[Music]
for
[Music]
thank you this going to be domestic
violence wait a
minute okay all
right yeah from the
floor I'd like to all call to order the
city Caucus meeting for Tuesday October
15th
24 we have five public hearings this
evening if the clerk could please
read all right go ahead just read the
public hearings public hearing number
one the 2025 proposed operating budget
and capital budget for the city of SKC
public hearing number two public hearing
number two amending section
248-250 code increasing parking
violation fines public hearing number
three public hearing number three
amending section 927 of disc connected
city code increasing fees and charges
for Police Department records public
hearing number four public hearing
number four amending sections
124-133 and
24-22 of disconnected the city code
increasing administrative fees regarding
false alarm calls public hearing number
five public hearing number five amending
city code
144-146 increase dog license fees thank
you we have 20 items for original
consideration if the clerk could please
read item number
one item number one for original
consideration a resolution calling for a
public hearing to establish a temporary
moratorium on the submission and
processing of building permits
certificates of occupancy certificates
of use and land use approvals of
cannabis establishments as the city
council considers changes to the conc
city code chapter 264 discussed in
committee with objection on consent item
number two item number two for original
consideration a resolution calling for a
public hearing to amend sections
151-921
13823
13843
15714
13-10 21014 of the connect city code
relating to the relating to the
increased in set fees and adopting a
building code administration fee
scheduled pursuant to sections
137-7 1 137 d one sorry
13821 and 138
13811 of this connected city code
discussed in committee with objection on
consent item number
three item number three for original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the mayor to accept $30,000 442
$3,442 74 in bulletproof vest
partnership bvp Grant award monies for
the conc police department
discussed in committee without objection
on consent item number four item number
four for original consideration a
resolution authorizing the city to
accept
$46,000 police traffic Services Grant
monies from the governor's Traffic
Safety Committee or gtsc for the conc
police department discussed in committee
with objection on consent item number
five item number five for original
consideration a resolution determining
that the de that the development of lead
service line replacement inventory is a
type two action pursuant to 6
ncrr
617.980.9025 number 7 under original
consideration a resolution authorizing
an amendment correcting errors in
resolution
2024-25 for the sale of 1044 helderberg
Avenue discussed in committee without
objection and on consent item number
eight item number eight under original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the sale of a vacant lot on Seldon
Street for
$1,500 discussed in committee without
objection on consent item number nine under original
consideration a res resolution
authorizing the sale of a vacant lot at
1139 Pleasant Street for
$33,000 discussed in committee without
objection on consent item number 10 item
number 10 under original consideration a
resolution confirming the appointment of
Alexandra Bland to the connec Planning
Commission and reappointment of Randall
s Beach to the SKC Planning Commission
discuss in committee without objection
on
consent item number 11 item number item
number 11 for final consideration a
resolution authorizing the ceremonial
naming of a portion of Barrett Street
between South Avenue and Union Street to
marleene
Hillway discussed in committee without
objection on consent item number 12 item
number 12 under original consideration a
resolution recognizing James Thomas Jr
for his connected City School District
athletic Hall of Fame induction this
will be presented as a at a later date
item number 13 item number item number
13 under original consideration a
resolution acknowledging Ferrari's
Restaurante for 50 years of service to
the connect Community this item will be
taken out of order and presented by
council member
manini item number 15 14 item number 14
under original consideration a
resolution celebrating Italian Heritage
Month I'll discussed committee with
objection on consent and this item will
be presented at a later
date item number 15 item number 15 under
original consideration a resolution
recognizing October as Polish American
Heritage Month this item will be taken
out of of order and presented by council
member Patrick item number 16 item
number 16 under original consideration a
resolution recognizing domestic violence
awareness
month this item will be taken out of
order and presented by council member
Doro item number
17 item number 17 under original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the issuance of revocable permit number
686 to Andy Zang for for a sign and
awnings that overhang the city's right
of way at 469 State Street discussed in
committee without objection on consent
item number
19 oh 18 number wrong okay 18 item
number 18 under contract and Supply a
resolution awarding the bid and contract
for the chilled water piping repairs to
cedo Plumbing Incorporated in the amount
of
$94,400 and no this discussed in
committee without objection on consent
item number 19 item number 19 under
contract and Supply a resolution
awarding the bid and contract for the
emergency service training facility roof
simulator to Midstate Industries in the
amount of$
56550 and no cents discussed in
committee without objection on consent
we have one other item to uh add for
unanimous consent I would need a motion
from the floor Mr B
thank you Madame President I would like
to move for unanimous consent a
resolution authorizing the mayor to
accept
$636,000 25 in the bipartisan
infrastructure bill for lead service
line replacement fund Grant award monies
I need a second on that second by Miss
Patrick um is everyone answer I if
everyone is okay by to add this to the
consent
agenda can we
I okay thank you we'll add that to the
consent
agenda item well we have four three
tonight actually to be um done ceremon
resol sorry about
that all right if there's nothing for to
come before the city council caucus I
ask for a motion to adjourn move by Miss
Patrick second by Mr M all those in
favor I I'd like to call to order this
connect the city council meeting for
Tuesday October 15th 2024
for and I'd like to call on Reverend
Kiki to lead us in the prayer
invocation let us pray Lord we thank you
for the rich tapestry that is our city
of skincity the Heritage and the wonders
of each Community bring together a
richness and a beauty that we all share
in together with our openness and our
acceptance together we all stand in
defense of those who are subject to
domestic violence whether it be physical
or mental or emotional or any or
economic that those who stand together
will support those who are subjected to
this horror and that by the richness of
our community we will
be supporters
and advocates for this community help us
help our Council to see clearly your
will for this city you bring us such
beauty and greatness and in this season
of Thanksgiving and wonder and harvest
we especially bring to you our thanks
amen amen I'd like to call on Anthony
Ferrari to lead us in the Pledge of
Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the
flag of the United States of America and
to the Republic for which it stands one
nation under God indivisible with
liberty and justice for all thank
you I'd ask the deputy clerk to please
complete the roll
call Mr
Toro Mr
Farley Mr
Mancini Mr muchin pres Mrs Patrick here
Mr Williams
and Miss Porterfield here thank you we
do as I said have uh three out of order
resolutions tonight but before we do
that um the president of the NAACP would
like to come forward thank you and to do
a
presentation nobody
there Madam president I here come on
back here ma'am nobody signed up
uh councilman muta the NAACP
recognizes your history making moments
in the city of skincity so I come
tonight on behalf of the NAACP to
present you with the freedom fund award
for 2024 and it reads as follows the
connected NAACP presents the history
maker award to councilman John muta for
your commitment to Justice and service
to the community 2024 Freedom fund award
thank you so much for all that you have
done for the community and we appreciate
you and we hope that you will continue
the work because it's so very important
so thank
[Applause]
you thank you so much you know um I do
things in a community I do not look
forward for awards and I told that
to past Nikki and um I'm I'm surprised
but you know what I will accept it and I
will continue to do work but let us all
continue to do work but don't seek um
Awards but you know encourage people to
get out there and do things that benefit
our community and to make us all better
as we work and to make connect better
thank you thank
you so Mr mudar you weren't able to
attend the uh party so we brought the
party to
you thank you
next we will have the um item number 13
acknowledging Ferrari's restaurant for
50 years of service to the skincity
community and I'd like to call on
council member Mancini to please present
this
resolution Mr
manini Madam president may I have the
floor you have the floor sir
come on
up all
right this resolution City connec New
York City
Council where a resolution acknowledging
Ferrari's restaurant for 50 years of
service to the conected community
whereas Ferrari's restaurant located in
a m Pleasant neighborhood of concy opens
the store opened its stores on October
7th
1974 and has since become a Cornerstone
of the community and whereas for the
past 50 years Ferrari's restaurant has
provided authentic Italian cuisine a
warm and welcoming atmosphere and
exceptional service to Residents and
visitors alike whereas Ferrari's
restaurant has become a beloved
institution where generations of
families have gathered to celebrate
Milestones fostering a strong sense of
community and family togetherness and
whereas the restaurant's long-standing
commitment to providing high quality
food and Hospitality has contributed
significantly to the cultural and social
fabri fabric of the M Pleasant
neighborhood and city of skincity as a
whole and whereas Ferrari's restaurant
has consistently contributed to the
local economy by providing employment
opportunities and attracting visitors to
the city elevating connect's profile as
a culinary
destination and whereas the city council
is connected to recognize the importance
to celebrating local business Ro in
shaping the city's identity and
strengthening its neighborhoods and
whereas ferrar's restaurants 50-year
Milestone is a testament to its enduring
quality adaptability and strong relation
within the community over the past five
years now therefore it be
resolved that city of the SK city
council and Mayor Gary R McCarthy do
hereby recognize and celebrate Ferrari's
restaurant for its 50 years of surface
serving delicious food and providing
outstanding service
and contributions to the city of
connecti and be it further resolved that
a copy of this resolution be presented
to the Ferrari family as a token of the
city's appreciation for their dedication
to Excellence and community service over
the past 50 years
[Applause]
congratulations Mr Man Mr Mancini Mr
Mancini would you move the resolution
sir would you move the resolution may I
yes make a motion to move the resolution
may I have a second please oh many
seconds all in favor
congratulations thank you all we just
want to say first of all I want to thank
God thank Jesus thank mother Mary I want
to thank my parents uh Frank and Rose
Ferrari who uh taught us uh a good worth
ethic that got us to find the the
American way here uh we came here uh you
know my father always told us came here
with an empty and we he had he had four
boys we got families got grandchildren
and we 50 years and we worked it and
we're going to keep going until we can
uh finish the till we're done all right there we go Vince you want to
say something okay Joseph my brother
Joseph he's the baby yes yes yes so
anyway once again thank you very much
and it's been you know like the Grateful
Dead says a long strange trip but we're
enjoying the
ride and uh I'd like to you know thank
my brothers and our wives you know when
you don't you know when you have good
backing you could conquer the world and
uh I just wanted to say thank you and uh
to my mom dad and my brother Johnny
looking uh over us you know with a you
know grin air to air for us so God bless
thank you have a great night
[Applause]
sure thank
[Applause]
you our next resolution
bye-bye thank you thank you you're
welcome thank
you our next resolution is recognizing
uh Polish American Heritage
Month council member
Patrick Madam president may I have the
floor you have the flooor thank
you where'd you
go Reverend kikki and other
folks thank you for joining
me so as um Reverend Kiki said in our
opening prayer we are a a very rich we
have a lot of Rich diversity here in the
city of skinc we started our day um at
acknowledging uh Italian Heritage and um
this morning and now we're October is
also the uh Polish American heritage
month so I just want to read this
briefly um a resolution proclaiming
October 2024 as Polish American Heritage
Month in skincity whereas the first
polish immigrants arrived in Jamestown
Virginia in 1608 performing work as
Craftsman and forming the first labor
union in this land and and whereas the
first polish settlers arrived in SKC New
York in
1797 with members graduating from Union
College working as merchants and an
individual from that Community Who was
appointed the police commissioner and
whereas skc's Polish immigrant and
subsequent Polish American Community
contributed greatly to the religious
cultural economic Fabric and demographic
landscape of this diverse City since its
earliest days by influencing arts and
education business and government social
services and scientific and
technological advancements and whereas
polish Heroes like General Casmir pki
and general Thaddius
kazuko how is it K kushko thank you um
played a vital role in our nation's
fight for independence and whereas in
1984 the United States House of
represent Representatives joint
resolution
577 does August later change to October
as Polish American heritage month to
celebrate the cultural heritage
achievements and contributions polish
Americans have made to our nation and
whereas in celebration of Polish
American Heritage Month the Polish
American Congress Central Division of
New York state has chosen skincity for
the inaugural running of the perogi 5K
in SKC Central Park on Saturday October
26th and whereas the perogi 5K is
intended to combine a focus on health
and fitness with a celebration of Polish
American Heritage culture and food now
therefore be it resolved that Mayor Gary
R McCarthy and the sked city council do
hereby pause in their deliberations to
Proclaim October 2024 Polish American
Heritage Month in concy and encourage
all residents to join in celebrating the
many contributions of Polish Americans
so I'd like to move this may I have a
second please second by Mr M all those
in favor I thank you very much passes
congratulations conratulations
I can
hold just trying to make this camera
work
oh sure somebody who knows what they're
doing she has a camera so she we can
send it to you
too what would you like to say a few
words oh yeah I think I talked too much
already uh uh but thank you uh Madame
President uh members of the council uh
mayor m y for this honor uh for for
recognizing this month we're very
excited uh for bringing uh really a
large scale um activity that honors
polish Heritage to the city of skinuti
and we hope that this inaugural Pugi 5K
will be something that will go on for
years uh it's going to be a lot of fun
we're going to have good food and and we
hope everyone will turn out for that uh
you know growing up in an ethnic family
um you know we were always taught those
core values that are so important in
every community and one of the things we
always learned about in school and
subsequent study was you know the
Democratic Heritage of Poland uh Poland
was formed as an elective monarchy where
uh as opposed to other places where a
very small percentage of people were
represented in the sort of the hierarchy
or the royalty and so on uh a good
25% of Polish Society voted for their
kings and and so on and so forth and uh
the the idea of the liberum veto where a
member of the assembled um uh group of
people who would vote uh could veto any
item that was up for consideration with
a single word you know saying veto and
that that sort of democratic tradition
and Heritage is something that was so
important because it was very unique in
the European landscape um you know at
the uh late um 1700s the Polish
Constitution was right up there with the United States Constitution and
the um the constitution in in France
post Revolution uh so those kind of
markers really spoke broadly to people's
desire for freedom for democracy for
representation and we're very privileged
to be here in the United States and
participating in this beautiful
democracy
it's it's hard to follow Father Jim um
but I just want to say my grandparents
were immigrants from Poland who settled
here in skincity
so there we go I'm I'm part of
that that's okay okay so everybody come
good food it'll be a lot of fun we
welcome everybody so us
[Applause]
I'm not
run our next resolution is recognizing
domestic violence awareness month and
I'd like to call on council member Doral
to present this resolution thank you
madam uh president Porterfield may I
have the floor please you have the floor
ma'am thank you I'd like to call forward
my dear friend Arthur fenex his
beautiful wife his beautiful daughter
and whomever else is with Arthur here
this
evening I'd also like to mention that up
here or afterwards I have a lot of uh
domestic violence uh purple ribbons uh
for for anyone to take um and to wear
and support uh domestic violence uh not
only for the month of November but
throughout um
whereas October was first declared as
National Domestic VI violence Awareness
Month in 1989 pretty sad that it waited
till then but since then October has
been a time to acknowledge domestic
violence survivors and to be a voice for
its victims and whereas domestic
violence is prevent in every Community
affects all people regardless of age
economic status sexual
orientation gender race religion or
nationality physical violence is often
accompanied by emotional abusive and
controlling Behavior as part of a much
larger systematic pattern of dominance
and control domestic violence can result
in physical injury injury psychological
Tri trauma and even death the
devastating consequences of domestic
violence can cross generations and last
a long time a
lifetime and whereas
domestic violence is a serious crime
that affects people of all Races ages
gender identities economic backgrounds
and education levels causing harm to
individuals families and communities
whereas victims of domestic viol
violence suffer isolation low
self-esteem depression anxiety according
to the National Coalition against
domestic violence approximately 1 in4
women and 1 in N men experience severe
intimate partner physical violence
sexual violence or stalking with
devastating effects on their health and
safety whereas raising awareness through
education advocacy and Community
engagement is essential in preventing
domestic violence supporting victims and
holding Abus abusers
accountable now therefore be it resolved
that the SKC city council and Mayor Gary
AR M McCarthy do hereby pause in their
deliberations to call on all Americans
to remember the victims celebrate the
survivors and remit to the ending
domestic violence in all forms like ask
for a motion to move the resolution may
I have a second please second by Miss
Patrick all those in favor I motion
passes
congratulations thank you thank you for
having us U first and foremost I want to
say thank you to Dorene for just
inviting me down here to share my story
of of Hope um Dorene has been a friend
of mine for a while now from middle
school and high school when I was uh
doing all the wrong things uh I was
really good friends with her her family
and her her kids and um I just remember
her always
allowing um her door to be wide open to
me uh while I was wrestling through some
things it was a place that was safe um
and she was very generous and loving I
appreciate um all that you've done in my
life um I want to share my condolences
with the families who are suffering
right now I know this connect is
grieving um there's just some hard
things that people are working through
right now with the shooting on Congress
Street and a mother who lost another
child to um
shootings and all the children that have
W witnessed that um we're praying for
you and
uh you're not
alone that's one of the reasons why I
wanted to share my story um although
it's domestic violence Awareness Month
um I wanted to share my story for people
who have hard stories I remember growing
up um I felt alone I needed somebody who
could relate to the severity of my
suffering um that's why I'm encouraged
to share mine today um to know that
there is hope um despite the
tragedy see my mother she was loved she
was cherished hardworking athletic and
was striving for a better life trying to
become a nurse to provide for her family
she had a big heart her name was Melissa
Amy
fenex not only did she have a big heart
she was so generous and kind she would
give you the shirt off her back now my
mother was in a relationship early on in
her life and unfor
fortunately uh she was so generous she
gave her heart away to a man that would
abuse use it that was my
father as time went on she began to see
the abusive patterns of this man and how
he was a threat not only to
herself but to her family my father was
an enraged individual unable to process
emotion addicted to drugs unable to
accept rejection or the word no the last
type of person you want your daughter to
be with now my mother tried to see the
good in people often times when we are
in and love and give our hearts away we
make promises that would uh love them
unconditionally through their
shortcomings through thick and thin we
hope that they would change however
unfortunately my father did not change
um July 27th
1992 my mother was horrifically taken um
in the presence of her nieces her
nephews and all the children all her
children while protecting an infant in
her
arms my mother though she lost her life
she was
courageous this story is heavy and it
has baggage however I'm here to share
this story to not only share the damage
that it can cause or the hardship on an
individual a family or Community but to
ultimately
point to ultimately be a point of
reference to individuals or families in
the area who are and have suffered by
these traumatic crimes I'm sharing
because there is hope despite the
circumstance
ances I would be lying to tell you that
it was easy picking up the pieces it
took courage to finish school it took
courage for my sister to go to college
it took courage for my grandmother to
raise her deceased daughter's children
while working through that loss I would
also be lying to tell you that I'm
completely free from what I witnessed I
would be lying to tell you that all I
need was coping grieving closure therapy
although all those things are necessary
I needed something deeper I was broken
at the soul I remember when I was broken
at my lowest moment high on drugs I
cried out to the Lord and he heard my
cry the next day I was invited to play
basketball at to church over in
Belleview where I would hear the gospel
the truth of the relationship with Jesus
Christ and a promise for my life
Jeremiah 29:11 says for I know the plans
I have for you says the Lord plans to
prosper you and not to harm plans to
give you hope in a future although my
doubts and disbelief I chose that day to
trust and seek Him turning away from my
toxic behaviors praying although I
believe help me with my
unbelief ever since then he's been
healing my heart mending my mind washing
away the grief he has Set Me Free from
seeking revenge and has given me a heart
of forgiveness he has brought closure he
has replaced fear with peace and has
provided abundantly for my my life and
family he has blessed me with a
beautiful wife that I don't deserve and
a healthy baby girl
that likes to sing a lot now that the
Lord has brought me Leaps and Bounds
from where I have been I am now thriving
in a position to lead youth of concy as
a site director at the City Life Center
over in Belleview Off Broadway teaching
them about the importance of educational
success financial literacy health and
wellness coping skills spiritual and
moral direction for their future while
giving them new opportunities in and out
of state giving hope for the Next
Generation thank you for your your
[Applause]
time hi my name is Claudia Fenix I'm
Melissa's
mother Melissa Amy fenex was my daughter
she was ripped savagely from our lives
as Arthur said on July 27th
1992 the children her children and my
other
grandchildren were forced into
witnessing this
assault on their innocent little
eyes and to hear her my daughter's
screams
calling for her
mother I want to thank you so much for
this opportunity I don't want Melissa or
any victim of domestic violence to be
forgotten because it's like they're
murdered and they're just tossed away
like
garbage but with things like this as a
remembrance it just warms all of our
hearts and we thank all of you
sincerely Melissa was she wanted to be a
nurse just like
me
and when she was going to school her
abuser said he didn't want her to be a
nurse cuz she'd have to bathe
men there is
nothing provocative about bathing a sick
person it's all about making them well
making them whole Melissa had the heart
for
it at her funeral there were so many
people people I didn't know coming up to
me telling me what a wonderful daughter
I
had and I'm proud of Melissa's
children all three of them
are people to be proud of I used to tell
Arthur Arthur you're going to show your
father what it's like to be a man and oh
my has he done
that I just want to thank
everyone and to
keep if people would only raise their
daughters to be strong and not feel as
if they have to take any malchy like
that and for their sons to be
compassionate and and not be
bullies and we're seeing it as Arthur
had mentioned and shootings gun violence
families fighting each other it's just
horrific and I pray to God that we see
an end to this which I don't see
happening because you can enact that's
right you can enact laws but can't
change people's
hearts you
anything thank you so much thank you
thank
[Applause]
you
thank thank you all for coming and thank
you Arthur for sharing your story
we have P five public hearings this
evening and just to reminder that we
have extended the public comment period
for the public hearing to 4 minutes and
I also respectfully ask that everyone
keep their comments related to the uh
subject relevant to the public hearing
thank
you so public hearing number one is on
the 2025 proposed operating budget and
capital budget for the city of SCC toity
and I think there may um be some
clarification here I have no one signed
up to speak on the sheet is there anyone
who signed up perhaps on the incorrect
sheet is there anyone here who wishes to
speak on public hearing number one
regarding the 2025 proposed operating
budget okay have you all right let me
just see all right um all right Johan
matth Matthews your hand is
up okay give me a minute to just get
everyone else because I think some
people also signed anyone else who is
here to sign uh to speak
okay FAO
okay anyone
else Rachel
and past
Nicole is there anyone else here to sign
to wishes to speak on the public hearing
about the
budget
okay so the first person to speak is
Johan
Matthews you have four
minutes all right thank you good evening
everyone I'm Johan I'm a city resident
and I'm here speaking on behalf of the
Carver family Resource Center a group of
10 homegrown service providers already
providing services to hundreds maybe
thousands of Hamilton Hill residents for
over seven years the community has not
given up on an effort to reestablish a
community center in Hamilton Hill we've
evolved our approach previously Mar Clan
Craig another group of community
residents got over 600 uh signatures and
petitions to make sure this thing kept
going and they never gave up even even
though they face challenges they return
to building and they still support the
effort now I work with a group of 10
plus service providers all homegrown all
skincity based who want to continue this
so we've had the residents now we've had
service
providers and they realize they can't
access real estate in their own
Community to provide these essential
services to Residents who would frankly
rather be served by them people who care
about them who grew up in this community
so that's a big problem The Proposal
budget doesn't account for Carver while
there are unique pressures facing the
city I completely understand that I
don't believe that problem justifies
overlooking this one the city has made a
lot of economic investment into Hamilton
Hill with the Craig man connection over
the last couple years and so this is an
investment to the social infrastructure
not just sidewalks and parks and things
like that beautiful things but it won't
change anything unless we have a space
where our community can come together to
heal grow evolve they're going to
continue to be unattended children
shootings murders taking away the
potential of our next Generation so I
think that's what the opportunity to
support the Carver Family Resource
Center represents and so my question to
you is have you given up on this and
I've asked some of you in person but I
want to ask all of you together the
mayor council members have you given up
on the Carver Family Resource Center
because it's not accounted for in the
budget okay and if you have not given up
on this what would you do to communicate
your resolve to the children of Hamilton
Hill andjon communities who need these
Services again police won't do it not
even the schools only Community can hold
our families together so I ask you have
you given up and if not what can you do
to demonstrate your resolve with the
budget thank you thank
you uh Fabo Matt
lock good evening everyone it's been a
while since I've been here to see you
all it's good to see you I'm here um
supporting the Carver initiative as well
I stand as the president of the board of
directors for the Hamilton hill art
center and we have upon
occasion um in numerous
instances found ourself in similar
situations as this as we push forward to
make sure that the members of our
community are not left
behind quite frankly and it
is if I'm going to be at all truthful
very frustrating to stand here once
again
asking that uh Carver not be left behind
and um overlooked in the allocation of
resources in terms of the budget um in an area that
desperately needs the funds okay so I
know
that there has been a lot of support for
us here recently but I want to look at
historically
where we have been put in this whole
length of um the the Hamilton Hill
Community I should say that in the
entire history of from what I have um
actually been exposed to for
instance for the past 50 years the
Hamilton hill art center has served the
community and has done so on a Sho
string budget um that has actually recently been looked
at and provided with the resources that
we can move forward in pulling along the
other members of our community and
sometimes that has been a frustration to
others who have not looked at the monies
that we've received in the context of
how many years we have actually served
the community Carver once again is in
the same situation and here we are
before you I feel like begging for you
to acknowledge what it is that we need
in the community to serve our own people
and I'm asking you to do so we just
prayed here to open our hearts and so I
stand before you as not only someone who
serves the community
tirelessly okay without being paid but
as a priest myself before God who has to
open my heart on a regular basis to ask
you to open yours and make sure that
their's money allocated for Carver thank
you thank
you Rachel
Khan hello I'm Rachel Khan thank you for
letting me speak today I'm here both as
a representative of um the Carver Family
Resource Center and as uh the director
of the Hamilton hill art center one of
the the programs that will be offering
Services there um I think what we've
presented is very important because as
we make improvements in Hamilton Hill
it's important that the community
understands that these improvements are
for them and that they have some control
over what those look like um the plan
that we have proposed allows the
residents to take ownership over their
Community Center and I think that's an
important um distinguishment between the
other plans and I think one that we need
to consider thank you thank
you Pastor
Nicole John
Simone good evening again um president
Porta I just want to make clear I I
should have signed up twice I think for
this and I also had something else to
say at the end that does not relate to
that you can be on both okay I just
wanted to make sure I could come back up
um okay so I'm now putting on my pastor
Nikki hat right um because uh now having
been in this community for 6 years I do
have members of my church that remember
the Carver Center probably like in it's
Heyday right and they talk about the
good times that they had there and the things that they learned there and
um I'm reading a book right now it's
called how to kill a city by Peter M
MTZ um and in the book it talks about um
how most Urban or uh black and brown
communities in the United States had
this moment of
disinvestment where uh money came out of
the community um whether that was from
white flight industry being taken away
I've been trying to kind of put my
finger on like when that moment was in
connec people have like different
stories but a lot of people say it was
GE you know like people say you know
that was the moment that money kind of
left the community and people left right
and you can walk around the Hamilton
Hill um section of of the city and you
see blighted properties and things like
that you see the carveron are boarded up
and you know that something used to
happen here right so um I think the time
has come though for a reinvestment in
our neighborhood and I that's what you
know my church and the NAACP were trying
to do that's what the Hamilton hill art
center is doing um so you know when I
received um an email today saying that
uh funding might not be going to uh any
funding going to the Carver Center um I
was concerned because what I'm
realizing with the work that I'm trying
to do um and that my my church and NAACP
has been doing in his community for
decades is that if we have the
partnership of the city we can go to the
county we can go to the state we can go
to other people and say the city is
supporting us and their partner in with
us but when you pull out then others
pull out I hope you understand what I'm
saying so it's like we it's like we
need the council the mayor we need
everybody to partner with us and to come
and stand in solidarity with us for that
reinvestment to happen in our
communities um so I think that you know
the time has come you know for a
reinvestment in the Hamilton Hill
section of town um
and I can see the work that has been
done um somebody showed me not too long
ago old pictures of
downtown I never I wasn't here and
connected him when downtown was looking
like that but you can see evidence of
the reinvestment in that section of town
so I think that the the residents and uh
that I serve as Pastor they want to see
that same reinvestment in their section
of town so I hope what I'm saying makes
sense um if you have time read the book
it's very good but I'm here in support
of the Carver Center to say let's come
together and figure out how to do
that thank
you I have no one else signed up to
speak on public hearing number one so I
declare this public hearing
closed public hearing number two is
regarding amending section 248 D2 of the
connected D city code increasing parking
violations fines is there anyone here
for this public
hearing if not I declare public hearing
number two
closed public hearing number three
regarding amending section
92-70 city code increasing fees and
charges for the Police Department
Records is there anyone here to speak to
this public on this public hearing if
not I declare the public hearing number
three
closed Public public hearing number four
regarding amending sections 1
34-13 and
24-22 of the connected city code
increasing administrative fees regarding
false alarm calls is there anyone here
who wishes to speak to this public
hearing if not I declare public hearing
number four
closed public hearing number five
regarding amending city code
144-146 increasing dog license fees
sorry about
that is there anyone here to speak to
public hearing number
five if not I declare public number five
public hearing number five
closed thank you if the clerk could
please uh excuse me would could we
please have approval of the minutes from
September 23rd
2024 I need a motion move by Mr Farley
second by Miss Patrick all those in
favor
I if the clerk could please read any
Communications and
[Music]
petitions Communications presented to
the city council for Tuesday October 15
2024 under official there is none under
General an emailed letter from David
Doro dated September 23 2024 regarding
the renaming of Barrett Street Barrett
Village Lane to Luigi Lane and Alternate
suggestion for Marlene
Hillway next is an email from Ida
Drexler dated September 26 2024
regarding properties on Summit Avenue
and not having the opportunity to
purchase adjacent
properties next is an email from
Margaret Novak D dated October 8th 2024
on behalf of the goose Hill neighborhood
association requesting arpa funds that
were allocated for Steinman Park be
allocated to be used at the kery street
park and last for General there is an
email from Ray fought president of the
Belleview preservation incorporation
dated October 12th 2024 regarding arpa
funds being
reallocated under petitions there are
none thank you call on council members
to provide any committee
reports this time we'll have privilege
of the floor related to the legislative
agenda I have one person signed up to
speak Tom Kennedy
good evening Mr Mayor city council I
apologize for my voice I don't have one
anymore before we even started the 2025
budget process uh this budget was a
failure not only because it has tax
increased because this Council failed in
their fiduciary responsibility to the
city of connec before this budget
proposal was even penned this Council
squandered much of the $52 million in
American
Rescue uh plan act funds let me repeat
that much of $ 52
million of American Rescue plan funds that could have went for projects
that would have lessened our tax
liabilities but no uh Porterfield and
progressives in many cases diverted f to
their friends and
supporters but the failure of this
Council had no bounds even when deficit
warnings were being forecasted for the
2025
budget you voted for raises for
yourselves you voted raises for
yourselves in a budget that you failed
to approve by its
deadline but even
then handing out raises went on and on
in City Hall to even the most highly
paid
employees again with a budget coming
budget being forecasted with deficits
now we are hearing the city council is
considering even more raises when our
federal citizens will be seeing a tax
height the failures of this budget have
yet to be realized but we already know
that American Rescue plan act funds are
being proposed to cut financial
shortfalls and this budget proposal and
fund reserves are being drained which
will return next year as bu budget
deficits and future property tax
increases which have
been reported as high as $7 to9 million
for next
year this Council are also playing their
part in raising taxes as they raise fees
for a wide array of mun will find some
of which we're talking about tonight and
more to come as we've been told which in
is itself is ironic as only a year
ago uh only just a year ago uh the same
Council was referring to garbage fees as
raising
taxes so no matter how you look at where
we find ourselves today failures have
been and will be the driving factors in
this year's budget
in Beyond as we Face further tax
increases just want to just mention
thing off wasn't prepared I know I
listened to some of my
fellow
um talk about Carver Community Center uh
I remember Carver Community Center when
I was growing up I was a
kid just real quick that is your time
that's much my time yes
sir so we're going to have to come back
and talk about the Carver Community
Center if you'd like if I like if you'd
like well I'll just put it in in a
personal release have a good day thank
you sir I'm going to have start of
timing these
myself I have no one else signed up to
speak so I declare the public comment on
the legislative agenda
closed this time I ask for approval of
the legislative con consent
agenda moving by Mr mutar second by Mr
Williams all in favor I
uh now we'll have privilege of the floor
regarding General City business I
have one person two people signed up to
speak uh the first person is Tom
Kennedy I'm
back all right I didn't know get back
this quick but I guess we for go the
press conference on the press release uh
so again I I I heard my fellow sadian
talking about the importance of the oh
sorry the SK Community Carver Community
Center you
know it wasn't too long ago or I think
it was last couple weeks I think Miss
ffield said something about that that
they didn't have one they didn't have a community center in that area of the
Town um with the loss of the community
center which is true but as I looked at
this town been here for a few years and
there's no Community Center in bellw
there's none one in woodon there isn't
one in Goose Hill in fact there isn't
anyone anywhere else in the city so I
would say that I would ask the mayor in
the city council is to look at how best
are we going to serve all the youth
because we are having
shootings in all kinds of issues all
over our city with youth
vandalism all types of things so we've
got to find a way in which we can engage
all our children all our youth not just
one part of a town not one part of a
community but all Community because I'm
just as interested I can come from
woodlon about the woodlon kids and
there's people here with bellw kids and
every other where in the city so I think
at this point now we don't have a
community center anywhere in the city so
I think it's time time that we start
looking at how we're going to address
the Youth of our future thank you very
much thank
you Pastor Nicole John
Simone good evening again um I would
like to excuse me invite you Council
mayor everyone we will be having a
Harvest Festival on um o October 31st
from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at um at our
church but what's really exciting is
it's going to be the grand opening of
Heritage Corner which is a pocket park
that we're opening um so one of the
goals for the uh church for our
nonprofit is to use every property that
we own to serve the city so uh if you
know a little history about D dor
Memorial was started by Isaac
Dorie 187 years ago he was a Dutch of
Dutch ancestry a student at um Union
College and a member of the Reformed
Church uh down in Stockade and he used
his ability to buy property at that time
um to make sure that black residents had
a space to worship and have church right
so
he uh got the he never served as the
Pastor he just knew that he had the
ability and the black residents did it
to get the property and so he did and so
now um dur ye we have um we have the
church building we have this plot of
land uh on huet WE a down uh further
down huet we have a um community garden
that sium or I mean um s more uh
collaborative um is is U managing um
they've been using that but we own that
property so we want to use every bit of
our property to serve the community and
so now we're going to have this park and
so I want to invite you to the grand
opening of it um it's going to be uh
probably around 4:30 5 o' I'll send you
an email the exact time we're going to
do the grand opening but it's going to
be a lot of fun we're doing a trunk
Retreat for the kids we got a 150 Happy
Meals coming so we want to feed
everybody um and we've been doing a lot
of work you know turn this land into a park so please come out on the
31st the 31st yes okay thank you thank
you okay I have no one else signed up to
speak uh the public comment of City
business so I declare this public
comment
closed any miscellaneous business of the
council Mr Mr Farley
I can hear
[Music]
you well thank you thank you madam
president I want to my thank you to
everyone that came out to share today I
think it's very important that we do
acknowledge that we are going to CH time
of our city our city is morning um L
very pris
and these type of tragedies happens this
is something that will be
Community I do want to say that I have
very throughout my work there I was able
to some our young people outside of the
institutional supports and supports part
agencies amazing job I just want to back
I saw our young people organically
really caring for each other and
uplifting each other that that's a story
that's not often
told this is such a tragic incident but
I just really want to make sure that we
amplify that and people recognize that
we have um some brilliant um loving
compassionate um young people through
our community and now is the time for us
to WRA around them support them and look
for ways to get involved other than just
conversations with people
um local churches
nonets obviously school look way to get
involved um and recogniz people
encourage them to move for
after and
[Music]
bless do yours again no
thank you well I also want to add my
condolences to um the entire family of
this connected D City School District um
in light of the tragedies that um
occurred this week so um I uh join with
Mr Farley in that and um hope that you
know together as a community we can uh
continue to help our youth and help um
you know understand that uh the use of
violence
um is is just uh going to hurt us all
um with that I also want to I have to
switch gears for a second and uh note that on Wednesday from uh 12: to 5:
this Wednesday over at Key hall our SKC
fire department and our SKC Police
Department are joining together in what
they're calling the battle of the badges
um in order to uh try to help the
American Red Cross bring in uh increase
its blood supply so I encourage folks to
get over there on Wednesday and give
blood um and finally um I I do want to
say something about the email that we
all received um from uh Mr fought the
president of the Belleview uh
neighborhood association um he
definitely had some misinformation that
I believe was provided to him by someone
else um indicate he thought that um um
at least Miss Porterfield and s had uh
said that we wanted to take resources
away from Hillcrest Park um in bellw and
uh we wanted to definitely both of us
reached back out to him to indicate that was uh not true not not information
that uh he he somehow had had been given
um incorrect information so I did want
to clarify that publicly since his uh
email to all of us was also public um
that's it thank you Madame President uh I just
want to update with regards to our
budget um we just concluded our um
budget hearing a very successful um
budget hearing and I want to commend um
all the department heads the mayor and
my colleagues for a very productive um
budget hearing we are now in the next
couple days to with the council and the
mayor and his department head to
negotiate a budget but um I can say
proudly say that um from last year to
this year things have changed and we
have seen the respect that in the
negotiation in the discussion the
hearing that my colleagues the mayor and
his department head have shown over the
last couple of days and I encourage
everyone for us to continue our dialogue
continue our um discussion as we move
the next couple days and we're hoping
fingers crossed that we're going to have
a budget in a near
um in the next couple days um just this
evening we voted um on a resolution to
accept um $ 636,000 to help with the
lead service line replacement survey and
I just want to remind homea as I have
told my colleagues today um downstairs
in room 110 that we all have to chip in
to help to make sure that our resident
complete this survey and to return it
back so that we can have an accurate
count of the lead um pipe I encourage um
homeowners if you're looking please you
should receive something like this
please it's very important that you
complete the survey and return it there
are information on this survey that you
can reach out to if you need information
or I'm going to put it reach out to your
city council member reach out to me
reach out to the mayor's office if you
have questions or concern please do not
hesitate it's a very short survey and I
ask that you complete it return it so
our water department and the relevant
Authority has the information so that we
can able to work towards changing these
lead pipe in the city of skincity so
once again there's a number on here 3
382
5023 you have the city council member
number you have the mayor's number
please reach out to us for any
information whatsoever you need and we
can assist you to get this information
this survey back to where it belongs to
and we can move forward with this survey
and to address the lead pipe concerning
this C has connect thank
you Mr
Toro thank you um I was just going to
say one thing but again speaking with Mr
Farley and actually what Mr Kennedy said
I mean we suffer as a community um when when tragic events like this happen
and what are we going to do for our
youth throughout the whole city uh
hopefully we'll be able to figure
something out I'd just like to remind
everyone that this Thursday night at
5:30 at the YW on Washington Avenue is
take back the night um there's always
some speakers um regarding domestic
violence it's a good turnout and then
there's a a beautiful walk and some
fundraising for uh victims of domestic
violence and survivors thank
you again the discussion for Carver
Community Center has uh shifted somewhat
uh joining the city school district
where some of their needs for space May
complement the reutilization of that
building so I'm uh fairly comfortable
with the uh discussions that are going
on that are going to result in a project
that would be better and more
sustainable for the community as a
whole uh again on the evening of October
12th there was a sweet 16 party on
Congress Street in city of skty
council members have alluded to that
resulted in the uh death of uh Dunbar
nolles a young man was shot and again
lost his life also a 13-year-old girl
was
wounded uh these are just tragic events
my uh thoughts prayers and sympathy go
out to the family and friends this is an
active investigation City Police
Department uh State Police there other
resources that being brought in and I
anticipate that that will conclude in
those individuals being held accountable
for their actions that resulted in that
death and uh uh injuries to the girl so
not only on that case but other cases
that are
there people in the community if you
have information have the opportunity to
stand up and draw a line because you
want to do what's right do that reach
out to the police Department there a
tips line where the information will be
followed up on and
again when people do what's right it
creates real value in the community it
displaces those individuals who choose
to make poor decisions the negative
influence and that it allows us to
continue the investment and the
transition that's happening in this
community with a real
Renaissance thank you madam president
thank you may and thank you all members
and I'd like to thank everyone that came
out tonight to speak about um the
various topics that that are your of
concern to you regarding the city and
also first of all I would like to also
offer my condolences to the family of
duar noes who's often who is known also
as Tyreek in the community and I just
ask that everyone really lift this
family up because this mother has lost
two children to violence and so you know
it's got to be a difficult I can't even
imagine what it's like so I just want to
offer my condolence to that family and
also any help that um that I could be to
the family I know the grandmother really
well so it's it's an unfortunate thing
and as has been said we really have to
see how we can help our children and
support them in any way possible because
this is a difficult time but also that
we're not just doing things after things
happen but how can we help to support
our children so things can be prevented
from
happening I'd like to uh thank everyone
that came out uh this past weekend for
the uh tennis pickleball tournament to
fundraiser actually to support the
police and the fire um excuse me the
connected firefighters Cancer Foundation
uh everybody had a great time and uh the
weather was
perfect so couldn't ask for more so
thank you all and if you still want to
donate to that effort it's
neveralone.org
and the money goes directly to this
connec firefighters um Cancer Foundation
there's been conversation to today about
the arpa allocation I want to make a
couple of points of clarification first
and foremost if people want to see where
the allocations went they can see as
opposed to a speaker saying tonight that
I he called my name that I and my
friends got it I don't have that many
friends that for how this moneu was
allocated so let's really take a look
what really happened here and not just
speak about things that we thought
happened somebody told us without doing
the investigation so I invite people to
take a look at how we did AR arer
allocations it was an open process
documents were provided so you know
people have a chance to take a look at
that and as Miss Patrick has said there
was an email uh saying that we had had a
conversation about reallocating
something at a at one of the meetings
that was misinformation uh the person
who sent the email I don't believe
actually personally watched the meeting
but was given information by someone
else so I invite everyone if you have a
question regarding what's going on with
the council you can contact the council
members all of our information is on the
city website you can call us you can
send us an email the same way you send
an email to say you did this you can
send an email said what happened so we
just want you know we want there to be
Clarity between the council the mayor
and our residents so that everyone
understands that we what every effort
that we're doing here is for the best of
all residents of the city of SKC because
we are all residents of the city of SKC
not just other people but the council
members were residents as well so
everything we do we want to do with
residents and fine so I have nothing
else and with that I'll ask for a motion
to adjourn move by Miss Patrick second
by Mr manini all those in favor I have a
good night thank
you yeah so I don't know if the court
mic really works for me but
anymore