Common Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. This is a regular session the Rome Common Council. The date is January 28, 2026 [clears throat] and the time is 700 p.m. Mr. Seal, please call the RO. Councelor Sprace, present. Councelor Mortise, present. Councelor Fazio, present. Councelor Smith here. Councelor Riley, present. Councelor Percy, present. Councelor Sprolia,

excused. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The invitation will be offered by the cherish. We are [clears throat] grateful for the opportunity to serve and for the strength to face the challenges ahead. May we carry out our work with humility and gratitude, always mindful of the privilege and responsibility entrusted to us. Amen. Amen. The

meeting is now open to the public. You have the opportunity to appear before the council and present your views concerning city affairs. You wish to speak, please step up to the back microphone, state your name and address, and limit yourself to five minutes. Also, please sign in on the speaker sheet so that will help our record. We are ready for our first speaker.

[clears throat] Is anybody wishing to speak?

Good evening. My name is John Troutner. I live on a 500 block of Black River Boulevard. problem I want to address tonight is it's something that started almost a month ago. I called the city to request to have the snow banks removed because they were getting so high you couldn't see to get out of your driveway. That was done before we had that heat wave and the bank shrunk. Since then, we've gotten a couple more storms. Well, now we have 8ft banks in front of our house and not just my house, but the whole the whole boulevard. It's gotten to the point where we cannot safely leave our driveway to pull out into the street because by the time we can get out where we can see whether there's any traffic coming at all, we are in the street. I called the garage about three and a half weeks ago. So, they assured me that that was on the list to be done that week. Three and a half weeks later, nothing's been done. I spoke to Mr. Jones the other day and he told me he didn't know anything about it. [snorts] Uh, it's gotten to the point where it's not just a matter of being an inconvenience, it's a safety issue. I wonder if it's going to take somebody pulling out of their driveway to get hit and either get injured or killed before something is done about it. We've been in our house for 55 years. We've never had a problem getting the banks removed until this year. Now it seems to be a big issue. I was told that we could always hire somebody to have the banks taken away ourselves. That section of the street is city property. It's not private property. So, I think it's up to the city to take the initiative to see to it for safety sake, if nothing else, to have those banks removed as soon as possible. Thank

you. Thank you, John. I'm sure uh Commissioner Giuliano will will address that when he when it's his turn to speak. Uh next speaker, please. [clears throat and cough] Is there anyone else wishing to speak? Public public session is closed. The chair will entertain a motion that the reading of the minutes of the preceding session be dispensed with and that they be approved. So moved. Council Smith second. Council brace moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Carried. [sighs]

Presentation of communications. The following financial reports for quarter ended 123125 have been received and filed in the city clerk's office. Capitol Theater Roar and Community Center. Bella Luna Tavern of 407 East Dominic Street has informed the city clerk's office of its intent to obtain a liquor license. A [clears throat] report of city officials. Uh Commissioner Ben White, public safety commissioner.

Thank you, President Nash. Members of the council, I I just want to make a couple comments on resolution number 29 tonight. [snorts] Uh many years ago, Sergeant Hog from the police department was um entered into the wrong retirement plan. He was put in 375i instead of 384D. Uh this was brought to the attention of the administrations prior to this one and it was not corrected. Um, Mayor Lanigan made it a priority to make sure that this issue got fixed um to correct the error uh because he values the what's best in the best interest for all city employees. So, uh, Sergeant Hog has honorably served the police department for over 20 years. I respectfully ask that you support this resolution to honor his service to the community and because it's the right thing to do. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Juliano.

Thank you, President Nash and members of the county council. U I want to take a few minutes here to try to explain uh resolution to resolution 21. Uh a lot of bad information out there, a lot of ill information out there. So, I just want to kind of set the record straight. When the city hall renovation project was being designed in 2021, 2022, um, health and safety were the focus of that project. the engineering firm, the architecture firm uh that the city hired at the time was had their goal for uh health and safety. Unfortunately, one thing that they missed was the health of some workers in city hall. So, the window treatments were unintentionally omitted at the time. I wasn't heavily involved in that part of uh city government and the projects. So, I don't know if it was a a cost reduction that was in the original project and removed. U all I know is that when the project was turned over to me that the the any window treatments were not included except for a the new room, the new community room, there were vertical bl or shades

uh included in there for the glare. Uh the old windows that we pulled out that were replaced did have uh blinds in them. Most of them were from the original build in uh the 1970s, 1972 when the building was was erected. [snorts] As a result, several offices, especially those in the south facing wall of the building, get direct sunlight. Uh all three floors, they now experience extreme glare, excessive heat, particularly in in the summer with the heat. But even in the winter, if you have a sunny day, that still that sun does does affect you. Um, we have recorded temperatures in these offices of 80° and above. Uh, even with air condition running, that heat with that glare at UV, um, the system isn't built to to take care of that. Um, city clerk celig is a as an example. He has 15 foot windows in his office. Um, and even though he's protected by a partial wall, the glare in that office is is unbearable. I received many calls from him and and the office staff there. Um, we actually went to the contractor when they were putting the windows up, actually put construction paper up, butcher's paper, brown paper up on those windows. Um, it just looked obviously looked like trash in there. Um, hard to run an office like that. So, we're at this point now where I have uh I requested back in May of 2025 to include $70,000 in the capital project uh from uh Treasurer Adams. Uh four window treatments. Uh these could be

blinds, shades, uh films that can be applied to the interior glass to reduce the glare, the UV by 15 to 20%. Um thus increasing production and comfort at the workstations. Uh this is no different than uh when OSHA requires or a per requires um keyboards, ventilation, um office chairs, everything's ergonomic. Uh these conditions have to be met for OSHA requirements and the American Standard of Heating and Refrigeration Air Conditioning Engineers recommends that indoor office temperatures should be kept between 68 and 70 76° for comfort and productivity. Persistent temperatures above that range reduce efficiency and increase physical stress on the workforce. This is not a luxury that we're asking for. Uh we very rarely do ask for luxuries in in any budget, let alone tight budgets. Um this is not to make the offices look pretty. This is about a safe and functional environment that allows city employees to work safely and efficiently. Mayor Lanigan has made it his priority and made it clear that the responsibility that he takes on is not only to the taxpayers but also to the work staff in city hall and outside of city hall. So we take many precautions for proper protection for workers. This is just another extension of that. It's just an interior building instead of a hard hat or a safety vest. Uh this is not a waste of taxpayer funds. Um

uh you look at social media and I don't re respond to social media for the obvious reasons but uh this is not a waste of taxpayer money. The real waste would be to operate this public building where employees are forced to work in adverse conditions. The entire building will be evaluated for the window treatment project. The bond simply opens us up so that we can ask for the money to be spent. I'll be scrutinizing each office whether they're north facing, south facing, working with local vendors for their recommendations, whether it needs a blind, whether it needs a shade or just a film. Uh we have done some offices on the south and the north and the west side with a 15% reduction film that proves efficient in some areas but not on the south facing wall. The uh UV and the strength of the sun is just too too much on that south facing wall. These perks are going to correct that oversight of not including any kind of window treatment in the project. So each office, each window will be evaluated with the vendors that uh I'll go through. It will be a publicly bid project. It may be one or two different projects. If a vendor or or if some of the building only needs film, that may be one vendor. If uh the building needs shades or blinds, that may be a second or third vendor. So, it may be one, two, maybe three different projects out of this estimated $70,000 to complete the mission that uh I've set out to do.

That's it for for that resolution for 21. I I'd be happy to answer more questions uh if if the the council has them, but before I'll do that, I will jump to Mr. Troutman's comments uh on the snow piles um not just on Black River Boulevard, but throughout the city. Now, [gasps] [clears throat]

I'm I will address Mr. Trumpman directly if I if I may. I don't know who you talked to at Cityard or or when that happened. Uh, I know that we've had other requests for intersections, not just driveway snow removal, but because of the amount of snow, the time that it takes to just take care of the the roads, clear the roads, parking lots, and the such, uh, snow removal becomes secondary. [clears throat] Couple weeks ago, they did start removing some intersection snow. Uh we can't we we just weren't able to get to it all with the the the weather we've had.

Talking about snow in the driveway. I'm talking about eight foot banks all the way down the street. You can't see over. You can no longer throw the snow over. [clears throat] Okay. Yes. There's no place to put your your time. I'm sorry, but your time to speak is already done. He can just speak and then you guys can talk after the meeting if you'd like. Okay.

And I do understand Mr. Troutman's statements. We all have driveways. Uh we all have 8 foot banks at the end of our driveways. Um New York State has gotten involved, the DOT, the Department of Transportation has gotten involved in the past, come through and cut snow banks uh just for safety. They've removed snow at intersections like we do when we have time. It's not u something that is regularly scheduled. Uh snow removal is it's not a science. It's not 2 plus 2 equals 4. Um, we have to play with the weather. When we're not plowing snow, then we will get to the removal of snow in certain areas. We can't remove snow on every street or at every driveway end. Uh, it's just it's just impossible. Um, so to directly say that I can go and remove a specific area, a specific driveway, uh, at this time I I'd have to say no. We do concentrate on intersections, whether they're on the boulevards or they're on the Pister Street, because those south streets close up quick.

We know the banks are 6 feet high. Our our plows can't even push the snow over the banks right now. um snow just rolls back down and narrows the streets. So, we understand the problem. It's We need some melt. We need some help from weather that it stops snowing and that we can address some removal issues. Thank you, Commissioner.

Just I have a couple comments before anybody else wants to speak. Um the 70,000 is an estimate right now. It's it's it it most likely or hopefully would come in lower than that. Hopefully a lot lower, but we don't know that. But this is just a hedge against any kind of increases or whatever. Correct, President Nash. Yeah, this is the 70,000 was calculated back in May. I took some of the figures that we did on sample windows, calculated the amount of windows that we had and adjusted for some up cost. So, um I will do my I'll do my due diligence to make sure that it comes under this number. Um that's what I will do. Yes.

And the only other issue I had was statement I wanted to make is it's not just the comfort of the employees but the product productivity. When they're sitting in 80°ree with glare, they they can't function. And that that's that's a cost to the city also. Correct. Yeah. I I can't put a dollar figure on that, but I'm sure somebody could in productivity. City clerk Celic, deputy city clerk.

Um Jill Campbell, they they constantly sit in that heat. Jill's Jill's desk faces directly south with a 15oot window and u and there's no protection on that for eye protection. So that becomes health issues, uh, productivity issues, productivity issues. So yeah, I'm sure that the 70,000 is just a drop in the bucket, not not only to the $6.4 million project that we recently completed, but to the productivity for the next however many years. Thank you.

Anyone else? Counc members of the council. I was I was going to speak during the resolution, but I can speak now. It's fine. Okay,

that's fine. I'll speak. Um [clears throat] I just want to talk a little bit about this while while we're on it about the $70,000. Um I did speak with some of the city administration. I did talk to some of the department heads and I know there's been a lot of scuttle regarding this. Um, and I did I did come up with with a sheet and and wrote a lot of stuff down and type some stuff out, but I think um I think Joe hit [clears throat] it on the head with a lot of stuff. I just wanted to touch base on a few things. Um, this is a correction. It's not an enhancement and the purchase corrects an oversight from the original 2022 design. The old windows and blinds that provided both sun and heat protection. The new ones have no protection. Um the big thing was employees health and safety which should come first. Excessive heat and glare are recognized workplace hazards. Um that's a concern to me for our workers. Uh temporary fixes are not acceptable in my book. Um cardboard and paper coverings are currently used in some offices which is not acceptable. This is not a professional safe or long-term solution in a renovated municipal building. The cost must be viewed in context. The total cost um of the city hall exceeds $6.4 million. And if we look at the treatments um the window treatments at approximately 70,000 which can come in less. I mean we're bonding up to 70 but it could come in much less. That would be less than 1.1% of that total cost. Um delaying further would be irresponsible. Employees have already endured these conditions for more than a year. Looking at the big picture, this is consistent with responsible government. Fiscal responsibility includes protecting city assets and protecting our workforce. Addressing issues early prevents higher costs later, and we've talked about

that, so I don't need to get into that. This investment benefits the city long term. Window treatments will help HVAC systems operate more efficiently, can reduce long-term energy use and maintenance strain. The council is supporting our city employees. Our city employees are taxpayers as well. Supporting safe working conditions shows respect for the people who serve the public every day. This decision reflects the city's value. The council simply completing the project properly. The question is why not? But why wasn't it done earlier? Here's something to think about in which yes, I'm going to open up can of worms. [clears throat] Where was the concern when the school district says that they're going to raise your taxes just because they can? They don't want to leave any money left on the table. Not a single word. Or I haven't heard anything. Maybe there was. Was there a concern when the school district raised taxes every budget cycle by a lot? Plus, the information about this capital improvement plan was available since September of 2025, and we did not hear much about it, and I don't think anybody was hiding anything. We've met several times as a city, as a council [snorts] to talk all about. Um, I can tell you that every single counselor that's sitting up here asks the hard questions um to the city administration. We want to hold the line on spending, but also we want to make sure that our employees have the necessary items needed to work with um and and to deliver what the residents of the city need. So, I can tell you that on this matter alone, there's been constant dialogue in the last week or so back and forth because there was a concern by the city and the residents of the city. decisions that we make up here, especially that I

make are for the betterment of the whole city with costs in mind. With this information that's been given to us by the city administration, by department heads, um I totally support this 100%. Thank you. Thank you, Council Smith or Councelor Grace. Anyone else? [clears throat] Council Smith. Um may I ask a couple of questions? Sure. Mr. Juliano, just a couple of questions. I may have missed something, so I apologize. Um, the window covering may end up not being 70,000. [clears throat and cough]

Just keep Oh, it does work. The light doesn't work. Sorry about that. Um, [clears throat] the windows may not end up costing 70,000. Am I correct once you go out and That's correct. The 70,000 was an estimate that was prepared May of 20 of 2025. Okay. Once all of that is done, will there be a bidding process? Any public project over $30,000? This is a purchase of 20,000

purchase. So any purchase over $20,000 needs to be publicly bid. Yes.

Okay. Thank you. President Nash, members of the council, I have a couple things. I just want to um uh say thank you uh councelor Spray for talking about that. I want the public to be aware that as head of the DPW committee along with um councelor Bazio and um councelor Mortise, we will be having conversations right along the way. This is how the government works. We interact quarterly with different groups and with with different um committees and meetings to make sure that that the city is is spending money in the right places um for the betterment of of the most people. Um regarding uh snow removal, I have gotten a few calls. Um I'm sure all the counselors have gotten a few calls. Um I I I definitely do understand the issue um with the snow banks right now. Um, last week I was remiss in responding to one of our speakers about sidewalks and sidewalk issues of of plowing. Um, I would like to remind the public of the fact that there is a free app that you can download called Rome IQ. And on the Rome IQ app, there's a section where they talk about um, cons concerns that you have within the city. Um, and and that is a great place to to send your information. it will be all put together and sent out to the right people. I know the mayor's office has been been working hard to get that one up and running. One of the things to become more responsive. So, I implore everybody to use the Ro IQ app. Um, and I guess that's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you, Councelor Dirsty. Anyone else? Councelor Riley,

President Nash, uh, fellow counselors, questions for Commissioner Giuliano. Uh, did I hear that the the original blinds that were put in with 1972ish around there? Was that right? Did we have any issues? Uh, I understand I was 3 years old 1972, but uh throughout those years because of those shades, did we have any issues, complaints from people in regards to what they're complaining about now since the renovation? So, the renovation comes, the blinds go away, we get these new windows, and now we're talking about tinting them, lack of better terms.

I'm going to back up just the 1972 was the original start date of the construction of this building, city hall. Um, I was only six. You were three, I was six. Um, so [clears throat] I don't know u if they were all installed with that when I started here in 1989, but through the Did you even look at the windows? I I don't know. They were there, people used them. But prior to renovation, was there anybody complaining because they had the shades. Were anybody complaining about the heat, about the sunlight, about the glare on the screens with the with the shades? Councelor Riley, I I can't honestly answer you that because those complaints would have come to me as as the engineer. Okay.

If I had a different role at that time, and I don't know if those complaints came through different department heads, I apologize.

Okay. I I I appreciate uh um the comments um in regards to as far as the $70,000. Everybody thinks I was getting emails about the $70,000 being the number and I get now that you've explained it, I understand that that's your top number. Um, it seems as far as going forward with this, you talked about sampling windows, looking at windows and what windows need a tint and what windows would need shades. Is that correct in saying that? Yes, that's correct. I've done my own internal

uh work. Now, now I'll advance that and get to local uh vendors that are more proficient in that. and I'll ask for their advice to as to what actual so if I so if I go into a particular office one office on the south side's going to have might have tint I go down the uh hall another office might have shades that's going to look terrible in my opinion in on the south side probably not that's probably going to be either all shades or all blinds yes

I I I get the $70,000 I get the top number I'm not comfortable with the fact that we're all talking about these windows being tinted. Um, I have an office that's got shades in it and I do fine. I think that uh that shades are more of a way that we need to look at it. The reason why I was bringing up 1972 and all those years up to when the renovations were the the employees did fine with the with the window shades. I don't think we need to go to the extreme of tinting these windows. Tinting these windows is a lot more money that we're going to spend. So again, understand where you're coming from. The 70,000 is the top number, but I'm not comfortable with tinting the windows um compared to window shades. I think that is on the luxury end of the spectrum. So um I and like I said, you know, I received this information recently. I'm trying to absorb it. I'm really not too comfortable with it right now. I did hear from some constituents. I understand uh the the public as far as the media as far as the misinformation and some of the things that were said tonight hopefully corrects that misinformation, but I am just not I I I even when that even if we do approve this and it gets to that point, I I don't I'm not comfortable with an estimate for tint. I'm more comfortable with an estimate towards jades. I think that's the responsible uh fiscal thing to properly do. Thank you. Anyone else? Board of counselors. Board of committees. Just a [clears throat] reminder to all committee chairs, please include me on any time you have a meeting, please, if I'm aware. Uh, resolutions. Resolution number 21.

Resolution determining that the proposed purchase of blinds and or window coverings is a type two action for purposes of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act. Move it. Breece second. Councelor Fazio moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. Opposed. Resolution number 21 is carried. Resolution number 22 accepting donation presented to the city of Rome for purchase and installation of a memorial park bench in memory of Paul Temple MD $2,818. So move second.

Councelor Dery moved and seconded. Any discussion? [clears throat] All those in favor say I. I oppose. Resolution number 22 is carried. Resolution number 23 authorizing the use of the general fund to fund future construction projects capital reserve. Move it. Councelor Dury second. Councelor Sprace moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Resolution number 23 is carried. Resolution number 24 authorizing an inter fund transfer from the water fund into the general fund. Move it. Councelor Dury second.

Councelor Fazio moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Oppos. Resolution number 24 is carried. Resolution number 25 authorizing transfer of insurance settlement money to insurance recovery inside district. Move it. Councelor Spur second. Councelor Mortis moved and seconded. Any discussion? [clears throat] All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Resolution number 25 is carried. Resolution number 26 authorizing the mayor of the city of Rome to execute a lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management for the leasing of one Ford F-250. Move it.

During second moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Resolution number 26 is carried. Resolution number 27 authorizing the mayor of the city of Rome to execute a lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management for the leasing of four Dodge Durango. So move. Councor Mortis. Second. Councelor Fazio moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. [clears throat] Oppos. Resolution number 27 is carried. Resolution number 28 authorizing the mayor to wave unpaid search charges on Rome city court cases.

Move it. Councelor Mortise moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Councelor Riley. Uh can corporation council talk about the uh reason why we're we're getting rid of these search charges? I realize minimal amounts. It does add up as I I read into it. I understand why they're being um uh let go, but I think the public needs [clears throat] to know that. Also,

President Nash, Councelor Riley, other members of the common council. Uh yes, so essentially the court system reached out to the mayor's office asking that we take a look at these um outstanding [clears throat] charges and that we wave them. Essentially, I think what happens, and I can't speak to each individual case, but um the court has determined that for one reason, one reason or another, that these particular search charges are not really collectible. The person could be unhoused and we're unable to find them. Um I know uh Mr. Rizzo, who handles the court cases, told me that uh he believes some of the people on the list have passed away. Um, so you have all these circumstances where these search charges which are mandatory are outstanding and they're still on the court's docket I believe as open cases

and so it kind of you know causes a little bit of congestion in the court system for cases that'll ultimately never go anywhere uh unless we're willing to wave the search charges. Um and some of them I believe it's just the people could be indigent. um you know we may have a circumstance where their person may not be fined because they can't pay a fine so they get community service but then they still get this mandatory search charge tacked on that they can't pay

um so I think the court system essentially is just asking um for you know some assistance in relieving their calendar congestion and being able to close out these open cases that likely will never go anywhere. I also over the years statute of limitations also. And then I'm thinking as far as um the the warrants, you're going to free up a lot of of uh warrants with the police department. Correct. Yep. I believe so. I mean, there's a lot of reasons why um it's in the best interest of the city [clears throat] and Rome City Court. Thank you.

Further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. amendment. Oh, I'm sorry. We need an amendment for the new attachment. Sorry about that. Council Dury. So moved. Second. Second. Councelor Mortise. Motion to amend is has been uh I guess presented.

What is the what is the amendment? Um, uh, President Ash, members of the council, um, we I have a a paper here of the updated search charge case from 2014 to the present. I would like to move to replace the old one that is in the legislation. So, could we move forward to replace this with that? Thank you. And councelor Mortise seconded that amendment. Any any discussion on the amendment? All those in favor say I. I oppose. The amendment is carried. Now, the resolution as amended. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Resolution number 28 as amended. This carried. Resolution number 29.

Resolution reopening section 384D pursuant to chapter 538 laws of 2025. So move. Councelor Mortise. Second. Councelor Fazio. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Resolution number 29 is carried. Ordinances. Ordinance number 9846 authorizing issuance of $70,000 bonds of the city of Rome Onidita County, New York to finance the purchase of blinds andor window coverings for city hall. I'll move it. Spice. Second. Dury. Unanimous consent. Council Mortise.

Second. Council Sprace. Ordinance number 9846 has been moved and seconded. Unanimous consent has been moved and seconded. All those in favor of unanimous consent say I. I. Oppos. Unanimous consent is carried. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos ordinance number 9846 is carried and we're leaving that on the table. Correct. Counc a motion to adjurnn. So move. Councelor Smith. Second. Councelor Dury. All in favor say I. I. All right. We are ajourned. Thank you all for coming tonight.