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A meeting of the Johnstown Common Council was held on April 7, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall. 

PRESENT:
Sarah J. Slingerland                              :  Mayor
Bryan C. Marcucci                                :  Council Member-at-Large
Kay B. Cole                                         :  Council Member
Brett Preston                                        :  “                       “
J. Christopher Foss                               :  “                       “
Cynthia Lakata                                     :  “                       “
Susan Palmer Johnson                         :  City Attorney
Bruce Heberer                                      :  Fire Chief
Gregory Horning                                   :  Police Chief
Leamon Steele                                     :  City Assessor
Michelle Jones                                     :  Senior Center Director
Barbara Germain                                  :  Librarian
Michael Gifford                                     :  City Treasurer
Charles R. Kortz                                   :  City Engineer
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 – the minutes of the March 17, 2008 Business Meeting were approved with a motion from Council Member Cole and seconded by Council Member Preston.  Motion carried. 

PROCLAMATION – Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation was read by Mayor Slingerland. 

CITY OFFICIAL REPORTS 

CITY ENGINEER, CHARLES R. KORTZ – reported the asbestos at H&J Leather has been cleaned up and they are now working on Alliance Leather. The brush drop off site is open and curb side cleanup will begin in a couple of weeks. Sidewalk Program applications will be accepted until April 18^th. The asphalt plant in Amsterdam will open next week and we will begin road repairs. The low bid for the Washington St. Bridge has been forward to the New York State Department of Transportation for their review. We should be able to have a resolution to accept the bid by the next meeting. In the parks line item for this year’s budget, there was $100,000 budgeted for Rail Trail expenditures. $100,000 was also budgeted on the revenue side because all of the work, including the materials and labor, will be covered by the grant. 

Council Member Preston asked Mr. Kortz to explain the changes in this year’s sidewalk replacement program.  There will be 12 sidewalks done, 3 in each Ward and 2 sidewalks replaced within the Business District. Council Member Lakata questioned the status of the S. Chase St. culvert.  Mr. Kortz explained that the culvert was repaired temporarily and repairs are needed down through the intersection of E. Main St.  He would like to package this as one project.  When the Washington St. Bridge is raised up it should improve the flow in the creek, which tends to cause some of the flooding upstream.   

SENIOR CENTER, MICHELLE JONES – the Annual Spring Bazaar will be held at the center on Saturday, April 12^th.  A program to teach seniors how to read and understand nutritional values will be held on April 23^rd.  Cholesterol and glucose screening will be held on April 28^th and there will be a fee.  The Good Time Players will perform, On the Good Ship Homicide at the center on June 7^th and 8^th. 

CITY ASSESSOR, LEAMON STEELE – reported he has 30 seniors that he has not heard from for renewing their STAR applications.  Sales in the City have leveled off.   

POLICE CHIEF, GREGORY HORNING – reported the winter parking ban has been lifted.  Boots will be placed on vehicles for unpaid, past due parking tickets.   

FIRE CHIEF, BRUCE HEBERER – the Ward patrols began today for garbage and trash.  They will try to work with the community until the City wide cleanup.  The FEMA Grant was submitted again for the ladder truck.    Senator Farley is giving the fire department $15,000 for upgrading the Code’s Office computer program.  As part of the Fire Department’s 200^th Anniversary, they will be building a display case type building for the old fire truck.  The large pine tree will be removed and two new smaller trees will be planted on each side of the building.  It will have glass sides.  This will allow the truck to be displayed year round.  The Code’s Office is presently reviewing plans for four new houses. 

CITY TREASURER, MICHAEL GIFFORD – presently collecting City tax.  The credit card system is not working and we are trying to get the problem corrected.  Need to evaluate this system.  It may not be worth keeping it as not that many people use it and it has been problematic.   

LIBRARIAN, BARBARA GERMAIN – the Storybook Sundae held on April 6^th, was very successful and Mrs. Germain thanked the volunteers. The annual landscaping will take place on May 10^th.  The Willett family donated $10,000 to the library in memory of Mr. Willett’s Mother. 

RESOLUTION No. 33, 2008 was presented by Council Member Foss to advertise for bids for a new garbage truck and street sweeper.  Seconded by Council Member Cole.
Ayes: 5
Noes: 0 

DISCUSSION 

1. Street Lights – Mayor Slingerland stated the City has received requests for street lights in the City lot behind Vintage Café, on Briggs St. at the entrance to the Mall, E. Montgomery St. and N. Chase St. in the area of the bridge. There is money in the budget for these lights. Council is in favor. Council Member Foss added that several years ago a study was done and some street lights were removed. Some bulbs were replaced with different wattages. He cautioned that as lights are put back up, each cost money. Mayor Slingerland said that some of the areas have changed with increased traffic and some areas turned out to be darker than expected. The cost of each light is approximately $130 per year.  Council Member Lakata said that a light was removed from the corner of McMartin and Melcher St. Mr. Kortz will check on the status of this street light.
2. Voting Machines and Polling Sites – the polling sites in the City will be reduced to four, one in each Ward.  Polling sites are Knox Junior High, Senior Citizens Center, Trackside Homes and the Johnstown Public Library. New voting machines will be purchased by the County and one will be available for handicapped voters at each polling site. Two of the old machines will be used for voting at the next election.  In 2009 the new machines will be used by all voters.

Mr. Kortz is putting together a bid packet for miscellaneous City equipment. A resolution will be prepared to advertise the sale of this equipment, at the next meeting. 

A motion was made at 7:35p.m., to enter into executive session for the discussion of sale of real property, by Council Member Foss and seconded by Council Member-at-Large Marcucci.  Motion carried. 

A motion was made at 8:25p.m., to come out of executive session, by Council Member Foss and seconded by Council Member Preston.  Motion carried. 

A motion to adjourn at 8:26p.m., was made by Council Member-at-Large Marcucci and seconded by Council Member Lakata.  Motion carried.   

Respectfully submitted, 

Cathy A. VanAlstyne
City Clerk