Common Council - Regular Meeting

Hey, good evening.

All right. Good evening. It's 6:04. We'll bring the May of the May meeting to order. Would we have a roll call, please? Council member Tobit here. Council member Silivan here. Council member Panel here. Council member Lane here. Council member Condo here. Council member Carpenters recorded absent. Council member Beck. Council member Michaels

here. this practice. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. public comments. I have Mr. Chu. Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. It It's sort of a rigorous comment, but I just had to play. Um, the city yard waste collection site already takes maintenance, but to be profitable, it will also take human surveillance. Homer had similar contamination problems until they hired a person to supervise and maintain their site. Now people know what's expected and it runs smoothly. If the city were to compost yard waste, it could uh well, they could sell what it produces. The going rate for compost is $50 a ton. Food waste compost gets up to six $400 a ton and it saves $100 a ton in fees. If the city wanted to compost, it would require probably at least an acre of space, a small office for the monitor, water and electricity, plus a skid steer to maintain and police the area. That brings me to my point. If the city wants the compost, it might be good to hold on to that old skid steer rather than surplus. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else with public comments? Right. Hearing none. Finance update. Shagger. I don't have a whole lot here tonight. U first one that I had was um this week we went to sale with our bands and bonds for this year and we sold two bands. One for $19.5 million. has like a 20-day call on it so that when we get the WIA money, we could then pay that down with uh that within 20 days and minimize our interest. Uh that rate because of the 20-day call came in at 5.9%. Uh we also did a $12.1 million ban that's for the a year uh with no call that came in at 4.62%. And uh today we did have some issues with this uh sale due to our downgrade and u not having the 24 audit complete. Um we did sell $300,000 of long-term bonds that were originally scheduled for eight years. I brought them down to five years and we had at least one bidder on there and that went for a 5year term of 5.95%. Um, we're still working diligently on the 2024 audit. Uh, I will not say that it's complete. Uh, every day we check off another box and two more seems to get added to it, but uh, we are making headway and um, hopefully it gets finalized sooner than later. I don't know if anybody has any questions.

Do you have a ballpark of any idea when 2024 may be? It is currently council's going on 2023 numbers.

Tom, I do not, you know, I'm still pushing the auditors have it on August 8 by May 14th. Okay. Complete. We're doing things in at the same time or in parallel with different things trying to get it done. But there are some uh issues that uh it's not that things are wrong. Being able to document things going back as far as 21 and being on the ES400 system doesn't help us because you can't just and the AS400 system you can't run a report today as of some date in 24 or 23. Okay? If we don't have a report or can't find a report then it becomes you have to back in everything. You may take an older report you have and then figure out what's been paid and it's time consuming problematic. So

are we at risk of I mean how is the state viewing this? What is I mean we're we're significantly behind here. what

they're not they're not I mean that's fact doesn't mean um they're gonna you know can't really do anything about it except for complain to me or complain to you u but they want him done there's no doubt about that and we're I can say we're doing 100% diligent if you I'm going to give you a a correction to this problem when I was at Bingington we had a person that worked underneath me okay that was not appointed or was going to stay with the uh this transition from one government to the next. Okay. And when I left, that person went into my shoes and they backfilled him before I left with somebody else. So there's always that

continuity.

Yeah. That continuity of how to do things. Okay. Not going from, you know, one uh administration to another administration, letting that drop. Okay. which I think was part of what happened here. I'm not positive of everything that went on. Okay. But the continuity at the city of Bingington was very smooth. Okay. And I think that's an important aspect to any municipality. And I'll say when I went to Johnson City, it was very similar that from one mayor to the next mayor, they appointed a different treasurer and they had the same problem. Once you have 20 24 completed, will it be easier to do 25, will that go faster?

It should. It should. Okay. So, the bond you said 300 grand, 5.59% for long-term bonds, uh, was initially almost 900,000, around 900. What What happened with the other 600,000? It was actually $700,000. said it was 7. Yeah, it was originally 999,000 and 700,000 did not have to be bonded for I had thrown that in to capture. Now I was able to put that with the ban the lower term ban the 4.62 and be able to get to 300,000.

Okay. So the second one that ban was 4.62. Can you please repeat what was the first one? 5.99. 5.99. Um, one of the which one of the two bands will eventually was it the second one that will eventually roll over into the WIA loan? The first one 5.9 the higher interest rate one will roll. And how much was in that first one again? 19.5. How much do you think we'll be able to roll? I think it's 16.178 278 278 I believe it's 27. So there still be another 3 million there. Will that go to the other band? No, that won't that'll stay that way for the remainder of the year.

Right. Just out of curiosity, why 19 in that first ban and not 16 whatever would go into the WIA loan.

I can't give you the exact reason behind it, but I question that same thing, but we could not roll it into the other one. So, I think this is instructive for the public in terms of what this is going to cost us because uh that first one 19.5 million at almost 6% and then to have 16 million come out to go to 1 million uh or excuse me 1.08% interest. A 5.91% interest rate difference is fairly significant. about $50,000 a month. So until we get that done,

it's costing the city an additional $50,000 in additional, not just the total cost, $50,000 a month. That's good. So if that wasn't, that'd be costing the city much more. I gota commend Chuck for getting it down to that number. I sat down with Chuck on Monday and we went through basically the same thing you're going through right now. So

Brian, what would you suggest be done if if you don't agree with this? What would you suggest done? Well, what I was asking for was clarification and making sure that we're talking about the same numbers and that everybody understands what the problem is here because the longer that we're not able to finish the 24 audit and be able to close and move on to the WI loan, it's a significant additional cost. I mean, the cost is already fairly high and then an additional 50 grand because we're not meeting the deadline. So I think the question then comes back, Chuck, what additional assistance do you need? What can be done so we can get this wrapped up in the next couple of weeks? Because this is

Brian, there's nothing that anybody can do on this. I have one person that understands it that has to go through and dig up all the stuff from the AS400. We don't have a full-time IT person. It's a had it been put on Munis back in when we brought Munis on board all this would be a lot simpler but using the AS400 U in this process is very problematic. You are trying to correct a situation you inherited and you are doing the very best that you can do.

And I'll say the same thing about the lady that's work. I'll be honest. She I mean she was in here all day Sunday. The last three weekends we've been in here trying to get this thing done. It's not like we're not putting an effort into it. No, there's no reason to point fingers. You're doing everything that you can possibly do with the staff that you have to make this right. And you deserve that credit. Right. Period. I appreciate that. And keeping up with the dayto day,

right? Yeah. Right. I could not agree more with the amount of work and effort going into this and I do appreciate that. I do think when we're considering cuts of 10% or 15% to each department factoring how much additional debt maybe carrying and the payments for that if we're unable to roll this WIL loan over I do think that's important because it's going to change the dollar figure. We're going to have to cut department. So, what's the time frame we need to be working on to be able to roll the MUI loan over? What are the barriers there?

Today is balancing the cash from the 23 audit. That's what it's that's what we're doing today. Are you optimistic on being able to roll a bad 2020? I I hope by the end of May, Tom, I can't guarantee it. Okay. I don't know what the next thing the auditor is going to throw at me. Okay. And when we give him one thing, something else doesn't balance. So then he's digging into that, digging into that. It's a constant flow. And some of the imbalances that he's created were created by him, by the accounting company when they did the previous audits, too. So we may know those cleaning up thing up, too. So sometimes you're qualifying his numbers, not just yours. And Scott, I'm not blaming the account. I'm

I'm not either, but I'm just trying to make it everybody clear of how complicated it gets quickly. It's when you don't have when I sit here with the auditors, I'm going to give him my opinion on stuff and say this is right, this is wrong. Okay? And ultimately, they're the boss, okay? But I have to document to them why we did what we did. Okay? And if it's not accurate, then he's not going to approve the audit. We have to change the numbers to what it is. Okay? Doesn't matter who's right or wrong here. It's like when it comes down to it, our receivable say we have $2 million. We have $2 million. We don't have 2.1. We don't have 1.8. Our cash says we should have $12 million. It should tell you we have $12 million in general fund, water fund, sewer fund. There's no exception to it. Okay. Why that wasn't done in the past, I can't answer that. But that's what we have to get squared away. We have to make sure that all the money is supposed to be in water, sewer, and general fun in the accurate accounts. We have one big account. The way a munus was set up, that's for all three of them. Okay? I'm not saying that's the way Muna sets it up. I disagree with it and it's we're not the only ones that do it. Okay. But it's a problem.

I appreciate that. Um how confident are you at this point? The high-end figure we're talking about to cut Steve's farm is 15%. Are you confident that that will be the amount we need to pay or is it possible we need to be making 20% cuts and we just don't realize it yet? Well, who's coming up with these numbers? By the way, 10 10% 15% now we're%

a conversation that was went on in the finance and audit committee that we're going back to the uh departments to ask them for what that would entail and what what services would be lost by doing something. Luck finance committee has an updated council regarding this. How many times I don't think we have clear instructions in terms of the finance committee against how can you put a percentage and you don't even know what the what the dollar amount's going to be. We are getting the numbers from the finance office of the mayor's team. We're not generating these figures this week.

I did see that. All right. So part of the conversation in the committee was that it's an ad hoc committee and it's not a deciding body and I for one not comfortable with that committee making decisions that should be brought to this full board. So we haven't brought forward any recommendations for everybody. We've been receiving information. One of the concerns that I've had was we had a discussion at a finance committee meeting. Well, I'll back up. beginning of the year, I think you'll recall in January, was it seven or $900,000 was the anticipated deficit for 26, right?

And then there was discussion about that being dropped down to about 500,000 and then two meetings back in the finance committee, it was up to closer to a million

and I was kind of surprised by that because the number is fluctuating. So, at the last meeting, we talked with Chuck and uh I'll be the bearer of bad news. He said, "Well, it's probably 1 to 1.2 million and it might still go higher." And we're looking at a number that we don't know what the number is. So, I'm concerned about any committee making a decision without bringing it to all of us because you should be involved. If we're talking about potential cuts to anything, especially when it impacts programming, there's eight people here in terms of council that need to be involved in the decision. So, what do you see your job as a member of the finance committee to be?

Honestly, going from department to department right now, I think we need to take a step back and we need to have a better the question that Tom just asked. We need to have a better read on the 26 budget and what's the actual differential we think there might be between uh revenues and expenditures for this year. And then will you come to us with recommendations? Absolutely. We're not we are not allowed and able to make a decision like that in my opinion.

That that is the purpose. Let me just clarify a couple things. The ad committee was put up by finance to help so these meetings don't drag out with long dissertation conversations about that. is specifically tasked to look at all the audit and information that's spring into and up to and keep it up to date on all the finance and then report the relative information that they think pertinent to their peers. The second part of it is to review which was determined by that committee to have each department come in with a 10 and a 15% um price number what that would entitle what that would mean not to cause mass hysteria not to make cuts but to look at that make recommendations and it was primarily targeted for a 2027 budget however if something comes up that could have an impact for 2026 it should be considered as well to be able to do those you know certainly I'll they can perview of items that have come up and discussions that have come up that make sense to be able to do that. But again, it was purposely not set up to make decisions. It was set up to bring back recommendations to this. is no different than our other many other different ad hoc committees and different uh ad hoc committees for the parking ad hoc committee for the code to review everything that's not been out there and what it is to look at it to analyze the revenues to discuss all that and to not push people in areas that aren't necessarily needed. Um you know certainly there's a lot of pressure on the finance department. Chuck knows it. They know it. We come down there and feel it with the rest of us. They get it and uh you know it can't be fast enough. We all get that and we're all working towards doing that. But it' be helpful if the finance committee could continue to work towards solutions, resolutions, and you know, not exacerbating the problems, but help solving the problems. That's what we're looking at.

My understanding is we've discussed cuts to 2026 programming. I I think it was brought up in that meeting as a possibility it could happen. These are these are options to do 10 to 15%. These are options that could be done now. That was so there's one department I heard from and some of the issues some of the items were discussed were you know changing the hours a little bit maybe coming back time for the lights for this year for this year because some of those could happen conversations council now

those recommendations should have been in my opinion the finance committee heard it agreed with it agreed with some of them and had those should have brought back to this we recommend following these so we could get immediate action to have cuts or savings this year not cuts necessarily but savings this year And we'll continue to implement. That's my judicial responsibility as mayor too. We'll continue to research and evolve what we have to in our youth barrel for example in maybe u looking at the hours of operation to looking at those to make the most best decision and certainly will inform everybody here at that. If it's something more drastic certainly we want to get more input and have those dialogue and communications but on a day-to-day basis those those are items that happen every day. Okay. So, I had two training forms on my desk and we say this training is not necessary. I'm not going to bring those ladies to the council. We're going to review those. We talk about with prime heads and make sense of it what it's going to be and if the leaison's necessary then the the leaison's necessary. So, uh you know we had another conversation to in depth more from what we talked about in the finance with youth girl today in our meeting with them today. the rea was there to discuss it too and the the department head and the vice department head were there and we'll make good conscious effort to make the best decision.

We we know we're going to need to make cuts and so we know people want to hear what the solution's going to be to this crisis, if you will. Um, and so we thought having the department heads come in with their suggestions would arm us with the information we need to make decisions. So right now we're kind of information gathering and we will present, you know, our suggestions. But the thing with the youth bureau was that um they're rolling things out pretty quickly. So I think that's part of the reason why they were the first department to come forward and um yeah

none of their programs are somewhere related. So time time is obvious. Will you feel like you have to wait until you have all the departments information and and what your suggestions would be or could you do at the next meeting the the youth bureau? I think some in I apologize to interrupt but I think some input from the rest of council in terms of what would be helpful to them would be beneficial from the finance committee

because you know I wouldn't want to I wouldn't want the youth grow to bear the brunt if we're if we're not having to go at it as hard as we think we might. It's kind of it's it was like the wastewater contract kind of thing. I didn't want them to have to pay the price for for other contracts being set up. Right. Yeah.

Part of the difficulty and why members of the science question committee are asking these questions is we need to know how big the cuts need to be and we still don't have a good sense of that. I'm just trying to figure out how close we are to having a firm. It's not a lack of appreciation for the effort that's being made. I'll give you a clean

a clean effort. You guys all know this. Last two years, you lost about $2.5 million each year. Okay? That's very clear to everybody here. Okay? This year, you're going to lose at least a million. Okay? I said 500,000 the first time without and I said I hadn't reviewed it. At the same time I said that, the mayor said he thought it was a million. Okay? that the next meeting I came back and I said I agreed with the mayor's number of a million maybe a little higher. Okay, so you're got at least a million dollar problem in this year's budget and that's just looking at the revenue side. Okay, how things flow with all the um expenses is still to be decided on some things.

Yes, those numbers have changed in the last month. So why we're asking these questions is the numbers we're working with as a finance committee in the last month has changed by a million dollars the gap we're trying to close. So I appreciate the efforts being made. I'm not asking these questions to be difficult. I'm trying to lock down on how significant of a hole we're in. Well, let me say this. Let me say this to you and Brian here. If you don't do anything now, you're going to have a million dollars plus by the end of the year. Okay? So I haven't seen any suggestions come from anybody. We have been meeting and we have been Have you sent me any email giving me any suggestions giving to Mary?

I reached out to you about getting together shop and I have not heard back yet. You I can't even get an email to you.

I've been having issues with it that I've been trying to work through Mr. Shaker and I've been having issues getting in contact with them. They're ongoing. Uh, I have emails, but I I sent Yes, I sent you a text about getting together and I've not heard back yet. So, I look forward to that. Um, I'm simply trying to get a handle on how big of a hole we are in so we can address it. And I changed my vote a couple of months ago on the DRRi project because I was told it was imperative for the city to get that money. I am on three committees in addition to the council. I'm making myself available and I look forward to working with you with you on this moving forward, but I'm trying to get answers to an office here.

We also were told that we're not to expect to be able to make this all up in one year. You were projecting like in five years maybe we could turn it around, right? That period. Yes.

So then once we know what we're dealing with, we can figure out how much we can tackle. We need a plan. And so in order to make the plan, we need to know what numbers we're dealing with. And I'm sure it's working on weekends and everything. I'm sure it's as frustrating or more frustrating for Chuck than it is for us, but I think we should just continue to hear from departments since the um youth bureau does have a real time constraint linked to it. We shall bring you that next meeting or a suggestion and you guys can see what you think. We've already been reviewing uh things that uh we can possibly talk.

We'll send it to you. Yeah. Is that going to be a lot? But it's going to be a good start. We can send you exactly what Andrea sent to us. Yeah. Well, Tom, he's we'll we'll uh Andrew will be sending out an email here to probably tomorrow or the next day. So, we'll get moving on that. So, anybody else have any other questions on finance?

All right, we'll continue to work on it. I think, you know, implore everybody to, you know, kind of do it. Maybe keep on finance. We can just give an update of where everything's at, what the goal is and what the objection of what's trying to happen because I think some more of these concerns are going to come out as you go along. And I think the fire department's next and they come in with you know I I you know they're going to get rid of four tires on a truck and then that's going to cause a big ruckus on how many truck tires they need or whatever. So I just want to get ahead of those kind of rumor mills and anxiety and stress that create it for real people that are working and others that are there that the rumor mill is going to start. So again, they're all just trajectory to look at it till we get time or get the numbers that we need to really have a good answer to the solutions. So that we'll move on to the mayor's report. Um so a couple things. Um uh attended the 1890 historic mark dedication. It's great that that's finally up there. I couldn't believe there isn't one all these years. And there's another one going up on 18 Thomas Street next Thursday for another property. So, our historic society has been doing a great job in getting these out. I think that's the third or fourth one, third one that I've done that's in here. So, we appreciate all their efforts in making those things happen. Uh, and attended the 2026 Portland County Distinguished Citizen Award. It's great to hear, you know, Andy Bugs his whole life. It was she done a lot for our community and just amazing to hear all the good stories. Always good to hear good things. uh the attended the 2026 high school opportunity fair at Sydney Portland uh and that that was uh very uh very positive and lot all the students came in to see what's out there and had representatives from Sydney there as well. Met with community leaders to discuss housing needs and the housing study that's coming out for the county. Uh so we have a group that's working together towards making addressing those wants and needs and

identifying those areas and all the areas that are available for uh improvements for uh commercial as well. Central New York regional planning meeting attended that last week and uh got an update on micron pretty impressive where that micron is and the impact that's going to happen. you know, it'll be all year just doing the dirt on the ground, but uh it's pretty the numbers are staggering for sure. Attended soil and water conservation 80th anniversary tree planting at the waterworks. Uh that was uh they've been doing a lot. They're behind the scenes people that do a lot and they've done a lot for our community or for our city specifically on our uh solar field inspections to make sure we don't get wash out, make sure that everybody's doing the jobs properly. So, we appreciate the partnership there as well as helping us with our trees and the waterworks and making sure that those are where they need to be and some shading on stream beds and some of the other issues that they help us with. Horn ducky derby is always a fun time. Great, great turnout. Beautiful weather for it. One of the best I've been to yet. Uh yesterday, Senator Schubert came in. It's always great to see him and he attended the Courtland County Mental Health Facility ribbon cutting. They did an nice honoring plaque of him and a picture with a picture of him when he was much younger. So he took offense to that, but we get a chance to look at that at the building. Uh it's great to great to see that it's very supportive and great given us that uh huge need for our community and I know that uh you know that mental health having that there and you know I think we're going to pay the price probably another property will come off the tax rolls. They need additional parking to keep it safe off the streets there. So that's unfortunate but I think their their mission is a huge mission. Um so um so fri town gal meeting was yesterday uh was really the ongoing and outgoing uh presidents the SGA were there. So it's great to meet the incoming ones as well as the outgoing ones. The outgoing ones

were one of the best we've had since we done this town gown. They've been great. Students have been great this year. We've really had little problems. We had spring fling this weekend and uh that was I think as chief said the best in 33 years. Is that right? I think so. Yes. So uh so that's been good. Still some issues, still some areas of to be addressed. Uh but overall it was great. But remind everybody that the last day of class is this Friday. So after that, you know, there'll be some finals and u and then there'll be areas that have trash. Once they do move out, they've been instructed. We have uh reuse centers going to be taking a lot of that. There'll be dumpsters set up. There'll be trash and there'll be some gives the landlords a couple weeks to move some trash. So, everybody be patient with that because it's going to be a as we know it continuous. But, uh there is a plan and there is a designation. We just got to give everybody time to get it done and all the landlords have agreed to moving in that streamlined process. But, they got a lot some of them have a lot to handle. Friday is Guthri's night and gale event certainly recognizing all the nurses met at the hospital this week as well. their crosswalk across the planting lot and solar ones for that. So, thanks DPW for that. Uh getting that solar light in there. There's a huge concern for their safety and they were appreciative of that. Um Portland State, last thing I want to notice, I went to a TC3 baseball game this weekend down at their campus, which is always great to watch them and they actually won a tight squeeze pull out. The the Courtland State teams have been doing great. lacrosse, you know, is moving on. Men, women, softball as well. Men, women, lacrosse, softball, and baseball are are doing really well. Um, and um, with that, I think that's all I had. So, we'll move to uh, Ward One.

Very good. Uh last meeting I asked about the environmental advisory committee and mayor if you need help I'd be more than happy to help in terms of trying to track down people to potentially serve on that committee. I think it's a valuable one and part of that uh the next question and not for right now but with the weather warming up bike racks in the downtown core looking forward to seeing a little bit more and what's going to happen with that. And another question at some point I know you and Chuck had a meeting with the county last week talked a little bit about love to get some feedback in terms of how that went. I had a couple of residents were concerned about some water bills and thank Matt Wedgie because we had a great conversation about where we're at and some of the older meters are creating problems and that's something that probably should be on our radar in the next year or so. and Katie, great board meeting I attended. Katie had a meeting last week and uh inspired me. I'd like to have a meeting down at Parker School and I'm going to plan that in the next month or so. uh sent an email to everybody a little bit earlier today because after our last meeting reading through the minutes uh there was some discussion about the resolution from January of 2024 to pursue the state financial restructuring board that it would be good for us to redo that conversation just as a meeting was started. Uh Chuck saying that we can wait until the next meeting for that, but looking forward to having that discussion and putting that onto council agenda. And u another question I guess directed toward the mayor is in terms of agenda items. How would you like council members to proceed for asking for agenda items to be placed on the council agenda?

Just like we've always talked before, it goes through the appropriate department, right? So department would be they would they would help help with that resolution and Randle's offer to write them as well. Very good. Thank you. That's my report.

So benches and bike racks. The benches are I think just finished those and they'll be going out. The old benches are restored and done and uh so they should be going out as well. So those two items are um and the Wi-Fi is up and running. I wish I could tell everybody the password, but we'll do social media on that too. Um, there's a password for the Wi-Fi on Main Street. So, my old public parks and the Wi-Fi is the same password. I I don't recall what it is and Andrew is not here to help me. So, um, I made it something simple so I wouldn't forget. Um, okay. That's why I had downtown. So, I'm sorry.

You can call me Katie. I know that a lot of you think we as buzz kill Katie anyway because we pray for rain on the weekends and weather

and that really helped this last weekend. Although I have to say the police did a great job and um it was a dream. It was just like any other neighborhood. You know, we could go to sleep without hearing pounding bass. we could watch TV and and it was great. And we're only going to have them for a little bit longer and they do have their it is nice to have them around in many ways. Um anyway, so the neighborhood's been quiet because it's been a cold, wet spring and I did have a city council uh war two meeting, excuse me, a war two meeting at Barber and boy does that gym look nice. It is just totally refurbished and looks so great. Um

thank you Franco.

Yeah, thank you Franco. We had about 20 people. They were very concerned about a property on Westport and the mayor went and spoke with the owner and looked at the work that's been being done and I was able to reassure everyone that um there's going to be a family in there. So, they're all excited uh about that. So, that's wonderful. uh they still have some concerns that I'm trying to address. So I met with our corporation council just before this meeting to talk about it. I was really uh grateful that the chief of police attended the meeting. Um corporation council attended the meeting. Our deputy fire chief and the mayor were there as well as Mr. Tobin ward one. And that was just great because they were able to answer questions that I would have had to gone go to them to get the answers anyway. So it was just really really helpful and I appreciate it. And that's it. That's it for the second board.

Going to be rainy and cold this weekend too for the next two weeks. Something to look forward to. I'm so sorry. So, third board, um, balls quiet, still working on what was brought up at the board meeting couple of months ago, a little over a month ago, um, about streets and I know the mayor has been addressing that issue. So, I'm going to schedule another board meeting as soon as we have some things worked out. So, end of Mayish, right after Memorial Day, and I'll have an update for that. Otherwise, we're good.

Um, like to thank the chief for setting up the speed machine. I don't know what do you call that? Radar trailer.

Okay. Radar trailer. Uh, up by the red dragon, not on my side lawn. Um, and it it's got some issues that are going to be looked into, but the red lights work when when people are coming speeding coming into the city. Um, if we could have one on the other side, so when they're going out, that would be great. Um, I spoke last time about the fact the big event that happened and that it the big event did not happen at my house. Um, I was on campus uh for work and I happened to run into a couple of young ladies who were in the government, the student government, and I spoke to them about it. And last Sunday there were four people at my house

who was cleaning up and and so I got to give them the $60 Pontillo card. Um so yeah it was great to get a a wonderful job. Um I also attended the job fair at the college last Tuesday. Uh the area businesses were amazing and the police department was there and every police department, sheriffs were there and and uh the campus police were there and so many businesses that kids who attend Boseies could hook up with

and it was Homer. We all we brought seniors. Um, I don't know what what anybody else did, but I mean there were Whitney Point was there. Uh, all the area schools were there. It was it was a very nice event. There you go. Thank you, Mr. Con.

Thank you. As Mr. Scher was kind to point out, I have been having issues with my email. I did reach out to the city's IT department. I was told there was nothing I could do or they could do to help me out. I've deleted hundreds of emails from it. I'm getting some, but apparently not other emails. So, I do apologize if you reached out and I have not heard back. Please follow up. I apologize for any means, but I will work on getting in touch. Uh, I've also met with some constituents on safety issues um particularly with crosswalks on Main Street. It's an ongoing concern, especially with the nicer weather. uh as well as a blind street on South Main and Randall um where some folks have some concerns about visibility turning off Randall onto Main Street. So, look forward to having some conversations with that. Uh these were discussions I had over the weekend. So, that does it for the fifth board that I appreciate.

Thank you. U Mr. talking with um just real quick. They're finally getting that house down in Pome started today. That's done. That's done. I do so today. Just got looked down. Forget the number of it, but it's been vacant for years. Yeah. So, that needed to come. That took a while to go. Yeah, I know. So, other than that, it's pretty quiet.

Mr. Just uh just a couple of things. uh had a commercial business reach out to me uh regarding some issues with the homeless uh place two phone calls with them. I haven't received a response back. Uh I think my next step is I'll I'll probably pop in and talk to him instead of trying to reach him by phone. I think that's probably the the quickest way to find out what's going on. Uh also had a woman uh has a two family rental. uh she has some questions regarding uh uh the new permit process regarding inspections and uh I stopped in and spoke to Cole today and they're going to reach out to her to try to answer some of her question concerns. Uh we have two chicken permit inspections uh coming up. One's on the agenda tonight. Uh once again, it looks like I'm back in a chicken bit tonight. And uh that's basically all I have for tonight. Thank you.

Thank you. Moving on. Accept the minutes. Can I get a motion for the minutes as presented? Silvin. Any questions? All in favor?

I carried. Resolution agenda item number one authorizing mortgage subordination and agreement. Resolve that the city of Corland subordinates its mortgage instrument uh numbered 20122-10232 record on March 3rd, 2022 with the Courtland County Clerk said subordination to facilitate a new mortgage with NBT Bank in the approximate amount of $350,000 for said owner and further authorizes Mayor Steve to sign a subordination agreement for the same.

Motion Mr. back with a second. Miss Lang, any questions? Please. Council member Toler. Hi. Council member Silivan. Hi. Council member Panel. Hi. Council member Lane. Hi. Council member. Hi. Council member Beckler. Hi. Council member Michaels. Hi.

Agenda item number two. Authorize discharge of declarations of interest agreement. Resolved that the common council authorizes the discharge of the declaration of interest filed against 77 to 79 Main Street contingent upon receipt of $48,000 from Portland Student Living LLC in satisfaction of the repayment obligation and be further resolved. The mayor Steve is hereby authorized to execute any and all documents necessary to execute said discharge. I motion speak of it. Any questions on this? So I know Mr. talking about repayment of loans if they do it. This was a facade payment and they're selling the property so they have to repay. I'm hoping that we can get that rolled back into another facade but probably they will go back to the state as a session. You

going to ask when it does come in where does it go to the city? Goes back to the state. What's that? It'll come through the city though. What account can we get an update when it happens? What account it's going into and then the adjustment? Yeah, I'm I'm I'm sure we can get that out finance, but I think doesn't that go right to Toma and then they pay it back. It goes right to Toma and they pay the state to actually came to us and we're just sending it right back out. 82,000. Is that

No, no, that's not the same one. I think it goes right to to 99% sure. Yeah, we'll find out. We'll put that put that on a tape in the next meeting, please. Um, but I'm 99% sure receives it and then sends it back to student. Anybody else? Can I vote, please? Council member Tolen. Hi. Council member Silon. Hi. Council member Panelloo. Hi. Council member Lane. Hi. Council member Con. Hi. Council member Becker. Hi. Council member Mentos. Hi. Agenda item number three. amend the 2026 adopted general fund budget.

Resolved that the city of Corland County Council does hereby amend the 2026 general fund budget as outlined in the accompanying table. Uh increasing account for other unclassified revenue by $3,000 to make the uh total amount in line 5,000. increasing uh line for um operating equipment, increasing that by $5,000 to 30 for a new total line total of 35,000 and increasing uh the line for refunds of prior year's expenses by 2,000 for a new budget amount of 22,000.

I need a motion, please. I'm Mr. Any questions? So the other classified revenue and the refunds, those are revenue, correct? It's money coming in. Right. There's $5,000 coming in, 5,000 going out. But there was originally $2,000 budgeted in that other unveified revenue that I didn't think we'd get. So we moved it to another line that it wouldn't get moved. Okay. So right now the fire department's going in at 5,000 not 7,000 is fine is what we did.

And that's a permanent grant. $5,000 per grant for washer and dryer replacement chief was washer and dryer. That's $5,000 for washer and dryer replacement for permanent grant money. So what is the unclassified revenue and what was the roof funds on prior years? What was

that? There was nothing there. We just moved it into that line. So these two match up. This is now going to be five and five. It was just easier way for us to match it up. There was 2,000 original budgeted there that should probably should not have been budgeted then. Okay, we just kill that. So the refunds of prior year expenditure that's money that is there. I'm I'm not it's there was originally $2,000 budgeted in other unclassified revenue.

Three grand there. The three grand there. Yes. Okay. Okay. What if you throw that five 5,000 in there that brings it up to seven and it wouldn't match up. It'd be seven and five. We just moved it to another line. Okay, that's not going to unless it's going to happen. But just so these two are are not matched up. This this is going to match up in the system is fine and fine.

Okay. Because my impression was that the uh the second we're not going to get this refunds of prior years. It's a way for us to try to keep this so we can track it what what he spends what the money comes in. I'll ask you more about it holding things up. Sorry about that. Anybody else? Council member Tobin. Hi. Council member Silman. Hi. Council member Panel. Hi. Council member Lane. Hi. Council member Conwell. Hi. Council member Becker. Hi, Council Member Michaels. Hi.

Agenda item number four, amenda 2026 adopted sewer fund budget. Resolved is the city of Portland County Council does hereby amend the 2026 sewer fund budget as outlined in the accompanying table decreasing an account for motor equipment repair by the amount of 20 uh $218,500 uh for a new count line total of $41,216,000 increasing professional services line. uh by that same amount of two of $218,500 for new total outline amount of 343,136,000.

Can I get a motion, please? Miss Ling Michaels, any questions? So decreasing motor equipment line by 218,000 is that going to impact potential repairs later? It should not. Not necessarily,

which I mean that's a significant budget number to begin with. Is there a reason why the number was that high if it's not going to be utilized this year? Well, going into it as brand new as I was last year working with um so I'm pretty new at all just right.

Yes. Um it was the understanding that the WQIP the 20% contribution to the city was going to be uh engineering would be included in that was not. So that is why that one that opportunity that answers my next question was by professional services. So that show we're able to carry out a lot of inhouse repairs. We have still for instance we just repair the weight holding tank that we have. We had an instance where a mixer broke off and fell into the bottom of the tank. We had equipment that we had from a process that was installed back in 2014, but we no longer use. We were able to salvage that equipment and put it in place and save the city approximately $1,000.

Thank you for doing that. And it works now. And the generator's running and we are who had to go to the bottom of the tank. Who were you mad at that day? Haven't done it yet. Haven't done it. Well, we can take volunteers, Mr. That's not I like to be. I'll hold your ankles for you. Yikes. Anybody else? Sounds like good fireman training to me. All right, let's move, please. Council member Tobit. Hi, Council Member Sllohan.

Hi, Council Member Panel. Member Lane. Hi, Council Member Conlin. Hi, Council Member Beckley. Hi, Council Member Michaels. Hi.

Agenda item number five, authorize the purchase of a K police K9. Resolve that the C uh excuse me, resolve that the common council does hereby authorize the purchase of a police K9 and necessary training services with funds to be appropriated from account TEO2001 which is the K9 donations trust in an amount not to exceed $15,500. And be it further resolved that the mayor is hereby authorized to execute any and all agreements necessary to complete the acquisition of the K9 and associated training services. I got a motion, Miss Sman. I think we all should.

Yeah. Um so um again I commend I'm going to give Cheyenne credit and chief for um leading the pack and giving donations way far exceed. So, want to make sure you recognize it. Uh, but uh it's a a small male dog. Beautiful, beautiful dog. Um, black base atti at TI is his name. And it's I'm not probably not supposed to say this, but it was taken from a derivative from it's really an atomic bomb. So, obviously he's got a small but powerful but kind, right? So, I've seen some uh videos of this uh bite and uh so we're excited to have him and uh it's going to be different to see Officer Perkins who's 6'4 or whatever he is and uh with a small canine and then Officer Drake with a large one. So, it's going to be interesting to see that. But, uh we're excited for Eddie to come in and get sworn in, you know, get we'll bring him the council and meet when Oh, yeah. after his training. What what breed?

Yeah. Yeah. Good job. Yeah. Okay. Anybody else? Can it please? Council member Tobin. Hi. Council member Silvin. Hi. Council member Panel. Hi. Council member Lane. Absolutely. Council member Conlin. Hi. Council member Beckwood. Hi. Council member Michaels.

Hi. Agenda item number six, authorized agreement with Quinn Leven Piervic and Krauss Architects and Engineers LPC QPK design for professional service for accessibility study at Portland City Hall. Resolved that the common council of the city of Corland hereby authorizes the city to enter into an agreement with QPK design for the provision of professional services for an accessibility study at uh Courtland City Hall. Be it further resolved that the mayor is hereby authorized to execute the agreement on behalf of the city. And be it further resolved that the expenditures associated with this agreement shall be charged to account H1975415000 city hall in uh amount not to exceed $50,000. And that grant reimbursement will be deposited uh to um account H1997-44910 city hall and via further resolve the disagreement shall become effective upon execution of the authorized parties.

Oh, I definitely move it. Miss, anybody have any questions? I think it's exciting to see what comes out of it and certainly we need to update the way to get in and out of this building for everybody.

There was I I provided a copy of an email uh from Alex Makowski from uh Access to Independence. she had uh wanted to come in person to speak uh in support of this but was not in town. I think lobbying in Albany perhaps and um so you see there her letter in support and she also or the organization also provided a letter in support of the uh CDPG grant application. Certainly we'll be partnering then as we do with all of our stuff to make sure that we have everything compliant and help get some good ideas. Anybody else? Please. Council member Tolen.

Hi. Council member Silon. Hi. Council member Canelo. Definitely. Council member Lane. Hi. Council member Conlin. Hi. Council member Beckwell. Hi. Council member Michaels. Hi.

Agenda item number seven. Authorize agreement with MA. Bonjavani Incorporated for general construction for water quality improvement project WQIP at the wastewater treatment facility. Resolve that the common council hereby authorizes Mayor Steve to enter into an agreement with MA Bon Giabani Incorporated for the general construction contract for the wastewater treatment facility water quality improvement project and an amount not to exceed $2,185,000. It be it further resolved that this project is funded uh through the uh water quality improvement uh project grant and associate local share from account uh H8197-520607 as previously authorized by the county council. I got a motion please.

I'll move it. Miss Sman, Miss Panel. Um any questions? Yes. And gentlemen budget. Council member Tolen. Hi. Council member Silan. Hi. Council member Panel. Hi. Council member Lane. Hi. Council member Conlin. Hi. Council member Beckley. Hi. Council member Michaels. Hi.

Uh, agenda item number eight. want to note that there's a resolve that it's the same account number that should been on the number seven resolve and the resolve and Andy will read it hopefully state for the minutes that should be 8 H8197-520607 capital and pool WQIP same as the one before so we just want to make sure we note that sure agenda might we'll read it when you get to that please agenda number eight authorized agreement with emerald electrical electrical instruction construction for the water quality improvement from the QAP at the wastewater treatment facility.

Resolve that the common council hereby authorizes mayor Steve to enter into an agreement with Emerald Electrical Contractors for the electrical construction contract for the wastewater treatment facility water quality improvement project and an amount not to exceed uh $243,200. Be it further resolved that this project is funded through the water quality improvement uh project grant and associated local share from account H8197-520607 as previously authorized by the county motion M back any questions the the not that we just authorized A couple items back was 2185. Correct. And this one is 243200. Do we have difference? You had the 243 plus the 2.2. Okay. That goes into the WQIP project. These are these two eight and nine are all part of the same WQIP project. And it's what we wanted about 48,000. Joe,

what are we under? About $48,000 between the two of them with a grant. So you add up both of those things and take the whole project cost that this is they're under budget by like 48,000. So just doing math that from that correct and then there's a five there's a 500 some thousand there's a match that's the grant. Then there's Joe is a match like 20%. 20%.

So there's there's a roughly about $500,000 also. So this is really 2.7 again. That's the grand that's the right plus there. I'm just trying to do the math because then right so we take the 2.2 2 plus the 20% which is like 500,000 that gets us up to 2.7 and you take those two they're underneath that 2.7 by about 48,000. Okay. This a previously approved bond. Yeah.

Anybody else? Everybody understand that they follow a bond that was covering the cost of the day from last time. We're going to be under that. It's under what the grant bargains are going to be by 50,000. Well, 3047 gets under budget like you promised. Anybody else? Please. Council member Tol. Hi, Council Member Silman. Hi, Council Member Panel. Hi, Council Member Lane. Hi, Council Member Conlin. Hi, Council Member Beckler. Hi, Council Member Michaels.

Hi. Agenda item number nine, approve exotic pet permit for 10 Harrison Street. Resolved that the city of Corland County Council does hereby approve the issuance of an exotic pet permit to James and Carolyn Knight for the keeping of three chickens at 10 Harrison Street. And be it further resolved that the city clerk shall issue that permit condition upon satisfactory inspection and approval by a city design made representative and fulfillment of all applicable state and local code requirements and that continued compliance with said requirements shall be maintained. I a motion. Go ahead. Second, Mr. Beckwood. Any questions?

I think realized chickens were considered apparently there inspection and I had just so I think some u additional legislation I'll probably come before the council at some point. I was really impressed with the number of neighbors that wrote in to support this uh desire for three chickens. Yeah, I think there's going to be a whole lot of eggs being pastor. Maybe. Right. The eggs are expensive. So maybe this usually usually takes off just just after Easter. I think once everybody sees those chicks.

Yeah. The kids want that chicken. So that's not so nice of us. As long as they don't get a rooster because I don't think the neighborhood would probably appreciate a rooster. Our law say they only go be out on time. Mr. You had a rooster behind your house for a while. Is it still there? I haven't heard it in a while. I haven't heard it in a while, but I was surprised when I heard him growing. Anybody else? Whitler. Council member Tobin. Hi. Council member Silman. Hi. Council member Panel. Hi. Council member Lane. Hi. Council member Conlin. Hi. Council member Beckwith. Hi. Council member Michaels. Hi.

Agenda item number 10. Amend title and purpose trust and agency account TE2044 fire departmentary donations. Resolved that the county council hereby declares the equipment listed in the table below a surplus and authorizes the department of public works to sell set equipment through RTI auctions. And be it further resolved that any proceeds from sale shall be placed into account a 501042665 sale. You're missed. Yeah. Oh, that was just practice.

Anxious. Go ahead. We all resolved that said account designated as TE2044 shall be retitled fire department community risk reduction and fire prevention donations. And be it further resolved that the fire chief is hereby authorized to utilize donations dually accepted by the county council and set account for community risk reduction and fire prevention products. A motion Mr. Beck second. I'll second that. Mr. Any questions? Yeah. Why chief?

I gonna send the battalion chief folks.

He's so um this account is a donation account that's been in existence in the fire department for a very long time. So basically when we receive donations that are not allocated for a specific purpose we put them in this what we call the defib account and over time it would approve uh funds and if we need if we were placed in a in the department we would use that money to do that. What we're finding now is we're getting donations that are designated for other things and our smoke detector program uh that we've been very successful with. um donations are coming in to support that. We have really no way to do that in any other uh donation account. So, this will allow us to put money in there, purchase smoke detector as we need. Um we're also working with um some installation of those and are getting money back for that. Um so, we got a lot of things in the hopper, but this allows the money to go in and we get money to buy other detectors because the program just keeps kind of above the heart. That's what I ask for.

Excellent. Okay. Great. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, Steve. Anything else? Please. Council member Tobin. Hi. Uh, council member Silon. Hi. Council member Panel. Hi. Council member Lane. Hi. Council member Conlin. Hi. Council member Beckwith. Hi. Council member Michaels. Hi. Item number 11. Declare Department of Public Works equipment surplus and authorized sale by auction. That's right. That's right. I'll move it. Y Mr. A second. Mr. Tobin. Any questions? Move, please. Council member Tobin. Hi. Council member Sllivan. Hi. Council member Panelloo. Hi. Council member Lane. Hi. Council member Conlin. Hi. Council member Beckley.

Hi. Council member Michaels. Hi.

Agenda item number 12. Authorize a sole source contract with Gster Associates for the repair and upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant screen. Resolve that the city of Corland County Council hereby designates the procurement of the Dirt Duke Aaron Bar Sweening Parts and Installation Services as a sole source procurement as Kester Associates is the only licensed entity capable of providing these proprietary components and certified labor in New York. It be it further resolved that the county council hereby authorizes Mayor Stey to execute an agreement with Kester Associates for parts, equipment, and installation and testing services as identified in the proposed scope of work by tester for an amount not to exceed $75,340.71 to be paid for by account G8130-5405500. who are equipped.

I have an option please. Mr. Tolman, any questions, please? Council member Tobin. Hi, Council Member Sil. Hi, Council Member Melo. Council member Lane. Hi, Council Member Conlin. Hi, Council Member Beck. Hi, Council Member Michaels. Hi. I know Mr. J wants to go home but I'd like to get a motion for discuss negotiations and for executive session please miss a second please have a second all's in favor I executive session there should be no action there will be no action Good

Where are those paid documents? Yeah, I already signed it or signed. Can you say for the video that uh check with and lane then that'll be a motion for German to You