Beacon City Council Workshop

January 31, 2005

The Beacon City Council Workshop was held on Tuesday, January 31, 2005, at

7:00 p.m. Present were: Mayor Clara Lou Gould, Councilmembers Fred Antalek, Deanna Leake and Michael Fasano. Also in attendance: City Administrator Joseph Braun and City Attorney Gerard Pisanelli. Councilmembers Lee Kyriacou, Sam Way and Eleanor Thompson were absent.

Council reviewed a proposed local law to create a new chapter to address private parking lots. City Administrator Braun made the suggestion because there are no City laws that attend to private parking lots. Mayor Gould suggested the requirement for six foot high screening (by fence, wall or hedges) be decreased for security purposes. She explained one City owned parking lot located on the east end of Main Street once had a higher fence which was subsequently replaced with a shorter version to deter vandalism. City Attorney Pisanelli explained Council should consider setting a time period for compliance, as well as penalties for non-compliance. A list of existing privately owned parking lots will be generated for inventory purposes. City Administrator Braun explained the parking lot at the corner of Main Street/Schenck Avenue/South Street is not in good condition and people are parking in mud. If it was a new parking lot, the applicant would be required to apply to the Planning Board and create a lot that meets current regulations. This ordinance would only govern existing lots that are consistently and regularly used for parking. These lots, if not appropriately maintained, don’t make a good presentation to the community. Discussion took place regarding the type of surface that should be required. This proposal will be reviewed with the Building Inspector, and the Attractive, Clean and Safe Committee will be consulted.

The City is currently out to bid for the Cross Street (at Main) parking lot, with bids due on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 at 10:00 a.m.

City Administrator Braun reported the NYS Department of Transportation discovered the mains along Wolcott Avenue may be a combination of sanitary and storm sewer in one. Further investigation is needed to make a clear determination; it may be that they are combined only in a few locations. The advantageous side of the problem is that it may help the City address and correct the larger problem of Inflow & Infiltration into the City’s sewer system. City Administrator Braun explained DOT officials continue to investigate because it is hard to believe that this type of situation has gone unnoticed.

Council reviewed a resolution to authorize an agreement with the City Attorney to perform professional services in connection with the enforcement and foreclosure of delinquent Real Estate taxes for 2002 and 2003. The agreement is similar to the one done in 2001 which covers the In Rem process. City Attorney Pisanelli explained those with unpaid taxes will be put on notice and every effort will be made to get payment before taking over a property. The process is quite lengthy which will provide time for anyone who shows a diligent effort to pay the overdue liens. The objective is to work closely with property owners and their attorneys to make every effort possible to help with payment. City Attorney Pisanelli reported a judge is very close to authorizing the sale of the Smith property on Verplanck Avenue which will end the legal impasse that has prevented its sale. The resolution to approve an agreement between the law firm of Gerard J. Pisanelli and the City of Beacon for the enforcement and foreclosure of delinquent Real Estate taxes will be on Monday’s agenda. City Attorney Pisanelli explained an RFP (request for proposals) for these services was done two years ago and need not be done this year.

Mayor Gould reported many people come to City hall to pay delinquent school taxes however their checks are made out to the Beacon City School District and cannot be accepted. There is an interim period between the last date the school will take payment and the date the City can accept payment. Next year a notice will be placed on Channel 22 to inform residents that after a certain date checks must be made out to the City of Beacon.

City Attorney Pisanelli updated Council on the sale of City owned property at 22 Rende Drive. The property is too small to be built on and when the City tried to auction it off, the minimum price set by an appraisal of the property was not met. Two offers of $1,000 were submitted at the time. The attorney then tried to hold an auction over the phone with interested parties however it did not happen as expected. Subsequently, he requested sealed bids from the three property owners whose lands border the property and the following bids were received: (1) Larry Dahl – $5,150; (2) Angel Pacheco – No Bid; and (3) Dave

Robertin – $3,175. City Attorney Pisanelli advised the bid be awarded to the highest bidder, Larry Dahl. This parcel will become part of his lot with the understanding that it cannot be subdivided in the future.

Council reviewed a resolution to authorize the Mayor to sign two utility easements, one with Joseph and Donna Green, and one with Lori Joseph Builders, Inc., in relation to the Green Subdivision off East Main Street. The easement is for the purpose of installing an underground sewer line and provides the right to trim and/or cut trees that might interfere with installation and maintenance of that sewer line. City Attorney Pisanelli explained this is a condition of the Green’s subdivision approved by the Planning Board. This item will be placed on Monday’s agenda.

Mayor Gould suggested establishing a new policy to hold a workshop before the regular Council meeting for those times when only a few items are on the agenda. She explained this agenda was very short and had no major items for discussion, therefore could have been held before the regular Council meeting. The majority of members agreed, although it is a rare occasion that may not arise again.

City Administrator Braun presented Council with his concerns regarding police overtime, explaining it is an issue that needs to be addressed. An analysis of overtime in the second half of 2004, based on weekly reports provided by Lieutenant Dondero, revealed overtime costs could possibly be reduced by hiring one more patrol officer, particularly when a retirement is anticipated. A large amount of overtime costs relate to unfilled positions. Last year an effort was made to hire from the local list and those officers needed to attend the academy and go through an orientation period, taking approximately 6-7 months before they count on a shift. Relief will be provided by having one additional officer prepared before one retires. City Administrator Braun explained his analysis, which considered current staffing and rules for scheduling, revealed the cost of about half an officer would have been saved. Additionally, he suggested Council consider inviting the police consultant, Michael Carpenter, back to review the implementation of Option Two to see if it needs fine tuning. City Administrator Braun reported they are currently in negotiations with the PBA and important language changes are being worked out. The existing contract places constraints on what a superior officer can command. Currently full staffing is set at 37 and there are currently 36 police department members. One candidate has gone through the academy and training and is currently under consideration. By creating one more police officer position the full complement of officers would be 38. City Administrator Braun explained the 2004 regular salary budget was under spent which made up for some over spending in the overtime line item. He reported the additional officer will not really create a change in the overall budget; the monies will be shifted therefore the additional position should not necessarily mean additional money. City Administrator Braun explained overtime is created every time one patrol officer calls in. One more officer, ideally a floater moving from shift to shift, would increase the number of officers available. However, contract language does not allow one officer to be assigned to a specific shift. Although discussions with the PBA are ongoing, they are concerned about losing overtime. City Administrator Braun explained the day shift gets along better than others because the Cushman/Motorcycle officer can fill in the regular shift. It would be helpful to have one such officer on the evening shift. City Administrator Braun said unless a change is made, overtime will continue to be high. He advised Council to consider this change now with an understanding that the issue can be revisited the next time a vacancy arises. The consideration process can begin and discussion with the entire Council can continue at a future workshop. City Administrator Braun reported the Police Assistant currently works under the CSEA contract, and although the position adds another person to help during the busy day shift, the force still needs a contingent of control. The Police Assistant has no economic effect on the police overtime budget. City Administrator Braun reiterated his suggestion that Council consider asking Michael Carpenter to review and provide recommendations for the implementation of Option Two.

City Administrator Braun advised Council that the revaluation company is taking pictures of various areas of the City.

Council reviewed the upcoming meeting agenda. The Harbor Management Plan will be tabled until obtaining more information from the Department of State. Councilmember Leake asked if there were any updates on the Ursuline property. Mayor Gould said discussion will continue at the February 14, 2005 workshop meeting.

There was no further business to discuss and the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Etha Grogan