HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CA-2023-09-27
CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 6:00 p.m. September 27, 2023
PRESENT:
Alderperson Cantelmo – Chair
Alderpersons (3): Defendini, Haines-Sharp, McGonigal
EXCUSED:
Alderpersons (1): Fleming
OTHERS PRESENT:
Mayor – Lewis
Superintendent of Public Works – Thorne
Fire Chief – Covert
Acting Police Chief – Schwartz
Transportation Engineer – Cuddihy
Assistant City Attorney – Kessler
HR Director – Michell-Nunn
Controller – Thayer
Deputy Controller – Andrew
1.Call to Order
1.1 Agenda Review: Alderperson Haines-Sharp requested that item 3.2 – IFD Fire Marshall Resolution be
removed from Consent Agenda and be added as item 4.2.
1.2 Review/Approval of Minutes: Alderperson Defendini made a motion to approve the minutes from the
City Administration Committee meeting held on August 23, 2023. Seconded by Alderperson
McGonigal. Motion carried unanimously.
2.Petitions and Hearings of Persons Before Council
2.1 Statements from the Public
City resident Armin Heurich and FLIC Executive Director Jan Lynch spoke about snow free crosswalks
and sidewalks.
2.2 Council Response. None.
3.Consent Agenda
3.1 Amend GIAC Personnel Roster
Moved by Alderperson Haines-Sharp. Seconded by Alderperson Defendini.
WHEREAS, GIAC has one funded 35-hour roster Executive Assistant position, and
City Administration Committee Meeting
September 27, 2023
Page 2
WHEREAS, as part of the personnel reductions during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, GIAC
Administration reduced the hours of this position to 35 hours per week, and
WHEREAS, this position not only supports the work of the GIAC Director but also the Deputy GIAC
Directors and indeed the entire agency, and
WHEREAS, restoring this position to 40 hours a week is crucial to the workload for this position as we
often have to cover overtime hours for it now, and
WHEREAS, GIAC’s 2023 budget as approved has funding to support these additional hours, and
WHEREAS, no additional funds are being requested for this position, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Personnel Roster of GIAC shall be amended as follows:
Increase – one (1) GIAC Executive Assistant Position from 35 hours to 40 hours a week
And be it further,
RESOLVED, that said roster amendment will be made within the existing funds of the 2023 authorized
GIAC budget.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Passed unanimously.
3.2 Amendment to Personnel Roster – Ithaca Police Department
Moved by Alderperson Haines-Sharp. Seconded by Alderperson Defendini.
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Police Department does not have a Crime Analyst, and
WHEREAS, currently police officers, investigators, and police supervisors are often tasked with
trying to gather, interpret, analyze, then disseminate data for an investigation or the public, and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned process significantly decreases the overall efficiency of the
Ithaca Police Department, and
WHEREAS, the nearest Crime Analyst Center is in Binghamton, and the analyst there are not able to
continually provide data specific to the City of Ithaca, and
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Police Department would like to use data, and better data when deciding on
deployment of resources, and
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Police Department values transparency and would like to have an
increased ability to provide our community better information, data and statistics,
City Administration Committee Meeting
September 27, 2023
Page 3
WHEREAS, the 2023 Ithaca Police Department Budget includes funding for a Crime Analyst; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Personnel Roster of the Ithaca Police Department be amended as follows:
Add: One (1) Crime Analyst (40 hours/week)
and be it further
RESOLVED, that the position of Crime Analyst shall be assigned to the CSEA Administrative Unit
Compensation Plan at salary grade 12, and be it further
RESOLVED, that for the sole purpose of determining days worked reportable to the New York State
and Local Employees Retirement System the standard workday for this position shall be established at
eight (8) hours per day (forty (40) hours per week), and be it further
RESOLVED, that funding for this position shall be derived from the approved 2023 departmental
budget.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Passed unanimously.
4. Administration, Human Resources, & Policy
4.1 Amendment to Personnel Roster IPD- Deputy Chief
Moved by Alderperson Defendini. Seconded by Alderperson Haines-Sharp.
WHEREAS, due to staffing availability at the leadership level in the Ithaca Police Department, and
WHEREAS, it is desirable to have more stability by adding a new Deputy Police Chief to minimize the
temporary restructuring, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the personnel roster of the Ithaca Police Department be amended as follows:
Fund: an additional Deputy Police Chief position
and be it further
RESOLVED, that once there is a Deputy Police Chief vacancy the personnel roster of the Ithaca Police
Department shall be automatically reduced from three (3) Deputy Police Chiefs to two (2) Deputy Police
Chiefs, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the above change shall be funded from within the 2023 allocated budget of the Ithaca
Police Department.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
City Administration Committee Meeting
September 27, 2023
Page 4
Passed unanimously.
4.2 Amendment to Personnel Roster – Fire – Assistant Fire Chief
Moved by Alderperson Defendini. Seconded by Alderperson McGonigal.
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Fire Department currently has one Assistant Fire Chief who holds the title of
Fire Marshall and handles all administrative functions and special acceptance testing in the Fire
Prevention Bureau; and
WHEREAS, the person who currently holds this position has indicated her intent to retire in the first
quarter of 2024; and
WHEREAS, the department and the community would benefit from onboarding a new Fire Marshall
for transition training prior to the pending retirement; and
WHEREAS, the department has funded but unfilled Firefighter positions; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the personnel roster of the Ithaca Fire Department be amended as follows, effective
January 1, 2024:
Add one (1) Assistant Fire Chief
And be it further
RESOLVED, that the seventh Assistant Fire Chief position will remain funded through the transition
period, and be it further
RESOLVED, that upon full completion of the transition and retirement of the current Fire Marshall, the
seventh Assistant Fire Chief position shall be eliminated, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the above changes be funded using funds in the 2024 IFD budget, derived from
current vacant funded position in account A3410 5110 12100.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Yes (3): Cantelmo, Defendini, McGonigal
No (0):
Abstained (1): Haines-Sharp
Motion passed 3-0-1.
4.3 Residential Parking Oak Avenue
Moved by Alderperson Haines-Sharp. Seconded by Alderperson Defendini.
WHEREAS, Chapter 260 of the Municipal Code of the City of Ithaca addresses the Residential Parking
Permit System; and
City Administration Committee Meeting
September 27, 2023
Page 5
WHEREAS, Parking by residential parking is allowed only within the “residential parking permit zone”
(excluding streets within Cornell campus), with the boundaries as defined in 260-2, “Residential Parking
Permit Zone”; and
WHEREAS, according to the Municipal Code section 260-3, the Board of Public Works designates the
residential permit parking areas, and in the absence of BPW meetings, Engineering is bringing this issue
to Common Council for discussion and resolution; and
WHEREAS, The City of Ithaca is currently reconstructing the 400 block of Oak Ave., and the new
street configuration creates seven new on-street parking spaces where there were none; and
WHEREAS, The entirety of Oak Ave. is within the Residential Parking Permit Zone, and the 100-300
blocks of Oak Ave., as well as neighboring streets, are designated for residential permit parking, and the
City wishes to match the existing regulations on Oak Ave. for the newly created parking spaces on the
400 block of Oak Ave.; then be it
RESOLVED, that Common Council hereby agrees that the City of Ithaca may designate the 400 block
of Oak Ave. as a Residential Parking Permit block.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Passed unanimously.
4.4 Authorize Execution of Easement Relating to Hydropower Penstock Infrastructure Located Beneath Fall
Creek Drive and Thurston Avenue
Moved by Alderperson Defendini. Seconded by Alderperson Haines-Sharp.
WHEREAS, on March 28, 1903, the City of Ithaca acquired certain land for the purposes of
constructing and maintaining public streets, including the land on which the present-day Fall Creek
Drive is located, and the City further holds a right-of-way over certain land on which Thurston Avenue
is located (collectively, the “Property”), and
WHEREAS, at the time of the City’s acquisition of the Property, certain infrastructure relating to the
operation of the hydroelectric power facility located in Fall Creek gorge (“Penstock”) was already
present beneath the Property, and
WHEREAS, the Penstock is owned and maintained by Cornell University, and
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Ithaca wishes to formalize the existing arrangement
regarding the Penstock and the Property between the City and Cornell University and to clarify its terms
through a written easement agreement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Mayor, in consultation with the City Attorney, is hereby authorized to execute an
easement in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto and any such further documents as may
be necessary to effectuate the transfer of the easement.
City Administration Committee Meeting
September 27, 2023
Page 6
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Passed unanimously.
5. Finance, Budget, & Appropriations
5.1 A Local Law to Override the Tax Levy Limit Established in General Municipal Law
Moved by Alderperson McGonigal. Seconded by Alderperson Haines-Sharp.
Law Local Law No. 2023 -________
BE IT ENACTED by Common Council of the City of Ithaca as follows:
Section 1. Legislative Intent
It is the intent of this local law to allow the City of Ithaca to adopt a budget for the fiscal year
commencing January 1, 2024, that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the “tax levy limit” as
defined by General Municipal law §3-c.
Section 2. Authority
This local law is adopted pursuant to subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law §3-c, which expressly
authorizes a local government’s governing body to override the property tax cap for the coming fiscal
year by the adoption of a local law approved by a vote of sixty percent (60%) of said governing body.
Section 3. Tax Levy Limit Override
The Common Council of the City of Ithaca, County of Tompkins, New York, is hereby authorized to
adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 2024, that requires a real property tax levy in
excess of the amount otherwise prescribed in General Municipal Law §3-c.
Section 4. Severability
If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part
of this local law or application thereof to any person, firm or corporation, or circumstance is invalid or
unconstitutional, the court’s order or judgement shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of
this local law, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or
part of this local law or in its application to the person, individual, firm or corporation or circumstance,
directly involved in the controversy in which such judgement or order shall be rendered.
Section 5. Effective Date
This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Passed unanimously.
6. City Manager Transition. None.
7. Other Business
City Administration Committee Meeting
September 27, 2023
Page 7
7.1 Discussion on Sidewalk Snow Removal: Superintendent of Public Works Thorne gave a report on what
the snow removal process is or has been with the City of Ithaca, on what is being done by other
municipalities and made recommendations on what the City could do to clear and remove snow from
sidewalks and crosswalks.
7.2 November & December meetings: Chairperson Cantelmo stated that the City Administration
Committee meetings in November and December fall around the holidays. Unless notified otherwise, it
was suggested that the meetings be held as follows:
November meeting: November 29, 2023
December meeting: December 13, 2023
8. Meeting Wrap-up
8.1 Announcements. None.
8.2 Next Meeting Date: October 25, 2023.
8.3 Review, Agenda Items for Next Meeting. None.
8.4 Adjourn: With no further business and on a motion by Alderperson Defendini, the meeting was
adjourned at 7:13 p.m.