Auburn City Council
Meeting #8
February 9, 2006
6:00PM
Roll Call – Mayor Lattimore, Councilors McNabb, Smith and Dempsey, Present. Councilor Graney absent.
Staff Members Present – John Salomone, City Manager, Thomas Leone, Corporation Counsel, Debra McCormick, City Clerk; Lisa Green, Comptroller; Steve Lynch, Director of Development; William Lupien, Engineering Services Superintendent; Frank DeOrio, Director of Municipal Services; Mike Long, CIP Manager; Nancy Hussey, Assistant Corporation Counsel; Trish Geer, Secretary to Corporation Counsel.
All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
The Mayor asked for a moment of silence.
Presentations and Proclamations - None
Public Announcements – The Clerk read. Mayor Lattimore also announced that the Auburn Public Theater has an event planned for Saturday February 11th, featuring a comedy act.
Mayor Lattimore asked that Council agree to move the Public to be Heard and Other Business ahead in the agenda due to the anticipated length of the budget discussion. All agreed.
Public to be Heard
Mary Lou Picciano, 37 Cayuga St. spoke to Council about her concerns about he Police Department.
Walt Aikman, 17 Liberty St. and coordinator of the Grow Auburn’s Trees program, spoke to Council about a tree at 29 Lewis St. that was cut down by vandals. He asked the public to provide information if known, to help the police find the vandals that destroyed this tree. He also thanked City staff for their help and support of the Grow Auburn Trees program. He invited anyone interested in trees to a workshop scheduled at the Cornell Cooperative Extension this Saturday. He offered to come back at a later date to do a brief presentation for Council to update them on the program and plans for the future.
Robert Hunter, 33 Gaylord St., spoke to Council about the Public Power Agency meeting he attended the day before. He asked questions about the consultant selection process.
Vicki Trojnor, 19 Chase St., spoke to Council about changing the start time of Council meetings to 7:30PM. She also asked Council to reconsider raising the minimum wage from $6.00 to $6.75 for seasonal workers.
Mayor Lattimore asked that a form be created for people to fill out that wish to speak at the public to be heard portion of the meeting.
Mayor Lattimore commented on a letter that he received from County Legislator Dave Pappert regarding a study of the sales tax formula that he and the Mayor want to do.
Other Business
Council Resolution #17 of 2006 authorizing the Mayor to execute any required agreements and submit reimbursement requests for a $37,060 grant from the NYS Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund to complete the South Street Area Historic District Research GIA Project. Vote: Councilor McNabb, Smith, Dempsey, and Mayor Lattimore, aye, Councilor Graney absent.
Land Sale Resolution # 18 of 2006 authorizing the Mayor to execute any and all documents necessary to effectuate the transfer of 30 Arlington Avenue, Auburn Y to Robert J. Adams, Susan M. Tokarz and Lisa M. Tokarz. Vote: Councilor Graney, absent, Councilors McNabb, Smith, Dempsey, and Mayor Lattimore, aye. CARRIED
Councilor Smith thanked the City Manager and Comptroller for providing him with the information he requested. He also asked that a resolution be brought before Council to restrict purchases over $4000 and require Council approval of any that do come up.
Mayor Lattimore called for a 5-minute recess so that the meeting could move to the training room for the budget work session.
Work Session – Third Floor Training room
Mayor Lattimore called the meeting back to order.
City Manager John Salomone began with an overview of budget priority strategies that Council identified at the January 27th budget work session. He used power point and a hand out to review the different strategies that were identified. The Manager, Department Heads and Council discussed various ideas:
§ A Services in Lieu of Taxes program
§ Reviewing vendor contracts
§ Examining Water and Sewer rates and cost of delivery
§ Reducing the tax rate to make the revaluation revenue neutral
§ Evaluate having City privatize refuse collection
Council and staff agreed to continue to these discussions each week. The City Manager and staff will continue to evaluate options and present them to Council.
Council adjourned to executive session at 8:05PM and adjourned the Council meeting at 10:15PM
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