Contractor selected for City Hall portico work
Common Council members voted at Tuesday’s meeting to accept a bid from PCC Contracting Inc. to complete repairs to the southeast portico at City Hall. The firm was the lowest bidder at $275,675 for the project. Grant money from New York State will cover 75% of the cost, with the city covering the rest.
Council transfers city properties
The council approved the sale of the following city-owned properties based on recommendations from the Property Disposition Committee:
| Address | Buyer | Amount |
| 20 Kimball St. | Fernando Encarnacion | $500 |
| 46 Elizabeth St. | Sen-Mel Associates, LLC | $1,200 |
| 30 Lyon St. | Michele A. Stevens | $400 |
| 92 Grove St. | Miguel Rodriguez | $500 |
| 24 Kimball St. | Beth Watkins | $200 |
| 24 James St. | Robert J. Smicinski | $400 |
| Grace Ln. (Peter Ln. side) | Thomas J. Kietlinski | $500 |
| Grace Ln. (Stella Ln. side) | Brian Henderson | $500 |
| 46 Union St. | Rafael & Jacqueline Mercado | $200 *conditions apply |
Recreation department revenues exceed budget estimates
A total of four resolutions were passed adjusting the budget to account for higher than expected revenues from Recreation Department events and activities. According to Controller Matt Agresta, increases to the existing revenue lines totaled close to $25,000. Alderman Jim Martuscello remarked that the recent craft beer festival hosted by the city brought in approximately $4,000 after expenses.
Hearing and vote on new zoning rules scheduled
Council members added an ordinance for introduction on the agenda that will approve an overhauled set of zoning laws for the city. The new laws re-define the various zoning districts in the city, including a new mixed residential and commercial Downtown Core district, and provide updated rules that pertain to cell towers and solar panels. The council will host a public hearing at 5:45pm on September 19 and vote on the ordinance at the regular meeting that follows. Read more on the proposed new zoning rules here.
City to apply for block grant to help residents with home repairs
Urban Renewal Director Nick Zabawsky reported to the council that his department is applying for a new $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from New York State that will allow the city to issue $20,000 to $25,000 grants to low to middle income home owners and landlords for home repairs. In January 2016, the city was awarded a CDBG which targeted the Grand Street area. According to Zabawsky, the new grant, if awarded, will be open to all residents in the city to take advantage of, rather than targeting a specific area.
