HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-1989-10-171 October 17, 1989
COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 7:00 P.M. October 17, 1989
PRESENT:
Alderpersons (9) - Booth, Cummings, Hoffman, Peterson, Johnson,
Lytel, Killeen, Nichols, Schlather
Coe, ABSENT:
Mayor Gutenberger (previous commitment)
Alderperson Romanowski (excused)
In the absence of Mayor Gutenberger the meeting was chaired by
Acting Mayor Sean Killeen.
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk - Paolangeli
C.) Fire Chief - Olmstead
C Tompkins County Representative - Stein
1� r
t.. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Acting Mayor Killeen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance
to the American flag.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR:
City Clerk Paolangeli read the following letter from Mayor
Gutenberger, dated October 17, 1989, to Council members:
"Neither I nor my office was requested to call a special meeting
nor did those who arranged for the special meeting check with my
office as to my availability.
(6000, Unfortunately, I have a previously scheduled commitment and will
be unable to attend the special Common Council meeting on October
17, 1989."
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
Funding for Homeless Shelter at Southside Community Center
By Alderperson Peterson: Seconded by Alderperson Nichols
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca shall contract with the
Southside Community Center for the provision of a Temporary Cold
Weather Shelter for the 1989 -1990 cold weather season, and be it
further
RESOLVED, That $25,500 be appropriated from the 1989 Unrestricted
Contingency account to pay for such a shelter, in effect
encumbering the entire amount to carry over into 1990, and be it
further
RESOLVED, That funds will be expended monthly as vouchers for
services provided are submitted, reflecting a $25 per diem
reimbursement for each bed night, and be it further
RESOLVED, That this funding is for an overnight shelter only and
is from the period of October 16, 1989 through March 31, 1990.
Alderperson Peterson stated that there are homeless people,
persons from Southside, from the Friendship Center, from the
churches and from Cornell in the audience tonight and she asked
that they stand so that they could be acknowledged.
Alderperson Peterson presented to City Clerk Paolangeli, a
petition from the homeless, the near - homeless and friends of the
homeless with 300 signatures.
Discussion followed on the floor.
"147
148
2 October 17, 1989
Alderperson Hoffman stated that at the September Common Council
meeting a resolution was passed which included clauses which
urged EOC to make a written commitment to use McKinney funds for
this project and a stipulation that Southside would interview
each new client of the shelter and assist in making a request to
DSS. There was also a clause that the Mayor was requested to ask
the County for operational funding for this shelter in 1990. He
wanted to make sure that the Council agrees that those clauses
are still in effect.
Alderperson Schlather offered a friendly amendment to the first
Resolved to be added after the word 'season', as follows:
"subject to the terms and conditions of the prior resolution of
this Council, dated September 6, 1989, with the further
modification that the funds for the contract be guaranteed by the
City of Ithaca, and be it further... etc."
Alderperson Peterson asked if there was any conflict at all with
the Resolved clauses from September with what is being said in
the resolution before the Council tonight.
Alderperson Schlather stated that he thought the only concern the
Southside Board had with the Council's September resolution was
the failure to guarantee the funds for the duration of the
program.
Steve McGruder, Vice - President of the Southside Board stated that
the problem with the September 6 resolution was not necessarily
the funding, but the way it was to be administered. Even in the
resolution as it states now, it is contingent upon per diem
nights and it does not make any reference to the paid staffing,
like the shelter coordinator and the staff people. He said that
if it is contingent on per diem nights and there may be one
person staying for an evening, how are these salaries covered?
That is part of the issue.
Alderperson Schlather commented that the reason the per diem
mechanism was put in when this matter was originally discussed
was in order to secure reimbursement through the County. That
was the only way the County Department of Social Services would
recognize our right to reimbursement. Southside is being
guaranteed the money. We are guaranteeing the $25,500 and he
thinks that was the sticking point.
Alderperson Booth expressed concern over the way the resolution
that is before the Council was written.
Alderperson Schlather stated that the City has already provided
the funding for 1989. For reasons which will become apparent
tomorrow morning when the Mayor presents his budget to Council,
he suggested that Council guarantee the funding for the balance
of 1990, which is about $12,000, from the salaries of Common
Council and the Mayor.
Alderperson Schlather further stated that when the Council sees
the budget for 1990 they will see that we are appropriating our
entire cash surplus as part of the act of balancing the budget
for 1990. Therefore, the only way that we are going to be able
to fund programs that are not included in Mayor's budget is to
either redirect funds from existing programs or to raise the
taxes.
Alderperson Schlather offered the following substitute
resolution.
Substitute Resolution
By Alderperson Schlather: Seconded by Alderperson Cummings
RESOLVED, That the Mayor be and he is authorized to enter into a
contract with the Southside Community Center for the provision of
a temporary cold weather shelter for the 1989 - 1990 cold weather
149
9
3
October 17, 1989
season, which contract shall be in the form approved by the City
Attorney and shall reflect the terms and conditions set forth in
the September 6, 1989 resolution of Common Council, with the
following additional clarifications:
1. The entire amount "not to exceed" $25,500 shall be
guaranteed by the City of Ithaca as the funder of last
resort, and
2. The per diem rate of $25.00 shall be deemed a funding
mechanism only designed to assist the City of Ithaca in
recovering costs from other funding agencies,
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the entire funds for this contract be appropriated
from 1989 Unrestricted Contingency account.
Discussion followed on the substitute resolution.
A vote on the substitute resolution resulted as follows:
Carried (9 -0)
s
ii Amending Resolution
By Alderperson Schlather: Seconded by Alderperson Peterson
RESOLVED, That the substitute resolution be amended by the
deletion of the Resolved and the addition of the following
language: "Resolved, That the funding for the program be derived
from the funds already guaranteed for 1989 as more fully set
forth in the September 6, 1989 resolution of Common Council,
together with further funding for 1990 to be appropriated from
the salary lines of Common Council and the Mayor as follows:
$2,000 from the Mayoral salary line, $1,000 from each Common
Council salary, for a total of $12,000."
Alderperson Schlather stated that he is serious about this. When
we discussed this at length at the last Council meeting, we made
it very clear that it is very difficult for us to make
commitments for funding in a year beyond the present budget year.
He said that there is no question that the provision of a shelter
is a good thing. It is something that all the Council supports.
That is not the issue. The issue is how do we fund it.
Alderperson Schlather went on to say that it was the Council's
intent to attempt to fund this by inducing the County to come in
and pay for it. That hasn't worked and now we are asked to play
our hand prematurely. The problem that we have is this - in
tomorrow's budget meeting the Council is going to see that at the
end of this year, assuming all revenues are in as budgeted and
all expenditures are out as budgeted, we will have a cash surplus
of about $600,000. That entire $600,000 is appropriated in the
Mayor's 1990 budget. Alderperson Schlather explained that if you
take money out of the 1989 budget, you are reducing the
unappropriated cash surplus from 1989, thereby creating a gap for
1990. The only way you can fill that gap is to take the money
out of some other part of the budget or raise the taxes, either
of which are realistic and possibilities. However, before we
have the budget before us we cannot decide what is the wiser
move. Therefore, the only thing that we have control over, that
will not be a life or death impact is our own salaries. He
suggested that the Council take it out of their salaries now.
At the end of the budgeting process, if we come up with some
other way of funding this - fine. But at this point, he does not
think the Council can be fiscally responsible doing it in any
other way.
Further discussion followed on the floor.
1.50
4
October 17, 1989
A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows:
Aye (1) - Schlather
Nays (8) - Booth, Nichols, Killeen, Hoffman, Peterson,
Lytel, Johnson, Cummings
Motion Fails
Discussion followed on the Main Motion.
Alderperson Nichols referred to the question of fire safety. He
Center and Council have
thinks it should be clear that Southside
about this. There are several exits and one
been very concerned
for the personnel requirement is the fact that
of the reasons
two people awake at night for protection.
there are always
Alderperson Lytel spoke on the editorial that appeared in the
from the Building
Ithaca Journal tonight. The key consideration
Commissioner and the Fire Commissioners is whether or not this is
a temporary activity. If it is a temporary activity that is one
then we have some
thing. If it is a permanent emergency shelter,
be to the building. It
very serious revisions that need to made
involved, Southside and the City,
is very clear now to everyone
this shelter closes this season, it will not be
that after
designated an emergency shelter in the future.
Further discussion followed on the floor.
Alderperson Schlather pointed out that the resolution says
guaranteeing the money
' funder of have to try resort'.
to get the money from County and SSt
we still
The contract has to be written to reflect that.
City Attorney Nash stated hat auh he work with the Southside
to the correct language
o p with
and City Controller
monthly payment schedule.
Alderperson Schlather further stated that he supports the shelter
support the resolution
with his whole heart, but he cannot
as previously stated.
because of fiscal reasons,
A vote on the Main Motion resulted as follows:
Ayes (8) - Peterson, Killeen, Nichols, Hoffman, Lytel,
Booth, Johnson, Cummings
Nay (1) - Schlather Carried
Meeting with U.S. Postal Service Officials
Mr. Karl Anderson, the Ithaca Post Master introduced Postal
they would
Representatives from aBpresentation and presenting a explained
tape.
they would giving
Mr. Phillip B. Vincellette, MSC Director, Operations Services
from Rochester explained to Council the reasons for the proposed
move of some of the postal services from Ithaca to Elmira. He
explained how the Postal Service is trying to automate all its
mail processing operations by 1995. costs. e stated that complete
automation reduces letter distribution
A question and answer period followed.
Mr. David Elvidge, Divisional Director for Operational Services
in Buffalo agreed to provide the City with a written layman's
description of why some Ithaca postal operations will be moved to
Elmira together with the cost effectiveness of moving these
operations. He further agreed to keep the City abreast of Postal
Service evaluations during each of the four re- organizing phases
that will take place during the next year and a half. The Postal
Service will make sure.it is cost effective and has not
f.j
5
October 17, 1989
diminished service. Failure to meet either of these criteria
could lead to the overall plan's reassessment.
Daniel Rhodes and Robert Sullivan, Post Office employees,
addressed Council on behalf of the Postal Workers' Union. They
explained their reasons for opposing the move to Elmira.
Discussion followed on the floor.
Alderperson Schlather asked if there is anything the Ithaca
community can do, in connection with the evaluation that they
are going to do prior to the implementation of phase 2, 3, and 4
that would convince the postal service that perhaps this is not
the wisest way to proceed.
Mr. Elvidge said that he is certain that if the Council has
something they could bring to them, they will gladly evaluate it
and take it into account.
Acting Mayor Killeen said that the Mayor's office will be pleased
to serve as a conduit and facilitator for the concerns of the
Tompkins - Cortland County Labor Coalition representative and the
Tompkins County Area Development Agency, and those of Postmaster
Anderson and Mr. Elvidge's office in Buffalo.
It was agreed by the Common Council and the Representatives of
the Postal Service that after Phase 1 a study will be done and
another meeting of the Post Office Representatives and Council
will be scheduled.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
� 16
Callista F. Paolangeli Sean Killeen
City Clerk Acting Mayor
1Jt
1 October 17, 1989
COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 7:00 P.M. October 17, 1989
PRESENT:
Alderpersons (9) - Booth, Cummings, Hoffman, Peterson, Johnson,
Lytel, Killeen, Nichols, Schlather
Coe, ABSENT:
Mayor Gutenberger (previous commitment)
Alderperson Romanowski (excused)
In the absence of Mayor Gutenberger the meeting was chaired by
Acting Mayor Sean Killeen.
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk - Paolangeli
C.) Fire Chief - Olmstead
C Tompkins County Representative - Stein
1� r
t.. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Acting Mayor Killeen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance
to the American flag.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR:
City Clerk Paolangeli read the following letter from Mayor
Gutenberger, dated October 17, 1989, to Council members:
"Neither I nor my office was requested to call a special meeting
nor did those who arranged for the special meeting check with my
office as to my availability.
(6000, Unfortunately, I have a previously scheduled commitment and will
be unable to attend the special Common Council meeting on October
17, 1989."
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
Funding for Homeless Shelter at Southside Community Center
By Alderperson Peterson: Seconded by Alderperson Nichols
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca shall contract with the
Southside Community Center for the provision of a Temporary Cold
Weather Shelter for the 1989 -1990 cold weather season, and be it
further
RESOLVED, That $25,500 be appropriated from the 1989 Unrestricted
Contingency account to pay for such a shelter, in effect
encumbering the entire amount to carry over into 1990, and be it
further
RESOLVED, That funds will be expended monthly as vouchers for
services provided are submitted, reflecting a $25 per diem
reimbursement for each bed night, and be it further
RESOLVED, That this funding is for an overnight shelter only and
is from the period of October 16, 1989 through March 31, 1990.
Alderperson Peterson stated that there are homeless people,
persons from Southside, from the Friendship Center, from the
churches and from Cornell in the audience tonight and she asked
that they stand so that they could be acknowledged.
Alderperson Peterson presented to City Clerk Paolangeli, a
petition from the homeless, the near - homeless and friends of the
homeless with 300 signatures.
Discussion followed on the floor.
"147
148
2 October 17, 1989
Alderperson Hoffman stated that at the September Common Council
meeting a resolution was passed which included clauses which
urged EOC to make a written commitment to use McKinney funds for
this project and a stipulation that Southside would interview
each new client of the shelter and assist in making a request to
DSS. There was also a clause that the Mayor was requested to ask
the County for operational funding for this shelter in 1990. He
wanted to make sure that the Council agrees that those clauses
are still in effect.
Alderperson Schlather offered a friendly amendment to the first
Resolved to be added after the word 'season', as follows:
"subject to the terms and conditions of the prior resolution of
this Council, dated September 6, 1989, with the further
modification that the funds for the contract be guaranteed by the
City of Ithaca, and be it further... etc."
Alderperson Peterson asked if there was any conflict at all with
the Resolved clauses from September with what is being said in
the resolution before the Council tonight.
Alderperson Schlather stated that he thought the only concern the
Southside Board had with the Council's September resolution was
the failure to guarantee the funds for the duration of the
program.
Steve McGruder, Vice - President of the Southside Board stated that
the problem with the September 6 resolution was not necessarily
the funding, but the way it was to be administered. Even in the
resolution as it states now, it is contingent upon per diem
nights and it does not make any reference to the paid staffing,
like the shelter coordinator and the staff people. He said that
if it is contingent on per diem nights and there may be one
person staying for an evening, how are these salaries covered?
That is part of the issue.
Alderperson Schlather commented that the reason the per diem
mechanism was put in when this matter was originally discussed
was in order to secure reimbursement through the County. That
was the only way the County Department of Social Services would
recognize our right to reimbursement. Southside is being
guaranteed the money. We are guaranteeing the $25,500 and he
thinks that was the sticking point.
Alderperson Booth expressed concern over the way the resolution
that is before the Council was written.
Alderperson Schlather stated that the City has already provided
the funding for 1989. For reasons which will become apparent
tomorrow morning when the Mayor presents his budget to Council,
he suggested that Council guarantee the funding for the balance
of 1990, which is about $12,000, from the salaries of Common
Council and the Mayor.
Alderperson Schlather further stated that when the Council sees
the budget for 1990 they will see that we are appropriating our
entire cash surplus as part of the act of balancing the budget
for 1990. Therefore, the only way that we are going to be able
to fund programs that are not included in Mayor's budget is to
either redirect funds from existing programs or to raise the
taxes.
Alderperson Schlather offered the following substitute
resolution.
Substitute Resolution
By Alderperson Schlather: Seconded by Alderperson Cummings
RESOLVED, That the Mayor be and he is authorized to enter into a
contract with the Southside Community Center for the provision of
a temporary cold weather shelter for the 1989 - 1990 cold weather
149
9
3
October 17, 1989
season, which contract shall be in the form approved by the City
Attorney and shall reflect the terms and conditions set forth in
the September 6, 1989 resolution of Common Council, with the
following additional clarifications:
1. The entire amount "not to exceed" $25,500 shall be
guaranteed by the City of Ithaca as the funder of last
resort, and
2. The per diem rate of $25.00 shall be deemed a funding
mechanism only designed to assist the City of Ithaca in
recovering costs from other funding agencies,
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the entire funds for this contract be appropriated
from 1989 Unrestricted Contingency account.
Discussion followed on the substitute resolution.
A vote on the substitute resolution resulted as follows:
Carried (9 -0)
s
ii Amending Resolution
By Alderperson Schlather: Seconded by Alderperson Peterson
RESOLVED, That the substitute resolution be amended by the
deletion of the Resolved and the addition of the following
language: "Resolved, That the funding for the program be derived
from the funds already guaranteed for 1989 as more fully set
forth in the September 6, 1989 resolution of Common Council,
together with further funding for 1990 to be appropriated from
the salary lines of Common Council and the Mayor as follows:
$2,000 from the Mayoral salary line, $1,000 from each Common
Council salary, for a total of $12,000."
Alderperson Schlather stated that he is serious about this. When
we discussed this at length at the last Council meeting, we made
it very clear that it is very difficult for us to make
commitments for funding in a year beyond the present budget year.
He said that there is no question that the provision of a shelter
is a good thing. It is something that all the Council supports.
That is not the issue. The issue is how do we fund it.
Alderperson Schlather went on to say that it was the Council's
intent to attempt to fund this by inducing the County to come in
and pay for it. That hasn't worked and now we are asked to play
our hand prematurely. The problem that we have is this - in
tomorrow's budget meeting the Council is going to see that at the
end of this year, assuming all revenues are in as budgeted and
all expenditures are out as budgeted, we will have a cash surplus
of about $600,000. That entire $600,000 is appropriated in the
Mayor's 1990 budget. Alderperson Schlather explained that if you
take money out of the 1989 budget, you are reducing the
unappropriated cash surplus from 1989, thereby creating a gap for
1990. The only way you can fill that gap is to take the money
out of some other part of the budget or raise the taxes, either
of which are realistic and possibilities. However, before we
have the budget before us we cannot decide what is the wiser
move. Therefore, the only thing that we have control over, that
will not be a life or death impact is our own salaries. He
suggested that the Council take it out of their salaries now.
At the end of the budgeting process, if we come up with some
other way of funding this - fine. But at this point, he does not
think the Council can be fiscally responsible doing it in any
other way.
Further discussion followed on the floor.
1.50
4
October 17, 1989
A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows:
Aye (1) - Schlather
Nays (8) - Booth, Nichols, Killeen, Hoffman, Peterson,
Lytel, Johnson, Cummings
Motion Fails
Discussion followed on the Main Motion.
Alderperson Nichols referred to the question of fire safety. He
Center and Council have
thinks it should be clear that Southside
about this. There are several exits and one
been very concerned
for the personnel requirement is the fact that
of the reasons
two people awake at night for protection.
there are always
Alderperson Lytel spoke on the editorial that appeared in the
from the Building
Ithaca Journal tonight. The key consideration
Commissioner and the Fire Commissioners is whether or not this is
a temporary activity. If it is a temporary activity that is one
then we have some
thing. If it is a permanent emergency shelter,
be to the building. It
very serious revisions that need to made
involved, Southside and the City,
is very clear now to everyone
this shelter closes this season, it will not be
that after
designated an emergency shelter in the future.
Further discussion followed on the floor.
Alderperson Schlather pointed out that the resolution says
guaranteeing the money
' funder of have to try resort'.
to get the money from County and SSt
we still
The contract has to be written to reflect that.
City Attorney Nash stated hat auh he work with the Southside
to the correct language
o p with
and City Controller
monthly payment schedule.
Alderperson Schlather further stated that he supports the shelter
support the resolution
with his whole heart, but he cannot
as previously stated.
because of fiscal reasons,
A vote on the Main Motion resulted as follows:
Ayes (8) - Peterson, Killeen, Nichols, Hoffman, Lytel,
Booth, Johnson, Cummings
Nay (1) - Schlather Carried
Meeting with U.S. Postal Service Officials
Mr. Karl Anderson, the Ithaca Post Master introduced Postal
they would
Representatives from aBpresentation and presenting a explained
tape.
they would giving
Mr. Phillip B. Vincellette, MSC Director, Operations Services
from Rochester explained to Council the reasons for the proposed
move of some of the postal services from Ithaca to Elmira. He
explained how the Postal Service is trying to automate all its
mail processing operations by 1995. costs. e stated that complete
automation reduces letter distribution
A question and answer period followed.
Mr. David Elvidge, Divisional Director for Operational Services
in Buffalo agreed to provide the City with a written layman's
description of why some Ithaca postal operations will be moved to
Elmira together with the cost effectiveness of moving these
operations. He further agreed to keep the City abreast of Postal
Service evaluations during each of the four re- organizing phases
that will take place during the next year and a half. The Postal
Service will make sure.it is cost effective and has not
f.j
5
October 17, 1989
diminished service. Failure to meet either of these criteria
could lead to the overall plan's reassessment.
Daniel Rhodes and Robert Sullivan, Post Office employees,
addressed Council on behalf of the Postal Workers' Union. They
explained their reasons for opposing the move to Elmira.
Discussion followed on the floor.
Alderperson Schlather asked if there is anything the Ithaca
community can do, in connection with the evaluation that they
are going to do prior to the implementation of phase 2, 3, and 4
that would convince the postal service that perhaps this is not
the wisest way to proceed.
Mr. Elvidge said that he is certain that if the Council has
something they could bring to them, they will gladly evaluate it
and take it into account.
Acting Mayor Killeen said that the Mayor's office will be pleased
to serve as a conduit and facilitator for the concerns of the
Tompkins - Cortland County Labor Coalition representative and the
Tompkins County Area Development Agency, and those of Postmaster
Anderson and Mr. Elvidge's office in Buffalo.
It was agreed by the Common Council and the Representatives of
the Postal Service that after Phase 1 a study will be done and
another meeting of the Post Office Representatives and Council
will be scheduled.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
� 16
Callista F. Paolangeli Sean Killeen
City Clerk Acting Mayor
1Jt