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Home My WebLink AboutMN-CC-2025-10-08YouTube Link: Date: Location: Wednesday October 8, 2025 City Hall Council Chambers 10-8-2025 COMMON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Voting Record 1.Call to Order (15 Min) 1.1 Emergency Evacuation 1.2 Agenda Review 1.3 Reports From Municipal Officials 2.Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes (5 Min) 2.1 8-20-25 COW Study Session, 9-3-2025 CC Meeting Attendance Record of Voting Members Name Present Absent/Excused Mayor - Robert Cantelmo X 1st Ward - Kayla Matos X 1st Ward - Phoebe Brown X 2nd Ward - Ducson Nguyen X 2nd Ward - Kris Haines-Sharp X 3rd Ward - David Shapiro X 3rd Ward - Pierre Saint-Perez X 4th Ward - Patrick Kuehl X 4th Ward - Tiffany Kumar X 5th Ward - Margaret Fabrizio X 5th Ward - Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: The October 8th 2025, Meeting of Common Council was called to order at 6pm. Alderperson Brown and Alderperson Shapiro are not in attendance for Call To Order. There were no changes, deletions, or additions to the agenda; due to the County being in their Budget Season, there are no municipal officials in attendance to provide a report. Timestamp 0:28- 2:30 Discussion Summary: Mayor Cantelmo called for a motion to approve the August 20th 2025 COW meeting minutes and the Sept 3rd 2025 Common Council meeting minutes. Mayor Cantelmo made it known for the record, Alderperson Shapiro is now in attendance. Timestamp 2:32- 2:46 Moved By: Kayla Matos Seconded By: Clyde Lederman 3.Petitions and Hearings of Persons Before Council (60 Min) 3.1 Statement From The Public 3.2 Privilege Of The Floor- Comments From Council and The Mayor 4.Consent Agenda (5 Min) Motion Summary: Motion to Approve the August 20th 2025 COW meeting minutes, and the September 3rd 2025 Common Council meeting minutes. Moved by Alderperson Matos, Seconded by Alderperson Lederman. All In Favor, motion carries unanimously 10-0 with Alderperson Brown absent. Vote Passed 10-0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Oppose Recuse Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: Members of the public attended the meeting to offer comments on the proposed use of FLOCK technology, as well as other topics of interest and concern related to the City of Ithaca. Each speaker was given three minutes to address Council. Council listened attentively and responded by providing clarification on certain issues, sharing updates where applicable, and expressing appreciation for the feedback and engagement from community members. Timestamp 2:48- 55:47 Discussion Summary: Consent agenda items 4.1-4.3 were approved by Council. Alderperson Brown in now in attendance. Consent agenda passed Unanimously 11-0 Timestamp 55:48 Moved By: Pierre Saint-Perez Seconded By: Tiffany Kumar Motion Summary: Motion to approve Consent Agenda items 4.1- Funding Rostered Nursing Position for GIAC, 4.2-Amendment to the Authorized Personnel Roster for Ithaca Youth Bureau and 4.3- FEMA Grant for Portable Radios, moved by Alderperson Saint- Perez, Seconded by Alderperson Kumar. All In Favor. Motion carries 11-0 Vote Passed 11-0 Carried Unanimously 4.1 Funding of Rostered Nursing Position for GIAC per OCFS Regulations 4.2 Amendment to Authorized Personnel Roster - IYB 4.3 FEMA Grant for Portable Radios 5.Order of Business- No Order of Business 6. Member Filed - No Member Filed Items On The Agenda 7. Mayor Appointments 7.1 Appointment to the Planning Board Member Approve Oppose Abstain Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: Peggy Tully is appointed to the Planning Board. Timestamp 56:07- 56:34 Moved By: Robert Cantelmo Seconded By: Motion Summary: Mayor Cantelmo moved to appoint Peggy Tully to the Planning Board effective November 1st. No formal Second, All In Favor, motion carries 11-0 Vote Passed 11-0 Carried Unanimously 8. Executive Session (If Needed) 9. Meeting Wrap Up 10. Monthly Reports To Council- No Report for the Month of October. Member Approve Oppose Recuse Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: No further order of business. The meeting is adjourned; no formal motion to adjourn. Council remained for the upcoming 2026 Budget Meeting review. Timestamp 56:39-56:59 Submitted: October 31st 2025 Adopted: 11-5-2025 Carried Unanimously 9-0 Shaniqua Lewis,Deputy City Clerk Date: Time: Location: Watch Online: Wednesday October 8, 2025 6:00 PM -Budget Meeting and Public Hearing will begin Immediately following Common Council Meeting City Hall Council Chambers https://www.youtube.com/@CityofIthacaPublicMeetings October 8th 2025 COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR VOTING MEETING AGENDA 1.Call to Order (15 Min) 1.1. 1.2. 1.3. 2.Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes (5 Min) 2.1. 3.Petitions and Hearings of Persons Before Council (60 Min) 3.1. 3.2. 4.Consent Agenda (5 Min) 4.1. 4.2. 4.3. 5.Order of Business- No Order of Business 6.Member Filed - No Member Filed Items On The Agenda 7.Mayor Appointments 7.1. 8.Executive Session (If Needed) 9.Meeting Wrap Up 10.Monthly Reports To Council- No Report for the Month of October. Agenda At A Glance The Common Council meeting this evening will not follow a regular order of business. Items scheduled for consideration and vote include the Consent Agenda, the Mayoral appointment to the Planning Board, and the approval of meeting minutes from September 3rd and August 20th. Public comment will take place as usual. Following the Common Council meeting, a Budget Meeting will be held, which will include Public Hearing #1 to receive comments from the public on the City Manager’s proposed 2026 Budget. Emergency Evacuation Agenda Review Reports From Municipal Officials 8-20-25 COW Study Session, 9-3-2025 CC Meeting Statement From The Public Privilege Of The Floor- Comments From Council and The Mayor Funding of Rostered Nursing Position for GIAC per OCFS Regulations Amendment to Authorized Personnel Roster - IYB FEMA Grant for Portable Radios Appointment to the Planning Board 1 Public Comment Forum The public can provide short statements during this portion of the meeting. 3 minutes is the maximum time allotted, but the chair reserves the right to modify the amount of time per individual at the start of the meeting. Only the first hour of the meeting is set aside for Public Comment. Groups of 3 or more speakers are allotted more speaking time. For Longer Speaking Time - Multiple speakers on the same topic can speak as a group with one Designated Speaker to represent the Group. This will give you more time to share your thoughts and concerns during the Public Comment Forum. 3-4 Persons with One Designated Speaker - Alotted 5 minutes 5 or More Persons with One Designated Speaker - Alotted 7 minutes Can't Come to the Meeting but still want to speak? Register to Speak Virtually - https://tinyurl.com/7ts9zmku Attending the Meeting to Speak in Person? Pre-Registration Not Required Comment Cards are provided to those who attend in person. Once you have filled out your Comment Card, please hand your card to the Clerk. Your name will be called to speak in the order the cards are received. Please Note Comment Cards will be accepted up until the Public Comment Forum begins or a maximum of 30 speakers, whichever comes first. Once we have reached a maximum of 30 speakers, you can submit your comment using the Written Comment Link Below. Want to Submit a Comment and Not Speak in Person? To Submit Written Comments - https://tinyurl.com/mr9kdhw8 *Written comments submitted with be compiled and entered into the record. 2 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Human Resources Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Catherine Muskin DATE:October 8, 2025 RE:Funding of Rostered Nursing Position for GIAC per OCFS Regulations ITEM #:4.1 MEMORANDUM NYS OCFS requires that a nurse or equivalently licensed individual administer certain medications to children in childcare facilities. In June 2025, GIAC and IYB changed their operations, to hire nursing assistance into corresponding titled roles (Youth Medical Care Provider), following May 2025, approval by the Civil Service Commission. Summer operations for GIAC for this position were financially covered through seasonal funding, given the seasonal nature of the population and operations. With regular operations commencing for the 2025-2026 school year, operations will shift from seasonal/temporary to per diem nursing services required from a Youth Medical Care Provider. This request is for approval to fund a permanent, rostered nursing position for GIAC for the Youth Medical Care Provider, as required per OCFS regulations. ATTACHMENTS: GIAC- AMEND PERSONNEL ROSTER- Youth Care Medical Provider.pdf 3 RESOLUTION TO AMEND 2025 PERSONNEL ROSTER OF THE GREATER ITHACA ACTIVITIES CENTER (GIAC) - TWO (2) YOUTH MEDICAL CARE PROVIDERS WHEREAS, NYS Oﬃce of Children and Family Services (OCFS) requires a nurse or equivalent licensed individual administer certain medications to youth participants in childcare facilities, and WHEREAS, to comply with federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, it is essential for public institutions to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equity of access to all persons with disabilities to participate in programs, and WHEREAS, in May 2025, the Civil Service Commission approved the title of Youth Medical Care Provider to provide such services, and WHEREAS, in June 2025, the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) hired a Youth Medical Care Provider using seasonal funding for summer operations, and WHEREAS, with the shift from summer operations to regular programming for the 2025-2026 school year and onwards, the Director of GIAC recommends the funding two (2) permanent, rostered Youth Medical Care Provider positions at GIAC, as required per OCFS regulations, and WHEREAS, the Common Council unanimously voted to approve said changes at its September 17, 2025 meeting, and this resolution is intended to memorialize the rostering of the positions and reﬂect the appropriate budgetary changes, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the personnel roster of GIAC be amended as follows:    Add: Two (2) Youth Medical Care Providers at 20 hours per week each and be it further RESOLVED, that the cost of salary and fringe beneﬁts for these positions shall be paid from A7311 1100 0110, which shall be adjusted accordingly to account for these changes, and be it further RESOLVED, that this resolution supersedes the motion and approval vote taken by Common Council on this topic on September 17, 2025. 4 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Ithaca Youth Bureau Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Ithaca Youth Bureau DATE:October 8, 2025 RE:Amendment to Authorized Personnel Roster - IYB ITEM #:4.2 MEMORANDUM "We are submitting a request to fund and ammend our personnel roster in the following two ways: 1. reclassify the Youth Program Coordinator position in YES to a Senior Youth Program Coordinator (approved by Civil Service on 9/3/2025 2. Promote the Youth Program Coordinator position in Outings/Ithaca Bike Rental to Senior Youth Program Coordinator and defund the existing Youth Program Coordinator position ATTACHMENTS: IYB Amendment To Roster Memo (Admin) - October 2025.pdf Resolution to Amend Youth Bureau 2025 Authorized Roster (Admin) - October 2025.pdf IYB Amendment To Roster Memo (OUT) - October 2025.pdf Resolution to Amend Youth Bureau 2025 Authorized Roster (OUT) - October 2025.pdf IYB Amendment To Roster Memo (YES) - October 2025.pdf Resolution to Amend Youth Bureau 2025 Authorized Roster (YES) - October 2025.pdf 5 M E M O R A N D U M Date: September 23, 2025 To: Common Council From: Gregg Houck, Youth Bureau Director Suki Tabor, Youth Bureau Deputy Director RE: Amendment to Authorized Personnel Roster (Admin) – Ithaca Youth Bureau PURPOSE The purpose of this memorandum is to seek Council authorization to amend the 2025 authorized personnel roster to reﬂect a pending reclassiﬁcation/promotion for an existing position within the Ithaca Youth Bureau. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ithaca Youth Bureau formally requests approval to fund a pending reclassiﬁed/promotional position that better aligns with the needs of the department. BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS There has been a steadily increasing workload for the administrative team handling ﬁnances and front oﬃce operations at the IYB. As this workload has increased the administrative assistant has taken on more responsibility. Department leadership comprehensively reviewed this administrative assistant position and the current needs of the department and concluded that a higher-grade position would be more appropriate. Department leadership is now working with HR to move the process through the Civil Service Commission. QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL We respectfully request Council’s approval to amend the Youth Bureau Approved 2025 Personnel Roster to include a funded Oﬃce Manager and to defund an Administrative Assistant position. KEY ISSUE The Fiscal Manager is seeing increases in their workload and has less capacity to also oversee front oﬃce operations. The Administrative Assistant has begun taking on more responsibilities including training and coordination of front oﬃce operations. The current job title of Administrative Assistant does not adequately reﬂect the scope, complexity, and responsibilities of the position as currently performed. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that Council approve the following personnel changes to take eﬀect upon the ﬁnal approval of the Civil Service Commission: • Defund (1) existing 40-hour Administrative Assistant position. • Fund (1) 40-hour an Oﬃce Manager. BUDGET IMPACT This personnel change will be accommodated within the existing 2025 approved budget. No amendments are required, as the cost will be oﬀset by savings from vacancies and defunded positions. No additional funds will be needed in the 2026 budget in support of this position. 6 Resolution to amend the Youth Program Unit of the City of Ithaca Schedule of Authorized Personnel for the Year 2025 WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau has assessed its current staffing needs and has identified necessary adjustments to the staffing of its front office in order to address increased work load from new department responsibilities and to have dedicated management of front office operations; and WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau can achieve its staffing adjustments without amendments to its 2025 approved budget by defunding currently authorized, funded positions and utilizing savings from current vacancies; therefore be it RESOLVED THAT, the City of Ithaca Schedule of Authorized Personnel Youth Program Unit shall be amended effective upon the necessary Civil Service Commission and HR final approvals: Defund: One (1) Administrative Assistant – 40 hours Fund: One (1) Office Manager – 40 hours 7 M E M O R A N D U M Date: September 23, 2025 To: Common Council From: Gregg Houck, Youth Bureau Director Suki Tabor, Youth Bureau Deputy Director RE: Amendment to Authorized Personnel Roster – Ithaca Youth Bureau PURPOSE The purpose of this memorandum is to seek Council authorization to amend the 2025 authorized personnel roster to reﬂect a promotion within the Ithaca Youth Bureau. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ithaca Youth Bureau formally requests approval to fund a promotional position for a current employee to better align with the employee’s actual responsibilities and the needs of the department. BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS Following the recommendation of reclassiﬁcation of one our other youth program coordinator positions, IYB leadership looked closely at the youth program coordinator position overseeing the Outings and Ithaca Bike Rental programs. Following a comprehensive review, the request to add an additional Senior Youth Program Coordinator position was forwarded to the Civil Service Commission. The Commission recommended the addition of a second Senior Youth Program Coordinator position which would allow us to promote this Youth Program Coordinator to the new title which is better aligned with the responsibilities of their work. QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL We respectfully request Council’s approval to amend the Youth Bureau Approved 2025 Personnel Roster to reﬂect the promotion of the Outings/Ithaca Bike Rental Youth Program Coordinator to a Senior Youth Program Coordinator. At the same time, we recommend that the Youth Program Coordinator position that they currently hold be unfunded. KEY ISSUE The current job title of Youth Program Coordinator does not adequately reﬂect the scope, complexity, and responsibilities of the position as currently performed, but also does not rise to the level of Youth Program Administrator. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that Council approve the following personnel changes: • Defund (1) 40-hour Youth Program Coordinator position. • Fund (1) 40-hour Senior Youth Program Coordinator position. BUDGET IMPACT This personnel change will be accommodated within the existing 2025 approved budget. No amendments are required, as the cost will be oﬀset by savings from vacancies and defunded positions. No additional funds will be needed in the 2026 budget in support of this position. 8 Resolution to amend the Youth Program Unit of the City of Ithaca Schedule of Authorized Personnel for the Year 2025 WHEREAS, a a request was sent to the Human Resources department and after review, it was forwarded to the Civil Service Commission; and WHEREAS, the Civil Service Commission recommended the creation of an additional Senior Youth Program Coordinator position, and it was decided to promote a Youth Program Coordinator to this new title and defund the existing Youth Program Coordinator position; and WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau can achieve its staffing adjustments without amendments to its 2025 approved budget by defunding currently authorized, funded positions and utilizing savings from current vacancies; and WHEREAS, the Human Resources Department has reviewed and approved the proposed changes for consideration by Common Council; therefore be it RESOLVED THAT, the City of Ithaca Schedule of Authorized Personnel Youth Program Unit shall be amended effective immediately as follows: Defund: One (1) Youth Program Coordinator – 40 hours Fund: One (1) Senior Youth Program Coordinator – 40 hours 9 M E M O R A N D U M Date: September 23, 2025 To: Common Council From: Gregg Houck, Youth Bureau Director Suki Tabor, Youth Bureau Deputy Director RE: Amendment to Authorized Personnel Roster – Ithaca Youth Bureau PURPOSE The purpose of this memorandum is to seek Council authorization to amend the 2025 authorized personnel roster to reﬂect a reclassiﬁcation of an existing position within the Ithaca Youth Bureau. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ithaca Youth Bureau formally requests approval to fund a reclassiﬁed position to better align with the employee’s actual responsibilities and the needs of the department. BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS An employee submitted a job reclassiﬁcation request to the Human Resources Department. Following a comprehensive review, the request was forwarded to the Civil Service Commission. The Commission determined that the duties performed by the employee are more accurately represented by a diﬀerent job title and recommended reclassiﬁcation under the newly created and approved Senior Youth Program Coordinator title. QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL We respectfully request Council’s approval to amend the Youth Bureau Approved 2025 Personnel Roster to reﬂect the reclassiﬁcation of this speciﬁc Youth Program Coordinator (Youth Employment Service/Youth Council Ambassadors) position to a Senior Youth Program Coordinator position. KEY ISSUE The current job title of Youth Program Coordinator does not adequately reﬂect the scope, complexity, and responsibilities of this speciﬁc position as currently performed, but also does not rise to the level of a Youth Program Administrator. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that Council approve the following personnel changes: • Defund (1) 40-hour Youth Program Coordinator position. • Fund (1) 40-hour Senior Youth Program Coordinator position. BUDGET IMPACT This personnel change will be accommodated within the existing 2025 approved budget. No amendments are required, as the cost will be oﬀset by savings from vacancies and defunded positions. No additional funds will be needed in the 2026 budget in support of this position. 10 Resolution to amend the Youth Program Unit of the City of Ithaca Schedule of Authorized Personnel for the Year 2025 WHEREAS, a job reclassification request was sent to the Human Resources department and after comprehensive review it was forwarded to the Civil Service Commission; and WHEREAS, the Civil Service Commission determined that the duties performed by the employee are more accurately represented by a different job title and recommended reclassification of the position from Youth Program Coordinator to Senior Youth Program Coordinator; and WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau can achieve its staffing adjustments without amendments to its 2025 approved budget by defunding currently authorized, funded positions and utilizing savings from current vacancies; and WHEREAS, the Human Resources Department has reviewed and approved the proposed changes for consideration by Common Council; therefore be it RESOLVED THAT, the City of Ithaca Schedule of Authorized Personnel Youth Program Unit shall be amended effective immediately as follows: Defund: One (1) Youth Program Coordinator – 40 hours Fund: One (1) Senior Youth Program Coordinator – 40 hours 11 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Fire Department Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Rob Covert DATE:October 8, 2025 RE:FEMA Grant for Portable Radios ITEM #:4.3 MEMORANDUM The Ithaca Fire Department was awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $67,772.73 to purchase portable radios. Ithaca Fire personnel rely on portable radios for both routine and emergency communications. Council needs to approve to accept the grant before 10/24/25. ATTACHMENTS: IFD_FEMA_Grant_Resolution_2025.09.26_Rob_Covert.pdf 12 R Covert 9/26/25 IFD- FEMA ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT-PORTABLE RADIOS WHEREAS, Ithaca Fire Department personnel rely on portable radios for both routine and emergency communications; and WHEREAS, the Ithaca Fire Department’s current portable radios are reaching their end-of-life; and WHEREAS, in November 2024, the Ithaca Fire Department applied for a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Fireﬁghters Grant (AFG) to purchase a portable radio for each front-line riding position; and WHEREAS, on 24 September 2025, the Ithaca Fire Department received notiﬁcation of award for FEMA AFG EMW-2024-FG-01779; and WHEREAS, FEMA funds awarded total the amount of $67,772.73; and WHEREAS, as a condition of grant receipt the City of Ithaca shall contribute 10% matching funds in the total amount of $6,772.73; and WHEREAS, the total amount of $6,772.73 will be disbursed from funds previously appropriated in the 2025 operating budget for the purchase of portable radios; and WHEREAS, the total amount of $74,500 will be appropriated for the purchase of portable radios; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, the Common Council of the City of Ithaca approves the acceptance o f FEMA AFG EMW-2024-FG-01779 for $67,727.27 to purchase of portable radios. 13 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Mayor's Office Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Planning Board DATE:October 8, 2025 RE:Appointment to the Planning Board ITEM #:7.1 MEMORANDUM Peggy Tully is appointed to the Planning Board for a 4 year term ending 12/31/2028 effective November 1st 2025 ATTACHMENTS: Res- Mayor Appt- Peggy Tully.pdf 14 Mayoral Appointments to the Planning Board RESOLVED, that Peggy Tully be appointed to the Planning Board beginning November 1st 2025, for a four year (4) term to expire December 31st 2028 15