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A Business Meeting of the Johnstown Common Council was held on May 19, 2008 at 7:00p.m., in the Council Chambers, City Hall.
PRESENT: Mayor Slingerland called the meeting to order and led in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL – all members present. LETTERS OF COMMENDATION – Mayor Slingerland read three letters written by Fire Chief Bruce Heberer commending Police Chief Gregory Horning and the police department, the fire fighters and Deputy City Engineer Kevin Jones and the department of public works employees for the great job they did in fighting the recent devastating fire on W. State St. APPROVE MINUTES – the minutes of the May 5, 2008 Committee Meeting were approved with a motion from Council Member-at-Large Marcucci and seconded by Council Member Preston. Motion carried. CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS – Council Member Cole made a motion to pay the bills and place them on file in the City Treasurer’s Office. Seconded by Council Member Lakata. Motion carried. LIAISON’S REPORTS FIRE DEPARTMENT – Council Member Lakata reported the department received training in April. They received 79 calls, including the major fire on W. State St.. Code’s Office issued 68 permits resulting in $2,424,627.00 in estimated building costs and $3,567.00 in fees were collected. Microtel is expected to open in June. Progress is being made with renovations in the Pyramid Mall. The old Eckerd Drug Store is being converted to three retail spaces. Three new houses are in various stages of completion with a couple more in the planning stage. The Code’s Office handled 635 inspections and complaints. POLICE DEPARTMENT – the department received 761 calls resulting in 41 arrests and 114 tickets issued. Court fines collected were $5,120.00. Several department personnel received training. DPW – Council Member Foss reported the annual spring pick-up is complete. Any residents with yard waste can deposit it at the brush site on W. Main St. Parks have been readied; mowed, raked and flowers planted. Mulch will be added soon. Catch basins and manholes have been repaired. Clean up took place at Apex Leather, Hoosac St., H&J Leather and the old Gloria’s Pizzeria that were recently demolished. Stephen Miller General Contracting has begun work on the Washington Ave. Rail Trail Bridge. Malcolm Pirnie is assessing 311 W. State St. We may receive grant money to cover the demolition. Repair work was done on the Miller St. Bridge and patching of streets continues. 145 applications were received for the Sidewalk Program. The City Engineer will be inspecting the sidewalks and the lottery will be drawn at a meeting in June. Mr. Kortz thanked all the departments for their help with the demo’s and the fire. LIBRARY – Council Member Foss announced the next book discussion will take place on May 20th at 6:30p.m. and May 23rd at 10:30a.m. Pre-school story time continues each week. The annual landscaping day was held on May 10th and all that volunteered were thanked. Mayor Slingerland said the Welcome to Johnstown signs, entering the City, have all been repaired and placed at all points entering the City of Johnstown. SEWER BOARD – Council Member Preston reported that at the April 23rd meeting the new sewer rates were adopted. At the May 23rd meeting they approved the YMCA connection to the sewer line. The 2007 Audit was presented. Arrow Leather’s permit was relinquished, due to the fire. The transfer of funds from the fund balance to a reserved fund was approved. SENIOR CENTER – Council Member Preston reported this Thursday at 1:15p.m., a master gardener from the Cooperative Extension will be present to talk about spring planting. The Men’s Club will meet on May 28th for a luncheon and a talk about men’s health. WATER BOARD – Council Member Cole reported that at the May 12th meeting they discussed work on the Maylender Reservoir. They have sent letters to politicians asking for funding for work on the reservoir. PLANNING BOARD – Council Member Cole reported the Board meet on May 6th and approved the addition of four silos at FAGE and an addition to Pearl Leather. An application to erect a 15’ swimming pool and sign on N. Comrie Ave., next to Udderly Delicious, to be used as a display for a pool and hot tub business was denied. FINANCE – Council Member Cole reported on the sewer board’s disbursement of money from the fund balance in the amount of $100,097.70 leaving a balance due to the City of $200,294.48. The money is in the Sewer Fund. CITY ASSESSOR – Grievance Day is May 29th from 4pm-8pm. MAYORAL APPOINTMENT – Christopher John Cuddy was appointed a police officer.
RESOLUTION No. 43,
2008 was presented by Council Member Lakata to
appoint four people as Commissioner of Deeds.
Seconded by Council Member Cole.
RESOLUTION No. 44,
2008 was presented by Council Member-at-Large
Marcucci to advertise for sealed written bids for
replacement windows at City Hall. Seconded by
Council Member Preston.
RESOLUTION No. 45,
2008 was presented by Council Member Cole to
approve the sewer connection for the YMCA.
Seconded by Council Member Lakata.
RESOLUTION No. 46,
2008 was presented by Council Member Foss to
contract with Wm. H. Clark Municipal Equipment,
Inc. for the purchase of a new Three Wheel Broom
Street Sweeper. Seconded by Council
Member-at-Large Marcucci. RESOLUTION No. 47, 2008 was presented by Council Member Foss to contract with H.L. Gage Sales, Inc. to purchase a new Ten Wheel Garbage Truck. Seconded by Council Member Cole.
Discussion: Mr.
Kortz is comfortably with the bids and the fact
that only one bid was submitted for both the
garbage truck and street sweeper. Probably the
others could not meet the specifications of the
bid.
RESOLUTON No. 48,
2008 was presented by Council Member Preston to
enter an agreement with the County of Fulton for
use of the County’s Pictometry imaging.
Discussion: Mr.
Kortz said this will be very useful and mates with
the GIS software that we have.
RESOLUTION No. 49,
2008 was presented by Council Member Preston to
execute a Lease agreement with the Johnstown Area
Community Center for renewal of their 5-year
lease. Seconded by Council Member-at-Large
Marcucci.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Council Member Preston made a motion at 7:45p.m., to enter into executive session to discuss the sale of property. Seconded by Council Member Cole. Council Member Foss made a motion at 8:14p.m., to come out of executive session. Motion was seconded by Council Member Lakata. Council Member Cole made a motion to adjourn at 8:16p.m. Motion was seconded by Council Member-at-Large Marcucci. Respectfully submitted,
Cathy A. VanAlstyne
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