(Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).
Here is the agenda for Tuesday’s (March 21st, 2023) Cortland Common Council meeting. The meeting will take place at City Hall (25 Cortland Street, Cortland NY 13045) at 6pm. According to the City of Cortland website, the meeting will also be live streamed Via Zoom video.
Here is the Zoom Meeting ID: 923 566 4700
Agenda
Proclamations
Proclamation #1 - Congratulating and Recognizing the Cortland High School Varsity Girls Basketball Team on Winning the Section III Class B Championship and Appearing in the State Championship Final Four
- WHEREAS, the City of Cortland is proud to be home to Cortland High School and its students, athletes, teachers and coaches; AND
- WHEREAS, in addition to achieving excellence in education and extracurricular areas, the school and City now celebrate being home to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Section III Class B Champions; AND
- WHEREAS, the team completed the season with an overall record of 21-5, winning the Section III Class B Championship and advancing to the State Championship Final Four; AND
- WHEREAS, this demanding athletic accomplishment requires the highest levels of athleticism, skill, determination, teamwork and focus on selfless commitment to a common purpose; AND
- WHEREAS, team members Aubree Larkin, Mallory Turner, Lily Yang, Kartyr Hubbard, Kendall Mack, Katherine Harris, Valerosa Gambitta, Ryleigh Larkin, Claire Turner, and Gabby Brown have represented themselves, their families, their school and their community proudly; AND
- WHEREAS, the instruction and mentoring provided by head coach Janet Meyer and assistant coach Rob Rivers have been essential to the team’s success and sportsmanship; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
- RESOLVED, that Mayor Steve and the Common Council hereby commends, congratulates, and gives special recognition to the Cortland High School Varsity Girls Basketball team for its extraordinary achievement of winning the Section III Class B Championship and for its appearance in the State Championship Final Four
Proclamation #2 - Proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month
- WHEREAS, in accordance with Title VIII Fair Housing Policy of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988; AND
- WHEREAS, the month of April 2023 has been designated by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity as Fair Housing Month; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
- RESOLVED that City of Cortland Mayor Steve and the Common Council hereby declare and proclaims April as Fair Housing Month in the City of Cortland, New York.
Call to Order
- Roll Call
- Salute to the Flag
- Moment of silence/reflection
- Privilege of the floor
- Mayor’s report
- Ward Reports
- Approval of Minutes
Supporting Documents
Resolutions
Agenda Item #1 - Confirm Mayor’s Appointment to Planning Commission
- WHEREAS, a vacancy exists on the Planning Commission with a term ending December 31, 2025; AND
- WHEREAS, Mayor Steve has appointed Mike Swartwout, a Certified Construction Manager, to fill the vacancy in accordance with §300-181 (B) 1 of the City Administrative Code and has filed said appointment with the City Clerk in accordance with §5-9 of the City Administrative Code; AND
- WHEREAS, the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Common Council pursuant to §300-181 (B) 1 of the City Administrative Code; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
- RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council does hereby confirm Mayor Steve’s appointment of Mike Swartwout, CCM to the Planning Commissions for a term expiring December 31, 2025.
Agenda Item #2 - Confirm Mayor’s Appointment to Board of Public Works
- WHEREAS, a vacancy exists on the Board of Public Works with a term ending December 31, 2025; AND
- WHEREAS, Mayor Steve has appointed Alan Ricottelli to fill the vacancy in accordance with §C11-3 (C) of the City Charter and has filed said appointment with the City Clerk in accordance with §5-9 of the City Administrative Code; AND
- WHEREAS, the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Common Council pursuant to §C11-3 (A) of the City Charter; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
- RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council does hereby confirm May
Agenda Item #3 - Adopt Local Law No. 12 of 2023 Amending the City Administrative Code Relating to Mandated Statewide Municipal Code Enforcement Regulatory Updates
- WHEREAS, New York State recently adopted provisions requiring all municipalities, as is does from time to time, to make updates to their respective charters/codes relative to the administration of the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the NYS Energy Conservation Code; AND
- WHEREAS, the majority of the applicable provisions in the City’s Charter/Code are already in compliance, but as do all municipalities, the City needs to make certain revisions so that its Code Enforcement Program is in compliance with the latest state regulatory revisions at the state level; AND
- WHEREAS, the state has provided a model local law to guide the amendments that the City will make; AND
- WHEREAS, such changes require local law amendments to the Administrative Code; AND
- WHEREAS, pursuant to §20 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, a public hearing was held on March 7, 2023 regarding the proposed local law; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
- RESOLVED, the Common Council does hereby adopt a local law to amend §100 of the Administrative Code to align the City’s Code Enforcement Program with New York State requirements; AND BE IT FURTHER
- RESOLVED, that said local law shall read as follows:
Agenda Item #4 - Set Required Second Public Hearing Relating to Community Development Block Grant #285ED948-20, which Provided Funding for the Purchase of Equipment for NY Hemp Oil, LLC Under the NYS Small Cities CDBG Program
- WHEREAS, the NYS Small Cities CDBG Program requires that a public hearing be held during the administrative phase of an awarded Community Development Block Grant to provide information to the public with respect to the progress of the subject grant and to ask questions regarding the grant and the grantee’s Community Development Program; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
- RESOLVED, that a public hearing shall be held prior to the Common Council’s scheduled regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. on April 4, 2023 at City Hall, 25 Court Street, Cortland NY with respect to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) #285ED948-20, which provided funding for the purchase of equipment for NY Hemp Oil, LLC under the NYS Small Cities CDBG Program; AND BE IT FURTHER
- RESOLVED, that public notice of such public hearing shall be published in the official newspaper of the City of Cortland.
Agenda Item #5 - Set Required First Public Hearing Relating to the Proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Community Development Block Grant Program and Upcoming Funding Round, the Purpose of which is to Provide Information to the Public with Respect to the CDBG Program and to Allow the Public an Opportunity to Participate in the Grant Process
- WHEREAS, the City of Cortland intends to submit an application or applications under the NYS Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program for the 2023 fiscal year, which requires a public hearing be held prior to submission of any application or applications to provide information to the public about the CDBG Program and an opportunity to participate in the grant process; NOW,
- THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that a public hearing shall be held prior to the Common Council’s scheduled regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. on April 4, 2023 at City Hall, 25 Court Street, Cortland NY on the proposed 2023 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and upcoming funding round, to provide information to the public about the CDBG Program and to allow the public to provide input into the grant process; AND BE IT FURTHER
- RESOLVED, that public notice of such public hearing shall be published in the official newspaper of the City of Cortland.
Agenda Item #6 - Authorize Sole Source Award and Contract with Air Cleaning Systems, Inc. for Armory Exhaust System
- WHEREAS, the mission of the City of Cortland Fire Department is to provide professional fire response, emergency medical service, technical special operations, code enforcement services, as well as, public education/fire prevention services to the community; AND
- WHEREAS, the Fire Department is committed to the safety and health of its firefighters by providing educational opportunities for its staff; AND
- WHEREAS, Fire Department members are committed to personal safety, duty, honor and public service; AND
- WHEREAS, the Fire Department uses all available financial resources to provide technical tools and equipment that meets the needs of the department in serving the citizens of Cortland; AND
- WHEREAS, the Cortland Fire Department was awarded a 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant which included funding of ninety-five percent (95%) of the expense of an exhaust system for the Armory; AND
- WHEREAS, the Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking sealed bids to furnish and install this exhaust system, receiving one response; AND
- WHEREAS, the Cortland Fire Department made the specifications as clear and least restrictive as possible while meeting the needs of the Department and meeting federal grant requirements; AND
- WHEREAS, the Department took affirmative steps to solicit bids from New York State certified MWBE (Minority and Women Owned) Businesses, and advertised for three days in the Cortland Standard;
- WHEREAS, it could have and was assumed more bidders would have responded; AND
- WHEREAS, the one bid received was on budget and reasonable; AND
- WHEREAS, the bid received meets all RFP specifications, and the bidder is a reputable business with who the Department has worked on two previous occasions; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
- RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council awards the sole source bid for the Exhaust Removal System to Air Cleaning Systems, Inc. in the amount of $97,202 and authorizes the Fire Chief to sign a contract with same.
Agenda Item #7 - Appropriate Funds and Authorize the Purchase of a Tactical Response Unit (TRU) Vehicle
- WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department maintains a fleet of vehicles used exclusively for law enforcement purposes; AND
- WHEREAS, some of these vehicles are limited purpose vehicles and utilized for specialized police functions; AND
- WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police has a highly trained Tactical Response Unit (TRU), consisting of eleven (11) officers with specialized training and equipment; AND
- WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department recently received Common Council approval to auction the 2007 Ford F350 Econo Van utilized by the TRU, based upon age and poor condition; AND
- WHEREAS, the proceeds from the auction of this vehicle totaled $8,300.00 and will be utilized towards the purchase of a new vehicle for the TRU; AND
- WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department is requesting appropriation of an additional $40,000.00 towards the purchase and modification of a new vehicle for the TRU; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
- RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council herby appropriates $40,000.00 to the Cortland City Police Department budget line A.3120-520600 - Operating Equipment and authorizes the purchase and modification of a new vehicle for the Tactical Response Unit.
Agenda Item #8 - Create the Position of Recreation Maintenance Supervisor for the Cortland Youth Bureau
- WHEREAS, the Cortland Youth Bureau maintenance department has shared the position of Supervisor I with the Department of Public Works since 2008; AND
- WHEREAS, the City currently has a position with the title Supervisor I which is within the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 1000; AND
- WHEREAS, the incumbent Supervisor I will be retiring in April 2023; AND
- WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau Director proposes to create the full time position of Recreation Maintenance Supervisor solely for the Youth Bureau department; AND
- WHEREAS, a job description for said position has been reviewed and approved by Cortland County Personnel/ Civil Service Department; AND
- WHEREAS, said position would involve responsibility for planning and supervising the maintenance of park areas and recreation facilities including athletic fields, playgrounds and equipment, picnic and recreation areas, and aquatic facilities; AND
- WHEREAS, an incumbent of this position would be responsible for the safe, efficient and economical operation of the physical facilities and equipment used for recreation purposes, along with the direct supervision of maintenance staff; AND
- WHEREAS, the work is performed under the general direction of the Youth Bureau Director; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
- RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council does hereby create the position of Recreation Maintenance Supervisor within the department of the Youth Bureau, to be paid from budget line A.7110-5100 with a salary range of $51.022.40 to $58,947.20 based on the current Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 1000 contract.
Agenda Item #9 - Accept and Recognize Donations to Cortland Youth Bureau
- WHEREAS, donations have been given to the Cortland Youth Bureau which the Common Council must accept and allocate; AND
- WHEREAS, Mayor Steve, the Common Council and Cortland Youth Bureau wish to publicly recognize these donations and the generosity of the donors; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
- RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council accepts the donations listed below, and appropriates funds to the Cortland Youth Bureau operating budget accounts outlined below.
Discussion Items
Discussion Item #1 - Director of Administration & Finance Search Update
- The search committee has completed interviews with City Administrator candidates. The final set of milestones are expected to be completed by April 4, 2023 for the Common Council to confirm a hiring.
Discussion Item #2 - Contract Negotiations
Discussion Item #3 - MOU with Cortland County for IT Services
Discussion Item #4 - Local Law to Allow for Building or Property Repurpose that Serves a Substantial Public Benefit
- A revised draft of the proposed local law has been provided to Council members and the public, and will be submitted to the Planning Commission for its review and recommendation on March 27, 2023.
