HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CA-2021-02-24CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 7:41 p.m. February 24, 2021 PRESENT:
Alderperson Mohlenhoff – Chair
Alderpersons (4) – Fleming, Kerslick, McGonigal, Nguyen Mayor – Myrick
OTHERS PRESENT:
Alderpersons (1) – Lewis City Attorney – Lavine Fire Chief – Parsons
HR Director – Michell-Nunn
Controller – Thayer Chief of Staff – Cogan 1. Call to Order
1.1 Agenda Review. None. 1.2 Review/Approval of Minutes: Alderperson Kerslick made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 27, 2021 meeting of the City Administration Committee. Seconded by Alderperson McGonigal.
Motion carried unanimously.
1.3 Statements from the Public: E-mailed public comments will be attached to the minutes. The following individuals appeared, virtually, before the Committee:
• Peter Meskill, former Tompkins County Sheriff and parent to a City police officer, expressed his thoughts about the reimagining of public safety report and urged the City to work with all parties to make a positive change.
• Andrew Molnar thanked the City for the work done with the reimagining of public safety and asked why the City has not shared any updates on the 5G cell towers. Andrew stated that the Town of Ithaca have shared updates and asked the Committee when this topic would be included again on the agenda for discussion.
1.4 Statements from Employees: Employee comments have been attached to the minutes. 1.5 Council Response City Attorney Lavine explained that the design guidelines for the 5G cell towers would be discussed at
the Planning Committee meeting and on a future meeting of the City Administration Committee. The Planning Department staff is working with contractor Campanelli on the design guidelines and was unsure when these guidelines would be shared with the public.
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Alderperson Kerslick spoke about the concerns expressed by Police Department staff, who feel that they
are being targeted with the reimagining public safety project. Alderperson Kerslick stated that he wants to work with and hear more from the officers. 2. Consent Agenda Items
2.1 YB – Amendment to 2021 Personnel Roster Moved by Alderperson Kerslick. Seconded by Alderperson Gearhart. WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau has a Recreation Program Leader whose responsibilities and duties more
accurately reflect those of a Youth Program Leader; and
WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau has a vacant Youth Program Leader position; and WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau requests an amendment to the 2021 Roster to fund the vacant Youth
Program Leader position and defund the existing Recreation Program Leader position; now, therefore,
be it RESOLVED, that the Personnel Roster of the Youth Bureau shall be amended effective March 8, 2021, as follows:
Fund: One (1) Youth Program Leader (35 hours) Defund: One (1) Recreation Program Leader (35 hours);
and, be it further
RESOLVED, that any existing funds associated with this change will come from within the approved 2021 Ithaca Youth Bureau budget.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Passed unanimously. 2.2 Fire – Amendment to 2020 Fire Department Budget Moved by Alderperson Kerslick. Seconded by Alderperson Gearhart.
WHEREAS, on January 18, 2021, the Ithaca Fire Department was notified that it had received a FEMA Assistance Firefighters Grant, COVID-19 Supplement Round 2, for purchasing of personal protective equipment used in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the cost to purchase personal protective equipment was five thousand, six hundred forty
three dollars, and twelve cents (5,643.12); and WHEREAS, up to five thousand, one hundred, thirty dollars, and eleven cents ($5,130.11) for the purchase of personal protective equipment is funded through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Program; and
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WHEREAS, at least ten percent (10%) of the total costs for the purchase of personal protective equipment, five hundred, thirteen dollars, and one cent ($513.01), was paid from the 2020 Fire Department operating budget; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that Common Council hereby amends the 2020 Fire Department Budget as follows:
Increase Appropriation Account: A3410-5450 Program Supplies $5,130.11 Increase Revenues: A3410-4389 Federal Aid – Public Safety $5,130.11
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 3. City Administration, Human Resources, and Policy. None.
4. Finance, Budget and Appropriations. None. 5. Discussion
5.1 City Government Structure Working Group: Chairperson Mohlenhoff stated that this group had its first
meeting to discuss the possible restructuring of City government. City Attorney Lavine and City Clerk Holcomb provided information about what would need to take place and the timeline should a referendum be needed in the fall.
5.2 City Commissions: An update was provided on the Commissions. Some Commissions were working
on projects when the pandemic hit, and they continued to work on these projects during the pandemic. They are not functioning due to the lack of staff support. There will be a meeting of the Commission chairs to discuss what would be needed to get them meeting again.
5.3 Fire Department: Fire Chief Parsons mentioned that the Fire Department’s annual report was sent to
Common Council and the Mayor and encouraged them to e-mail him any questions that may arise. 6. Meeting Wrap-up
6.1 Announcements. None.
6.2 Next Meeting Date: March 24, 2021 6.3 Review, Agenda Items for Next Meeting. None.
6.4 Adjourn: With no further business and on a motion by Alderperson Kerslick, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
CAC Meeting Comments – February 24, 2021 - 16:27 Loretta Epthimiatos
Plan to abolish the police department "Good Afternoon, I have lived and worked in the community since 2004. I am a police Officer who lives in the City because I want to live in the community where I police. I have established good relationships with people from all over the city of Ithaca and do not know many who support abolishing the police department. I think that this is a big mistake and will affect the public’s safety and well-being. The Ithaca Police department does so much for our community. I'm not going to say there haven't been issues because there have been, but let's sit down together and work on those issues as a community. I'm not saying the police are perfect, we can make improvements. Don't forget most people are seeing or calling the police on their worst day and at a time where they can't solve
whatever issue for themselves and for the most part the problems are solved without issue. The officers that work for this city care about this city. To be honest with you, I thought I would maintain residency here well after I have retired from the police department but with radical moves like this, I am looking at moving out of this City along with many others. Please help restore my desire to live in this City. Please look at this radical move and what has the ability to change and improve without losing public safety in our wonderful City. Thank You, Loretta Epthimiatos or better known as Loretta Tomberelli", Ithaca, NY 2/24/2021 16:39
Anya Harris CSEA Admin Unit Contract Negotiations and Vote "Dear All, I am writing to express my concerns about the way the contract negotiations and vote are being conducted for the CSEA Admin Unit. It is, of course, less than ideal that the Admin Unit has been working without a contract for over a year now, and I am also cognizant of the budgetary pressures that the City is under, especially given the economic impacts of the pandemic.
However, the Admin Unit is being asked to vote on a short-term contract that takes away several of our greatest employee benefits (the Classic Blue health insurance and the ability to pay for up to $14 K in insurance premiums upon retirement) in exchange for a 2.5% raise (effective upon ratification of the contract). I won't get into the merits of this proposal, but I do want to say that I am concerned by the way this contract has (or has not) been presented to the Admin Unit membership. There has been only one informational meeting held to date, and from what I have heard, it was relatively sparsely attended, and members were not able to freely ask questions. I, myself, could not attend as I had a work conflict due to staffing the Planning Board meeting that night.
In truth, we have not even seen the full redlined version of the contract we are being asked to adopt. We have seen only a bulleted list of changes and then have had to go back and compare that to the most recent version of the contract. The list is helpful, but it does not give our
membership confidence that we are fully informed about what's in the document. As concerning as all that is, far worse is the news from our Admin Unit President that, and I quote: ""the vote that will take place on the 25th and 26th is a majority votes that have voted. No quorum or majority."" That seems -- to put it bluntly -- wrong and undemocratic. It delegitimizes the whole process. You wouldn't allow three members of Common Council to get together and pass a bunch of legislation, would you? I don't like the idea that our contract could be adopted by literally five people. Thank you for your time. Sincerely,
Anya Harris Office Assistant Planning Division", Trumansburg, NY 2/24/2021 17:47 Andrew Molnar 5G "I've been helping to lead the local coalition Ithacans for Responsible Technology as we try to minimize the harm of new, unnecessary cell towers in Ithaca. I've been heartened that both the City
and Town have been working with attorney Andrew Campanelli to write new guidelines and codes that will maximize safety for Ithacans. I've gotten regular updates from Town officials as they complete their work, and it looks as though they are adopting some excellent new wireless codes around this. But I haven't heard any details from the City. Could you share: 1. Where you are in the process? 2. When the Council and public will see the updated Guidelines/Codes? 3. At what CA meeting this will be discussed? I'm also concerned about the 28 new cell towers put up around the city in 2017. They are within feet of homes and schools, when science tells us that the safe distance for towers is more than 1000 feet away from such places. In April the contract for these towers are up for renewal. Will they be subject to the same new regulations you are currently working on? If not, what is the process for changing the conditions for these towers?",
Ithaca, NY