HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2004-01-01 COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 4:00 pm January 1, 2004
PRESENT:
Outgoing Mayor Cohen
Outgoing Alderpersons (7): Pryor, Sams, Vaughan, Blumenthal, Peterson, Cogan,
Hershey
Mayor Peterson
Alderpersons (9): Coles, Mackesey, Berry, Tomlan,
Zumoff, Townsend, Taylor, Cogan, Holtham-Korherr
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk – Conley Holcomb
Assistant City Attorney – Dunn
City Controller – Thayer
Deputy City Controller - Andrew
Planning and Development Director – Van Cort
Deputy Planning and Development Director – Cornish
Economic Development Director – McDonald
Community Development Director - Bohn
Superintendent of Public Works – Gray
Human Resources Director – Michell-Nunn
Fire Chief – Wilbur
EXCUSED:
Alderperson Whitmore
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
2.1 Dismissal of Outgoing Council
Alderperson Hershey thanked all of his constituents, colleagues, and Mayor Cohen for
their support during his tenure with the City. He especially thanked Barbara Mink, John
Hunt, and Irene Stein for making his service to the City possible.
Alderperson Blumenthal reflected on her 20 years of service to the city and working on
planning and development issues. She wished Mayor Peterson and the new Common
Council good luck.
Alderperson Vaughan thanked her current and previous colleagues, and professional
staff. She further thanked the 3rd Ward Democratic Committee and Mayor Cohen for
their faith in her.
Alderperson Pryor thanked the constituents of the 1st Ward and reflected upon the many
accomplishments of Common Council during her 4 years of service to the city.
Alderperson Sams wished the new Common Council luck, and asked them to
remember who had elected them. She asked that the new Council members respect
each other and respect staff members as they have worked for many administrations.
Alderperson Cogan acknowledged and thanked his departing colleagues. He stated
that they may not have always agreed on the issues at hand, but that everyone always
thought they were doing the best for the city.
Mayor-Elect Peterson stated that she has enjoyed her time serving with this Council and
that she will welcome hearing from her colleagues.
Mayor Cohen acknowledged and presented gifts to the outgoing Council members.
January 1, 2004
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Mayor Cohen’s Departing Remarks:
Mayor Cohen made the following departing remarks:
“I sat down today to write these words, because I wanted them to come from the heart.
I leave office today with mixed emotions. I love this city and I have loved this job. But I
wanted my life back and today I get it.
These past eight years have been exceptional for a number of reasons. Personally, I
have learned and grown more than I ever thought I would. I not only learned about
myself and my capacities, but about so many aspects of community life. And along the
way I met with and worked with so many incredible people. I feel blessed and grateful
to have had this truly remarkable experience in my life.
We have accomplished so much in the past eight years, both within the organization of
city government and throughout the community. When I sit and think about all the
things that were done, large and small, I wonder how we did it all. But somehow we did.
We have built a strong foundation for the future of our city and we leave today a
community that is healthier in every way than it was eight years ago. Our beautiful
downtown, the local economy, our neighborhoods, city finances, the work environment
for city employees, public safety, human rights, our environment, our institutional
relationships with others. In all these areas and more we have made important strides
forward. Some of the things we did are evident, others will take years to bear fruit. As
we watch them unfold in the years ahead, we can hold our heads high and know that
we played our part to make Ithaca a much better place to live, to learn, to work, to play,
to create and to dream.
As I look to the future of our community, I do so with confidence. But I also know that
no matter how much good we have done these past eight years, there will be
challenges ahead. Some are unforeseen, others we can anticipate. There are a few
words that I would like to share with the new mayor and Common Council.
The administration of city government is becoming increasingly complex. More
regulations from the state and federal government and more expectations from the
citizenry of our community. For the most part those expectations are reasonable, but
not within the context of the resources currently available to city government. When the
city budget improves in the next few years, as we know it will, the city should create a
full time position of a public information officer to better communicate with the
community.
To better manage the day-to-day operations of city government, a city administrator
position should also be created. This is supported by the department heads, because
they already understand how it will lead to a more effectively run operation that will
deliver better services to the community. No one but the mayor, because of the unique
position they are in, can truly understand everything that is necessary to run every
aspect of this organization. I know that Mayor Peterson is serious about fulfilling
her management responsibilities. If she comes to the conclusion that such a position is
warranted, I ask the new Common Council to be open minded about this idea.
The biggest challenge I see in the years ahead is the prudent management of the city's
finances when things get better. It is so easy to spend money when fiscal pressures are
not apparent. It is easy to build new structures, start many new programs and give
generous raises to the city's employees. While all these things are good, they are what
got us into trouble in the first place. You must be mindful of the impact of your actions
in both the short term and the long term.
You are responsible to folks who live on fixed incomes, who do not get raises every
year or who work more than one job to get by. The taxpayers of the city of Ithaca, which
includes many businesses that also struggle to make ends meet, are the ones who bear
the weight of your decisions as time goes on. Even apartment dwellers pay for higher
taxes through higher rents. Everyone is impacted when the city raises taxes. So
please, spend our money wisely. I do not mean to imply that you should not do
anything new. All I ask is that you be prudent, be practical, be mindful of the actions
that you take.
January 1, 2004
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I would like to reflect on the change in the Office of the Mayor. I think that the time is
right for a change. I have clearly been an active mayor who was aggressive in his
agenda. I pushed hard to make things happen, and more than once that resulted in
controversy and hard feelings. There were times I wished things could have gone
differently, but I did what I had to in order to get the things done that had to be done. I
make no apology for that.
Yet I recognize that we need to stop and take stock of where we are as a community.
Perhaps the time is right for a comprehensive community visioning process. We also
need to heal as a community, to put aside the animosities that have prevailed and come
together for the betterment of Ithaca. I believe that Carolyn Peterson is the right person
to make that happen. She is smart, honest and compassionate. She strives to learn all
she can before making a decision and encourages people to speak out. She has that
ability to make people feel comfortable and listened to. She brought together a large
and disparate coalition to win her mayoral election by what might have been the largest
percentage margin ever in the history of the City of Ithaca, and I know she will be able
to continue bringing people of different perspectives together to work together for the
betterment of our community.
I would like to extend my gratitude to so many that have made the past eight years as
good as they were. Thank you to the women and men who believed in me and worked
to get me elected. Thank you to my community for putting its trust in me to do the
people's work. Thank you to the employees of the City of Ithaca, who made me look
good through their dedication and hard work. I do not think another city anywhere has a
better staff. In particular, thank you to our department heads, whose commitment to
excellence pushed me to be the best I could be. And thank you to the twenty-two
members of Common Council that I have served with over these past eight years.
Public service is not easy, particularly in a town like this. Your commitment to our
community has been exemplary. It has been an honor and a pleasure to have served
with you, and our time together is something that I will always treasure.”
2.2 Oath of Office – Mayor Elect
Carolyn K. Peterson took the oath of office and was sworn in as Mayor of the City of
Ithaca by City Clerk Julie Conley Holcomb.
Mayor Peterson was presented with her badge, a new gavel and nameplate by former
Mayor Cohen.
Mayor Peterson presented former Mayor Cohen with his gavel, which had been
engraved noting his 8 years of service to the city, and thanked him for the amount of
transition time he has offered to her.
2.3 Oath of Office – Alderpersons Elect
Mayor Peterson called the newly elected and re-elected Alderpersons to the rostrum to
be sworn into their respective offices:
Maria Coles - newly elected from the First Ward
Pamela Mackesey - newly elected from the First Ward
Michelle C. Berry - newly elected from the Second Ward
Joel Zumoff - newly elected from the Third Ward
Mary R. Tomlan - newly elected from the Third Ward
Michael Taylor - newly elected from the Fourth Ward
Gayraud Townsend - newly elected from the Fourth Ward
Robin Holtham Korherr- newly elected from the Fifth Ward
Daniel Cogan - re-elected from the Fifth Ward
The newly elected and re-elected Alderpersons took the oath of office and were sworn
in by City Clerk Julie Conley Holcomb.
January 1, 2004
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2.4 Remarks from Mayor Peterson
Mayor Peterson wished everyone a happy New Year, and thanked them for coming out
for the Inaugural Ceremony. She invited everyone to attend a reception immediately
following the meeting at the Clinton House.
Mayor Peterson made the following inaugural remarks:
“Congratulations and welcome to the members of the new 2004 Common Council! It
seems that the last 2 months have taken a long time in coming. After being elected
there is a lot of work and preparation before we finally get to the position that we’re in
now; everybody is seated and ready to work. This Common Council has already been
working, meeting with each other, meeting with department heads, and meeting with
members of the community to try to get a good head start on the work that they’ll be
doing in this community. They’ve been readying themselves for the work of city
government, for constituent service, and working in city hall with the wonderful
workforce in our organization. I am looking forward to working with all of you and
getting started in this new administration.
The new year is certainly a time for resolutions and new beginnings, and this event is
certainly right up there with all of the events that are occurring around the country today,
on New Year’s Day. After the election, many of us got congratulations from people who
were enjoying the election season. After a couple weeks of congratulations, comments
shifted a little bit to offer support from individuals in our communities and organizations
and people who work for the city. A couple of weeks later, there was another slight shift
where support was changing to requests and suggestions, and in the last two weeks,
it’s shifted even further!
It is our role to have made that adjustment, from congratulations to the work at hand,
and sorting through all of these pieces of information. City Officials in governments
across our country work in public safety, infrastructure improvement, code enforcement,
they work in fire and police departments, but all those departments and issues are not
handled the same. Each new Common Council that comes in will find their own way to
prioritize issues, to work with the public, to work with each other, and to decide which
issues should come to the forefront. This is something that will be announced in the
first week of this new administration, what the standing committee structure will be for
the city government; who will serve on those standing committees and who will chair
those standing committees. Committee liaison assignments will be made for each of
the Common Council members working within city government and in some positions
outside of city government. Those structures are being put together and will be
announced quite soon. After that job is complete, I will work on filling vacancies on our
many boards, committees, and commissions. I want to take an opportunity right now to
say that there are vacancies on numerous boards and committees within the City of
Ithaca, and we are always looking for people in our community to serve in those roles.
Those will be the first steps of this administration.
This is our first day in working together, and we’ll start with a celebration this afternoon
because that is a good step in getting to know each other and working together. I want
to take this moment to thank everyone who has attended this ceremony, my family, your
families, supporters of everybody’s campaigns, supporters of the Council that has just
left their seats; and the people that I have worked with in my many previous jobs.
Thank you for the very warm welcome, I wish that we had this many supportive people,
and applause at every meeting! Thank you very much and happy New Year and now
we’ll be getting to work.”
January 1, 2004
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3. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:
3.1 Finance/Controller - Designation of Official Newspaper
By Alderperson Cogan : Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff
RESOLVED, That, pursuant to Section C-113 of the City Charter, the Ithaca Journal be
and is hereby designated as the official newspaper of the City of Ithaca for the year 2004.
Carried Unanimously
3.2 Finance/Controller - Collateral to Secure Deposits
By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff
RESOLVED, That the collateral deposited by the Tompkins Trust Company, Fleet Bank
and M & T Bank as reported, be approved as to form and sufficiency.
Carried Unanimously
3.3 Finance/Controller - Public Employee's Blanket Bond
By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff
RESOLVED, That, pursuant to Section 11 of the Public Officers Law, the following Bond,
which is on file in the Office of the City Clerk, be, and is hereby approved in all respects for
the year 2004.
Faithful Performance Blanket $250,000 National Grange
Bond Coverage Mutual Insurance Co.
Carried Unanimously
3.4 Finance/Controller - Designation of Common Council Meetings
By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff
RESOLVED, That the regular meetings of the Common Council, for the year 2004, be
held at 7:00 P.M., on the first Wednesday of each month, in the Common Council
Chambers, at City Hall, 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York, unless otherwise
determined by Common Council.
Carried Unanimously
3.5 Finance/Controller - Designation of Official Depositories
By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff
RESOLVED, That pursuant to Section C-34 of the City Charter, the Tompkins Trust
Company, the Fleet Bank and the M & T Bank be, and they are, hereby designated as the
official depositories of all City Funds for the year 2004 and are currently deposited as
follows:
TOMPKINS TRUST COMPANY
ACCOUNT NAME ACCOUNT NUMBER
City of Ithaca Operating Fund 01-201-001004
Employees Group Insurance Deductions 08-201-001004
City of Ithaca Payroll Fund 04-201-001004
Guaranty and Bid Deposits 05-201-001004
Health Facility Agreement 05-201-001004
Deposit on Water Meters 05-201-001004
City of Ithaca-Wire Transfer Community
Enterprise Opportunity 06-201-001004
City of Ithaca BID Assessments 06-201-001055
Ithaca Fire Department Bunker Facilities 05-201-001004
Sale of Unclaimed Property 05-201-001004
Circle Greenway 05-201-001004
Conference on College and Community 05-201-001004
Center for Expressive Arts 05-201-001004
Peter DeWysocki Memorial Fund 05-201-001004
Department of Justice Grant 09-201-001004
Lockbox – Tickets 03-201-001004
City of Ithaca Construction Fund 10-101-083831
Cemetery Fund 05-201-001004
January 1, 2004
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Commons Cultural Tourism 05-201-001004
Jack Kiely Scholarship Fund 05-201-001004
DeWitt Park Improvement Fund 05-201-001004
Employees N.Y.S. Withholding Tax 08-201-001004
Employees U.S. Savings Bonds 08-201-001004
Centennial Art Work 05-201-001004
N.Y.S. Police, Fire and Employees
Retirement System 08-201-001004
GIAC Youth Enterprise Fund 05-201-001004
FICA Overpayment Reimbursement 05-201-001004
Juvenile Firesetter's Program 05-201-001004
Capital Reserve Fund #4 - Bridges 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #11 - Parks and
Recreation Areas 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #14 - Parking Areas 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #15 - Fire Engine
Replacement 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #16 - Development of
Water Sources 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #17 - Sewer Construction 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #17A - Mandatory
Reserve for Sewer Plant Construction 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #20 - West Hill Water
and Sewer Replacement 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #22 - Bus Replacement 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #23 - Public Works Equipment 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #24 - Energy Conservation 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #25 - Capital Improvements 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #26 - Land Acquisition 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #27 - DPW Consolidation 01-201-001055
Capital Reserve Fund #28 – Mandatory Debt Reserve 01-201-001055
Payroll Benefits - Flexible Spending 08-201-001004
ECHO 05-201-001004
Six Mile Creek Natural Area 05-201-001004
Thermal Imaging Unit 05-201-001004
Fire Department 175 Anniversary 05-201001004
Rick Gray Memorial 05-201-001004
Stewart Park Carousel Fund 05-201-001004
Rt. 13 Plaza Light 05-201-001004
Northside Neighborhood Cleanup 05-201-001004
IPAC Escrow 14-303-468203
Capital Reserve Fund - Joint Activity Fund 01-101-099762
Debt Service Fund 02-201-001004
Joint Activity Capital Fund 01-101-116535
FLEET BANK
ACCOUNT NAME ACCOUNT NUMBER
Firemen's Relief Fund 267-010001
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant –
Phase III 267-365187
January 1, 2004
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M & T BANK
ACCOUNT NAME ACCOUNT NUMBER
Department of Justice Grant 8890767380
Debt Service Fund 8890767398
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant
Capital Reserve 8890767364
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment
Capital Fund 8890767372
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment
Operating Account 8890767323
Parking Ticket Payment Account 8890767356
Trust Fund 8890767349
Capital Reserves 8890767331
Construction Fund 8890767315
Carried Unanimously
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 4:55 P.M.
________________________ _______________________
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Carolyn K. Peterson
City Clerk Mayor