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Troy's Community Newsletter
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City Council Committees
We intend to provide "Council Updates" as a regular
feature in upcoming newsletters. It is through the committees that the issues are
worked out and eventually are forged into agenda items for voting by the council.
Increasing our knowledge and awareness of the workings of our city government will
assist us in pursuing the proper paths when issues arise that are important to us.
We hope you find this helpful & interesting.
- Since January, 1997, the Finance Committee has been meeting regularly one week
before each regular meeting of the City Council. The purpose of the meetings is to
review the agenda for the upcoming meeting. In addition, to other business. Please
note that the next meeting of the Finance Committee will be held on Wednesday, March
26, 1997 instead of Thursday, March 27th (Holy Thursday). Unless a holiday, the Finance
Committee will convene each Thursday before the regulars meeting. The meetings
are at 6PM in the Third Floor Conference Room at City Hall.
- The Finance Committee is studying the tax base/tax exempt issue and plans to
hold legislative meetings in the coming months. It is anticipated that the hearings
will be scheduled by the Finance Committee when it convenes on March 26,1997. The
purpose of the hearings is to gather information about the problem of Troy's shrinking
tax base and prioritize initiatives which the Administration could implement to
address the problem. Council members have recommended a diverse community membership
to testify at the hearings.
- A Finance subcommittee was formed at the February, 1997 regular meeting to explore
the issue of the fairness of the current County Sales Tax agreement with Troy. The
Committee consists of Councilmen Daniel Doran (chair), William Pascarell and Michael
Harrington, and Councilwoman Carmella Mantello. The Committee held a meeting on
Monday, February 24, 1997 which was attended by the committee, other members of the
council and administration and county officials. The committee plans to continue
its assessment of the current Agreement and options available to the City.
- The Public Safety Committee met on February 26, 1997 and continued its discussion
and review of the proposed padlock legislation. The premise of the legislation is
that the City would be authorized to "lock up" a unit or building which
has been the location of a certain number of arrests leading to convictions of a certain
type of criminal activity within a certain period of time. The result of the meeting
was that further study is needed in order to establish the City's need to justify enacting
such a piece of legislation which allows for an unusual exercise of police power over
private property. Data is being collected by the Administration through the Police
Department and will be presented to the Public Safety Committee prior to the next
meeting on the padlock law. In addition, the Administration is assisting the council
with collecting information about other communities in New York State which have
enacted a similar piece of legislation. This, too, will be reviewed at the next regular
meeting on the padlock law. Said meeting has not yet been scheduled.
- Council members Frank LaPosta and Elizabeth Walsh held a meeting with downtown
business owners on March 10,1997 at Riverspark Visitor's Center. Councilman William
Pascarell. Mayor Pattison,
- Deputy Mayor Conroy, and Deputy Commissioner Mirch were among the city officials
and staff in attendance. This was the second meeting held with the downtown business
owners since January, 1996. Two specific concerns raised by those in attendance
will be examined by the council immediately. First, the enforcement of the two hour
parking law in the Central Business District. Retailers raised concerns that many
people who work in the city all day park in the two hour spots preventing customers
from having access to parking near stores where they plan to shop. A suggestion that
the available parking spaces for lease by the city be marketed was also discussed.
The second concern was the issue of sidewalk vendors who set up food stands in close
proximity to the year round restaurants. As a result of the vendor's locations, many
Troy businesses believe that they are losing money in customers who patronize the
vendors instead of their stores. The council will be reviewing the current legislation
and exploring ways to enable vendors to conduct business in the downtown area with
minimal adverse affect on the year round businesses.
- The City Council began holding Town Meetings in January, 1997. The next meeting
will be held on Thursday, April 17, 1997 at 7 PM at the Stepping Stone Center, located
at 754 Fourth Avenue in North Troy. The purpose of the meeting is to enable the public
to have a discussion with the members of the council and to raise concerns about their
particular neighborhood or the City in general. The council does not have the opportunity
to discuss concerns or ideas with members of the public at its meetings due to council
rules which prohibit discussion so that the business of the council can be completed
in a reasonable period of time. The council is endeavoring to hold meetings throughout
the City so as to afford all citizens the opportunity to attend and personally discuss
concerns, ideas and other issues face-to-face with all or most of the Council.
Council Committees
The following is a list of standing City Council Committees. Note that Councilman
Debonis has accepted a position outside of Troy and will not be finishing his term.
An update of these committees will be featured in a future issue.
Finance: Council President, all other Council members and Comptroller,
Auditor, Treasurer, and Assessor
Human Resources : Corporation Council (and staff) and three Council
Members - Stone (chair), Harrington and Mantello
Law : Corporation Council (and staff) and three Council Members - Debonis
(chair), Hart and Mantello
Parks and Recreation : Chair of the Recreation Commission and three Council
Members - Harrington (chair), Hart and Mantello
Planning : Deputy Mayor, his assistants, Planning Commission Chair
and three Council Members-Debonis (chair), Stone and Mantello
Public Safety : Public Safety Commissioner, Police Chief, Fire Chief,
and five Council Members - Pascerell (chair), Doran, LaPosta, Debonis, Stone and
Mantello
Public Utilities : Deputy Mayor, Chief Water Plant Operator, Water Superintendent,
Superintendent of Sewers, and three Council Members - LaPosta (chair), Hart and
Mantello
Public Works : Deputy Mayor, City Engineer, Superintendent of Streets,
Superintendent of Buildings, and four Council Members - Hart (chair), Harrington,
Doran and Mantello
In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation
Items published herein do not necessarily represent the opinions of Troy United Ink Corp., its officers or it's Board of Directors.
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