The regular meeting of the Mechanicville City Council was held at the Senior Citizen’s Center, 178 North Main Street, Mechanicville, NY, on Wednesday, June 2, 2010.  Mayor Sylvester opened the meeting at 7:02 p.m.

 

                Roll Call:              Mayor Sylvester               - present

                                                Comm. Seber                    - present

                                                Comm. Chauvin               - present

                                                Comm. Higgins                 - present

                                                Comm. Hipwell                - present

 

                Comm. Chauvin led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

                Mayor Sylvester, seconded by Comm. Higgins, moved that the minutes of the regular meeting of May 19, 2010 be accepted as prepared.  Roll Call:  Affirmative – all.  Negative – none.

 

                Mayor Sylvester said he got correspondence from the NYS Canal Corporation, Carmella R. Mantello, Director, requesting their assistance in helping the Canal Corporation collect information regarding incidents along Canal lands and waters to better protect the public and ensure that they are minimizing any liability concerns relating to the condition or use of Canal Property.  They are requesting that our law enforcement agency establish a direct line of communication with State Police – Troop T when incidents occur to help them improve and enhance their successful partnership along the New York State Canal System.

 

                Comm. Seber said water and sewer collection ended yesterday without penalty.  The water warrant this year was $263,083.36.  They collected $198,142.61 leaving an uncollected balance of $64,960.75 which is about 76% which is higher than the last couple of years but is surprising because early on collections were very, very slow but the last 3 or 4 days they had a tremendous amount of collections.  As far as preparing the budget, this figure looks like it will be pretty good because the bill again October 1st and its typically for the Spring, Summer season when the water usage goes up significantly so that number, budgetary wise, we will be in good shape as far as the revenue when they prepare the budget, water budget.  Sewer warrant was $285,480.00; they collected $222,570.00 leaving $62,910.00 uncollected which is about a 78% collection rate which is pretty good.  Said to remember this year they cut the per unit cost for the city portion by $10.00 a unit.  Said looking at the budget, hoping nothing happens that will affect the expense portion of the budget too dramatically, they will still have about a $40,000 surplus even with the cut in the unit price.  Feels that was a good move on their part.

 

                Comm. Chauvin had nothing to report at this time.

 

                Comm. Higgins said everyone has gotten new garbage cans; they’re trying to get people to recycle more.  Said Scott Earl was telling him said it should save them money by recycling.  Said they are going to start something, they will have a dumpster at city garage and if people call them when they have a lot to throw out, they will come and get it that way the city won’t have a lot around.  If they pick up metal, the city could make money off of it.  Said this can eliminate spring cleanup and save the city money.

 

                Mayor Sylvester said he put out his old garbage can today and they took it.

               

                Comm. Hipwell said his office is going to try movie night in the park, it’s free.  Said it will be 4 days, July 14, 28th, August 11th and 25th at 8:30 at Tallmadge Park.  Said they will have a cartoon one night and then a family movie for everyone to get together, everybody is welcome.  Said they had a safety issue on Harris Avenue that was addressed.  He thanked the fire department for a job well done at the North Main Street fire.

 

                City Attorney Serbalik had nothing to report at this time.

 

                Chief Waldron was out sick. 

 

                Supervisor Richardson said that Saratoga Economic Development Corporation would like to come down in the next couple of months to make a presentation as to what is happening in the Tech Park.  Said to let him know at what meeting they would like them to come down and he will contact them.  Said he spoke to Jim Salmon at NYSEG who said they should be going up on the property on Central in the next few weeks to finish it up.  Said two businesses in town were awarded money from the façade grant; one is the Bella Rosa Boutique here on North Main Street and the other is the Schuyler property which is a matching grant to put awnings and shutters on the Park Avenue Side and the plaza to dress them up.  Said they officially have Transportation Improvement Program Grant for 3.17 million dollars to fix the South Street hill.  Said the plans will be done by the end of this year and hopefully late next year they will put the shovel in the ground and get it started.  Said we are on the tip for 2.4 million dollars for the bridge on Frances Street and 2.5 million for the bridge on Main Street.  Said the Revitalization Committee got $11,500,000 from grants and member items.

 

                Mayor Sylvester thanked him.

 

                Chief Dunn said they will have a report for the next council meeting but asked if an executive session after the meeting to discuss a personnel matter.

 

                Comm. Seber said he thought they would have a report this time on the grant the fire department received on how it would be managed. 

 

                Chief Dunn said they will do it next time.

 

                Comm. Seber said they are interested in the mechanics of it.  Said congratulations for a job well done.  Said how do we get our money, do we have to put money out and then get reimbursed, how does it all work and what does he plan on doing with it.

 

                Chief Dunn said they put in for the grant for certain equipment, it’s a package deal.  Said it amounts to $175,000 and it’s a 95/5 grant.  Basically what happens is after they put the equipment up for bid and the bids come in and they accept one, FEMA holds all the money and it’s basically a phone call to tell them to put the $175,000 or a portion of it in an account for a check to be written by the city.  Said no one is sitting on the check, the government is holding it.

 

                Comm. Seber said then they will be working with Finance.

 

                Chief Dunn said yes.

 

                Mayor Sylvester said he had a meeting this morning at the library and they had an architect come in.  They are looking to expand the library; they are running out of room.  Said they are looking to expand out the back; Carmie DeCrescente is giving them land back there to do so.  Said he suggested that they go two stories because of the new buildings coming in next door, a lot of people use the library.  Said they have a couple of grants and they have money put away to do this. Said the bond will be up in another year.  Said nothing has been drawn, they are just looking over what they are going to do and what it will cost.  Opened up the meeting to public comment.

 

                Brian Rohloff said he pays taxes on approximately 35 to 40 properties in the city.  Wanted to thank them for changing the street names.  Said on Alexander Street they have 14 no parking signs.  Said he talked to the Mayor and Dave Higgins about this and nothing has been resolved.  Doesn’t know how his development has 14 no parking signs.  Talked about a pole the city wants him to pay for to get it removed and he said he has an easement that was filed in 1997.  Said he has a stop work order and he has all his permits and everything he needs, doesn’t know what to do and no one is helping him.

 

                Mayor Sylvester thanked him for his comments.

 

                Comm. Seber read RES. NO. 55-10 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A

                                                      SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT WITH ANDREW M. HOLLENBECK

                                                      AND MARY ALICE M. HOLLENBECK

 

                Introduced by Comm. Seber, seconded by Mayor Sylvester.  Roll Call:  Affirmative – all.  Negative – none.

 

                Comm. Seber read RES. NO. 56-10 AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO

                                                      EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT WITH BARTON &

                                                      LOGUIDICE, PC FOR THE REVITALIZATION PROGRAM

 

                Introduced by Comm. Chauvin, seconded by Comm. Seber.  Roll Call:  Affirmative – all.  Negative – none.

 

                Comm. Seber read RES. NO. 57-10 AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO

                                                     ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH EMPIRE WAREHOUSING CORP.

                                                      REGARDING WATER AND SEWER LINES AND TRASH COLLECTION

                                                     AND DISPOSAL

 

                Introduced by Comm. Seber, seconded by Comm. Hipwell.  Roll Call:  Affirmative – all.  Negative – none.

 

                Comm. Seber read RES. NO. 58-10 PAYROLL AND VOUCHERS

 

                Introduced by Comm. Chauvin, seconded by Comm. Seber.  Roll Call:  Affirmative – all.  Negative – none.

 

                Mayor Sylvester said under new business, there were a couple of requests about open burning in the city.  Said he asked Val to look into that so they don’t supersede any NYS laws that they could implement more restrictive burning in the city, closeness to houses, no painted wood or garbage that people tend to burn instead of firewood.  Said they are looking into that.

               

                No old business.

 

                Mayor Sylvester made a motion to close the regular meeting at 7:26 p.m. to go into executive session, seconded by Comm. Chauvin.  Roll Call:  Affirmative – all.  Negative – none.

 

                Mayor Sylvester, seconded by Comm. Seber, moved that the executive session be closed at 8:10 p.m. to re-open the regular meeting.  Roll Call:  Affirmative – all.  Negative – none.

 

                Comm. Seber, seconded by Comm. Chauvin, moved that the regular meeting be adjourned at 8:11 p.m.  Roll Call:  Affirmative – all.  Negative – none.