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CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590
COMMON COUNCIL Telephone: 607-274-6570 council@cityofithaca.org Fax: 607-274-6432 www.cityofithaca.org BUDGET MEETING October 12, 2022 6:00 p.m.
The meeting will be held in person. Staff and members of the public may attend virtually via Zoom. All meetings will be livestreamed to the City’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CityofIthacaPublicMeetings
Chair: Alderperson Robert Gesualdo Cantelmo AGENDA
1. Call to order 2. Review of Budget Process
3. Council Budget Questions and Proposed Process Modifications 4. Public Hearing #1 People wishing to speak remotely at the public hearing must pre-register the morning of the meeting. Please see details below.
5. Department Review:
• Public Safety (Order to be determined) o Includes: Police and Fire Departments
Reimagine Public Safety
• Public Information and Technology
• Human Resources
6. Recess Next meeting: Wednesday, October 13, 2022
How to Participate in Public Comment Virtually Email Common Council Through the Agenda Link
Written comments can be submitted to Common Council using this form: Budget Meeting Comment Card Comments should be submitted no later than 5:00 pm on the day of the meeting. Any comments received after 5:00 pm will be saved for the next meeting. Register to Speak at a Meeting Via Zoom
At 9:00 am on the day of the Budget meeting, a link will be opened on the Budget webpage for people to register to speak at the beginning of the meeting. The first hour of the meeting will be dedicated to public speaking. Registration will close at 3:00 pm in order to allow time to calculate how long each person will be allowed to speak. If you register, you will be emailed the Zoom link later that day. Use that link to sign in and enter a Zoom
meeting. You will be selected to speak in the order that you were registered. You must be
present in the meeting when it is your turn to speak, or you will forfeit your time. You can use video or telephone to participate.
COMMON COUNCIL Special Meeting Voting Record
BUDGET MEETING
Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2022 Location: City Hall, 108 E. Green Street 3rd Floor, Council Chambers Meeting Called to order: 6:00PM
Meeting Adjourned: 6:50 P.M.
YouTube Link(s):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lm7z6wbnuE&list=PLfplo_VA57eoynrqxkGvi11vxHlwByjZw&index=14
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 Called to Order – Robert Cantelmo
Agenda Item: 2 Review Budget Process
Discussion Summary: Robert Cantelmo acknowledged International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Week.
Gave a brief explanation of the budget process. There will be No vote until the final Budget Meeting.
Agenda Item: 3 Council Budget Questions and Proposed Process Modifications
No Questions on process and/or modifications
Agenda Item: 4 Public Hearing #1
YouTube Timestamp: 2:41
Motion to Open: Robert Gearhart
Seconded by: Ducson Nguyen
Vote Passed: All In Favor 10-0
Discussion Summary: Stacey Dimas a member of Ithacans For Reimagining Public Safety spoke. Read a letter
that was signed by 56 Ithacans to Common Council.
Zach Winn spoke about the city’s proposal to remove funding from IPD officer positions.
Eric Lerner brought up 6 points surrounding snow clearing of crosswalks/sidewalks and DPW staffing.
Jan Lynch Executive Director of FLIC spoke on behalf of people with disabilities not having access to crosswalks
and sidewalks in the winter months would like to see a study and pilot program.
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
Motion to Close: Robert Cantelmo
YouTube Timestamp: 15:04
Second: Laura Lewis
Vote Pass: All In Favor 10-0
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
Agenda Item: 5. Department Review
Public Safety/Police Department/RPS
YouTube Timestamp: 26:54
Motion to Move Budget: Patrick Mehler
Seconded by: Robert Gearhart
Vote Passed: All in Favor 10-0
Discussion Summary: Human Resources being moved to 10-20-2022 meeting. Robert Cantelmo made council
aware they did Not move budget. Once motion to move was made discussions continued around how funding the
Unarmed Division and IPD vacant positions.
Controller Steve Thayer present to answer questions surrounding unused authorized IPD funds. Chief of Police
John Joly present to answer questions surrounding IPD recruitment process.
Cynthia raised a question about data entry specialist positions not being funded in the 2023 budget, John Joly
responded by clarifying the changes and reclassifying the positions. Jorge asked for a detailed explanation for
what is under the contract section. Cynthia discussed adding $5 Thousand in contingency for training in terms of
increased oversight.
Fire Department YouTube Timestamp: 1:17:01
Discussion Summary: Fire Chief Rob Covert present to answer budget questions, funding and staffing goals.
Discussed funding for Fire Station and replacing Heavy Rescue Equipment. Explained the costs of Equipment,
Program Supplies and the need to replace vehicles.. Answered questions regarding being adequately staffed for
timely inspections.
Public Information and Technology YouTube Timestamp: 1:39:38
Discussion Summary: Julie Holcomb discussed increase to budget; staffing changes; new positions added, un-
funding the vacant desk top specialist position. This position may need to be filled in the future as the
departmental needs grow. Discussed the cost of putting cyber security in place, the purchase of new software and
annual costs. Answered questions about the Capital Project Submission for the replacement of network switches.
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 6: Recess
YouTube Time Stamp: 1:50:14
Motion to Recess: Patrick Mehler
Second: Jorge Defendini
Vote Passed: All in Favor 10-0
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