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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN_CC_Budget Meeting 10-27-22COMMON COUNCIL Special Meeting Voting Record
BUDGET MEETING #5
Date: Thursday, October 27th 2022 Location: City Hall, 108 E. Green Street 3rd Floor, Council Chambers Meeting Called to order: 6:00PM
Meeting Adjourned: 9:02PM
YouTube Link(s): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RyLEvKMVwY&t=103s
Attendance Record of Voting Members
Name Present (In Person) Remote Absent / Excused
Acting Mayor – Laura Lewis x
1st Ward – Cynthia Brock x
1st Ward – George McGonigal x
2nd Ward – Phoebe Brown x
2nd Ward - Ducson Nguyen x
3rd Ward – Jeffrey Barken x
3rd Ward – Rob Gearhart x
4th Ward – Jorge DeFendini x
4th Ward - Patrick Mehler x
5th Ward – Robert Cantelmo x
5th Ward – Laura Lewis x
Total voting members for this meeting 10
Agenda Item: 1 Call to Order- Chairman Robert Cantelmo
YouTube Timestamp: 0:28
Motion to Open: Open Motion on the table to discuss budget. Returning from Recess continuing from 10-
26-2022 Budget Meeting
Agenda Item 2: Council Discussion and Vote on Proposed Amendments
Homeless Response Initiative
Cynthia Brock- Motion to Add One-Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,00.00) to Restricted Contingency
from ARPA Fund.
Seconded By: George McGonigal
YouTube Timestamp: 0:43
Vote Passed: 9-1 (YouTube Timestamp: 23:32)
Discussion Summary: Tompkins County Legislature committed $100 Thousand Dollars in funding to match the
City’s Efforts. Discussions continued with questions and comments about the appointed Working Group, where
funding is being applied, Chairman asked City Controller to go over the Balance of ARPA Funds. Laura made a
motion to dedicate $50 Thousand Dollars rather than $100 Thousand Dollars. Robert Cantelmo did not make a
motion but was curious to know if Council would be open to the idea of funding the $100 Thousand Dollars by
taking $50 Thousand Dollars from the Homeless Coordinator Position and $50 Thousand Dollars from the ARPA
fund.
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table Cynthia Brock X
George McGonigal X
Phoebe Brown X
Ducson Nguyen X
Jeffrey Barken X
Rob Gearhart X
Jorge DeFendini X
Patrick Mehler X
Robert Cantelmo X
Laura Lewis X
Sub- Motion- Laura Lewis Motion to amend $100 Thousand Dollars to $50 Thousand Dollars
Second: Robert Gearhart
Vote Did Not Pass: 1-9 (YouTube Timestamp 23:09)
Discussion Summary: No Discussion
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table
Cynthia Brock X
George McGonigal X
Phoebe Brown X
Ducson Nguyen X
Jeffrey Barken X
Rob Gearhart X
Jorge DeFendini X
Patrick Mehler X
Robert Cantelmo X
Laura Lewis X
Tompkins County Public Library
Motion to Move Patrick Mehler
Motion to Keep Tompkins County Public Library open on Sundays by taking 7 % from each departments
Office Expenses Line to fund Fifteen-Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00)
YouTube Timestamp: 23:44
Seconded by: Cynthia Brock
Sub-Motion- Cynthia Brock (YouTube Timestamp 26:17)
Friendly Amendment- Motion to Amend to add Fifteen Thousand Dollars from Tax Rate to keep Tompkins
County Public Library Open on Sundays.
Vote Passed: All in Favor 10-0
Discussion Summary: All in support of Tompkins County Library being open on Sundays. George commented
on 40% of County Funds are paid by City Taxes and $17 Thousand Dollars of our Sales Tax Revenue goes to the
Library.
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table
Cynthia Brock x
George McGonigal x
Phoebe Brown x
Ducson Nguyen x
Jeffrey Barken x
Rob Gearhart x
Jorge DeFendini x
Patrick Mehler x
Robert Cantelmo x
Laura Lewis x
DPW- Sidewalk and Snow Removal
Proposal to fund Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars from Tax Rate for Sidewalk and Snow Removal
Moved by Patrick Mehler
Seconded By: Robert Gearhart
YouTube Timestamp: 32:48
Vote Fails: 6-4
Discussion Summary: Chairman Robert Cantelmo expanded on proposal for more clarification. Clarified
funding as to bypassing study, having funds be available for a RFP to award up to $75 Thousand Dollars to
contractors who would remove snow from designated priority sidewalks. Discussion continued with questions and
comments from Council about sidewalks being the responsibility of the property owner, DPW staffing, and snow
removal and sidewalks being a major accessibility issue for city residents.
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table Cynthia Brock George McGonigal Phoebe Brown Ducson Nguyen Jeffrey Barken Rob Gearhart Jorge DeFendini Patrick Mehler Robert Cantelmo Laura Lewis
Southside Community Center
Jorge DeFendini- Motion to fund $400 Thousand Dollars for Kitchen Renovation out of Capital Projects
Fund
Seconded By: Jeff Barken
YouTube Time Stamp: 1:08
Sub-Motion- Ducson Nguyen (YouTube Timestamp 1:12:37)
Friendly Amendment- Motion to Amend to Allocate $400 Thousand Dollars from ARPA Fund instead of
Capital Projects Fund
Seconded By: Jeff Barken
Sub-Motion- George McGonigal
Friendly Amendment- Motion Amend $400 Thousand Dollars from ARPA to $200 Thousand Dollars from
ARPA fund for Southside Community Project (YouTube Timestamp: 1:44:57)
Motion To take $200 Thousand Dollars from ARPA Fund for Southside Community Center Project
YouTube Timestamp: 1:52
Vote Passed: 8-2
Discussion Summary: Kayla Matos Deputy Director of Southside Community Center present to take questions
and comments from Council. Kayla addressed Laura’s question to clarify request of $400 Thousand Dollars.
Kayla explained the 2022 $200 Thousand Dollars is accounted for and supports their staff salary reimbursement,
2023 $200 Thousand Dollars supports the same. The $400 Thousand Dollars being asked for includes both 2022
and 2023 funds and is solely for the Capitol Project. City Controller was asked to addressed the question about
the city funding non-city departments. Discussions continued with talk about Southside fundraising and looking at
possible IURA funding for the commercial kitchen.
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table
Cynthia Brock X
George McGonigal X
Phoebe Brown X
Ducson Nguyen X
Jeffrey Barken X
Rob Gearhart X
Jorge DeFendini X
Patrick Mehler X
Robert Cantelmo X
Laura Lewis X
Community Police Board Training
George McGonigal: Move to Fund $5 Thousand Dollars from Tax Rate
Seconded By: Cynthia Brock
YouTube Time Stamp: 1:53:30
Friendly Amendment: Robert Cantelmo (YouTube Timestamp: 1:55:19)
Propose to set aside $5 Thousand Dollars out of RPS Restricted Contingency Fund
Vote Passed: 10-1 All In Favor
Discussion Summary: Laura asked if there was more information as to what is involved as training goes.
Cynthia provided information as to what funding is intended to do.
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table
Cynthia Brock X
George McGonigal X
Phoebe Brown X
Ducson Nguyen X
Jeffrey Barken X
Rob Gearhart X
Jorge DeFendini X
Patrick Mehler X
Robert Cantelmo X
Laura Lewis X
Ithaca Fire Department- Replacement Electric Vehicle
Ducson Nguyen: Move to Fund Vehicle Replacement out of Tax Rate
Seconded By: Jorge DeFendini
YouTube Timestamp: 1:59:15
Motion on Table- $72 Thousand Dollars from Tax Rate for the procurement for a replacement Electrical
Vehicle ( YouTube Timestamp: 2:08:54)
Vote Passed: 9-1
Discussion Summary: Fire Chief present to take questions and comments from Council. George does not think
we can afford it. Chief was asked to expand on the financial impact and provided detailed information as to how
the vehicle will be used. Jeff Barken questioned the urgency of the need for the electrical vehicle.
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table
Cynthia Brock
George McGonigal X
Phoebe Brown X
Ducson Nguyen X
Jeffrey Barken X
Rob Gearhart X
Jorge DeFendini X
Patrick Mehler X
Robert Cantelmo X
Laura Lewis X
Hangar Theater – Request for Theatrical Performances and Complimentary Ticket
Move to Amend $15 Thousand Dollars for Complimentary Tickets
No Motion To Move
Direct Cash Payments for Residents
Request for $1 Million Dollars in ARPA Funding.
Moved By: Jorge DeFendini
Seconded By: Phoebe Brown
YouTube Timestamp: 2:10:21
Friendly Amendment: Jorge DeFendini (YouTube Timestamp: 2:11:57)
Formal Motion to request Contingency Funding of $1 Million Dollars contingent on the development of a
program
Motion on the Table- Restricted Contingency Model
Friendly Amendment: Jorge DeFendini
Amend to Allocate $15 Thousand Dollars to Restricted Contingency Fund out of Tax Rate
Seconded By: Phoebe Brown
Motion on Table is $15 Thousand Dollars in Restricted Contingency Funds out of Tax Rate for the study
of Historical Injustices and Reparations
Vote Did Not Carry 5-5
Discussion Summary: Discussion and comments from Mayor Laura Lewis about program details, management
and disbursement of funds. This a request of funds with no program attached. Discussion continued with
comments from council about reparations and a study of operations.
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table Cynthia Brock X George McGonigal X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Jeffrey Barken X Rob Gearhart X Jorge DeFendini X Patrick Mehler X Robert Cantelmo X Laura Lewis X
Southside Community Center – Staff Positions
Jorge DeFendini- Move to fund $125 Thousand out of Fund Balance to support Staff Positions
Seconded By: Phoebe Brown
YouTube Timestamp: 2:34:28
Friendly Amendment: Laura Lewis (YouTube Timestamp: 2:45:45)
Move to consider ½ of $125 Thousand to support staff positions.
Friendly Amendment: Jorge DeFendini
Move to amend $62,500.00 to come out of Tax Rate as opposed to Fund Balance
Motion on Table: $62,500.00 out of Tax Rate to Support Staff Positions for Southside Community Center.
Vote Passed: 8-2
Discussion Summary: Deputy Director of Southside Community Center Kayla Matos addressed questions and
comments from council regarding staffing and payroll.
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table
Cynthia Brock X
George McGonigal X
Phoebe Brown X
Ducson Nguyen X
Jeffrey Barken X
Rob Gearhart X
Jorge DeFendini X
Patrick Mehler X
Robert Cantelmo X
Laura Lewis X
Robert Cantelmo - Motion to Move- Data Analyst Position go from July 1st start date to August 1st start
date and the $7 Thousand Dollars repurposed for Restricted Contingency study to support RFP and study
associated costs into Investigation of Reparations
Seconded By: Jorge DeFendini
YouTube Timestamp: 2:49:48
Vote Failed 8-2
Discussion Summary: Robert Cantelmo says exploration of this proposal merits the Council’s attention.
Discussion continue with questions and comments from Council regarding consulting contracting services and
who’s jurisdiction or department would this fall under. George called to question a withdrawl.
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table
Cynthia Brock X
George McGonigal X
Phoebe Brown X
Ducson Nguyen X
Jeffrey Barken X
Rob Gearhart X
Jorge DeFendini X
Patrick Mehler X
Robert Cantelmo X
Laura Lewis X
Unbroken Promise Initiative
Not Moved
YouTube Timestamp: 2:55:54
Agenda Item 3: Council Vote to Move Budget to November 2nd.
Motion to Table the Budget- Robert Cantelmo
Moved by Mayor Laura Lewis
Seconded By: Robert Gearhart
Vote Passed 10-0 All In Favor
YouTube Timestamp: 3:02:12
Discussion Summary: Questions from Council regarding continuing to modify budget at next meeting. Robert
Cantelmo suggested colleagues have ready the budget they wish to vote on. Robert C mentioned the Public
Hearing is scheduled for Wednesday and asked if a second Public Hearing is required. Per Steve until the Budget
is adopted modifications can be made through Wednesday.
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table
Cynthia Brock X
George McGonigal X
Phoebe Brown X
Ducson Nguyen X
Jeffrey Barken X
Rob Gearhart X
Jorge DeFendini X
Patrick Mehler X
Robert Cantelmo X
Laura Lewis X
Agenda Item 4: Motion to Adjourn
Moved By: Jorge DeFendini
Seconded By: Patrick Mehler
YouTube Timestamp: 3:02:32
Vote Passed 10-0 All In Favor
Discussion Summary: No Discussion
Member Approve Deny Abstain Table
Cynthia Brock X
George McGonigal X
Phoebe Brown X
Ducson Nguyen X
Jeffrey Barken X
Rob Gearhart X
Jorge DeFendini X
Patrick Mehler X
Robert Cantelmo X
Laura Lewis X