The Johnstown Common Council held a Business Meeting on November 20, 2017 at 6:00 p.m., in the Common Council Chambers, City Hall.
PRESENT:
Vernon F. Jackson: Mayor
Craig Talarico: Council Member-at-Large
Timothy Cellary: Council Member
Helen Martin: “ “
Kathi Iannotti: “ “
Bradley Hayner: “ “
Bruce Heberer: Fire Chief
David Gilbo: Police Lt.
Christopher Vose: City Engineer
Erica Wing: Library Director
Michelle Jones: Senior Center Director
Michael Gifford: City Treasurer
Cathy A. VanAlstyne: City Clerk
ABSENT:
Michael Poulin: City Attorney
Mark Gifford: Police Chief
Mayor Jackson called the meeting to order and led in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL - all council members present
Mayor Jackson introduced Carrie Allen who he will be appointing as City Clerk on January 1, 2018 to replace Cathy VanAlstyne who will retire December 29, 2017.
PUBLIC SPEAKERS – Benjamin Robb who resides in the City of Gloversville and vends with a hot dog cart in the park on Main St. in Johnstown. He has been in Johnstown for three years and wanted to extend his gratitude to the City Clerk’s Office and the City. He commented on the DPW workers, planting flowers and making sure everything is perfect. He does a lot of business and deals with a lot of the public. Over 99% of the comments made about Johnstown are positive. People come to Johnstown from all over the world. He also thanked the Mayor. He is a terrific representative of the City. He would like to continue selling in the park for ten more years.
APPROVE MINUTES – minutes of the October 16, 2017 Business Meeting were approved with a motion from Council Member Iannotti and seconded by Council Member Martin. Council Member Hayner abstained because he was absent at that meeting. Motion carried.
CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS –Council Member Iannotti made a motion to pay the bills and place on file in the City Treasurer’s Office as follows: General Fund (A) unpaid $144,452.71; General Fund (A) paid $768,672.31; Sewer Fund (G) paid $741.78; Voucher Fund (VO) paid $45,294.50; Capital Fund 2010 paid $8,247.01; Capital Fund 2005 paid $1,427,477.64; Capital Fund 2013 unpaid $6,855.00. Seconded by Council Member Martin. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING – 2018 Tentative Budget – Mayor Jackson opened the public hearing for the 2018 Budget and asked if anyone wished to speak.
Mayor Dayton King, residing at 27 Seventh Ave., Gloversville, stated that he had the City’s 2018 Tentative Budget with him and they have talked about the $300,000 for the joint sewer operations that we own together and it was in the August 12, 2015 minutes that there was about $300,000 owed for the 2005 digester project and a 2008 upgrade. He has heard on WENT and the Leader Herald that Johnstown is looking to shave $108,000 from the budget to pose a 2% increase, according to those numbers it would be about 5 or 6% of your budget. He is not sure if it is in here or not; he didn’t see it. Maybe Johnstown is doing something different than Gloversville does. There has been some private conversations about it and public as well. Don’t know if it’s in this budget for 2018 but if not, why not? He just wanted to come here tonight to ask that question.
PUBLIC HEARING – LL#1 – to exceed the tax cap for 2018 Budget – no one present wished to speak.
Both public hearings were closed at 6:10pm.
CITY OFFICIAL AND LIAISON’S REPORTS
FIRE DEPT. – Chief Heberer reported they received 68 calls to the department that included 2 structure fires, 4 vehicle fires, 2 mutual aid calls to Gloversville and one mutual aid call from Gloversville, 8 motor vehicle accidents, 18 hazardous condition calls, 20 medical assistance calls and 14 calls for service.
Code Office issued 84 permits with an estimated cost of repairs and construction of $1,163,547 and permit fees of $4,740. Inspections and complaints totaled 898. A reminder to get your permit before you do any work. Have your chimneys cleaned before you operate them and with the Christmas season coming make sure trees are watered and use low voltage lighting. Any questions, give the department a call.
Firefighters Dave Simonds and Nate Biron were both honored by the City of Gloversville for their efforts in fighting the recent fire in Gloversville. Tenants were rescued from the building.
POLICE DEPT. – Lt. Gilbo reported the department received 714 calls for service that generated 107 criminal cases, 58 arrests, 143 citations issued and 12 traffic accidents investigated. A new police officer was hired recently, lateral transfer from Gloversville. This brings the department up to 23 members. They plan to hire one more. A reminder that the all night parking ban begins at midnight, December 1st.
DPW –Mr. Vose recently attended a NYCOM Seminar for public works and found it to be very beneficial. He and one other person from the department plan to attend next year. He has received authorization for the Miller St. grant money they received with the help of Assemblyman Butler. We should be able to move ahead with that project come springtime. The bids received for the tank closure project at the old Hi Way Oil on N. Perry St. were way over what he had anticipated. We don’t have grant money at this time so will have to look for other alternatives. Possibly doing the work in house or looking for another way to pay for it. This will not be done before the end of the year like he had hoped.
He recently went to a surplus auction at the D.O.T. building in Poughkeepsie. They picked up a previously owned plow truck for $8,750. Right now it is the second newest truck in their plow fleet. They are working on it now and will have some before and after pictures.
Leaves are being picked up until the 30th of November. Thanksgiving garage pick up will be on Friday with a double pick up.
SENIOR CENTER – Director Michelle Jones reported the center is collecting for Toys for Tots. They also have a box for the Diaper Bank program. On December 1st, the 50 Plus Club will host an open house with live music from 3:30pm – 5:30pm.
LIBRARY – Director Erica Wing reported on results of this past summer’s focus groups. One of the things they heard was a need for more programing and services for families with working parents. They have started to offer more programs in the evenings and weekends.
CITY TREASURER – Mike Gifford reported the auditors have been working in his office.
TOURISM COMMITTEE – Council Member Martin reported plans for a Holiday Spirit Lighting Contest. The deadline to register is December 13, 2017 with judging on December 15th. Winners will be announced at the December 18th Council meeting.
WATER BOARD – Council Member Cellary reported the Board met on November 13th. Jake Tennis from GPI Engineering did a presentation on Phase I of the dam rehabilitation project at Cork Center. The project is now substantially complete. They are hoping to start Phase II in the summer of 2018. Mayor Jackson also attended that meeting and commented on the great job and presentation Mr. Tennis did.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – Council Member Hayner motioned to enter into executive session at 6:20pm, for the purpose of discussing pending union contract negotiations. Motion was seconded by Council Member-at-Large Talarico. Motion carried.
Motion to adjourn from executive session was made by Council Member Iannotti at 6:30pm. Seconded by Council Member Hayner. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION No. 97, 2017 was presented by Council Member-at-Large Talarico directing the City Attorney to file Local Law #1 to exceed the tax levy limit for the 2018 budget. Seconded by Council Member Martin.
Ayes: 5
Noes: 0
RESOLUTION No. 98, 2017 was presented by Council Member Cellary to rescinds Resolution No. 85, 2017; sale of 319 W. State St. Seconded by Council Member-at-Large Talarico.
Ayes: 5
Noes: 0
RESOLUTION No. 99, 2017 was presented by Council Member Martin committing the City of Johnstown to provide an allocation of wastewater flow capacity to the proposed County Sewer District, along NYS Route 29A to CR 122. Seconded by Council Member Iannotti.
Ayes: 5
Noes: 0
RESOLUTION No. 100, 2017 was presented by Council Member Iannotti to accept the bid from Mangino Chevrolet for a 2018 Cargo Van. Seconded by Council Member Hayner.
Ayes: 5
Noes: 0
RESOLUTION No. 101, 2017 was presented by Council Member Hayner to authorize an application for grant funding for 229 N. Perry St. project. Seconded by Council Member Martin.
Ayes: 5
Noes: 0
RESOLUTION No. 102, 2017 was presented by Council Member-at-Large Talarico to execute a Shared Services Agreement with the NYS Department of Transportation to provide emergency assistance to the City of Johnstown. Seconded by Council Member Hayner.
Ayes: 5
Noes: 0
RESOLUTION No. 103, 2017 was presented by Council Member Iannotti to reject all bids received for the tank closure at 237 North Perry St. Seconded by Council Member Martin.
Discussion: Mr. Vose said the bids were rejected because of the high cost.
Ayes: 5
Noes: 0
RESOLUTION No. 104, 2017 was presented by Council Member Cellary to advertise for a public hearing for Local Law #2, 2017 to amend the real property tax exemption for Cold War veterans. Seconded by Council Member Hayner.
Ayes: 5
Noes: 0
RESOLUTION No. 105, 2017 was presented by Council Member Martin to accept an offer from Janet Wade & Larrice Dunn to purchase 1 McMartin St. Seconded by Council Member Iannotti
Ayes: 5
Noes: 0
RESOLUTION No. 106, 2017 was presented by Council Member Hayner to enter an agreement with the Johnstown Fire Fighters Association Local 779 from Jan. 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019. Seconded by Council Member Iannotti.
Ayes: 5
Noes: 0
ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Hall Offices will close Nov. 23rd and 24th
11/23 garbage will be picked up on 11/24
Holiday Parade and Colonial Stroll is December 1st at 6pm
Mayor Jackson thanked the people who put together the Veterans’ Day Program.
Council Member Martin made a motion at 6:50pm, to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Council Member Hayner. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy A. VanAlstyne, City Clerk