General Services, Health and Environment Committee - Regular Meeting

the general service health and environment committee to order. It's 5:30 April 30th, 2026. Myself is Jack Flynn present. Committee member uh also committee members present Rachel Pal, Art Lumpin, and Derek Johnson. Also here is John Williamson. Tonight, we're going to take up resolution 284226R, a resolution of the common council honoring the life and legacy of Mother Clara Lumpin and renaming a portion of South Swan in her honor. Also, resolution 324226R, a resolution of the common council honoring the life and legacy of Reverend General Reginald Graham and renaming a portion of Second Avenue in his honor and resolution 334226R, a resolution of the common council council authorizing the city of Albany to adopt a policy related to the disposal of computers, computer software, and computer equipment. First one we'll take up is resolution 334226R which is sponsored by council member Anan and Balerin and on their behalf is city Sam Fine who will say a few words on behalf of the resolution. Sam.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Uh this resolution uh so this resolution came about because in my office uh they were replacing computer monitors um and they replace them because we were getting docking stations had to connect to them and the uh the port on the docking stations didn't match the port on the computer monitors but the computer monitors were perfectly good monitors. So I asked it what they were going to do with them. They said they usually just recycle the monitors. So, I thought, you know, there must be a better better way to uh put these to use. There's a lot of nonprofits and organizations in our communities that are in need. So, I reached out to uh corporation council's office. Um they found this state legislation um that exists, state general municipal law, section 104 C, which allows um allows legislative bodies of municipalities to pass legislation to authorize a program to donate unused uh unneeded computer equipment. Uh so I spoke to it as well. They're on board. They can store the equipment there. Um, and so this resolution would just authorize the city to adopt a policy to donate the uh to donate the unused computer equipment. Thank you. Also present is Alfedo Balorin. Do any committee members have any questions for Sam Fine?

No. Thank Oh, Rachel. Sorry, I just um am thinking about like if there's equipment or some device that we can't find uh a school or nonprofit or some entity to take um will the policy include language about what what would happen to those devices?

Um well, I'll see first I think we want to prioritize reusing the equipment within city government if we can. Um, if there's really no use for the equipment, there's no one that wants it, then I I think we would end up recycling it, um, unless there's a, you know, an alternative or a better idea that's allowed by state law. Uh, but this this resolution authorizes the, uh, city of Albany to adopt a policy. So, the exact rules of the policy would still still need to be created, right? Um, you know, I plan to, you know, coordinate with it, with the mayor's office, with the common council. I think you know everyone should have some

the opportunity to provide input into it. I would just recommend that you have some stipulation in the policy when you're designing it um that you know disposal or recycling of devices that you can't find a home for and also obviously we would need to be um have very strict policies around the data on these machines like and uh what kind of measures it would use in order to make sure that there's no private information that's being you know disclosed. Um, I'm assuming that that will all be part of the policy, but um Okay, great. Thank you. I agree. Yes, it definitely should be part of the policy.

Alfredo, you're the sponsor of this bill. Do you do you have anything to say on behalf of this?

Uh, yes, sure. Thank you. Um uh first I want to thank uh order fine for uh finding this uh gap where we can uh try to provide these uh already designated equipment that's uh no longer has any uh has either found its life use for our for our city um a new home and I think it's a good a good reallocation of our resources back into our our community. Uh and uh I'm I'm appreciative of our auditor for finding this. And uh you know, I I think when we spoke about it, you know, we spoke that we would first see if there's any other department that can possibly use the equipment to make sure we're maximizing it internally. Uh and then look at the nonforprofits that are serving our community uh and see how they can they can benefit. So thank you for for bringing this to us and uh it's a good step forward.

Thank you. Also here's non sponsor. Would you like to say a few words on behalf of this?

Yeah, thank you. First I want to thank our fine auditor for um this um policy. I think it's very important that uh in the times that we're in particularly in the city of Albany with the digital divide that exists figuring out ways that we can support our community with bridging uh the digital divide particularly when it comes to uh computers and software and computer equipment. Uh again, this is a common sense legislation uh that allow the city again to um donate particularly refreshable or software equipment with minor uh issues to some of our big non our nonprofits that are in need. And this is another example of what happens when uh the community and government works together, right? The community wins. And I just want to thank um our city auditor uh Sam Fine for uh his leadership. and I urge my colleagues to support this.

Thank you. And uh does anybody else have any questions? I just have a quick question. It says the city's going to develop a policy. Is that going to be you or is that going to be DJs or is that going to be the administration as far as I believe that would be the the administration. I'm sure it will play a role in that. But, you know, I plan to work with them, have some input in it, and I think, you know, the council uh I know council members have uh ideas and suggestions as well. So, I you know, the council should have some input into that as well. That's good. You have anything else further to say on behalf of this?

Uh just want to add I want to thank uh Councilman uh Ballerin and Councilman Anan for sponsoring this. All right. Thank you. Uh, can I get a motion on the resolution? Uh, I'll make a motion to advance resolution 334226R out of committee with a positive recommendation. I get a second. All in favor? Any abstensions? Any nays? Motion passes. Thank you. I'm going to head out, but I just want to say council Flynn, thank your committee just moved so swiftly and like you're so organized. Thank you so much.

Thank you. You're holding me up. You're holding me up for the record. Now, resolution 284226i by Council Senator Lumpin uh and honoring his mother. Do you have a would you like to say a few words on behalf of this? Any information? My mother will be testing testing. Well, my mother will be 89 on May 27th. She don't take any medication. She's constantly helping others. Uh when I'm out in the community, uh people tell me, "Uh, is Mother Lumpin your mother? Uh she prayed for me, she counseledled me, she helped me. Uh she's she she was always there. She helped my son. My mother's just always in the community. She cooks she cooks meals and give them out down at the uh on South Pearl Street down at the shelter. Uh she's at the the jail from 9 to 300 p.m. every Monday. She goes to the nursing home twice a week and she's constantly giving and caring and I think I have some of those traits of her and I am uh very excited to uh recognize her while she alive about the commitment that she has made to the community and to her family and I'm excited about this resolution.

Thank you. Thank you. Uh yeah, she has an extensive history of community devel uh assistance with everybody. So, anybody else any committee members have anything to say on this? Yes, Rachel.

I just want to say that I think it's wonderful that we're celebrating um Council Member Lumpin's mother and her all of her work for the community and and for her community. And I also really appreciate and love that your mom's still here and with us to se because oftentimes we celebrate somebody after they pass. And I think it's such a positive and amazing thing that like she'll be there. We're going to and you're going to have a celebration and we'll all get to talk to her and meet her and that's wonderful. So yeah.

Thank you. Yeah. And unfortunately the legislation for this is um death, but if it passes unanimously, then it goes through. I mean, we have to change that that legislation eventually. You know, like you said, get get their flowers while they're alive. zone. Uh, can I get a motion?

Can I get a second? Second. All in favor? I I. Any abstensions? Any nays? Motion passes. Thank you. Now, resolution 324226R by Council Member Williamson. Uh would you like to say a few words on behalf of the resolution?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um just an honor to uh recognize um Reverend um Reginald Graham. uh the impact that he has in the south end as well as you know the Capitol region um helping our families young men and young ladies um and also he's a pastor as well but you know cutting hair for over 25 years and um the impact that he had in in the south end is just tremendous so I'm just honored just to uh give him his flowers while he's alive and to be honoring him and and his family um on June 20th of this year. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Any committee members having Derek?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would have to say that it is an honor to be um a part of this u recognition for um Reverend Graham. I've known him all my life. uh had a front seat to you know um many of the um great work that he has done. He's always available. He's very supportive to me as an individual. Um he's a community first um type of guy and you know um just a a classic example of you know um the talent that um the south end produced and again it's an honor u to see him recognized in this manner. So you know I'm happy to support this.

Thank you. Um, Council Member Alfredo Balerin from the uh, we have a public comment right now. Council member Valerin,

thank you. Yeah, I I was actually I was going to step out because I only came for the other legislation that I co-sponsored, but I I uh I wanted to just say a quick, you know, I'm I'm glad that we have members uh bringing up people uh that we can honor while they're here. Um I think that is critical uh to be able to thank people when they can still hear us say the thank yous and when they can feel the love that we can give them. Um and I think that's uh excellent. So, um, you know, I, uh, I look forward to supporting both of these, uh, pieces of legislation, and I'm sure we'll get unanimous consent. I think we, we put that in years ago to make sure that we have this option, and I think we should probably make it a little easier for people to have those options. Um, but I'm I'm glad that we we have members who are still moving forward with it because um sometimes people put in a lot of work in their life and it's important for them to know the impact that they've made and for them to feel that that uh sense of of of love and appreciation not just from those that they serve but from the city that they provided for. So, um, you know, that kind of hearing that made me stop it. Uh, I just, uh, wanted to, uh, say thank you to both the council members for putting these forward.

Thank you. Uh, would you like to make a motion?

Second. Second. All in favor say I. I. Any nays? Any abstensions? Thank you. I just want to thank you both of you. This is your first street naming. uh at the same time. And uh do we have any dates or anything for the public of when you're going to do it? You said June. June 20th. May 30th. Thank you. For the record, June and May. Thank you. I get a motion to adjurnn. Motion. All accept. I I Any extensions? Any nays? Thank you.