June 5, 2023
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 Betty J. Coccho.
Counting City of Corning employees, about 15 - 20 members of the public were in
the audience.
Visitor’s Comment on Agenda Items:
A resident asked why the resolution to increase the budget is needed.
Recognition of 20 years of Friendship with Corning’s sister city, San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy
Recently Corning welcomed a delegation from Sister City San Giovanni Valdarno for
a visit celebrating the twenty-year relationship between the cities and signed a
commitment to continue the relationship. San Giovanni reached out to the City of
Corning after the terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001; Corning City Council
agreed in 2003. The Corning Sister Cities Committee showed our guests a warm
and happy time showcasing our beautiful city and region. We parted ways with
commitments to travel to them within the year. All-in-all, a wonderful experience
for everyone as we expressed our intent to deepen and expand our friendship
between our two cities and our people.
Committee Reports
The Code Committee met on May 15 to further consider Local Law 6.
As city staff recommended, no formal action was taken by the committee. City
Manager Ryckman provided advice from the Corning City Attorney to pause action,
and to table further examination of Local Law 6 until final regulations from the
State of New York Cannabis Control Board are received. Mayor Boland cancelled a
follow-up committee meeting and will schedule further meetings when the final
regulations are available. At such time, consideration of Local Law 6 will be
resumed.
New Business
Because the city does not need to raise the tax limit, the first agenda action, to
surpass the tax levy limits, is not needed, and was removed from the agenda
without objection.
The Council unanimously
Authorized Adoption of City of Corning’s FY24 Budget Credit was given to Katie Heverly, Finance Director, and staff for their hard work and great job. The budget is under the 2.5% tax cap for the second year in a row, even though inflation is hovering at about 6%. A $5,000 increase has been included for upkeep and programs for parks, with the intention to increase that amount each year. Also addressed – huge commitment to roads, funding for body cams which will be good for citizens and for police and a good response to our police reform initiative and transparency. The city made a commitment to our police during negotiations to address salaries, with aim of attracting more officers. City Manager Ryckman said, “We are not wealthy, but we are doing well in relation to some other upstate cities, our financial planning has paid off, we just need to continue to be conservative in how we spend. Just because it is in the budget, it doesn’t mean that we need to spend it.”
Authorized Adoption of City of Corning’s FY24 Capital Plan
Authorized City Manager to Enter into an Easement Agreement with Daniel A. Zagaschtoko for Improvement Encroachments
Authorized approval of permit for alcohol consumption for Corning Natural Gas Corp. Employee Picnic
Authorized approval of permit for alcohol consumption for Pam Weachock Wedding rehearsal dinner
Visitor’s Comments
Martin Horn, City resident, suggested that it is time to officially recognize
Martin Luther King Day by closing City Hall, as they do in most Federal and
State offices. As a constituent he feels it is the right thing to do in this day
and age. It is time to reflect on this as a City Council, and possibly close City
Hall.
Hilda Lando, Steuben County Legislator representing the City of Corning:
Congratulated City of Corning and Mark Ryckman and his team on the budget and the fiscal soundness of the city. She also congratulated Mark on his 25 years with the city.
The Sisters City’s Signing Ceremony was very well done. Great job.
Residents have been calling to ask about the County declaring a state of emergency order regarding asylum-seekers that might be transported from other areas of the state. The answer is there is no emergency. Plans are being made, County Manage Jack Wheeler is in communication with our Governor, and information is being gathered. Action will be taken if something is needed. Some counties that have adopted emergency orders blocking hotels from receiving asylum-seekers are being sued.
County auction is scheduled for July 5 th -12 th , all online. The County is watching a recent Supreme Court decision that if payment received for property sold is more than taxes owed, the excess must be returned to the property owner. The County Legislature has decided to put the Court House up for auction. Although Hilda requested a minimum bid, no minimum is being set on the building.
Sticker stores which dispense cannabis, but are not licensed, are spreading throughout the County, including Corning. (it is legal to gift cannabis up to 3 oz, but not as the result of a sale. Patrons select a product, then pay an equivalent amount for stickers and are given the cannabis as a complimentary gift.) Local officials are not able to close sticker stores down. Licensed dispensaries are/will not be getting the business they expected because the sticker stores are cheaper. Hilda has been urging state legislators to take action. The NYS Office of Cannabis Management has decided to add 71 examiners to investigate sticker stores.
County occupancy tax has been revised to include a 4% room tax on short-term rentals. A third-party company has been hired to do the research and manage collection of the taxes.
The draft County comprehensive plan has been modified based on community input; the Committee is holding two final community meetings to get more input from people.
Currently almost 400 electronic vehicles are registered in Steuben County. Police, fire companies, towing companies, and others need to know how to take care of electronic vehicles if there is an emergency. B&W Towing is offering an August class which will cover criteria if something happens.
In the former Lando’s building, they are working on putting together a plan for social services in a community center on the first floor.
The meeting was adjourned approximately 7 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 clarity.
Comentarios