[0:00] [Music]
[0:06] [Applause]
[0:06] [Music]
[0:15] Hey,
[0:22] [Music]
[0:25] hey, hey.
[0:29] [Music]
[0:36] I'd like to call to order the city
[0:38] caucus meeting for Monday, August 11th,
[0:40] 2025.
[0:42] We have one public hearing this evening.
[0:44] If the clerk could please read.
[0:46] >> Public hearing number one regarding the
[0:48] 2023 consolidated annual performance and
[0:51] evaluation report. Caper.
[0:53] >> Thank you. We have eight items for
[0:56] original consideration. If the deputy
[0:57] clerk could please read item number one.
[0:59] >> Item number one under original
[1:01] consideration, a resolution calling for
[1:02] a public hearing for the proposed 2025
[1:05] 2026 HUD annual action plan
[1:08] >> discussed in committee without objection
[1:10] on consent. Item number two. Item number
[1:12] two, under original consideration, a
[1:14] resolution authorizing the mayor to
[1:16] enter into an amended finance agreement
[1:18] with the United States Tennis
[1:20] Association Eastern Incorporated, USA
[1:23] for reh rehabilitation of city tennis
[1:25] facilities.
[1:27] >> Discussed in committee without objection
[1:28] on consent. Item number three. Item
[1:31] number three, under original
[1:32] consideration, a resolution authorizing
[1:34] the mayor to enter into a use agreement
[1:36] with the United States Tennis
[1:37] Association Eastern Incorporated USA for
[1:41] use of city tennis facilities.
[1:43] >> Discussed in committee without objection
[1:45] on consent. Item number four.
[1:50] » Item number four, under original
[1:51] consideration, a resolution authorizing
[1:53] the issuance of revocable permit number
[1:55] 689 to Solstice Kitchen LLC for a sign
[1:58] that will overhang the city's right of
[2:00] way at 515 State Street, Skenctity, New
[2:03] York.
[2:04] >> Item number five.
[2:05] under original
[2:07] consideration, a resolution authorizing
[2:09] the redemption and withdrawal of 246
[2:12] Chiswell Road from foreclosure.
[2:14] Discussed in committee without objection
[2:16] on consent for item number four and item
[2:18] number five discussed in committee
[2:20] without objection on consent. Item
[2:22] number six.
[2:23] >> Item number six under original
[2:24] consideration a resolution authorizing
[2:26] the redemption and withdrawal of 11236
[2:29] Avenue from foreclosure.
[2:31] >> Discussed in committee without objection
[2:33] on consent and item number seven.
[2:35] >> Item number seven under contract and
[2:37] supply a resolution awarding the bid and
[2:39] contract for the Central Park Tennis
[2:40] Court improvements to Gallow
[2:42] Construction Corporation. discussed and
[2:44] committed without objection on consent.
[2:46] We have actually have seven items for
[2:48] original consideration and the public
[2:49] hearing.
[2:51] So you're the numbers are incorrect on
[2:53] your paper. So if there's nothing more
[2:56] to come before the city caucus, I'd ask
[2:58] for a motion to adjurnn.
[3:00] Moved by Mr. Mood and second by Miss
[3:02] Patrick. All those in favor?
[3:04] >> I we are adjourned. I'd like to call the
[3:06] city council meeting to order for
[3:07] Monday, August 11, 2025.
[3:11] And uh we don't have anyone for prayer
[3:12] tonight, but I did um
[3:15] print out a prayer for us. So I'd like
[3:18] to offer that prayer.
[3:27] Heavenly Father, we lift us we come
[3:29] before you to lift up our government
[3:31] leaders to you. We ask that you give us
[3:33] wisdom to guide as we make decisions
[3:35] that affect our communities and
[3:37] sometimes our nation. God, we ask that
[3:39] you give us courage to stand what is
[3:41] right, even when it is difficult. Help
[3:43] us to lead with humility and a servant's
[3:46] heart, prioritizing the needs of all of
[3:48] our constituents, especially the most v
[3:51] vulnerable. God, we understand that
[3:53] sometimes we juggle with our own
[3:55] interests, the interests of many
[3:56] constituents, and sometimes the
[3:58] interests of organizations. It can be
[4:00] hard to find solutions that meets
[4:02] everyone's wants and needs. So we pray
[4:04] that we make that we as leaders
[4:07] represent all of our constituencies
[4:09] constituents well and courageously
[4:11] uphold what is right. May we be
[4:14] instruments of your peace and justice
[4:16] working for the common good. We pray all
[4:19] these things in Jesus name. Amen.
[4:21] >> Amen.
[4:22] >> I'd like to call on uh our deputy clerk
[4:24] to lead us in the pledge.
[4:26] >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[4:29] United States of America and to the
[4:31] republic for it stands. One nation under
[4:34] God, indivisible, with liberty and
[4:38] justice for all.
[4:47] » If the deputy clerk could please
[4:48] complete the roll call.
[4:52] » Mr. Toro,
[4:54] >> present.
[4:55] >> Mr. Farley is absent. Mr. Mancini
[4:58] >> here.
[4:59] >> Mr. Mutiver,
[5:00] >> present.
[5:01] >> Miss Patrick
[5:02] >> here.
[5:02] >> Mr. Williams
[5:03] >> present.
[5:04] >> Miss Porterfield
[5:05] >> here.
[5:07] >> We have one public hearing this evening.
[5:09] Just a reminder that we've extended the
[5:11] public hearing comment period to four
[5:12] minutes for this and ask that anyone
[5:14] that wishes to speak does so only on the
[5:17] public hearing topic.
[5:20] Okay. We have no one signed up to speak.
[5:23] So I declare public hearing number one
[5:25] regarding the 2023 consolidated annual
[5:28] performance and evaluation paper report
[5:31] closed.
[5:33] I'll ask for minutes approval of minutes
[5:35] of July 28th 2025
[5:38] moved by Mr. Mutaron second by Miss
[5:40] Patrick. All those in favor?
[5:43] >> If the clerk could please read any
[5:44] communications and petitions.
[5:48] Communications presented to the city
[5:49] council for Monday, August 11th, 2025.
[5:52] Under official, there are none. Under
[5:55] general, there are none. And under
[5:57] petitions, there are none.
[5:58] >> Thank you. I'd like to call on council
[6:00] members for any committee reports.
[6:06] Not this time. We have priv privilege of
[6:08] the floor related to the legislative
[6:11] agenda. I have one person signed up to
[6:13] speak.
[6:15] Just a reminder that this part of the
[6:16] agenda is three minutes and I'd like to
[6:18] call on Anthony Curada.
[6:21] [Music]
[6:29] Good evening, Mr. Mayor, City Council
[6:30] Madam President. Um, I know this is
[6:33] legislative session part of the council
[6:35] meeting. So, I'll just give my remarks
[6:37] here about the housing task force and
[6:40] then mark something else.
[6:42] >> That's not on the agenda tonight, sir.
[6:45] So that would have to be under city
[6:46] business on the when it comes to the
[6:48] legislative agenda, you have to speak to
[6:50] things that are actually on our agenda
[6:51] tonight.
[6:53] >> Okay.
[6:54] >> Um yeah, my remarks to the housing task
[6:56] force is just simply this.
[6:58] >> Excuse me. The housing task force is not
[7:00] on the agenda tonight. So your remarks
[7:03] would have to be under general city
[7:04] business.
[7:05] >> Okay. I'll do my other thing then. I'll
[7:07] save the remarks there for task force
[7:09] for some another day.
[7:11] >> Okay. Well, I was going to say here
[7:13] about the um
[7:15] yeah, it should deal with uh affordable
[7:18] housing within communities.
[7:22] >> So, anything's on that's on our written
[7:24] agenda is what you can speak to during
[7:26] this particular time. It has to be on
[7:28] the agenda and and where housing is not
[7:30] on the agenda this evening
[7:32] unless you're talking about
[7:34] >> Okay, I'll just wait till I speak for
[7:36] city uh business then.
[7:38] >> Okay. You want city business? Yeah.
[7:41] >> Okay.
[7:45] So, I have no one else signed up to
[7:47] speak. So, I declare the public comment
[7:48] on legislative agenda closed. I'll ask
[7:51] for approval of the legislative consent
[7:53] agenda. Moved by Miss Patrick, second by
[7:55] Mr. Mutiveran. All those in favor?
[7:57] >> I.
[8:01] Now, we'll have privilege of the floor
[8:02] related related to general city
[8:04] business. And I have three people signed
[8:07] up to speak. And the first person,
[8:11] Cordia Twigs.
[8:14] No Cordia Twigs. The person submitted
[8:17] something online. Anthony Curata.
[8:24] Okay. See business part. Um,
[8:29] good evening, Mr. May. City Council
[8:30] Madam President.
[8:33] Before I get to speak on, I want you all
[8:35] to see my t-shirt here.
[8:38] 2,000 years ago event occurred that
[8:41] changed human history.
[8:45] When the Lord Jesus Christ died on the
[8:47] cross, he and the debate of which like
[8:50] matter, he died for all. Now the reason
[8:53] why I say that is because I want to talk
[8:56] about this double standard or this rules
[8:59] apply for the but not for me type things
[9:01] going around with government bodies like
[9:04] this one
[9:06] last month when you had fellow residents
[9:09] speaking on issues there landlords
[9:11] tenants a particular resident
[9:17] I will not say her name she came up here
[9:20] literally badmouththed the current
[9:23] administration ban him out the president
[9:26] attacked a political party saying that
[9:28] political party was doing fear monkeying
[9:30] to other people and another political
[9:33] party
[9:34] then she said highly offensive thing
[9:38] she pointed out to what on there the
[9:40] public property
[9:43] certain people's life matter more than
[9:44] else hence the fact that that debate's
[9:47] over when Jesus Christ died on the cross
[9:50] he didn't debate which life matters
[9:52] He died for all all lives matter. And
[9:56] the fact that if I said that,
[9:58] Mad President, you would have banged
[10:00] that gabble on me saying that was a
[10:02] offensive and call me racist, attack me
[10:04] and say I was racist. Cuz matter of
[10:06] fact, when they had a public hearing a
[10:09] couple years back about Junth, I sent my
[10:11] remarks against it. I was attacked on
[10:13] this very very room by you when you were
[10:16] a council member saying I was racist and
[10:18] it was offensive what I said. Then later
[10:21] another resident has spoken with regards
[10:24] to how this gun body was using uh co
[10:28] relief funds from the state andor
[10:30] federal government. He was attacked
[10:32] being racist.
[10:34] What that what that resident said was
[10:37] highly offensive and racist. If I or
[10:40] anybody said what she said, you wouldn't
[10:41] even bang that gabble on me and said
[10:44] that was enough uncalled for and racist.
[10:48] There's a double standard and the rules
[10:50] apply for the but not for me thing going
[10:51] on.
[10:53] You should have banged that G at that
[10:55] res when she said what she said.
[10:58] None of this double standard rules apply
[11:01] for thee but not for me cuz if I said I
[11:03] or any said what she said I would have
[11:06] been walked out of here escorted by the
[11:10] police officers that gone banged on me.
[11:14] Enough of this double standard
[11:17] because simply said if she said what she
[11:20] said be offensive that g been banged on.
[11:23] But if I said it, no problem. Enough of
[11:25] this double standard. Cuz the thing is
[11:28] if you people would actually listen to
[11:30] us, you would actually bang that guy
[11:32] said what she said was racist.
[11:36] Thank you.
[11:39] Sean Ratigan.
[11:47] » Yeah. Hi, good evening. Um, my comments
[11:50] today are with respect to the uh updates
[11:53] to Central Park and the discussion
[11:55] surrounding park parking at the tennis
[11:58] courts and other areas with large
[12:00] events. Um, I'd like to use this matter
[12:03] to once again highlight the importance
[12:05] of public transit and comprehensive
[12:07] planning in the city of Skenkity.
[12:10] As the utilization of Central Park
[12:12] grows, I'd like the city to consider
[12:14] just how isolated Central Park is from
[12:17] those traveling by bus, particularly
[12:19] individuals who may be mobility
[12:22] impaired. Um, we have uh we would like
[12:26] all residents of the city uh to make the
[12:30] most of Central Park and the amenities
[12:32] invested in it and able to participate
[12:34] in the events held there. The city
[12:37] should look at public transit options to
[12:40] allow riders access to the pool, the
[12:42] tennis courts, and music haven. As the
[12:45] city's built in a hub and spoke model,
[12:48] uh the main bus lines, which still
[12:50] aren't frequent enough in my opinion,
[12:53] only run the spokes of that hub. I'd
[12:55] encourage the city to look into bus
[12:57] service that would connect Union Street
[12:59] and State Street via Fair A. Uh a loop
[13:03] which also connects to Mont Pleasant via
[13:06] Brandy Wine may also be attractive as
[13:09] access to groceries and drugstores is
[13:11] also lacking within the city.
[13:13] I did appreciate when the concern of
[13:16] parking was brought up that Mayor
[13:17] McCarthy acknowledged uh that there's a
[13:21] lot of parking already available
[13:23] u and it's really just a short walk. I
[13:26] personally would oppose any expansions
[13:28] to parking and would instead ask that
[13:31] the city considers shuttles for high
[13:33] volume events or or integrates public
[13:36] transit directly into the design of
[13:38] Central Park. Thanks.
[13:41] >> Thank you.
[13:44] I have no one else signed up to speak,
[13:45] so to declare the public comment of city
[13:47] business closed.
[13:49] At this time, I'll entertain any
[13:51] miscellaneous business of the council.
[13:55] Mr. Turo,
[14:00] thank you. Uh, a couple of things I'd
[14:03] like to uh bring attention to. This is
[14:06] week six of the swim lessons at
[14:08] Skenctity High School for all ages. the
[14:11] last week. Uh I'd like to um just say
[14:14] thank you to CoachRandle and all the
[14:16] other coaches. Um over the six weeks
[14:18] that I I've brought my granddaughter,
[14:21] um you've actually seen children who
[14:24] have learned to trust the water and
[14:26] their coaches. Um and it was just uh
[14:29] just wonderful to see. Um and I'd like
[14:33] to uh again ask anyone, you don't need
[14:36] to sign up, just head over anytime this
[14:39] week. um Monday through Friday, Monday,
[14:43] Tuesday, Wednesday, one day, all of the
[14:44] days just to get your child, grandchild,
[14:48] niece, nephew, whomever you uh care for,
[14:51] uh some
[14:54] for you,
[14:55] >> some lessons, um some feeling
[14:58] comfortable with the water. Um, the next
[15:01] thing I'd like to talk about briefly is
[15:03] with the approaching uh August 22nd uh
[15:06] deadline for uh submissions and
[15:08] applications to the uh to the uh city
[15:12] clerk for the poet laurette. Um I just
[15:15] have some concerns
[15:18] um I guess regarding resolution
[15:20] 2025-087.
[15:23] Um I'd still like to be aware of who
[15:27] would be on the nominating panel. um
[15:30] regarding the uh who's going to be
[15:33] selected. Um I do appreciate the
[15:35] information that was put out to us. Uh
[15:37] but I was waiting for the nominating
[15:40] panel to come as well.
[15:42] In addition, there are um who's going to
[15:45] be on this uh nominating panel, a
[15:48] representative from Union College,
[15:50] Sunni, Skenctity, Skenctity School
[15:53] District, the library uh board of
[15:55] trustees, um and the city of Skenctity.
[15:59] So I guess my questions are my question
[16:02] is who from those individual
[16:05] organizations has the author authority
[16:08] to appoint? So say someone from Sunni uh
[16:12] you know is that just anyone from Sunni?
[16:14] Does the president of Sunni have the
[16:16] right to appoint the board of trustees?
[16:18] Um someone from the city of Skenctity a
[16:21] resident uh does the mayor have the
[16:23] authority to appoint or is just anyone?
[16:25] So I do have a lot of questions uh with
[16:28] this deadline fast approaching and my
[16:31] last concern is with copyright. So um I
[16:35] looked into a little did a little bit of
[16:37] research as far as um our poet laurate
[16:41] here in the city of Skenctity becomes
[16:42] very famous with a poem that they write
[16:45] maybe for the city or acting while they
[16:47] are the poet laurate. Um who has
[16:51] copyright privileges uh to that piece of
[16:55] poetry that they write? Does it belong
[16:57] to the city or does it belong to the
[16:59] actual poet? Um so those those are some
[17:03] questions that that I have moving
[17:05] forward again with the fast approaching
[17:07] date uh for emissions by the 22nd. Um so
[17:12] those are things that I'd like to bring
[17:13] forward
[17:16] » council and the other council member Mr.
[17:19] Williams.
[17:24] » I would uh first like to say thank you
[17:25] to everyone who uh chose to come out and
[17:27] speak. Uh definitely regardless of your
[17:29] position, this is your opportunity to
[17:30] share your thoughts and concerns with us
[17:32] as your elected body. So the concerns
[17:34] raised to Toro. This is the first time
[17:37] aside from requesting the members which
[17:39] was requested during our last committee
[17:41] meeting. We have not had another
[17:43] committee meeting yet. So there's still
[17:45] time to submit those names. Um with
[17:48] respect to your concerns, none of those
[17:50] were raised during the conversations we
[17:52] had. If you are looking for updates,
[17:54] feel free to reach out to me or you can
[17:57] send it to me in email or you can
[17:58] discuss it when we are actually in
[18:00] session. Um, with regards to uh the
[18:03] concerns about how people are nominated,
[18:04] discussions were had with the
[18:06] superintendent of the school district,
[18:08] the um vice president for the strategic
[18:11] marketing and planning for Union
[18:12] College, uh the uh president for Sunnis
[18:16] connectity and the board of trustees.
[18:18] Um, so if you have further concerns
[18:20] beyond that, definitely can reach out to
[18:22] me offline. My number is the same. You
[18:24] can reach out to me via email or you can
[18:26] bring these concerns up during our
[18:28] council meeting where we can have a
[18:29] collective dialogue.
[18:33] » Any other council members? Mayor.
[18:37] >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh, and
[18:39] moving toward a record setting meeting.
[18:43] Uh just would remind people today it got
[18:45] up uh close to 90, supposed to get uh in
[18:49] the low 90s tomorrow. Encourage people
[18:52] to uh make sure they stay hydrated. Uh
[18:55] check in on any of your neighbors who
[18:57] might be senior citizens. Uh
[19:00] don't overexert yourself and uh enjoy
[19:04] the summer weather.
[19:06] >> Thank you, Madam President.
[19:07] >> You're welcome. I'd like to also thank
[19:08] the people that came out tonight to
[19:10] speak on on various topics and to um
[19:13] just express their opinion. And I will
[19:16] say in terms of the remarks by c by a
[19:18] council member regarding questions,
[19:20] those are things we really should be um
[19:22] discussing in committee because now we
[19:24] not don't have an opportunity to
[19:25] dialogue. So those questions can be
[19:27] forwarded through the clerk or directly
[19:28] to a council member so that we can
[19:31] discuss them actually because that
[19:33] that's not really general city business.
[19:34] that's really something that we need to
[19:36] discuss um as a um as a body and there's
[19:39] no room for discussion right now. And so
[19:41] if we could do that, if you could
[19:42] forward the questions, we could um put
[19:44] it back on the agenda if that's the case
[19:46] and then have those discussions there so
[19:48] we actually have an opportunity to
[19:49] discuss and respond to any questions. Um
[19:52] and I also I just encourage all of us if
[19:54] we have questions regarding something
[19:55] that we see on the agenda, something
[19:57] like that we submit those ahead of time
[19:59] so that the person has the opportunity
[20:01] to prepare and we can discuss it as a
[20:03] body.
[20:05] Thank you. Um I just also want to
[20:07] acknowledge and u join with the police
[20:09] department when they announced the
[20:10] passing of the retired K9 M minders who
[20:13] was affectionately known as Durst. Um
[20:15] the this was a K-9 animal and they um he
[20:19] began his service in 2019 with his
[20:21] partner uh Detective Doug Smith. He
[20:24] retired in June 24 and after five years
[20:26] of faithful and courageous service
[20:28] specializing in explosive detection and
[20:31] was also supported by the US Marshall
[20:33] Albany task force providing perimeter
[20:36] security during high-risisk operations.
[20:38] So um the police department lost a
[20:41] member of their K9 team. So, I just want
[20:42] to acknowledge that um and that the the
[20:45] uh the police department thanked Durst
[20:47] for his uh partnership with leading
[20:49] coordinator Jeff Calder and the trainer
[20:51] partnership and unwavering support that was provided throughout Dur's
[20:55] career.
[20:57] I have no other announcements. So, at
[20:59] this time, I will entertain a motion to
[21:00] adjurnn. Moved by Miss Patrick, second
[21:03] by Mr. Williams. All those in favor? I.
[21:05] We are adjourned. Thank you. Have a good
[21:07] night.
[21:08] >> Let's see. 7:20. Is that a record? 720.
[21:14] >> I don't think it's a record.
[21:16] >> I don't think
[21:22] [Music]
[21:37] Hey. Hey. Hey.
[21:39] [Music]