Here is the agenda for Tuesday’s (November 16th, 2021) Cortland Common Council meeting. The meeting will be live streamed Via Zoom video. The meeting will begin at 7 pm.
Here is the Zoom Meeting ID: 892 739 1872
Supporting Documents:
Agenda
Item #1 – Presentation of the 2020 Audited Financial Statements.
Item #2 – Consideration of a Resolution to accept the 2020 Audited Financial Statements as presented (Mack Cook)
Item #3 – Consideration of a Resolution to approve the exotic pet permit for a Bearded Dragon at 44 Rickard St. (Councilperson Michales)
Item #4 – Consideration of a Resolution to approve the Local Law for the approved Zoning changes. (ZEO Bob Rhea)
Item #5 – Consideration of a Resolution to approve the Local Law Amending article VI overlay Districts §300-61 Floodway Zone District. (Ric VanDonsel)
Item #6 – Consideration of a Resolution to authorize the Mayor to enter into a supplemental agreement with Fisher Associates for additional work in the Cortland Utilities Project. (Mayor Tobin)
Item #7 – Consideration of a Resolution to modify the Civil Service classification of two employees to permit cross training of finance department personnel and proceed with the reorganization of the Codes Department and remain in compliance with the SEIU Collective Barging Agreement. (Mack Cook)
- Whereas, The Finance Department wishes to cross-train all employees in the functions performed by it, and
- Whereas, cross training is in the best interest of the City by promoting the sustainable and efficient operations of the Finance Department, and
- Whereas, cross training is in the best interest of the City by creating a department whose functions are not interrupted by sickness, vacations, and retirements, and
- Whereas interdepartmental training serves the interest of employees by promoting career opportunities within the Department, and
- Whereas, the City and Firefighters have agreed to a reorganization of the Codes Department and enlarging the permitted functions of the Codes Department is vital to that objective.
- Therefore be it resolved that the Account Clerks positions currently occupied by Devon Rainbow and Kathy Milliron be abolished and said personnel be given the titles of Senior Account Clerk subject to successful passage of the Cortland County Senior Account Clerk Civil Service exam.
Item #8 – Consideration of a Resolution to provide guidance pertaining to eligibility to participate in the City’s health insurance program. (Mack Cook)
- Whereas, it is currently a contractual provision in several of the City’s collective bargaining agreements that spouses and/or dependents of a retiring or deceased employee remains eligible to participate in the City’s health insurance program, and
- Whereas, retirees from time to time change their spousal and/or dependent relationships post retirement for reasons of divorce, death, or remarriage, and
- Whereas, a surviving spouse of a former employees may change their marriage status and/or dependent relationships by remarriage, and
- Whereas, the collective bargaining agreements do not address health insurance eligibility of new spouses and/or dependents in such situations, and
- Whereas, the City has no formal policy governing the eligibility of such post retirement or death change of relationship circumstances, and
- Whereas, the lack of such a policy does place upon City staff with no recourse other than to adhere to the City’s traditional practice of limiting eligible spouses and/or dependent to those that existed on the date of retirement or death, and Whereas, this places City staff in the uncomfortable and in isolated instances – untenable or hostile, position of having to deny a request to add a spouse and/or dependent to the City’s health insurance program relying upon only past practice.
- Therefore be it resolved that it is the position of the City to (permit --not permit) post retirement or post death changes in eligibility of a new spouse and/or dependent, further
- It is Resolved that no resolution can encompass all the possible circumstances that could arise in this matter so therefore Council retains the final authority to determine the eligibility of a new spouse and/or dependent.
Item #9 – Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the Fire Department to apply for a Regional FEMA AFG grant as the host agency collaborating with the Marathon Joint Fire District and/or the Willet Fire District for the regional purchase of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) in the amount of $511,000 with a 10% match and authorize the Mayor to execute an MOU with the Marathon Joint Fire and/or Willet Fire District and accept Grant if awarded. (D/C TenKate)
Item #10 – 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+ year old pieces, in the amount of $750,000 with a 5% mach. (D/C TenKate)
Item #11 – Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the Fire Department to apply for a Regional FEMA AFG grant as a participating agency with host Virgil Fire District to purchase of Portable Radios in the amount of $200,000 with a 10% match and authorize the Mayor to sign an MOU with the Virgil Fire District and accept Grant if awarded. (D/C TenKate)
Item #12 – Presentation on the Code/Buildings Department. (D/C TenKate, Ric VanDonsel)
Item #13 – Consideration of a Resolution to create a position of Battalion Chief Position in the Fire Department with a B/C salary: $81,327. (D/C TenKate, Ric VanDonsel)
Item #14 – Consideration of a Resolution to lift the hiring freeze. (D/C TenKate, Ric VanDonsel)
Item #15 – Consideration of a Resolution to promote a Battalion Chief Position in the Fire Department with a B/C salary: $81,327. (D/C TenKate, Ric VanDonsel)
Item #16 – Consideration of a Resolution to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with ARC to Lease space in the Armory. (Ric VanDonsel)
Item #17 – Consideration of a Resolution to adopt funding priorities for the American Rescue Plan funds. (Mayor Tobin)
Item #18 – Consideration of a Resolution to amend the 2021 Adopted General Funds Budget to Fund the City’s Pension Contributions.
- Whereas, the City’s 2021 distributive share of county sale taxes are significantly greater than the City’s 2021 budgeted estimates, and
- Whereas, the retirement related 2021 payments for accrued vacation, comp time, sick days, and retirement incentives is expected to increase the actual retirement contribution paid by the City to the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS) and Employee Retirement System (ERS).
- Therefore, be it resolved that the 2021 Budgeted sales tax [1325 41120] be increase by $203,495 to fund the increase to estimated pension contributions:
Item #19 – Consideration of a Resolution to accept, recognize and appropriate the following donations to the Youth Bureau. (John McNerney)
Item #20 – Discussion of 2022 City of Cortland budgets and schedule date and time to hear public comments of the Proposed 2022 General, Water, and Waste Water fund budget.
Adjournment
