General Services, Health and Environment Committee - Regular Meeting

Thank you all.

I'd like to call to order the General Services Health and Environment Committee for Thursday, June 25th at 530. Committee members present, Councilmember Powell, Councilmember Lumpkin, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Zahmer, and myself, Councilmember Flynn. Tonight we're going to take up three resolutions. Resolution 64-62-26R, sponsored by Councilmember Adams, a resolution of the Common Council honoring the life and legacy of Madeline Seale and renaming a portion of Ramos Street in her honor. Resolution 65-62-26R, sponsored by Councilmember Johnson, a resolution of the Common Council honoring the life and legacy OF REVEREND JAMES U. SMITE, SENIOR, AND RENAMING A PORTION OF FRANKLIN IN HIS HONOR. RESOLUTION 66-62-26R, SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON, A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DAISY DOBBS AND RENAMING A PORTION OF THORNTON STREET IN HER HONOR. WE WILL START WITH RESOLUTION 65-62-26R SINCE COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON'S HERE, AND THE FLOOR IS HIS FOR A FEW WORDS.

Thank you, Chair. This is long overdue. His family reached out. Reverend Smythe's family reached out to me a number of years ago, and we've gotten to this point. And the research that I've done on the Reverend, many of us are familiar with the brothers and the work that they did throughout the city. When I had a chance to talk to Deacon McDowell, Purcell McDowell, he told me that a lot of the support that the brothers received from the clergy started with Pastor Smythe. And If you look through the resolution, I believe he started the Adult Learning Center, and he was a very educated and decorated man. So I'm honored to be leading this charge and happy that his family is going to be able to see the pastor's name on the street sign. and it'll lead to today's residents doing research and finding out about the wonderful things that he did in the South End and for the City of Albany. Thank you.

Thank you. Does anybody else have any comments? I do see he was alongside Father Young, who was very involved in the South End, so that's a great quality to be with. If no, can I get a motion? Councilmember Johnson.

I'll make a motion to move it out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

Second.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye. Any nays?

Any abstentions? Motion passes. Next we'll do Resolution 66-6226R by Councilman Robinson. HE'S NOT HERE. I DID READ THROUGH EVERYTHING. HE DID THE PROPER PROCEDURES LIKE ALL THREE PEOPLE. THE APPLICATION PROCESS WAS DONE CORRECTLY. RESOLUTION, I HAVE NO ISSUES AGAINST MOVING THIS WITHOUT A FAIL. COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON.

Yes. I grew up with Miss Dobbs kids and you know they are tremendous assets to the city as they have worked for the school district. They are known to be quite the I don't want to just say handyman but they're real good with sheetrock. They have helped a lot of HOUSES OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND REHABILITATING THEM. SO IT'S AN HONOR, AGAIN, TO SEE A MOTHER FROM THE COMMUNITY RECEIVE THIS TYPE OF RECOGNITION. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER LUMKIN, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY OR DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE A MOTION? Second.

Second.

Councilmember Johnson second. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any abstentions? Any nays? Motion passes. Resolution 64-6226R by Councilmember Adams. He's not here right now. Again, everybody did the proper procedures. They did their application correctly. MYSELF HAS NO OBJECTIONS. I SEE VERY WELL INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE RESOLUTION? COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

THANK YOU AGAIN, CHAIR. AGAIN, THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD MOTHER. I GREW UP WITH HER SON. ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE WE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER. HER SON WAS A POLICE OFFICER FOR MANY YEARS. AGAIN, EXCITED TO SEE A MOTHER RECOGNIZE by having her name on the street sign. And again, maybe it can encourage other mothers to, you know, get involved like Ms. Seale was a credit to her community and no matter which community in Albany that she lived in. Thank you.

Thank you. As I always say about street namings, it's about whose name's up there. And so people can Google that person's name and they find out a lot about the history of the person's name on the street and all the good qualities that they do in the city of Albany. Can I get a motion for 64-62-26R?

I'll make a motion to move Resolution 64-62-26R out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

I'll second.

Seconded. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any abstentions? Any nays? There's no other business on the agenda. Can I get a motion to close? Motion to close. Seconded by Council Member Johnson. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any nays? Any abstentions? Thank you all.