[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