[0:00] [Music]

[0:28] yeah

[0:30] [Music]

[1:58] he

[2:00] [Music]

[2:28] yeah

[2:29] [Music]

[3:47] I'd like to all call to order the city

[3:48] Caucus meeting for Monday February 26

[3:52] 2024 we have 22 items for original

[3:55] consideration if the clerk would please

[3:57] read item number one item number one a

[4:00] public hearing for regarding Central

[4:03] Parkway sidewalk Improvement project

[4:05] discussing committee with objection on

[4:09] consent okay I'm sorry we have three

[4:12] public

[4:13] hearings we have three public

[4:15] hearings one one public

[4:20] hearing

[4:22] okay item number one for original

[4:24] consideration item number one for

[4:26] original consideration a resolution

[4:28] calling for a public hearing to amend

[4:30] city code Chapter 93 civilian police

[4:32] revie re review board section six term

[4:36] limits holdovers and vacancy discuss in

[4:39] committee with objection on consent item

[4:41] number two item number two for original

[4:43] consideration a resolution calling for a

[4:44] public hearing creating a special

[4:46] assessment District on a portion of

[4:47] North College Street discussed in

[4:50] committee with objection on consent item

[4:52] number three item number three for

[4:53] original consideration a resolution

[4:55] supporting assembly Bill a 7652 and

[4:58] Senate Bill S7 7546 authorizing the city

[5:01] of skty to establish a speed camera

[5:04] enforcement demonstration program in

[5:06] school zones discussed and committee

[5:07] with objection on consent item number

[5:09] four item number four for original

[5:11] consideration a resolution in support of

[5:14] assembly Bill a 7653 and Senate Bill s

[5:18] 7545 relating to adjudications and owner

[5:21] liability of traffic control signals

[5:24] discussed in committee with objection on

[5:26] consent item number five item number

[5:28] five for original consideration a

[5:29] resolution in support of bills A

[5:32] 7656 and S

[5:34] 7547 requiring a petition in summary

[5:37] proceeding to recover possessions of

[5:39] real property in the city of SKC to

[5:41] allege proof of compliance with local

[5:43] laws requiring rental residential

[5:45] property registration and lure discussed

[5:48] in committee with objection on consent

[5:50] item number six item number six for

[5:52] original consideration a resolution

[5:53] supporting assembly Bill a758 and Senate

[5:56] Bill s 7409 to increase the membership

[6:00] of the special district operation and

[6:01] development committee the dsad and dsic

[6:05] discuss in committee with objection nonc

[6:07] consent item number seven item number

[6:09] seven for original consideration a

[6:11] resolution authorizing the Department of

[6:13] Finance to make budget amendment to the

[6:15] 2024 operating budget discussed in

[6:18] committee with the objection on consent

[6:20] item number eight item number eight for

[6:21] original consideration a resolution

[6:23] appointing Christopher Marney to the

[6:24] ethics board roll call by Mr

[6:28] Toro item number nine item number nine

[6:31] for original consideration a resolution

[6:33] confirming the appointments of Anthony

[6:36] Fowler as the primary representative and

[6:38] Arthur Butler as the alternate

[6:40] representative of the Human Rights

[6:42] Commission to the civilian police review

[6:43] board discuss in committee with

[6:45] objection on consent item number 10 item

[6:48] number 10 for original consideration a

[6:50] resolution accepting a donation of a

[6:52] 2021 Ford Mach e fully electric vehicle

[6:55] from Metro Ford for use by the connect

[6:57] Police Department discussing committee

[6:59] with objection on consent item number 11 for original

[7:03] consideration a resolution authorizing

[7:05] the mayor to enter into intermunicipal

[7:07] cooperation agreement with sken County

[7:10] for the distribution of funding awarded

[7:11] by the New York state division of

[7:13] Criminal Justice Services to support

[7:15] local enforcement agencies discussed in

[7:18] committee without objection on consent

[7:19] item number 12 item number 12 for

[7:21] original consideration a resolution

[7:23] authorizing the sale of a vacant lot on8

[7:26] Grand Street for $88,000 discussed in

[7:28] committee without objection on consent

[7:30] item number 13 item number 13 for

[7:32] original consideration a resolution

[7:34] authorizing the sale of a vacant lot on

[7:36] 8 Wagner Avenue for

[7:38] $2,500 discussed in committee with

[7:41] objection on consent item number

[7:43] 13 item number 14 for original

[7:46] consideration a resolution authorizing

[7:48] the sale of 504 Page Street for

[7:51] $35,000 discuss in committee with

[7:53] objection on consent item number 15 item

[7:56] number 15 for original consideration a

[7:58] resolution authorized the sale of 801

[8:00] Holland Road for

[8:02] $45,000 discussed in committee with

[8:04] objection on consent it number

[8:07] 17 item number

[8:10] 16 for for original consideration a

[8:14] resolution authorizing the settlement of

[8:16] a claim by State Farm Mutual automobile

[8:19] insurance company as sube of Sandra

[8:22] Stapleton thank you item number 17 item

[8:25] number 17 for original consideration a

[8:27] resolution recognizing women's three

[8:29] month this uh item will be taken out of

[8:31] order and presented by council member

[8:33] Patrick item number 18 item item number

[8:36] 18 for original consideration a

[8:38] resolution recognizing David dariano of

[8:41] Metro Ford Sales this item will be taken

[8:43] out of order and presented by council

[8:45] member muin item number 19 item number

[8:48] 19 for original consideration a

[8:51] resolution recognizing James Griffin for

[8:53] his 40 years of service in the city of

[8:55] skincity thank you this item will be

[8:57] taken out of order and presented by

[8:58] myself

[8:59] item number 20 item number 20 for

[9:02] original consideration a resolution

[9:04] authorizing the issuance of revocable

[9:06] permit number 680 toer restaurant for a

[9:08] sign that will overhang the city's right

[9:10] of way at 500 State streets connected in

[9:12] New York discuss in committee without

[9:15] objection on consent item number 21 item

[9:17] number 21 for original consideration a

[9:19] resolution authorizing the issuance of

[9:21] revocable permit number 681 to pierce

[9:24] Renewables for a sign that will overhang

[9:26] the city's RightWay at 155 are

[9:29] boulevards connected in New York discuss

[9:31] in committee with objection on consent

[9:33] item number 22 item number 22 under

[9:35] contract and Supply a resolution

[9:37] awarding the bid and contract for the

[9:39] SKC Municipal Golf Course Golf Road

[9:42] Maintenance building electrical upgrades

[9:44] to be W Electrical Services LLC in the

[9:48] amount of

[9:49] 8,855 56 no discuss in committee without

[9:53] objection on consent if there's nothing

[9:55] more to come before the city council

[9:57] caucus I ask for a motion to adjourn

[10:00] move by Mr mudar and second by Miss

[10:01] Patrick all in favor we are adjourned

[10:04] I'd like to call to order the city

[10:06] council meeting for Monday February 26

[10:09] 2024 if you just please all rise for the

[10:14] invocation we don't have one anyone here

[10:16] today so I will be offering the

[10:18] invocation father we come before you and

[10:21] ask that you will be here in the

[10:23] presence Lord as we conduct the business

[10:25] of the city we thank you for everyone

[10:27] who has assembled here Lord we thank you

[10:29] for the public coming out we thank you

[10:30] for all the staff that is here and ask

[10:33] that you will um be with us as we

[10:35] conduct this business Lord and just

[10:36] watch over us continuously as we go

[10:38] about our daily lives we thank you for

[10:40] all that you have blessed us with God we

[10:41] thank you for the opportunity to

[10:43] recognize an employee who has given a

[10:45] number of years of service to the city

[10:47] we ask that you bless him and his family

[10:49] and all of his co-workers that he leaves

[10:50] here in the city that you will continue

[10:52] to allow them to do the work uh of the

[10:55] city and thank them we want to thank

[10:56] them for their service these are all

[10:58] blessings we ask in your your name

[11:00] amen I would ask for Nancy D statue to

[11:03] lead us in the Pledge of

[11:09] Allegiance United

[11:13] States stand

[11:16] Nation

[11:18] indivisible andice for all thank

[11:27] you

[11:29] just before before um U Mr Williams

[11:32] collects the all of the signature Sheets

[11:34] if there's anyone who wants to sign up

[11:36] to discuss the public hearing which is

[11:38] about Central Parkway if you haven't

[11:40] signed up on the public hearing we'll

[11:42] give you an opportunity to do that at

[11:43] this

[11:57] time

[12:15] thank

[12:17] you if the clerk would please call the

[12:21] role Mr

[12:23] Toro Mr Farley's absent Mr manini is

[12:26] absent Mr Mr Matan

[12:29] Miss Patrick here Mr Williams here M

[12:33] pfield here thank you we have three out

[12:36] of out of order resolutions resolution

[12:38] number 17 women's women's resolution for

[12:41] women's History Month I'd like to call

[12:42] on council member Patrick to present

[12:44] this

[12:57] resolution

[13:06] Madam president may I have the floor you

[13:08] have the floor ma'am thank

[13:10] you hello um so March is women's history

[13:15] month and I'm pleased to be able to

[13:16] present this resolution to recognize and

[13:18] celebrate women's History Month whereas

[13:21] in 1980 President Jimmy Carter

[13:24] designated the first week of March as

[13:26] National Women's history week noting

[13:28] that quote the achievements leadership

[13:31] courage strength and love of the women

[13:34] who built America was as vital as that

[13:37] of men whose names we know so well and

[13:41] whereas since 1987 women's history month

[13:44] has been officially recognized by the

[13:46] United States Congress and celebrated

[13:48] during March and whereas women's history

[13:52] month is dedicated to the

[13:53] accomplishments and achievements of

[13:55] women of every race class and ethnic

[13:58] background throughout United States

[14:00] history that are often overlooked and

[14:03] whereas the theme for 2024's women's

[14:06] history month is women who advocate for

[14:09] Equity diversity and inclusion

[14:11] recognizing women throughout the country

[14:14] who understand that for a positive

[14:16] future we need to eliminate bias and

[14:18] discrimination entirely from our lives

[14:21] and institutions and whereas women from

[14:24] every background have long realized that

[14:27] an uneven playing field will never bring

[14:30] equality or Justice and have

[14:31] courageously advocated for fairness in

[14:33] our institutions and our social

[14:36] interactions and whereas recognizing the

[14:39] achievements of women in all facets of

[14:42] life science Community government

[14:46] literature art sports medicine has a

[14:49] huge impact on the development of self-

[14:52] respect and new opportunities for girls

[14:55] and young women and whereas women have

[14:58] been inspirational leaders not only in

[15:00] advancing their own rights of suffrage

[15:02] and equal opportunity but also in other

[15:05] social justice movements including the

[15:07] Abolitionist Movement the industrial

[15:09] labor movement the civil rights movement

[15:11] and the gay rights movement now

[15:14] therefore be it resolved that the Mayor

[15:16] Gary R McCarthy and City Council of the

[15:18] city of sken do hereby pause in their

[15:21] deliberations to recognize and celebrate

[15:24] women's History Month in March 2024 and

[15:27] acknowledge and salute the critical role

[15:30] that women have played in the

[15:31] development success and achievements of

[15:33] skincity and the United

[15:36] States so may I make this

[15:39] motion you need a second

[15:41] please all those in favor I

[15:44] congratulation the motion pass thank

[15:47] you so I'd like to introduce M Kora

[15:50] schroer who works for representative

[15:52] Paul tonko and I'd like her to say a few

[15:54] words about a women's March that's

[15:55] happening this week and accept this

[15:57] resolution on behalf of the the city

[15:59] thank you thank you very much carel

[16:02] Patrick and thank you city council and

[16:03] thank you mayor McCarthy so real quick

[16:05] hello good evening everyone as carmell

[16:08] so graciously said I am cor schroer and

[16:10] I want to not take up too much time but

[16:13] I wanted to make a significant

[16:15] announcement and that announcement is

[16:18] that this Sunday which is March 3D the

[16:21] first Sunday of the month my friend

[16:24] Tammy and I Tammy say hello we have put

[16:27] together we got our heads together and

[16:28] we thought and we thought and we said

[16:30] hey let's do a March for women for all

[16:33] that carel said I'm not going to reread

[16:35] this but take a moment to think of a

[16:38] woman in your life of women who have

[16:41] been in your life and women who have

[16:44] allowed your life to progress over the

[16:47] thousands of years women have been here

[16:49] so March 3D which is a Sunday at 9 a.m.

[16:54] here on the steps of City Hall we will

[16:56] begin a March we will begin a march to

[16:59] celebrate women and I would love to see

[17:02] everybody there you do not have to be

[17:05] from skty you can be from wherever you

[17:08] do not have to be a woman you can come

[17:11] and just celebrate celebrate with a

[17:13] banner celebrate with your family

[17:16] celebrate with a shirt celebrate and

[17:19] remember women for to for March is

[17:23] women's history month thank

[17:27] Youk

[17:48] [Laughter]

[17:57] s you're woman

[18:02] [Music]

[18:10] it's okay it's okay it's okay I'm right

[18:13] here in the back

[18:27] everybody

[18:34] [Applause]

[18:48] the next out of out of order resolution

[18:50] is the resolution recognizing James

[18:52] Griffin for his 40 years of service to

[18:53] the city of skincity and I ask council

[18:56] member muar to please take the

[19:12] Podium I'd like to invite Mr Griffin and

[19:15] everyone coming with him behind the rail

[19:17] please com it's his moment

[19:23] okay may I have the floor yes all right

[19:26] you can come you can closer right there

[19:29] could you

[19:30] hear um well before I read the official

[19:32] resolution I just want to say a couple

[19:33] of things um because I've known you for

[19:35] a very long time and uh you and my

[19:37] brother friends and so I remember Jim

[19:39] store and all the stuff in the

[19:40] neighborhood so you know really gives me

[19:42] great pleasure and I wanted to be the

[19:44] person to be able to present this to

[19:46] you and on top of that the reason that I

[19:49] actually knew about it is because your

[19:50] co-workers thought so highly of you that

[19:53] they reached out and said hey he's

[19:54] retiring we're going to miss him but

[19:56] we'd like for the council to du

[19:58] resolution so I think that speaks very

[20:00] highly of who you are as a person not

[20:02] that I didn't already know but the

[20:03] people that you would spent 40 years not

[20:05] the entire 40 some of them but the

[20:07] people that you worked with dayt Day

[20:09] thought it not robbery to reach out and

[20:11] to say you know we'd like for him to be

[20:14] recognized so I know that we talked and

[20:17] you said give you your flowers while

[20:18] you're here so tonight you're getting

[20:20] your flowers not literally we try that

[20:22] but anyway that's another conversation

[20:24] but so tonight we'd like to give you the

[20:26] flowers on behalf of your co-workers who

[20:27] brought your name forward and also the

[20:29] city

[20:34] council whereas James Griffin began his

[20:37] career with the city of skti on SE

[20:39] September 17th

[20:41] 1984 and whereas James Griffin served

[20:44] his country for three years in the

[20:46] United States Army as a combat engineer

[20:48] 12b 12b before joining the city

[20:51] Workforce and whereas James Works 28

[20:54] years in the Bureau of service streets

[20:55] department Paving streets filling po

[20:58] holes plowing snow and sweeping streets

[21:01] and whereas James worked 12 years in the

[21:03] sewer department his responsibilities

[21:05] included inspecting condition of sewer

[21:07] lines for leaks rusts spots and other

[21:09] defects installing new SE line sewer

[21:12] lines and repairing existing ones inst

[21:15] installing new water mains and repairing

[21:17] existing ones repairs to manholes catch

[21:19] basins and other structures in the sewer

[21:22] system and whereas his continuous

[21:24] commitment to excellent during his many

[21:26] years of service this city earned him

[21:28] the respect of his co-workers who had

[21:30] this to say about him quote I really

[21:33] enjoyed working with Griff he's funny

[21:35] conscientious conscientious and a good

[21:37] guy he's one of the few left from the

[21:39] good old days and I mean good in Old in

[21:42] a good way and whereas another cooworker

[21:45] said I only speak for myself James is a

[21:49] w a wise and compassionate man who

[21:51] worked hard and played harder as he

[21:53] truly enjoys the Finer Things in life

[21:56] James enjoys joking and laughing as as

[21:58] much as he loved a good debate whether

[22:00] for sharing or acquiring wisdom and

[22:02] knowledge we were blessed to have gotten

[22:04] to know him over the years and we wish

[22:06] him all the best as he enters his new

[22:09] exciting chapter of his life end quote

[22:13] and whereas the duties James performed

[22:15] though not glamorous were essential to

[22:17] the operation of the city he made a

[22:19] maintained a strong work ethic showed

[22:21] dedication and hard work throughout his

[22:23] long career which has been instrumental

[22:25] to the city City's success

[22:28] now therefore be resolved that the SKC

[22:31] city council and Mayor Gary R McCarthy

[22:33] do hereby pause in their deliberations

[22:35] to recognize James Griffin for his 40

[22:38] years of service in the city of skincity

[22:40] and congratulate him and wish him well

[22:42] on his retirement I like to move this

[22:45] can I have a

[22:46] second um all in favor I motion is

[22:50] passed

[22:55] congratulations all right thank you very

[22:57] much going

[22:59] say not going

[23:26] to

[23:56] spe

[24:27] app

[24:40] the next out out of order resolution is

[24:43] item number 18 a resolution recognizing

[24:45] David dariano of Metro Ford

[24:47] Sales I'd like to call on council member

[24:49] muar toe present this

[24:56] resolution

[25:17] Madame President you have the

[25:19] floor a resolution or recognizing Dave

[25:22] darano of Metro Ford Sales whereas as

[25:26] connect the school District wanted to

[25:28] obtain SKC police engagement officer to

[25:31] interact positively with student and the

[25:34] community and whereas to advance the New

[25:37] York State Police reform and reinvention

[25:40] collaborative plan as approved by

[25:42] disconnected e school on March 22nd

[25:46] 2021 and whereas in compliance with

[25:49] regulation from the commissioner of

[25:51] Education a written contract between the

[25:54] connect school district and the connect

[25:56] police community engagement officer was

[25:59] drafted and whereas this contract was

[26:01] signed by mayor K McCarthy and

[26:04] superintendent Annabel solar

[26:06] establishing the connect police

[26:08] Community engagement officer program and

[26:11] whereas the conc police department

[26:13] desire to expand this successful program

[26:16] and develop new Community Partnership to

[26:19] further the goals of this connec school

[26:21] district and the community engagement

[26:23] officer program and whereas Community

[26:26] engagement officers Sergeant Charles

[26:28] ronfeld with the goal to increase

[26:30] positive interaction to raise awareness

[26:33] to this connected Police Department work

[26:36] in the schools and to develop new

[26:38] partnership in the community as Metro

[26:41] Ford Sales Inc if they were interested

[26:44] in partnering to support the program and

[26:47] whereas David diano of Metro Ford Inc

[26:51] seeing value in supporting the program

[26:54] and the City of SKC Police Department

[26:56] provide

[26:58] to the community generous offer to

[27:01] donate a 2021 Ford Mustang macki

[27:05] electric car and whereas on March 20th

[27:08] 2024 the vehicle was brought to the city

[27:11] connect police department and to the SKC

[27:13] Council committee meeting for a visual

[27:17] inspection whereas this donation will

[27:19] enhance the program provide more

[27:21] positive interaction with the student at

[27:24] this connected school district and

[27:26] increase the efficiency

[27:28] of Officer response within the school

[27:30] district ultimately serving student

[27:33] their family and the community now

[27:36] therefore be it resolved that the Mayor

[27:38] Gary AR McCarthy and the city council do

[27:41] hereby pause in their deliberation to

[27:43] recognize David darano of Metro Ford

[27:47] sale Inc for your donation to our Police

[27:50] Department Community engagement officer

[27:53] program Madame President I move this may

[27:56] I have a second second by Miss Patrick

[27:58] all in favor I motion passes

[28:09] congratulations I wasn't aware I had to

[28:12] speak Metro Ford has been in Sky doing

[28:15] business for 45 years and we've been

[28:18] protected by the police our children

[28:20] have been educated by the school

[28:21] district it's an honor to be able to do

[28:24] this as a parent a lot of times you

[28:27] don't get pat on the back for doing

[28:28] things raising your children and I know

[28:30] in police force in school district

[28:32] there's not a lot of pats on the back

[28:34] but this is our way of just giving

[28:36] back like he said it came down it was it

[28:38] was an email that came over to our

[28:40] office and said would you like to donate

[28:41] a

[28:43] car and we we got the email and our our

[28:46] CPA happened to be there when we got the

[28:49] email doing some end of the year stuff

[28:50] and I walked in and I said is is this

[28:52] possible can we donate a car he did some

[28:54] numbers and such and he says yeah you're

[28:56] in a position to be able to do this so

[28:58] it was perfect timing it was we we

[28:59] didn't think of it it wasn't us the um

[29:02] any recognition isn't for me personally

[29:04] it's it's for all the hardworking people

[29:06] at Metro Ford and all the hardworking

[29:07] people here I mean the city it's a great

[29:09] City we're glad to be part of it

[29:11] couldn't be couldn't be more proud to

[29:13] give this and to donate it and a Mustang

[29:16] Mach e all electric what better car for

[29:18] the electric

[29:26] city

[29:29] thank you and thank you for the

[29:45] donation what was he

[29:56] say we have one public hearing tonight

[29:59] and I just want to remind everyone that

[30:01] the public uh time for the public

[30:03] hearing is has been extended to four

[30:05] minutes and ask everyone to respectfully

[30:08] only speak on the topic of the public

[30:09] hearing thank you this time I ask for

[30:12] approval of the minutes from February

[30:14] 2012th

[30:20] 2024 move by m Mr Williams second by Mr

[30:24] M all in favor I

[30:31] okay all right public hearing number

[30:35] one I'm

[30:39] sorry would

[30:43] [Music]

[30:45] you public hearing number one regarding

[30:48] the Central Parkway sidewalk Improvement

[30:52] project I have four people signed up to

[30:55] speak Florence

[31:08] mcville hello

[31:11] everyone um it's been many years since

[31:14] I've been in here but uh I'm glad to be

[31:17] back um I live on Central

[31:19] Parkway and I'm happy that the city is

[31:22] going to be doing the

[31:24] sidewalks um my only concern is the

[31:27] water that gets in front of my house

[31:31] I've had many serious conditions

[31:34] excessive water coming into the house my

[31:38] furnace breaking the house sinking a

[31:40] little bit and uh the sewer problems but

[31:45] um I think this will all get fixed with

[31:47] the

[31:48] new excitement of putting the side walks

[31:51] in and fixing the street and the curbs

[31:55] so that's all I have to say

[31:57] and I'm happy that the city is doing

[32:00] this and um I have nothing else to say

[32:05] thank you very much thank

[32:09] you uh Janice

[32:20] Thompson good evening everyone can you

[32:23] hear me

[32:24] yes down a little bit

[32:27] uh yes I'm really glad we're having the

[32:29] work done on our streets I have a few

[32:31] questions uh they're not long ones uh my

[32:36] first question is how much is the city

[32:39] paying towards

[32:42] our sidewalks and

[32:44] curves the city itself how how much are

[32:47] they paying does anyone know that answer

[32:50] so ma'am today tonight you just have an

[32:52] opportunity to be heard publicly on your

[32:54] comments if you have any questions

[32:56] specifically we need um email those

[32:58] questions and though they can be

[32:59] answered tonight we'd like to hear your

[33:01] comments we did deliver um packets to

[33:04] all of the individuals in Central

[33:05] Parkway but tonight we will not be able

[33:07] to answer questions from here we'll just

[33:09] hear your comments you can ask your

[33:10] questions and we will record them and

[33:12] get them answered for you okay so all of

[33:16] my comments are a

[33:19] question so I can't get any answers on

[33:23] those not tonight but if you'd like to hand in those questions

[33:26] we'll make sure that they are answered

[33:27] for you as long as you have the contact

[33:29] information there if you want to answer

[33:31] your questions out loud so everyone can

[33:33] hear them you're welcome to do that okay

[33:35] so so my next question is there's a

[33:39] slight difference between the principal

[33:42] on the 10-year plan as opposed to the

[33:45] 15-year plan minor but it's $110

[33:49] difference and I just wondered why that

[33:52] is my third question is the travel Lane

[33:57] is 2T shorter than what exists now would

[34:03] that be narrowed on both sides of the

[34:06] street and is it because of something

[34:10] with the curves and the sidewalks that

[34:13] are making it necessary to to narrow the

[34:17] travel

[34:18] Lane those are my questions and I just

[34:21] wondered how many people from Central

[34:22] Parkway are here

[34:25] tonight every everyone from Central

[34:27] Parkway could raise your

[34:29] hand there they are I'm just going to

[34:31] count

[34:44] them okay if you'd like to hand in your

[34:46] looks like 16 about thank you if you'd

[34:49] like to hand in your question so we

[34:51] actually have them in writing we'll take

[34:52] them from you I'll do that you want me

[34:55] to do that now yes okay well it's on the

[34:57] front of my sheet so it's okay as long

[35:00] as they you can get it back

[35:05] okay right three thank you thank you

[35:08] very much thank

[35:14] you Julie

[35:20] peretto hello good evening I'm Julie

[35:23] parado I'm here with my husband we both

[35:25] own a house together Central Parkway um

[35:28] and I'm really really happy that this

[35:30] initiative is moving forward um we love

[35:33] the neighborhood we've lived there for

[35:34] about seven years and I think it's

[35:36] really going to increase the walkability

[35:38] of the neighborhood and really help with

[35:40] safety for the people who walk um so and

[35:45] I really appreciate also the payment

[35:46] plan I think that's going to be very

[35:47] helpful but I did have some concerns

[35:50] about the concept and the plan that was

[35:51] chosen that I wanted to voice um we

[35:54] noticed that it's taking away the street

[35:56] parking

[35:57] and um that is and it's narrowing the

[36:01] driving and taking away the on street

[36:04] parking and I know that for us when we

[36:06] went to purchase our home we took street

[36:09] parking into consideration for when we

[36:12] had family gatherings and holidays um

[36:16] and it's just going to be an

[36:17] inconvenience for us to have to have our

[36:19] friends and family park a block or two

[36:21] down and then walk to our home um and

[36:26] you know that was a big factor as well

[36:27] when we were home buying so I it we

[36:31] don't want to move we love our

[36:32] neighborhood but when we go to resell

[36:34] our house in the future I just worry

[36:37] about how that may impact our the cost

[36:39] that we will get for our house um not

[36:42] having that street parking available um

[36:45] so I guess my question is you know I

[36:48] want the the sidewalk initiative we want

[36:51] the upgrade um but is there a way that

[36:53] we can be looking at other Concepts and

[36:55] plans to be able to keep the on street

[36:57] parking and that was it thank you so

[36:59] much for your time thank

[37:04] you Jessica padulla

[37:13] hello I'm not used to not facing all the

[37:16] people usually when I lead things um so

[37:20] I've never been to anything like this

[37:21] before um I live at 875 Central Parkway

[37:25] so right on the corner the very first

[37:27] nice house ma'am you have to F you have

[37:29] to address that the very first nice

[37:31] house over on the side

[37:34] um when I was asked to sign the petition

[37:37] for this project I'll be honest I wasn't

[37:39] paying attention because I'm not used to

[37:41] people coming to my door I keep to

[37:43] myself and you know whatever she was

[37:45] proposing seemed fine enough signed it

[37:47] the end um I what I didn't realize is

[37:50] that I was being asked to pay for my own

[37:54] sidewalk uh and I'm not in a position to

[37:56] be able to do that if I had that amount

[37:58] of money I would probably fix my garage

[38:01] over the summer there was um someone

[38:04] stole a vehicle and then parked it in my

[38:07] three-car garage so I got called while I

[38:10] was out of my home by the police to ask

[38:12] me to come home and see what this stolen

[38:14] car was about I didn't have the money to

[38:15] fix the um garage door and so there's uh

[38:19] wood in front of

[38:20] it and

[38:22] um yeah I'm all for like improving the

[38:25] neighborhood certainly certainly we all

[38:27] want to have a nicer neighborhood but

[38:29] what I'm concerned about is one I can't

[38:31] pay for another sidewalk two are we

[38:33] going to make it so welcoming for people

[38:35] to be walking down the street that

[38:36] they'll have uh more packages stolen

[38:39] from my front porch am I going to have

[38:41] my car broken into more times than it

[38:43] already has been in the last eight years

[38:46] so yeah I'm pretty upset about it I'm 42

[38:50] years old and I've never voluntarily

[38:51] come into a government building to speak

[38:53] publicly and here I am I guess it's

[38:56] that's all I have to say thank you oh

[38:58] wait no no I have another thing because

[38:59] I still have four minutes I am a single

[39:02] mother and I am a widow to a active duty

[39:05] Navy serviceman and I was able to

[39:08] purchase this home from the settlement

[39:10] that I received from his active duty

[39:12] death that was my introduction to

[39:14] Central Parkway and here we are eight

[39:16] years later I don't have any money left

[39:19] thanks thank

[39:22] you I don't have anyone else signed up

[39:24] to speak at this public hearing so I

[39:25] declare the public public hearing

[39:28] closed I'll ask the clerk to read any

[39:30] Communications and

[39:38] petitions Communications presented to

[39:41] the city council for Monday February 26

[39:44] 2024 under official from Mayor Gary AR

[39:46] McCarthy a list of appointments dated

[39:48] February 26

[39:50] 2024 under General from Dave Connelly

[39:53] and Michael Murphy an email with

[39:55] questions then suggestions for the

[39:57] Central Parkway sidewalk Improvement

[39:59] program and from Rich and Mary Joe homic

[40:03] an email in support of the Central

[40:04] Parkway sidewalk Improvement program

[40:07] under petitions there were none thank

[40:09] you ask on council members to provide

[40:12] any committee

[40:14] reports this time we'll have priv

[40:16] privilege of the floor related to the

[40:18] legislative agenda and I have no one

[40:20] signed up to speak so I declare the

[40:23] public comment on the legislative agenda

[40:25] closed

[40:27] this time I ask for approval of the

[40:29] legislative consent

[40:30] agenda move by Mr Williams second by Mr

[40:33] M all in favor I we do have one roll

[40:37] call vote

[40:43] resolution resolution number

[40:48] eight if the clerk would please read

[40:50] item number

[40:55] eight item number eight for original

[40:57] consideration a resolution appointing

[40:59] Christopher Marney to the ethics

[41:02] board I need a

[41:07] motion move by Mr Williams

[41:15] second it has to be

[41:18] seconded second by Miss Miss

[41:21] Patrick any discussion on this

[41:25] item Mr

[41:33] Williams uh so I I really want to make

[41:36] sure I my comments are received in kind

[41:39] I think it is a poor show of sound

[41:42] judgment to refuse an individual that is

[41:45] volunteering to assist in filling a

[41:47] vacancy especially in committees and

[41:50] Boards throughout our city where we've

[41:52] highlighted that uh participation is an

[41:54] ongoing challenge uh to this this point

[41:57] I have still not heard any uh comments

[42:00] or feedback with respect to why uh this

[42:02] individual would not be an appropriate

[42:04] member of this board um but again I feel

[42:07] as local officials it is our

[42:09] responsibility to make sure we are not

[42:11] only advocating to the community and the

[42:13] residents alike but to make sure we also

[42:15] justify our opinions and decisions when

[42:18] they in fact uh go against uh something

[42:21] with respect to to to this so I think

[42:25] displaying our uh lack of consideration

[42:28] to why this individual would not be a

[42:30] good fit I think is not the

[42:33] collaborative government that I seek to

[42:35] be a part of and I would hope that as a

[42:38] body uh we can understand the

[42:40] ramifications of sayings the community

[42:42] no and not offering a resolution forward

[42:46] or identifying what areas make this

[42:49] individual not an appropriate candidate

[42:51] to fulfill that

[42:53] position is there any further discussion

[42:57] seeing none I'll ask the clerk to call

[42:59] the role Mr

[43:01] [Music]

[43:03] Toro Mr muin yes Miss Patrick

[43:09] no Mr Williams yes Miss Porterfield yes

[43:15] the item fails you need we need four

[43:17] affirmative votes to pass piece of

[43:19] resolution so the item fails it's

[43:24] 3-2 this time we have priv privilege of

[43:28] the floor regarding General City

[43:29] business I have three people signed up

[43:31] to speak first person is Fred de

[43:39] roer hello hello my name is uh Fred roer

[43:43] I'm a nurse at Ellis Hospital I've been

[43:46] a nurse for GR on 28 years now I worked

[43:48] at St Claire's first and then came over

[43:51] at L's Hospital in 2008 so I've been a

[43:54] nurse in this community for a long time

[43:57] and what I'm coming up here to talk

[43:58] about as a member of Ellis Hospital but

[44:01] also as a member of the executive

[44:02] committee for the nurses Union at Ellis

[44:05] Hospital I want to make you all here

[44:08] aware of what's going on with our

[44:10] negotiations that are currently um going

[44:12] on over the last year we've been

[44:15] negotiating and we normally negotiate

[44:17] with Ellis Hospital management and it's

[44:19] just simply Ellis Hospital it is

[44:21] different now they have upper management

[44:23] is Trinity Healthcare a billion dollar

[44:26] company that's Nationwide um their point

[44:29] person Deb

[44:30] Solomon comes around she told us at a

[44:33] meeting that basically Trinity brings

[44:36] her around when they need help with

[44:37] labor problems so apparently the nurses

[44:40] now are a labor problem to Trinity um

[44:43] this we have a lot of great managers at

[44:45] Ellis but this upper management with

[44:47] Trinity is very much a problem they're

[44:49] trying to they're very they're cutting

[44:51] services you can look to rents their

[44:53] County um with the bdet Women's Center

[44:56] they've already cut services at Ellis Hospital that you may not even

[45:00] know about we don't you know since the

[45:02] pandemic they've cut the pediatric

[45:04] department they've cut Med surge beds

[45:07] there's less beds there than just four

[45:09] years ago when we had this pandemic

[45:11] there's less beds there there's less

[45:12] beds in the emergency room there's half

[45:14] the Adult Psychiatric beds um they have

[45:18] done this with no remorse or no

[45:20] conscious of the community that's why

[45:22] when you know their idea they're not for

[45:24] profit and they don't act like that

[45:27] they're acting for profit even though

[45:29] there's less beds in that hospital right

[45:31] now there's less nurses than there was

[45:33] four years ago too so the nurses now

[45:36] take care of more patients I work in a

[45:38] crisis unit the nurses in the ER when I

[45:41] work through the pandemic in the ER we

[45:43] had less patients then than we do now um

[45:46] there's less beds in the ER so there's

[45:48] more people waiting there's longer wait

[45:49] times than I've ever over 20 years in

[45:52] the ER there's longer wait times than

[45:53] I've ever seen um

[45:56] they do not listen with negotiations

[45:59] they're very much trying to um they

[46:02] aren't offering us anything to be quite

[46:04] honest they're they're talking about

[46:05] retaining nurses and they're cutting our

[46:08] benefits saying that they are they've

[46:09] looked throughout the community and ours

[46:11] are above average so they need to cut

[46:13] them um they've cut them for their other

[46:15] workers who don't have a voice but we're

[46:18] not going to let that happen to us talk

[46:20] about I was a former St Claire's person

[46:22] we all know about the St Claire's

[46:23] pension so they are asking us to sign

[46:26] off on selling out our pensioners that

[46:28] was frozen in 2006 and they want as part

[46:31] of negotiations us to write that off so

[46:33] they can sell that up they it's not a

[46:35] problem to them financially they want to

[46:37] get rid of it to clear the books for

[46:39] Trinity to fully take over because they

[46:42] aren't not for profit they are for

[46:44] profit and they aren't good for this

[46:46] community and we are going to need

[46:48] everybody to be aware of this as we go

[46:49] forward and that's what we're here for

[46:51] today thank you thank

[46:54] you Don zip

[47:01] good evening I my name is Donn zip I am

[47:04] actually a resident here in skincity

[47:06] city um I am also an Lis employee but I

[47:10] am a Belle Women's Center employee I am

[47:15] um the president of our bargaining unit

[47:17] for nna I sit at the um negotiation

[47:20] table I stand on the line for all my

[47:22] fellow nurses and even more so for my

[47:24] patients and for my babies that I take

[47:26] care of in the ncu um I am here because

[47:30] as we are um embarking upon this merger

[47:34] my real concern is Woman's Health it

[47:36] seems to be under major attack within

[47:39] the United States if anybody has been

[47:41] paying attention to the news across the

[47:42] country it is very scary and it is now

[47:45] hitting the capital region um I was

[47:49] applaud the um stand for women and for

[47:52] women's rights and for women and what

[47:54] they've done in um um history well it is

[47:57] our time to stand as the women at

[47:58] Belleview woman's Center and as a

[48:00] hospital that takes care of women and

[48:03] that is something that is really

[48:04] important one of the things that I want

[48:06] to bring to the Forefront is that Paul

[48:08] mlon actually spoke yesterday at a local

[48:11] church in The Stockade and spoke to the

[48:13] community there and when he was

[48:16] addressed and asked about the services

[48:18] that he was going to be um that have

[48:21] been taken away and continue to be

[48:22] discussed and being taken away his

[48:25] phrase on quote was we can't be

[48:28] everything to everyone the problem is is

[48:31] we need to be what is important for the

[48:33] people of this community we cannot

[48:36] afford to lose any more services we need

[48:39] to watch what they've done with berett

[48:41] because the Health Care Health the

[48:43] Catholic Health Care system is literally

[48:45] dismantling Health Care for Women across

[48:48] the country and in New York state down

[48:51] on Long Island they've closed maternity

[48:52] Wars in New York City they're attempting

[48:54] to close maternity Wars these are the

[48:57] Catholic Health Care Systems again we

[49:00] cannot afford he said that don't worry

[49:02] women who are in labor don't take the

[49:05] cabs to the

[49:07] hospitals I have to tell you women in

[49:09] labor take anything that they can I have

[49:12] actually caught babies in the circle in

[49:15] front of Belleview in a in a taxi cab so

[49:18] you know what Paul Milton women take

[49:21] cabs when they're in labor and if we

[49:24] keep reducing the the things that we

[49:26] need in our community we are going to be

[49:28] at a great loss we are putting mothers

[49:30] and babies at risk by doing this Trinity

[49:34] is actually sitting at our table looking

[49:36] to take more and more and more away from

[49:38] us the nurses and for our patients we

[49:41] have a deficit of approximately 20% on

[49:44] nursing staffing that means your nurses

[49:47] are taking on anywhere from six to 10

[49:50] patients when they should only be taking

[49:52] four and that is a very scary thing

[49:55] because it's our family members that are

[49:56] in the hospital that are being taken

[49:58] care of and they are being they're not

[50:00] getting the quality care that they

[50:01] require so I'm begging and I'm coming to

[50:05] you guys to stand on our behalf and and

[50:08] advocate for the nurses and for the

[50:10] patients and the people of SCCY thank

[50:12] you thank

[50:17] you Jennifer

[50:21] Lipman hi my name is Jenny um I'm not

[50:24] from this a but my family is firmly

[50:26] planted here my husband works at Union

[50:27] College I'm a nurse in the same

[50:30] Department as Fred the emergency room at

[50:31] Ellis Hospital and our kids are in

[50:33] school here and we mean to be here um

[50:35] I'm just joining this group and wanting

[50:38] to talk about Staffing uh you know I'm

[50:41] mostly focused just on the day-to-day

[50:43] taking care of people as a nurse Fred

[50:45] has been actively involved in the

[50:47] negotiations but it's gone on for more

[50:49] than a year that they're trying to get

[50:51] our contract negotiated and for me I I

[50:54] started like when the pandemic was just

[50:56] beginning to unfold in 2020 and

[51:00] um about a year into my job we lost a

[51:03] tremendous percentage of our nurses it

[51:06] was like the travel boom when nurses

[51:07] could make three to four times as much

[51:09] as a staff nurse and I was so upset to

[51:13] see the the just this beautiful teamwork

[51:17] when in the emergency room people come

[51:18] in with heart attacks and people run

[51:20] together and and they know each other's

[51:22] strengths and they're you know literally

[51:23] saving people's lives working together

[51:25] and

[51:26] when I saw my staff the the staff people

[51:28] that I really looked up to that I need

[51:29] to learn from disappearing I wrote to

[51:32] like all the top leadership but the

[51:33] hospital and our board and everything

[51:35] and I heard back from one person which

[51:37] was the department um the head of our

[51:39] department the emergency department he

[51:40] said well these things kind of come and

[51:41] go it'll it'll iron itself out this High

[51:44] money it's going to P pedal out and

[51:46] we'll kind of get a stable staff again

[51:48] but you know two two and a half years

[51:51] later we are heavily dependent on travel

[51:53] nurses and they're bringing in some

[51:55] lovely nurses they're really experienced

[51:57] great nurses but they have no connection

[51:58] to skincity they don't know our people

[52:00] they'll be here for a short time then

[52:02] they move oh I'm going to go do skiing

[52:03] and Colorado next and that's really not

[52:05] what we need we need a stable body of

[52:07] nurses to take care of our community I I

[52:10] see my neighbors all the time in the Ed

[52:12] and what we lost just during my short

[52:15] time here at Ellis with so much staff

[52:18] synchronicity that got broken up and the

[52:21] hospital has not managed to put it back

[52:23] together we're just heavily dependent on

[52:25] nurses that have no connection to this

[52:27] place and if it takes us more than a

[52:30] year and the nurses that are negotiating

[52:33] this contract say they are insulting us

[52:35] when we're asking about our they're

[52:37] taking benefits away they're they're

[52:40] trying to talk their way out of these

[52:41] Staffing ratio things I mean I've barely

[52:43] known anything but you run for 12 hours

[52:46] you don't pee you don't eat you you feel

[52:48] so guilty because you can't take good

[52:50] care of people because you're so

[52:52] overloaded it's dangerous you know and I

[52:54] mean that's kind of basic if we don't

[52:56] have enough nurses like you'd think we'd

[52:58] want to try to make it decent that

[53:01] nurses could take good care of people

[53:02] and and having a contract where there's

[53:04] decent Staffing and and and wages that

[53:07] people agree are reasonable seems like a

[53:09] great place to start so that's what I

[53:11] wanted to speak in support of thank you

[53:14] thank

[53:18] you I have no one else signed up to

[53:21] speak so I declare the public comment of

[53:23] City business closed

[53:27] any miscellaneous business from the

[53:30] council Mr

[53:34] muin thank you madam president I would

[53:37] like to um thank all the homeowners from

[53:39] Central Parkway who showed up here

[53:40] tonight thank you um for your effort and

[53:43] I want to especially thank the organizer

[53:46] who has brought us to this point here to

[53:48] make Central Parkway sidewalk and Street

[53:51] Improvement a reality so thank you to

[53:53] the organizer thank you to all the

[53:55] homeowners for um gra this um this

[53:58] evening and to voice your concern all

[54:01] the questions on the email that was

[54:03] submitted our city engineer will address

[54:05] those and as we move forward the next

[54:07] couple of week we will share more

[54:09] information and uh we will um get you

[54:11] involved in terms of um getting that

[54:14] message over to you as we move forward

[54:16] uh to make this happen for you in

[54:18] Central Parkway um just a reminder um

[54:21] for the seniors exemptions are due um

[54:25] before March 1st so don't wait on March

[54:27] 1st to file your exemption does the

[54:30] enhance um senior um exemption and also

[54:33] um the senior lwi income exemption we

[54:38] recently um um increased the um the

[54:42] exemption so to give more um advantage

[54:45] to the seniors in our city and I hope

[54:47] that they take advantage of it so please

[54:49] file your enhan exemption and your

[54:53] senior exemption before March for us

[54:56] thank you madam president thank you Mr

[54:58] mutar Miss Patrick thank you um I just

[55:02] wanted to remind folks um and I hope

[55:04] that the mayor will mention this as well

[55:05] but um I've had calls from several

[55:08] different residents in different

[55:09] neighborhoods over the last just the

[55:10] last few days uh talking about the

[55:13] litter issue and the fact that people

[55:14] are passed that information on to our

[55:16] office of General services but really um

[55:19] I just really implore folks to uh think

[55:22] about the trash schedule put your trash

[55:24] out only when you're supposed to put

[55:26] your trash out um and make sure that

[55:28] it's secure uh especially right now

[55:30] during the during the winter months

[55:32] although it doesn't seem like winter

[55:33] right now uh given our weather our

[55:36] beautiful weather this week but please

[55:38] uh pay attention to that thank you thank

[55:42] you

[55:44] mayor thank you madam president I again

[55:47] appreciate everyone coming out tonight

[55:49] in the uh consensus seems to be for

[55:53] Central Parkway to leave it basic

[55:55] basically the way it is the discussion

[55:57] has been to narrow the travel Lane by

[56:00] approximately 2 feet that has not been

[56:04] cast in stone and part of this process

[56:06] is to have your input tonight and uh

[56:10] just ongoing discussions for that final

[56:12] design that'll service the needs of the

[56:15] residents and again make it attractive

[56:18] and uh hopefully increase the value of

[56:21] the

[56:22] properties uh for Council member uh

[56:26] Patrick yes encourage people to follow

[56:28] the litter schedule uh appreciate uh

[56:31] council member Doro and council

[56:33] president porterfield's time as we're uh

[56:35] working on reviewing the trash policies

[56:38] in the city and trying to uh make

[56:40] modifications to uh appropriate allocate

[56:44] some of the cost the people that abuse

[56:46] the system and it doesn't take much

[56:49] effort to pick up a little bit of litter

[56:51] make sure your cans are sealed and

[56:53] tightened up because everybody Body

[56:55] Benefits from

[56:56] that also the sky Police Department uh

[57:00] is going to start another uh civilian

[57:03] police academy on March 5th and there

[57:07] are still slots available in that so

[57:09] that people who may want to participate

[57:12] in that uh gain a greater knowledge of

[57:14] the police operations and their

[57:16] Community involvement should uh contact

[57:19] uh officer Andrew danal at the SKC

[57:22] Police Department thank you m president

[57:25] thank you mayor uh I'd like to thank

[57:27] everyone for

[57:32] coming

[57:36] appointments you said that we need four

[57:38] you need four yes correct that is

[57:41] correct okay thank

[57:43] you it's a majority for to pass anything

[57:46] there are some things that take five but

[57:48] it takes a simple

[57:51] majority uh again I'd like to thank

[57:53] everyone for coming out tonight I

[57:55] appreciate you coming bringing your

[57:56] concerns forward and for this showing

[57:59] from people from Central Parkway I

[58:00] believe it was 16 is what Miss Thompson

[58:02] said so thank you for coming out and the

[58:04] mayor has already spoken about the

[58:06] process um I want to thank the um

[58:09] individuals that came from Nisa today to

[58:11] talk about the concerns that are going

[58:12] on there appreciate you coming and

[58:14] bringing these things to our attention

[58:16] yet we've been reading about we know

[58:17] about it but appreciate you coming out

[58:19] and coming to speak to us regarding

[58:22] that uh Mr muan talked about the um star

[58:26] exemption so just so just so you know

[58:27] March 1st is this Friday I know it

[58:29] doesn't sound it sounds far away but

[58:31] it's Friday so if you know seniors that

[58:33] need to get their exemption in it's this

[58:35] Friday and lastly as uh Miss schroer was

[58:39] here to talk about the women's March

[58:40] this Sunday I guess it starts on City

[58:42] Hall steps at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday so

[58:44] those of you that want to March I don't

[58:46] know what the weather's going to be like

[58:47] so check before you come whether you

[58:49] need to bundle up or dress

[58:51] down if there's nothing else to come

[58:53] before this Council I'd like to ask for

[58:54] a motion to adjourn mve by Miss Patrick

[58:57] second by Mr Williams all those in favor

[59:00] I we are adjourned thank

[59:13] you

Schenectady City Council Meeting, February 26, 2024

Transcript