Common Council - Regular Meeting

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All right. Good evening everyone and welcome to City Light Falls Council meeting. It is Tuesday, December 23rd and uh it is 7:30. We will call this meeting to order and we start off the meeting with the pledge of allegiance. We have council James to the flag of the United States of America to the stands one nation under God indivisibley and justice for all. Next up on our agenda is our public comment period. Um we now open the floor to public comment and remind this very large crowd for three minutes to general comment. Thank you. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, Mayor Collins, Mary, Emily, Aaron, Bob, D for your dedication and your hard work to this city. You have met resistance at just about every turn. You have shown more grace and kindness to people than they deserve. And you persevered and you've done amazing things for this city. And I wish you all well. I congratulate you and I thank you with a lot of heart and I know you're probably all with me that very sad time for the next four years. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Anybody else? and uh share a similar sentiment that for people that didn't come to the together expand um event that happened last week um Bill Collins speech was incredibly for people and things that the city has accomplished in the past four years and I love how um he offered encouraging words for the future um that that the city's going to be perfectly fine for the next four years in terms of like this continual growth and um I'm excited that I'm going to be part of it too. So, thank you for your service though and I'm excited to see what the city hall does in the future.

Peter, anybody on the line might want to speak up. Anybody online? Peter, hard to hear. forget. All right, we got some people watching. If you if somebody does want to speak up, will you let us know? Um, let's see. Next up is from major reports. from Clark. So we got a sustain uh sustainability on Monday 15 that we just went over solar panel project that appears to be progressing and allow this time forward commitments to Thank you. Councilwoman, Councilman left. Uh the technology committee met last Friday uh to listen to a u a report from Prior about uh some that we have from a security standpoint. Um there's a uh report provided to us that I'm going to share with the council. We'll continue working on that. We have another meeting that's also just to piggy back on what Daniel was saying about uh

sustainability committee. We also got a draft uh the uh clean uh policy um and one of the items uh from fire department was a requesting a vehicle uh last uh council meeting. It's on again and I still have not any justification based on what our draft policy is. I requested that the fire chief said he sent it to you.

We did not sendification. He did not review policy. So I on this. Okay. Thank you. Under um number five is our consent agenda. We uh there are four items under consent agenda. Are there any writings that anybody would like to question concerns on your consent agenda?

I have a question about 5.2. Okay.

5.2. Um, I have a question about 5.3. 5.3. Okay. So, we'll do uh consent agenda 5.1 is the approval of the uh uh December 9th common council meeting and 5.4 is the approval of the warrant. Do we have a motion to approve? Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carrying your 5.2. Yes. So, this looks like record manual maintenance and the controllers's office.

Yes, we don't normally get this reported on our agenda. So, I was looking through it and I was I have a few questions. Um I'm wondering if the the volume of manual payments is normal. It seems like ideally we make annual payments not on regular schedule. artist and then there were just a few things on here I didn't know what they were like or um you know there's that say brothers like doesn't say like for purpose so I just would request that we have an understanding of maybe why there are so many and also some back so we know what they Um, so, uh, I can't, uh, I actually don't, uh, don't believe it's more than there usually is, but, I think that's a great thing to, uh, speak to the controller about. Um, if you, uh, because it's about, uh, making payments, I'd like to make a motion that we approve the consent agenda and let you follow up with the controller, take your questions back. Fair.

It looks like all of these things are they are they are but it's a it's an agenda to approve the the the actual change. So they are okay. So I guess my question is if if does it stop anything from going forward? I I'm honestly not sure but um if uh if somebody would I'd like to make a motion to to we've never not made it before. Um I

we don't get these reports. This is kind of new for our package. So that's why I I was wondering about the I don't know does anyone else have any thoughts more information better for sure also yeah more information also we're uh the city's being audited right now and speaking to the auditors they're asking are you approving things that you don't understand what's happening and that seems to be what's being asked to do right now.

You've had this uh this agenda for over 5 days comes from the last email. It did this this agenda this council agenda was is not renewed until Sunday that there was a email and I didn't pick it up until Sunday. Well, that's there's no there was no announcement that we Does somebody have a motion to either approve or or uh to postpone this? I'll make a motion. We have a second. All uh excuse me. Roll call vote, please.

Yes.

No. Motion passes. Thank you. And then uh uh Councilman Lapam uh you would ask to pull the approval of the community development manual payments in the amount of 17,9242.

Yes. I'd again like to request that the community development annual payment not be put on the consent agenda. And I have a question about the printers for community development that was listed in the packet. Well, and again, um, we, uh, the last time that that came up, uh, Councilman Lapam, the consent agenda is approved by the entire council. We, uh, and that is a regular payment. Um, and it would be a separate motion. You have not made a motion to move that out of there and it would be changing the entire agenda that we just sat um, a few months ago, but um, you are certainly welcome. And then the amount of 17, again, this is not new. It's been posted since uh Friday afternoon and um I haven't received any questions about this amount um that you could that the community development uh director could um uh uh could explain to you if if he so chose and so do we have a motion to either approve or deny uh postpone this

I would just like to $924 $42. Do we have I would like to be I would just like to be able to speak. Sure. Uh you said that this is something that is on the agenda on the agenda at each consent agenda community

and this involves printers that are not on the agenda each time through. This is like uh this is approving something that again we haven't had a chance to look at. I don't understand what the background is of it. And also, mayor, you did tell me not to uh contact you and bring things up only in u in session. So, that is why we did not get that. I was complying with your request. Thank you. There's a motion on the table. Motion to approve. Do we have a second? Uh a roll call vote, please. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. No. Council, yes.

Thank you. Motion carries. Under the regular agenda, uh we have 21 resolutions, nine uh city departments to address. I do want to take note that there's the the final uh there was one change that we now have copies of you. It was only made for 24 hours notice, not the full 5 days notice. And it is 14.1. It comes from our uh controllers's office. Um we uh the controller I believe the it was the clerk who brought to the controllers's attention that at the beginning of every year we have to pass a tax warrant to collect city county library and business improvement district uh taxes. Uh, and so I'm sorry if you only got the 24 hours notice question, the um the resolution is there in front of you. Um, so under again now we've got under our regular agenda, we got six under community development. Are there any of the six or excuse me four under uh community development which is 6.1 through 6.4. Is there any that need to be pulled for discussion? 6.1 uh is a motion to authorize the approval of the request of the CBG home rehab assistance grant number H23-22 and an estimated amount of $30,000. Do we have a motion to approve?

We have a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 6.2 2 is a motion to authorize the approval of the request of CBP home rehab assistance grant number CD24-43-03 and an estimated amount of $20,000 $25,000. Do we have a motion to approve? We have a second. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 6.3 is authorized um approval of request of CBG home rehab assistance grant number H23-14 an estimated amount of $31,000. Do we have a motion to approve? Do we have a second? Second. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 6.4 4 is a motion to authorize the approval of the grant award for file number uh 2024 HB-00005 the amount not exceeding $40,000 to the city of Glen Falls 8 Gateway Home Ownership Program. Do we have a motion to approve? Do we have a second? All in favor?

Any oppose? Motion carries. And thank you very much. Under uh the police department, we have one um um motion or one resolution 7.1. There any questions about this motion? Not hearing any. uh with a motion to approve and receive reimbursement funds from school resource officer for the months of November and December in the amount of $18,480. An increase revenue line A00999-1000 miscellaneous public safety income by $18,480. An increase in expense line 823120-1000. police department personnel at $18,480. Do we have a motion to approval? Do we have a second? Second. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. Under the city clerk's uh department, we have 1, two, three, four, four uh motions. Is there any questions or concern? 8.1 is approval of the mobile food license applications number 01-26 from 0626 to amend for the city of Glenn Falls. Do we have a motion to approve? We have a second.

All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 8.2 2 is a motion to request for approval of the contract between the city of Glenn Falls and the SPCA of upstate New York for all necessary dog control services beginning on January 1st, 2026, concluding on December 31st, 2026. Do we have a motion to approve? Do we have a second? All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 8.3 is a request for approval to enter into an agreement with Barks and Wreck for shelter and boarding services of dogs running at large in the city of L Falls New York State agriculture markets law we have a motion to approve we have a second all in favor any opposed motion carries 8.4 4 is a resolution to uh transfer funds to the amount of $2,750 to pay for the yearly administrative fees for parks direct vet for shelter and boarding services of dogs running at large in the city. This requires us to decrease expense line A1121 uh 0-4479 other contracted services by $650 and to increase expense line A23510-4402 general uh fees general by $650 and to decrease expense line A23510-4479 other contracted services by $2,100 an increase in expense money 18352010 4402 by $2,100. Do we have a motion to approve? Do we have a second? All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Underwater. We have five um five resolutions. Are there any questions? 10 points for wearing 9125. because I'm sorry. We'll pull that one. Yeah. Any others? So, under 92.1, we have a request to schedule a public hearing regarding changes to city code section 177-37 paragraph B, waters, or fees. Do we have a motion to approve? Do we have a second? All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 9.2 resolution to approve the transfer of funds from water to sewer uh email expense accounts for the city central male account expense to simplify the billing process for fiscal year 2026 with positive recommendation by the city waters board. Do we have a motion to approve? We have a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 9.4 resolution 10.4 for resolution state for approximately issue approximately 1,128,356.99 moving in water bills to the county for rev 2025 city property tax bills with a positive recommendation city water. We have a motion to approve a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 9.5 resolution to approve the amended fiscal year 2026 water and sewer rates and fees previously approved at uh December 9th, 2025 with positive recommendation of the city's water resour. We have a motion to approve. We have a second. Are in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. 10:43 council has a resolution to transfer ARPA funds in the amount of $227,25016 to the sewer fund account 78130-4479.4 a board disposal of bios to reimburse funds needed to replace the city's

electrical year earlier in 2025 with a positive recommendation of the city's water. You have questions, sir. last year if we're allowed.

Yes, that's um you're right. They had allocated and they were allocated and they weren't transferred. So, all this is doing is transferring it into that into the account that's already been um uh put into the um there is a a separate um account that Mark has to um use for all AR funds. chance to go in separate places control our funds. He's already allocated that we had to allocate. He has expected by the end of this year. Okay. We have two resolutions. Any questions? vote for I think it's 11.1 my numbers may 11.1 resolution to decrease the general fund by 13,000 to pay for ongoing unexpected employee arbitration cost year 2025. This requires us to decrease um general fund balance by 13,000 increase 81.2 420-443 legal services by $13,000 motion to approve a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Uh 11 p.2 resolution to move funds of general maintenance expenses for the rec center ice rink to decrease expense line A78170-1000

DW personnel by 23,000 and increase expense line A67145-4479 Ice Ring other contracted services by $23,000. Do we have a motion to approve? We have a second. All in favor? Motion carries. Thank you very much. Uh I'm sorry. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Under uh 11, well 12 human resources. Um we have two resolutions. Do you any questions or comments? I have a question.

Okay. Okay, we'll go with one, but uh I'll read it for you that uh it's a resolution to approve an agreement between the city of Les Falls and EAP assistance program, Warren, Washington, Saratoga Commons, and a lower cost to submitted proposal for professional service in regards to the city's EAP needs. You had a question, sir? I just didn't see a second submitted proposal.

Uhhuh. Sorry. No problem. Okay. So, do we have uh any further discussion? We have a motion to approve uh 12.1 as as read and a second. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Under 12.2 Two, a reinforcement fund resolution to approve the minor changes to some personnel pay lines in the fiscal year 2026 budget. As HR was preparing a 426 forms for controller's office, they noticed some discrepancies where department heads not some salaries properly. The total change in the budget is additional $5,62348. The breakdown per employee is changed is attached in the packet for council review. Question. Yes. If I if I'm understanding the intention of the resolution correctly, it's to revise minor errors in the budget that we

That's correct. But in this this is the supporting documentation, right, that goes with it, I believe. So there are positions in here or employees that aren't yet. I don't think they should be on my you see what I mean. And also I even the mayor's line I was confused about what the numbers were. I just want to make sure we're not including things that

um let's let's make sure we're not and we'll if you're okay with it we'll approve just those high budgeted items and an increase of 5,62348 and if there is anything um changes we'll bring it back to you in January and you can we can modify your resolution that okay with you or you want as long as that doesn't mean you're approving the Yeah, they're not highlighted. Yes, they're not um they're not in this year's budget. Yes. With council woman commerce um stipulation that those other things are not included in this resolution. I mean, the only problem is there are two that are not

that are that are not. All right. So, maybe we just postpone this because it's it's not necessarily uh in this case to do this because you're changing the budget all the time anyway throughout the year. So I don't know. I assume you just saw this and made this change now, but I don't know that it needs to be I guess not start. I guess maybe if it's worthy that if only the highlighted ones are changes, we can approve the changes and take no action.

All right. We're not adding That's correct. Right. I made sense. So, we've got a resolution to approve this resolution for $5,623 of the highlighted changes only. Uh 48 cents of the highlighted changes only and not the other things that are added in here right now that will be that will need to be uh if they are changes that will need to be approved by the next town council. They're not changing gears. They're saying that you got that question. You got that. What's this? What's this?

That's why I say we never No, I know. That's why I question it. I circle on my tracking al there's also people's names that are not in our budget for this year which is why I am saying just just

I thought that mayor s but I don't know about the changes we're talking about I certainly am not any this year's budget and I don't know if it's this change. It's not part of Yeah. Okay.

I also just don't make sense of the numbers in general on that line like what do they add to which is why Um, we have with a couple options as I say. We can highlight the or we can approve the changes of the of yellow highways or we can not approve this and postpone for the next. Is there a motion somebody like to make? I I I would I would tend to agree with council founder would like to make the changes that we have here for $5,623 48 cents in the beginning of January. They they can be paid that first uh that first check in January that only included those changes and anything more would need to come back to the council for future council. Everybody okay with that resolution that say? Do we have a motion for that resolution? Do we have a second?

Second. Um, a roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

And council. Thank you. Um building 100 billion vote. We have one resolution. Any questions, discussion? Motion to uh request a wave of the city to the hardship under uh section code uh 206-4 is attached. Do we have a motion to approve? So we have a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Uh, under 13.1, the fire department is in discussion resolution allowing the fire department to purchase the 2026 hybrid Ford Explorer off the state contract to transport new firefighters to train plastic with in and out of New York State for an amount of $44,637. This will decrease A23410-1000 personnel by 44,637 and uh will increase A234102300 motor vehicle equipment by 44,637. This is the same uh similar motion that was on the table. Uh we asked uh the uh fire chief um uh to look at why We asked him about the electric vehicle. He went and and uh priced out he has packed for you uh the different uh vehicles that he looked at. It's actually a decrease of the vehicle that they were looking to buy to buy this uh hybrid Ford Explorer. Councilwoman or Councilman Palmer or excuse me, Councilman Lapen has had the question saying that on the fire chief, he had a question about the the uh the

state uh recommendations and guidelines regarding um low emission vehicles and um and show and is there discussion? Um, I had asked the fire chief to uh review the draft clean policy. I have not heard that. I did get a voicemail message from him. I called him back. I did not get a response. So I uh would request this be tables compared to the policy.

I have a question for you. is the vehicle that he selected because now it's a hybrid vehicle. Is that not in compiance with our kind of there's a policy review the draft policy and see if you can submit it in a way. I don't want to sit here and read this whole thing. I thought you might know about what what is it called policy?

Um I I don't know because I didn't get anything from him that addresses any policy even though I got Councilman L has requested a table of this. Is there a second? Not hearing a second. Is there a motion to approve uh would be I think 13. Yeah, 13.1. We have a second. All in favor? Excuse me. Roll call vote, please. Yes. Yes. Council, yes. Council, no.

And yes. Thank you. Motion carries. Under uh 14.1 uh we have a discussion of resolution approved by uh excuse me from the controllers office for fiscal year 2026 tax warrant to collect city county library and business improvement dis uh district charges. Is there any questions about this motion? Do we have a motion to approve? We have a second. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Um, old business. Council. Um, just another fighter in the city yesterday. Um, recessive boarding. I think we have many of those in the city. We have limited abilities to address them in the property. Uh city firefighters hurt by the fire department. Uh our investment in equipment is paying off because attack on this fire. I also want to make sure that we thank the county fire department that responded to fire department. I second that I walked through the site today with our higher chance of building this center. That's been my work and I definitely interact with those situ being on site to help the people who were able to get out with emergency services in addition to thanking all of our first responders. comes from that nothing comes from. Um so yes uh this was a tragic incident

uh resulting in the loss of life of thoughts and condolences as I would with the family and loved ones. Um we did uh send out a press release uh earlier today. This event also impacted neighborhood our first responsor first responders. We recognize the emotional toll these incidents can take on our city. Um despite the extensive firefighting rescue efforts at one speed the town did burn um the firefighter or one firefighter sustained minor injury during fire suppressions and operations and treated was treated and released from Lynch Falls Hospital. Um there were uh extremely uh challenging conditions including heavy fire involvement, significant clutter inside the home andru and structural instability. Um we made the operations decisions based on life safety um to uh to bring the to raise the building um to make sure that we were prioritizing the fire the safety of firefighters and nearby residents. Uh multiple alarms were struck struck and as people noted mutually aid departments were requested to ensure adequate resources and personnel were on the scene. Um the investigation the fire investigation is ongoing and being conducted jointly by the fire department and the New York State Office of Fire investigation. At this time there's no evidence to suggest the fire was intentional or of a criminal nature. The cause and the origin of the fire have not yet been determined and the victim's uh identity is being withheld until the family notification suspended complete um tragic day here in Glenn Falls. Um I have one question that that particular

property was in October. I know that because uh I put in the uh email. I am wondering if you do anything to keep our building. Uh we know that outside so that we can prevent these kinds of things in the future. Um this was something that the neighbor uh complained about. If you think it looks better outside, see it inside. Thank you. Um, let's see. That is old business and new business. Um, new business.

New business. Yeah. New business comes from the park.

Yeah. down here. But I just want to thank him for his dedication this week along with Karen J and along with the mayor the last four years and I look forward to working with the new mayor and the new council for another successful employee. As we enter the end of the year and some the end of our return in office, there are two gentlemen on the stage tonight deserve to be recognized for their decades of service to our wonderful community both native son. Native son is a byproduct of culture, history, community, morals and bad specific place at a specific time. Native son embodies the essence of the place and time where they were born and raised. Mayor Bill Collins and Clark are not sons. They and their families play an instrumental role in establishing the most important fabric that our wonderful city has been benefiting from today. Their parents and even grandparents taught them that we all live today. They were postmasters and directors of social service agency. They were embedded in their churches who supported better. They supported every effort that our community needed to stay and rise from where we are today. Bill and Jim obviously listened as closely as

they are the reflection of what hometown USA is. These are sometimes thankful. Those who do take responsibility are all to be honing for our community over the last 20 30 years of greatly appreciated. You will never be forgotten. You wish only the best for you and your family moving forward. Your family are a very proud reference and our city would not be the wonderful place that it is today without all your hard work. You are both favorite sons and to me wonderful friends who I would like to thank for all your accomplishments that you did for all of us. I'd like to ask everybody stand up. [applause]

[clears throat]

all I also like to thank everybody who has served these last four years. I know that we didn't always agree. I think questioning today is not a bad thing and I appreciate that everybody who does this does this and I thank everybody for the new for the council members that will be joining us for our spare and ceremony. I wanted to let you know that we're moving it from the third floor of city hall. Um the renovations are just not quite there yet and They're saying maybe they they have it ready, but um it's just not, you know, Peter was up there the electronics equipment ready. Um it just it seems like it'll it'll be a little too chaotic for us to to push it. So, we're going to move it to there. Um, and I just want to wish everybody in our community and everybody here and your families merry Christmas and happy holidays. Sounds really good. I also like to echo said um I remember when I first came on this council, I really didn't know what to expect. I sat on any of the boards, but when I became a member of this council, it was it's it was more to me than any board that I've ever sat on. And it was my absolute honor and my real just such a privilege for me and my

family for me to be a part of this. And I appreciate all the people that are have been here 4 years, 8 years, 12 years. I mean that says a lot because this is not easy work. I mean, you you hear from both sides of the aisles and you try to make the best decision that you can. And I I that is truly what I try to do. And I know working with Jim and Mayor Collins, with Karen Judge and with our others that I can't say anymore, those they have done a wonderful job for the city and they believe me have done jobs that have been noticed. They were well recognized persons. They really worked hard for our city and we appreciate it. And believe me, the city was gone a lot further with this council, the mayor, who's a great leader. He loves the city and you can tell Jim Clark has been right there by his side. He loves the city. You can tell we are all here because we love this city and we hope you cuz we do our best and I just just thank you for your service today. We appreciate you so much. Um no more reports. We have a um public comment period. Anybody who'd like to address the council, please come up and give us your name and address. Sean, I just want to talk about

something um that happened about these water sewer. If a resident is struggling pay for utility, where should they go to set up plants? Is it directly to the um to the city? So tour board time they go right to the board twice a month. That's a lot of I'm not sure how common that is. That's a lot of money. A lot of people are struggling. Any other not we have anybody online here?

No comments. No no no comment on so I before I just want to thank everybody merry Christmas everybody. Happy new year. I wish you all the best in 2026 beyond my family and yours. Love you all very much. Thanks so much. Have a great day. Motion to second. All in favor? Any opposed? We stand here. Thank you.