Auburn City Council
Meeting #13
March 2, 2006
6:00PM
Roll Call – Councilor Graney, Councilors McNabb, Smith and Dempsey, Mayor Lattimore - Present.
Staff Members Present – John Salomone, City Manager, Thomas Leone, Corporation Counsel, Debra McCormick, City Clerk; Lisa Green, Comptroller; Mike Long, CIP Manager; Trish Geer, Secretary to Corporation Counsel, Gary Giannotta, Police Chief; Steve Lynch, OPED Director; Mike Quill, Fire Chief; Bill Lupien, Engineering Superintendent; Gerry Del Favero, Public Works Supervisor.
All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
The Mayor asked for a moment of silence.
Presentations and Proclamations
The City Clerk read a proclamation from the Mayor declaring March 2006 as American Red Cross Month in the City of Auburn. Susan Marteney, Executive Director of the Cayuga County Chapter accepted and thanked the Mayor.
Public Announcements – None.
City Manager’s Report – The City Manager reported the following:
§ Development in Aurelius is on schedule. The Engineering Department is meeting with the developer’s engineers.
§ Discussed the recent Comptroller’s report that lists Auburn’s debt status as one of the highest. He explained that the city provides services to surrounding communities and the population number used to calculate the results on the report should include towns to give a more accurate result.
§ The $50,000 Economic Development Grant that Senator Mike Nozzolio help Auburn secure has been received. $25000 will go to the Public Power Agency and $25000 will go to the Planning Department.
Council discussed the debt service issue.
Mayor Lattimore spoke to the Manager on various budget items he was concerned about.
Public to be Heard – Mayor Lattimore asked the Clerk to read the rules for the public to be heard portion of the meeting. The statement that she read reflected the rules as they are written in the Council Rules and Procedures.
Tom Gabak, 146 Washington St., and CSEA President, distributed a handout to City Councilors and the Mayor. He spoke to Council on behalf of city workers, regarding the proposed layoffs suggested to address budget issues.
Earl Star, McConnell Ave, spoke to Council about landlord issues and housing problems in Auburn.
Rick Calavito, 9 North Marvine Ave., spoke to Council about the recent assessment.
Jerry Morgan, Pulaski St., spoke to Council about Fire Department Rescue calls.
John Dixon, 2 Cameron St. and Auburn Police Department Union Representative, spoke to Council about contract issues and options to layoffs.
Mary Lou Picciano, 32 Cayuga St., spoke to Council about her son’s arrest by Auburn Police.
Report of City Officials and Committee Reports –
Chief Giannotta reported that he would be sending a contingent of officers to represent Auburn at the funeral of Officer Corr in Syracuse. Officer Corr was shot and killed in the line of duty.
Councilor Dempsey reported that he read in a Post Standard article that water rates in CNY are rising. He noted that Auburn’s rate is lower than the lowest at $1.54 reported in the article, which was $2.29.
Presentations of Petitions and Communications – The Clerk read.
Corporation Counsel Tom Leone asked for Council consent to add item 11 A to the to the agenda. All agreed.
Ordinances – First Read. The City Clerk read Bond Ordinance # 2 of 2006 into the record. This bond ordinance authorized the issuance of an additional $675,000 Serial Bonds to finance the cost of the Genesee Street Reconstruction Project. Council discussed the reconstruction project with Bill Lupien and Mike Long. The City Manager and Corporation Counsel also answered related questions.
VOTE - Council agreed to vote on the Ordinance and waive the first reading. Vote: Councilor Graney, McNabb, Smith, Dempsey and Mayor Lattimore, aye. CARRIED.
Resolutions –
Council Resolution #31 of 2006 authorizing a two (2%) percent pay decrease for the Mayor and Council Members positions. Council discussed. Councilor McNabb suggested a $500 decrease instead of the 2%. All agreed. The resolution was amended to authorize a $500 decrease in the pay for Mayor and Councilor positions. Vote: Councilor Graney, McNabb, Smith, Dempsey and Mayor Lattimore, aye. CARRIED.
Council Resolution #32 of 2006 approving the expenditures presented for payment and authorizing the Comptroller to process the payment for same. Council reviewed the list of expenditures and discussed with Department Heads and the City Manager. Vote: Councilor Graney, McNabb, Smith, Dempsey and Mayor Lattimore, aye. CARRIED.
Second Public to be Heard – None.
Other Business
Councilor Smith asked for a resolution requiring Council to approve any budget transfers within departments. The City Manager commented and suggested that he bring Council a report of some kind each month of accounts that are at risk of needing a transfer. Councilor Smith agreed to consider this.
Council adjourned to Executive Session at 8:45PM and returned to adjourn the meeting at 10:10PM.
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