Common Council - Regular Meeting

I don't know. Good evening. This is the organizational meeting of the Rome Common Council. The date is January 14th, 2026 and time is 6:50 p.m. Mr. Se, please call the role. Councelor Spice, present. Councelor Mortise, present. Councelor Fazio, present. Councelor Smith, here. Councelor Riley, present. Councelor Dury, present. Councelor Spolia,

present. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. [clears throat] 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, liberty and justice for all. [clears throat and cough] Before we get to matters of consideration, I just like to welcome our new counselor, John Riley. Welcome. Welcome to the council. Thank you, Mr. President. Resolution matters for consideration. Resolution number one, authorizing the mayor to attend various conferences during the year 2026. Move it. Councelor Smith

second. Councelor Dury moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. Oppos. Resolution carries. Resolution number two, designating official radio station for the city of Rome, New York. Move it. Councelor Spice. Councelor Fazio [snorts] [clears throat] moved in moved and seconded. Any discussion? This is for radio station WKA. [clears throat] Any any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Resolution number two is carried. Resolution number three. Designating the Daily Rome Daily Sentinel as the official newspaper of the city of Rome. Move it. Councelor Sprayia. Second.

Council Sprace. Resolution number three has been moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. Oppose. Resolution carries. Resolution number four, creating standing committees of the common council for the January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 term. That council and councelor Morris been moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor of resolution number four say I. I. Oppos. Resolution carries. Resolution number five. Appointing President Pro Tempor of the common council of the city of Rome, New York. Move it. Councelor Dery second.

And councelor Mortis moved and second. Any discussion? Councelor Mortise. President, members of the council, I would like to nominate councelor Spice for promp. Do we have a second? Second. Councelor Riley. The amendment uh has been moved and seconded. Any discussion on the amendment? All those in favor say I. I amend. The amendment carries. The resolution as amended. All those in favor say I. I. [clears throat] Opposed. Resolution number five as amended is carried. Chair entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Councelor Spalia. Second. And councelor Sprace. All in favor say I. I.

Opposed. We are adjourned. We will resume at 7 o'clock.

Sir. Yep. Good evening. This is a regular session of the Rome Common Council date of January 14th, 2026 and the time of 7 p.m. Mr. Seal, please call the role. Councelor Sprace, present. Councelor Mortise, present. Councelor Fazio, present. Councelor Smith, here. Councelor Riley, here. Councelor Dury, present. Councelor Spriet,

present. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. [clears throat] 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. The imication will be offered by President Nash. Lord, remind us of the trust and responsibility placed in our hands. May we be thoughtful stewards of this trust, holding ourselves accountable to act in the best interests of the people we represent. Amen. This time the meeting is open to the public. You have your opportunity to appear before the council and discuss city affairs. If you'd like to speak, step up to the back microphone, state your name and address, and sign in for the record. We are ready for our first speaker.

[snorts]

Good evening. Excuse my voice. I It's a little squirrely today. But Shelley Gardner, 118 River Street, Bradley, Rome, New York. Um, I'm here because, and I've come almost every winter, [clears throat] but we're better than this to have people forced to walk in the roads on Eerie Boulevard, Black River Boulevard, um, Dominic Street. Uh, you know, kudos to the folks that businesses, especially on those big roads that plow directly to do their their pieces, but they leave the sides, so they're impenetrable. They don't do their sidewalks. And I want to give kudos to those that do. Um, like Davidson, that whole block and the Walmart people. I mean, they're people that walk and it's cruel. I mean, I just don't I don't get it. I don't get it. How And we and we're all driving past them and we go, "Oh gosh." And you feel bad for a nancond. But that's not right. And so Davidson, Taco Bell, I mean, corporate companies, McDonald's, Taco Bell, they know better. Kaplan, who has I believe it's Kaplan that owns the the shopping center, they take care of theirs. But after Taco Bell, the um cement, the um Lowe's, I mean, they have the equipment and they don't do it. And then you get to the next block and it's stellar. And you got to say thank you. You go below that again. And I'm not saying that both sides have to be equipped, but you got to give people a

chance on one side and especially the Walmart side or the the the the food um that stretch. And then when you go when you come down the boulevard, um that whole array is is absolutely is deplorable where they plow their areas and they use their big pickup trucks and block and that stuff turns solid and you see people again walking in [clears throat] the roads. We're better than this. Now, let's take Black River Boulevard, Rose Gardens. For Christ's sakes, it's a residential. I mean, these are companies that are making money. This isn't, you know, when they say the little old lady that we feel sorry for or we we as neighbors, and I I do, you take care of that. But guess what? There's very few neighbors, I mean, little old ladies or or or elderly or um that own homes anymore that are incapable of of doing their sidewalks. That's a diminishing. It's it's it's colloquial. sounds real heartfelt and, you know, almost hearkens back to a Norman Rockwell, but that's not how that's that's not the multitude of the people or the the the the the large s of the people that aren't uh shoveling their sidewalks. It's the ones that are paying people to come and plow their driveways and the plowers are using the sidewalks as as as total land and blocking that anybody even if they wanted to trudge through can't get through. Now, I would have loved to be a plow this year. They're making tons of money. So, if you can afford

to have somebody come at $75 a whatever they are, $100 a time, you can do your sidewalks. You guys get the you have the teeth by statute. And if you don't have it, then write it tighter, but start citing folks, not just, oh, isn't this horrible or somebody help your neighbor. Now the city is also not uh uh not innocent in this in this and the Rome Fire Department. I live on River Street happily and right on on Black River Boulevard at that point. Um they own the lot on the other side and uh and also the stretch, but that part's cleared so the engines and everybody can come out. But that's the beginning of the turn style for a walker to go up the boulevard coming off Brooks which is coming off river which is a lot of folks and that's their entry into the road. Now if they cross the street and they're coming over to here um I I it's not Brook Street or maybe it's it's Court Street. better at how it works at that point, but that still has a sidewalk. You're better than this. And bite these people, the YMCA, that George Street block, you have an accounting firm on the corner of Thomas and George all the way to the Y near a a shovel. Now, you tell me they're they're they're the homeless or the uh or the poor little old woman or uh retiree that can't afford to have their sidewalks shoveled. I mean, the whole corner

and the house across the street, the big uh mansiony type house, it's a corner. So, come on. We're better than this. I'm So, that's it. Thank you, Shel. Use your power, guys. Thank you.

Next speaker, please. Good evening, C President Nash and common counselors. Um, my name is Jason Taki. I'm the executive director of the Rome Art and Community Center at 308 West Bloomfield Street. And I wanted to take a little bit of time with you this evening to just give you all a brief introduction to the art center and to invite all of you to come out to the art center as well. I'd love to give you a tenure and talk about all the great things that we have going on and the work that we do for the community. I think a lot of times people drive down Bloomfield Street or George Street and they look at our house and they think, "Oh, that's a big beautiful mansion house, probably a private residence." or if they know that we are there, they think that we're a museum and but we're so much more than just a museum and we are definitely a beautiful house. I think the art center building is a real treasure. It is a city property as you all know and it's it's amazing place to work. I've been there for 5 years and the chance to be able to be there and learn about the house and share it with the community is one of the greatest joys that I have. So I'd like to just give you a little brief idea about what we do. So my week, last week, last five, seven days, whatever it is, there'll be seven days tomorrow, I guess. Technically, we had an art opening where we had 19 regional local artists creating work that we were doing for an art exhibit opening. It was the um capturing stillness exhibit that we were doing. And it was exciting for us to do that. We're not just a collection of old work. We're a place where people are coming and making new things. On Saturday, we had the pleasure of having

a celebration of life ceremony. I had a people, a couple call me up and say, "You know what? We have two family members who passed away and we would like to be able to honor them." And we grew up in Rome and one of our fondest memories was coming to the art center and doing piano recitals at the art center. And so their way of remembering their family that were longtime Romans was to come to the art center to celebrate that for them. And then on Monday, we had live music. It was lowcost almost free concert um celebrating again working artists in our community that were part of what we were doing here. And then yesterday I I had a meeting with people from Cornell Cooperative Extension to talk about our summer camp program. I don't know if you know this, but we have an 80kid summer camp program for eight weeks all summer long. And during that summer camp, they do things all day long. It's a great thing for working families and poor families. We have great subsidies largely in part thanks to our partnership with the city and the community development block grant. You've been able to support what we're doing to make camp affordable. It works out for families that are in financial need that they pay $60 a week for camp. You can't find a price better than that. The full eight weeks is less than $500 for a child to come to camp. And then um today I talked with my counselors and start planning for that summer camp that's coming up. So it would be really important for you all to understand that we're not just part of the fifth ward. We're not just a fancy house. We really are a community space that stresses creativity for the whole community. So you have residents in your wards that might be able to take advantage of the programs that we do. And that's how we understand our mission is to be a place where all Romans are welcome. That it's not just people who are, you know, artists or it's not just musicians. It's people who love the arts, who love

music, who love their children and want to find something to do. So, please, if you get a chance, give me a call at the art center. Schedule a time to come down and meet with me. I'll give you a tour. We'll talk about our preschool program, our summer camp program, all the different ways that we can provide your residents with something to do. I wanted to thank you for your time. Have a great evening. Thank you, Jason. I'll see if I can get pull the council see if we can set up a a day and time with you at some point. I think we we did that a while ago, I think. Right. So, about time for a new one. Next speaker, please. Anybody else wishing to speak? [snorts]

Public session is closed here. Okay. [clears throat] Uh, communications, Mr. S. Oh, will Pepper? Okay. I'm sorry. Entertain a motion that the reading of the minutes previous session be dispensed with and be approved. So move. Councelor Smith. [clears throat] Councelor Sparia moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. Opposed? Carried. Now we got communication.

North Side Bar LLC of 415 North James Street has notified the city clerk's office of its intent to obtain a liquor license. The following financial reports have been received and filed in the city clerk's office. Rome Historical Society and Jervis Library for quarter ended 9:3025. South Rome Senior Citizen Center for quarter ended 123125. Report of city officials. [clears throat] Anything guys? No. Uh reported counselors and general city affairs. Councelor Riley,

I just want to quickly talk about u what Jason was speaking about with the Roman community [clears throat] center. I had the privilege of uh getting a tour of the of the facility a couple weeks ago with Jason and a member of the board. Uh it is an outstanding facility. I and I got to tell you, I was not aware of how beautiful it was. The tour is great. They point out a lot of different things uh when when the place was built um a while ago. The carpenter house um they discussed that. Um we [snorts] discussed as far as uh getting the word out to the community in regards to this facility not being used like it should. Um so that's something in the future that you're going to see a lot more advertising. um and a lot more um promoting of this facility, not only the lawn as far as for concerts and things like that. But um you know, uh city related meetings would be wonderful to be there. It's a very warm facility. When you drive by it, Jason's right, it does look like a place that's like a mansion. It doesn't give me that feeling like I should be there. Um but it is. When you pull in there, you open the door, it's it's well lit. It's just a warm, happy family type of feeling. One thing that that Jason left out was they have a nursery school there that is probably one of the cutest nursery schools I've ever seen. It's just it's awesome. Um, he just touched on some of the things that they're doing at the community center. So, um, my suggestion to to to the counselors and to the citizens of Rome is to do what Jason says, to get with him to get a tour of the place and to think about it in the future. Thank you.

Thank you, Councelor Riley. Anyone else? Uh, report of committees. Council Ba. Thank you, President Nash. Um, on behalf of the parks, recreation, and youth activities committee, I just like to give a brief update on the post plan, which is the parks, open space, and trails. Uh the latest information we have is that the consultants are working on a draft and we'll have it to us in a few weeks. Once we have the draft, we will send it to the steering committee for feedback and it will be up on our website which is www.roises.com for public feedback as well. We will announce on social media when the draft is available for public comment. So again, there will be uh probably at least a couple public meetings where you'll have a chance to comment on it. And that's all I have. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you, Counc. Anyone else? Resolutions. Resolution number six. Authorizing the mayor of the city of Rome to accept a New York State swims grant for the lifeguard recruitment and retention incentive program in an amount not to exceed $20,000. Council Mortis. Second. Council Sprace. Resolution number six have moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor of resolution number six say I. I. Post. Resolution carries. Resolution number seven

authorizing three employees in the treasurer's office to attend the New York State Government Finance Officers Association Incorporated annual conference $1,665 plus tolls and mileage. Move it. Councelor Smith. Councelor uh Dersy. Moved and second. Any discussion? [clears throat] All those in favor of resolution number seven, say I. I. Oppos. Resolution carries. Resolution number eight, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement providing funds for the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency Incorporated Runaway and Homeless Youth Program. $1,600. Move it.

Councelor Spaya and Councelor Kazio moved and seconded. Any discussion? [clears throat] All those in favor resolution number eight say I. I. Opposed. Resolution carries. Resolution number nine authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement providing funds for the senior citizens council of Rome New York Incorporated $31,680. So council Morris second. Council Spra resolution has been moved and seconded. There's any discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppose. Resolution number nine is carried. Resolution number 10

authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement providing funds for the South Rome Senior Citizen Center $10,880. Move that. Councelor Fazio second. The resolution has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppose. Resolution number 10 is carried. [clears throat] Motion number 11, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Capitol Civic Center Incorporated $12,160. Move it. Councelor Smith. Second. Councelor Fazio moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. The resolution number 11 is carried. Resolution number 12

authorizing annual payment to the Rome Art and Community Center by the city treasurer $32,224. Move it. Councelor Smith. Councelor Riley moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Motion number [clears throat] 12 is carried. Resolution number 13. Authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Rome Cemetery Association for Care of the City of Rome Plot during 2026 $2,000. So move. Councelor Mortis. Councelor Dury moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppose. Resolution number 13 is carried. Resolution number 14

authorizing the mayor of the city of Rome to execute an agreement with the Lake Delta Volunteer Fire Department Incorporated $4,000. Move it. Councelor Spice second. And councelor Morris moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Resolution number 14 is carried. Resolution number 15 authorizing the mayor of the city of Rome to execute an agreement with the Stamwick Heights Volunteer Fire Department Incorporated $4,000. Councelor Spice and Councelor Mortise. Nope. You got to abstain. That's right. Councelor Spa moved and second. Any discussion? Councelor Mortis.

President, members of the council, I'd like to vote being a member of the department. Thank you. Thank you. Any [clears throat] further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Ros number 15 carries with one abstension. Rose number 16. Authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Jervis Public Library Association $322,932. Move it. Council Smith. Second. Councelor Dury moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Resolution number 16 is carried. Resolution number 17. Authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Rome Historical Society $31,616. Move it.

Councelor Smith. Second. Councelor Spice moved and second. Any discussion? Dur. President Nash, members of council, I'm going to abstain from this vote being that I am um working with the board of the Rome Historical Society. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Resolute number 17 is carried with one abstension. Resolution number 18 authorizing the mayor of the city of Rome to execute lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management for the leasing of two Chevy Colorado and three Chevy Equinoxes. Move it. Council Spraia. Second.

Council Basio. Resolution number 18 has been moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Resolution carries. Resolution number 19. Authorizing four employees in codes office to attend the northern aderondac code enforcement officials educational conference $4,124 plus tolls and mileage. Move it. Councelor Smith second. Councelor Fasio. Resolution number 19 been moved and second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Resolution carries. Resolution number 20, authorizing the mayor of the city of Rome to enter into a cost sharing agreement with the town of Vienna for an amount not to exceed $100,450.

Move it. Council Dury resolution has been moved and seconded. Does any discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppose. Resolution number 20 is carried. Ordinances. Ordinance number 9840 authorizing mayor of the city of Rome to enter into rehabilitation agreement and approving the sale of a city-owned parcel located at 416 Matthew Street for $6,000. Move it. Second Mortise second and number 9840 has been moved and seconded. Unanimous consent has been moved and seconded. All those in favor unanimous consent say I.

I. I oppose unanimous sentence carried. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppose. Ordinance number 9840 is carried. Ordrance number 9841 authorizing mayor of the city of Rome to enter into rehabilitation agreement and approving the sale of a city owned parcel located at 11:22 Laurel Street for $10,000. Move. Council Pasio second. Councelor Riley. Unanimous consent. Councelor Dury second. Council Spraia orders number 9841 is moved and seconded. Unanimous consent has been moved and seconded. All those in favor of unanimous consent say I. I. Oppose. Unanimous consent is carried. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I.

I. Oppose. Ordinance number 9841 is carried. Ordinance number 9842. Authorizing mayor of the city of Rome to approve the sale of city own parcel 206 Depister Street to buyer $1,500. So move mortise second. Dery unanimous consent. Baralia second ordinance number 9842 has been moved and seconded. Unanimous consent been moved and seconded. All those in favor unanimous consent say I. I oppose. Unanimous consent is carried. Any discussion? All those in favor of ordinance number 9842 say I. I. Oppose. Ordinance number 9842 has been carried. Ord number 9843

authorizing mayor of the city of Rome to approve the sale of city owned parcel 104 Newton a to buyer $1,000 move it councelor Dury second councelor Fazio consent councelor spa second and councelor sprace ordinance number 9843 has been moved and seconded unanimous consent has moved and seconded all those in favor unanimous consent say I opposed unanimous consent is carried any Discussion. All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Ordinance number 9843 is carried. Ordinance number 9844.

Authorizing the mayor to enter into a lease agreement with the Rome Art and Community Center for City-owned property located at 308 West Bloomfield Street, Rome, New York. Councelor Riley, second. Councelor Smith. Yes. Councelor Dury. Second. And councelor Fasio. Ord number 9844 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. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. Oppose. Ordinance number 9844 is carried. Ordinance number 9845. Authorization to amend ordinance number 9803. Council Spur. Second.

Councelor Mortis. Unanimous consent. Council Spa. Second. And council Fazio. Warrant number 9845 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. Any discussion? [clears throat] All those in favor say I. I oppose. Ordinance number 9845 is carried. Chair runain a motion to remove ordinance number 9834 from the table. Councelor Dury. Second. Councelor Mortise. All in favor say I. Opposed forms number 9834

authorizing the discontinuence of a portion of a paper alley behind 1605 and 1607 North George Street known as Wolf Lane discussion. Dr. Dury, President Nash, members of the council, um thank you for taking this off the table. I wanted to take it off the table so we could put it back on the table. Um this is purely a housekeeping matter. Um, I I I was able to speak with a prospective person that wanted to purchase this land and he wants to have a little bit more discussion before [clears throat] uh we decide what we do. So, um to air on the side of of caution and make sure we have our due diligence, I'm going to um want to put this back on the table. Thank you. Do I have a second? Second,

Dr. Smith. Any discussion? All those in favor of reabling ordinance number 9834 say I. I oppose ordinance number 984 has been retabled. Chair entertain a motion to adjourn. So move. Councelor Smith second and councelor Dury. All in favor say I. Opposed. We are adjourned. Thank you all for coming out tonight.