[0:00] [Music]

[1:56] [Applause]

[1:56] [Music]

[2:33] I'd like to call to order the city

[2:35] Caucus meeting for Tuesday o for Monday

[2:38] October 28th

[2:41] 2024 we have three public hearings this

[2:43] evening if the clerk could please read

[2:46] public hearing number one regarding

[2:48] establishing a temporary moratorium

[2:50] until February 11 2025 on the submission

[2:53] and processing of building permits

[2:55] certificate of occupancy certificate of

[2:57] use and land use approvals of cannabis

[2:59] establish ments within the city of

[3:01] SKC public hearing number

[3:03] two public hearing number two regarding

[3:06] creating a new section 24811 n of the

[3:09] SKC city code and amending section

[3:12] 22819 of the SKC city code vehicle and

[3:15] traffic matter matters and streets and

[3:18] sidewalks public hearing number

[3:21] three public hearing number three

[3:23] amending section 138-can

[3:30] 138 43b of article 8

[3:34] 13884 h of Article 15 15

[3:38] 1519a of article

[3:41] 21-9 e of Article 2

[3:45] 1674 D of Article 2 18310 of Article 2

[3:50] 210- 14a of article 3 of the connected

[3:53] city

[3:54] code thank you we have 16 items for

[3:57] consider for original consideration the

[3:59] clerk could please read item number one for final consideration

[4:03] an or ordinance pursuant to section 36

[4:06] of the second class City's law and

[4:07] article six of the charter of the city

[4:09] of skincity approving and adopting the

[4:12] proposed operating budget for 2025 and

[4:14] authorizing the Appropriations therein

[4:19] enumerated Miss tuturo roll call please

[4:22] roll call by Miss

[4:24] tutoro item number two item number two

[4:27] for final consideration on ordinance to amend section

[4:31] 2482 article one of the SK city city

[4:34] code vehicle and traffic General

[4:36] Provisions discusting committee with

[4:38] objection on consent item number three for final

[4:41] consideration and ordinance to amend

[4:43] section 927 of the charter of chap of

[4:46] chapter 92 of disconnected city code

[4:49] discussed in committee with objection on

[4:51] consent item number four item number

[4:53] four final consideration and ordinance

[4:55] amending city code

[4:59] chapter 144 of disconnected city code

[5:03] discussed in committtee with objection

[5:04] on consent item number five item number

[5:07] five for original consideration a

[5:08] resolution calling for a purple for a

[5:11] public hearing to amend section chapter

[5:14] 161 of the connected city code to

[5:15] include specific fees for the collection

[5:17] of solid waste items and the

[5:19] requirements for collection discuss in

[5:22] committee with objection on consent item

[5:24] number six item number six for original

[5:26] consideration a resolution calling for a

[5:27] public hearing for a Resto New York

[5:30] Grant application for the former St

[5:32] cla's hospital at 600 mclen streets

[5:34] connected in New York discuss in

[5:37] committee with objection on consent item

[5:39] number seven item number seven for

[5:40] original consideration a resolution

[5:42] authorizing the mayor to accept $5,000

[5:45] in Justice action Grant award monies for

[5:48] the SKC Police Department discuss in

[5:50] committee without objection on consent

[5:52] item number eight item number eight for

[5:54] original consideration a resolution

[5:55] authorizes the mayor of the city of skty

[5:57] to conduct research analysis on wages

[6:00] for City management employees discuss

[6:02] the committee without objection on

[6:04] consent item number nine item number

[6:06] nine for original consideration a

[6:07] resolution authorizing the sale of 28

[6:09] Sten Street for

[6:11] $3,000 discussed in committee with

[6:13] objection on consent item number 10 item

[6:15] number 10 for original consideration a

[6:17] resolution authorizing the sale of 609

[6:19] Bluff Avenue for

[6:21] $118,000 discuss in committee without

[6:23] objection on consent item number 11 item

[6:25] number 11 for original consideration a

[6:27] resolution authorizing the sale of 8 to

[6:29] Pennsylvania Avenue for

[6:31] $20,000 discussed in committee with

[6:33] objection on consent item number 12 item

[6:36] number 12 for original consideration a

[6:38] resolution authorizing the sale of 2406

[6:40] Campbell Avenue for $102,500

[6:43] discussed in committee with objection on

[6:46] consent item number 13 item number 13

[6:48] for original consideration a resolution

[6:50] authorizing the settlement of a claim by

[6:52] Progressive as sub agree of Renee sjak

[6:56] discussed in committee with objection on

[6:58] consent item number 14 item number 14

[7:00] for original consideration a resolution

[7:02] authoriz authorizing settlement of a

[7:04] claim by Foremost Insurance Group as sub

[7:07] agree of Pauline philipson discuss in

[7:10] committee with objection on consent item

[7:12] number 15 item number 15 for original

[7:14] consideration a resolution recognizing

[7:16] the M musicians of Malick this item will

[7:19] be taken out of order and presented by

[7:20] council member Patrick item number 16 under contract and Supply

[7:24] a resolution awarding the bid and

[7:26] contract for the purchase of personal

[7:28] protective equipment to turn up gear

[7:30] discuss in committee with objection on

[7:32] consent and I just want to remind

[7:34] everyone there is another uh ceremonial

[7:36] resolution that we pass the last cycle

[7:38] would be presented tonight to Mr James

[7:40] Thomas if there's nothing more to come

[7:42] before the city caucus I ask for a

[7:43] motion to

[7:45] adjourn moved by Mr Miss Patrick second

[7:48] by Mr mudaron all those in favor I we're

[7:51] adjourned thank you I'd like to call the

[7:54] city council meeting to order for Monday

[7:56] October 28th 2024

[7:59] and tonight we do not have anyone here

[8:01] for the prayer invocation so I just ask

[8:03] any anyone to stand and just have a

[8:05] moment of silence and commune with the

[8:08] god of your

[8:23] understanding thank you very much I'd

[8:25] like to ask uh Chief Marino to lead us

[8:28] in the Pledge of Allegiance

[8:38] I to the FL of the United States of

[8:42] America and to the for it stands Nation

[8:48] God indivisible withy andice for all

[8:53] thank

[8:56] you if the clerk could please complete

[8:58] the Roll Call

[9:03] Mr

[9:04] Toro Mr Farley Mr Mancini here Mr mcaren

[9:10] pres M Patrick here Mr Williams Miss

[9:14] Porterfield here uh this time we'll do

[9:16] our out of res out of order out of order

[9:19] resolutions I ask Mr M dear to please

[9:22] take the

[9:22] d thank

[9:25] you thank you

[9:45] I'd ask Mr Thomas to please join me

[9:47] behind the

[9:50] rail right over here where I

[9:53] am should have we my heels tonight may I

[9:56] have the floor yes thank you tonight

[10:00] it's um uh there's a resolution

[10:02] recognizing James D Thomas Jr whereas

[10:05] James D Thomas Jr was born and raised in

[10:07] connectic New York and graduated from

[10:09] hardgrave military academy in t tatham

[10:12] Virginia and whereas James was an

[10:15] extremely Valuable Player as a junior on

[10:17] the 1998 SKC high school championship

[10:20] basketball that finished with a record

[10:22] of 21 to to one James averaged 14 points

[10:26] and 12 rebounds securing a place on the

[10:28] all all area first team and the 1998 NYS

[10:33] psaa all tournament team and whereas

[10:37] James forged a stellar collegate

[10:39] basketball career as a four-year starter

[10:41] at the University of Texas where he was

[10:43] selected as one of the 15 best Longhorns

[10:46] of all time becoming only the second

[10:49] player in the history of school to of

[10:51] the school to record 1,000 career points

[10:54] and 1,000 career

[10:56] rebounds and whereas as a junior James

[10:58] Led Tech to number three ranking in the

[11:01] ESPN USA Today final coaches poll and

[11:05] was the 10th leading rebounder in the

[11:06] nation leading Texas to its first final four appearance in 56 years as the

[11:12] team finished the season with an overall

[11:14] record 26

[11:16] to7 and whereas following his college

[11:18] career James became the

[11:21] 2004-2005 National Basketball

[11:23] development league rookie of the year

[11:25] one year later the 20052 2006 NE n C CBA

[11:30] newcomer of the year and whereas James

[11:33] played in 33 NBA games with the p uh

[11:36] Portland Trailblazers Atlanta Hawks

[11:39] Philadelphia 76ers and the Chicago Bulls

[11:42] in addition to having a successful

[11:43] career playing professionally overseas

[11:45] in Italy Israel and Turkey and whereas

[11:48] Upon returning to his hometown of

[11:49] connected New York James coached girls

[11:51] basketballs is connected high school for

[11:53] two years and is currently the diversity

[11:55] Equity inclusion manager for SKC

[11:58] County now therefore be it resolved that

[12:00] the connected city council and Mayor

[12:02] Gary R McCarthy do pause in their

[12:04] deliberations to express our gratitude

[12:06] to James D Thomas Jr for being an

[12:08] excellent Ambassador for this city and

[12:10] to recognize and congratulate him on a

[12:12] successful basketball career and being

[12:15] inducted into the skin School District

[12:17] athletic Hall of Fame on Monday

[12:18] September 2 September 16th

[12:21] 2024 I'd like to move the resolution may

[12:24] I have a second all in favor I

[12:28] congratulations the motion is

[12:29] F you're

[12:35] welcome well I do I do want to say one

[12:38] more thing that um he didn't he doesn't

[12:40] want to say anything but I also want you

[12:41] to know that right now he's currently

[12:43] also working on his PhD so he's just

[12:45] continuing his education so we're taking

[12:48] up I'll be

[12:50] done oh you got it okay

[13:03] oh okay it's

[13:07] cook I just want to say thanks once

[13:09] again and and what are you saying about

[13:11] your PhD what you said you're almost

[13:13] there I'll be done next October okay

[13:16] it's going to be an education education

[13:19] any

[13:21] questions just want to say thank you

[13:22] once again all right thank you very much

[13:24] and thank you appreciate what you do

[13:26] protect on the football field the most

[13:28] anyone I

[13:46] thank you councilman mudaron our next uh

[13:49] out of order resolution is resolution

[13:51] recognized of the musicians of Malick

[13:53] and I'd like to call on council member

[13:55] Patrick to present this

[13:57] resolution thank you

[14:09] come right

[14:10] here thank you thank you

[14:14] hello oh okay hi Madame President may I

[14:18] have the you have the

[14:20] floor well I'm excited to have

[14:22] representatives from the musicians of

[14:23] Malick with us this evening and I'll be

[14:26] reading the resolution

[14:30] a resolution in recognition and

[14:32] appreciation of the musicians of Malick

[14:35] whereas the musicians of malwi a chamber

[14:37] music Ensemble with a mission to bring

[14:39] history to life was founded in 2000 by

[14:43] violinist anarie Bara Schwarz and

[14:46] whereas the ensemble's core musicians

[14:48] are anarie Barker Schwarz artistic

[14:51] director and violinist Norman liido

[14:54] flute Sten isacson guitar and Andre

[14:58] lauron O'Neal cello and whereas

[15:02] throughout their history musicians of

[15:03] malwi has enjoyed residencies at the

[15:06] Skylar man Mansion since 2000 and Sunni

[15:09] SKC since 2005 and whereas The Ensemble

[15:14] was originally founded to present music

[15:16] that might have been heard in early

[15:18] Albany but today they've expand expanded

[15:21] their Repertory to include contemporary

[15:23] works new commissions operas and

[15:26] multi-disciplinary performances and

[15:29] whereas the musicians of Malick performs

[15:32] Five concert programs per season and

[15:34] have brought hundreds of classical music

[15:37] events to life in unique venues provided

[15:40] opportunities for numerous upand

[15:42] cominging and masterful musicians and

[15:45] are an important piece of the capital

[15:48] region did I just and whereas The

[15:52] Ensemble frequently collaborates with

[15:54] local National and international artists

[15:57] and organizations from A diversity of

[15:59] backgrounds and Artistic Styles

[16:01] including Albany Pro mus glimmerglass

[16:04] Festival Sand Lake Center for the Arts

[16:06] Sunni skty and Union College among many

[16:09] others and whereas among their past

[16:12] performances in 2009 the musicians of

[16:15] Mack presented georgeon favorite op or

[16:19] Soldier to capacity audiences at Sunni

[16:22] connected in celebration of New York

[16:25] State's Quadra Cent centenary Quadris

[16:29] and tenery didn't say that right I think

[16:31] I did and whereas in 2018 they

[16:34] commissioned Nuna composer Max Kaplan to

[16:38] write an opera on a true episode from

[16:40] the women's suffrage movement which they

[16:43] performed at clink in Glenville and

[16:46] whereas in 2020 they published their

[16:48] first video project and have since

[16:51] produced 16 short films combining

[16:54] musical performance with narrative

[16:56] storytelling most recently the 23 short

[16:59] film The Hollow based on Washington

[17:01] Irving's tale of the headless horsemen

[17:04] very timely for Halloween week star uh

[17:09] starring stranger things actor Gabriela

[17:11] pitolo has been featured in several film

[17:14] festivals a film adaptation of the

[17:16] Robert Burns poem tamos Shanter is

[17:19] currently in production slated for

[17:21] Premiere in

[17:22] 2026 and whereas there two CDs music in

[17:26] the Skylar Mansion 2017 and and Hyde

[17:29] Hall and the silver goddess 2021 were

[17:32] both recorded in situ at historic sites

[17:36] and whereas they've been nominated five

[17:38] times for a capital region music award

[17:41] and have been featured on wmht and wamc

[17:44] radio stations and whereas in October

[17:48] the musicians of Malick began performing

[17:50] its 25th anniversary season now

[17:54] therefore be it resolved that the Mayor

[17:56] Gary R McCarthy and city council do

[17:59] hereby pause in their deliberations to

[18:02] celebrate the 25th season of The

[18:04] Musicians of Mack recognize the diverse

[18:07] talents of its musicians and show

[18:09] appreciation for their contributions to

[18:11] the cultural arts in SKC New York and

[18:17] Beyond um I'd like to put that motion

[18:19] forward I need a second please second by

[18:23] Mr Farley all those in favor I I

[18:26] congratulations motion passes

[18:32] thank you so much would you like to say

[18:34] a few words

[18:36] sure first of all we're just deeply

[18:38] honored to have this Proclamation I

[18:40] can't really believe it I can't believe

[18:42] that we've been doing this for 25 years

[18:45] and it's such a rich Historical Area and

[18:47] it's really just a thrill to bring music

[18:50] and history combined to people and I'm

[18:53] working here with my old high school

[18:56] friend norm and I grew up together and

[18:58] came back to the area and it's just it's

[19:01] wonderful to make music with friends and

[19:03] people who are from this area and who

[19:05] share our passion for the

[19:10] [Laughter]

[19:12] area unexpect I never expected to uh

[19:16] come before the city

[19:18] council uh and uh I'm just very grateful

[19:22] it's a it's like a you know a holiday

[19:25] surprise thank you very much

[19:29] I'll just add you know reiterate what

[19:30] Amry said that it feels so special to be

[19:32] recognized by our home Community you

[19:34] know this this means more than any other

[19:37] probably thing we've had been recognized

[19:39] for so you know we're proud proudly you

[19:41] know from SKC and and love it here and

[19:43] love to play here I'm not a musician

[19:46] myself but they love to play here and I

[19:48] love to be part of it as well

[19:51] so we we do marinate ourself in the

[19:55] artistic history of the area and it goes

[19:57] into almost every program in some shape

[20:00] or form so it's very very gratifying to

[20:03] have that

[20:04] recognized we can't thank you enough oh

[20:07] no I I mean you add so much to what

[20:10] already you know we have such a vibrant

[20:11] music scene in skincity and you guys are

[20:14] just such a big part of it so thank you

[20:16] for everything that you bring to our

[20:17] residents love great thank you thank

[20:20] Youk you very

[20:22] [Applause]

[20:35] open the floor

[21:11] okay right we have three public hearings

[21:13] this evening uh just a reminder that the

[21:16] public hearing time for the public

[21:18] hearing is four

[21:20] minutes so public hearing number one

[21:22] establishing a temporary moratorium

[21:24] until February 11th 2025 on the

[21:27] submission and processing of building

[21:29] permits certificates of use and land use

[21:32] approvals of cannabis establishments

[21:33] within the city of skincity I have no

[21:36] one signed up to speak on this public

[21:38] hearing so I declare public hearing

[21:39] number one

[21:41] closed public hearing number two

[21:44] regarding creating a new section 28-11 n

[21:48] of the connected city code and amending

[21:50] section

[21:52] 28-9 of the connected city code vehicle

[21:55] and traffic matters and streets and

[21:57] sidewalks I I have no one signed up to

[21:59] speak to this public hearing so I

[22:01] declare public hearing number two

[22:03] closed public hearing number three

[22:06] regarding amending sections

[22:08] 138-a C of Article 1

[22:14] 138-139 D 43b of article

[22:25] 838-8471 d9e of article Article 2 16714

[22:31] D of Article 2

[22:34] 18310 d10 of Article 2 and 12410

[22:39] d4a of article 3 of the SKC city

[22:42] code I have no one signed up to speak to

[22:45] this public hearing so I declare public

[22:46] hearing number three

[22:49] closed I would ask round for the

[22:51] approval of the minutes of October 15

[22:55] 2024 moved by Mr Williams second by Miss

[22:57] Patrick all those favor

[23:00] I if the clerk could please read any

[23:02] Communications and

[23:09] petitions Communications presented to

[23:11] the city council for Monday October 28

[23:14] 2024 under official from the mayor a

[23:16] list of appointments dated October 28th

[23:18] 2024 under General an email from

[23:21] rosemary Stewart regarding trash being

[23:23] dumped in the east alley behind KN

[23:25] Street and Woodward Avenue and under

[23:27] petitions that there were none thank you

[23:31] I call on council members for any

[23:32] committee

[23:35] reports this time we would have

[23:37] privilege of the floor regarding the

[23:38] legislative agenda I have no one signed

[23:42] up to speak so I declare public comment

[23:44] on the legislative agenda

[23:46] closed I'd ask for approval of the

[23:48] legislative consent agenda motion by Mr

[23:52] Williams second by Mr mudaron all those

[23:54] in favor I we do have one resolution for

[23:57] roll call this evening evening if the

[23:59] clerk could please read item number

[24:04] one item number one for final

[24:06] consideration an ordinance pursuant to

[24:08] section 36 of the second class cities

[24:10] law and article six of the charter of

[24:12] the city of skincity approving and

[24:14] adopting the proposed operating budget

[24:16] for 2025 and authorizing the

[24:19] Appropriations therein

[24:22] enumerated need a

[24:26] motion move by Miss Patrick second by Mr

[24:32] mudar any

[24:34] discussion on this item Mr

[24:42] Williams thank you so I was wanted to

[24:44] take a moment just comment on what the

[24:46] budget um proceedings kind of uh

[24:49] represented to me uh definitely in

[24:51] contrast to our discussions last year I

[24:54] wanted to start off by saying I

[24:55] appreciate everyone's uh thoughtful

[24:57] dialogue uh and I wanted to point out

[24:59] that one of the biggest takeaways for

[25:01] myself from the public safety uh

[25:03] committee is how each member around the

[25:06] table understood the importance of um

[25:09] fully accepting the proposed budget

[25:11] lines for both the police and fire

[25:13] department it was a very real um

[25:16] understanding not only from their

[25:18] presentations but also from the

[25:20] responsiveness in our community to make

[25:21] sure they had the resources that they

[25:23] need to move forward uh I know in

[25:25] response to discussions last year that

[25:27] was a point of contention

[25:29] but I think as a whole it's safe to say

[25:31] that we want to ensure that they are

[25:32] well supported um both in the equipment

[25:35] that they have and also in the funding

[25:36] that they request um as we uh

[25:40] transitioned into conversations

[25:41] regarding City staff and their proposed

[25:44] uh increases I would like to highlight

[25:46] that again if this becomes an ongoing

[25:48] topic of discussion we did not proceed

[25:51] in any manner that we are not allowed to

[25:53] um we continue these discussions with

[25:55] Corporation Council present and

[25:57] everything that we enact acted on was

[25:59] within our legislative ability now as we

[26:01] have the conversations of is it

[26:03] practical or is it pragmatic in response

[26:05] to the mayor and how he manages the city

[26:08] I think that'll always be a conversation

[26:11] uh of discussion but I also would like

[26:13] to highlight within today's agenda we

[26:16] passed um an item that is going to see a

[26:19] market evaluation for um many members

[26:21] within uh City Hall staff specifically

[26:24] management so I think um there's never a

[26:27] perfect budget

[26:28] um but very much this was one in which

[26:30] there were a number of consolations or

[26:33] compromises and I'm confident in the

[26:35] budget that we proposed to the city uh

[26:37] there are still some ongoing items

[26:38] regarding uh the responsiveness to

[26:41] ongoing increases to trash specifically

[26:44] and how we've received a number of

[26:46] emails regarding that and I'd like to

[26:48] highlight to anyone that's watching or

[26:50] has been um passively listening uh those

[26:53] discussions are still continuing so

[26:54] continue to to to share your thoughts

[26:57] and opinions on the matter um but in

[26:59] regards to the 2025 budget uh I I look

[27:02] forward to hearing um any other comments

[27:04] or proceeding any other comments or

[27:06] concerns from our council members and

[27:08] hopefully see this go into uh effect

[27:10] thank you thank you any other discussion

[27:13] Mr

[27:16] muan thank you Madame

[27:19] President um this evening we're voting

[27:22] on almost um

[27:24] $116.7 million in in the 202 5 budget

[27:29] and again I want to commend uh my

[27:32] colleagues for a um outstanding U budget

[27:35] hearing our department here the mayor

[27:37] his STA and all his staff who

[27:39] participate in in the budget hearing um

[27:42] we can always say and you know Echo the

[27:45] same thing from last year into this year

[27:47] we all should be proud of ourself that

[27:50] uh we have turned the page and we're

[27:52] decide to to move forward in a positive

[27:54] direction all of us and to work for the

[27:57] tax for the city of connected and we

[28:00] have delivered that in this budget

[28:02] presentation this year and our work for

[28:05] the last

[28:19] two thank you so yes um you know commend

[28:23] everyone for working so hard to to bring

[28:25] us here at this point in time with this

[28:26] budget here and it's not an easy budget

[28:29] I can recall this is my 11th budget and

[28:31] I recall if I'm not mistaken when I

[28:33] started here was about 50 or $60 million

[28:36] we were dealing with at that time and

[28:37] now it's almost almost $117 million so

[28:41] the city have grown tremendously over

[28:43] the last 11 years and we can just look

[28:47] at the budget and we can U testify to

[28:49] that I just want to highlight some of

[28:51] the changes that we did regardless of

[28:54] the the size of the budget this Council

[28:57] has only proposed was

[28:59] 78,3 24 in changes and that has to do

[29:04] with some adjustments that um we as a

[29:08] council feel that it was the right thing

[29:10] to do and to make these adjustment and

[29:13] some of these were correction that we

[29:15] need to address as we go into 2025 and

[29:18] not kick it down the road as you know

[29:20] into the next year so some of the want

[29:22] to highlight is that the adjustment that

[29:24] we made was from the deputy register

[29:26] salary to the city clerk salary and that

[29:30] was an that was a correction that was

[29:32] made it was not an increase on that part

[29:35] and then the senior center was not

[29:36] funded in the mayor's proposed budget

[29:39] and that is something all of us are so

[29:42] heartened to support all of us so we

[29:45] allocated $40,000 there and then one of

[29:48] the other Senior Center is funded by

[29:50] cdbg so we continue to support our

[29:52] senior center as we go forward into the

[29:55] years to come and that is something we

[29:57] intend to make permanently into the line

[29:59] into next year's um 2026 um budget then

[30:03] there was another correction from the

[30:04] Law Department of the great pay to deal

[30:07] with some judgment and claims and some

[30:08] work there in terms of the record access

[30:11] and then the public safety Foundation

[30:13] under the police um department they were

[30:16] asking only for five

[30:18] $5,000 that is something that we had

[30:20] talked over the years and and support by

[30:22] all council member to fund that um

[30:25] $25,000 to the police department and

[30:28] $225,000 to the fire department to help

[30:31] with our community outreach when we pass

[30:33] to the police reform we talk about

[30:35] Outreach and we are allocating These

[30:38] funds so that they can help to with the

[30:41] Outreach in our community and to bre app

[30:44] and to work with our Community Partners

[30:46] to share information and whatever needed

[30:49] and then also we also added um the

[30:52] anti-racism training of $115,000 that

[30:55] was not in the budget but it was added

[30:57] and then there were some small um

[31:00] adjustment to a few um dep um department

[31:04] head and some other staff nothing

[31:09] significant to talk about and then there

[31:11] were an adjustment um to the Comm Deputy

[31:13] Commission of finance and then to the

[31:16] mayor

[31:19] salary the I want to touch on the mayor

[31:22] salary because um they I've been

[31:24] receiving um some emails and things like

[31:25] that this is a correction that we're

[31:27] making

[31:28] since 2019 as per the city Charter we as

[31:32] a council have never addressed it

[31:35] properly as for the charter in terms of

[31:38] I'm giving the mayor raise and spell so

[31:39] clearly in in the charter here that once

[31:42] we are giving management raise the mayor

[31:45] is entitled to that raise that

[31:46] percentage what we did last week when we

[31:49] moved the budget is more of a correction

[31:51] from previous years that we didn't

[31:53] address or it wasn't bring to brought to

[31:56] our attention to address it so so what

[31:58] we're doing here is the correction as I

[31:59] mentioned so when you look at it at

[32:02] $118,000 it's going back to

[32:05] 2019 the correction has to happen from

[32:07] 2019 to

[32:09] 2025 so yes it's $188,000 but it it's a

[32:13] several years of correction that we're

[32:15] making there to address the

[32:17] shortfall and I just want to to kind of

[32:21] address in in the mayor's um proposed

[32:23] budget um in terms of the was increase

[32:26] it's $1 per week per unit for non-exam

[32:29] property and the exam property is $1.75

[32:33] per week per for the entire

[32:37] house and then the mayor's proposed

[32:39] budget call for a 3% tax increase these

[32:43] things yes we talk about increase and I

[32:45] a stick low when it comes to increase in

[32:47] property tax and fees but at some point

[32:50] we if we are to maintain the service

[32:52] that we're providing currently in the

[32:53] city we need to address the costs are

[32:56] going up and we can see that across the

[32:58] entire country the cost is going up how

[33:00] do we address that we at this point in

[33:02] time connec is growing so we we have a

[33:05] we have we have an obligation to

[33:08] maintain these Service as our city grow

[33:11] and this is the reason why these costes

[33:13] are going up and they're not going up

[33:15] significantly 3% property tax and a175

[33:19] or a dollar per week will help take us

[33:22] in the next year to address the

[33:25] shortfalls thank you thank you any other

[33:32] discussion okay if clerk could please

[33:34] call the

[33:36] role are we going to vote now uh yes

[33:40] we're going to vote unless you wanted to

[33:42] have some discussion then now we'll vote

[33:44] okay so I'll just I'll I'll make my

[33:45] comments brief um so uh I I want to Echo

[33:48] a lot of what I heard here tonight um

[33:50] with my colleagues I do appreciate um

[33:52] the process for our budget hearings um I

[33:56] think that one Testament around the

[33:59] effectiveness of a body is not always

[34:01] when they agree but how they disagree

[34:03] and what I want to say is that I know we

[34:04] had some very you know definitely had

[34:07] some varying difference of opinions um

[34:10] at the table but the process um itself I

[34:13] think really highlighted you know our

[34:15] ability to try to you know work closer

[34:17] together and keep uh the people's

[34:20] connecti the um best interest in mind um

[34:22] with that said I think for me you know

[34:25] as the budget is existing right now um

[34:28] there are just a few things that to me

[34:30] that I just couldn't get to a place of

[34:32] agreement with um some of my council

[34:34] members um especially in the fiscal

[34:37] position that we're in right now I think

[34:39] how we find ourselves to do uh pay

[34:42] increases has to be done um with more

[34:45] intentionality than what it was done

[34:47] throughout this process um I also feel

[34:50] that you know our youth service lines

[34:54] um you know being less than 1% of the

[34:57] total overall budget is another area

[34:59] that I just couldn't I just can't get

[35:01] them behind um right now I can't support

[35:03] for those reasons I do want to make

[35:05] clear not misrepresent what's happening

[35:08] um we as a city do fund um lots of other

[35:12] uh nonprofits and uh through our

[35:14] community block grant money and other

[35:16] Grant funds that we receive to make sure

[35:19] that you know we are um supporting youth

[35:21] in those ways but even with that uh

[35:23] consideration made I just think that I

[35:25] personally cannot support a budget where

[35:27] our Youth Services line um is less than

[35:30] 1% of the budget um that's why I brought

[35:33] forth to my council members to um we

[35:35] should at minimal double um that uh that

[35:38] budget line and we did have a lot of

[35:41] support in order to do it and some of

[35:43] the council members were saying that

[35:44] they support the increase in um uh youth

[35:47] support however just like to see it

[35:48] funded um through a different um uh

[35:52] different funding stream through some of

[35:53] the arpa money um being that I was

[35:55] unable to get that Comm commitment full

[35:58] commitment from the full Council

[36:00] guarantee that's why um that's one of

[36:02] the reasons probably the second reason

[36:03] why I just can't find myself to

[36:05] supported budget I think it just sends a

[36:07] wrong message right now um with uh how

[36:09] we got to the raises in the um in our

[36:12] youth services line being less than 1%

[36:14] of our overall budget thank you all

[36:16] right if the clerk would is there any

[36:18] further discussion any further

[36:20] discussion okay if the clerk could

[36:22] please call the

[36:24] role Mr Toro no Mr Farley no Mr Mancini

[36:31] yes Mr Mutan yes Miss

[36:37] Patrick yes I'm going to vote Yes um I

[36:40] think that I first want to thank the

[36:42] mayor and um our finance department and

[36:44] our department heads I thought that we

[36:47] were presented with a very fair

[36:48] reasonable budget um I think the

[36:50] presentations uh were very informative

[36:53] very educational to us as well um and I

[36:56] appreciated all the work that they put

[36:57] into the the budget um and I too just

[37:01] wanted to thank my colleagues um clearly

[37:04] we had um quite a different process this

[37:06] year in coming to making our decisions

[37:09] uh than we had last year um and I really

[37:13] felt great about the fact that I thought

[37:15] people um here around our table uh that

[37:19] we collaborated we communicated we

[37:22] treated each other with respect um and I

[37:25] wanted to thank you all for um for that

[37:28] I thought it was uh really a good

[37:30] discussion and a good way to be able to

[37:32] come up with uh the compromises that we

[37:34] did so um I vote

[37:37] Yes Mr Williams yes Miss Porterfield yes

[37:41] and I just want to um just make a well

[37:44] just clarify my vote I was first of all

[37:46] I'm excited that that we were able to

[37:49] move forward I want to thank Mr mudin

[37:50] for your leadership on this and I want

[37:52] to thank all of the those of you who um

[37:55] were able to compromise and get us to

[37:57] this place and yes it's decidedly

[37:59] different than last year and no budget

[38:01] process is perfect uh it took you know

[38:04] it takes time and effort it takes people

[38:05] trying to see things from other people's

[38:07] viewpoints as I always like to say how

[38:09] you see it depends on where you sit so

[38:12] uh overall it's like I said it's not a

[38:14] perfect budget but we do we're going you

[38:16] know we we're having a deficit that's

[38:18] just a Frank way of saying that and so I

[38:20] think that this Council the majority of

[38:22] this Council work together to put

[38:24] forward and pass a budget that will you

[38:27] know keep our city moving forward and um

[38:31] I know that no one wants a tax increase

[38:33] but sometimes especially with the cost

[38:35] of things going up that that is what

[38:36] happened so I just again want to thank

[38:38] the council thank Mr mugan for his

[38:40] leadership and thank all of you and

[38:42] moving forward the commitments that we

[38:43] made in terms of funding um especially

[38:46] I'm let me speak to the youth program I

[38:48] believe that everyone was on board with

[38:49] that and I just want to just know when

[38:51] to have the takeaway that we're not

[38:52] interested in our youth because we are

[38:54] we just have to figure out different

[38:55] ways to make those things happen so I

[38:58] would like vote Yes on this so the mo

[39:01] motion passes 5

[39:06] to2 right this time I have privilege of

[39:08] the floor regarding General City

[39:11] business I have no one signs up to speak

[39:14] so I declare the public comment of City

[39:16] business

[39:18] closed any miscellaneous business of the

[39:23] council Miss Patrick um just wanted to

[39:27] uh mention that today is National First

[39:30] Responders day I know uh Chief Marino is

[39:33] here from our wonderful SKC fire

[39:35] department I just wanted to publicly

[39:37] thank um both our SKC police department

[39:41] and our SKC fire department and you know

[39:43] celebrate you guys uh all today on First

[39:46] Responders

[39:49] day any other council members

[39:53] mayor thank you madam president I

[39:56] appreciate the council's deliberation in

[39:58] time on the budget uh it is First

[40:00] Responders day it's always much better

[40:03] to see the fire chief sitting here at a

[40:05] council meeting and having him out

[40:07] actually managing an active situation

[40:09] within the city uh also you know council

[40:13] president Porterfield did a presentation

[40:15] Mr Thomas uh you know great career there

[40:19] uh again one of those proud uh exciting

[40:23] stories and this connected I just got

[40:24] word that Matt Dy is just warn in is the

[40:29] president of the Northeast Regional

[40:32] PGA uh Association so again it uh part

[40:35] of our golf staff again bringing

[40:37] recognition and uh appropriate uh

[40:41] stature to this community thank you

[40:44] madam president thank you and just want

[40:47] to well the council uh council members

[40:49] we just had a presentation on this conet

[40:51] clean heat tour so just want to remind

[40:53] folks about it it sounds like very

[40:55] exciting and a way to improve um the

[40:57] comfort in our homes and reduce our

[40:59] energy costs so uh there's well there's

[41:01] one today between 700 and 9 if you're

[41:03] listening now you've missed most of it

[41:05] but there will be uh additional

[41:07] presentations on October 29th from 5: to

[41:10] 7: pm at the mount P Pleasant Library

[41:14] which is located at 1036 Crane Street

[41:17] and on October 30th operations and

[41:19] maintenance and Workforce opportunities

[41:21] and that will be uh on October 30th from

[41:24] 6:00 to 8:00 pm. and that will be at

[41:26] styman Park which is 2114 Linux Road in

[41:30] skincity and finally I just want to

[41:32] remind everyone it is

[41:35] um Halloween is this week so be safe out

[41:38] there and you know be careful there's a

[41:41] lot of there's a couple Trunk or Treats

[41:42] so whatever you're doing out there be

[41:44] careful and um I'm sorry there's one

[41:46] other thing I just want to offer my

[41:47] condolences to Mark Thompson who is uh

[41:50] comes here sometimes to pray but he lost

[41:53] his mom so just want to offer my

[41:55] condolences to him and he's also I'm

[41:57] think a member of one of our committees

[41:58] and a just a person who does a lot in

[41:59] our community so condolences to him his

[42:03] family and with that I would ask for a

[42:05] motion to

[42:07] adjourn second by Mr Williams all those

[42:09] in favor I thank you we're adjourned

Schenectady City Council Meeting, October 28, 2024

Transcript