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Council Chambers Tonawanda, New York December 16, 2008
A Regular Meeting of the Common Council
Present: Council President Zeisz Present Councilmembers: Perkins, Waterhouse, Kossow, Davis
Pledge of Allegiance led by Council President Zeisz
Prayer led by Council President Zeisz
Presentation given by Chief Cindy J. Young and Chief Charles B. Stuart
UNIT CITATIONFor actions that took place at an emergency medical service incident which potentially saved the life of a seriously injured infant patient on November 30, 2008, and also for teamwork, efficiency and professionalism under stress.
Presented to:
Assistant Chief/Paramedic Christopher Cowell Captain/Paramedic James Barber Captain/Critical Care Tech Robert Hassett Dispatcher Linda GeorgeTwin City Ambulance Supervisor Paramedic Jamaal Emerson Paramedic Tracie DeSantis Firefighter/EMT I Dennis Angelo Firefighter/EMT I Adam Sereno Twin City Ambulance EMT Dawn Dudkowski Police Lt. William Strassburg Police Detective Timothy Toth Police Detective Michael Rogers Police Officer David Ljiljanich
LETTER OF COMMENDATION
Presented to:
Fire Captain Robert M. Hassett
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR
A letter from Time Warner Cable dated December 2, 2008, regarding Switched Digital Video.
A letter to NYSDEC dated December 5, 2008, regarding NYSDEC communications with the City of Tonawanda.
A letter to Beverly Schuster, 139 Clinton Street, dated December 10, 2008 reappointing her to the Board of Appeals, term to expire December 31, 2013.
A letter from the Town of Tonawanda Youth, Parks and Recreation Department, dated December 15, 2008, referring to a meeting they recently had regarding reduced fees at Sheridan and Brighton golf courses for City of Tonawanda residents. Ordered filed
COMMUNICATION FROM CITY OFFICIALS AND CORRESPONDENCE
The following monthly reports were received by the City Clerk: September minutes of the Plumbing Board October minutes of the Planning & Zoning Board November monthly report of the Building Inspector November monthly report of the City Clerk November minutes of the Planning & Zoning Board November minutes of the Traffic and Safety Board December minutes of the Plumbing Board December minutes of the Traffic and Safety Board Referred to the Committee of the Whole Ordered filed
A letter from Sanford Belsky, dated December 11, 2008, requesting to be reappointed to the position of Plumbing Inspector for the year 2009. Referred to the Committee of the Whole Ordered filed
COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON RESOLUTIONS
There were not comments from the public.
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
241. By Councilmember Perkins seconded by Councilmember Waterhouse Resolved, that the bills be allowed as audited and the City Clerk be authorized to draw warrants on the Treasurer for the various amounts.
Ayes: Perkins, Waterhouse, Kossow, Davis, Zeisz Nays: None Resolution declared adopted
242. By the Council seconded by the Council Whereas, the City of Tonawanda recognizes the importance of removing drunk drivers from our highways and streets to reduce the number of deaths and injuries for all of our citizens; and Whereas, the City of Tonawanda participates with Erie County, through the STOP-DWI Office which pays our municipality for extra police enforcement of DWI laws and for data on DWI cases disposed in our justice court, and Whereas, fines paid by drunken drivers are the sole source of this revenue, no tax dollars are used, and Whereas, the increased enforcement and data reporting is important to the mission of the STOP-DWI Office, now, therefore be it Resolved, that the Mayor be authorized to enter into this agreement with the County of Erie STOP-DWI Office, from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2010, a copy of said agreement is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
Ayes: Perkins, Waterhouse, Kossow, Davis, Zeisz Nays: None Resolution declared adopted
243. By the Council seconded by the Council Whereas, State Street Bank and Trust Company (State Bank) currently serves as passive, non-discretionary Trustee for the City of Tonawanda Deferred Compensation Plan (the Plan); and Whereas, State Street has provided notice to Hartford Life Insurance Company that it will no longer provide these services to our customers beyond January 9, 2009; and Whereas, as a result, it is desirable to remove State Street as passive, non-discretionary Trustee of the trust for the Plan and to appoint Reliance Trust Company (RTC) as successor passive, non-discretionary Trustee of the trust for the Plan; and now, therefore be it Resolved, that State Street is hereby removed as passive non-discretionary Trustee of the trust for the Plan, and that Reliance Trust Company is hereby appointed as successor passive, non-discretionary Trustee for the trust for the Plan; and further be it Resolved, that Joseph M. Hogenkamp, City Treasurer, on behalf of the Board, is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to execute any and all documents required to effectuate each removal and appointment, including but not limited to the enclosed Trustee Removal and Appointment, and to take such actions as are necessary, appropriate or advisable to effectuate the foregoing resolution.
Ayes: Perkins, Waterhouse, Kossow, Davis, Zeisz Nays: None Resolution declared adopted
244. By the Council seconded by the Council Resolved, that the Mayor be authorized and directed to sign an agreement with B.M.A. Consulting Services, Inc. to perform insurance consulting services to the City of Tonawanda for the calendar year 2009 for a fee of $7,500.00.
Ayes: Perkins, Waterhouse, Kossow, Davis, Zeisz Nays: None Resolution declared adopted
245. By the Council seconded by the Council Resolved, that the 2008 General Fund Budget be amended to account for the various salary increments during the fiscal year:
Account: Reason: Expense 1210.100 Mayor ($3,900) SUBTRACT Savings due to replacement Admin. Asst. Expense 1325.100 City Treasurer $13,500 ADD Retirement/2year Contractual Costs Expense 1355.100 City Assessor $4,625 ADD 2 year Contractual Costs Expense 1410.100 City Clerk $6,400 ADD 1 & 2 year Contractual Costs Expense 1420.100 City Attorney $2,805 ADD 2 year Salary Increment Expense 1430.100 Pers Admin ($87,000) SUBTRACT Savings on Anticipated Retirements Expense 1432.100 Civil Service $1,100 ADD 2 Year Salary Increment Expense 1440.100 Engineering ($14,400) SUBTRACT Savings on Anticipated Labor Costs Expense 1620.100 Mun Bldg $100 ADD Contractual Costs Expense 3120.100 Police Dept $167,000 ADD 2 year Contractual Costs Expense 3310.100 Elec/Signal ($6,100) SUBTRACT Savings due to replacement Labor Costs Expense 3410.100 Fire Dept $64,000 ADD 1 year Contractual Costs Expense 3410.101 Fire Dept $9,950 ADD 1 year Contractual Costs Expense 3510.100 Dog Control ($1,225) SUBTRACT Savings on Actual versus Budget Expense 3620.100 Bldg Inspector $7,300 ADD 1 & 2 year Contractual Costs Expense 5010.100 Highway Off. ($6,400) SUBTRACT Savings due to non replacement Labor Expense 5110.100 Highways $90,000 ADD Transfer Budgeted Labor Costs from 8120 Expense 5142.100 Snow & Ice $7,450 ADD Transfer Budgeted Labor Costs from 8120 Expense 6510.100 Vets Service $1,635 ADD 2 year Salary Increment Expense 7020.100 Recreation $24,500 ADD 1 year Contractual Costs Expense 7180.100 Youth Center ($9,590) SUBTRACT Savings on Actual versus Budget Expense 7320.100 Youth Board $110 ADD 1 year Salary Increment Expense 7621.100 Senior Center $625 ADD 2 year Salary Increment Expense 8120.100 Sewers ($136,500) SUBTRACT Transfer Budgeted Labor Costs to 5110 Expense 8160.100 Garbage/Trash $65,000 ADD Transfer Budgeted Labor Costs from 8120 Expense 8170.100 Street Cleaning ($5,500) SUBTRACT Transfer Budgeted Labor Costs to 5110 Expense 9030.800 FICA $8,300 ADD Add’l. FICA costs relative to incr salaries Expense 1989.461 Contingency ($203,785) SUBTRACT Budgeted Funds to be transferred to salaries
Net Budget Effect $0
Ayes: Perkins, Waterhouse, Kossow, Davis, Zeisz Nays: None Resolution declared adopted
246. By the Council seconded by the Council Resolved, that the 2008 General Fund Budget be amended to account for various Grants/Revenues received and administered during the fiscal year.
Account: Reason: Expense 3120.202 Police Equipment $16,000 ADD Revenue 3390 Police Eq Reim $16,000 ADD Dispatch Equip, Video Rec. Equip Net Budget Effect -$0-
Expense 3410.420 Fire CPR Course Exp $2,000 ADD CPR Course Programs Revenue 2000 Fire CPR Pgm Fees $2,000 ADD Net Budget Effect -$0-
Expense 3410.202 Fire Dept. Equip $6,000 ADD Revenue 3410 Fire Dept Equip Grant $6,000 ADD Upgrade Phone System Net Budget Effect -$0-
Ayes: Perkins, Waterhouse, Kossow, Davis, Zeisz Nays: None Resolution declared adopted
247. By the Council seconded by the Council Whereas, New York State has created the Economic Development Zone program to encourage industrial and commercial development in selected municipalities across the State, and Whereas, the Town of Tonawanda, as an eligible municipality, received designation of an Economic Development Zone made up of sub-zones including portions of the Town, the City of Tonawanda and the Village of Kenmore, and Whereas, New York State has amended the Zones program to increase benefits and allow additional sub-zones, and Whereas, the Town of Tonawanda intends to revise the Town of Tonawanda Economic Development Zone boundaries (now referred to as Empire Zones) to encourage industrial and commercial development and to expand the existing sub-zone in the City of Tonawanda, and Whereas, the City of Tonawanda is committed to the development of new business within the proposed expansion, and Whereas, the City of Tonawanda wishes to support and concur with the Empire Zone revision application, now therefore be it Resolved, that the City of Tonawanda Common Council, in its capacity as governing body of the City, does hereby support and concur with the Town of Tonawanda Empire Zone revision application to expand the boundaries of the Empire Zone to include the properties more particularly described as follows:
SBL 52.08-4-16.1 (574 Main Street) SBL 52.08-4-16.2 (532 Main Street) SBL 53.29-3-1 (551 Main Street)
Ayes: Perkins, Waterhouse, Kossow, Davis, Zeisz Nays: None Resolution declared adopted
248. By Council President Zeisz seconded by Councilmember Davis Resolved, that in recognition and compliance with the “New York State Open Meetings Law”, this Common Council will meet in Executive Session in the Common Council Chambers for the purpose of pending exempt City business, and further be it Resolved, that upon conclusion of the above stated business matters, the meeting shall again be open to the general public. The reason for the Executive Session is to discuss Contract Negotiations.
Ayes: Perkins, Waterhouse, Kossow, Davis, Zeisz Nays: None Resolution declared adopted
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AFTER RESOLUTIONS
There were no comments from the public. COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCILMEMBERS AFTER RESOLUTIONS
Councilmember Davis – I’d just like to commend everybody including and more importantly, Captain Hassett for their actions with that infant. The Chief said it perfectly, he said that we don’t know what the outcome would have been had it not been for the quick response of everybody but that’s the nice thing, we don’t know because that child survived, so I want to commend everybody. WinterWalk was a few weekends ago, it seemed like a nice event, a lot of people turned out for it and per Colleen’s request, I tried to provide the best weather I could for that day. I’d like to thank the merchants and everybody for attending. This past weekend myself, my wife, the Mayor, his wife, attended the Auxiliary Party, so I’d like to thank them, one, for inviting us and two, for the over 1,000 hours that they put into the City every year to help out at various events. And lastly, I’d like to wish everybody Happy Holidays and a safe and prosperous New Year.
Councilmember Kossow – I’d also like to offer my congratulations to all those involved in saving that young infant. They deserve all the praise that they received, especially Rob as Councilman Davis said. Every year we try and look back and see what we’ve done as a Council for the City and I think a couple things that stand out is the Reassessment, whether you thought it was fair or not, it had to be done, it was something that was long overdue. We continue to make progress with Spaulding Fibre, and I see now they are starting to move again, they’re taking structures down, so they are moving forward on that. Last week we had the Public Hearing on possible development along Young Street. All those are positive things that we will continue to hopefully build on in 2009. Also, I’d like to thank all the City workers, all their work over the past year, the auxiliaries, the Underwater Squad for all their time and effort over the years. I still don’t know exactly what happened to them, but I still want to offer thanks for all their efforts over the years for all that they have done. And lastly, I just wish everyone in the audience a happy and healthy New Year.
Councilmember Perkins – I’d like to echo Councilmen Davis’ and Kossow’s comments with regard to our Police and Fire Departments. We’re always proud of them. Sometimes we forget how lucky we are to have them all, and so tonight was really a nice night for us to be able to show them some of our appreciation. And I would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Councilmember Waterhouse – I too would like to thank the Police Department and the Fire Department for their quick actions in saving that child. One of things that amazes me the most when we sit here and listen to the Chief go through that story is at the end he mentioned that these people thought that this was not necessary, that this was a normal or average part of their day. What they do is not normal or average where I come from. That’s amazing. It takes special people to do what they do and I just want them to know the residents really appreciate what they do. It’s not often said but it’s nice when somebody goes that extra mile and says thank you and I know that family is so appreciative, as every resident should be, that we have great people like that. If you were ever in trouble, knowing that they’re one or two minutes away, it’s just outstanding. I’d also like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Mayor Pilozzi – Due to a bad cold, I’m going to keep my comments brief for a change. I too would like to congratulate everybody that had anything to do with saving the life of that youngster. It’s amazing to me, guys like Rob Hassett. A Police Officer on the scene came up to me two days later and said, “if it wasn’t for Rob Hassett, that baby probably would have died”, and when I confronted Rob in my office, I asked him to come over and he didn’t want to take any credit, that’s the kind of individuals we have working in our Fire Department, our Police Department, all public safety people, and for that matter, all the employees of the City of Tonawanda, my thanks go out to them. They’ve made me very, very proud as the Mayor and I’m sure that everybody sitting up here is proud of the actions of that day and there’s a family that’s going to see a youngster grow up because of their professionalism and dedication to their job. Lastly, many thanks to all the volunteer groups for all the time they spent making the City a better place to live and my heart felt best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We have some large challenges ahead that I think we’re going to come out okay with.
Council President Zeisz – I think my comments center more on where the Chief alluded to the fact that they said they were just doing their job. You know a lot of times, being in public office, people, residents always seem to have comments about different department and we should have, shouldn’t have, and what we need and don’t need, and one thing that everyone, at least in my experience, agrees on is that public safety is critical for the City and you know one of the things a lot of people say, “well it costs so much and do we need this, do we need that?” Well, Tonawanda is the community that it has always been and will be in the future because of people like this that work for the City. But there’s also a price to pay for that. A lot of us have been willing to pay that price to live in this community, to have the services that we have and to have the great employees that we have. And for me, it’s always really gratifying to see that people that I grew up with, you know, we were kids together, we have mutual friends, and these people grow up to be Rob Hassett, people that do great things for the community, much the same as the students that are sitting here tonight. Some of you may grow into those roles someday yourselves and you know, it always makes me really proud to have the opportunity to recognize the people that do great things for the City and I just want to thank everyone involved in this effort, especially Robbie. And as far as any other comments, I don’t have any. Have a Merry Christmas and a healthy and safe New Year and have a great night and drive home safely.
ADJOURNMENT
249. By Councilmember Kossow seconded by Councilmember Waterhouse Resolved, that this Common Council adjourn until January 6, 2009.
Ayes: Perkins, Waterhouse, Kossow, Davis, Zeisz Nays: None Resolution declared adopted
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