Common Council - Regular Meeting

17 of it go back to Lake Champlain because they will administer the grants. But um no, I'm pretty excited especially a zero match. We're good. Okay, we'll call the uh work session to order. Um, anybody got questions about tonight's agenda? No questions for tonight's agenda?

Yeah. Let's see. So, um we're going to be voting on some stuff for um really cool stuff like the the kiosk downtown. And I think I read they're the planning with ice cream there. That's Oh, hi. Yeah, somehow I guessed it was you. Yes. I want to make sure you can see. Fantastic.

Yeah. So, we own the rain. We also ice cream and we have been all the equipment and looking to utilize it here in downtown Platsburg. Perfect. Because ice cream is so needed in downtown Platsburg, especially during the summer time. So, this All right. All right. That sounds good. And then the back there, I see CJ. Hi, CJ. Hi. How are you? So, you guys want to take on the beach? All right. Well, I know that you guys are doing a great job downtown, and I see success with the beach as well.

Hey, Mike. What's the Badger? The Badger HR encoder reading in gallons. That's a water meter. That's normal. Thank you. I knew it was something simple and I I didn't want to miss. So, it sounds pretty cool though the way they word it. It sounds like a big machine, right? No, I I got I was like, "Wow, it sounds like a giant machine." So, but for $2,000, you're not going to get a lot big machines. So, you have the break inspection, not as exciting as a badger.

I really don't have anything else is pretty. Yeah, I just had three in one. So, yeah.

Well, any questions about any other questions tonight? Just real quick, Andrew, about the water cross. Um, just because I've never seen the I looked at the contract and whatnot. How does that process work with the um state park? Was it sympatico or is there like that or is it No, it happens to the state park. Everything happens on our propert. We don't get any push back at all. No, that's great. No, we're not. This is a trial run this year. We're going to see how it goes. Okay.

They've been maybe overstepping the bounds last few years. And so this year, we're going to make it official. We're going to let them stay there overnight. Okay. They had their explicit rules. They have to follow. We are going to hire a police officer each weekend and maintenance staff. They will have one through because that's we guaranteed um 5,000. They have to pay $5,000. So they're paying for the police. They are paying for everything. No, we are paying for nothing. Everything's covered under Yeah. And they have insurance and they have all everything that they would need, right? Long time. They've been This is the first year we're actually going to

camp on such um when we say camp, they're not going to be dumping sanitary or have water have campers and they're going to stay. We going to have a dumpster for them so that we don't have to clean up. Just a little bit. Yeah. minimum about the minimum amount. Anything above that we still get. Okay. Um so I remember um this event happened last year and I guess I don't know um a lot of people said that they didn't know about it. Um who's handling the advertising? Country Chamber of Commerce actually it's their they sponsor that. Okay.

In conjunction with us. We we advertised last year too. I mean, everybody advertised, but the problem is it was the same day as Michigan Fez that weekend. I mean, for some this we're so terrible in this area. We like this weekend there's 20 things to do. You know, last weekend or maybe it wasn't Well, they had take that back. The autism month last weekend there were like there's some weekends we don't have a lot. Some five things you had a day, right? Yeah. Yeah. So, we made it work. I wish we had somehow we could have a community calendar around here so everybody would know. Listen, when you're scheduling your events, this is actually going on that weekend. Make it so much easier. We've been hoping for that for years,

right? No, I know. I know. But it's it's just hard because we have so many beautiful areas. Some of these events are amazing. We'll hit them. Yeah. People were like, "Oh, hey, just I wish I would have known that was going on." Right. So, I guess, you know, I guess we can all be aware of it and just give a little like, you know, we have a community channel on our website, right? Yeah, but our city events, you know, we don't have Yeah. It's not with all the other organizations maybe.

Which one of these? I don't have it. You're good. Doing the barn, right? Yeah. This is the one that's going out at the barn. Yep. So, we're not doing Oh, I didn't even realize that that was that it showed that in there. Yeah, that that was Yeah, that was the original concept plan. I just thought you know what? This wasn't even supposed to be part of it. The reason I printed this out was because it showed the location of the community garden. That's why I printed. Yeah, I was like I thought you and I had the one you and I had had something that they like the barn one better. It matches. Yeah. The problem is is the barn was a lot more expensive.

Yeah. And now I remember it. Julie, are you happy with the South Acres Park overall? Are you happy with it? Yeah. Any more any other questions for tonight? Because I'm going to do I we do have to have a brief executive session. So nothing. I don't have anything. I'm going to uh request a brief executive section to speak of proposed and pending litigation. I have a motion. Councelor Evans and Councelor Colleen. Roll call. Councelor Bond. Yes. Councelor Evans.

Yes. Councelor Stra. Councelor T. Yes. Councelor Manette. Yes. Councelor Colle. Yes. Social

Okay, we're going to try to get you. I'll take you off. I'll entertain a motion come out of exe executive session where no action was taken. Council Colleen. Councelor Evans. Roll call, please. Councelor Bond. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Councelor Talon. Yes. Councelor Manette. Yes, colleague. Yes.

Approve. Um we'll call an end to the work session. We'll roll right into the regular meeting. Call the regular meeting of common council to order May 7, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. Please rise and join me. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible for all could you do the role please here councelor von here councelor Evans here councelor stra councelor talent here councelorette here councelor

here resolve that Minutes of the regular meeting of the common council held on April 16th, 2026 are approved and placed on file and public records of the city.

Mayor motion. Um, I'll take a motion. Councelor Talon. Second. Councelor Evans. Roll call. Councelor Bond. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Councelor Talon. Yes. Councelor Vanette. Yes. Councelor Colleen. Yes. hear you. Um, at this time I'll entertain anybody would like to make public comments on agenda items tonight. Did you sign? Oh, come on. Just identify yourself and name and address for the record, please.

Greg Larson, the working order of the Gavana Beach Bar. I'm here to speak for Joe Luzy and I. He's my other business partner. Um, I'll try to keep this pretty brief, but um, I see with the with the number the numbers um, the review numbers are pretty close. So, made a little nervous. Um, I just like I just like to state a few facts about my views in business. Um, guess I'll just read it as I go here. Uh, I am, uh, again, I'm the working partner. Uh, and I'm here because the numbers seem to be pretty close. Um, as a businessman, I agree the numbers count, but they also don't tell the whole story. Um, there's a lot of factors that go into those numbers beyond the tally at the end of the day. Um, and this is called reality. Also, I question some of the review scores and comments as if they're actually attuned to our history and vision of the beach. Um, because I've yet to really meet any council member in the 14 years I've been. Um, I've met mayors and heads of the department. Never a council member. I have never spoken until then. Um, so that being said, um, so and another thing is I feel we wouldn't even be here today due to a clerical error on our part. Unfortunately, we forgot to write in the letter to state that we were coming back. Um, and previous employees here always

reminded us and you hired a couple new people so things got shuffled and I don't think anybody was thinking about the beach in October unfortunately. But it's right over the bridge. Here we have I'd like to start off by giving you a little history about Joe and I. Um this cabana came in uh the cabana came about. Um we have collectively been in the food and beverage industry since 1995. Joe himself before that working in co-winning several successful nightclubs and sports bars in Vermont and New Hampshire. Sorry if I'm a little shaky. I'm nervous as hell and this is not my thing. Um I myself have lived and worked in Las Vegas working in the ser service industry there. Um being in the hospitality center of the world, we don't mess around there and we learn a lot. So to say the least, we take our business in a professional manage manner. In all those years we've worked creating and holding many events and buyers as buyers and restaurants to do along the way. You learn what works and what doesn't. Um, and what's right and wrong in the bar business involved in alcohol. Liquor laws are serious. We take them seriously. Bar and restaurant businesses are expensive and a huge liability and a record speaks for itself. We've also have a long list of colleagues from national performer former celebrities that have performed in our venues and we sponsored many many benefits at health.

So in 2009 we established therapy nightclub and sports lounge downtown on 14 magnet street. Um, we had 20 TVs, a 12 foot screen projector to watch the games, sort of light food and open up the nightclub side on the weekends. Okay. Well, you got about a minute. Okay. Um, I'm saying this is long.

You got I can only give you five minutes. Well, anyway, um yeah, anything more to say than

I guess let me just let me just do the points to consider then. Um points to consider, but here's I guess some facts. And we're ready to go. The permits are all set. their staff sell stuff. We have a product and merchandise equipment ready to go. It's turnkey uh invents are in the work. Um another point, um New York State having two different licenses at the same general location is generally prohibited as the SLA requires the license status completed control of the premise. Um process for a new liquor license generally takes 30 to 60 days for a new liquor license without and to build out a new new place would be very time consuming and highly business and I can just thank Thank you.

Anyone else for public comment this evening on tonight's agenda items?

Thank you. Um so I don't have anything to say about that. I saw an RFP come out. We have a brand that we've grown from a 900 foot space upstream for expansion and open up a location on Route 9 and had success there. They pulled the bus down having to close the location which in turn led us to 14 Street. Ironically it was the same building space that we occupy, but we are a family restaurant. Any of you that have been there heard the fact the public through their shoulders recognized us in 2025 uh wings and fancy restaurants. We saw the opportunity for the beach. It's a beautiful spot and we just thought that we could take our brand and bring it to city beach. Plber city beach should not need one of our cage above. I do feel as though we would fit in there in regards to the legal part of the SLA. The information is accurate. the fact of I had all the paperwork ready through my lawyer. It's 30 to 45 days for license. Um, one of the things that we have the ability to do was because we have an existing license. So, we can use that should it take longer at 12 days of temporary setup. Um, I'm not sure if you all saw the proposal that we wrote that I just showed up tonight in order to maybe answer any questions or see if anything. That's all I have.

Thank you. Anyone else this evening for public comment on tonight's agenda items? Yes. Come on up. Yeah. Well, great. Yeah. So, I'm the guy that's uh I'm Gett I'm doing the uh the community where you live. Avenue. Perfect.

Yeah. Yeah. Someone else here might know that. Um but yeah, so I want to do a community garden at South Acres. Um with my organization, we already run a bunch of food drives at the city, like the public library. And a big thing that I hear from a lot of the people that go to those food drives is, you know, when we we have to give out non-p perishable food, obviously, because that's, you know, the law. And the thing is is they don't have access a lot of the time to that fresh, healthy produce that, you know, be available. And part of the reason I want to start that garden is to kind of improve that access. Um, and it's going to be down at South Acres. It's in a very like low-inccome area. It's right next to a lot of like the senior housing. So, a lot of those people there, they don't have to traverse halfway across the city just to get fresh vegetables. It's literally right in their backyard. We make it free for everybody that, you know, makes under 50k. We don't check or anything like that. We want to make it as accessible as possible. Um, we have a bunch of like like no pesticides. No one's going to be spraying like DDT entire thing. Um, but yeah, it's been in the works for about two years. Um, and we're going to start out this year with just eight plots. U we know it's like a little limited, but money is a thing and so is time. Um, so yeah, we have about 55 volunteers in my organization. Um, and I already have people asking about getting a garden plot even before the garden's been approved. Um, so there's definitely a community demand. Um, the Platsburg community garden over at Penfield, you know, they have a list and there's a wait list and, you know, eight more plots isn't going to, you know, screw up anything. So, it's just kind of a way to like help improve food security in Platsburg and just, you know, help, you know, turn, you know, a little a little space in Melissa Penfield into a space with or so. That's my public comment could say. I know it's not as long as, you know, probably would have liked it to be.

No, that's fine. Yeah, sure. Thank you. Listen, I like the cleanup you've been doing, too. Yeah, that's been uh that's been really fun. Nothing like pulling a TV out of a swamp in the rain. Really fun. All right. Thank you. Any other public comment tonight on tonight's agenda items? With no further comment, we will move on.

Council approved the panels of very smart birth for the week ending April the 22nd, 2026 in the amount of $5,41.65 and April 29th, 2026 in the amount of $650,885.92. The council approved the bill by the common council for the weeks ending April 24th 2026 in the amount of 2,788,42210 May 1st 2026 in the amount of $1,149,523.32 and May 8th 2026 in the amount of 3,498,55257

in brief. any uh reports from various any of the various leaison committees this season?

Yeah. Um I'm just going to do a report for the climate smart task force because um I I'll I'll give the library report next time when I have the full information. It's been a week. Um so um I just want to thank everybody who participated in um Platsburg's Greenup and um Earth Day event. It was probably one of our um our best ones yet. We had um wonderful weather and um a great turnout. Everybody loved coming down, talking to people at the tables, blowing some bubbles, and um getting some free ice cream. So, um looking forward to doing it next year. So, thank you again. And um I wanted to say a special thank you um to um Michelle Armstrong for um you know, kind of helping get the task force started. And I forgot to mention her before, so I wanted to mention her and just say thank you. you know, we're we're we're keeping to do this work because of like things that you started to do and and that's it.

It's never a bad thing mentioning Michelle's. Yeah, she she makes me happy. So, yeah. Thanks. That's it for the Aison reports. We're move item 7.84 authorizing MLDD to write off unpaid final bills as required by the New York State Department of Public Service Regulations. Councelor Manette. Second. Councelor Evans. Discussion. Roll call. Council Bond. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Councelor Talon. Yes. Councelor Manette. Yes. Councelor Colleen. Yes. Gary. Item 7.85 authorizing the mayor assigned to 2026 water cross the bridge.

Move by. Councelor Manette. Second. Council Colleen. Discussion. No discussion. Roll call. Councel B. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Allen. Yes. Councelor Manette. Yes. Councelor Co. Yes. Item 7.86. Authorizing the establishment of a community garden at South Acres Park. Moved by Councelor Talon. Second councelor Bond. Any discussion? I'm going to recuse myself as Okay. Any discussion? Roll call. Councelor Bond. Yes, councelor Evans. Yes, councelor Talon. Yes, councelor Manette recus. Councelor Colleen.

Yes, helpful. Carrie, now you got work to do.

Congrats. Item 7.87 28 7 authorized license Rainbow Wedding and Boot Hall LLC for operation of the city hall placed concession stand for the 2026 CZ. RO counc second council. Any discussion? Roll call. Councelor Bond. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Councelor Tal. Yes. Councelor Manette. Yes. Councelor. Yes. Gary. Item 7.88. Authorized license agreement with one of Arc Pagan Pub for operation of an alcoholic beverage concession at the city beach for the 2026 season. Moved by councelor Manette. Second. Councelor Talon. Any discussion?

Roll call. Councelor Bond. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Councelor Talon. Yes. Councelor Manette. Yes. Councelor Colleen. Yes. Gary. Item 7.89. Authorizing license agreement with oneup at Arcade and Pub for the operation of a food service concession at the city beach for the 2026 season. Moved by councelor Talon. Second councelor Collie. Any discussion? Roll call. Councelor Vaughn. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Councelor Talon. Yes. Council Manette. Yes. Councelor Colleen. Yes. Gary. Item 7.90. Authorize an election of marine insurance coverage proposals.

Moved by councelor Colleen. Second. Councelor Adams. Discussion. Roll call. Councelor Bond. Yes. Sorry, I couldn't hear you. Yes. Okay. Councilor Evans. Yes. Councilor Talent. Yes. Councelor Manette. Yes. Councelor Con? Yes. Item 7.51. Authorize agreement with Jeff playground South Acres Park. Moved by Councelor Bond. I'm shocked. Second. Can she second herself? I wish I could. Councelor Colleen, any discussion?

Yeah, this is finally happening. After three years and every other part getting done in the city, this is finally getting done. Yeah. And more power to We got one park left after this. Oh, actually, we have the small parks, too. We have a lot of small parks in the city that need their new equipment, too. So, you know, we're listen we're we're doing this with grants. This is zero cost to the city of Platsburg, too, on top of everything. So, any other discussion? Roll call. Bond. Yes. Councilor Evans? Yes. Council Town? Yes. Council Manette? Yes. Councelor Fine? Yes. Item 7.92, travel request police department.

Move by. Councelor Colleen second. Councelor Evans. Discussion. Roll call. Councelor Bond. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Councelor Talon. Yes. Councelor Bette. Yes. Councelor Collins. Yes. Item 7.93. Travel request fire department. Moved by. Councelor Evans. Second. Councelor Colleen. Any discussion? Roll call. Councelor Bond. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Councelor Pal. Yes. Councelor Man. Yes. Councelor Con? Yes. Item 7.94, authorized acceptance of OPRHP grant funds for Platsburg City Hall preservation.

Moved by councelor Talon. Second, councelor Evan. Any discussion? Roll call. Councelor Bond. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Councelor Talon. Yes. Council Annette. Yes. Councelor Collie. Yes. Item 7.95. Mayoral appointments zoning board of appeals. Moved by councelor Talon. Second. Councelor Manette. Discussion. No discussion. Oh, no discussion. Unless you want to go. No, we're good. Roll call. Bond. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Yes. Councilman Ed. Yes. Councelor Co. Yes. Gary. Item 7.96. Authorized budget adjustment general fund police donations. Moved

by. Councelor Evans. Second. Councelor Manette. Any discussion? Roll call. Councelor Bond, yes. Council Ed, yes. Councelor Talon, yes. Councelor Manette, yes. Council Colleen, yes. Any new business to come before the council this evening? Um, I think they've got the day of prayer thing going on outside, so that's probably why you hear the music, right? Okay. So,

good. Um, I would like to introduce local law number one, D1 of 2026. a local law regulating high energy intensive uses including cryptocurrency mining operations, blockchain validation facilities and large-scale Nevada centers. Public hearing is set forth but for um Wednesday, June 17th at 2000 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

Council is getting their copy and we'll send electronically to Pal. While we're handing those out, reminder, there is a special meeting on Thursday, May 14th at 2026 at 4:30 p.m. and where we're going to be going over the 5-year plan. Um, no need. We already did our executive session work and our work session. So, any public comment on any time.

Um David Merkel a 48 years. Um I noticed a few things I've around the city that maybe you haven't looked at. uh my streets being redone and the first time in probably 27 years I think which is great. Thank you. Um however that will bring the racing season I know to an open. We used to have a stop sign at the corner of Durand and Cumberland and I'd like to see I would and I've done an impromptu walk around and I haven't heard anybody that's against it in the neighborhood. it really would be welcomed. Okay.

Um, neighborhoods change, starting to get a few small kids on the street again. So, it would be well, very welcome. And also, um, I don't know how it gets done, but I know it was done on Kennedy app where no trucks are allowed unless it's a local delivery. I think it's time for that. I I think that there's a truck and bus route in the city that goes north south. I'm pretty sure it's Miller Street. I know if you have to get the DOT permit, they send you down another street. Um, and then some of the other concerns of people in the neighborhood are they're happy to see somebody doing something else, but like they're wondering what's going on with the zoning overall in the city and is that spot going to be spot zoned or is it going to have the same zoning as the surrounding properties? Um, see what else. If you have time next week, I'd love to have you come up have a coffee with me tomorrow even. We can talk about it. Seriously, I I can show you what the new zoning plans are. We can go

some of the meetings when they've had them and it my door is always always open. If you have questions, I'm more than happy to sit down and chat. Okay. There's a couple smart people in the back of the room I'll have sit with us and how's that? Well, that's good. Okay. Um, so also it's I think we're into our maybe it's the third summer since the great center has been gone. Yes. We have to sign your names. I know. I know. Looking for money. I would love to get some money. I mean, everything costs as a cost and I want to get that signed. We're thinking about painting over it. Yeah. Even if we painted over it. Kind of false advertising. I I I listen and it's actually it's kind of heartbreaking, too.

Yeah. Yep. And um then the other thing is having run for public office before um we were guided uh by I think city rags I'm pretty sure that we weren't allowed to put uh political signs on public property. They had to be on private property and it was the uh building inspector's responsibility to pick them up and call the individuals who they belong to. Is that still the case? It is still the ability inspectors. I listen, I personally have a big problem with some of the signs. I I mean

I mean it's fine, you know, when there's an individual that has a sign on somebody's front lawn, right, that they support and fine, but it's like they just get peppered. That's something I'd be happy to talk to you about if you want to come up and have coffee. I'd enjoy that. Okay. And then the last thing would be when the uh redo of Margaret and Upper Prediction was done. There was a uh space on the north side of upper bridge that was meant to be a loading zone. Now all of a sudden it's turned into parking. And I just noticed with all the restaurants downtown, which is a great thing. Yeah.

Um so the delivery trucks are still parking blocking traffic and there's cars parked in those spots. It would be nice to see that reclaimed as a loading zone and to ensure its use. That's it. Thank you, sir. And I look forward to seeing you there. if you want. Seriously. Um, anyone else for public comment this evening?

So, I got um I do want to say mention the uh this weekend there's a bike block party and safe and sound at the Fieldhouse uh from 10 to one on Saturday. It's a one of the city sponsored events and I I think it's a great event. Um they do give away a lot of uh there's life jackets usually the and um bicycle helmets a lot of different things that they do there and they have the lizard I mean kids and adults it's like have a great time there so if you have a chance please go to fieldhouse 10 to one on Saturday and little league's uh opening day is Saturday as well so uh it's going to be a great day in the week in in the city of Lasburg once again this week so um any other announcements this with nothing else. I mean, I'll take a motion to adjourn.

Councelor Evans. Councelor Manette. Roll call. Councelor Bond. Yes. Councelor Evans. Yes. Councelor Talon. Yes. Councelor Nette. Yes. Councelor. Yes. Very. Hey.