COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, December 21, 2009
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Regular session of the Lackawanna City Council met in the Council Chambers, Council President Chuck Jaworski presiding. The meeting was preceded by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council President Jaworski.
Meeting called to order/Pledge of Allegiance
NB: Meeting being recorded
ROLL CALL: Present: Haxton, Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski
DEPT. HEADS: Present: Law, Public Works, Public Safety, Development, Comptroller
Absent: Recreation, excused
Approval of Minutes of regular meeting of December 7, 2009.
Moved by Schiavi, seconded by Jaworski to approve the minutes as presented
Yeas: Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski
Nays: Haxton CARRIED 4 – 1
Departmental Reports:
• City Compt. – A/P Check Listing #18, November 24, 2009.
• City Compt. – A/P Check Listing #19, November 30, 2009.
• City Compt. – A/P Check Listing #20, December 08, 2009.
• City Compt. – Statement of Cond. Of Appropriations as of 11/30/09.
Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Schiavi to receive & file.
Yeas: Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski
Nays: Haxton CARRIED 4-1
Communications from the Council:
Vehicle Actuated Signal Lights:
• To City Council
I am asking for your support for the resolution to the State Department of Transportation for vehicle actuated signal lights for:
Route 5 & Madison Ave; Route 5 & Dona St; Route 5 & Odell St .
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
CHUCK JAWORSKI, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Haxton to receive and file, act on the resolution.
Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski CARRIED
Blueprint for Change Grant:
• To City Council
I am asking your support to approve the resolution for the Empire State Development Corp. Upstate Blueprint for Change Grant.
Thank you for your support.
CHUCK JAWORSKI, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Schiavi to receive and file, act on the resolution.
Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski CARRIED 5-0
Lemon St. Parking Signs:
• To Tom Love
I have received several calls from residents on Lemon Street regarding alternate parking. I am requesting alternate parking signs be put on Lemon Street for the residents. This should help with the parking problems on this street.
Thank you for your help in this matter.
GEOFFREY M. SZYMANSKI, SECOND WARD COUNCIL MEMBER
Moved by Szymanski, seconded by Haxton to approve the request, City Attorney to prepare the ordinance.
Yeas: Haxton Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski CARRIED 5-0
Permission to Address the Council:
• Honorable Council President and Councilmember's
As you all know December 21 st is my last Council Meeting as First Ward Councilwoman, City of Lackawanna . I humbly request your permission to speak before your body. I wish to express my views on the past and share my vision on Lackawanna 's future.
I thank you for this opportunity in advance.
ANDREA HAXTON, FIRST WARD COUNCILWOMAN
Moved by Haxton, seconded by Szymanski to approve the request.
Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski
Nays: Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski FAILED 3-2
Communications from Dept./Div. Heads:
Lease Agreement St. Stephen Serbian Church :
• City Attorney requests the St. Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church Lease
Agreement be put on the agenda for council approval. Thank you.
ARC. J. PETRICCA, CITY ATTORNEY
Moved by Szymanski, seconded by Jaworski the agreement be tabled for study,
Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski TABLED 5-0
Ordinance Richardson Property Purchase:
• City Attorney requests the ordinance for the purchase of property by
Shannon Richardson be put on the agenda for council approval. Thank you.
ARC. J. PETRICCA, CITY ATTORNEY
Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Haxton to receive and file and act on the ordinance.
Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski CARRIED 5-0
Bid to Purchase Wilkesbarre Property:
To: City Council
My office has received an offer from Ali T. Elbanehn to purchase 54 Wilkesbarre for purpose of extending his yard. The current lot size is 35 x 100 with a current assessed value of $3,700.
It is my recommendation that the City Council NOT sell the parcel to Ali T. Elbanehn for $500. The recommended sale price should be $1,200.
If approved by Council buyer shall be liable for all fees and cost of survey,
FRANK E. KRAKOWSKI, CITY ASSESSOR
Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Szymanski to approve the sale to Ali T. Elbanehn for $500. City Attorney to prepare ordinance.
Yeas: Haxton Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski CARRIED 5-0
Resolutions:
Resolution No. 35, 2009 – Route 5 Signal Lights:
Whereas , Route 5 in the City of Lackawanna is designated a state road by the New York State Department of Transportation; and
Whereas, the approach onto Route 5 from Madison Avenue, Dona Street and Odell Street in the City of Lackawanna , has become a cumbersome and hazardous encounter for our citizens wishing to access the highway;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
Resolved, that the City Council of the City of Lackawanna , does hereby express their desire and recommends that the New York State Department of Transportation install vehicle actuated signal lights at the following locations:
• Route 5 & Madison Ave. ; (2) Route 5 & Dona St. ; (3) Route 5 & Odell St .
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Clerk forward a copy of this resolution to Alan Taylor of the New York State Department of Transportation.
THIS RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY
Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Szymanski to adopt the resolution as written.
Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski CARRIED 5-0
Resolution No. 36, 2009 – Blueprint for Change Grant:
WHEREAS, The Our Lady of Victory Hospital was closed December 1999; and
WHEREAS, a plan for the reuse of the OLV Hospital buildings was contemplated in 2002 to include 74 units of low and moderate income housing, am 84 all private room skilled nursing home, a new Program All-inclusive Care for the elderly (PACE) to serve up to 330 participants, expanded green space to include safe walking paths and gardens for the employees, the community and seniors, interior space including a museum to the hospital, chapel gift shop; and
WHEREAS, this plan will ultimately create 235 permanent jobs and over 400 construction related jobs due to the $28.1 M renovation budget and contribute significantly to the Lackawanna economic community; and
WHEREAS, the Our Lady of Victory Renaissance Corp. was formed in 2003 as a 501c3 corporation as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Catholic Health system to become the company to collaboratively work within the Lackawanna community to reach the healthcare needs of the area simultaneously contributing to the economic development of the City; and
WHEREAS, the OLV Renaissance plan addresses the City of Lackawanna's Comprehensive Plan 2020 to develop a regional identity within Erie County that promotes the City as a unique and growing community (Population Policy 1.2), to develop senior housing (Population Action 2.2.2, Housing Policy 2.1) to develop retail activities in the central business district that will appeal to visitors of the Botanical Gardens and Basilica and increase their stay (Economy and Growth Action 3.1.2.Policy 7.1); and
WHEREAS , the OLV Renaissance plan intends to seek grant funding for 20% of total costs from Empire State Development Corporation to renovate two additional floors of the Bethlehem Taylor and Sullivan Buildings and add 60 administrative staff to the campus; and
WHEREAS, the OLV Renaissance Corporation seeks to leverage private funds equal to 80% of the total project; and
WHEREAS , the OLV Renaissance Corporation is supported by multiple private and public entities writing letters of support for this specific part of the OLV project in the context of the overall redevelopment of the former Hospital; and WHEREAS , the OLV Renaissance Corporation and the OLV Senior Neighborhood redevelopment has significant regional impact with the reuse of historic buildings and former hospital and will likely increase the City of Lackawanna's economic and social viability.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Lackawanna will endeavor to be a strong supporter of the OLV Renaissance Corp. application for Upstate Regional Blueprint Funds from the Empire State Development Corp. and fully endorses the creation of 60 new jobs to the City of Lackawanna 's central business district to be located at the OLV campus.
THIS RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Haxton to adopt the resolution as written.
Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski CARRIED 5-0
Resolution – Truck Routes:
Moved by Haxton, seconded by Szymanski that the resolution Truck Routes to adopt an ordinance regulating truck routes, limiting overweight trucks on the roads of the City, limiting turns of oversized trucks and establishing truck routes within the City be TABLED .
Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski TABLED 5-0
Resolution – State Environmental Quality Review Act:
Moved by Haxton , seconded by Szymanski that the resolution-Truck Routes- in accordance with the state Environmental Quality Review Act, a negative declaration be TABLED for study.
Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski TABLED 5-0
ORDINANCES:
Sale of Property to Richardson :
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE/TRANSFER OF PROPERTY
PURSUANT TO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 107.
BE IT ENACTED by the City Council of the City of Lackawanna, New York as follows:
SECTION 1. That the City Council hereby approves of the transfer of property known as SBL141.43-6-34.1 a parcel approximately 60 feet by 101 feet to Mr. Shannon Richardson.
SECTION 2. That transfer is made for the sum of $500 in cash to the City of Lackawanna .
SECTION 3 That the purchaser/transferee shall be responsible for expenses related to the transfer other that those specifically belonging to the City of Lackawanna .
SECTION 4. That the Law Department shall prepare documents to be executed for the transfer of the property.
THIS ORDANCE SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Haxton to adopt the ordance .
Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski, Kulczyk , Schiavi , Jaworski CARRIED 5-0
Ordinance – Regulating Truck Routes:
Ordinance to protect the public safety by regulating truck routes, limiting overweight trucks on City roads, limiting turns by oversized trucks and establishing penalties.
Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Kulczyk to AMEND the Ordinance to remove “penalties in regards”
Yeas: Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski
Nays: Haxton, Szymanski CARRIED 3-2
Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Haxton to TABLE the Ordinance for study.
Yeas: Haxton, Szymanski, Kulczyk, Schiavi, Jaworski TABLED 5-0
Moved by Jaworski, seconded by Schiavi, meeting is adjourned.
CHUCK JAWORSKI, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JACQUELINE CAFERRO, CITY CLERK