Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-1980-12-22Special Meeting PRESENT: Mayor - Bordoni Aldermen (10) - COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK 7.30 P.M. 179 December 22, 1980 Banfield, Boothroyd, Boronkay, Dennis, Gutenberger, Holman, Nichols, Saccucci, Schuler, Slattery OTHERS PRESENT: City Controller - Spano Dep. City Controller - Cafferillo Fire Chief - Tuckerman City Attorney - Shapiro City Chamberlain - Wright Police Chief - Herson Director, Planning & Development - Van Cort Building Commissioner - Hoard BPW Commissioner .- Schickel City Clerk - Rundle 1'- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: j ") Mayor Bordoni led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. MINUTES: ! By Alderman Banfield: Seconded by Alderman Slattery RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the November 24, 1980, December 3, 1980 and December 11, 1980 meetings be approved as recorded by the City Clerk. Carried Unanimously MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS: Acting City Judge Mayor Bordoni requested the approval of the Council for reappointment of Robert J. Hines, 417 N. Cayuga Street, as Acting City Judge for a one -year term ending December 31, 1981. Resolution By Al man Slattery: Seconded by Alderman Gutenberger RESOLVED, That this Council approves the reappointment of Robert J. (lines, 417 N. Cayuga Street, as Acting City Judge for a one -year term ending December 31, 1981. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (7) - Banfield, Nichols, Schuler, Dennis, Gutenberger, Slattery, Saccucci Nay (1) Holman Abstention (1) - Boronkay Absent (1.) - Boothroyd Carried Board of Public Works Mayor Bordoni requested approval of the Council of reappointment of Clarence Cleveland, 101 Pier Road; and James J. Varricchi.o, 449 N. Aurora Street, to the Board of Public Works for three -year terms to expire December 31, 1983. Resolution By Al erman Boronkay: Seconded by Alderman Banfield RESOLVED, That this Council approves the reappointment of Clarence (amov Cleveland, 101 Pier Road; and James J. Varricchio, 449 N. Aurora Street, to the Board of Public Works for three -year terms to expire December 31, 1983. Carried Planning and Development Board Mayor Bordoni requested approval of the Council of reappointment of Prof. Frank K. Moore, 116 Dearborn Place; and Martin Sampson, 107 Ridgedale Road, to the Planning E, Development Board for three -year terms to expire December 31, 1983. 180 2 December 22, 1.980 Resolution By Alderman Nichols: Seconded by Alderman Schuler RESOLVED, That this Council approves the reappointment of Prof-. Frank K. Moore, 116 Dearborn Place; and Martin Sampson, 107 Ridgedal.e Road, to the Planning and Development Board for three -year terms to expire December 31, 1983. Carried Board of Zoning Appeals Mayor Bo oni requested approval of appointment of Charles M. Weaver, 221 Linn Street, to the Board of Zoning Appeals to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of Joseph J. Gainey, for a three - year term to expire December 31, 1983. Resolution By Alderman Dennis: RESOLVED, That this 221 Linn Street, to to expire December tion of the term of Seconded by Alderman Slattery Council approves appointment of Charles M. Weaver, the Board of Zoning Appeals for three -year term 311, 1983, to fill the vacancy caused. by the expi.ra- Joseph J. Gainey. Carried. Mr. Weaver took the Oath of Office and was sworn in by the City Clerk. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: Bu gec� t aj am j_ stration Committee Alderman Banfield requested the addition of one item, IV.C., Application for Section 18 'Transportation Operating Assistance, to the Agenda. No Council member objected. Alderman Boothroyd arrived at the meeting at 7:S5 p.m. BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE. Mayor B.or oni read the following Budget Message: The first part of Item IV on the Agenda will be the adoption of the 1981 Tentative Budget. Any person so desiring wil_1. be heard for or against the proposed City of Ithaca Tentative Budget for 1981. It is requested that any person so wishing to speak before this Council will step forward to the podium, use the microphone, give your name and address for all persons in attendance to hear to be properly recognized by others present, and for the purpose of the City Clerk's official records. It is also requested that you make your remarks or comments clearly, quickly and to the point. Please give the person who has been recognized and is at the podium all your attention; everyone's courtesy to each other will result in a meeting that will be beneficial to all; it will be guaranteed that anyone who wishes to speak will be given the opportunity, as has been the practice in every budget meeting concerning this particular budget since September of this year. A few words of explanation due to the general confusion concerning the reasons for a tentative budget (which is due by December 31st) and the final budget that will be established by this Council by May 31st of 1981: a Preliminary Budget is adopted tentatively before January lst for both the operating and capital expenses under which the City operates for the first five months of the year. Then, before June 1st, the Common Council again goes through the process to pass a "Permanent" Budget under which the City operates for the remaining seven months of the fiscal (calendar) year. At this time it is necessary to establish a tax rate because of the fiscal year and the taxes to be collected by the 1st of June. If we don't establish the appropriations (or a tentative budget) at this time, we cannot, according to State Law, spend any money after December 31st, and added to this is the fact that 7S% of our debt service payments have to be made prior to June 1st. Between now and the end of April the Mayor, the Budget and Administration Committee and any other members of Council who so desire will be working on the bud,, t , hops fig to trine it dc;, ri .ctual Figures-. -3- December 22,18.80 A few words about the tax situation today and how it reflects the increasing cost of government. Because of escalating costs of salaries, fringe benefits, materials, supplies, equipment, utilities and the ever- increasing interest rates on borrowing money, the City operation is experiencing the same financial cost effects that the rest of us experience as home owners and businessmen. Added to all of this we have a serious shortage of revenues. Our main sources of revenue are the Real Property Tax, New York State Sales Tax and the State Aid Per Capita. (Wwo"" The State Sales Tax depends on the economy, and with the high cost of money major purchases decline, our Sales Tax Revenues fluctuate to such an unstable condition that the most we can expect is a 100 increase of what we actually received for 1980. The State Aid Per Capita has been reduced by approximately 160,000 dollars. This reflects, or adds, more than 504 per every 1,000 dollars on the tax rate and according to the New York Legislature this State Aid Per Capita could be reduced even more in 1981. 9 Other sources of our economic problems are the following expenditures: One is the cost of Police and Fire Retirement. In prior years the cost of Police and Fire Retirement (which is New York State mandated) was paid from Federal Revenue Sharing Funds. i. Today the Federal Revenue Sharing Fund account does not have sufficient money to allow us to pay all of the 1981 Police and Fire Retirement costs which will amount to approximately one -half million dollars. Therefore, approximately 200,000 dollars will be needed to make up this difference. This amounts to 664 per every 1,000 dollars on the tax rate. Each year this money has been reduced and the retirement costs have increased. (two", Another economic problem is the payment on our debt service. For 1981 it has increased approximately 160,000 dollars. This increase represents the first principal payment on the bond anticipation notes that were issued in 1979 for the Fall Creek Plan of Action, the Cherry Street Industrial Park, the repairs of the Green Street Parking Ramp, tiie Second Phase of the Downtown Peripheral Streets Improvements and the lights and Improvements of Cass Park. This 160,000 dollars represents 554 per every 1,000 dollars on the tax rate. The third problem will be the salary negotiations. Even though we have an amount built into the budget for these salary increases, we do not know at this time if it is sufficient to cover the costs. At this time there are 5 contracts that are being negotiated. These include Police, Fire, CSEA Administration, CSEA Laborers and the Executive Contract, plus those employees not covered by any contract. The Capital Program for 1981 is at a bare minimum- -the one and only major project where no outside funding is available is the Handicapped Access to City Hall which is estimated to cost 61,600 dollars. This project is also mandated and will add another 214 per every 1,000 dollars to the tax rate. On the revenue side of the picture, our only major increase over 1980 is'the State Sales Tax. We have estimated a 300,000 dollar increase. We also have been able to negotiate an increase in our Fire Protection Services to the Town of Ithaca, an amount close to an additional 70,000 dollars. We have made some minor improvements in the amounts donated and paid to the City by the major schools and outlying towns for fire, bus transportation and youth services. Other than this our other sources of revenue are minor by comparison and not of the type where increases can be expected. In plain language our revenues do not increase as fast as our expenses. IVe nave enjoyed for a long time (even though we are one of the leading cities in New York State in terms of tax exempt property), the status 182 -4- December 22, 1980 of being in the bottom 10a in terms of dollars paid per thousand on our assessment. Today, we find that position not quite as favorable as in the past. However, we are still in 46th place out "of the 60 cities in New York State (1st position being the highest and 60th position being the lowest in taxes). In spite of all this we maintain the cleanest, most orderly and one of the best - maintained cities in New York State. We have a. system of parks and recreation areas and programs that serves every -facet of our community and provides the wholesome and excellent living conditions that many other cities try to emanate. All these good living conditions we have experienced, and. expect to continue, are being done with a Department of Public Works that is operating with a minimum staff, minimum and quickly obsoleting equip- ment and a budget that makes purchasing the necessary and required materials and supplies nearly impossible. We have a Police Department that has a minimum staff, not enough of the proper safety equipment, and the inability to purchase the number of patrol vehicles required. The Fire Department, likewise, is in the same situation. Purchases on a scheduled basis for regular fire apparatus and keeping up with the latest technical innovations, as well as replacement vehicles, is practically nonexistent. The inability to place enough monies in the reserve accounts for the required vehicles and equipment for the Department of Public Works, the Bus Transportation System, and the Police and Fire Departments is something that will appear l.i_l:e an economy measure at this time, but future costs will show that these are false economies. People, from time to time, will complain about the services of the Department of Public Works or our Police and Fire Departments. On the other hand, people -- sometimes the same people--will- complain about taxes being too high. As I said before, all of our departments are operating at a minimum; we must continue to provide no less than the present level of services. Included in these services is our You Bureau which provides recreational and educational facilities. To steal a line out of the December 1980 Readers Digest: "These are your first guarantees against crime, and you have -to pay for them." To not fund these social programs is another false economy. I will parallel these false economies with the fact that we have not in the past proportionately raised taxes each year to keep pace with the cost of living. Today those past false economies are surfacing and we are now paying the price. What is happening today is something no elected official, including myself, likes to be faced with. However, we the Common Council, and in particular the Budget and Administration Committee, chaired. by Alderman Gutenberger with the guidance of the Controller, Mr. Spano, have since September reviewed and re- reviewed this tentative budget. The numerous meetings and countless hours the committee, plus the other members of Council (when they did not have conflicting meetings), have put into this tentative budget reflects the most serious and conscien- tious effort possible. The result of tonight's meeting will in turn reflect what this Council judges as the best course of action for the general welfare of the City of Ithaca. The following persons addressed the Council, requesting that the Counci make every effort possible to keep from increasing the tax rate: Robert Gibbs, Chairman, Progressive Citizens Alliance 135 Brookway Road, Village of Lansing Daniel Rhoades, Chairman, Fall Creek Civic Assoc. 201 W. Lincoln Street Helen Romanowski 610 W. Buffalo Street -5- Helen Hutcheson 322 E. Fall Street Alfred Leonardo 104 Third Street Betty Steffy 305 E. Marshall Street December 22, lvl The following persons addressed the Council requesting that the Senior Citizens' allocation remain in the 1981 Tentative Budget. Merrill Shipherd, Chairman, Senior Citizens Council Etna, N.Y. Elmer Pearl, Treasurer, Senior Citizens Council 412 IVArren Place Grace Smith 100 W. Buffalo Street Adoption of 1981 City of Ithaca Tentative Budget �} By Alderman Gutenberger: Secon ed by Alderman Dennis RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Tentative Budget for 1.981 in the total i..� amount of $13,437,376 be approved, and �l. 7: BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the following sections of the 1981 Tentative City Budget be approved: (A). General Fund Appropriations (i3) Revenue Sharing Fund Appropriations (C) lVater Fund. Appropriations (D) Sewer Fund Appropriations (E) Commons Assessment Appropriations (F) Debt Retirement Schedule (G) Capital Projects (I1) Schedule of Salaries and Positions General Fund (I) Schedule of Salaries and Positions--Water and Sewer Fund (J) Authorized Equipment Purchases General Fund (I<) Authorized Equipment Purchases--Water Fund (L) Authorized Equipment Purchases- -Sewer Fund Discussion followed on the floor. Amendment to Resolution By Alder Banfielc: Seconded by Alderman Saccucci, RESOLVED, That the City use whatever amount of that unappropriated cash surplus is needed to balance the budget with a $11.70 tax rate. Discussion followed on the floor. Aldermen Banf_ield and Saccucci withdrew their resolution. Resolution By Al edrman Banfield: Seconded by RESOLVED, That the Council place a without Council approval. Alderman Dennis freeze on all hiring or replacement Referral Resolution By Alderman Gutenberger: Seconded by Alderman Holman RESOLVED, That the resolution to place a freeze on all hiring or replace- ment without Council approval be referred to the Budget and Administration Committee for recoimnendatioil back to the Council by the first week in February 1981. Carried Unanimously Resolution By Al-Terman Dennis: Seconded by Alderman Gutenberger RESOLVED, That the Council delete from Law Account 400 Contractual Expenses - -from $13,700 to $4,458. Discussion followed on the floor. 184 -6- December 22, 1980 The question of the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly put to a vote on roll call, which resulted as follows: IIolman Aye Saccucci Nay Dennis Aye Gutenberger Aye Slattery Nay Schuler Aye Banfield Aye Boronkay Aye Nichols Nay Boothroyd Nay Ayes (6) Nays (4) Carried Main Resolution as Amended By Alderman Slattery: Seconded by Alderman Gutenberger RESOLVED, That this Council approves the Tentative Budget for 1981 as amended in the total amount of $13,428,134 (A) General Fund Appropriations (B) Revenue Sharing Fund Appropriations (C) Water Fund Appropriations (D) Sewer Fund Appropriations (E) Commons Assessment Appropriations (F) Debt Retirement Schedule (G) Capital Projects (H) Schedule of Salaries and Positions -- General Fund (I) Schedule of Salaries and Positions—Water and Sewer. Fund (J) Authorized Equipment Purchases -- General Fund (K) Authorized Equipment Purchases--Water Fund (L) Authorized Equipment Purchases - -Sewer Fund The question of the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly put to a vote on roll call, which resulted as follows: Boothroyd Aye Nichols Nay Boronkay Aye Banfield Nay Schuler Aye Slattery Aye Gutenberger Aye Dennis Aye Saccucci Aye Holman Aye Ayes (8) Nays (2) Carried The Common Council adjourned into recess at 9:SS p.m. The Common Council reconvened in regular session at 10:15 p.m. Proposed Youth Bureau /YMCA Joint Facility By Alderman Gutenberger: Seconded by Al -derman Holman WHEREAS, a central location for the YMCA is in the interest of the greater Ithaca community, and WHEREAS, the possibility exists for a joint venture between the City, Town of Ithaca, and YMCA to provide coordinated recreational programs to the community involving the Youth Bureau and YMCA, and WHEREAS, the Community Service Building - Tin Can) site by Stewart Park is an optimal location for a joint Youth ureau /Y M CA facility to carry out these programs; It NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Budget and Administration Committee recommend that Common Council approve the proposed Youth Bureau /YMCA facility in concept and authorize Department of Planning and Development staff in conjunction with the Finance Department and City Attorney to develop and negotiate the terms of an agreement between the City, Town of Ithaca and YMCA, The terms will be subject to review and approval by the Youth Bureau Board, Board of Public Works and Common Council. -7- December 22, fqV BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Planning and Development staff continue to explore alternatives to maintain the Youth Bureau on the Community Sorvice Building (Tin Can) site. Discussion followed on the floor. Tabling Resolution By Alderman Nichols: Seconded by Alderman Schuler RESOLVED, That the resolution concerning the proposed Youth Bureau /YMCA Joint Facility be tabled until the January 1981 meeting of the Council for the purpose of obtaining further information, Ayes (5) - Nichols, Schuler, Dennis, Holman, Saccucci Nays (5) - Banfield, Boothroyd, Gutenberger, Boronkay, Slattery Mayor Bordoni voted Nay to break the tie. Resolution Defeated Discussion followed on the main resolution. Referral Resolution i'. By Alderman Nichols: Seconded by Alderman Slattery RESOLVED, That the main resolution be referred jointly to the Budget and Administration and Planning and Development Committees for report back. r e_� -N. Ayes (8) - Boothroyd, Boronkay, Dennis, Holman, Nichols, Saccucci, Schuler, Slattery Nays (2) - Banfield, Gutenberger Carried Application for Section 18 Transportation Operating Assistance By Alderman Banfield: Seconded by Alderman Saccucci, IJHEREAS, the City's Application for Section 18 Transportation Operating Assistance has been approved by the Federal Highway Administration, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works, on December 17, 1980, recommended (Woo,- that the Common Council authorize the Mayor to execute this Agreement; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That this Common Council hereby authorizes the Mayor to execute the Section 18 Operating Assistance Grant Agreement. Referral Resolution By Al erman Banfield: Seconded by Alderman Saccucci RESOLVED, That the above resolution be referred to the Budget and Administration Committee for recommendation. Carried Unanimously ADJOURNMENT: On aiiotion the meeting adjourned at 10;52 p.m. rl l , ✓1 J Wsh%1. Rundle, City Clem °,.Kaymon Bor oni, Mayor