Common Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. This is regular session of Rome Common Council. The date is March 11th, 2026 and the time is 7 p.m. Mr. Seal, please call the role. Councelor Sprace, present. Councelor Mortise, present. Councelor Fazio, present. Councelor Smith, here. Councelor Riley, present. Councelor Derie, present. Councelor Spria, excused.

Please rise for 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. The invocation will be offered by the chair. Dear Lord, we pray for peace. Nope, I'm sorry, wrong one. Dear Lord, we commit ourselves today to the honorable task of governance. Let transparency, accountability, and wisdom guide our every act. Amen. At this point, the meeting is now open to the public. You have the opportunity to appear before the council and present your views concerning city affairs. If you wish to speak, step up to the back microphone, set your name and address, and limit yourself to five minutes. And please sign on on a speaker sheet to help us with the record. We are ready for our first speaker. Good evening. My name is Blair Gentther, 106 East Sycamore Street. I want to thank the council for the opportunity to speak this evening. Over the past several weeks, I've reviewed the city's publicly available financial documents, and what I found concerns me, not as a critic, but as a resident who wants Rome to succeed. I've put together a report and brought copies for the city and any interested members of the public who would like to see it. The report identifies a structural deficit that has grown worse each year, as well as a declining cash reserve position. The numbers are sourced entirely from public documents. I haven't added anything. I've just organized what's already there in a way that the council

may find useful. I want to be clear about my intent. These are hard problems that no single administration has created and no single administration can solve on their own. I put this together because I believe this council and this administration deserve to see this information and so do the people of Rome. It's not a critique of anyone in Rome. It's a resource for everyone in Rome. Uh, I also have a letter for each of you outlining my comments and questions regarding tonight's agenda. I'll leave that with you rather than take up any more of your time this evening. I'm also happy to answer any questions that you may have. And if anybody would like a copy of the report, I brought 24 tonight, so there should be enough for everybody that wants one. Thank you.

Thank you, Blair. Next speaker, please. Amanda Cortis Kas 102 Walnut Street and I am here um on behalf of Onidita County. Before you tonight is a proposed agreement um that is between Onidita County, the city and the New York State Department of Transportation. and it is in connection with the um Chbani development that will be happening on the county property uh at Griffith International Airport that we call the triangle. And I just wanted to give you kind of some a brief overview and some background information and let you know that I'm available in the event that there are any questions regarding this agreement. Um throughout the course of conceptual design of the triangle development, the county did an original traffic impact analysis that was shared with the department of transportation. Uh and out of that came the requirement for the county to install a roundabout at the perime at the intersection of state route 825 and perimeter road. And that was a decision that was made prior to uh Chbani choosing this site to do the the development. Once Chbani was uh chose this site and submitted the uh their seeker um environmental form, Onidita County in consultation with DOT did a second traffic impact analysis study um to update and modify any require or any recommendations that may come out of the actual numbers. out at the time that we had them. Uh no recommended changes came out of that. But this agreement that is in front of you is an agreement whereby uh Onidita

County is agreeing that at any time during the development and after development is complete and the plant has been in operation that if the New York State Department of Transportation requests that we perform another traffic impact analysis, we will do so and that we will uh work with them to implement any additional traffic or safety mitigation measures. the city is a party because it is in the city and state route 825 intersects with city roads. Um but the agreement itself um obligates the county to undertake those studies and to implement any traffic mitigation measures. Um so that's kind of a brief overview. If there are questions about it, I am available to answer them and thank you for your time.

Thank you, Amanda. Next speaker, please. Good evening, Bobby O'Brien. I'm uh speaking this evening as a member of the Rome Historical Society, President Nash, counselors, city representatives, and community members. I'm reaching out on behalf of the society to ensure that you have heard about this year's annual dinner. As usual, it's held at Delta Lake Inn. It will be on Saturday, March 28th. This event is an important fundraiser. Anyone who has attended will agree it's very enjoyable evening and this year is even more special. The guest speaker is none other than Mr. Joseph Giuliano, Commissioner of Public Works

before and now I've made that public. Uh

oh. Okay, so this is backfiring on me. I'm sure you'll all want to attend and add your support to a devoted city staffer while also joining the community in supporting the important work of the society. As is the custom, two awards are announced at the event. The history maker award recognizes, honors, and celebrates citizens and organizations that have made significant contributions to the greater Rome community. This year's recipients are David Hamar and Bo Presley for their preservation work at the Arsenal House. The second award is the Medal of the Order of 1777 and is the highest honor that the society has established. It's given to a person who in the conduct of life and effort exemplifies the highest charter purposes of the society. the finest virtues of citizenship and the ever reliant qualities of the true patriot. This person or persons are as worthy as the unconquered defenders of Fort Stanwicks were in their time and circumstances. This year's recipients are Diane and Paul Miller who have given so much to the community in so many ways. They have dedicated countless hours of volunteerism to not just the historical society but other important nonprofit organizations as well. Board of Trustees President Caitlyn Matichek Walda and Executive Director Colin Havner will also share some highlights from 2025. Please join us. Please.

It's a night dedicated to celebrating the historic city and community. Your support helps to fund future exhibits, programs, and preservation efforts that keep Rome's history alive. Cocktail hours at 5:30. Dinner begins at 6:30. The evening and program are concluded by 8:30. Tickets are $65 each, 115 per couple for members, and 70 each or 125 for non-members. They're available online at Eventbrite. Just type in Rome Historical Society and scroll down a little bit and you'll find it and avoid the search charge. You can also pick up tickets in person at the museum or by contacting any of the trustees. Your support is truly truly appreciated and needed. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Bobby. Next speaker, please. My name is Dan Lef Fever. I live on River Road over in East Rome. It's in the outer district. Um, I just want to give a acknowledgement to my first ward uh counselor, Mr. Sprace. I had a last couple years I've talked to him for a few problems. He's very accessible. Good councilman. Thank you very much for your service, city. I want to bring up about the u the Chobani plant that's coming into Rome this year and when it's be full operation. I think it's sometime next year. Uh last night's Daily Sentinel had an article about like the one lady just talked about um at the traffic circle at Perimeter Road and Route 825. Um, they're putting a maybe putting a traffic circle there, but I also heard they may be installing a traffic light. I don't know what they're I think the council has to decide on that. Whatever. But there was another article in last month's Daily Sentinel. It was more in more involved about the it told more about the Jabani plant. Um, they also had a website you can go to and they actually had like a map of the layout. It wasn't a very good thing because they didn't identify many of the structures and everything on there. But there's two facts I want to bring up about here. Um, I hope my reading comprehension is good when I read the article, but the main plant building, if I read this correctly, it's 150 ft tall. That's the equivalent to like a 15story building. And when I see where they're going to put this, it's almost in near proximity to the runway. Now, I know the runway doesn't get much use or anything, but uh I just wonder if that was uh feasible

for them to do that. I know they've already thought this out. They've already changed a couple things in their plans and whatever. Um and the second fact I want to bring up this is kind of uh very I don't know if I kind of find a little bit disturbing but um I think they said initially if I got this right that something like when the plants in full operation over 200 tanker trucks are going to be coming into Rome. Is that every day? You stop and think that's a lot of trucks. Um I live on River Road. It's one of the main roads coming into Rome from the north and the east. And any trucks coming from like the Booneville, Lville, Old Forge area, they're going to be coming right by my house. And my neighbors will attest in the last 10 years, tra traffic has increased about at least 50%. I have anywhere from 10 to 15 logging trucks going by my house every day going up north. I don't know where they're getting all these trees and everything. But um I looked also too at some of the other roads are going to be coming in. If they're coming in from the west, say from up by the Asiggo Tug Hill area, whatever. Um they're probably going to be taking 69 through Camden and right into Rome where it turns into the Rome Taber Road. Uh, in order to get to the other side of the city, are they going to be going down Erie Boulevard and then going up Black River to get up to Chestnut to get up there? Or are they going to take the shortcut where they get to Gford Road, go all the way to Gford Road to the end, turn up Jervis, take Jervis to Turin, and then turn north to Chestnut. I mean, a lot of the people, if all these trucks are coming in, the people who live on Gford and Jervis, they're going to have a lot of uh truck traffic on their uh on their roadways. Um let's a couple other points here.

Um, I just hope that u the city and the county leaders take into consideration the stress that is to the infrastructure on the Rome roads too because that's a lot of truck traffic. You just look at Black River Boulevard from this past winter from Chestnut going north to the credit union. It's like a Oh, it's terrible. And that's just from the winter thing. Imagine what the trucks are going to do. Uh, in my last minute I'm just going to say in no way am I against the Jabani plant for coming here. It's very good. It's we're going to be, you know, good for the community and everything. I hope they have a a good uh what do I want to say? Uh I hope they have a good job in uh in staffing the place too because it's getting tough to staff jobs like that. But no way am I against this too. But I just want the council and maybe even the county officials to realize just how much stress that is on the infrastructure, not only in Rome, but even around Rome and on the roads coming in. They're not all going to be taking 49 and everything or the throughway. They're going to be taking some of these other main roads like uh you know, River Road, Route 26, Route 69, Rome Taber Road. That's pretty much about it. Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you, Dan. Appreciate the comments. Next speaker, please. Anybody else wish to speak? Public session is closed. The chair will entertain a motion that the meeting the reading of the minutes of the preceding session be dispensed and that they be approved. So move. Councelor Smith. Second. Councilors Bur moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

Oppos? Carry. Uh let's see. There's no petitions or communications. So we'll go right to uh quarter of city officials, public safety commissioner White, President Ash, members of the council. Um thank you. Um I have furnished you guys with two packets tonight. The first packets uh the analysis that uh Chief James shares with me kind of gives a brief overview of what they do in a month and some of the issues they're having in some of the areas so they can uh allocate the right resources to deal with the problem. Um these stats are law enforcement sensitive. So if you could just not share those with anybody and just use it for your own reference of what's going on in your particular areas. Uh the second packet is the latest information on the nuisance abatement team. Uh if you have any questions on either packet, I I'm available after the meeting. Um I just want to take this opportunity to note some of the hard work of the fire department lately with their structure fires. Um these causes of these fires have uh been electrical, improper use of cooking and heating equipment. Um they've been doing an outstanding job getting these fires knocked down. Um recently they had a fire with uh some exploding um propane tanks. They uh kind of risked their lives immensely to knock the fire down, dodge these projectiles that were going through the air and knock down a second structure that got set on fire from the exploiting tanks. So they did an outstanding job with that. Um, the members of the police department, the fire department continue to serve this community with bravery and professionalism every day. I just want to take this opportunity to acknowledge what they do for us and uh, I know Chief James is here and I just want to thank them for what they do every day for us. And like I said, I'll be available for any questions for either one of those

packets. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. We're all very proud of our police and fire. So, uh, any other officials? Uh, PPW Commissioner Juliano, President Nash, preview of the your speech you're gonna do. Yeah, I'm just gonna practice for

First, I I'll thank the Rome Historical Society for um asking me to be their keynote speaker. Uh they asked me to um present on the history of the Department of Public Works from the city of Rome and uh more than glad to do that for them. So, uh now I want to address Mr. for the fevers. Uh a couple of his statements. Uh East Rome is is not part of the truck route. The or river road I should say is not part of the the dedicated truck route. These trucks will be using we've heard numbers between 180 and 200 a day to supply uh Chobani when it's fully built out. And uh the full buildout is probably three years. We're looking at 2029 2030 right now for the full buildout. Uh they haven't given us a number yet for the amount of traffic we're going to see on the first build, but we're working with that. The county uh New York State DOT and the city are reviewing the traffic impact studies uh that Amanda Cortiz uh mentioned. We have uh designed the roads, the new roads that are going to go into the plant on those numbers of traffic. And we've also looked through the city to put these trucks to keep these trucks where they belong on the truck routes on the state routes, the boulevards. Um not Gford Road that that's not part of the dedicated truck route. We'll keep them on route 825, 36526. we'll see increased traffic depending trucks coming from the north. So we have thought about all of that. Um our our engineers uh and and myself we use average daily traffic numbers ADTS

through um traffic engineering and uh we can predict what the infrastructure how it will handle. So we're ready for that. Uh we're ready for the 825 roundabout which will help keep traffic flowing. That doesn't um my own wife said the other night, she said, "Is that going to make traffic go through there faster?" No, it's not for that. It's to keep traffic flowing, keep everybody moving uh in a safe manner. U that will be a successful project that is going to start construction with the sound wall that's going up along the north side of the Bell Road homes. That work will start next week on the sound wall. Uh he he mentioned the 150 foot high building. I don't deal with the structures but I know enough about the project that that is just the cooling building for it's the storage for the the the products. So that is just a single building. It is 120 140 ft high that's all been cleared through FAA that is on the flight right in that flight pattern for the runway.

Uh but that has been cleared through FAA. So, so that is just one single storage building that's separate from the manufacturing plant, the production plant, which is only um two uh superructure of what they consider two stories. Uh that is and we'll work with councelor spare in the first ward. If you have any traffic issues or concerns, we'll go over those. We'll show you what DOT and the Onidita County traffic has um has presented to us. Thank you.

Commission question for you. Um the state DOT involved in the traffic patterns studying the traffic patterns also. Yes, it's because 825 because it's the boulevard those are all state New York state DOT jurisdicted roads. So they have they have presence over everything. So, we got a lot of buyers on. They're Yeah, they're they're literally driving the bus. We are working with them. The county engineers and their planning department is working with them, but the the DOT has the the ultimate call on it. Thank you. You're welcome.

Any further reports? Report of counselors? Nothing. Council Dury,

President Nash, members of the council, um I would just like to say a couple things tonight. Um thank you, um Mr. Le Fever for coming here tonight. The people like you that that that are in her ear that were able to to to ask those questions. Um know that we have um I've I've been I asked the same question about the flight line. Um I know Mr. Juliano answered these, Commissioner Juliano answered these um very well. I just want to add a little uh anecdotal when we first knew that Shabbani was coming in. Um the mayor brought us into a meeting right in in his conference center, conference office and we um we all sat there and those were some of the questions that we asked. Those were those were the things that that like I'm like what does this do to the flight line? What does this do to the other things? So yes, we know that. Um I also know and again uh thank you President Nash this is a lot of the traffic transportation is being um started by the is is being run by the state. Um so if anybody wants to complain about the traffic circle you can blame New York State for that one. Um and and and know also that the state has been forward thinking and looking at all these different things. I know the state has some projects over by Ridgemill School and the Madison Ridgemills intersection right there for better pedestrian safety. I know they are the state is looking at upgrading. We spoke we we passed legislation last week to support an application for for our part in fixing Black River Boulevard for better traffic study. We have looked at uh the state is coming in with their pavement to do that road and make sure it's all okay. Um the county gave us money about 3 four years ago for the Chestnut Street complete streets program. So we could look at that program and see how that truck route

will be. Um I know that um coming through the sixth ward down turn road going across Potter Road and going across Chestnut Street. They tried to divide up uh specific trucks to split them up better. I know Chabbani has been very receptive in in everything we've done so far. They moved the building around to help with the FAA. They moved it around and moved it a different place to help with the neighbors. Um, they have been nothing but but the the highest level of profession professionalism and concern for this for the residents of Rome and and I know this is going to be a great thing. Um, so thank you for those those comments. Um, everyone also, yeah, the Rome Historical Society is is going to do great things and and and I'm sure it'll be a quick brief meeting that um, Mr. Juliano will discuss. Um,

I don't get to talk. And I think that's all I have for now. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Dersy. Anyone else? Board of committees. A nay. Well, I have a report um from councelor Spalia for the parks and recreation parks recreation youth activities committee. He's sick tonight and couldn't can attend. Uh Fiser is still working on the draft plan for the parks open space trail plan. Fisher met with the community development team last week to provide some guidance on layout and formatting. They still have a little bit of work to do. It is anticipated it will be a few weeks before the draft is ready for the public to comment on. Sign David Spa chairman. Any other reports? Committee reports? No. Okay. Onward to resolutions. Resolution number 44. Resolution determining that the proposed purchase of machinery and apparatus is a type two add action for purposes of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act.

So move. Councelor Mortis second. Councelor Spice moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Resolution number 44 is carried. Resolution number 45. Resolution determining that the proposed purchase of machinery and apparatus is a type two action for purposes of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act. Move it. Councelor Dury. Second. Councelor Fazio and second. Any discussion?

Council Darcy. President Nash, members of the council, I would just like to um uh take this moment to talk about uh resolution 4546 uh or 44 through 4546 and the new ordinances that we're going to talk about here. Um this this is um Coun um President I'm sorry, Commissioner I got to get the title right. Commissioner Giuliano um gave us some good information um about these different things. First of all, the seeker is the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act. We have to do that for all things. This is a typical um standard thing that we have to go through when when when we're doing a lot of of this stuff. So, the seeker is one and then the next two are are and then the ordinances are buying things. I just thought I would talk about it right now. Um correct me if I'm wrong, Commissioner Giuliano, but the six-wheeler is our is is is a upgrade to a 2016. So this would be in my simple math 10 years old. Um this vehicle is 10 years old all around salt pushing heavy snow around um for the last 10 years. Um we as Romans deserve to have clean streets and this is part of that process. Sometimes it does cost some money. Um this will be moved down to replace a truck that was what did we say 18 years old. Um, no, the loader is 18. The the salt truck is being replaced since 2006. Um, so, so we are, yes, doing these things, but we are buying things, but we are also taking um what we have left when it still has some value, and we are putting it back at auction to try and recoup our investment. um these vehicles, the six-wheeler, the alley

plow truck, um and the payloader, this is not a want. This is a need. This is this is in um the the capital improvement plan as a long range plan of something that we need to do in order to make the city run correctly. So, I'm going to support all these things right here. Um, as far as the ordinances are concerned, um, I'm I'm just going to speak to everything right now so I don't have to keep buzzing in. Um, Treasure, City Treasurer Adams gave us a good, uh, understanding of of this bond request and I think it speaks volumes to to our capital improvement plan and and our thoughtful consideration of what we put into those plans, not just logistically of what we need, but of what we can afford. Um, and and we went over these and and the capital improvement plan and the the city budget are all put out there every year for public comment and and and I'm I can tell you for a fact that every single year we grilled the DPW on what they need, how old the truck is, how much are we paying for for repairs, what what values, it's it's probably one of our longest meetings. Um, these three trucks are going to come in by a total of $38,000 under budget of what we thought. Two trucks were under, one truck was over. That's, you know, supply and demand. What's available, what's there, what things cost at this certain point in time. There's, to me, it's amazing that we can get it down to that amount of money for something six months later, not knowing how volatile the world is today with all these things. So, um, all of these things right here are really, really, really important and I am going to ask everybody to to, um, vote yes on these agendas and and res, um, resolutions and ordinances. Thank you.

Thank you, councelor Dury. Any further discussion? Oh, uh, Commissioner, um, Joe,

President Nash, thank you. Um, Commissioner Dury, thank you for supporting these uh resolutions. Uh, the purchase for equipment. I just want to make um one note that the purchase of these will happen in the next month or so. We will not get these for another two years probably. So, that truck that we're replacing that has been pushing snow for 10 years will probably push it for two more seasons. So those two truck the payloader the front end loader uh will come a little quicker 18 months but the two trucks the the six wheel and the alley truck will probably be at least 24 months in production. Wow. Thank you.

Thank you commissioner. Further discussion. All those in favor say I. I oppose. Resolution number 45 is carried. Resolution number 46. Resolution determining that the proposed purchase of machinery and apparatus is a type two action for purposes of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act. So move. Councelor Mortise. Second. Councelor Riley moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Resolution number 46 is carried. Resolution number 47 authorizing three employees in the city buildings and grounds department to enroll in the pool and hot tub alliance certified pool operator certification course.

Move it. Councelor Smith and councelor Sprace move and second. Any discussion? Sure. Entertain a motion. Do we have to make a motion to adjust that councelor? Council. Yeah, you have that in front of you. President Nash, members of the council, yes, that does need to be corrected. So, I entertain the chair entertain a motion to strike the total of the $1,665 and replace it at $1,197. Councelor Sprace, second and councelor Mortise. Any discussion on that amendment? All in favor say I.

Opposed? Amendment carries. Now, the resolution as amended. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppose resolution number 47 as amended is carried. Resolution number 48 authorizing the mayor to extend an agreement with Onidita County for a traffic ticket diversion program. Move it. Councelor Sprace. Second. Councelor Riley. Any discussion? Councelor Sprace. Uh move to table this please. Do we have a second? Second. Councelor Dery. There's been a move to the table resolution number 48. Any discussion on on No, I guess we don't discuss that. All in favor of tableabling say I.

Opposed. Resolution number 48 is tabled. Resolution number 49. Authorization to enter into phased mitigation agreement with the New York State Department of Transportation and the county of Onida. Councelor Morris and Councelor Dury. Move and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I opposed. Res number 49 is carried. Ordinances. Ordinance number 9852 authorizing the issuance of $35,000 bonds of the city of Rome, Onidita County, New York to finance the purchase of a six-he dump truck. Move it. Councelor Dury. Second. Councelor Riley.

Unanimous consent. Councelor Sprace. Second. Councelor Mortise. Forum number 9852 been moved and seconded. Unanimous consent has been moved and seconded. All those in favor unanimous consent say I. I. Oppos unanimous consent is carried. Is there any discussion? All those in favor of ordinance number 9852 say I. Opposed ordinance is carried. Ordinance number 9853 authorizing the issuance of $243,000 bonds of the city of Rome, Onidita County, New York to finance the purchase of a sixhe dump truck. Move councelor Fazio. Second. Councelor Riley, unanimous consent. Councelor Dery. Second.

Councelor Sprace. Orders number 9853 has been moved and seconded. Unanimous consent has been moved and seconded. All those in favor of unanimous consent say I. Oppos. Unanimous consent is carried. Any discussion? All those in favor of ordinance number 9853 say I. I. Oppos ordinance is carried. Ord number 9854 authorizing the issuance of $275,000 bonds of the city of Rome Onidita County, New York to finance the purchase of a payloader. So move. Councelor Morris second. Councelor Riley. Unanimous consent. Councelor Dury second.

Councelor Fazio. Ordinance number 9854 has been moved and seconded. Unanimous consent has been moved and seconded. All those in favor of unanimous consent say I. Opposed. Unanimous consent is carried. Any discussion? All those in favor of ordinance number 9854 say I. I. Oppos. Ordinance number 9854 is carried. Ordrance number 9855 authorizing mayor of the city of Rome to approve sale of city own parcel 1213 Clinton Street to buyer for $3,650. Move it. Councelor Riley. Second. Councelor Mortise. Unanimous consent. Councelor Dery second.

And councelor Sprace. Orange number 9855 has been moved and seconded. Unanimous consent has been moved and seconded. All those in favor of unanimous consent say I. I. Oppose unanimous sentence carried. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Ordinance number 9855 is carried. Ordinance number 9856 authorizing the placement of two 30 minute parking signs in front of 235 East Dominic Street. So move. Councelor Mortis. Council Sprint. Councelor Fazio second and councelor Riley. Ordinance number 9856 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. I. Oppose or number 9856 is carried. The chair want to take a motion to adjurnn. So move. Councelor Smith second. And councelor Dury. All in favor say I. I. Oppos. We are adjourned and thank you all for coming tonight.