Common Council - Regular Meeting

715 and we will begin the meeting with the public session I have a special part of public session tonight. I have a proclamation that I'd like to read It's recognizing September as suicide awareness month because this is the last meeting of the month I know it's only August but I wanted to get a head start on this because the next meeting will be towards the middle of September, so we want to get a head start on this. So if I could have my friends from the coalition come up. So I've got a proclamation I want to read, and then I have a microphone here for you guys to say a few words if you want. No pressure, though.

No pressure.

No, no pressure at all. But this is important. Anybody want to be on the side? There we go, two and two. I love this. Okay. All right. Recognizing September as Suicide Awareness Month. Today is Monday, August 24, 2026. Whereas September is recognized nationally as Suicide Awareness Month, A time dedicated to raising awareness, increasing understanding, and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide prevention. And whereas suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of nearly 50,000 people nationwide each year. Let me repeat that. That's worth repeating. Claiming the lives of nearly 50,000 people nationwide every year. And leaving countless families, friends, and communities devastated by its impact. And whereas the city of Oswego acknowledges the importance of mental health and emotional well-being and supports the efforts of local, state, and national organizations to educate our community about the warning signs of suicide and the resources available to help those in crisis. And whereas promoting open dialogue about mental health can save lives and it is vital to remind those who are struggling that help is available and they are not alone. And whereas the city of Oswego is committed to working together with community partners like the Oswego County Suicide Prevention Coalition, schools, healthcare professionals and residents to foster a supportive environment that prioritizes community efforts, compassion, understanding and hope. And now, therefore, I, Robert A. Corradino, mayor of the city of Oswego, do hereby proclaim September 2026 as suicide awareness month in the city of Oswego and I encourage all residents to educate themselves on suicide prevention, support those in need and help create a community where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to seek help without fear or shame. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 or use the 988 suicide and Crisis Lifeline for free confidential support 24-7. Signed, Robert A. Corradino, City of Oswego Mayor. We're gonna have him take a picture and then we'll have the microphone available for a few words. All right, let's get close here. All right, I'll make sure you get a copy of that. Stay up here.

Thank you, everybody. I just wanted to, again, give another thanks to the council here because we have started the whole conversation about mental wellness, mental health, and what it means to be healthy mentally. The council also has approved, I brought this just so people could see, this is the 988 signs. That's the 988 signs that will be going up around where the first responders and where the mental health professionals thought they could go as hot spots. And we are very grateful for the council, again, for opening up the conversation. I am in the process of trying to find some trainings for people, the public and for the council. And I appreciate it very much. Do you want to say anything?

Well, I certainly want to thank you for your efforts and everybody's efforts. This is an important topic. So thank you for all you do 24-7, 365 days a year. Thank you. This is for you. Okay, this is a public session and there's another nine minutes left of public session. I have the sign up sheet here in front of me. No one has signed up, so if there's anyone in the chamber that would like to speak, you have your time to do it. Oh, Councilor Meyer.

I received a letter from a constituent and she asked me to read this and the views and opinions in this letter are not necessarily that of mine. The letter reads, I cannot attend tonight's meeting, so I am requesting my counselor read it into the record during the public comment session. I've mentioned this council's lack of transparency before, and it was evident again at the last committee meeting when a presentation was given on a proposed study that would cost taxpayers $90,000 for work that could and should first be explored in-house. Apparently council members had received a PowerPoint presentation via email that the public could not view. More disturbingly, the mayor said he had not received it. The mayor, the city's chief executive officer, should not be excluded from information about a proposal of this magnitude and its potential cost to taxpayers. Since the budget workshop, much of the talk around town has centered on the proposed $30,000 raise for one employee. That is an exorbitant request, especially in a city where about 21% of residents live in poverty and per capita income is only about $32,279. Asking property owners, many of whom are already struggling with rising costs, to subsidize a raise nearly equal to the city's per capita income is extremely difficult to justify. The mayor also raised the issue of ransom payments. I contacted an FBI agent and former FBI agent with cybersecurity expertise who now works as a cybersecurity consultant. Both told me that paying ransomware should be a last resort after other options have been exhausted. They emphasize that strong prevention is critical, including mandatory multi-factor authentication, zero trust security principles, strict endpoint security, network segmentation, protected or air-gapped backups, rapid patch management, and regular phishing simulations to help employees recognize suspicious links and other threats. They also raised an important concern. Two people cannot realistically be expected to possess expertise in every area of network or cybersecurity. If the city has an additional $30,000 available for the IT department, perhaps taxpayers would be better served by using that money to increase staffing, even on a part-time basis, rather than giving the entire amount to one employee. both stressed that while online coursework can provide an academic foundation, mastering the intricacies of network security requires significant hands-on, in-person education. In other words, an online degree or certification does not necessarily demonstrate the real-world cybersecurity expertise needed to protect a network. I'm not gonna read that part. I will be returning to the media in the near future. Hence, I'll see you in the funny pages and old expression for see you later. Signed, Carol Thompson. Thank you. Thank you. Again, we have five minutes left of public session.

One more time, anybody else interested in speaking?

All right.

We'll close public session, and we will have a meeting beginning at 7.30.

Just starting.

Okay, 7.30, time to start the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. I 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.

Please call the roll. Senator, the mayor. Here. I don't have anything in the Mayor's report for a change, so we'll go right into resolution 262. Approved minutes, common council meeting held August 10th, 2026.

Councillor Plunkett, Councillor Thompson. Comments? Please call the roll. Councillor Lotzak.

Yes. Councillor Fitzgibbons. Yes. Councillor Mayer. Yes. Councillor Plunkett. Yes. Councillor Thompson. Yes. Councillor Kennedy. Yes. Councillor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 7-0. Call Resolution 263.

Appoint Commissioner of Deeds. Councillor Kennedy, Councillor Thompson. Comments? Please call the roll.

Councillor Lawson.

Yes.

Councillor Fitzgibbon. Yes. Councillor Mayer. Yes. Councillor Plunkett. Yes. Councillor Thompson. Yes. Councillor Kennedy. Yes. Councillor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passed 7-0. Call Resolution 264. Accept donation of a bench from Stephanie Hernandez to be placed on Cahill Pier.

Councillor Ashland, Councillor Thompson. Any comments?

Please call the roll. Councillor Longsack. Yes. Councillor Fitzgibbons. Yes. Councillor Meyer. Yes. Councillor Plunkett. Yes. Councillor Thompson. Yes. Councillor Kennedy. Yes. Councillor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 7-0. Call Resolution 265. Prove use of public space Becky Birch in order to host a block party on East Mohawk Street to be held on Sunday, September 13th, 2026.

Councillor Plunkett, Councillor Kennedy. Any comments? Please call the roll. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Please call the roll. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Council Lonsag, Councilor Meyer. Comments? Please call the roll. Council Lonsag.

Yes. Council Fitzgibbons. Yes. Councilor Meyer. Yes. Council Plunkett. Yes. Councilor Thompson. Yes. Councilor Kennedy. Yes. Councilor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 7-0. Call Resolution 268. Approve use of public space, Jean Ritz, in order to host the Ritz Kids Crush Cancer 5K Costumes for Cancer on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026.

Councilor Laudensack, Councilor Kennedy. Comments? Please call the roll. Councilor Laudensack.

Yes. Councilor Fitzgibbons. Yes. Councilor Meyer. Yes. Councilor Plunkett. Yes. Councilor Thompson. Yes. Councilor Kennedy. Yes. Councilor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 7-0. Call Resolution 269. Approve use of public space Harleen Gruel on behalf of PAWS across Oswego County Rescue in order to place signage to promote an upcoming event.

Councilor Laudensack, Councilor Ashland. Comments?

Yep.

Yes, Councillor Thompson.

I have a conflict of interest, so I won't be participating in the vote for this one and the next one.

Okay.

Please call the roll. Councillor Lawton. Yes. Councillor Fitzgibbon. Yes. Councillor Meyer. Yes. Councillor Plunkett. Yes.

Councillor Thompson. Recuse.

Councillor Kennedy. Yes. Councillor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 6-0-1. Call Resolution 270. Prove use of public space. Harlan Gruel on behalf of PAWS across Swiggo County Rescue in order to place 15 signs to promote the four PAWS golf tournament on Saturday, September 12th, 2026.

Councillor Plunkett, Councillor Ashland. Comments?

Please call the roll. Councillor Lawton-Sachs. Yes. Councillor Fitzgibbons. Yes. Councillor Meyer. Yes. Councillor Plunkett. Yes. Councillor Thomson. Rick Hughes. Councillor Kennedy. Yes. Councillor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 6-0-1. Call Resolution 271. Prove use of public space. Stephen Phillips on behalf of PorchFest in order to place signage to promote PorchFest 2026 on Sunday, September 20th, 2026. Councillor Kennedy.

Councillor Ashland. Comments? Please call the roll. Councillor Lawson. Yes.

Councillor Fitzgibbon.

Yes.

Councillor Meyer. Yes. Councillor Plunkett. Yes. Councillor Thomson. Yes.

Councillor Kennedy. Yes. Councillor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 7-0. Call Resolution 272. Prove use of public space, lease of the team on behalf of the Osugo County Suicide Prevention Coalition in order to place 20 Suicide Prevention Awareness Month signs.

Councillor Ashland, Councillor Kennedy, any comments? Please call the roll.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Please call the roll. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Councillor Plunkett, Councillor Ashland. Any comments?

Please call the roll. Councillor Lotzak. Yes. Councillor Fitzgibbon. Yes. Councillor Meyer. Yes. Councillor Plunkett. Yes. Councillor Thompson. Yes. Councillor Kennedy. Yes. Councillor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 7-0.

Please call Resolution 275.

Authorize City Chamberlain to complete a budget amendment in the amount of $60,000 to the City Chamberlain Contracted Services Account to retain financial consulting services.

Councilor Lautensack, Councilor Meyer. Comments? Please call the roll.

Councilor Lautensack. Yes. Councilor Fitzgibbons. Yes. Councilor Meyer. Yes. Councilor Plunkett. Yes. Councilor Thomson.

Yes.

Councilor Kennedy. Yes. Councilor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 7-0. Call Resolution 276. Adopt a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan update for Oswego County, New York.

Councillor Thompson, Councillor Ashland. Any comments? Please call the roll. Councillor Lawson.

Yes. Councillor Fitzgibbons. Yes. Councillor Meyer. Yes. Councillor Plunkett. Yes. Councillor Thompson. Yes. Councillor Kennedy. Yes. Councillor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 7-0. Call Resolution 277. Approve amended 2027 City Operating Budget and Tax Warrant.

Now, I understand through the grapevine, actually it was an email, that there might be some need for an executive session for this. Am I correct in thinking that?

Yes.

All right. Before we vote on this, we should probably have a motion to go into executive session.

Lausack and Meyer looking to go into executive session the point of order that the the reason would be for to discuss the medical financial credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation or matters leading to the appointment employment promotion demotion discipline suspension and Dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation all consistent with New York State Public Officers law section 105 Thank you very much Yes, that's Fitzgibbons.

Yes. That's a minor. Yes. That's a plunket. Yes. That's our Thompson. Yes. That's our Kennedy. That's our Ashline.

Yes All right, we will go into executive session. I suggest everybody turn the microphones off

Okay, a microphone.

Okay, I'd like a motion to come out of executive session. Enthusiastic Councillor Lonsak and Councillor Meyer. Any comments?

Please call the roll. Councillor Lonsak. Here. Councillor Fitzgibbon. Here. Councillor Meyer. Here. Councillor Plunkett. Here. Councillor Thompson. Here. Councillor Kennedy. Here. Councillor Ashland. Here. All present.

Okay, during the executive session there were a number of items discussed and we do have several budget amendments. Do you want to read the first one?

Yes, I'll be happy to and I'll, we need to defer to the city clerk's office on the assignment of the resolution. but there are four separate budget amendments under consideration. It would be my recommendation that we take each of these amendments separately and vote on them, and then ultimately go back to Resolution 277, which is the resolution to adopt the budget with the tax warrant, and then you'd consider adopting that as amended. So the first amendment, budget amendment number one, move the mayor's administrative assistance salary allocated to the IT department from account A1680-0101 to the mayor's personal services account A1210-0101, making the total allocation $109,134 and directing the Chamberlain to adjust the IT and Mayor's budget accordingly.

Okay, can I have a motion for budget amendment number one? Councilor Kennedy, Councilor Lovenson. Any comments? Please call the roll.

Councillor Lottensack.

Yes.

Councillor Fitzgibbons. Yes. Councillor Meyer. Yes. Councillor Plunkett. Yes. Councillor Thomson. Yes. Councillor Kennedy. Yes. Councillor Ashley. Yes. Resolution passes 7-0. Thank you. Item number two.

Budget amendment number two, maintain the IT director's salary at the contract rate of $102,255 plus a $2,500 stipend and direct the Chamberlain to adjust the IT budget accordingly.

Okay, I can have a motion on that. Councilor Meyer, Councilor Lautensack. Any comments? Please call the roll.

Councilor Lautensack. Yes. Councilor Fitzgibbon. Yes. Councilor Meyer. Yes. Councilor Plunkett. Yes. Councilor Thompson. Yes. Councilor Kennedy. Yes. Councilor Ashland.

Yes.

Resolution passed 7-0.

All right, budget number three.

Budget amendment number three, reduce account A1680-0470 from $6,000 to $2,000 for training and direct the Chamberlain to adjust the IT budget accordingly.

Can I have a motion? Councilor Kennedy, Councilor Lomsak. Any comments? Please call the roll.

Councilor Lomsak. Yes. Councilor Fitzgibbon. Yes. Councilor Meyer. Yes. Councilor Plunkett. Yes. Councilor Thompson. Yes. Councilor Kennedy. Yes. Councilor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passed 7-0.

All right, budget amendment number four.

Adjust account G. in the amount of $630,000 for a balance of $180,000 in that account and direct the Chamberlain to adjust the sanitation sewer budget accordingly.

I have a motion. Councillor Plunkett, Councillor Ashland. Any comments? Please call the roll.

Councillor Lawson. Yes. Councillor Fitzgibbon. Yes. Councillor Meyer. Yes. Councillor Plunkett. Yes. Councillor Thompson. Yes. Councillor Kennedy. Yes. Councillor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 7-0.

i believe that was the last budget amendment yes okay at this point then we have to circle back to uh item number 277 uh i need a motion to approve the 2027 city operating budget as amended Councillor Meyer, Councillor Laudensack. Any comments? Please call the roll.

Councillor Laudensack. Yes. Councillor Fitzgibbons. Yes. Councillor Meyer. Yes. Councillor Plunkett. Yes. Councillor Thompson. No. Councillor Kennedy. Yes. Councillor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passed 6-1.

Very good. That was the last item on the agenda. Is there any unfinished business? Seeing none, can I have a motion to adjourn? Councilor Thompson, Councilor Laudensack. Please call the roll.

Councilor Laudensack. Yes. Councilor Fitzgibbon. Yes. Councilor Meyer. Yes. Councilor Plunkett. Yes. Councilor Thompson. Yes. Councilor Kennedy. Yes. Councilor Ashland. Yes. Resolution passes 7-0. Meeting is over.