Beacon City Council Workshop

August 8, 2005

The Beacon City Council Workshop was held on Monday, August 8, 2005, at

7:00 p.m. Present were: Mayor Clara Lou Gould, Councilmembers Fred Antalek, Lee Kyriacou (in at 7:10 p.m.), Sam Way, Eleanor Thompson and Mike Fasano. Also in attendance: City Administrator Joseph Braun and City Attorney Gerard Pisanelli.

Councilmember Leake was excused.

City Attorney Pisanelli prepared a local law intended to remove language from Section 2.02 that requires a referendum to increase Council salaries. As recommended by the ad hoc Salary Review Committee, the law outlined an increase in Councilmember salaries to $7,500 and the Mayor’s salary to $15,500, effective January 1, 2006. Councilmembers felt a previous referendum did not pass due to the amount of increase therefore suggested setting a cap on the amount and lessen the increase. City Administrator Braun agreed and recommended they repeal the existing law which referenced the salary review committee’s determinations before deciding upon an increase at a later time. Councilmember Way suggested presenting the law, as drafted, to get public input and then amend the law if needed. This item will be put on the agenda for a first reading and schedule the public hearing for first meeting in September.

Aryeh Siegel and his client Stacy Shurgin, owner of 544 Main Street, attended the meeting to continue discussion regarding the municipal parking lot on Verplanck Avenue. City Administrator Braun reported he and the City Engineer John Russo reviewed the plan and indicated it may be possible to gain 1-2 more spaces on the left side of the lot. These spaces weren’t initially done because they would be located near or on the property line. Council supported initiating a legal agreement outlining cross easements to allow each other to use property and the owner agreed to keep her portion of the lot open 24-7. She would be responsible for maintenance of her lot and the City would continue to maintain the municipal lot. Details regarding maintenance of the two new spaces that may slightly encroach on her property will be worked out.

The City of Corning is seeking support from other municipalities to pass a resolution concerning sex offenders. The resolution calls for New York State to amend the Sex Offender Registration Act to prohibit Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders from living within close proximity to schools, playgrounds, parks, youth centers, registered day care centers, etc. Councilmember Antalek felt “close proximity” was too general a term. City Attorney Pisanelli explained the purpose of the resolution is to support a change in state legislation. City Administrator Braun suggested looking at recently passed New Jersey legislation which outlines very specific limitations; Saratoga Springs also has more precise restrictions. Councilmember Kyriacou reported he reviewed the registry and discovered that his daughter walks home from Sargent School by the Guest House where one offender resides. Further investigation revealed the offender to be a member of a multi-generational Beacon family. His initial impression was not one of great concern because Beacon is such a small community that other parents keep an eye on her. The Level 3 offenders have a larger occurrence of relapse, however it is difficult to tell the seriousness of each offense – many are statutory rape cases involving acquainted persons. Councilmember Kyriacou was not clear whether legislation or better education in the community would be more appropriate. City Attorney Pisanelli will look into similar legislation in other communities.

City Administrator Braun reported the entire landfill on Dennings Avenue was not closed originally because a portion of it was located on property not owned by the City. It has taken many years for the City to obtain title in order to complete the closure. The cost of closure is 50% reimbursed and once completely closed, the City will pay less for quarterly monitoring which is approximately $18,000 a year. All work will be done by a contractor and a resolution is required.

City Attorney Pisanelli drafted a local law to clarify and simplify the parking permit system identified in Chapter 154 of the City Code. This will delete Section 154-1 and Section 154-2 will include all streets covered by the permit system: River Street, West Main Street, Branch Street, Bank Street, Buchanan Street, Tilden Avenue, VanBuren Street, West Church Street, Ralph Street, High Street and Tompkins Avenue. This item will be put on the agenda for a first reading and to schedule the public hearing for first meeting in September.

City Attorney drafted a local law to correct references to Ferry Street as listed in Section 211-15(B) which are obsolete. This is a housekeeping matter that was not cleared after the Route 9D Arterial was built.

City Administrator Braun reported the library requested a temporary 15 minute parking limit on the south side of Main Street on September 13, 2005 when the library vote will be held. The only polling place is at the Howland Public Library and there is no parking lot to accommodate voters. Council debated why only one location was chosen and felt the vote should be held at typical polling locations. Councilmember Kyriacou suggested posting signs at the normal polling locations and send notice to Channel 22 to better inform voters of the correct location. Discussion took place regarding the likelihood of a low voter turn out and many felt the vote should have been scheduled with the November elections.

City Administrator Braun announced the Recreation Department’s secretary Kathy Juhasz will be retiring at the end of the year thus leaving an open position. The post is now part-time, approximately 17.5 hours a week with an annual salary of $17,000, including full benefits. Minimum qualifications will be reviewed and the position will be appropriately advertised. Further review of the qualifications and duties will take place at a future workshop.

Councilmember Thompson reported Main Street shop owners complained of continuing illicit activities and requested consideration of reinstating the police bike patrol. City Administrator Braun reported $2,500 for bike patrol was put in the 2005 budget and they have been out a few times. He explained an additional appropriation would be necessary in order to reinstate the patrol to the level it was a few years ago. He will look into the cost of that patrol for Council consideration. Other communities provide officers with a car, a bike rack and a bike so the bike patrol is integrated into the regular force. Then officers respond from location, which is many times quicker by foot or bike than in a cruiser. City Administrator Braun explained the past argument has been that a delay in response occurs in situations with minimum staffing; additionally there are Union issues with regard to the ability to field patrols with minimum shifts. Councilmember Kyriacou suggested enacting legislation so a bicycle patrol can be sent out before 6 p.m. at the discretion of the City Administrator. City Administrator Braun reported he sent the Police Chief a memorandum to utilize a bike patrol person whenever possible. Councilmember Fasano said the County Sheriff’s office should send a unit to Beacon if the unit is so short staffed. City Administrator Braun made clear that the force always operates with at least minimum staffing and the City’s police unit is not understaffed. He explained that it will cost more money than currently budgeted if the Council wants to staff the bike patrol as it once was. Discussion turned to the motorcycle that has not been seen on the street. It was last seen used at a parade. Councilmembers were concerned that it was purchased to assist the bike patrol unit. Councilmember Way recommended they sell the motorcycle and put the funds toward funding the bike patrol unit. Mayor Gould reminded them that the motorcycle was obtained from grant funds and may be prohibited from being sold. City Administrator Braun said he would see how much funding is left in the bike patrol line item and create an estimated budget to fund the bike patrol for six weeks. After much discussion, the general consensus was to sell the motorcycle after confirming the grant did not carry some type of restriction.

Councilmember Kyriacou requested an overtime analysis with the police report, specifically a break down outlining cost by cause. He asked for information on the number of hours each officer actually spends on the street compared to other departments. Additionally, Councilmember Kyriacou asked when a new civilian dispatcher would be hired since there has not been one on staff since December. City Administrator Braun explained that although no one has been hired yet, the position really doesn’t affect overtime in the sense that the person does not count in minimum staffing. He feels a dispatcher should man the desk without a uniformed personnel present.

City Administrator Braun met with Chief Sassi and Lt. Dondero regarding a recommendation to hire a police officer. A background and pre-hiring process was completed on candidate Jose Martinez who currently works in Highland Falls, New York. He resides in the City of Beacon and has met all the required Dutchess County Civil Service requirements. City Administrator Braun explained that because Mr. Martinez’s basic academy training was paid for by Highland Falls PD, he holds a financial obligation to pay back expenses incurred by them. Because he is fully trained and Beacon will not incur the expense of training, an arrangement has been proposed that upon satisfactory completion his probationary time, the City reimburse Mr. Martinez half of his expense of $3,512.93. City Administrator Braun supported the idea since the City would be obligated to pay for training, as well as loose time involved with training. The PBA will be involved with that arrangement if approved.

Councilmember Kyriacou provided the City Attorney with an anonymous letter disrespecting of the Assistant Fire Chief. Council reviewed the upcoming agenda. There were no further items to discuss and the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.