(Photo provided by Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).
Here is the agenda for Tuesday’s (October 17th, 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
Presentations
Presentation #1 - Update on Vermicomposting Project by Larsen Engineers
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 - Receive Tentative 2024 City Budget as Submitted by the Mayor, and Set Dates for Budget Review Meetings, Public Hearings and Adoption of Proposed and Final 2024 City Budget
WHEREAS, Article XXI Section C21-6 of the City Charter provides that on or before the 15th day of October the Mayor shall submit to the Common Council and file with the City Clerk the tentative City budget; AND
WHEREAS, in accordance with Article XXI Section C21-6 of the City Charter, the Mayor submitted the tentative 2024 City budget and an accompanying budget message to the Common Council and filed the same with the City Clerk on October 15, 2023; AND
WHEREAS, in accordance with Article XXI Section C21-7 of the City Charter, the City Clerk made the tentative 2024 City budget available to the public in the office of the City Clerk and on the City website, and submitted for publication notice of its filing in the official newspaper of the City; AND
WHEREAS, Article XXI Section C21-8 of the City Charter provides that the Common Council shall review and may modify the tentative City budget as submitted by the Mayor and shall, not later than the 15th day of November, approve the resultant document, which shall be the proposed City budget, and file the same with the City Clerk who shall make such document available to the public in the office of the City Clerk and on the City website, and publish notice of its filing in the official newspaper of the City; AND
WHEREAS, Article XXI Section C21-9 of the City Charter provides that not later than the first day of December, the City Clerk shall cause to be published in the official newspaper of the City an abstract of the proposed City budget and a notice of the place and time, not later than the 15th of December, at which the Common Council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed City budget during which any persons may be heard for or against the proposed City budget, or any item thereof; AND
WHEREAS, Article XXI Section C21-10 of the City Charter provides that after the public hearing and not later than December 31 the Common Council shall adopt the final City budget, and that during that intervening period may add or subtract, increase or decrease, items of appropriation or anticipated revenues from the proposed City budget, except appropriations required by law or for debt service; AND
WHEREAS, Article XXI Section C21-11 of the City Charter provides if the Common Council has not adopted a final budget on or before the 31st day of December, then the tentative City budget as submitted by the Mayor shall be the final City budget for the ensuing fiscal year; AND
WHEREAS; Article XXI Section C21-12 of the City Charter provides that upon adoption of the final City budget, four copies shall be certified by the City Clerk; one such copy shall be filed in the office of the Mayor and one each in the offices of the Director of Administration and Finance, the City Clerk, and one shall be placed in Cortland Free Library; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby acknowledge receipt of the tentative 2024 City budget as submitted by the Mayor and filed with the City Clerk on October 15, 2023 in accordance with Article XXI Section C21-6 of the City Charter; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby acknowledge that the City Clerk has made the tentative 2024 City budget available to the public on the City website and in the office of the City Clerk, and that the City Clerk has submitted for publication in the official newspaper of the City a notice of filing of the tentative 2024 City budget in accordance with Article XXI Section C21-7 of the City Charter; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that for the purposes of fulfilling its duties pursuant to Article XXI Section C21-8 of the City Charter the Common Council will hold budget review meetings, which shall be open to the public, in the Common Council Chambers on the third floor of City Hall, 25 Court Street, Cortland NY 13045, and video streamed via Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9235664700 (Meeting Room: 923 566 4700), as follows:
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon the Common Council making any modifications to the tentative 2024 City budget and filing the resulting proposed 2024 City budget with the City Clerk, the City Clerk shall make such document available to the public on the City website and in the office of the City Clerk, and shall publish in the official newspaper of the City notice of its filing, an abstract, and notice of the place and time at in the Common Council shall hold a public hearing on it in accordance with Article XXI Section C21-8 of the City Charter; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that at 6:00 p.m. on December 5, 2023, prior to its scheduled regular meeting, the Common Council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed 2024 City budget, at which any persons may be heard for or against the proposed 2024 City budget, or any item thereof in accordance with Article XXI Section C21-9 of the City Charter; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that after the public hearing, the Common Council may add or subtract, increase or decrease, items of appropriation or anticipated revenues from the proposed 2024 City budget, except appropriations required by law or for debt service prior to adoption of the final 2024 City budget in accordance with Article XXI Section C21-10 of the City Charter; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that on December 19, 2023, during its scheduled regular meeting, the Common Council shall by resolution adopt a final 2024 City budget.
Agenda Item #2 - Amend the 2023 Adopted Budget by $9,900 to Recognize Revenues Not Appropriated in the Original Budget
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 $9,900 with appropriations to Police; AND
WHEREAS, the Police Department receives fees for certain reports prepared for residents and past practice has appropriated that funding to A3120-520600 and $9,000 from the sale of vehicle appropriated to A3120-520600; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council on this 3rd day of October 2023, that the 2023 budget be, and is hereby, amended in the amount of $9,900 as outlined in the accompanying table.
Agenda Item #3 - Authorize Letter in Support of Senior Housing Project Proposed by the Cortland Housing Assistance Council
WHEREAS, the Cortland Housing Assistance Council, Inc., a private, not-for-profit housing agency, proposes to develop 53 units of accessible and affordable senior housing within the City of Cortland; AND
WHEREAS, the project proposes in-fill new construction and is complementary to the City of Cortland’s ongoing Northeast Gateway Enhancement Initiative efforts; AND
WHEREAS, the preliminary market study justifies that there is an overwhelming need for this type of housing in the community with many affordable housing complexes possessing long waiting lists; AND
WHEREAS, the project is proposed to be developed on River Street in the City of Cortland, which provides access to nearby grocery stores, restaurants, banks, pharmacies, and parks, and is on a Cortland Transit bus route; AND
WHEREAS, Cortland Housing Assistance Council, Inc., will be applying to the New York State Homes and Community Renewal for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, the Senior Housing Fund Program and other possible initiatives; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council does hereby convey its support for Cortland Housing Assistance Council's proposal to develop 53 units of accessible and affordable senior housing and authorizes Mayor Steve to write letters in support to New York State Homes and Community Renewal and other such agencies which may provide supporting initiatives.
Agenda Item #4 - Authorize Mortgage Subordination & Agreement
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland (the “City) provided assistance to an income-eligible owner of a two unit, owneroccupied property (the “Owner”) for the rehabilitation of the Owner’s property under the City’s 2020 Community Development Two Unit Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program , which was provided as a deferred payment loan; AND
WHEREAS, said Owner gave a mortgage to the City in the amount of the assistance provided for the rehabilitation of the subject property; AND
WHEREAS, said resident has secured private financing to pay off the existing first mortgage given to Key Bank (First Niagara) in return for an adjustable rate Home Equity Line of Credit, which will be evidenced by a mortgage in favor of the private lender; AND
WHEREAS, the private lender will provide said funds to pay-off the existing first mortgage at a lower rate than is currently being paid, subject to subordination of the City’s mortgage to the private lender’s new mortgage; AND
WHEREAS, the City’s Loan Committee reviewed the facts of this subordination request and hereby makes a recommendation to the City’s Common Council that the Council approve subordination of the City’s mortgage; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED that the City of Cortland subordinates, its mortgage instrument #2022-05850 recorded on November 2, 2022 with the Cortland County Clerk, said subordination to facilitate a new first mortgage with a private lender in the approximate amount of $40,000 for said Owner, and further authorizes Mayor Steve to sign a subordination agreement for the same.
Agenda Item #5 - Set Required Second Public Hearing for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) #285HR320-21, which Provided Funding for the City’s Income Property Housing Rehabilitation Program Administered Under the NYS Small Cities CDBG Program
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland was awarded funding under the NYS Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to assist in the rehabilitation of Income Properties in the City occupied primarily by lowto-moderate income tenants; AND
WHEREAS, the State’s CDBG Program requires that a second public hearing be held during the administrative phase of the grant to provide information to the public with respect to the progress of the subject grant and to give the public an opportunity to comment on and ask questions about said grant and the City’s community development efforts; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that City of Cortland Common Council does hereby schedule a second public hearing for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) #285HR320-21, which provided funding for the City’s Income Property Housing Rehabilitation Program administered under the NYS Small Cities CDBG Program to be held prior to its regularly scheduled Common Council meeting November 21, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers, third floor of City Hall, 25 Court St., Cortland.
Agenda Item #6 - Appoint Tenet Representative to the Cortland Housing Authority Board
WHEREAS, Cortland Housing Authority tenets recently elected a tenant representative for the Board of Directors; AND
WHEREAS, Debra Cuthbert, a resident of 51 Port Watson St. was elected; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that Debra Cuthbert is hereby appointed to the Cortland Housing Authority Board for a term beginning August 1, 2023 and expiring December 31, 2025.
Agenda Item #7 - Authorize Mayor to Sign Professional Services Agreement for Food Waste Vermicomposting Project
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland has been awarded a Climate Smart Communities Grant by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to build and pilot operation of a food waste vermicomposting facility; AND WHEREAS, several potential sites have been considered and rejected; AND
WHEREAS, the City has worked with Larsen Engineers on all aspects of the proposed project to date; AND
WHEREAS, engineering work to adapt the design for the landfill site needs to be performed; NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council authorizes Mayor Steve to sign an agreement for professional services with Larsen Engineers of Rochester, NY for work on the Food Waste Vermicomposting Project for an amount not to exceed $33,500.00, contingent upon the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s extension of the grant reimbursement period.
Discussion Items
Discussion Item #1 - Update on Parker School Advisory Committee Discussions
Discussion Item #2 - Update on Discussions with Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services (C.A.R.S.) on Community Concerns About the Proposed Methadone Treatment Program
Discussion Item #3 - Notifications of Intent to Apply for Retail Cannabis Dispensary Licenses
