The Council for the City of Corning, New York held its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m.
at Council Chambers, Civic Center Plaza, Corning, New York.
All Councilmembers attended the meeting except Councilmember Paterson, who
was ill. Counting City of Corning employees, 15 members of the public were in the
audience.
New Business – Public Hearing on Mayor’s Term of Office – October 2, at 6:15 p.m. in City Council Chambers
The Council voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on October 2, 2023, at
6:15 p.m. in Council chambers to obtain the views of the citizenry on Proposed
Public Law #7. The background of this proposed public law is as follows:
On March 7, 2022, a resolution was presented to the Corning City Council to create
a Citizens “Representation” Committee (Citizens Committee) of five Corning
residents to:
“Evaluate and recommend to the City Council any changes to the Mayor’s
Term of office.”
The Citizens Committee recommended to the City Council that:
The term of Office of the Mayor be four years, effective for the Mayor’s term
commencing in January of 2026, and that a Local Law be developed for City
Council consideration to change the City Charter to effect these changes.
At its meeting on August 7, 2023, the Council for the City of Corning considered a
resolution to “enable the City Council, at its discretion, to further consider the
[citizens] committee’s recommendation in the form of a Local Law.” The resolution
further requested that the City Attorney develop a local law to implement the
Citizens Committee’s recommendation.
following question: “Shall the Charter of the City of Corning be amended to change
the length of the Mayor’s term from two years to four years?” be on the ballot at
the general election in 2024.
If approved, it will amend section C2-10 of Article II of the Charter of the City of
Corning to provide that at the November 2025 general election and each fourth
year thereafter, a Mayor shall be elected for a term of four years.
New Business – Cannabis Retail Dispensary License application for Green Rush 607 LLC
The City of Corning has received notice from the New York State Office of Cannabis
Management that Green Rush 607 LLC has applied for a license for an adult use
retail cannabis dispensary to be located at 90 East Market Street in Corning.
The City of Corning permits these dispensaries if they comply with state law. The
City also has the right to submit its opinion either for or against the granting of the
license.
Part 119 of the New York State Code of Rules and Regulations sets parameters for
municipal rulemaking. Part 119 is to provide guidance to cities seeking to enact
local laws that, among other things, may affect the “time, place, and manner” of
locating and approving operation of dispensaries within its jurisdiction. Rule 119 is
currently in the draft and review stage at the State level and is not currently final
nor binding.
The current local law of the City of Corning pertaining to “time, place, and manner,”
may or may not need to be amended when rulemaking for Part 119 is complete and
the rules are final. Until it is final, the City is without legal guidance to render an
informed and reasoned opinion about the Green Rush 607 LLC application.
After also noting the existence of a court order staying all new licensures for adult
use retail cannabis dispensaries in the State, the City Council voted unanimously to
render its opinion to the State of New York that the application of Green Rush be
denied. It also asked that, if Green Rush should reapply for a license, the City of
Corning be given at least sixty days after the final approval of the Part 119
regulations to render its opinion on whether to approve or deny the renewed
application.
City Manager’s Report – Homelessness Study
The Corning Housing Partnership has made $25,000 available to Steuben County which, if accepted, will help fund a qualified consultant to study and recommend means of helping the unhoused in the County.
Committee Reports - Surplus Lands Committee to meet
Councilmember Clark reported that the Surplus Lands Disposition Committee,
consisting of himself and Councilmembers Telehaney and Coccho, and formed to
deal with an undetermined number of parcels of City land that are currently unused
and appear to be surplus to the needs of the City, will hold its first meeting on
September 12, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. in a meeting room at City Hall.
Announcements
Mayor Boland presented City Manager Mark Ryckman a New York State Conference
of Mayors and Municipal Officers certificate recognizing his 25 years of distinguished
service to the City of Corning.
City Manager Ryckman congratulated Mary Farmer, City Clerk. Ms. Farmer already
holds the designation “Certified Municipal Clerk” from the International Institute of
City Clerks and the designation “Registered Municipal Clerk” from the New York
State Association of City and Village Clerks. Now she has earned the prestigious
title of “Master Municipal Clerk” after completing a rigorous educational and testing
program administered by the International Institute of City Clerks. It is its highest
certification.
Public Comment
Hilda Lando, Steuben County Legislator representing District 2, the City of Corning
spoke. Among other things she said that:
The County is in the midst of its budgeting cycle.
The County recognizes the need to spend opioid settlement money correctly and effectively. It has recently published a request for proposals seeking qualified assistance to make recommendations on best use of the settlement money to the County Legislature.
Narcan wall boxes are now ubiquitous in Steuben County due to the efforts of the Legislature. Some insulated boxes are coming to be installed outdoors at locations which may be closed when the need arises, such as at clinics and fire stations.
The County would like to deliver Narcan training to the members of the Corning City Council. She requests that the Council let her know of its interest in such training.
The County Comprehensive Plan is in its draft stages. The current schedule, which is not set in stone, is for a presentation of the plan in November with a vote to be set in December. She hopes that the City of Corning, which is beginning its planning process, will communicate with the County to determine areas of mutual planning interest.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:57 p.m.
NOTES
The writer of this report has presented items in an order different than that in which they occurred at the meeting.
The writer has, except as specifically noted, amended, or eliminated comments and attribution for them. Unless quotation marks are used, the comments reported are not verbatim.
For brevity, the writer has not included all items on the agenda of the meeting.
Some material has been added by the writer for context or clarity.
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