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A Business Meeting of the Johnstown Common Council was held on March 19, 2012 at 7:00p.m., in the Council Chambers, City Hall.
PRESENT: Bryan C. Marcucci : Council Member-at-Large Helen Martin : Council Member J. Christopher Foss : “ “ Kay B. Cole : “ “ Cynthia Lakata : “ “ Susan Palmer Johnson : City Attorney Bruce Heberer : Fire Chief Mark Gifford : Police Chief Daniel Maxwell : Acting City Assessor Deborah Callery : Acting Library Director Kevin Jones : Deputy City Engineer Michelle Jones : Senior Center Director Michael Gifford : City Treasurer Cathy A. VanAlstyne : City Clerk Mayor Slingerland called the meeting to order and led in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL – all council members present. APPROVE MINUTES – minutes of the March 5, 2012 Committee Meeting were approved with a motion from Council Member Martin and seconded by Council Member Lakata. Motion carried. CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS – Council Member Cole made a motion to pay the bills and place on file in the City Treasurer’s Office. Motion was seconded by Council Member-at-Large Marcucci. Motion carried. LIAISON’S REPORTS FIRE DEPARTMENT – Council Member Lakata reported the fire department received training in the month of February. They received 54 calls for service which included 3 structure fires, 2 vehicle fires, 1 mutual aid, 9 motor vehicle accidents, 3 extractions, 3 hazardous substance calls, 3 medical assists, 1 hazardous material spill and 3 carbon monoxide calls. The Code’s Office issued 25 permits with an estimated cost of construction of $64,785 and permit fees of $750. Inspections and complaints totaled 405. There is a State wide burn ban in effect until May 15th. No outside burning is allowed and that includes those with permits. POLICE DEPARTMENT – the department received 716 calls in the month of February, with 35 arrests, 90 parking tickets, 84 traffic tickets, 26 accidents investigated and 2 K9 responses. DPW – Council Member Foss reported the N. Perry St. Bridge project bid opening will be March 21st at 10a.m. Twenty plans are out for this project. The Madison Ave. Sewer Bridge Project bid opening will be March 26th at 10a.m. Twenty-seven plans are out for this project. Manhole and catch basin repairs continue. A contractor’s access point was built adjacent to the Rail Trail at the Madison Ave. cross. Parking area will be used for the contractor to access the work site for the pipe bridge. It will be converted to trail head parking after completion of the project. The brush drop off site on W. Main St. is open. Curb side pick-up will be done from April 16 – 27th. LIBRARY – Council Member Foss thanked the fire department for a response and the DPW for repair work to the library. The Storybook Sundae held last Sunday was a success. Thanks went out to the underwriters; Thomas’ Hallmark, The Tire Center, McDonald’s, FAGE, NBT Bank and an anonymous donor. SENIOR CENTER – Council Member Martin reported there will be a Summer Golf League meeting on April 11th at 1pm. Cornell Cooperative Extension will be holding “Food Gardening 101” at the center on March 29th from 6-8pm. There will be a charge of $5. There will be a trip to Proctors on May 8th for “Vickie Lawrence and Mama”, a comedy show. SEWER BOARD – Council Member Martin reported the Board thanked the City workers and Mayor for work done during the flooding at the plant. The Board approved pursuing the trunk sewer evaluation. This is old clay piping and it has 75 manholes. It is the main trunk line that goes up Perry Street. PLANNING BOARD – Mayor Slingerland attended the meeting and reported Teroga Redmen’s Tribe received approval for opening a restaurant to the public. Comrie Ave. Assoc. received approval of their site plan for a T.J. Maxx store. WATER BOARD – Mayor Slingerland attended the recent meeting. County Planner Jim Mraz did a presentation on the Roxanne water bottling plant that wants to build on watershed property. Information was given on Sweet Rd. and the Town of Johnstown’s request to make it into an access road for the bottling plant. The Mayor said the Council will be given the relevant information for Sweet Road at the April committee meeting. CITY TREASURER – Mike Gifford reported that City tax bills will be mailed soon. They are due on or before the last day in April. RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION No. 23, 2012 was
presented by Council Member-at-Large Marcucci to appoint Lucille Talarico to the
City of Johnstown Board of Health. Seconded by Council Member Cole. RESOLUTION No. 24, 2012 was presented by Council Member Cole to appoint Jack Valachovic and Peter Raneri to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Seconded by Council Member Martin. Ayes: 5 Noes: 0 DISCUSSION Council Member Martin said the Governor has launched a path through history initiative to support tourism, placing signs along the thruway. This is an opportunity we cannot afford to pass up. We need to try to get recognition for Johnstown and surrounding areas. She proposes that a Johnstown City committee be formed to work on approaching the master group that is doing this. City Historian Noel Levee is very interested and she will be in touch with County Historian Peter Betz. Any other interested persons would be welcome. Mayor Slingerland said she will work with Council Member-at-Large Marcucci on forming a committee. Council Member Foss said this is a great idea. ANNOUNCEMENTS City Hall Offices will close at noon on Good Friday, April 6th. A motion was made at 7:20p.m., by Council Member Martin to enter into executive session to discuss pending litigation. Seconded by Council Member Cole. A motion to come out of executive session at 7:32p.m., was made by Council Member Foss and seconded by Council Member Cole. A motion to adjourn at 7:34p.m., was made by Council Member Foss and seconded by Council Member Martin. Respectfully submitted, Cathy A. VanAlstyne
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