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 ReSue. Counting
City of Corning employees, fifteen members of the public were in the audience.
Committee Report – Public Arts
Mayor Boland announced that there will be a joint workshop between the Council
and the Public Arts Committee at 6 p.m. on January 8, 2024, in Council Chambers.
The Committee’s consultant, Designing Local, will present the plan for public art in
the City of Corning/ The plan has already been adopted by the Committee. The
purpose of the workshop is to allow for Council inquiry before a formal Council vote.
New Business – Feral Cat Spaying and Neutering Program
The Council unanimously approved transferring $10,000 from the Contingency Fund
to Animal Control line item for spaying and neutering city residents’ cats.
In discussion before the vote, Deputy Mayor Hunt asked if the expectation is that
the budget for the program will decline or whether it is likely to continue at $20,000
per budget period. City Manager Ryckman explained that the best information he
has received from the ASPCA is that it will take at least two-three years at the
$20,000 budget expenditure level before there may be a decline in numbers of feral
cats. He noted that 184 cats have been spayed or neutered so far and requests are
still coming in regularly.
Mr. Ryckman also explained that, while expensive, is it less expensive than
mounting a “full-bore” animal control program. Feral cats, he said, are really a
health issue. There will always be feral cats, but it is important to keep the
population controlled, because rabies spreads quickly among them. It goes hand in
hand with control of the skunk population, which the City is trying to do too.
The consensus of those who spoke was that, while it is not a perfect solution it is a
good one. Mayor Boland opined, “At least we are scratching the surface.”
BACKGROUND:
June 2022 - As a part of the City of Corning’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget, and at the
request of Councilmembers Patterson and Clark, $5,000 was included to begin a
new spay and neuter program for feral cats.
September 2022 - The Council adopted Local Law #2 of 2022 to provide services
for spaying and neutering cats. Councilpersons Paterson, Clark, Telehaney, and
Deputy Mayor Hunt, commented that the feral feline problem is pervasive, and this
is local law a good first step. Councilpersons Clark and Telehaney both expressed
concern for the number and complexity of the steps required in the local law to
prove ownership of an animal before it may be spayed or neutered. Even so, both
are eager to make a start on the problem and this local law provides that start.
Manager Ryckman agreed that the claim of ownership requirement may be an
impediment but explained that the notarized statement is required by state law.
April 2023 - City Manager Ryckman reported that appointments for spaying or
neutering sixteen cats were made in March and twenty-seven more have been
added to the ASPCA appointment list.
May 2023 – The Council agreed to transfer $5,000 from the Contingency Fund to
pay for additional costs incurred as a result of the popularity of the cat spay and
neuter program.
Using currently allocated funds, 34 cats have been or are awaiting spaying or
neutering. This number includes 21 males and 13 females. There is a backlog of 21
female cats awaiting spaying for which there are no current funds to defray the
costs.
Manager Ryckman reported that the additional $5,000 will enable the City to
continue the program through the current budget year. In its consideration of the
next fiscal year’s budget, the Council will set new funding requirements for the
program based upon the program’s popularity, fund availability, and projected
needs.
The program has been well received in the community. It is a great step toward
handling the feral cat situation in the City. However, Mayor Boland cautioned that
the program, while off to a great start, “is not a quick fix.” After two or three years
of consistent application, though, there should be noticeable improvement in the
number of feral cats.
New Business - City Attorney
On a vote of 7-1, with Councilmember Muccini voting no, the appointment by City
Manager Ryckman of Maggs Law Offices PLLC of Elmira, New York to be the City
Attorney/Law Firm for the City of Corning was confirmed.
The appointment is for a term of one year at $220 per hour for partners in the firm
and $200 for associates. Increased hourly rates for the year 2025 are also included
in the Resolution, even though the term of the appointment is one year.
The resolution also provides that all requests for legal services by Councilmembers,
boards, and commissions shall be made to the City Manager who is authorized to
approve or deny the request as he deems in the best interests of the City.
Councilmember Muccini explained his vote by saying that he believes the City’s
attorneys are overpaid. He believes the City of Corning can do better.
New Business – New Superintendent of Public Works
The Council unanimously approved the appointment by City Manager Ryckman of
Joseph Tongue of Pine City, New York to be Superintendent of Public Works for the
City of Corning effective January 3, 2024. He replaces Larry Wagner who has
retired.
Deputy Mayor Hunt feels Mr. Tongue is well suited for the position. Mayor Boland
noted that Mr. Tongue has worked for the City’s Department of Public Works for
twenty-one years, starting as a groundskeeper. He congratulated Mr. Tongue on his
hard work to reach the top of the department. Councilmember Clark believes that
Mr. Tongue will continue the good relations that the citizens of Corning generally
have with the Department.
New Business – Deputy Mayor’s Position
The Council unanimously approved Mayor Boland’s appointment of Councilmember
Alison Hunt as Deputy Mayor for a term ending on December 31, 2024.
New Business – Settlement
The Council unanimously authorized the City Manager to enter into a settlement
agreement with Thomas and Linda Wilcox and the Corning City School District
regarding the 1996-1997 school taxes assessed for property at 268 West Pulteney
Street in Corning.
New Business – General Appointments and Designations
The Council unanimously:
Approved Mayor Boland’s reappointment of Alisa Brown to the Planning
Commission for a term ending December 31, 2025. Approved Mayor Boland’s reappointment of Jacqueline Towers as an alternate
to the Planning Commission for a term ending December 31, 2028.
Approved Mayor Boland’s reappointment of Melissa McDonald to the Board of
Assessment Review for a term ending December 31, 2028.
Approved Mayor Boland’s reappointment of David Dowler to the Design
Review Committee for a term ending December 21, 2025.
Designated JP Morgan Chase, Chemung Canal Trust Co., M & T Bank, Five
Star Bank, Elmira Savings Bank, Bancorp Bank, New York Cooperative Liquid
Assets Securities System (NYCLASS) as institutions to hold funds for the City
of Corning during 2024 and further authorized the Financial Director of the
City to execute appropriate signature cards.
Designated the Corning Leader as the official newspaper for the City of
Corning for 2024.
As a part of discussion of the last item, Mayor Hunt feels that it is
unfortunate that the Leader provides such minimal coverage for the City.
Mayor Boland said that he felt a free and effective media serves as a check
on the statements and actions of all public officials. Such a check should be
available here. He regrets that it isn’t.
Councilmember Comments – Gaffer District Tree Lights
Deputy Mayor Hunt serves as the Council’s representative on the Board of Directors
of the Corning Intown District Management Association, better known as the Gaffer
District. She reported that the state of the tree lights along Market Street has been
a sore topic of conversation among citizens and business owners alike. A
committee has been formed to study how best to move forward.
Visitor’s Comments
Hilda Lando, Steuben County Legislator representing the City of Corning reported
that: Three new legislators took the oath of office today. Also today, the legislature
picked a new Chair, Kelly H. Fitzpatrick, representing the Town of Bath, and a new
Vice-Chair, James Kuhl, representing the Town of Erwin. She is excited about the
change and looking forward to working with the newly elected members and the
new slate of officers.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:54 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 and where
it is extensive, is labeled “Background.”.
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