City of Cortland Common Council. (Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).
Here is the agenda for Tuesday’s (December 5th, 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 - Declaring December 15, 2023 as a Day in Gratitude and Honor of Linda Armstrong
WHEREAS, for more than forty years, Linda Armstrong has worked for the betterment of the people and city of Cortland; AND
WHEREAS, her grant administration and community development work on behalf of homeownership, housing improvement, small businesses, and broader economic development has lifted the lives of many; AND
WHEREAS, Linda is known as a skilled administrator, diversely knowledgeable, perceptive and attentive of the needs of individuals and the community, and always committed to enabling the success of individuals and the city; AND
WHEREAS, more so, Linda is known for her goodness and earnestness of character, respected by all who know her; AND
WHEREAS, Linda has fulfilled in her service to the community the Athenian Oath:
“We will strive unceasingly to quicken the public's sense of civic duty. Thus, in all these ways, we will transmit this City not only, not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Scott Steve, Mayor of the City of Cortland, and the Common Council, hereby proclaim December 15, 2023 as a day in honor of Linda Armstrong and convey the city’s gratitude on the occasion of her retirement.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Seal of Cortland, New York this 5th day of December, 2023.
Award and Recognition
Award and Recognition #1 - In Recognition of Outstanding Citizenship and Kindness to Neighbors in Need
Presentations
Presentations #1 - Recycling Update - Chris Spadolini, County Recycling Coordinator
Public Hearings
Public Hearing #1 - Proposed Local Law No. 14 of 2023 Relating to Override of Cap on Tax Levy
Public Hearing #2 - Proposed 2024 City Budget as Filed by the Common Council
Financial Reports
Financial Report #1 - Budget Actuals Year-to-Date
Financial Report #2 - Grant and Capital Project
Financial Report #3 - 2024 Budget Development Process
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 - Adopt Proposed Local Law No. 14 of 2023 to Override Tax Levy Limit for Fiscal Year 2024 Pursuant to Authority Established in New York State General Municipal Law §3-c
WHEREAS, the New York State Legislature enacted General Municipal Law §3-c which establishes a limit upon real property tax levies by local governments; AND
WHEREAS, pursuant to New York General Municipal Law §3-c(5), a local government may adopt a budget in excess of the tax levy limit only if the governing body of such local government first enacts a local law to override the tax levy limit for the coming fiscal year only; AND
WHEREAS, the Common Council has filed a proposed 2024 City budget which exceeds the tax levy limit established by New York General Municipal Law §3-c, and therefore deems it necessary to exercise its authority to exceed the tax levy limit for the fiscal year 2024; AND
WHEREAS, a public hearing on the proposed local law was held on December 5, 2023, notice of such public hearing having been advertised in advance pursuant to New York State Municipal Law Home Rule §20; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that pursuant to New York General Municipal Law §3-c(5) the City of Cortland Common Council does hereby approve a local law to authorize the override of the tax levy limit for fiscal year 2024; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the proposed local law shall read as follows:
CITY OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK
LOCAL LAW NO. 14 OF THE YEAR 2023
“AUTHORIZE OVERRIDE OF TAX LEVY LIMIT ESTABLISHED IN GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW §3-C FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024”
Be it enacted by the Common Council of the City of Cortland as follows:
Section 1. Enactment and Title.
Legislative Intent: It is the intent of this local law to allow the City of Cortland to adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 2024, that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the “tax levy limit” as defined by General Municipal Law § 3-c.
Authority: This local law is adopted pursuant to subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law §3-c, which expressly authorizes a local government’s governing body to override the property tax cap for the coming fiscal year by the adoption of a local law approved by a vote of sixty percent (60%) of said governing body.
Tax Levy Limit Override: The Common Council of the City of Cortland, County of Cortland, is hereby authorized to adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 2024, that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the amount otherwise prescribed in General Municipal Law §3-c.
Section 2. Separability.
If any part of provision of this Local Law or the application thereof to any person or circumstance be adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall be confined in its operation to the part or provision or application directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered and shall not affect or impair the validity of the remainder of this Local Law or the application thereof to other persons or circumstances, and the Common Council of the City of Cortland hereby declares that it would have passed this Local Law or the remainder thereof had such invalid application or invalid provision been apparent.
Section 3. Findings.
All ordinances, local laws and parts thereof inconsistent with this Local Law are hereby repealed.
Section 4 Effective Date.
This Local Law shall take effect immediately upon filing in the Office of the New York Secretary of State in accordance with section 27 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.
Agenda Item #2 - Confirm Mayor’s Appointment to the Fire Commission
WHEREAS, a vacancy exists on the Fire Commission due to the death of Commissioner Bill Starr; AND
WHEREAS, Mayor Steve has appointed Amy Buggs to said vacancy with a term ending December 31, 2026 in accordance with §C13 of the City Charter; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby confirm Mayor Steve’s appointment of Amy Buggs as a member of the Fire Commission for a term ending December 31, 2026.
Agenda Item #3 - Authorize Execution of Collective Bargaining Agreement on Behalf of City of Cortland with the Cortland School Crossing Guards Association
WHEREAS, the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Cortland School Crossing Guards Association (“Association”) and the City of Cortland (“City”) expired on December 31, 2022; AND
WHEREAS, the Association through its representatives and the City have engaged in extensive contractual negotiations over a significant period time in an effort to reach a fair and equitable agreement for a contractual period that retroactively commenced on January 1, 2023 to expire on December 31, 2025; AND
WHEREAS, the parties’ respective bargaining unit representatives have come to such an agreement, and their representatives having executed tentative agreement a memorializing the resolved negotiations; AND
WHEREAS, the Association President, as a duly authorized representative of the Association, having indicated approval of the tentative Agreement dated January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Cortland School Crossing Guards Association and the City of Cortland is hereby approved and ratified; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that Mayor Steve is hereby authorized to execute said Collective Bargaining Agreement on behalf of the City of Cortland with the Cortland School Crossing Guards Association, for contractual term dated January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025.
Agenda Item #4 - Authorize Execution of Collective Bargaining Agreement on Behalf of City of Cortland with the Cortland Professional Fire Fighters Association
WHEREAS, the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Cortland Professional Fire Fighters Association (“Cortland PFFA”) and the City of Cortland (“City”) expires on December 31, 2023; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland PFFA and the City have engaged in extensive contractual negotiations over a significant period time in an effort to reach a fair and equitable agreement for a contractual period commencing January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025; AND
WHEREAS, the parties’ respective bargaining units have come to a tentative agreement, memorializing the resolved negotiations; AND
WHEREAS, the Collective Bargaining Agreement dated January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025 has been presented to the voting Cortland PFFA members to approve ratification; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland PFFA members having voted to approve the ratification of said Collective Bargaining Agreement; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Cortland Professional Fire Fighters Association and the City of Cortland is hereby approved and ratified; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that Mayor Steve is hereby authorized to execute said Collective Bargaining Agreement on behalf of the City of Cortland with the Cortland Professional Fire Fighters for a contractual term of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025.
Agenda Item #5 - Authorize Execution of Collective Bargaining Agreement on Behalf of City of Cortland with the Cortland Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
WHEREAS, the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Cortland Civil Service Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO (“Cortland CSEA”) and the City of Cortland (“City”) expires on December 31, 2023; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland CSEA and the City have engaged in extensive contractual negotiations over a significant period time in an effort to reach a fair and equitable agreement for a contractual period commencing January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025; AND
WHEREAS, the parties’ respective bargaining units have come to a tentative agreement, memorializing the resolved negotiations; AND
WHEREAS, the Collective Bargaining Agreement dated January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025 has been presented to the voting Cortland CSEA members to approve ratification; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland CSEA members having voted to approve the ratification of said Collective Bargaining Agreement; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Cortland Civil Service Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO (“Cortland CSEA”) and the City of Cortland is hereby by approved and ratified; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that Mayor Steve is hereby authorized to execute said Collective Bargaining Agreement on behalf of the City of Cortland with the Cortland CSEA for a contractual term of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025.
