Mayor informs council of delay in release of proposed budget –
Mayor Michael Villa announced at yesterday’s common council meeting that he will be submitting his proposed budget later than usual this year. The city charter specifies the mayor’s budget should be submitted before April 1. Villa said he expects to present his budget by April 16.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, Villa said the delay is to give him more time to work with council members and department heads to address significant fund balance deficits in the general, transportation, and golf course funds.
“In light of the difficult circumstances we face, I think that it requires a little more time and depth,” said Villa.
After the meeting, Villa said he has requested department heads to cut 10% from the budgets for their respective departments.
City to meet with state officials about Church St. repairs –
Residents of Church Street showed up at Tuesday’s meeting, as they also had at several previous meetings, speaking up about the deteriorating condition of the road, as well as the problem of speeding trucks disturbing the quality of life in the neighborhood.
Villa said he has scheduled a meeting with State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara and State Senator George Amedore on April 10, at 11am on Church Street so that they can look at the condition of the road and discuss possible solutions.
Police Chief Greg Culick said at the meeting that his department is preparing to do an enforcement “blitz” on Church Street, including using weigh-stations to prevent overweight trucks from using the road, setting up a radar-equipped speed checking sign, as well as increased patrols.
In regards to repairing the road, Villa said, “This is a major project that is going to cost upwards of $1 million to repair. The last time it was done, it was done incorrectly. It was basically cobbed, where they scraped off the top half of the pavement and put an inch and a half of black top over it. So this time it needs to be completely redone. And we can’t take [Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS)] money that we have to do [approximately] 35 streets…and invest it all in one street. That’s why we are reaching out to the state to see if there is some assistance, outside of the CHIPS program to correct the situation.”
Emanuele back on AIDA board –
After stepping down from the Amsterdam Industrial Development Agency board in order to serve as the agency’s interim director for approximately five months, Joe Emanuele was re-appointed to the board at Tuesday’s council meeting. Emanuele will replace Michael Lacoppola, who announced his resignation from the board at last Thursday’s AIDA meeting.
