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public hearing number one the 2022
Consolidated annual performance and
evaluation report the keeper
we have 18 items for original
consideration if the clerk would please
read item number one item number one for
original consideration a resolution
calling for a public hearing amending
248-18 of the city code to designate J
Street from Liberty Street to Union
Street a two-way street
discussed in committee with objection on
consent item number two item number two for original consideration a
resolution authorized in the mayor or
his designee to process outstanding
accounts in the best interests of the
city and collect any money due for
mortgages assigned to the city from
Schenectady local Development
Corporation
Mr boulderberry I'd like to ask uh
discussion to correct the languages
I need a second
okay we will ask for a roll call during
the council meeting
item number three for original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the sale of 405 11th Street for twenty
six thousand one hundred and forty eight
dollars and fifty one cents discussing
committee without I'm sorry roll call Mr
palomini
item number four item number four for
original consideration a resolution
authorized in the sale of 841 Oakwood
Avenue for a hundred thousand dollars
discussing committee without objection
on consent item number five item number
five for original consideration a
resolution authorizing the sale of 874
Emmett Street or fifty five thousand
three hundred and twenty four dollars
and eleven cents roll call Mr palomini
item number six item number six for
original consideration a resolution
authorizing the sale of 1005 Congress
Street for twenty five thousand seven
hundred and seventy seven dollars and
ten cents roll call Mr palamini item
number seven item number seven for
original consideration a resolution
authorizing the sale of 1038 Glenwood
Boulevard for thirty five thousand five
hundred dollars
disgusting committee with the objection
on consent item number eight item number
eight for original consideration a
resolution authorizing the sale of 1040
Wendell Avenue for sixteen thousand nine
hundred and ninety nine dollars and
ninety seven cents
uh roll call by Mr palamini item number
nine item number nine for original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the sale of 1153 Phoenix Avenue for one
hundred and forty one thousand dollars
discussing committee with objection on
consent item number 10 item number 10
for original consideration a resolution
authorized in the sale of
2008 State Street for eighty seven
thousand dollars
discussed and committee without
objection on consent item number eleven for original
consideration a resolution of amending
resolution 2022 224 to modify the time
period for electric city food
Cooperative Incorporated to secure
required Financial commitments
roll call by Mr palomini
item number 12.
for original
consideration a resolution amending
resolution 2022 224 to modify the time
period for young women's Christian
Association of Schenectady DBA YWCA
Northeastern New York to secure required
Financial commitments roll call by Mr
palamini item number 13. item number 13
for original consideration a resolution
amending resolution
2023-029 to modify the time period for
Miracle on Craig Street to secure a
required Financial commitments
roll call by Mr palomini item number 14 for original
consideration a resolution amending
resolution 2022-224 to modify the use of
funds for a Schenectady Community Action
Program Incorporated roll a call by Mr
palamini
item number 13.
excuse me item number 15. item number 15
for original consideration a resolution
recognizing Suicide Prevention month
this item will be taken out of order and
presented by a council member Patrick
item number 16. item number 16 for
original consideration a resolution
recognizing National Hispanic Heritage
Month this resolution will be presented
at a later date discussed in committee
with objection on consent item number 17 for original
consideration and resolution recognizing
Army veteran first lieutenant George W
Keough
item number 17 will also be presented at
a later date it's been discussed in
committee without injection on consent
item number 18. item number 18 for
original consideration and resolution
recognizing Army veteran private Joseph
E Kehoe
this item again will be presented at a
later date and discussing committee with
objection on consent
if there's nothing more to come before
the city council caucus I'll ask for a
motion to adjourn motion by Miss Peck
second by Mr motiv Aaron all in favor
we're adjourned I'd like to call to
order the city council meeting from
Monday September 25th 2023
Ronald Hunter lives in a prayer
invocation
good evening
let's reflect for a moment first let me
say thank you on behalf of all who have
gathered here today
thank you for many and Abundant
Blessings thank you for life itself for
the measure of Health we have we need to
fulfill our callings for knowledge for
assessments and for friendship thank you
for the ability to be involved in useful
work and for the honor of bearing
appropriate responsibilities
thanks as well for the freedom to share
and listen to information and counsel
from your constituents which includes
the freedom to respectfully disagree
with our many branches of government yes
we have the right to seek our redress
whether it is here at a peaceful protest
or especially a voting booth in ancient
books it is said that citizens ought to
obey the governing authorities since
those very authorities were established
to promote peace order and Justice in
present times things can seem more
complex therefore I pray for our mayor
for the various levels of city official
also present and in particular for this
assembled Council I'm asking that you
will graciously grant them wisdom to
govern amid the conflicting interests
and issues of our times a sense of the
welfare and true needs of our people
Akeem throws for justice and rightness
confidence in what is good and fitting
the ability to work together in harmony
even when there is honest disagreement
personal peace in their lives and joy in
their tasks
may this communication and this meeting
be very productive thank you very much
I'd like to call on Mike superiority to
lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance
thank you
if the clerk who please call the roll
Miss Porterfield here thank you thank
you we have one out of order resolution
um
recognizing Suicide Prevention months
we'd ask the uh it was going to be
presented by council member Patrick so
we'd ask the members of the fire and
police department that are present to
accept the resolutions please step
behind the rail
thank you
how are you come on
hello how are you
Madam president may have the floor you
have the floor thank you
well this is suicide prevention Munch
month
um for 2023 and we have a special uh
resolution for that
whereas September is National Suicide
Prevention month a month to remember the
lives lost to Suicide the millions of
people who have struggled with suicidal
ideation and acknowledge the individuals
families and communities that have been
impacted it is also a time to raise
awareness and discuss this highly
stigmatized Topic in addition to
shifting public perception this month is
used to spread hope and Vital
Information to people affected by
Suicide and whereas suicide is the act
of intentionally causing One's Own Death
mental disorders including depression
bipolar disorder autism spectrum
disorders schizophrenia personality
disorders anxiety disorders physical
disorders and substance and substance
use disorders are risk factors for
suicide
the majority of suicides worldwide are
related to mental health disorders
taking care of our mental health is
equally as important as taking care of
our physical health
and whereas according to the Center for
Disease Control and prevention the CDC
in 2021 suicide was responsible for 48
183 deaths which is about one death
every 11 minutes
the number of people who think about or
attempt suicide is even higher
in 2021 an estimated 12.3 million
American adults seriously thought about
suicide 3.5 million planned a suicide
attempt and 1.7 million attempted
suicide
and whereas suicide is the second
leading cause of death among Youth and
Young adults between the ages of 10 and
24 years old the suicide rate for
veterans is more than 50 percent greater
than for non-veteran adults
First Responders including Law
Enforcement Officers firefighters
Emergency Medical Services
EMS clinicians and Public Safety
telecommunicators responders may be at
an elevated risk for suicide because of
the environments in which they work
their culture and stress both
occupational and personal
and whereas 988 is the three-digit
National Suicide and crisis Lifeline HHS
launched in collaboration with the
states in 2022 Americans can now connect
with trained counselors that offer real
support in times of Crisis since the
July 2022 launch 988 has received more
than 5.5 million calls texts and chats
and in July 2023 text and chat were made
available in Spanish and whereas suicide
is preventable and no one should go
through a crisis alone now therefore be
it resolved that the Schenectady city
council and Mayor Gary R McCarthy do
hereby pause in their deliberations to
recognize Suicide Prevention month and
encourage everyone if you know someone
you know needs help Reach Out call 9-1-1
call or text 988 for the National
Suicide Prevention line or text Got 5 to
741 and 741 and be it further resolved
that as the world joins together during
Suicide Prevention month to honor the
memories of those we have lost to
suicide and their loved ones that we
commit to be kind to everyone because
you never know what someone is going
through
I'd like to make a motion to pass this
resolution I need a second please
second by Mr Blue Baron all in favor
aye motion passions congratulations
thank you
so I was hoping that you would introduce
yourself and say a few words and then
we'll pass the microphone down
absolutely
uh good evening ladies and gentlemen of
the council Mr Mayor ladies and
gentlemen my name is Zachary weekly I
along with my um with another sergeant
that I work with Matthew Dearing who
couldn't be here tonight uh co-direct
our Department's peer support team and
with me direct me directly to my left is
Dr Kelly Tobin who is The Clinical
Director for the police department's
peer support team
years ago when
Matt Dearing and I took over the peer
support team we realized that our
biggest hurdle in the first job that we
had was to break down some of the
barriers and the stigma associated with
help seeking Behavior right especially
in law enforcement
there there's this
machismo that goes along with our job
and a lot of people think that it's not
okay to ask for help and it's not okay
to not be okay so
get rid of that I appreciate
um the city council
um taking the time out of your agenda to
bring suicide awareness month to to
everybody's attention because I think
the more we talk about it the more the
easier it is for somebody who's going
through a hard time to
um the easier it will be for them to
talk about it
um
that's really all I have thank you thank
you
hello good evening thank you for having
me here and and for this amazing award
is fantastic
um
like Zach was saying I was asked to come
and take on a position as The Clinical
Director
it was supposed to be a graceful and
gradual coming in and we unfortunately
had a suicide and so forged by fire here
I came and as I got to know everybody at
the police department and the officers I
could feel that stigma when I came in
the atmosphere would change in the room
and
I think they really thought that I was
there because they were in trouble not
because they
could seek me out if they needed to
um
one of the things that I've worked on
and Zach and Matt have supported me
greatly and is what I call the
resiliency project
so we're going to launch it next year it
started with myself and Zach and Matt I
created a survey and sent it to every
police officer every detective every
Administration if you belonged somehow
to the Scott City Police Department you
are getting the survey and what it went
through was I wanted to know what they
thought what was the definition of
resilience
what makes somebody resilient and also
what takes your resiliency away because
in the form of suicide and the beginning
of mental health it's when you start
losing the capacity to be resilient
where Zach was saying it was grit you
needed to have Grit
okay but with grit come silence
and so this gave that voice and So based
on what they thought took the resilience
away away I created a three-tier program
to address all of those concerns
good evening everybody
uh Don Marino Schenectady Fire
Department
this is a subject that's difficult
um
way back in the stone ages when I came
on you didn't talk about it
you just went did your job kept your
mouth shut
and you just
let it eat at you and no one knew about
it
and I don't know how far away from that
we are today
we've taken strides we we talked about
it we make available to our people a lot
of resources
they don't have to tell us what's going
on but if they need help we're there to
help them
I think
it's better because we are talking about
it it's better because it'll lead like
the police department and other agencies
the different things you're doing
but it is definitely an issue that we
can't let go and we need to keep working
at it
you never know what someone's going
through and you never know what act of
kindness can help that person
and sometimes it's that just simple
thing
uh the programs are good we're going to
work the programs but it's very
important that all of us just realize
we're in this together and no one's
perfect
and just a kind word somebody could go a
long ways
[Music]
you all and especially for the work that
you do under tremendous pressure so we
really appreciate everything that you're
doing to protect
yourselves and each other and of course
our community so thank you very much
[Applause]
I'd just like to add that we do have one
more group the um
American Foundation For Suicide
Prevention that could not be with us
tonight so we will be presenting a
resolution on Sunday at their walk in
Central Park
um and so what's up I'm talking about it
I would just further mention that
council member Patrick talked about the
988 suicide crisis line so we are going
to be having some of these cards which
explain it in City Hall so thank you
very much councilman Patrick
we have one public hearing tonight and
just a reminder we've extended the
public hearing comment to four minutes
however I have no one signed up for the
public hearing so I declare the public
hearing closed
okay I asked for approval of the minutes
for September 13 2023.
September 11th I'm sorry
nobody moved by me move by Mr Farley
second by Mr Williams all in favor the
clerk could please read any
Communications and petitions
Communications presented to city council
for Monday September 25th 2023 under
official there were none under General
there were three emails from Petey Boris
two regarding National Grid already
installing traffic lamps and instruction
signs before public hearing allowed
allowing two-way traffic on Clinton and
Franklin Street
She also asked that everyone look at the
Daily Gazette article a look at
Schenectady as technological Smart City
what do we need to know about smart
cities and a broad Matrix of options
that were published on July 27 2019.
under a petitions there were none
thank you
call on council members to provide any
committee reports
and committee reports
this time we'll have privilege of the
floor related to the legislative agenda
and I think I just need to clarify
something for folks who signed up the
yellow sheet was legislative for the
legislative agenda and the the
Greenwoods for City business so if you
want to speak to anything that is on the
printed agenda
like regarding the housing sales those
things that is the legislative agenda
which is what we're speaking on now so
does anybody need to correct that
okay
but I just want you to okay so that
means you're on the legislative agenda
that's what's on here so anybody who
wants to speak on anything that's on the
agenda
that but not right now but I'll change
your name over okay you'll miss
pinchback
Miss pinch back okay not right now but
I'll move your name over so I just want
to clarify for everyone we had some
confusion before
Co-op and
bureaucracy Street where should we be
speaking you should be speaking during
the legislative agenda
okay
yes Elizabeth Walsh you did
all right um
so everybody else is in the right place
okay
[Music]
anyone else for the housing sales
that's on the agenda
okay
all right so um Elizabeth Walsh you were
you sent yours online
just to remind you you have three
minutes to speak
good evening all mayor McCarthy City
Council Members I'm here representing
the electric city food Cooperative I am
an Engaged and very proud member owner
I'm here with over a dozen other member
owners of the Electric City Food Co-op a
community that is growing 906 members
this week I am coming together in
gratitude I want to thank particularly
council members Carmel Patrick Imani
Farley Carl Williams John moodiveren
council president Marion Porterfield and
Mayor Gary McCarthy for their ongoing
support of our efforts to open a
downtown community-owned grocery store
thank you also for your willingness to
be responsive to the changing conditions
and needs of Community Partners
Tonight We Gather in support of the
resolution before Council to Grant the
three-time extensions requested one for
our building back Better Together
proposal as well as for the proposals of
the YWCA and Miracle on Craig Street all
three of these proposals are previously
approved by City Council on the
condition that they raise funds for
their own to complement the federal arpa
funding we believe that approval of
these extensions is fully consistent
with Federal guidance and administrating
arpa funding first following through on
the commitment
to invest in these projects is fully
inconsistent with the core Equity
centered intentions of arpa these
intentions include providing responsive
services to disproportionately impacted
communities and addressing the critical
issues like foods and food insecurity
that were exacerbated during the
pandemic
second granting the time extensions is
fully consistent with Federal
requirements that the arpa funds are
allocated to projects by the end of 2024
with the money needing to be spent by
the end of 2026.
the Biden Harris Administration has
consistently Advanced an equity-centered
approach to recovery efforts one that is
responsive to the diverse needs of
diverse people and dynamically changing
circumstances especially by working
closely with people directly
experiencing challenges to co-create
Solutions
although most of us here agree that
improvements could be made to the arpa
process we also want to applaud the
council's willingness to implement a
responsive equity-centered process that
ensures the ARP Investments match real
Community meets for the co-op this will
give us the time to secure our site we
have committed funds of 3 million from
the county and 2 million from our very
Community oriented developers so we look
forward to being fulfilled with the time
extension required thanks so much
thank you
Kim Siciliano
good evening everyone on behalf of the
YWCA Northeastern New York's current
clients residence participants staff and
board members I thank you Mr Mayor and
City Council Members you have always
been non a non-profit community-based
Champions and we greatly appreciate all
of your partnership we are hopeful that
you will bring the yw's the Electric
City Food Co-op and Miracle on correct
Street funding request as well as
extensions back up for additional
conversation and to another vote so that
these nonprofits may continue their
great work in the Schenectady Community
I will talk tonight about the yw's
project and our 135-year history and how
we are on embarking on another adventure
to strengthen and grow our Mark in the
Schenectady Community please consider
our request for an additional funding to
support the expanded project outline and
Compass encompassing our whole our whole
campus at this point this is a 45
million dollar project that includes
both new construction which is what
we've been talking about as well as
concurrently renovating our our building
that is 90 years old on the main campus
please provide this additional support
so we may realize our dream and vision
for an electrifying and greatly improved
Schenectady Community for all the
critical need for housing both
supportive and permanent in our
community as an is at an all-time high
especially housing that serves those
experiencing mental illness survivors of
domestic violence and the chronically
homeless Harbor House as we love to call
it at the YW will be a newly constructed
54 unit 100 percent permanent Supportive
Housing Development for women trans
inclusive the YW partners with Zenith
partners are affordable housing experts
along with our other project team
partners GPI Magnuson architecture and
the chase construction the new
construction would be a 37 000 plus foot
square
uh square foot four-story building
including 50 Studios and four two
bedroom family units there will also be
various office and community space to
provide intensive support to Residents
with 24 7 on-site Staffing we will also
renovate the current building turning
the 95 year old building into a
wonderful opportunity in The Stockade we
currently still have 42 single room
occupancy units which is what will be
renovating as well as office and program
space and providing An Early Learning
Center build out serving 60 plus
children
the project team will redevelop the YW
campus to ensure the long-term stability
of the critical programming the YW
provides safe and affordable housing
comprehensive domestic violence services
and high quality Early Learning Program
there's also about 80 staff who work
there with this amazing project and your
support we will keep alive our amazing
mission of eliminating racism empowering
women and promoting peace Justice
dignity and freedom for all thank you
for your time I appreciate you all thank
you
Michelle pinchback
foreign
good evening city council my name is
Michelle I am a peer in reference to the
buying back of my parents home through
my mother I just wanted to say that both
my parents have been in the Schenectady
Community for a very long time have also
added and been in community service to
the area and I would really appreciate I
understand that there was a lot of
issues and can be inconveniences as far
as what this process has happened what
has happened and what is going to happen
I just ask that we look all over and
look over everything and especially the
information that was sent to you guys
individually through emails and
um
I think it was just through email sorry
and just to make sure to look over that
because
I
this has been a very rough thing and
it's not something that was done you
know out of spite or to hurt the city or
to go anything oh this was more a bad of
elderly people who
had issues had physical health and a lot
of other things and
family wasn't as involved as it is now
they have backup now there's family
included everyone knows we are all
watching over everything and this is not
something that would happen again so I'm
just asking that they look over
everything and I appreciate you for
listening
thank you
all right I have no one else signed up
to speak for the legislative agenda so I
declare the public climate closed
ask for approval of the legislative
agenda
it's moved by Mr motivary and second by
Miss Patrick all in favor
all right we have nine items for roll
call
item number two
Clerk of please read
item number two for original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the mayor or his designate to process
outstanding accounts in the best
interests of the city and collect any
monies due for mortgages assigned to the
city from the Schenectady local
Development Corporation right it's been
motioned in second to have this item
table this time the clerk will please
call the roll
Mr Farley yes
Mr Williams yes
Miss Patrick yes
Mr palamini yes
Miss Porterfield yes
items table will be returned to
committee
so it passes item number four excuse me
item number three for original
consideration and resolution authorizing
the sale of 405 11th Street where twenty
six thousand one hundred and forty eight
dollars and fifty one cents
I need a motion on that
over Miss Patrick Sacramento all in
favor
is there any discussion on this item
just want to remind council members this
is a time for discussion and next with
the roll call to just vote the item
through or or not so any discussion on
this item
if the clerk would please read the call
the roll Mr mutaviran yes Mr
Farley
Patrick yes Mr palomini no that's Porterfield
yes
item number five clerk will please read
mm-hmm
item number five for original
consideration resolution authorized in
the sale of 874 Emmett Street for 55 324
and 11 cents
any motion so
second my movement second by Miss
Patrick
all's in favor
aye okay if the clerk excuse me clerk
would please call the roll
any discussion
this is its opportunity for discussion
before the vote
yes
Mr Toro no
Mr Farley yes Mr Williams yes Miss
Patrick yes
Mr palomini no
Miss Porterfield yes item passes five to
two
item number six for original
consideration a resolution authorized in
the sale of 1005 Congress Street for
twenty five thousand seven hundred and
seventy seven dollars and 10 cents
in motion let's move it moved by Mr
multiver in second by Mr Farley all's in
favor
aye
any discussion
if the clerk would please call the roll
Mr Mutual
Miss Patrick yes Mr palamini
Miss Porterfield yes Adam passes five to
two
item number eight for original
consideration resolution authorizing the
sale of 1040 Wendell Avenue for 16
999.97
I need a motion Miss Patrick
Aaron all's in favor
aye
is there any discussion on this item
if the clerk would please call the roll
Mr Baron yes Mr Toro no
Mr Farley yes Mr Williams yes Miss Patrick yes
Mr palamini Ms Porterfield yes item
passes five to two item number eleven
item number 11 for original
consideration and resolution amending
resolution 2022-224 to modify the time
period for electric city food
Cooperative Incorporated to secure
required Financial commitments
need a motion Miss Patrick second by Mr
mood of Aaron all in favor
is there any discussion on this item
clerk would please call the roll Mr
musubiran yes Mr Toro no Mr Farley yes yes Mr Williams yes
Miss Patrick yes
Mr palamini no Miss Porterfield yes item
passes five to two
item number 12.
for original
consideration a resolution amending
resolution 2022 2224 to modify the time
period for young women's Christian
Association of Schenectady DBA YWCA
Northeastern New York to secure required
Financial commitments
all in favor
aye
is there any discussion on this item
Mr Farley
so Madam president I just wanted uh I
think it's appropriate that we recognize
that this is suicide prevention month
and have we did that earlier
um with a beautiful uh ceremony
resolution by Ms Patrick and I think
that it's important that we recognize
that
we are in a really great position to
impact the setting conditions to what
these tragedies occur and I don't want
it to be lost on us that affordable
housing
and building community and access to
quality services and mental health
services and these are exactly what are
these uh agencies are providing and we
are in a great position to you know
increase uh or decrease the likelihood
of such tragedies occurring in our
community by the way we vote so I just
wanted to make clear and highlight that our votes are not
should not be looked at as a
disconnected piece of this process they
are very much related and have great
impacts by what we say yes or no here
tonight
thank you any further discussion
if the clerk will please call the roll
Mr motivaran yes Mr turo no Mr Farley
yes Mr Williams yes Miss Patrick yes Mr
palomini no this poor people yes item
passes five to two
item number 13.
for original
consideration and resolution amending
resolution
2023-029 to modify the time period for
Miracle on Craig Street to secure
required Financial commitments
need a motion Please Mr motivaran second
by Mr Williams all in favor
aye
is there any discussion on this item
the clerk please call the roll Mr
motiveran yes Mr Toro
Mr Farley yes
Mr Williams
yes Miss Patrick yes Mr palomini no Miss
Porterfield yes
item passes five to two
item number 14.
for original
consideration resolution amending
resolution 2022-224
to modify the use of funds for a
Schenectady Community Action Program
Incorporated
I need a motion most of my Mr Williams
second my Miss Patrick all in favor
is there any discussion on this item
Miss Patrick
yes I'd like to repeat what we talked
about a couple of weeks ago which is
that this is a program that absolutely
is helping to prevent homelessness in
our community it's a program that this
Council has funded previously
um uh through cdbg I also want to point
out that the original application that
scap put in was for covid supplies so
changing the to the rental assistance
program to prevent homelessness makes
sense because they had to purchase the
covid supplies when they needed them so
they used other funding to do that and I
wholeheartedly support
using the money that we had already
previously given to them to continue in
our efforts to prevent homelessness in
our community thank you thank you any
other discussion
will the clerk please call the roll
yes Mr Toro no Mr Farley yes
Mr Williams yes
Miss Patrick
Mr palomini no
Miss Porterfield yes motion passes five
to two thank you
this time we'll have privilege of the
floor regarding General City business
I have four people signed up
first person is Michael zapieri
good evening Mr McCarthy mayor McCarthy
city council president as Porterfield
City Council I just came here to talk
about a wonderful event that happened
Friday night in Schenectady regarding St
Luke's Church if I could read something
please
I wanted to recognize an event that took
place this past Friday in the city it
was the third annual community day
hosted by father Dominic isopo and the
parishioners in St Luke's in St Joseph
churches
the purpose of this day was to give back
to the community
one person at a time and that they did
it provided the opportunity for the
members of the community the select to
select items from the large amount of
very things donated by the church
members such as clothing household goods
toys books
Etc enjoy some food and benefit from the
beautiful weather all at no cost much
through the surprise and Delight of some
of the attendees there were also
organizations there to share their
information with those interested
in spite of our differences in the
problems in our society this event
reminded me of what I already knew we
are better than that and the city needs
more afternoons like this Bravo to
father isopo and a parishioners of Saint
Luke and Saint Joseph's
how grateful we as parishioners from
Saint Luke's to have father isopo as our
priest his leadership in caring for his
church and parishioners is so rewarding
to all of us God blessopo always thank
you very much
thank you
Mark Lacroix Lacroix I never sure how to
pronounce that n Marge
that's right it's a Lacroix thank you
um just want to uh
thank the city council for their
magnetic them having a magnanimous
Spirit nothing that's what the city
needs to be magnanimous think about
others think about what can we do to
move forward
I know it's not an easy thing I know we
have to always consider every single
person of the city but that's the thing
think about every single person's case
but then those who are before the city
council before the mayor to really see
what happened see the details and
go forward with that you know I I thank
you for hearing us out seeing the emails
I've seen people talk about their
properties and helping their family and
such it's a beautiful thing you know and
that's what it's going to be supposed to
be about family and building a community
if we're not doing that then what are we
doing here
we're failing before we're failing
people and family community but I thank
you for your spirits and I think I hope
to see great and new blood coming to the
city council to keep it pumping keep it
going and that um when the city is in
the near future a what they call a new
Schenectady that everyone can feel it
see it and hear it thank you thank you
Patricia Smith
good evening Madam president mayor City
Council Members I'm Patricia Smith
president of the Newton homes
partnership on Pennsylvania Avenue
between Schuyler and Hawthorne streets
with Norwood Avenue behind us
we own the whole black including the
back parking lot
over the 36 years I have lived here we
have had issues with trespasses using
our lot blocking Us in and parking and
leaving their cars
we have in the past had the assistance
of the police to remove trespassers The
Continuous issue is unfortunately the
Pop Warner football group besides
leaving trash they continue to Park
Drive in stand and block our luck the
retorts when asked to leave show lack of
respect and intelligence
on September 14th a woman drove in
halfway through the lot and parked I
went over to explain the lattice private
and asked her nicely to leave she
started to yell and when I went to
retrieve my cell phone in my car she
said I'd better stay in the car or she's
going to let me have it at that time her
son came up and told me I'd better stay
in my car then she called me a racist
previous when I asked the man to lead
the lot he screamed I was Prejudice this
is a private lot
apparently this is the new mantra of
people who want to commit crimes and
feel they can intimidate others by using
this crap
my record with mpna speaks for me I will
not tolerate such filthy disgusting
moronic comments this past Saturday two
of us called to ask for police help so
that an issue did not erupt we were told
that due to the issue being on private
property the police cannot help us our
lot was full of cars we could not get
out nobody could get out because they
blocked us in I saw car go by and the
offices looked and kept going despite
the road congested with cars all over
the sidewalk and in our lock
they kept they just ignored it I then
emailed the chief of police asking for
assistance as we were concerned a small
media would arise due to the comments of
the trespasses when we asked them to
leave an officer did come a while after
we cleared the lot he was very
professional and listened to my Angry
complaint we got good guys and women
there so from this I gathered that if
something happens on private property
the police cannot help or is it just for
people in Mount Pleasant or just me
so if this is the case and we can count
on no help this is what we are going to
do if we have people committing crimes
toward us on our property we will return
the favor in kind and according to the
dispatch the police will not be able to
help the criminals who know that the
tables turned on them this is such a
violation of our rights the school and
City have jurisdiction over the athletic
field and what activities happen there
so they have some responsibility for the
actions of the field users at this time
we are seeking federal and state legal
action to preserve our rights due to
this administration's lack of ability to
enforce laws on the quality of life
issues no one has the right to bully or
intimidate to commit a crime against
another I'm 71 years old the other lady
is 74. these are young young people and
they're going to beat ourselves in
calling us names so we are now going to
engage in the services of patrols that
will take care of our life and
personally I have to say that I do not
support this Administration anymore
which is a sad State of Affairs thank
you thank you
Melissa Jeffries
hello my name's Melissa Jefferson I
originally came here to talk about my
parents house
well you just happened to pass
we need it so I just want to thank the
council for listening
and taking my emails and
my pestering and everything to
pass my parents to keep their home
thank you
I have no one else signed up to speak so
I declare the public comment of City
business closed
miscellaneous business of the council
okay mayor
Madam president thank you always
appreciate everyone coming out tonight
and uh
expressing their opinions uh their
thoughts tomorrow we're scheduled to
start the Milling of Campbell Avenue
weather permitting uh you know that's
been a concern for a lot of people in
Bellevue with the work that National
Grid has done on that street replacing
the gas lines and some of the
adjoining streets but that will be
milled for its entire length that'll
complement the work that was done past
year on Broadway I think council
president Porterfield
members Del Toro
palomini and Patrick who joined us for
the pickleball court opening we've
redone the pickleball courts there and
then the tennis courts and
across the street but for Mr motivera
and Mr Farley and Mr Williams they
assure me that anytime you want to go up
they'll give you a lesson and let you
play on the pickleball courts and get to
see all the uh benefits of the
investment that we've made in that Park
thank you madam president thank you
mayor well I was going to talk about the
pickleball as well uh yeah so it's a
great Court we're doing a lot of things
in the Parks and people have the
opportunity to enjoy so you know and
that's one of the ways that the arpa
dollars are being spent so that
everybody in the city has an opportunity
to partake I did play the mayor he
turned it down that day so I'll
challenge you to a pickleball alone
um on those courts so I want to also
thank everyone for coming out tonight
and I'm to my colleagues on the council
who supported it I want to say thank you
for us doing to support the extensions
on the contracts for those who are
trying to provide who not trying who are
providing and have been providing
services to our city for so long and
additionally thank you for allowing
people to maintain their homes who got
into you know things happen people were
older we went through covet A lot
happened but I just saw someone to make
it 100 clear that the city is being made
whole the city is being made whole and
we we charge that's not for me we
which we charge uh 21 interest and you
know we there's no way that any you know
that anything else anyplace else charges
that interest so we're getting all of
our money back on these houses I want to
make that clear and in addition to that
there's an additional fee that we've
attached to that for those who had to
pay this and they have to pay the court
costs so the city is getting all their
money plus some because we we're not
going to cover the costs in order to do
this so um for those who uh say that
we're you know
taxing taxpayers dollars by allowing
people to um to buy back their property
that is not a fact and it's also I want
to say that we have done this in the
past it's not the first time that the
council has done this so again
um I thank the council for supporting
this for realizing it's important for us
to try to do the right thing and to look
at each situation individually so I thank
you very much and with that I asked from
last promotions to adjourn by Miss
Patrick second by Mr Farley all in favor
we're adjourned have a good night