Common Council - Regular Meeting

uh public hearing is still open on the proposed general fund budget uh 2026 and uh we'll we'll let that uh stay open for another 5 minutes and we'll close that up again. Uh we're also still open, just so you know, for the uh water and sewer um fund uh bud 2026 as well. And so if there's anybody from the comment that would like to comment on the public on the general fund budget or the water and sewer budget, um please come to the microphone and identify your uh yourself and your address. Paladina uh uh feeder band. And I was looking through the uh budget and it was interesting how expensive the yearly fee for the mun and uh civic plus was 95,000 but that is I looked at other cities that's actually on the lower end for how much it costs. So appreciate the city for at least um this huge software that the city uses is is certainly less than what other communities say. So that was nice to learn.

The reason for that Sean too is that you pay based on your uh some some parts of that budget or some parts of those based on the size.

Ah okay. So that's my son fostering music. 11. Oh,

is there something First question is really 7:25. So, we will close the public hearing on the general fund 2026 budget and for five more minutes, we'll remain open on the proposed water and sewer fun.

What's that? Cheese. Everybody thinking about it on it somehow. answer. Awesome.

the king of the treadmill or would you like the passenger? I just talked Grab it dirty. Thank you.

You trees. No judgment. All right. Good evening. Welcome. Uh let's see. We have a a quick a motion to both close the public hearing on the both the general fund budget and the water sewer 2025 to 2026 fiscal year budget. A second all in favor. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. So now I like to welcome everyone to city 112 council meeting. It's Tuesday November 25th 2025. We uh follow this meeting to order. Um and we have to please stand alsisible and justice for all. Third item on our our agenda is a public comment period. I'd like to uh invite anybody who wishes to address the common council uh floor for public comment. Please

remember uh that we have a 3minut time frame for public comments. We ask you to address the entire council as a group and not single out any council person. Not seeing anyone coming forward. Peter, do we have anybody online like to make public comment? Pete. Peter, do we have anybody online like to make public comment? No. Thank you.

Next committee reports. Councilman Clark. No report. Councilman D. Uh, yes. Sustainability committee met on November 17th. We went, we talked about the apply climate smart community grants and moving along uh the solar projects, the landfill. We're going to probably making recommendation here soon probably in the next couple of meetings or so to move forward with the project in the landfill and the partying design radar. Solar panels are moving along because submitted documentation to national rig referral solar rooftop. So that's moving along pretty well. Uh couple EV charging stations um been installed and they're now operational. And the ones that have Murray Street are no longer operational. Got that. And um that's it. That's it.

And a meeting in December. We're going to meet uh December 15th on Monday at 5:30. December 15th. Yep. 5:30.

5:30. Thank you. Um let's see. Uh reports council. Thank you. I don't really have a committee report. I just want to report on human resources open with our staff and retirees. uh five were held in the week of 117 and five will be held for week 121. attending was the request of Judy just to answer any questions staff retirement had the cities people from off state and different car um seem to go pretty well seem to understand the difference car program will save us money and I think that that's a good primer for us being able to self Councilwoman committee reports.

Yes. The building and codes committee met just a few days ago. We discussed a few items. Uh the first one was the snow removal law that we passed as a council a couple years ago which will allow us if there are people who uh repeatedly do not shovel their sidewalks even after violations. it will allow us to hire a contractor to shovel the sidewalk for them. Um, and then they will receive the bill if they don't pay that bill that can be added to their tax bill. Again, this is not for somebody who one time makes a mistake. It's for, you know, repeat violators in a walking school district. Um what we were meeting this law has already been in place but what we were meeting to do is to discuss all of the procedure procedural elements to make sure we were all on the same page. We had some change of staff controller and things like that. So Mark uh our controller was there and uh we were able to talk about the billing process and make sure that that was in place. We have that understood. The one thing that still needs to happen is that we need to put out to bid again the uh contract for the person who will come and do it. Apparently, it went out to bid and there was nobody who sent anything in. So, I did request that Tom and PJ and anyone else make sure that they send this to people so that people are aware and they can get it. Uh we also discussed our PE schedule and building it closed. I had asked for public input. I asked um our communication director to put it out um so that residents were aware we were looking for feedback. I got about four different emails. Um three of them were all about the same thing, the zoning compliance letter. And then one of them was saying was really talking about the amount of fees that it is really

necessary to have that many permits needed for things. And then we had one gentleman who was there who said something similar to the fourth person that it seemed like there were too many permits needed for uh for things that he felt other communities didn't require. So what we asked our department head to do was to compile a list like a grid of our fees compared to other communities so that we could all see them and also to let us know how much staff time was going into um doing permit so that we could make a a decision moving forward. The third thing we talked about was encroachment permits. Um PJ requested that we consider moving enforcement permits to the post office from the first office. We had a discussion about whether the capacity to actually take that on because there is quite a lot going on in these building codes. I'm excited that at this time we're not going to make that change. Um we will not schedule the next meeting until we hear back that that information we requested is ready for us. Uh so we will see if that gets done next month and we move it to the committee. Council, just a question. Did you say that the procedure is in place? The bill?

Yes. Yes. You know, what I've been watching is $1,000. Okay. It's never gone. We didn't talk about anything in the past. So, I think that's a question. Um, but I don't I didn't know. But the procedures, but the procedures in place, we had Mark there, we had PJ there, we had there. Thank you. There will be a meeting of technology committee on Monday.

Um December 1st. Um and council good report. Uh next on our agenda is uh consent agenda. There are um five items on the consent agenda. Are there any like council like conversation? 5.1 consent agenda approval of the 20 uh 11 1025 common house minutes. 5.2 approval of the controllers manual cash payments. 5.3 approval $13,43053 and 5.4 approval of the warrant. Do we have a motion to approve?

We have a second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Under regular agenda item, we have 17 resolutions, eight different departments to address. And there any resolutions or sections you have questions concerned about? hold them until the end for discussion. Um I have a few um but that isn't so number 11. Number 11 uh 13.2 and 13.4 So um community development uh some keys for each home. So um request uh 6.1 requesting approval of the CBG home rehab assistance project grant number H23-15 the amount not to exceed $38,000. Do we have a motion to approve?

We have a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. 6.2 discussion uh uh excuse me request of rehab access to home assistance grant project number access-03 the amount not to receive $22,000. Do we have a motion to approve? So we have a second. All in favor.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 7 uh 7.1 approval to sell a city property located at 24 Haskell Avenue from the amount of $85,000 as outlined to the contain resolution with the sale take place in a later 60 days of the passage of this resolution. Do we have a motion to approve? So we have a second. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries second. approval of holding a public hearing on December 9th at 7:25 concerning local law to amend various sections of the vehicle and traffic of section 8 uh excuse me section 208 motion to approve so we have a second all in favor

any opposed motion carries under eight under the missing clerk's office 8.1 resolution that the county council appoint Curtis of 7 Water Street, Debbie of uh 36 Lexington Avenue, and Wayne Wright of 1 Wayne Street, the city of Lunch Falls Ethics Board. Do we have a motion to approve? With a second. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 8.2. Approval of the mode food licensing application number 48-205 city of L in vent in Sydney LS. Do we have a motion to approve? We have a second. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 8.3 approval to adopt the fiscal year 2026 city of Law's water and sewer fund budgets. The 2026 water and sewer schedule rate fees is attached uh and publicly posted online york.gov in the document center under budget. Do we have a motion to approve? Do we have a second? Second. All in favor? Excuse me. All in favor? Sorry. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 4.8.4 4 approval of and to adopt for fiscal year 2026. City Glennfall's general fund budget publicly posted online city lens new york.gov in the document center under budget. Do we have a motion to approve? Do

we have a second? All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Nine. Controllers's Office approval to rec uh to reconvey 16 Monroe Street, Lynch Falls, New York to the previous owner for back taxes. Do we have a motion to approve? We have a second.

All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 10 public works approval to increase insurance recovery increase expense line signs to replace the exchange street sign is damaged earlier in 2025 in most excuse me increase a 0099999-2680 insurance recovery by $8,690 and increase A4 5122-4373 by869 $90. Do we have a motion to approve? So, we have a second.

All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 10.2 discussion uh discussion vote. Approval to increase contract spending for refugees removal by $1,044. Current fees are 6 uh 607 B and M. Decrease A6711-4479 by $1,044 and increase A781604487 garbage by $1,044. Do we have a motion to approve the second?

All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 10.3 approval to increase insurance recovery and increase light repair to a street light on New Prime Avenue that was damaged. Increase a 00999-2680 insurance recovery by $2,900.77 and increase A23310-2400 light by uh $2,900.77. Do we have a motion to approve? A second. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. We're uh we're waiting for 11 uh for a second. So move uh 12 underwater sewer. Approval of the three-year amendment contract with Bill Greater authorizing the mayor and journal to agreement approved by the city attorney. Do we have a motion? Second. I. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Under the mayor's office, approval report the zoning change request residential and commercial for property located at 72 Bridge Street in the city of Lunch Falls to the city planning board for an advisory opinion. Do we have a motion? Second. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. We pulled uh 13.2 uh and now 13.3 uh resolution to move the funds to support the 2025 L falls holiday kickoff party in Vienna on December 6th, 2025. These funds are being reimbured by the city county tax. Decrease expense length A11210-1000 personnel by $5,000 and increase expense length A6727 272-4479 special events by $5,000. Do we have a motion to approve? We have a second.

All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Under the police department, we have a resolution to accept funding provided to the Glenn Falls Fire Police Department under New York State DGAS contract T632978 for K9 needs in the amount of 9,600 9,967.73. We're going to increase a 009999-3389 other public safety income by 9,9673 and increase A23120-4479 other contracted services by $9,967.73. Do we have a motion to approve?

Second. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. We go back to fire department 11.1 discussion vote discuss resolution to purchase the 2026 Dodge Marines or transport cadets and firefighters required to train throughout New York State Lehi. Uh that would rate decrease A23410-1000 personnel services by 45,596 and increase A234102300 0 motor equipment motor vehicle equipment by $45,596. Uh Councilman L, you want to discuss? Uh my question with this is um the state has some pretty ambitious goals for uh decarbonization and um this is a clustered uh wind gas and I would like to ask the fire department if they could look at an electric vehicle but it seems this is for getting by staff and not for a about the army vehicle for public safety.

Um, so is it your intention even though it would cost quite a bit more because I know that electric vehicles of a of something like the Dodge Durango is is upwards of $20,000 more. Is the council wanting to pull this or vote on this? I mean, is it worth the additional money? And if so, then then I guess that we could ask him to pull it. I know he's in the past looked um matter of fact that one of the vehicles that bought a was a hybrid for this exact reason. So I know he's looked at it although he didn't present it to me. I know there were questions when we were talking about the other two vehicles. Um I don't know if it was last year or the year before but again the increased cost was somewhere between 15 and $20,000. Um, so does anybody else have any questions about that or does anybody want to I believe Councilman Lap wants to make a motion to um hold this and and take until to look at and bring you that information.

They didn't he didn't indicate whether it be that this particular one and he did say that it wasn't really in line kind of um vehicle. for travel to places that are like 150 m away or anything. I I did ask about this and um I don't know that there was any specific search but what I was told was that the places they have to go there's not always charging stations and they go to some remote areas there was concern about other vehicle and that the hybrid vehicles work but they were substantially more expensive but I didn't see any documentation search for that that's what I was There's a motion to pull this on the floor or motion to tape. Is there a second? I'll um so uh motion uh table second. Um roll call vote please. is stable motion carries. Um 11 or 13.2 come to allow a resolution to move funds to make up the shortfall difference in the funding of 2025 city new tree planting. Um that to decrease expense line A11210-1000 personnel by $7,100 increase expense line A67110-4459 forestry by $7,100. This is kind of more of a question is um for the uh clean energy grants we got I

think 5,000 10,000 that was supposed to go towards premission um basic at the time that we were trying to get vehicle which we didn't get theation time we also got some uh blackberry uh uh land safety equipment for the uh PW and for the uh water. So uh at that time we had I think it was 5,000 that was dedicated to the commission. So this might increase that amount that is required

in the 2025 budget. Yeah. So would you like me to check see if it's already counted or if you I believe it has been I have not seen it coming in as a um payment to put it into a revenue. So I think it's somewhere still there. Yeah. So that that might be able to help the person. Okay. So the revenue is available but the money hasn't been expended. So be looking to take that difference, right?

So I think we can pass this and just it'll be 2100 instead of 7100 or I just check table. We still got business. Does anybody against standing of of tableing it to a motion to table uh resolution 13.2 to see if there is indeed 5,000 or 10,000 uh of unused money in what was the fund that comes from?

I believe it was clean energy grant. It was a grant. It was a grant. So just probably I think it came in under uh boost chang. All right. Um we have a motion to table this. Do we have a second? Roll call vote, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Thank you. And 13.4 approval of $30,000 in funding by Warren County Hot Tax A67250-4499 hot tax to fund new music festival event that will be held at the Harding Design Arena. Um question.

Yeah, just I just wanted to know if there's any more information or not. Uh you know there's uh no more the the the uh bid at the Martin Hardi Arena is uh looking to do this the um I approached the um uh the occupancy uh tax subcommittee last year and again this year. Um and uh they approved the funding um for that. And so uh they know that uh this money is going to the uh the Martin Harding of Freedom to produce a a music festival to help them uh grow events in Lens. So that's um what that is and there is a a request for the same in 2026 and uh the uh the um the tax committee will make decisions in December uh whether to award the city um that money and that will happen regardless. Um but uh that's uh that's what the request is for. It looked good the after the meeting they said they um appreciated that they were uh these those events that we uh that we requested in the budget. Okay. Do we have a motion to approve 30 what is right 30,000 for funding tax on let's see roll call vote please. Yes.

Council Landry. Yes. Council. Yes. Council member. Yes. And yes.

Thank you. Motion carries. Um I believe that's that old business. Councilman Clark. Councilman uh old business where uh the East End Rising Committee met for the first time. Yesterday afternoon, the mayor ended on the second floor and I was blown away by how many how many of my constituents attended this meeting was probably 25 30 plus people. It was just purelyformational. This is going to take this is going there's going to be multiple public meetings probably over one a little over a year process just getting all the constituents ideas and I would urge everyone to attend and the next meeting tenatively will probably be sometime early to mid uh January no set date as of right now but it'll probably be after complaints 3:00 so we'll probably look for a bigger venue before going forward. So, it was a good start. Councilman,

thank you, Mayor. Um, first of all, I'd like to thank Parks and Recreation for the bike trail. Didn't realize they came through, which is a nice thing. Actually makes the second board. I thank that. Um, want to thank everybody in the community for coming forward recently donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help suffer food shortages also foundation alone donated $300,000 to that says a lot about also like to thank all the agencies that work hard year especially Thanksgiving to make sure our community presents are well fed is around some of them today smell delicious just um but there's a lot of places where people are going to get fed a good Thanksgiving dinner to see that whole business.

I expected a couple different community housing that as well continue. Um, you know, it was a a lot of good information about various resources that are available in this trial area, but the fund has made some changes to its funding going forward and it seems like there's going to be more people at risk for losing their emergency housing, their long-term housing. Um, also all of that is there is right now. So, um I think that's something we have to keep an eye on. I also attended the Ascend meeting that was last Friday night to talk about property on Chester Street. We had someone come uh forward and talk to us about that. The community members shared their concerns and what they've been experiencing and the representatives for the Senate talked about some specific plan that they had in place to try to remediate it. So, The idea I think that what we left it with was we will see if those efforts work. Um and and continue if they need to. The residents were also advised that it is their right to call if there's a violation of our voice and that all community members have to abide by that. But it was it was a was positive the dialogue in the community. Um I also at that meeting I spoke with Rob County and he was asking me about the contract for he was saying we need to get that I think it needs to be signed or something you have that I don't think I

knew but I did it to make sure I certainly I believe um I thought it was but thank you I'll follow you did get them you did get it so I will make sure

Okay thank And then the last thing I wanted to do is just comment for a moment on the budget. Um I I wanted to say that I appreciate that the council agreeing to extend the public hearing so we could finish early. I think that was really helpful and I appreciated that. I also appreciated that we worked hard to find savings on revenue and you know many of my suggestions and your suggestions we listen to and we we tried to take those. There are still things in this budget that I continue to disagreement about and I also still question some of the process, but I I look forward to being able to address those things in the coming year and I appreciate that we were able to comprehend that we all came together that uh for our city we uh have zero tax increase. And uh if you look around, you see the other communities, they've had substantial tax increase. And we have been fortunate enough to be one of the cities that have been able to keep our taxes at 0%. And that says a lot for this city and for this council for the hard work that's put into the budget. you don't realize how many budget meetings we've had like 20. It's a lot. So, um I just really appreciate it. I think that you know that is huge. It's noteworthy and we do have work to do in the future. We have uh hund things that we still need to work on but you know working together as a we as a team we are really getting

a lot accomplishment. I really appreciate the uh all the sacrifice everyone made and you know it's a great it's a good budget. We're in good shape and going forward. Please keep coming and telling us what your thoughts are because we need that input. we do the best we can but we'd love to hear from you. So I just want to just you know thank everyone for your input and just for you know all the hard work for the project. Thank you uh new business council park. So, uh, my new business is about new businesses. Everyone sitting right here in the audience. Congratulations. You want to tell us a little bit about what you're going to put up there in that little figure here?

Yeah, that would be wonderful if you see some familiar faces again. Uh, for those who don't know me, my name is Angelica Marquina and I currently own 518 Beauty Room located in downtown Glenn's Falls since 2020, but my idea is to renew this space of 172 Ridge Street. For those who don't know, it's the former uh Quakers Friends Meetup. I just love the fact that it's a church and I want to give it new life and rebirth it and turn it into a wellness spa retreat where we kind of have a one-stop shop for the community. Um especially when it comes to beauty services downstairs there's going to be um hair, nails, lashes, skin care, um you name it. And then upstairs kind of be a wellness retreat where there's red light therapy, sauna, um steam room, a relaxation room, and a lot more. That's just kind of the first um things that are going to be in the works. But I know that this area doesn't really have that. And I would love to bring that to the community. Um I think for someone that has always felt like that's just health and wellness is so important and I think that I would love to advocate for our community and bring that to the area. Um, so thank you. I can't thank you enough for the mountains that you guys have moved. I know I harassed the mayor enough. So I really appreciate uh your time and and for moving that process forward. I can't thank you enough. Truly. So that's Yeah, thank you. And I can't wait for you guys to see it.

Yes, it's going to be wonderful. Yeah, it's going to be great. So yeah, definitely definitely take care of all of you guys. A big thank you guys. Right. That's actually that's one of the many right around the corner from Bay and 3 Street on the corner there which just announcing 14 will be going in there which will be a nice addition. Um on South Street we got a dog grooming business a gift shop and I'm spreading the room around Karen J's opening the bar. You mean correct me if I'm wrong here I think the nice part about the businesses that are coming to town we had a big run where everybody want to open a restaurant downtown area can't survive just restaurants. So this is a very good diverse group uh of individuals who are willing to invest in our city. I think that's a wonderful thing. We thank all this

only that I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving your loved ones and good luck to our football right after Thanksgiving. I think it's

I do hope it's Friday on Friday. Yeah, they'll play Sleepy Hollow um state semifinal at Middletown at 300 p.m. once

just happy Thanksgiving to everyone. So, I I guess I'll just uh repeat that. Um, my new business is is saying happy Thanksgiving to everybody. Hope you all enjoy your time with your families. Um I um I I think that I want to thank the uh uh TJ and DPW for making sure this uh this room is warm enough for us and uh we start we learn how best to keep this building and and keep it warm. Appreciate everybody's efforts and uh happy holiday. Um that take a motion to adjourn. Okay. Open the floor to public comment. Anybody wishing to address the please not see anybody now entertain that. All in favor we stand. Thank you.