[0:00] [Music]
[0:28] yeah
[0:31] [Music]
[0:43] [Applause]
[0:44] [Music]
[0:52] I'd like to all call the order the city
[0:54] Caucus meeting for Monday February 26
[0:58] 2024 we have have 22 items for original
[1:01] consideration if the clerk would please
[1:03] read item number
[1:04] one item number one a public hearing for
[1:08] regarding Central Parkway sidewalk
[1:10] Improvement project discuss in committee
[1:12] with objection on
[1:15] consent okay I'm sorry we have three
[1:18] public
[1:19] hearings we have three public
[1:21] hearings one one public hearing
[1:26] okay item number one for original
[1:30] consideration item number one for
[1:32] original consideration a resolution
[1:34] calling for a public hearing to amend
[1:36] city code Chapter 93 civilian police
[1:39] revie review board section six term
[1:42] limits holdovers and vacancy discussing
[1:45] committee with the objection on consent
[1:46] item number two item number two for
[1:48] original consideration a resolution
[1:50] calling for a public hearing creating a
[1:51] special assessment District on a portion
[1:53] of North College Street discussed in
[1:56] committee with objection on consent item
[1:58] number three item number three for
[1:59] original consideration a resolution
[2:01] supporting assembly Bill a 7652 and
[2:04] Senate Bill s
[2:05] 7546 authorizing the city of connec to
[2:08] establish a speed camera enforcement
[2:10] demonstration program in school zones
[2:13] discussed in committee with objection on
[2:14] consent item number four item number
[2:16] four for original consideration a
[2:19] resolution in support of assembly Bill a
[2:21] 7653 and Senate Bill s
[2:24] 7545 relating to adjudications and owner
[2:27] liability of traffic control signals
[2:30] discussed and committee with objection
[2:31] on consent item number five item number
[2:34] five for original consideration a
[2:35] resolution in support of bills A
[2:38] 7656 and S
[2:40] 7547 requiring a petition in summary
[2:43] proceeding to recover possessions of
[2:45] real property in the city of concy to
[2:47] allege proof of compliance with local
[2:49] laws requiring rental residential
[2:51] property registration and lure discussed
[2:54] in committee with objection on consent
[2:56] item number six item number six for
[2:57] original consideration a resolution
[2:59] support accorting assembly Bill a758 and
[3:02] Senate Bill s
[3:04] 7409 to increase the membership of the
[3:06] special district operation and
[3:07] development committee the dsad and dsic
[3:11] discussed in committee with objection
[3:13] and on consent item number seven item
[3:15] number seven for original consideration
[3:17] a resolution authorizing the Department
[3:19] of Finance to make budget amendment to
[3:21] the 2024 operating budget discussed in
[3:24] committee with the objection on consent
[3:26] item number eight item number eight for
[3:27] original consideration a resolution app
[3:29] joing Christopher Marney to the ethics
[3:31] board roll call by Miss
[3:34] Toro item number nine item number nine
[3:37] for original consideration a resolution
[3:39] confirming the appointments of Anthony
[3:42] Fowler as the primary representative and
[3:44] Arthur Butler as the alternate
[3:46] representative of the Human Rights
[3:48] Commission to the civilian police review
[3:49] board discussed in committee with
[3:51] objection on consent item number 10 item
[3:54] number 10 for original consideration a
[3:56] resolution accepting a donation of a
[3:58] 2021 board Mach e fully electric vehicle
[4:01] from Metro Ford for use by the connected
[4:03] Police Department discuss in committee
[4:05] with objection on consent item number 11 for original
[4:09] consideration a resolution authorizing
[4:11] the mayor to enter into intermunicipal
[4:13] cooperation agreement with connected
[4:15] County for the distribution of funding
[4:17] awarded by the New York state division
[4:19] of Criminal Justice Services to support
[4:21] local enforcement agencies discussed in
[4:24] committee without objection on consent
[4:25] item number 12 item number 12 for
[4:27] original consideration a resolution tion
[4:29] authorizing the sale of a vacant lot on
[4:31] 8 Grand Street for $8,000 discussed in
[4:34] committee without objection on consent
[4:36] item number 13 item number 13 for
[4:38] original consideration a resolution
[4:40] authorizing the sale of a vacant lot on
[4:42] 8 Wagner Avenue for
[4:44] $2,500 discussed in committee with
[4:47] objection on consent item number
[4:49] 13 item number 14 for original
[4:52] consideration a resolution authorizing
[4:54] the sale of 504 Page Street for
[4:57] $35,000 discuss in committee with the
[4:59] objection on consent item number 15 item
[5:02] number 15 for original consideration a
[5:04] resolution authorizing the sale of 801
[5:06] Holland Road for
[5:08] $445,000 discussed in committee with
[5:10] objection on consent item number
[5:13] 17 item number
[5:16] 16 for for original consideration a
[5:20] resolution authorizing the settlement of
[5:21] a claim by State Farm Mutual automobile
[5:25] insurance company as subor of Sandra
[5:28] Stapleton thank you item number 17 item
[5:31] number 17 for original consideration a
[5:33] resolution recognizing women's History
[5:35] Month this uh item will be taken out of
[5:37] order presented by council member
[5:39] Patrick item number 18 item item number
[5:42] 18 for original consideration a
[5:44] resolution recognizing David darano of
[5:47] Metro Ford Sales this item will be taken
[5:49] out of order and presented by council
[5:51] member muin item number 19 item number
[5:54] 19 for original consideration a
[5:57] resolution recognizing James Griffin for
[5:59] his 40 4 years of service in the city of
[6:01] SKC thank you this item will be taken
[6:03] out of order and presented by myself
[6:05] item number 20 item number 20 for
[6:08] original consideration a resolution
[6:10] authorizing the issuance of revocable
[6:11] permit number 680 to Meer restaurant for
[6:14] a sign that will overhang the city's
[6:16] right of way at 500 State streets
[6:17] connected New York discuss in committee
[6:20] without objection on consent item number
[6:22] 21 item number 21 for original
[6:24] consideration a resolution authorizing
[6:26] the issuance of revocable permit number
[6:28] 681 one to pierce Renewables for a sign
[6:31] that will overhang the city's RightWay
[6:33] at 155 area boulevards connected New
[6:36] York discuss in committee with objection
[6:38] on consent item number 22 item number 22
[6:41] under contract and Supply a resolution
[6:43] awarding the bid and contract for the
[6:45] connty municipal golf course Golf Road
[6:48] Maintenance building electrical upgrades
[6:50] to BW Electrical Services LLC in the
[6:54] amount of
[6:55] 8,855 $56 and no discuss in committee
[6:59] with that objection on consent if
[7:01] there's nothing more to come before the
[7:02] city council caucus I ask for a motion
[7:04] to
[7:05] adjourn move by Mr mudar and second by
[7:07] Miss Patrick all in favor we are
[7:09] adjourned I'd like to call to order the
[7:11] city council meeting for Monday February
[7:13] 26
[7:15] 2024 if you just please all rise for the
[7:20] invocation we don't have one anyone here
[7:22] today so I will be offering the
[7:24] invocation father we come before you and
[7:27] ask that you will be here in the
[7:29] presence Lord as we conduct the business
[7:31] of the city we thank you for everyone
[7:33] who has assembled here Lord we thank you
[7:35] for the public coming out we thank you
[7:36] for all the staff that is here and ask
[7:39] that you will um be with us as we
[7:40] conduct this business Lord and just
[7:42] watch over us continuously as we go
[7:44] about our daily lives we thank you for
[7:46] all that you have blessed us with God we
[7:47] thank you for the opportunity to
[7:49] recognize an employee who has given a
[7:51] number of years of service to the city
[7:53] we ask that you bless him and his family
[7:55] and all of his co-workers that he leaves
[7:56] here in the city that you will continue
[7:58] to allow allow them to do the work uh of
[8:01] the city and thank them we want to thank
[8:02] them for their service these and all
[8:04] blessings we ask in your name
[8:06] amen I would ask for Nancy D statue to
[8:09] lead us in the Pledge of
[8:13] Allegiance
[8:15] Al United States of
[8:19] America stands
[8:22] na indivisible liy and justice for all
[8:27] thank
[8:28] you
[8:35] just before before um um Mr Williams
[8:38] collects the all of the signature Sheets
[8:40] if there's anyone who wants to sign up
[8:42] to discuss the public hearing which is
[8:44] about Central Parkway if you haven't
[8:46] signed up on the public hearing we'll
[8:48] give you an opportunity to do that at
[8:49] this
[8:58] time
[9:21] thank
[9:23] you the clerk would please call the
[9:26] role Mr Toro
[9:29] here Mr Farley's absent Mr manini's
[9:32] absent M Mr
[9:34] mataran Miss Patrick here Mr Williams
[9:38] here M pfield here thank you we have
[9:41] three out of out of order resolutions
[9:43] resolution number 17 women's women's
[9:47] resolution for women's History Month I'd
[9:48] like to call on council member Patrick
[9:49] to present this
[9:58] resolution
[10:12] Madame President may I have the floor
[10:14] you have the floor ma'am thank
[10:16] you hello um so March is women's history
[10:21] month and I'm pleased to be able to
[10:22] present this resolution to recognize and
[10:24] celebrate women's History Month whereas
[10:27] in 1980 president presid Jimmy Carter
[10:30] designated the first week of March as
[10:32] National Women's history week noting
[10:34] that quote the achievements leadership
[10:37] courage strength and love of the women
[10:40] who built America was as vital as that
[10:43] of men whose names we know so well and
[10:47] whereas since 1987 women's history month
[10:50] has been officially recognized by the
[10:52] United States Congress and celebrated
[10:54] during March and whereas women's history
[10:58] month is dedicated ated to the
[10:59] accomplishments and achievements of
[11:01] women of every race class and ethnic
[11:04] background throughout United States
[11:06] history that are often overlooked and
[11:09] whereas the theme for 2024's women's
[11:12] history month is women who advocate for
[11:15] Equity diversity and inclusion
[11:17] recognizing women throughout the country
[11:20] who understand that for a positive
[11:22] future we need to eliminate bias and
[11:24] discrimination entirely from our lives
[11:27] and institutions
[11:29] and whereas women from every background
[11:31] have long realized that an uneven
[11:34] playing field will never bring equality
[11:36] or Justice and have courageously
[11:38] advocated for fairness in our
[11:40] institutions and our social
[11:42] interactions and whereas recognizing the
[11:45] achievements of women in all facets of
[11:48] life science Community government
[11:52] literature art sports medicine has a
[11:55] huge impact on the development of
[11:58] self-respect and new opportunities for
[12:00] girls and young women and whereas women
[12:04] have been inspirational leaders not only
[12:06] in advancing their own rights of
[12:08] suffrage and equal opportunity but also
[12:10] in other social justice movements
[12:12] including the Abolitionist Movement the
[12:14] industrial labor movement the civil
[12:17] rights movement and the gay rights
[12:18] movement now therefore be it resolved
[12:21] that the Mayor Gary arm macarthy and
[12:23] City Council of the city of skincity do
[12:26] hereby pause in their deliberations to
[12:28] recog ize and celebrate women's History
[12:31] Month in March 2024 and acknowledge and
[12:34] salute the critical role that women have
[12:36] played in the development success and
[12:38] achievements of skincity and the United
[12:42] States so may I make this
[12:45] motion you need a second
[12:47] please all those in favor I
[12:49] congratulations the motion passes thank
[12:53] you so I'd like to introduce M Kora
[12:56] Schroeder who works for representative
[12:58] Paul TKO and I'd like her to say a few
[13:00] words about a women's March that's
[13:01] happening this week and accept this
[13:03] resolution on behalf of the city thank
[13:06] you thank you very much carmell Patrick
[13:08] and thank you city council and thank you
[13:10] mayor McCarthy so real quick hello good
[13:12] evening everyone as Carmel so graciously
[13:14] said I am cor schroer and I want to not
[13:17] take up too much time but I wanted to
[13:19] make a significant announcement and that
[13:23] announcement is that this Sunday which
[13:26] is March 3rd the first Sunday of the
[13:28] month
[13:29] my friend Tammy and I Tammy say hello we
[13:32] have put together we got our heads
[13:34] together and we thought and we thought
[13:35] and we said hey let's do a March for
[13:38] women for all that Carmel said I'm not
[13:40] going to reread this but take a moment
[13:43] to think of a woman in your life of
[13:46] women who have been in your life and
[13:48] women who have allowed your life to
[13:51] progress over the thousands of years
[13:54] women have been here so March 3rd which
[13:57] is the Sunday at 9 900 a.m. here on the
[14:00] steps of City Hall we will begin a March to celebrate women
[14:07] and I would love to see everybody there
[14:09] you do not have to be from SKC you can
[14:12] be from wherever you do not have to be a
[14:15] woman you can come and just celebrate with a banner celebrate with
[14:21] your family celebrate with a shirt
[14:24] celebrate and remember women for to for
[14:28] March is women's history month thank
[14:33] [Applause]
[14:54] [Laughter]
[14:57] you
[15:03] you're
[15:08] [Music]
[15:15] woman it's okay it's okay it's okay I'm
[15:19] right here in the back
[15:27] everybody
[15:40] [Applause]
[15:54] the next out of out of order resolution
[15:56] is a resolution recognizing James
[15:58] Griffin for for his 40 years of service
[15:59] to the city of skincity and I ask
[16:01] council member muar to please take the
[16:04] uh
[16:18] Podium I'd like to invite Mr Griffin and
[16:21] everyone coming him behind the rail
[16:24] please it's his moment
[16:27] okay
[16:30] may I have the floor yes all right you
[16:32] can come closer you can come closer
[16:34] right there you came
[16:35] in um well before I read the official
[16:38] resolution I just want to say a couple
[16:39] of things U because I've known you for a
[16:41] very long time and uh you and my brother
[16:43] friends and so I remember Jim store and
[16:45] all the stuff in the neighborhood so you
[16:47] know it really gives me great pleasure
[16:49] and I wanted to be the person to be able
[16:50] to present this to
[16:52] you and on top of that the reason that I
[16:55] actually knew about it is because your
[16:56] co-workers thought so highly of you
[16:59] that they reached out and said hey he's
[17:00] retiring we're going to miss him but
[17:02] we'd like for the council to do
[17:04] resolution so I think that speaks very
[17:06] highly of who you are as a person not
[17:08] that I didn't already know but the
[17:09] people that you would spent 40 years not
[17:11] the entire 40 some of them but the
[17:13] people that you worked with dayt Day
[17:15] thought it not robbery to reach out and
[17:17] to say you know we'd like for him to be
[17:20] recognized so I know that we talked and
[17:23] you said give you your flowers while
[17:24] you're here so tonight you're getting
[17:26] your flowers not literally we try that
[17:28] but anyway that's another conversation
[17:30] but so tonight we'd like to give you the
[17:31] flowers on behalf of your co-workers who
[17:33] brought your name forward and also the
[17:35] city
[17:40] council whereas James Griffin began his
[17:43] career with the city of skincity on SE
[17:45] September 17th
[17:47] 1984 and whereas James Griffin served
[17:50] his country for three years in the
[17:51] United States Army as a combat engineer
[17:54] 12b 12b before joining the city
[17:57] Workforce and whereas James Works 28
[18:00] years in the Bureau of service streets
[18:01] department Paving streets filling
[18:03] potholes plowing snow and sweeping
[18:06] streets and whereas James worked 12
[18:08] years in the sewer department his
[18:10] responsibilities included inspecting
[18:12] condition of sewer lines for leaks Russ
[18:14] spots and other defects installing new
[18:17] sewer line sewer lines and repairing
[18:19] existing ones inst installing new water
[18:22] mains and repairing existing ones
[18:24] repairs to manholes catch basins and
[18:26] other structures in the sewer system
[18:29] and whereas his continuous commitment to
[18:31] excellent during his many years of
[18:32] service this city earned him the respect
[18:34] of his co-workers who had this to say
[18:36] about him quote I really enjoyed working
[18:39] with Griff he's funny conscient
[18:42] conscientious and a good guy he's one of
[18:45] the few left from the good old days and
[18:47] I mean good in Old in a good way and
[18:50] whereas another cooworker said I only
[18:53] speak for myself James is a w a wise and
[18:56] compassionate man who worked hard and
[18:58] played harder as he truly enjoys the
[19:00] Finer Things in life James enjoys joking
[19:03] and laughing as much as he loved a good
[19:05] debate whether for sharing or acquiring
[19:07] wisdom and knowledge we were blessed to
[19:10] have gotten to know him over the years
[19:12] and we wish him all the best as he
[19:13] enters his new exciting chapter of his
[19:17] life end quote and whereas the duties
[19:20] James performed though not glamorous
[19:22] were essential to the operation of the
[19:24] city he made a maintained a strong work
[19:26] ethic showed dedication and hard work
[19:29] throughout his long career which has
[19:31] been instrumental to the city City's
[19:33] success now therefore be resolved that
[19:36] the SKC city council and Mayor Gary R
[19:38] McCarthy do hereby pause in their
[19:40] deliberations to recognize James Griffin
[19:43] for his 40 years of service in the city
[19:45] of skincity and congratulate him and
[19:47] wish him well on his retirement I'd like
[19:50] to move this can I have a
[19:52] second um all in favor I I motion is
[19:56] passed congratulations
[20:02] thank you very
[20:27] much
[20:57] spe
[21:20] than you
[21:27] than
[21:46] the next out out of order resolution is
[21:49] item number 18 a resolution recognizing
[21:51] David darano of Metro Ford Sales I'd
[21:54] like to call on council member muon toe
[21:57] present this resolution
[22:23] Madam president you have the
[22:25] floor a resolution recognizing in Dave
[22:28] darano of Metro Ford Sales whereas the
[22:32] SKC School District wanted to obtain SKC
[22:36] police engagement officer to interact
[22:38] positively with student and the
[22:40] community and whereas to advance the New
[22:43] York State Police reform and reinvention
[22:46] collaborative plan as approved by
[22:48] disconnected AC school on March 22nd
[22:52] 2021 and whereas in compliance with
[22:55] regulation from the commissioner of
[22:57] Education a written contract between the
[22:59] connected school district and the
[23:01] connected police Community engagement
[23:04] officer was drafted and whereas this
[23:07] contract was signed by mayor kri
[23:09] McCarthy and superintendent annabal
[23:11] solar establishing this connected police
[23:14] Community engagement officer program and
[23:17] whereas the conc police department
[23:19] desired to expand this successful
[23:21] program and develop new Community
[23:24] Partnership to F the goals of this
[23:27] conected school district district and
[23:28] the community engagement officer program
[23:31] and whereas Community engagement officer
[23:33] Sergeant Charles ronfeld with the goal
[23:36] to increase positive interaction to
[23:38] raise awareness to this connected Police
[23:41] Department work in the schools and to
[23:44] develop new partnership in the community
[23:46] as Metro Ford Sales Inc if they were
[23:50] interested in partnering to support the
[23:52] program and whereas David di Rano of
[23:56] Metro forward Inc seeing value in
[23:58] supporting the program and the City of
[24:01] skinc police department
[24:03] provide to the community generous offer
[24:06] to donate a 2021 Ford Mustang Mai
[24:11] electric car and whereas on March 20th
[24:14] 2024 the vehicle was brought to the city
[24:16] skinc police department and to the
[24:19] skincity council committee meeting for a
[24:21] visual
[24:23] inspection whereas this donation will
[24:25] enhance the program provide more
[24:27] positive interaction with the student at
[24:30] disc connected school district and
[24:32] increase the efficiency of Officer
[24:35] response within the school district
[24:37] ultimately serving student their family
[24:40] and the community now therefore be it
[24:42] resolved that the Mayor Gary AR McCarthy
[24:46] and the city council do hereby pause in
[24:48] their deliberation to recognize David
[24:51] dariano of Metro Ford sale Inc for your
[24:54] donation to our Police Department
[24:57] community in engagement officer program
[25:00] Madame President I move this may I have
[25:02] a second second by Miss Patrick all in
[25:04] favor I motion passes
[25:15] congratulations I wasn't aware I had to
[25:18] speak Metro Ford has been in concy doing
[25:21] business for 45 years and we've been
[25:24] protected by the police our children
[25:26] have been educated by the school
[25:27] district
[25:28] it's an honor to be able to do
[25:30] this as a parent a lot of times you
[25:33] don't get a pat on the back for doing
[25:34] things raising your children and I know
[25:36] in police force in school district
[25:38] there's not a lot of pats on the back
[25:40] but this is our way of just giving
[25:42] back like he said it came down it was it
[25:44] was an email that came over to our
[25:46] office and said would you like to donate
[25:47] a
[25:49] car and we we got the email and our our
[25:52] CPA happened to be there when we got the
[25:55] email doing some end of the year stuff
[25:56] and I walked in and I said it's is this
[25:58] possible can we donate a car he did some
[26:00] numbers and such and he says yeah you're
[26:02] in a position to be able to do this so
[26:04] it was perfect timing it was we we
[26:05] didn't think of it it wasn't us the um
[26:08] any recognition isn't for me personally
[26:10] it's it's for all the hardworking people
[26:12] at Metro Ford and all the hardworking
[26:13] people here I mean the city it's a great
[26:15] City we're glad to be part of it
[26:17] couldn't be couldn't be more proud to
[26:19] give this and to donate it and Mustang
[26:22] Mach e all electric what better car for
[26:24] the electric
[26:26] city
[26:27] [Applause]
[26:35] thank you and thank you for the
[26:51] donation what was he
[26:52] [Music]
[26:56] saying
[27:03] we have one public hearing tonight and I
[27:05] just want to remind everyone that the
[27:07] public uh time for the public hearing is
[27:09] has been extended to four minutes and
[27:12] ask everyone to respectfully only speak
[27:14] on the topic of the public hearing thank
[27:17] you this time I ask for approval of the
[27:19] minutes from February 2012th
[27:26] 20124 mooved by m Mr Williams second by
[27:29] Mr M all in favor
[27:36] I okay all right public hearing number
[27:41] one I'm
[27:45] sorry
[27:49] [Music]
[27:51] you public hearing number one regarding
[27:54] the Central Parkway sidewalk Improvement
[27:57] project
[27:59] I have four people signed up to
[28:01] speak Florence
[28:14] mcconville hello
[28:17] everyone um it's been many years since
[28:20] I've been in here but uh I'm glad to be
[28:23] back um I live on Central
[28:25] Parkway and um happy that the city is
[28:28] going to be doing the
[28:30] sidewalks um my only concern is the
[28:33] water that gets in front of my house
[28:37] I've had many serious conditions
[28:40] excessive water coming into the house my
[28:44] furnace breaking the house sinking a
[28:46] little bit and uh the sewer problems but
[28:51] um I think this will all get fixed with
[28:53] the
[28:54] new excitement of putting the sidewalk
[28:57] in and fixing the street and the curbs
[29:01] so that's all I have to say and I'm
[29:04] happy that the city is doing this and um
[29:09] I have nothing else to say thank you
[29:11] very much thank
[29:15] you uh Janice
[29:25] Thompson good evening everyone can you
[29:29] hear me yes it down a little
[29:32] bit uh yes I'm really glad we're having
[29:35] the work done on our streets I have a
[29:37] few questions uh they're not long ones
[29:41] uh my first question is how much is the
[29:44] city paying towards
[29:48] our sidewalks and
[29:50] curves the city itself how how much are
[29:53] they paying does anyone know that answer
[29:56] so ma'am today t tonight you just have
[29:57] an opportunity to be heard publicly on
[29:59] your comments if you have any questions
[30:02] specifically we need um email those
[30:04] questions and they they can be answered
[30:06] tonight we'd like to hear your comments
[30:08] we did deliver um packets to all of the
[30:10] individuals on Central Parkway but
[30:12] tonight we will not be able to answer
[30:13] questions from here we'll just hear your
[30:15] comments you can ask your questions and
[30:17] we will record them and get them
[30:18] answered for you okay so all of my
[30:23] comments are a
[30:25] question so I can't get any answers on
[30:29] those not tonight but if you'd like to hand in those questions
[30:32] we'll make sure that they are answered
[30:33] for you as long as you have the contact
[30:35] information there if you want to answer
[30:37] your questions out loud so everyone can
[30:39] hear them you're welcome to do that okay
[30:41] so so my next question is there's a
[30:45] slight difference between the principal
[30:48] on the 10-year plan as opposed to the
[30:51] 15-year plan minor but it's $110
[30:55] difference and I just wondered why that
[30:58] is my third question is the travel Lane
[31:03] is 2 feet shorter than what exists now
[31:09] would that be narrowed on both sides of
[31:12] the street and is it because of
[31:16] something with the curves and the
[31:18] sidewalks that are making it necessary
[31:21] to to narrow the travel
[31:24] Lane those are my questions and I just
[31:27] wondered how many people from Central
[31:28] Parkway are here
[31:31] tonight have everyone from Central
[31:33] Parkway could raise your
[31:35] hand there they are I'm just G to count
[31:50] them okay if you'd like to hand in your
[31:52] looks like 16 about thank you if you'd
[31:55] like to hand in your questions so we
[31:57] have have them in writing we'll take
[31:58] them from you I'll do that you want me
[32:01] to do that now yes okay well it's on the
[32:03] front of my sheet so it's okay as long
[32:06] as they're and you can get it back
[32:10] okay they're on the right three thank
[32:14] you thank you very much thank
[32:20] you Julie
[32:26] peretto
[32:27] hello good evening I'm Julie parado I'm
[32:30] here with my husband we both own a house
[32:32] together on Central Parkway um and I'm
[32:35] really really happy that this initiative
[32:37] is moving forward um we love the
[32:39] neighborhood we've lived there for about
[32:40] seven years and I think it's really
[32:42] going to increase the walkability of the
[32:44] neighborhood and really help with safety
[32:47] for the people who walk um so and I
[32:51] really appreciate also the payment plan
[32:52] I think that's going to be very helpful
[32:54] but I did have some concerns about the
[32:56] concept and the the plan that was chosen
[32:58] that I wanted to voice um we noticed
[33:00] that it's taking away the street parking
[33:03] and um that is it's narrowing the
[33:07] driving and taking away the on street
[33:10] parking and I know that for us when we
[33:12] went to purchase our home we took street
[33:15] parking into consideration for when we
[33:18] had family gatherings and holidays um
[33:22] and it's just going to be an
[33:23] inconvenience for us to have to have our
[33:25] friends and family park a block or two
[33:27] down and then walk to our home um and
[33:32] you know that was a big factor as well
[33:33] when we were home buying so I it we
[33:37] don't want to move we love our
[33:38] neighborhood but when we go to resell
[33:40] our house in the future I just worry
[33:43] about how that may impact our the cost
[33:45] that we will get for our house um not
[33:48] having that street parking available um
[33:51] so I guess my question is you know I
[33:54] want the the sidewalk initiative we want
[33:57] the upgrade um but is there a way that
[33:59] we can be looking at other Concepts and
[34:01] plans to be able to keep the on street
[34:03] parking and that was it thank you so
[34:05] much for your time thank
[34:10] you Jessica
[34:17] badulla hello I'm not used to not facing
[34:22] all the people usually when I lead
[34:24] things um so I've never been anything
[34:27] like this before um I live at 875
[34:30] Central Parkway so right on the corner
[34:32] it's the very first nice house ma'am you
[34:34] have to fit you have to address that the
[34:36] very first nice house over on the side
[34:40] um when I was asked to sign the petition
[34:43] for this project I'll be honest I wasn't
[34:45] paying attention because I'm not used to
[34:47] people coming to my door I keep to
[34:49] myself and you know whatever she was
[34:51] proposing seemed fine enough signed it
[34:53] the end um I what I didn't realize is
[34:56] that I was being asked to pay for my own
[35:00] sidewalk uh and I'm not in a position to
[35:02] be able to do that if I had that amount
[35:04] of money I would probably fix my garage
[35:07] over the summer there was um someone
[35:10] stole a vehicle and then parked it in my
[35:13] three car garage so I got called while I
[35:16] was out of my home by the police to ask
[35:18] me to come home and see what this stolen
[35:20] car was about I didn't have the money to
[35:21] fix the um garage door and so there's uh
[35:25] wood in front of it
[35:27] and
[35:28] um yeah I'm all for like improving the
[35:31] neighborhood certainly certainly we all
[35:33] want to have a nicer neighborhood but
[35:35] what I'm concerned about is one I can't
[35:37] pay for another sidewalk two are we
[35:39] going to make it so welcoming for people
[35:41] to be walking down the street that
[35:42] they'll have uh more packages stolen
[35:45] from my front porch am I going to have
[35:47] my car broken into more times than it
[35:49] already has been in the last eight years
[35:52] so yeah I'm pretty upset about it I'm 42
[35:56] years old and I've never voluntarily
[35:57] come into a government building to speak
[35:59] publicly and here I am I guess that's
[36:02] all I have to say thank you oh wait no I have another thing because I still
[36:06] have four minutes I am a single mother
[36:08] and I am a widow to a active duty Navy
[36:12] serviceman and I was able to purchase
[36:14] this home from the settlement that I
[36:16] received from his active duty
[36:18] death that was my introduction to
[36:20] Central Parkway and here we are eight
[36:22] years later I don't have any money left
[36:25] thanks thank you
[36:29] I don't have anyone else signed up to
[36:30] speak this public hearing so I declare
[36:32] the public hearing
[36:34] closed I'll ask the clerk to read any
[36:36] Communications and
[36:44] petitions Communications presented to
[36:47] the city council for Monday February 26
[36:50] 2024 under official For Mayor Gary AR
[36:52] McCarthy a list of appointments dated
[36:54] February 26 2024
[36:57] under General from Dave Connelly and
[36:59] Michael Murphy an email with questions
[37:02] and suggestions for the Central Parkway
[37:04] sidewalk Improvement program and from
[37:07] Rich and Mary Joe HCK an email in
[37:09] support of the Central Parkway sidewalk
[37:11] Improvement program under petitions
[37:13] there were none thank you as on council
[37:17] members to provide any committee
[37:20] reports this time we'll have priv
[37:22] privilege of the floor related to the
[37:24] legislative agenda and I have no one
[37:26] signs up to speak so I declare the
[37:29] public comment on the legislative agenda
[37:32] closed this time I ask for approval of
[37:34] the legislative consent
[37:36] agenda move by Mr Williams second by Mr
[37:39] M all in favor I we do have one roll
[37:43] call vote
[37:49] resolution resolution number
[37:54] eight if the clerk would please read
[37:56] item number
[38:01] eight item number eight for original
[38:03] consideration a resolution appointing
[38:05] Christopher Marney to the ethics
[38:08] board I need a
[38:13] motion moveed by Mr Williams
[38:21] second it has to be
[38:24] seconded second by miss miss
[38:27] rck any discussion on this
[38:31] item Mr
[38:39] Williams uh so I I really want to make
[38:42] sure I my comments are received in kind
[38:45] I think it is a poor show of sound
[38:48] judgment to refuse an individual that is
[38:51] volunteering to assist in filling a
[38:53] vacancy especially in committees and
[38:56] board boards throughout our city where
[38:57] we've highlighted that uh participation
[39:00] is an ongoing challenge uh to this point
[39:03] I have still not heard any uh comments
[39:06] or feedback with respect to why uh this
[39:08] individual would not be an appropriate
[39:10] member of this board um but again I feel
[39:13] as local officials it is our
[39:15] responsibility to make sure we are not
[39:17] only advocating to the community and the
[39:19] residents alike but to make sure we also
[39:21] justify our opinions and decisions when
[39:24] they in fact uh go against um
[39:27] something with respect to to to this so
[39:29] I think
[39:31] displaying our uh lack of consideration
[39:34] to why this individual would not be a
[39:36] good fit I think is not the
[39:39] collaborative government that I seek to
[39:41] be a part of and I would hope that as a
[39:44] body uh we can understand the
[39:46] ramifications of saying to the community
[39:48] no and not offering a resolution forward
[39:52] or identifying what areas make this
[39:55] individual not an appropriate candidate
[39:57] to fulfill that
[39:59] position is there any further
[40:02] discussion seeing none I'll ask the
[40:04] clerk to call the role Mr Toro
[40:09] no Mr muin yes Miss Patrick
[40:15] no Mr Williams yes M Porterfield yes the
[40:21] item fails you need we need four
[40:23] affirmative votes to pass our piece of
[40:25] resolution so the item fails it's 3
[40:30] to2 this time we have priv privilege of
[40:34] the floor regarding General City
[40:35] business I have three people signed up
[40:37] to speak first person is Fred de
[40:45] roer hello hello my name is uh Fred
[40:48] Rocher I'm a nurse at Ellis Hospital
[40:52] I've been a nurse for going on 28 years
[40:54] now I worked at St Claire's for and then
[40:56] came over at L's Hospital in 2008 so
[40:59] I've been a nurse in this community for
[41:02] a long time and what I'm coming up here
[41:04] to talk about as a member of Ellis
[41:06] Hospital but also as a member of the
[41:08] executive committee for the nurses Union
[41:10] at Ellis Hospital I want to make you all
[41:13] here aware of what's going on with our
[41:15] negotiations that are currently um going
[41:18] on over the last year we've been
[41:21] negotiating and we normally negotiate
[41:23] with Ellis Hospital management and it's
[41:25] just simply Ellis Hospital it is
[41:27] different now they have Opera management
[41:29] is Trinity Healthcare a billion dooll
[41:32] company that's Nationwide um their point
[41:35] person Deb
[41:36] Solomon comes around she told us at a
[41:39] meeting that basically Trinity brings
[41:42] her around when they need help with
[41:43] labor problems so apparently the nurses
[41:46] now are a labor problem to Trinity um
[41:49] this is we have a lot of great managers
[41:51] at Ellis but this upper management with
[41:53] Trinity is very much a problem they're
[41:55] trying to they're very they're cutting
[41:57] services you can look to rents SL County
[42:00] um with the bdet Women's Center they've
[42:02] already cut services at Ellis Ben Alis
[42:05] hospital that you may not even know
[42:06] about we don't you know since the
[42:08] pandemic they've cut the pediatric
[42:10] department they've cut Med surge beds
[42:13] there's less beds there than just four
[42:15] years ago when we had this pandemic
[42:17] there's less beds there there's less
[42:18] beds in the emergency room there's half
[42:20] the Adult Psychiatric beds um they have
[42:24] done this with no remorse or no
[42:26] conscious of the community that's why I
[42:28] want you know their idea they're not for
[42:30] profit and they don't act like that
[42:33] they're acting for profit even though
[42:34] there's less beds in that hospital right
[42:37] now there's less nurses than there was
[42:39] four years ago too so the nurses now
[42:42] take care of more patients I work in a
[42:44] crisis unit the nurses in the ER when I
[42:47] worked through the pandemic in the ER we
[42:49] had less patients then than we do now um
[42:52] there's less beds in the ER so there's
[42:54] more people waiting there's longer wait
[42:55] times than I've ever over 20 years in
[42:58] the ER there's longer wait times than
[42:59] I've ever
[43:01] seen they do not listen with
[43:04] negotiations they're very much trying to
[43:07] um they aren't offering us anything to
[43:09] be quite honest they're they're talking
[43:11] about retaining nurses and they're
[43:13] cutting our benefits saying that they
[43:15] are they've looked throughout the
[43:16] community and ours are above average so
[43:18] they need to cut them um they've cut
[43:21] them for their other workers who don't
[43:22] have a voice but we're not going to let
[43:25] that happen to us talk about I was a
[43:27] former St Claire's person we all know
[43:28] about the St Clair's pension so they are
[43:31] asking us to sign off on selling out our
[43:33] pensioners that was frozen in 2006 and
[43:36] they want as part of negotiations us to
[43:38] write that off so they can sell that off
[43:40] they it's not a problem to them
[43:42] financially they want to get rid of it
[43:44] to clear the books for Trinity to fully
[43:46] take over because they aren't not for
[43:48] profit they are for profit and they
[43:51] aren't good for this community and we
[43:53] are going to need everybody to be aware
[43:55] of this as we go forward and that's what
[43:56] we're here for today thank you thank
[44:00] you Z
[44:06] zip good evening I my name is Don zip I
[44:09] am actually a resident here in connected
[44:12] east city um I am also an Alis employee
[44:16] but I am a Belleview Women's Center
[44:19] employee I am the President of our
[44:22] bargaining unit for nna I sit at the um
[44:25] negotiation table I stand on the line
[44:27] for all my fellow nurses and even more
[44:29] so for my patients and for my babies
[44:32] that I take care of in the ncu um I am
[44:35] here because as we are um embarking upon
[44:39] this merger my real concern is Woman's
[44:42] Health it seems to be under major attack
[44:44] within the United States if anybody has
[44:46] been paying attention to the news across
[44:48] the country it is very scary and it is
[44:51] now hitting the capital region um I was
[44:55] applaud the the um stand for women and
[44:58] for women's rights and for women and
[45:00] what they've done in um history well it
[45:02] is our time to stand as the women at
[45:04] bellevie woman's Center and as a
[45:06] hospital that takes care of women and
[45:09] that is something that is really
[45:10] important one of the things that I want
[45:12] to bring to the Forefront is that Paul
[45:14] mlon actually spoke yesterday at a local
[45:17] church in The Stockade and spoke to the
[45:19] community there and when he was
[45:22] addressed and asked about the services
[45:24] that he was going to be um that have
[45:26] been taken away and continue to be
[45:28] discussed and being taken away his
[45:31] phrase on quote was we can't be
[45:34] everything to everyone the problem is is
[45:37] we need to be what is important for the
[45:39] people of this community we cannot
[45:42] afford to lose any more services we need
[45:45] to watch what they've done with berett
[45:47] because the Health Care Health the
[45:49] Catholic Health Care system is literally
[45:51] dismantling Health Care for Women across
[45:54] the country and in New York state down
[45:56] on Long Island they've closed maternity
[45:58] Wars in New York City they're attempting
[46:00] to close maternity Wars these are the
[46:03] Catholic Health Care Systems again we
[46:06] cannot afford he said that don't worry
[46:08] women who are in labor don't take the
[46:11] cabs to the
[46:13] hospitals I have to tell you women in
[46:15] labor take anything that they can I have
[46:18] actually caught babies in the circle in
[46:21] front of Belleview in a in a taxi cab so
[46:24] you know what Paul
[46:26] women take cabs when they're in labor
[46:29] and if we keep reducing the things that
[46:32] we need in our community we are going to
[46:34] be at a great loss we are putting
[46:36] mothers and babies at risk by doing this
[46:39] Trinity is actually sitting at our table
[46:42] looking to take more and more and more
[46:44] away from us the nurses and for our
[46:47] patients we have a deficit of
[46:48] approximately 20% on nursing staffing
[46:52] that means your nurses are taking on
[46:54] anywhere from six to 10 patients when
[46:57] they should only be taking four and that
[46:59] is a very scary thing because it's our
[47:01] family members that are in the hospital
[47:03] that are being taken care of and they
[47:05] are being they're not getting the
[47:06] quality care that they require so I'm
[47:09] begging and I'm coming to you guys to
[47:11] stand on our behalf and and advocate for
[47:15] the nurses and for the patients and the
[47:16] people of skincity thank you thank
[47:23] you Jennifer Lipman
[47:28] hi my name is Jenny um I'm not from this
[47:30] AA but my family is firmly planted here
[47:32] my husband works at Union College I'm a
[47:34] nurse in the same Department as Fred the
[47:36] emergency room at Ellis Hospital and our
[47:38] kids are in school here and we mean to
[47:40] be here um I'm just joining this group
[47:44] and wanting to talk about Staffing uh
[47:46] you know I'm mostly focused just on the
[47:49] day-to-day taking care of people as a
[47:50] nurse Fred has been actively involved in
[47:52] the negotiations but it's gone on for
[47:55] more than a year that they're trying to
[47:57] get our contract negotiated and for me I started like when the pandemic was
[48:02] just beginning to unfold in 20120 and
[48:06] um about a year into my job we lost a
[48:09] tremendous percentage of our nurses it
[48:12] was like the travel boom when nurses
[48:13] could make three to four times as much
[48:15] as a staff nurse and I was so upset to
[48:19] see the the just this beautiful teamwork
[48:23] when in the emergency room people come
[48:24] in with heart attacks and people run
[48:26] together and and they know each other's
[48:28] strengths and they're you know literally
[48:29] saving people's lives working together
[48:31] and when I saw my sta the the the staff
[48:34] people that I really looked up to that I
[48:35] need to learn from disappearing I wrote
[48:37] to like all the top leadership at the
[48:39] hospital and our board and everything
[48:41] and I heard back from one person which
[48:43] was the department um the head of our
[48:45] department the emergency department he
[48:46] said well these things kind of come and
[48:47] go it'll it'll iron itself out this High
[48:50] money it's going to P ped out and we'll
[48:53] kind of get a stable staff again but you
[48:55] know two two and a half years later we
[48:57] are heavily dependent on travel nurses
[49:00] and they're bringing in some lovely
[49:01] nurses they're really experienced great
[49:03] nurses but they have no connection to
[49:05] skincity they don't know our people
[49:06] they'll be here for a short time then
[49:07] they move oh I'm going to go do skiing
[49:09] in Colorado next and that's really not
[49:11] what we need we need a stable body of
[49:13] nurses to take care of our community I I
[49:15] see my neighbors all the time in the Ed
[49:18] and what we lost just during my short
[49:21] time here at Ellis with so much staff
[49:24] synchronicity got broken up and the
[49:27] hospital has not managed to put it back
[49:29] together we're just heavily dependent on
[49:31] nurses that have no connection to this
[49:33] place and if it takes us more than a
[49:36] year and the nurses that are negotiating
[49:39] this contract say they are insulting us
[49:41] when we're asking about they're taking
[49:43] benefits away they're they're trying to
[49:46] talk their way out of these stabing
[49:48] ratio things I mean I've barely known
[49:49] anything but you run for 12 hours you
[49:52] don't pee you don't eat you're you feel
[49:54] so guilty because you can't take good
[49:55] care of people because you're so
[49:58] overloaded it's dangerous you know and I
[50:00] mean that's kind of basic if we don't
[50:02] have enough nurses like you'd think we'd
[50:04] want to try to make it decent that
[50:06] nurses could take good care of people
[50:08] and and having a contract where there's
[50:10] decent Staffing and and and wages that
[50:13] people agree are reasonable seems like a
[50:15] great place to start so that's what I
[50:17] wanted to speak in support of thank you
[50:20] thank
[50:24] you I have no one else signed up to
[50:26] speak so I declare the public comment of
[50:29] City business
[50:32] closed any miscellaneous business from
[50:34] the
[50:36] council Mr
[50:40] muin thank you Madame President I would
[50:43] like to um thank all the homeowners from
[50:45] Central Parkway who showed up here
[50:46] tonight thank you um for your effort and
[50:49] I want to especially thank the organizer
[50:52] who has brought us to this point here to
[50:54] make Central Parkway sidewalk and Street
[50:57] Improvement a reality so thank you to
[50:59] the organizer thank you to all the
[51:01] homeowners for um gra this um this
[51:04] evening and to voice your concern all
[51:07] the questions on the email that was
[51:09] submitted our city engineer will address
[51:11] those and as we move forward the next
[51:13] couple of week we will share more
[51:15] information and uh we will um get you
[51:17] involved in terms of um getting that
[51:20] message over to you as we move forward
[51:22] uh to make this happen for you in
[51:24] Central Parkway um just a reminder um
[51:27] for the seniors exemptions are due um
[51:31] before March 4st so don't wait on March
[51:33] for to file your exemption does the
[51:36] enhance um senior um exemption and also
[51:39] um the senior lwi income exemption we
[51:44] recently um um increased the um the
[51:47] exemption so to give more um advantage
[51:51] to the seniors in our city and I hope
[51:53] that they take advantage of it so please file your enhan exemption and
[51:59] your senior exemption before March 4th
[52:01] thank you madam president thank you Mr
[52:04] mutar Miss Patrick thank you um I just
[52:07] wanted to remind folks um and I hope
[52:10] that the mayor will mention this as well
[52:11] but um I've had calls from several
[52:14] different residents in different
[52:15] neighborhoods over the last just the
[52:16] last few days uh talking about the
[52:19] litter issue and the fact that people
[52:20] are putting their trash out when they
[52:22] shouldn't be putting their trash out um
[52:24] you really need to pay attention to the
[52:26] trash schedule especially right now when
[52:28] you know there's a lot of big wind out
[52:30] there and you know you can drive up and
[52:32] down the streets and see the trash sort
[52:34] of floating around um so we're all here
[52:37] to take those calls I continue to you
[52:40] know then pass that information on to
[52:42] our office of General services but
[52:44] really um I just really implore folks to
[52:48] uh think about the trash schedule put
[52:50] your trash out only when you're supposed
[52:51] to put your trash out um and make sure
[52:54] that it's secure um uh especially right
[52:56] now during the during the winter months
[52:58] although it doesn't seem like winter
[52:59] right now uh given our weather our
[53:02] beautiful weather this week but please
[53:04] uh pay attention to that thank you thank
[53:08] you
[53:10] mayor thank you madam president I again
[53:13] appreciate everyone coming out tonight
[53:15] in the uh consensus seems to be for
[53:19] Central Parkway to leave it basically
[53:21] the way it is the discussion has been to
[53:24] narrow the travel Lane by approximately
[53:27] 2 feet that has not been cast in stone
[53:31] and part of this process is to have your
[53:33] input tonight and uh just ongoing
[53:37] discussions for that final design
[53:39] that'll service the needs of the
[53:41] residents and again make it attractive
[53:44] and uh hopefully increase the value of
[53:47] the
[53:48] properties uh for council member uh
[53:52] Patrick yes encourage people to follow
[53:54] the litter schedule ual appreciate
[53:57] council member Doro and council
[53:59] president porterfield's time as we're
[54:01] working on reviewing the trash policies
[54:04] in the city and trying to uh make
[54:06] modifications to uh appropriate allocate
[54:10] some of the costs the people that abuse
[54:12] the system and it doesn't take much
[54:16] effort to pick up a little bit of litter
[54:17] make sure your cans are sealed and
[54:19] tightened up because everybody benefits
[54:21] from
[54:22] that also the sky police Department uh
[54:26] is going to start another uh civilian
[54:29] police academy on March 5th and there
[54:33] are still slots available in that so
[54:35] that people who may want to participate
[54:38] in that uh gain a greater knowledge of
[54:40] the police operations and their
[54:42] Community involvement should uh contact
[54:45] uh officer Andrew danal at the SKC
[54:48] Police Department thank you madam
[54:51] president thank you mayor uh I'd like to
[54:53] thank everyone for coming
[54:57] can we revisit
[55:02] appointment you said that we needed four
[55:05] you need four yes that's correct that is
[55:07] correct okay thank
[55:09] you it's a majority for to pass anything
[55:12] there are some things that take five but
[55:14] it takes a simple
[55:17] majority uh again I'd like to thank
[55:19] everyone for coming out tonight I
[55:21] appreciate you coming bringing your
[55:22] concerns forward and for this show going
[55:25] from people from Central Parkway I
[55:26] believe it was 16 is what Miss Thompson
[55:28] said so thank you for coming out and the
[55:30] mayor has already spoken about the
[55:32] process um I want to thank the um
[55:35] individuals that came from Nisa today to
[55:37] talk about the concerns that are going
[55:39] on there appreciate you coming and
[55:40] bringing these things to our attention
[55:42] yet we've been reading about we know
[55:43] about it but appreciate you coming out
[55:45] and coming to speak to us regarding
[55:48] that uh Mr muirin talked about the um
[55:51] star exemption so just so just so you
[55:53] know March 1st is this Friday I know it
[55:55] doesn't sound it sounds far away but
[55:57] it's Friday so if you know seniors that
[55:59] need to get their exemption in it's this
[56:01] Friday and lastly as uh Miss schroer was
[56:05] here to talk about the women's March
[56:06] this Sunday I guess it starts on City
[56:08] Hall steps at 9:00 A.M on Sunday so
[56:10] those of you that want to March I don't
[56:12] know what the weather's going to be like
[56:13] so check before you come whether you
[56:15] need to bundle up or dress
[56:17] down if there's nothing else to come
[56:19] before this Council I'd like to ask for
[56:20] a motion to adjourn move by Miss Patrick
[56:23] second by Mr Williams all those in favor
[56:26] I we are adjourned thank
[56:36] you