(Photo provided by Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).
Here is the agenda for Tuesday’s (August 1st, 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
Public Hearings
Public Hearing #1 - Relating to Proposed Sale and Future Use of the Former Parker School Building
The City of Cortland is considering a proposal for the sale and future use of the former Parker Elementary School building. Information about the proposal, including a Q&A document, may be found on the City’s website.
In February 2023, the Common Council voted to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to find new ownership and development opportunities for the former school building. The City received one response - from Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) - to develop quality housing for modest-income workers including single parents, retirees on fixed incomes, and people with intellectual, developmental and mobility needs.
On June 8, 2023, the City held a public meeting which included a presentation by INHS about the proposal and an opportunity for the community to ask questions and address their concerns. The Common Council held a public hearing on July 18, 2023 to provide an opportunity for the public to address questions and concerns.
The Common Council will hold a second public hearing on the proposal at 6:00 p.m. on August 1, 2023 in the Common Council Chambers, third floor of City Hall, 25 Court St., Cortland NY. Members of the public are invited to attend and speak on the matter. The elevator may be accessed through the rear entrance of City Hall.
Written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk at 25 Court St. Cortland NY 13045 or via email at [email protected]. Written comments received by 3:00 p.m. August 1st will be distributed to Common Council members and the Mayor. Written comments of 450 words or less will be read during the public hearing.
Call to Order
- Roll Call
- Salute to the Flag
- Moment of silence/reflection
- Privilege of the floor/Presentations
- Finance report
- Mayor’s report
- Ward Reports
- Approval of Minutes
Supporting Documents
Resolutions
Agenda Item #1 - Adopt an American Rescue Plan Act Allocation of Funds
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland Common Council accepted from the State of New York two allocations of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding totaling $1,914,866; AND
WHEREAS, United States Treasury mandates annual reporting for a Non-entitlement Units (NEUs) on an annual basis; AND
WHEREAS, the reporting requirements include an allocation plan as well as spending to date on the identified projects; AND
WHEREAS, all funding must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and fully expended no later than December 31, 2026; AND
WHEREAS, the Department of Administration and Finance recommends the Common Council adopt an allocation plan for the awarded American Rescue Plan Act funds; AND
WHEREAS, the table below outlines the recommendation for allocation, including spending to-date and status of the project to be entered into the United States Treasury portal for reporting compliance; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council does hereby adopt the American Rescue Plan Act allocation as outlined below, and directs the Director of Administration and Finance to complete all necessary annual reporting on these funds.
Agenda Item #2 - Amend the 2023 Adopted Budget by $985,560
WHEREAS, the Cortland Common Council is charged by the City Charter and Code with the preparation of an annual budget for the City of Cortland; AND
WHEREAS, on December 20, 2022, the Common Council adopted the City Budget for 2023; AND
WHEREAS, during the course of the fiscal year certain events occur that necessitate changing the budget plan by increasing or decreasing the total budget; AND
WHEREAS, the Department of Administration and Finance recommends the following adjustments to the budget; AND
WHEREAS, this resolution amends the City’s 2023 Adopted budget by $7,560 with appropriations to Police, Finance, Public Works and Wastewater; AND
WHEREAS, the Police Department received two insurance recoveries totaling $839 to be appropriated to the equipment repair line A3120-540200; AND
WHEREAS, the Police Department received a reimbursement for the payment of wages covered by worker’s compensation in the amount of $2,721 to be appropriated to A3120-510000; AND
WHEREAS, the Police Department received a generous $4,000 donation from Cortland Rotary Breakfast Club and a generous donation of $1,000 from the Disabled American Veterans to be appropriated to the K9 Fund account to support the activities of the K9 Fund, account code TE0-2101; AND
WHEREAS, administration presented an allocation plan earlier in the meeting for the remaining American Recuse Plan dollars which included the following projects that require budget appropriation:
- $745,000 to the Public Works Department to cover the estimated payments for trash collection and County tipping fees for the months of July through December to be allocated to A8160-541500; AND
- $107,000 to the Finance Department to cover the cost of the 2021 audit (charged in 2022), the cost of a recruitment services contract; and the funding for a contract for additional financial services to be allocated to A1325-541500; AND
- Up to $125,000 or 50% of the cost of the replacement of boilers at the wastewater treatment plant to be allocated to G8197-520601-RECON; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the 2023 budget be, and is hereby, amended in the amount of $985,560 as outlined in the accompanying table.
Agenda Item #3 - Implement Recommendations from the 2022 Job Audit
WHEREAS, the Cortland County Personnel and Civil Service Department performed a job audit of administrative positions in February 2022; AND
WHEREAS, the results of the job audit led to a recommendation to re-title three positions in the City as the individuals performing the tasks exceeded the current job description and approved duties from Civil Service; AND
WHEREAS, Mayor Steve and the Director of Administration and Finance recommend the following adjustments based on the results of the February 2022 audit; AND
WHEREAS, the Police Department has two impacted positions, for a total financial impact of $5,332.95 which include abolishing the Clerk position (#100000053) in the Police Department and establishing a Keyboard Specialist and transferring the funding from the Senior Account Clerk position (#100000234) in the Police Department to the unfunded Confidential Secretary to the Police Chief(#100000090); AND
WHEREAS, the Water Department had one impacted position which has no financial impact due to the vacancy and higher salary of the incumbent, which includes abolishing the Account Clerk position (#100000020) and establishing a Senior Account Clerk position to be funded with the remaining funds allocated to the prior position; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT,
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council hereby abolishes the positions of Clerk (#100000053) and Account Clerk (#100000020) and establishes a Keyboard Specialist in the Police Department and a Senior Account Clerk in the Water Department; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Director of Administration and Finance is directed to transfer funding from the currently authorized and allocated positions to the newly established or updated roles to be effective with the pay period starting August 3, 2023.
Agenda Item #4 - Authorize Submission of a 2023 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application for Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland is applying for financial assistance from the New York State Office of Community Renewal under the Small City Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program; AND
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland believes that CDBG funding is a vital tool in ensuring safe, decent, and affordable housing; AND
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland has determined that the need to provide assistance to low-to-moderate income homeowners in renovating homes in the City is great; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland is authorized and directed to apply for funds from the New York State Office of Community Renewal under the Small City Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program in an amount not to exceed $500,000 for an Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program; and BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that Mayor Steve is authorized and directed execute a grant agreement upon award.
Agenda Item #5 - Authorize the Award of Microenterprise Assistance Program Funds under Community Development Block Grant #285ME506-22
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland was awarded $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Microenterprise funds to administer a Microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP) in the City pursuant to CDBG #285ME506-22; AND
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland solicited applications from eligible Microenterprises for assistance provided under the above referenced CDBG; AND
WHEREAS, funding for this Program is competitive requiring that applications be rated and reviewed by an established MAP Review Committee said Committee to subsequently make recommendations of funding to the City’s Common Council which is charged with making final approval for all funding under CDBG #285ME506-22; AND
WHEREAS, the City’s MAP Review Committee is recommending the award of $35,000 to Ramos and Pellot, LLC, DBA LaBamba Cuisine to be located in the Riverside Plaza; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City’s Common Council does approve the award of $35,000 to Ramos and Pellot, LLC, DBA LaBamba Cuisine subject to terms and conditions as required under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Microenterprise regulations and as established by the Microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP) Review Committee; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that Mayor Steve is authorized to sign commitment letters detailing the terms and conditions of the award of these funds and any other document(s) necessary to implement the award of said funding.
Agenda Item #6 - Authorize Sale of Abandoned Impound Vehicles
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department operates and maintains an Impound Lot where vehicles are towed which been found to be in violation of either the Vehicle and Traffic Law or Penal Law of the State of New York; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department has authority to charge a daily impound fee for vehicles maintained at the Impound Lot; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department routinely has vehicles which have been declared abandoned under New York State Law as the owners do not wish to pay the Impound Fees; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department has limited space to store these abandoned vehicles; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department must dispose of these vehicles periodically, either through auction or sale as scrap; AND
WHEREAS, the funds generated from the disposal of these abandoned vehicles are returned to the Police Department Budget, (A3120-520600 - Operating Equipment), which helps fund the purchase of new police vehicles and equipment; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department currently has thirteen (13) abandoned vehicles in storage at the Impound Lot which must be disposed of to make space available for future needs; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby authorize the Cortland City Police Department to sell thirteen (13) abandoned vehicles at the Impound Lot and place all proceeds from such sale into budget line A3120- 520600 - Operating Equipment, where the funds may be utilized towards the purchase of new police vehicles and equipment.
Agenda Item #7 - Declare Tahoe as Surplus and Send to Auction
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department maintains a fleet of vehicles used exclusively for law enforcement purposes; AND
WHEREAS, these vehicles are typically used far more extensively than non-police vehicles, in that they are often driven on a 24/7 schedule and under non-typical driving conditions; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police routinely seeks to cycle in newer vehicles to replace those that are of no further service to the agency; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department has a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, with 122,500 miles, which was originally used for patrol duties (Old Car 19), before being replaced and being used as a transport for academies and trainings; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department believes this vehicle has served its usefulness to the agency and would like it to be declared as surplus; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department would like to auction the above noted vehicle on Auctions International and have any proceeds placed back in the department budget for new equipment; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council herby declares a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe utilized by the Cortland City Police Department as surplus and grants permission for the agency to sell the vehicle on Auction International, with any proceeds from the sale being placed in the Cortland City Police Department 2023 budget towards the purchase of new police vehicles and/or equipment (A3120-520600-Operating Equipment).
Discussion Items
Discussion Item #1 - Former Parker School Building
