Cortland Common Council Meeting: Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 (Video & Time Segments Included)

Here is a video stream of last night's Cortland Common Council meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021. See below for the specific time segments for each agenda item.

Time segments for each agenda item:

Public hearings/public comments, ward reports, mayor’s report, and proclamations. (Start at 0:00:00)

Item #1 – Presentation from SUNY Cortland. (Start at 0:08:40). 

Item #2 – Presentation and Consideration of a Resolution to accept a $15,000.00 donation from the Jim & Julie Boeheim Foundation “Courts for Kids” and appropriate into the T65 Trust & Agency account. (Start at 0:29:04)

Item #3 – Consideration of a Resolution to authorize submission of an application to the New York Main Street program for assistance to renovate 107-111 Main Street, including structural stabilization and renovation of six housing units. (Start at 0:45:51). 

Item #4 – Consideration of a Resolution to accept, recognize and appropriate the following donations to the Youth Bureau. (Start at 0:48:26). 

DonationAmountEvent/ProjectBudget Line
Beverly Ellefson$150.00Park ImprovementsA-7140.5405
Dorothy Sarvay$100.00In Memory of Robert San JuleA-7140.5405
Total$250.00

Item #5 – Consideration of a Resolution to approve the Exotic Pet permit for a Guinea Pig for a SUNY Cortland student. (Start at 0:49:07). 

Item #6 – Consideration of a Resolution Related to continue our current practices for Employee’s compensation and accrued time due to COVID-19 Implications. (Start at 0:50:06). 

Whereas, the C.A.R.E.S. Act required the employer to compensate employees unable to perform their assigned responsibilities due to COVID-19 related illnesses or compliance with recognized COVID-19 protocols, and

Whereas, the C.A.R.E.S Act prevented the employer from reducing any accrued time due to COVID-19 related illnesses or compliance with recognized COVID-19 protocols, and

Whereas, the above provisions in the C.A.R.E.S act expired on December 31, 2021 and were not extended in the 2021 Appropriations and COVID-19 Stimulus Act, and

Whereas, City Administration is of the opinion that continuing the practice wherein an employee’s compensation and accrued time is unaffected by COVID-19 related illnesses or compliance with recognized COVID-19 protocols is in the best interest of the City, its employees, the public and the affected employee.

Therefore Be It Resolved, that an employee’s compensation and time accruals will not be effected due to COVID-19 related illnesses or compliance with recognized COVID-19 protocols.

Item #7 – Consideration of a Resolution to Recognize and Appropriate funds received from a FEMA grant for reimbursement for Personal Protective Equipment related to the COVID–19 pandemic in the amount of $48,084.15. This is to be appropriated to the Fire Department FY2020 budget line A3410-540000 COVFD from Federal Revenue Code A3410-44839. (Start at 0:52:17). 

Item #8 – Consideration of a resolution to Recognize and Appropriate funds received from a FEMA Grant for reimbursement for purchase of Smoke / Carbon Monoxide Detectors in the amount of $30,232. This is to be appropriated to the Fire Department FY2020 budget line A3410-541900 CONTR Public Information from Federal Revenue Code A3410-44389. (Start at 0:53:37). 

Item #9 – Consideration of a resolution authorizing the Fire Department to apply for a FEMA AFG grant as the host agency collaborating with the Marathon Joint Fire District for the regional purchase of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) in the amount of $511,000 and authorize the Mayor to execute an MOU with the Marathon Joint Fire District and approve Grant if awarded. (Start at 0:54:27). 

Item #10 – Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the Fire Department to apply for a FEMA AFG grant for the purchase of a High Pressure Breathing Air Compressor to replace a current unit that is over 20 years old in the amount of $50,000 and if awarded permits the Mayor to sign the contract for acquisition. (Start at 0:55:19). 

Item #11 – Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the Fire Department to apply for a FEMA AFG grant for the purchase of a replacement Fire Apparatus that would serve the function as a fire engine and aerial, replacing two 20 plus year old pieces, in the amount of $675,000. (Start at 0:57:45). 

Item #12 – Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract with The Window Specialists in the amount of $589,800 for Fire Station Window repair/replacement. (Start at 0:59:44). 

Item #13 – Consideration of a Resolution acknowledging receipt of the Retirement/transfer payouts including, retirement incentive, for the following employees: William Bernheim (retirement) Diane Fieri (retirement) Bradly Becker (retirement) and Trevor Wenz (transfer). (Start at 1:02:50). 

Item #14 – Consideration of a Resolution to lift the hiring freeze. (Start at 1:06:29). 

Item #15 – Consideration of a Resolution to allow for the hiring of 3 police officers to replace two retiring officers and one transferred officer. (Start at 1:06:55)

Item #16 – Consideration of a Resolution to modify the 2021 budget by recognizing $810,000 in anticipated CDBG State Aid in Revenue Account A5010-43597 Transportation Capital Projects (Sewer laterals and N. Greenbush and Washington Streets), and removing the ($810,000) Transfer to Capital from appropriation line A9950-590000. (Start at 1:07:20). 

Item #17 – Consideration of a Resolution to establish standard work days for certain employees of the Police Department and Youth Bureau. (The resolution with exhibits is attached). (Start at 1:09:40). 

Item #18 – Consideration of a Resolution to authorize the Mayor to execute a contract with Boreland Construction for remediation services at Noss Park. (Start at 1:10:03). 

Item #19 – Consideration of a Resolution to amend Resolution #264 of 2020 to read the following: (Start at 1:13:06). 

Authorizing the implementation and funding of a transportation federal-aid project, to fully fund the local share of federal- and state- aid eligible and ineligible project costs and appropriating funds therefore.

WHEREAS, a Project for the City of Cortland Multiple Pedestrian Signal Upgrade Local PSAP Project, P.I.N. 360310 (the "Project") is eligible for funding under Title 23 U.S. Code, as amended, that calls for the apportionment of the costs such program to be borne at the ratio of 100% Federal funds and 0% non-federal funds; and

WHEREASthe City of Cortland desires to advance the Project by making a commitment of 100% of the non-federal share of the costs of Engineering, ROW and Construction work for the Project or portions thereof, with the federal share of such costs to be applied directly by the New York State Department of Transportation ("NYSDOT") pursuant to Agreement; and it is further

NOW, THEREFOREthe City of Cortland Common Council, duly convened does hereby

RESOLVE, that the City Board hereby approves the Project; and it is hereby further

RESOLVED, that the City Board hereby authorizes the Mayor of Cortland to pay in the first instance the full non-federal share of the cost of Engineering, ROW and Construction work for the Project or portions thereof; and it is further

RESOLVED, that the sum of $250,000 is hereby appropriated from The City of Cortland Capital Fund and made available to cover the cost of participation in the above phase of the Project; and it is further

RESOLVED, that in the event the non-federal share of the costs of the project exceed the amount appropriated above, the City of Cortland Common Council shall convene as soon as possible to appropriate said excess amount immediately upon the notification by the sponsor/municipality thereof, and it is further

RESOLVED, that the Mayor of the City of Cortland be and is hereby authorized to execute all necessary Agreements, certifications or reimbursement requests for Federal Aid and/or Marchiselli Aid on behalf of the City of Cortland with NYSDOT in connection with the advancement or approval of the Project and providing for the administration of the Project and the municipality's first instance funding of the non-federal share of project costs and permanent funding of the local share of federal-aid and state-aid eligible Project costs and all Project costs within appropriations therefore that are not so eligible, and it is further

RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be filed with the New York State Commissioner of Transportation by attaching it to any necessary Agreement in connection with the Project, and it is further

RESOLVED, this Resolution shall take effect immediately.

Item #20 – Discussion of modifying sign ordinance to eliminate numbers of signs a property owner can have and to eliminate political signs as a separate and distinct category. (Start at 1:15:13). 

Item #21 – Covid-19 update. (Start at 1:18:13).