:05] um

[25:06] one of the things that I've worked on

[25:08] and Zach and Matt have supported me

[25:11] greatly and is what I call the

[25:13] resiliency project

[25:15] so we're going to launch it next year it

[25:20] started with myself and Zach and Matt I

[25:23] created a survey and sent it to every

[25:26] police officer every detective every

[25:29] Administration if you belonged somehow

[25:31] to the Scott City Police Department you

[25:33] are getting the survey and what it went

[25:36] through was I wanted to know what they

[25:38] thought what was the definition of

[25:39] resilience

[25:40] what makes somebody resilient and also

[25:43] what takes your resiliency away because

[25:45] in the form of suicide and the beginning

[25:47] of mental health it's when you start

[25:50] losing the capacity to be resilient

[25:52] where Zach was saying it was grit you

[25:56] needed to have Grit

[25:58] okay but with grit come silence

[26:01] and so this gave that voice and So based

[26:05] on what they thought took the resilience

[26:08] away away I created a three-tier program

[26:11] to address all of those concerns

[26:17] good evening everybody

[26:19] uh Don Marino Schenectady Fire

[26:21] Department

[26:23] this is a subject that's difficult

[26:26] um

[26:27] way back in the stone ages when I came

[26:28] on you didn't talk about it

[26:31] you just went did your job kept your

[26:33] mouth shut

[26:34] and you just

[26:37] let it eat at you and no one knew about

[26:38] it

[26:39] and I don't know how far away from that

[26:42] we are today

[26:44] we've taken strides we we talked about

[26:47] it we make available to our people a lot

[26:50] of resources

[26:52] they don't have to tell us what's going

[26:53] on but if they need help we're there to

[26:55] help them

[26:56] I think

[26:58] it's better because we are talking about

[27:00] it it's better because it'll lead like

[27:02] the police department and other agencies

[27:05] the different things you're doing

[27:08] but it is definitely an issue that we

[27:11] can't let go and we need to keep working

[27:14] at it

[27:16] you never know what someone's going

[27:21] through and you never know what act of

[27:23] kindness can help that person

[27:26] and sometimes it's that just simple

[27:29] thing

[27:30] uh the programs are good we're going to

[27:32] work the programs but it's very

[27:35] important that all of us just realize

[27:38] we're in this together and no one's

[27:41] perfect

[27:42] and just a kind word somebody could go a

[27:45] long ways

[27:48] [Music]

[27:50] you all and especially for the work that

[27:52] you do under tremendous pressure so we

[27:54] really appreciate everything that you're

[27:56] doing to protect

[27:57] yourselves and each other and of course

[28:00] our community so thank you very much

[28:03] [Applause]

[28:11] I'd just like to add that we do have one

[28:13] more group the um

[28:14] American Foundation For Suicide

[28:16] Prevention that could not be with us

[28:17] tonight so we will be presenting a

[28:19] resolution on Sunday at their walk in

[28:21] Central Park

[28:25] um and so what's up I'm talking about it

[28:27] I would just further mention that

[28:28] council member Patrick talked about the

[28:30] 988 suicide crisis line so we are going

[28:35] to be having some of these cards which

[28:37] explain it in City Hall so thank you

[28:40] very much councilman Patrick

[28:42] we have one public hearing tonight and

[28:44] just a reminder we've extended the

[28:46] public hearing comment to four minutes

[28:48] however I have no one signed up for the

[28:50] public hearing so I declare the public

[28:52] hearing closed

[28:58] okay I asked for approval of the minutes

[28:59] for September 13 2023.

[29:02] September 11th I'm sorry

[29:07] nobody moved by me move by Mr Farley

[29:10] second by Mr Williams all in favor the

[29:13] clerk could please read any

[29:15] Communications and petitions

[29:22] Communications presented to city council

[29:24] for Monday September 25th 2023 under

[29:27] official there were none under General

[29:29] there were three emails from Petey Boris

[29:31] two regarding National Grid already

[29:33] installing traffic lamps and instruction

[29:35] signs before public hearing allowed

[29:37] allowing two-way traffic on Clinton and

[29:39] Franklin Street

[29:41] She also asked that everyone look at the

[29:43] Daily Gazette article a look at

[29:44] Schenectady as technological Smart City

[29:46] what do we need to know about smart

[29:48] cities and a broad Matrix of options

[29:52] that were published on July 27 2019.

[29:55] under a petitions there were none

[29:58] thank you

[29:59] call on council members to provide any

[30:01] committee reports

[30:03] and committee reports

[30:06] this time we'll have privilege of the

[30:07] floor related to the legislative agenda

[30:09] and I think I just need to clarify

[30:11] something for folks who signed up the

[30:13] yellow sheet was legislative for the

[30:15] legislative agenda and the the

[30:17] Greenwoods for City business so if you

[30:19] want to speak to anything that is on the

[30:21] printed agenda

[30:22] like regarding the housing sales those

[30:24] things that is the legislative agenda

[30:27] which is what we're speaking on now so

[30:28] does anybody need to correct that

[30:33] okay

[30:40] but I just want you to okay so that

[30:43] means you're on the legislative agenda

[30:44] that's what's on here so anybody who

[30:46] wants to speak on anything that's on the

[30:48] agenda

[30:49] that but not right now but I'll change

[30:51] your name over okay you'll miss

[30:53] pinchback

[30:55] Miss pinch back okay not right now but

[30:57] I'll move your name over so I just want

[31:00] to clarify for everyone we had some

[31:01] confusion before

[31:05] Co-op and

[31:07] bureaucracy Street where should we be

[31:09] speaking you should be speaking during

[31:11] the legislative agenda

[31:16] okay

[31:19] yes Elizabeth Walsh you did

[31:23] all right um

[31:24] so everybody else is in the right place

[31:30] okay

[31:31] [Music]

[31:35] anyone else for the housing sales

[31:37] that's on the agenda

[31:40] okay

[31:45] all right so um Elizabeth Walsh you were

[31:48] you sent yours online

[31:52] just to remind you you have three

[31:53] minutes to speak

[31:57] good evening all mayor McCarthy City

[32:01] Council Members I'm here representing

[32:04] the electric city food Cooperative I am

[32:07] an Engaged and very proud member owner

[32:09] I'm here with over a dozen other member

[32:12] owners of the Electric City Food Co-op a

[32:14] community that is growing 906 members

[32:16] this week I am coming together in

[32:20] gratitude I want to thank particularly

[32:23] council members Carmel Patrick Imani

[32:25] Farley Carl Williams John moodiveren

[32:29] council president Marion Porterfield and

[32:32] Mayor Gary McCarthy for their ongoing

[32:34] support of our efforts to open a

[32:35] downtown community-owned grocery store

[32:37] thank you also for your willingness to

[32:40] be responsive to the changing conditions

[32:42] and needs of Community Partners

[32:44] Tonight We Gather in support of the

[32:46] resolution before Council to Grant the

[32:48] three-time extensions requested one for

[32:51] our building back Better Together

[32:52] proposal as well as for the proposals of

[32:55] the YWCA and Miracle on Craig Street all

[32:58] three of these proposals are previously

[33:00] approved by City Council on the

[33:01] condition that they raise funds for

[33:03] their own to complement the federal arpa

[33:06] funding we believe that approval of

[33:08] these extensions is fully consistent

[33:10] with Federal guidance and administrating

[33:12] arpa funding first following through on

[33:15] the commitment

[33:16] to invest in these projects is fully

[33:18] inconsistent with the core Equity

[33:20] centered intentions of arpa these

[33:23] intentions include providing responsive

[33:25] services to disproportionately impacted

[33:28] communities and addressing the critical

[33:30] issues like foods and food insecurity

[33:32] that were exacerbated during the

[33:34] pandemic

[33:36] second granting the time extensions is

[33:38] fully consistent with Federal

[33:39] requirements that the arpa funds are

[33:41] allocated to projects by the end of 2024

[33:44] with the money needing to be spent by

[33:47] the end of 2026.

[33:49] the Biden Harris Administration has

[33:51] consistently Advanced an equity-centered

[33:53] approach to recovery efforts one that is

[33:56] responsive to the diverse needs of

[33:58] diverse people and dynamically changing

[34:00] circumstances especially by working

[34:03] closely with people directly

[34:05] experiencing challenges to co-create

[34:07] Solutions

[34:08] although most of us here agree that

[34:10] improvements could be made to the arpa

[34:12] process we also want to applaud the

[34:14] council's willingness to implement a

[34:16] responsive equity-centered process that

[34:18] ensures the ARP Investments match real

[34:21] Community meets for the co-op this will

[34:24] give us the time to secure our site we

[34:27] have committed funds of 3 million from

[34:30] the county and 2 million from our very

[34:32] Community oriented developers so we look

[34:35] forward to being fulfilled with the time

[34:37] extension required thanks so much

[34:40] thank you

[34:42] Kim Siciliano

[34:48] good evening everyone on behalf of the

[34:50] YWCA Northeastern New York's current

[34:52] clients residence participants staff and

[34:54] board members I thank you Mr Mayor and

[34:57] City Council Members you have always

[34:58] been non a non-profit community-based

[35:01] Champions and we greatly appreciate all

[35:03] of your partnership we are hopeful that

[35:05] you will bring the yw's the Electric

[35:06] City Food Co-op and Miracle on correct

[35:09] Street funding request as well as

[35:10] extensions back up for additional

[35:12] conversation and to another vote so that

[35:14] these nonprofits may continue their

[35:16] great work in the Schenectady Community

[35:19] I will talk tonight about the yw's

[35:21] project and our 135-year history and how

[35:23] we are on embarking on another adventure

[35:26] to strengthen and grow our Mark in the

[35:29] Schenectady Community please consider

[35:31] our request for an additional funding to

[35:33] support the expanded project outline and

[35:35] Compass encompassing our whole our whole

[35:37] campus at this point this is a 45

[35:39] million dollar project that includes

[35:41] both new construction which is what

[35:43] we've been talking about as well as

[35:45] concurrently renovating our our building

[35:48] that is 90 years old on the main campus

[35:52] please provide this additional support

[35:53] so we may realize our dream and vision

[35:55] for an electrifying and greatly improved

[35:57] Schenectady Community for all the

[36:00] critical need for housing both

[36:01] supportive and permanent in our

[36:03] community as an is at an all-time high

[36:05] especially housing that serves those

[36:07] experiencing mental illness survivors of

[36:10] domestic violence and the chronically

[36:11] homeless Harbor House as we love to call

[36:14] it at the YW will be a newly constructed

[36:16] 54 unit 100 percent permanent Supportive

[36:19] Housing Development for women trans

[36:21] inclusive the YW partners with Zenith

[36:24] partners are affordable housing experts

[36:26] along with our other project team

[36:28] partners GPI Magnuson architecture and

[36:30] the chase construction the new

[36:32] construction would be a 37 000 plus foot

[36:35] square

[36:36] uh square foot four-story building

[36:39] including 50 Studios and four two

[36:41] bedroom family units there will also be

[36:43] various office and community space to

[36:44] provide intensive support to Residents

[36:46] with 24 7 on-site Staffing we will also

[36:50] renovate the current building turning

[36:52] the 95 year old building into a

[36:56] wonderful opportunity in The Stockade we

[37:00] currently still have 42 single room

[37:02] occupancy units which is what will be

[37:04] renovating as well as office and program

[37:06] space and providing An Early Learning

[37:08] Center build out serving 60 plus

[37:10] children

[37:12] the project team will redevelop the YW

[37:14] campus to ensure the long-term stability

[37:16] of the critical programming the YW

[37:17] provides safe and affordable housing

[37:20] comprehensive domestic violence services

[37:22] and high quality Early Learning Program

[37:24] there's also about 80 staff who work

[37:26] there with this amazing project and your

[37:28] support we will keep alive our amazing

[37:30] mission of eliminating racism empowering

[37:32] women and promoting peace Justice

[37:34] dignity and freedom for all thank you

[37:37] for your time I appreciate you all thank

[37:39] you

[37:41] Michelle pinchback

[37:47] foreign

[37:49] good evening city council my name is

[37:52] Michelle I am a peer in reference to the

[37:55] buying back of my parents home through

[37:57] my mother I just wanted to say that both

[38:01] my parents have been in the Schenectady

[38:03] Community for a very long time have also

[38:06] added and been in community service to

[38:10] the area and I would really appreciate I

[38:13] understand that there was a lot of

[38:15] issues and can be inconveniences as far

[38:17] as what this process has happened what

[38:20] has happened and what is going to happen

[38:22] I just ask that we look all over and

[38:25] look over everything and especially the

[38:27] information that was sent to you guys

[38:28] individually through emails and

[38:31] um

[38:33] I think it was just through email sorry

[38:35] and just to make sure to look over that

[38:37] because

[38:39] I

[38:41] this has been a very rough thing and

[38:43] it's not something that was done you

[38:46] know out of spite or to hurt the city or

[38:48] to go anything oh this was more a bad of

[38:50] elderly people who

[38:53] had issues had physical health and a lot

[38:56] of other things and

[38:57] family wasn't as involved as it is now

[39:00] they have backup now there's family

[39:01] included everyone knows we are all

[39:03] watching over everything and this is not

[39:05] something that would happen again so I'm

[39:07] just asking that they look over

[39:08] everything and I appreciate you for

[39:09] listening

[39:11] thank you

[39:14] all right I have no one else signed up

[39:15] to speak for the legislative agenda so I

[39:18] declare the public climate closed

[39:21] ask for approval of the legislative

[39:23] agenda

[39:25] it's moved by Mr motivary and second by

[39:27] Miss Patrick all in favor

[39:30] all right we have nine items for roll

[39:32] call

[39:38] item number two

[39:42] Clerk of please read

[39:46] item number two for original

[39:48] consideration a resolution authorizing

[39:50] the mayor or his designate to process

[39:51] outstanding accounts in the best

[39:53] interests of the city and collect any

[39:55] monies due for mortgages assigned to the

[39:57] city from the Schenectady local

[39:59] Development Corporation right it's been

[40:02] motioned in second to have this item

[40:03] table this time the clerk will please

[40:05] call the roll

[40:12] Mr Farley yes

[40:14] Mr Williams yes

[40:17] Miss Patrick yes

[40:19] Mr palamini yes

[40:21] Miss Porterfield yes

[40:24] items table will be returned to

[40:25] committee

[40:27] so it passes item number four excuse me

[40:31] item number three for original

[40:35] consideration and resolution authorizing

[40:37] the sale of 405 11th Street where twenty

[40:40] six thousand one hundred and forty eight

[40:41] dollars and fifty one cents

[40:45] I need a motion on that

[40:47] over Miss Patrick Sacramento all in

[40:50] favor

[40:52] is there any discussion on this item

[40:55] just want to remind council members this

[40:57] is a time for discussion and next with

[40:59] the roll call to just vote the item

[41:00] through or or not so any discussion on

[41:03] this item

[41:04] if the clerk would please read the call

[41:06] the roll Mr mutaviran yes Mr

[41:11] Farley

[41:15] Patrick yes Mr palomini no that's Porterfield

[41:19] yes

[41:24] item number five clerk will please read

[41:29] mm-hmm

[41:31] item number five for original

[41:32] consideration resolution authorized in

[41:34] the sale of 874 Emmett Street for 55 324

[41:38] and 11 cents

[41:40] any motion so

[41:43] second my movement second by Miss

[41:45] Patrick

[41:46] all's in favor

[41:48] aye okay if the clerk excuse me clerk

[41:50] would please call the roll

[41:53] any discussion

[41:55] this is its opportunity for discussion

[41:56] before the vote

[41:59] yes

[42:02] Mr Toro no

[42:05] Mr Farley yes Mr Williams yes Miss

[42:09] Patrick yes

[42:10] Mr palomini no

[42:12] Miss Porterfield yes item passes five to

[42:16] two

[42:17] item number six for original

[42:23] consideration a resolution authorized in

[42:25] the sale of 1005 Congress Street for

[42:27] twenty five thousand seven hundred and

[42:29] seventy seven dollars and 10 cents

[42:31] in motion let's move it moved by Mr

[42:34] multiver in second by Mr Farley all's in

[42:37] favor

[42:38] aye

[42:39] any discussion

[42:43] if the clerk would please call the roll

[42:44] Mr Mutual

[42:52] Miss Patrick yes Mr palamini

[42:55] Miss Porterfield yes Adam passes five to

[42:58] two

[43:00] item number eight for original

[43:04] consideration resolution authorizing the

[43:06] sale of 1040 Wendell Avenue for 16

[43:09] 999.97

[43:14] I need a motion Miss Patrick

[43:16] Aaron all's in favor

[43:19] aye

[43:20] is there any discussion on this item

[43:24] if the clerk would please call the roll

[43:25] Mr Baron yes Mr Toro no

[43:29] Mr Farley yes Mr Williams yes Miss Patrick yes

[43:35] Mr palamini Ms Porterfield yes item

[43:39] passes five to two item number eleven

[43:43] item number 11 for original

[43:44] consideration and resolution amending

[43:47] resolution 2022-224 to modify the time

[43:50] period for electric city food

[43:51] Cooperative Incorporated to secure

[43:53] required Financial commitments

[43:58] need a motion Miss Patrick second by Mr

[44:01] mood of Aaron all in favor

[44:03] is there any discussion on this item

[44:07] clerk would please call the roll Mr

[44:09] musubiran yes Mr Toro no Mr Farley yes yes Mr Williams yes

[44:16] Miss Patrick yes

[44:18] Mr palamini no Miss Porterfield yes item

[44:21] passes five to two

[44:25] item number 12.

[44:27] for original

[44:28] consideration a resolution amending

[44:30] resolution 2022 2224 to modify the time

[44:33] period for young women's Christian

[44:35] Association of Schenectady DBA YWCA

[44:38] Northeastern New York to secure required

[44:40] Financial commitments

[44:45] all in favor

[44:47] aye

[44:48] is there any discussion on this item

[44:54] Mr Farley

[44:58] so Madam president I just wanted uh I

[45:00] think it's appropriate that we recognize

[45:03] that this is suicide prevention month

[45:05] and have we did that earlier

[45:07] um with a beautiful uh ceremony

[45:09] resolution by Ms Patrick and I think

[45:11] that it's important that we recognize

[45:12] that

[45:13] we are in a really great position to

[45:17] impact the setting conditions to what

[45:18] these tragedies occur and I don't want

[45:21] it to be lost on us that affordable

[45:24] housing

[45:26] and building community and access to

[45:29] quality services and mental health

[45:31] services and these are exactly what are

[45:36] these uh agencies are providing and we

[45:38] are in a great position to you know

[45:41] increase uh or decrease the likelihood

[45:44] of such tragedies occurring in our

[45:47] community by the way we vote so I just

[45:49] wanted to make clear and highlight that our votes are not

[45:53] should not be looked at as a

[45:56] disconnected piece of this process they

[45:58] are very much related and have great

[46:00] impacts by what we say yes or no here

[46:02] tonight

[46:03] thank you any further discussion

[46:13] if the clerk will please call the roll

[46:15] Mr motivaran yes Mr turo no Mr Farley

[46:20] yes Mr Williams yes Miss Patrick yes Mr

[46:24] palomini no this poor people yes item

[46:28] passes five to two

[46:30] item number 13.

[46:33] for original

[46:34] consideration and resolution amending

[46:36] resolution

[46:37] 2023-029 to modify the time period for

[46:40] Miracle on Craig Street to secure

[46:41] required Financial commitments

[46:45] need a motion Please Mr motivaran second

[46:47] by Mr Williams all in favor

[46:49] aye

[46:50] is there any discussion on this item

[46:54] the clerk please call the roll Mr

[46:56] motiveran yes Mr Toro

[46:59] Mr Farley yes

[47:01] Mr Williams

[47:03] yes Miss Patrick yes Mr palomini no Miss

[47:07] Porterfield yes

[47:09] item passes five to two

[47:11] item number 14.

[47:15] for original

[47:16] consideration resolution amending

[47:18] resolution 2022-224

[47:20] to modify the use of funds for a

[47:22] Schenectady Community Action Program

[47:24] Incorporated

[47:26] I need a motion most of my Mr Williams

[47:28] second my Miss Patrick all in favor

[47:32] is there any discussion on this item

[47:34] Miss Patrick

[47:37] yes I'd like to repeat what we talked

[47:39] about a couple of weeks ago which is

[47:41] that this is a program that absolutely

[47:42] is helping to prevent homelessness in

[47:44] our community it's a program that this

[47:46] Council has funded previously

[47:49] um uh through cdbg I also want to point

[47:53] out that the original application that

[47:55] scap put in was for covid supplies so

[47:58] changing the to the rental assistance

[48:01] program to prevent homelessness makes

[48:03] sense because they had to purchase the

[48:05] covid supplies when they needed them so

[48:09] they used other funding to do that and I

[48:11] wholeheartedly support

[48:13] using the money that we had already

[48:15] previously given to them to continue in

[48:18] our efforts to prevent homelessness in

[48:20] our community thank you thank you any

[48:23] other discussion

[48:25] will the clerk please call the roll

[48:29] yes Mr Toro no Mr Farley yes

[48:34] Mr Williams yes

[48:36] Miss Patrick

[48:37] Mr palomini no

[48:40] Miss Porterfield yes motion passes five

[48:43] to two thank you

[48:50] this time we'll have privilege of the

[48:51] floor regarding General City business

[48:54] I have four people signed up

[48:59] first person is Michael zapieri

[49:05] good evening Mr McCarthy mayor McCarthy

[49:07] city council president as Porterfield

[49:10] City Council I just came here to talk

[49:12] about a wonderful event that happened

[49:14] Friday night in Schenectady regarding St

[49:17] Luke's Church if I could read something

[49:18] please

[49:28] I wanted to recognize an event that took

[49:30] place this past Friday in the city it

[49:34] was the third annual community day

[49:35] hosted by father Dominic isopo and the

[49:38] parishioners in St Luke's in St Joseph

[49:40] churches

[49:41] the purpose of this day was to give back

[49:43] to the community

[49:45] one person at a time and that they did

[49:48] it provided the opportunity for the

[49:50] members of the community the select to

[49:52] select items from the large amount of

[49:53] very things donated by the church

[49:55] members such as clothing household goods

[49:58] toys books

[50:00] Etc enjoy some food and benefit from the

[50:03] beautiful weather all at no cost much

[50:05] through the surprise and Delight of some

[50:07] of the attendees there were also

[50:09] organizations there to share their

[50:11] information with those interested

[50:14] in spite of our differences in the

[50:16] problems in our society this event

[50:17] reminded me of what I already knew we

[50:20] are better than that and the city needs

[50:22] more afternoons like this Bravo to

[50:25] father isopo and a parishioners of Saint

[50:27] Luke and Saint Joseph's

[50:30] how grateful we as parishioners from

[50:33] Saint Luke's to have father isopo as our

[50:36] priest his leadership in caring for his

[50:38] church and parishioners is so rewarding

[50:40] to all of us God blessopo always thank

[50:45] you very much

[50:46] thank you

[50:49] Mark Lacroix Lacroix I never sure how to

[50:52] pronounce that n Marge

[50:55] that's right it's a Lacroix thank you

[50:58] um just want to uh

[51:01] thank the city council for their

[51:03] magnetic them having a magnanimous

[51:05] Spirit nothing that's what the city

[51:07] needs to be magnanimous think about

[51:09] others think about what can we do to

[51:12] move forward

[51:14] I know it's not an easy thing I know we

[51:15] have to always consider every single

[51:17] person of the city but that's the thing

[51:19] think about every single person's case

[51:20] but then those who are before the city

[51:23] council before the mayor to really see

[51:26] what happened see the details and

[51:30] go forward with that you know I I thank

[51:33] you for hearing us out seeing the emails

[51:35] I've seen people talk about their

[51:36] properties and helping their family and

[51:38] such it's a beautiful thing you know and

[51:40] that's what it's going to be supposed to

[51:41] be about family and building a community

[51:43] if we're not doing that then what are we

[51:46] doing here

[51:47] we're failing before we're failing

[51:49] people and family community but I thank

[51:51] you for your spirits and I think I hope

[51:53] to see great and new blood coming to the

[51:55] city council to keep it pumping keep it

[51:57] going and that um when the city is in

[52:01] the near future a what they call a new

[52:03] Schenectady that everyone can feel it

[52:05] see it and hear it thank you thank you

[52:12] Patricia Smith

[52:22] good evening Madam president mayor City

[52:24] Council Members I'm Patricia Smith

[52:26] president of the Newton homes

[52:27] partnership on Pennsylvania Avenue

[52:29] between Schuyler and Hawthorne streets

[52:31] with Norwood Avenue behind us

[52:34] we own the whole black including the

[52:36] back parking lot

[52:37] over the 36 years I have lived here we

[52:40] have had issues with trespasses using

[52:42] our lot blocking Us in and parking and

[52:44] leaving their cars

[52:45] we have in the past had the assistance

[52:47] of the police to remove trespassers The

[52:50] Continuous issue is unfortunately the

[52:52] Pop Warner football group besides

[52:55] leaving trash they continue to Park

[52:57] Drive in stand and block our luck the

[53:00] retorts when asked to leave show lack of

[53:02] respect and intelligence

[53:03] on September 14th a woman drove in

[53:06] halfway through the lot and parked I

[53:08] went over to explain the lattice private

[53:09] and asked her nicely to leave she

[53:12] started to yell and when I went to

[53:13] retrieve my cell phone in my car she

[53:16] said I'd better stay in the car or she's

[53:17] going to let me have it at that time her

[53:20] son came up and told me I'd better stay

[53:22] in my car then she called me a racist

[53:26] previous when I asked the man to lead

[53:27] the lot he screamed I was Prejudice this

[53:30] is a private lot

[53:32] apparently this is the new mantra of

[53:34] people who want to commit crimes and

[53:35] feel they can intimidate others by using

[53:37] this crap

[53:39] my record with mpna speaks for me I will

[53:41] not tolerate such filthy disgusting

[53:43] moronic comments this past Saturday two

[53:46] of us called to ask for police help so

[53:49] that an issue did not erupt we were told

[53:51] that due to the issue being on private

[53:53] property the police cannot help us our

[53:56] lot was full of cars we could not get

[53:58] out nobody could get out because they

[54:00] blocked us in I saw car go by and the

[54:03] offices looked and kept going despite

[54:05] the road congested with cars all over

[54:07] the sidewalk and in our lock

[54:09] they kept they just ignored it I then

[54:12] emailed the chief of police asking for

[54:14] assistance as we were concerned a small

[54:16] media would arise due to the comments of

[54:18] the trespasses when we asked them to

[54:20] leave an officer did come a while after

[54:22] we cleared the lot he was very

[54:24] professional and listened to my Angry

[54:26] complaint we got good guys and women

[54:28] there so from this I gathered that if

[54:30] something happens on private property

[54:32] the police cannot help or is it just for

[54:35] people in Mount Pleasant or just me

[54:37] so if this is the case and we can count

[54:40] on no help this is what we are going to

[54:42] do if we have people committing crimes

[54:45] toward us on our property we will return

[54:47] the favor in kind and according to the

[54:48] dispatch the police will not be able to

[54:50] help the criminals who know that the

[54:52] tables turned on them this is such a

[54:54] violation of our rights the school and

[54:57] City have jurisdiction over the athletic

[54:59] field and what activities happen there

[55:01] so they have some responsibility for the

[55:03] actions of the field users at this time

[55:06] we are seeking federal and state legal

[55:09] action to preserve our rights due to

[55:11] this administration's lack of ability to

[55:13] enforce laws on the quality of life

[55:14] issues no one has the right to bully or

[55:17] intimidate to commit a crime against

[55:19] another I'm 71 years old the other lady

[55:22] is 74. these are young young people and

[55:25] they're going to beat ourselves in

[55:26] calling us names so we are now going to

[55:29] engage in the services of patrols that

[55:32] will take care of our life and

[55:34] personally I have to say that I do not

[55:36] support this Administration anymore

[55:37] which is a sad State of Affairs thank

[55:39] you thank you

[55:43] Melissa Jeffries

[55:52] hello my name's Melissa Jefferson I

[55:55] originally came here to talk about my

[55:58] parents house

[56:00] well you just happened to pass

[56:02] we need it so I just want to thank the

[56:06] council for listening

[56:08] and taking my emails and

[56:12] my pestering and everything to

[56:16] pass my parents to keep their home

[56:19] thank you

[56:24] I have no one else signed up to speak so

[56:26] I declare the public comment of City

[56:27] business closed

[56:30] miscellaneous business of the council

[56:35] okay mayor

[56:38] Madam president thank you always

[56:40] appreciate everyone coming out tonight

[56:41] and uh

[56:43] expressing their opinions uh their

[56:46] thoughts tomorrow we're scheduled to

[56:49] start the Milling of Campbell Avenue

[56:53] weather permitting uh you know that's

[56:56] been a concern for a lot of people in

[56:59] Bellevue with the work that National

[57:01] Grid has done on that street replacing

[57:04] the gas lines and some of the

[57:07] adjoining streets but that will be

[57:10] milled for its entire length that'll

[57:12] complement the work that was done past

[57:15] year on Broadway I think council

[57:18] president Porterfield

[57:20] members Del Toro

[57:23] palomini and Patrick who joined us for

[57:26] the pickleball court opening we've

[57:30] redone the pickleball courts there and

[57:32] then the tennis courts and

[57:35] across the street but for Mr motivera

[57:39] and Mr Farley and Mr Williams they

[57:40] assure me that anytime you want to go up

[57:42] they'll give you a lesson and let you

[57:44] play on the pickleball courts and get to

[57:47] see all the uh benefits of the

[57:50] investment that we've made in that Park

[57:53] thank you madam president thank you

[57:55] mayor well I was going to talk about the

[57:57] pickleball as well uh yeah so it's a

[57:59] great Court we're doing a lot of things

[58:00] in the Parks and people have the

[58:01] opportunity to enjoy so you know and

[58:04] that's one of the ways that the arpa

[58:05] dollars are being spent so that

[58:06] everybody in the city has an opportunity

[58:08] to partake I did play the mayor he

[58:11] turned it down that day so I'll

[58:13] challenge you to a pickleball alone

[58:18] um on those courts so I want to also

[58:21] thank everyone for coming out tonight

[58:23] and I'm to my colleagues on the council

[58:25] who supported it I want to say thank you

[58:27] for us doing to support the extensions

[58:30] on the contracts for those who are

[58:32] trying to provide who not trying who are

[58:34] providing and have been providing

[58:36] services to our city for so long and

[58:39] additionally thank you for allowing

[58:40] people to maintain their homes who got

[58:43] into you know things happen people were

[58:45] older we went through covet A lot

[58:47] happened but I just saw someone to make

[58:49] it 100 clear that the city is being made

[58:51] whole the city is being made whole and

[58:54] we we charge that's not for me we

[58:58] which we charge uh 21 interest and you

[59:03] know we there's no way that any you know

[59:04] that anything else anyplace else charges

[59:06] that interest so we're getting all of

[59:08] our money back on these houses I want to

[59:10] make that clear and in addition to that

[59:12] there's an additional fee that we've

[59:13] attached to that for those who had to

[59:15] pay this and they have to pay the court

[59:17] costs so the city is getting all their

[59:20] money plus some because we we're not

[59:22] going to cover the costs in order to do

[59:23] this so um for those who uh say that

[59:27] we're you know

[59:28] taxing taxpayers dollars by allowing

[59:30] people to um to buy back their property

[59:33] that is not a fact and it's also I want

[59:35] to say that we have done this in the

[59:37] past it's not the first time that the

[59:38] council has done this so again

[59:41] um I thank the council for supporting

[59:43] this for realizing it's important for us

[59:45] to try to do the right thing and to look

[59:47] at each situation individually so I thank

[59:52] you very much and with that I asked from

[59:54] last promotions to adjourn by Miss

[59:56] Patrick second by Mr Farley all in favor

[59:58] we're adjourned have a good night

Schenectady City Council Meeting, September 25, 2023

Transcript