►
From YouTube: City Council Special Business Meeting 2023.09.14
Description
No description was provided for this meeting.
If this is YOUR meeting, an easy way to fix this is to add a description to your video, wherever mtngs.io found it (probably YouTube).
A
A
Good
afternoon,
everyone
thank
you
for
joining
the
Binghamton
City
Council
and
the
mayor
of
the
city
of
Binghamton
for
a
special
business
meeting,
14
September
2023
1
30
PM.
Please
stand
for
the
Pledge
of
Allegiance
I
pledge
allegiance
to
the
flag
of
the
United
States
of
America
and
to
the
Republic
for
which
it
stands.
One
nation
under
God
indivisible
with
liberty
and
justice
for
all.
B
A
A
C
Thank
you,
president
scringe
appreciate
that
welcome
everyone
good
afternoon
welcome
to
Binghamton
City
Hall
to
my
colleagues
on
city,
council,
City,
Hall
department,
heads
and
staff
and
members
of
the
public
joining
us
here
and
from
home
good
afternoon,
and
welcome
just
a
few
moments.
Mayor
cram
will
deliver
his
2024
budget
message.
C
It
will
outline
City
priorities
for
the
year
ahead
and
offer
a
road
map
for
navigating
our
community's
most
pressing
challenges.
My
nearly
four
years
at
city
council
Binghamton
has
made
real
strides
forward.
We've
invested
in
public
safety,
Crackdown
in
code
violations
and
blight
and
repair
crumbling
infrastructure.
C
We
passed
budgets
that
put
aside
politics
and
deliver
Real
Results
for
residents,
focusing
on
safer
neighborhoods,
a
better
quality
of
life
and
more
opportunities
for
residents
of
every
age
and
background.
This
is
Mary
Graham's.
Second,
ever
budget
presentation
to
city
council,
but
his
10th
year
working
on
a
city
budget
counting
the
time
as
deputy
mayor
in
City
Hall.
This
track
record
speaks
for
itself,
fiscally
responsible
budgets
that
deliver
Real
Results
for
our
city
residents.
C
I
want
to
thank
mayor
cram
and
his
team
at
City
Hall.
All
the
department
heads
was
especially
Chuck
sugar
and
Lori
Cliff
for
their
work
on
behalf
of
the
residents
and
all
the
work
it
takes
to
prepare
a
budget
of
this
magnitude.
We
really
appreciate
it.
I
believe
I
speak
for
my
colleagues
on
city,
council
and
I,
say
we
take
seriously
our
responsibility
to
ensure
that
this
year's
budget
delivers
for
residents
and
reflects
the
values
of
the
community.
We
look
forward
to
the
budget
meetings
that
lie
ahead.
D
Thanks
everyone,
thank
you.
Councilman
strong
president
scaringy
members
of
city
council
residents
invited
guests
good
afternoon.
I've
said
before
that
21st
century
belongs
to
cities
and
across
America
some
cities
will
rise
to
meet
that
opportunity
more
than
others.
What
will
it
take
for
cities
like
Binghamton
to
win
the
21st
century?
D
It
will
build
public
safety
programs
that
work
to
deliver
peace
of
mind
for
families,
protect
against
the
evils
of
gun,
violence
and
Fentanyl,
and
support
the
men
and
women
tasks
with
implementing
them.
The
cities
that
flourish
will
build
all
kinds
of
housing
to
support
families
living
paycheck
to
paycheck
and
allow
seniors
to
retire
with
dignity,
projects
that
transform
vacant
lots
and
old
factories,
spur
Economic,
Development
job
creation,
a
revitalized
neighborhoods.
D
The
2024
budget
does
not
solve
every
challenge
facing
cities
today.
Of
course,
it
doesn't
come
close,
but
budgets
are
a
representation
of
our
values
and
needs
that
residents
want
us
to
respond
to.
The
2024
budget
addresses
some
significant
fiscal
challenges,
namely
Personnel
costs
increase
in
public
safety
and
Public
Works,
a
hike
in
the
states,
police
and
fire
retirement
rates
and
higher
interest
rates
that
affect
cities,
just
like
it
about
households.
D
As
mayor,
my
role
is
as
a
problem
solver
to
balance
controlling
taxes
and
the
city's
long-term
fiscal
position,
while
delivering
services
and
Investments
That
residents
demand
and
deserve
this
budget,
and
the
actions
of
this
Administration
will
work
to
set
Binghamton
apart,
Broome
County
and
across
upstate
New
York.
As
we
build
build
infrastructure,
housing,
human
Talent,
safe
neighborhoods
and
Effective
Government
Services
residents
should
feel
confident
building
their
own
future
there's
one
area
of
local
government.
That
is
a
foundation
upon
which
everything
else
is
built.
D
Public
Safety,
like
law
enforcement
agencies
across
the
country,
Binghamton,
faces
challenges,
recruiting
and
retaining
police
officers.
The
number
of
vacancies
in
the
police
department
has
grown
with
recent
retirements
and
career
changes,
meaning
that
27
officers.
We
are
down
roughly
20
percent
of
our
Manpower
think
about
in
any
workplace.
If
one
out
of
five
of
your
fellow
employees
were
not
there
working
since
the
start
of
2022,
Manpower
shortages
have
meant
175
thousand
dollars
in
overtime
just
to
help
keep
the
shifts
at
minimum
Staffing.
D
When
police
are
responding
to
more
than
60
000
calls
per
year.
Low
Staffing
means
a
serious
hit
to
morale.
Officers
are
working
longer
hours,
it's
harder
to
take
time
off.
Add
to
that
the
daily
stresses
of
being
a
cop
being
understaffed
also
limits
a
police
department's
resources
to
do
the
work
that
we
know
keeps
communities
safe
like
building
relationships
through
proactive
community
policing
and
taking
narcotics
and
guns
off
the
streets
through
Enterprise
level.
Investigations
as
mayor
I
had
a
duty
to
the
men
and
women
of
the
department
and
to
Residents
concerned
about
Public
Safety.
D
To
address
this
Manpower
issue,
the
2024
budget
reflects
an
updated
Police
contract
that
makes
the
Binghamton
Police
Department
the
most
competitive
law
enforcement
agency
in
the
area.
Our
officers
pay
will
now
reflect
the
capabilities
and
track
record
of
our
department
to
enhance,
recruiting
and
retention
efforts.
D
The
2024
budget
also
invests
in
the
kind
of
police
technology
and
programs
that
have
also
set
the
department.
Apart
in
recent
years,
we
have
secured
millions
of
dollars
in
public
safety
grants
from
federal
and
state
agencies
and
our
fight
against
illegal
guns
and
violence
that
includes
new
equipment
based
here
at
City,
Hall
part
of
the
atf's
gun
tracing
Information
Network
called
nybin.
The
technology
matches
ballistics
from
shootings
and
recovered
Firearms
to
a
Nationwide
database,
helping
link
suspects
in
a
matter
of
hours.
D
Regular
foot
patrols
have
returned
to
neighborhoods
and
business
districts
for
the
first
time
in
years,
I
hear
almost
daily
from
residents
and
small
businesses
who
are
thrilled
to
see
officers
out
of
their
cars,
walking
a
beat
and
engaging
with
community
members.
The
2024
budget
includes
funding
to
ensure
foot
and
bike
patrols
continue
in
the
fire
department,
we're
continuing
to
invest
in
making
sure
our
First
Responders
have
what
they
need
to
safely
do
their
jobs.
The
fire
department
responds
to
more
than
ten
thousand
calls
for
service
every
year.
D
In
this
Summer's
class
of
eight
Fire
Academy
graduates
will
help
keep
the
department
fully
staffed,
maintaining
the
level
of
emergency
response
that
residents
have
come
to
expect
and
over
the
last
two
years,
we've
made
unprecedented
investments
in
our
fire
stations,
in
addition
to
the
8.5
million
dollar
fire
headquarters
that
opened
downtown
in
March.
The
city's
neighborhood
fire
stations
have
received
one
million
dollars
in
upgrades
and
repairs,
helping
modernize
the
stations
that
are
on
average
100
years
old.
D
In
2024,
we
will
initiate
a
multi-year
process
to
replace
two
fire
trucks
at
the
end
of
their
useful
life.
The
city
will
spend
eight
hundred
and
fifty
thousand
dollars
to
replace
a
20
year
old
rig
that
serves
the
South
side
at
engine.
One
on
Conklin
Ave
will
also
set
money
aside
for
a
new
100
foot,
Tower
truck
with
high
reach
capabilities,
a
2.3
million
dollar
investment
and
really
the
most
important
apparatus
for
Metro
Police
age.
Excuse
me,
fire
agency,
like
Binghamton,
with
a
lead
time
of
four
years
for
this
new
fire
truck.
D
These
Investments,
along
with
the
new
fire
rescue
truck
purchased
last
year,
put
Binghamton
fire
in
the
best
position
in
memory
when
it
comes
to
life-saving
equipment.
My
thanks
to
cheap
Gardner,
his
Command
Staff,
as
well
as
the
fire
Union
for
their
Collective
efforts
to
help
chart
a
10-year
plan
for
maintaining
and
replacing
this
equipment
in
2024.
The
city
of
Binghamton.
Will
continue
to
lead
in
building
the
infrastructure
of
our
future?
Next
year's
budget
invests
more
than
nine
million
dollars
in
repairs
and
upgrades
to
our
most
critical
infrastructure,
including
streets,
sidewalks
and
water,
and
sewer
lines.
D
It's
an
investment
residents
across
the
city
can
be
hap
can
see
happening
right
from
their
front
doors.
Today,
right
now
on
Thompson
Street
on
the
South
Side
residents
are
seeing
Crews
hard
at
work,
getting
the
road,
milled
and
ready
for
fresh
pavement,
something
that
hasn't
happened
there
in
nearly
20
years,
we'll
pave
dozens
of
streets
in
neighborhoods
and
thoroughfares
in
Binghamton
in
2024,
including
Matthew,
Street,
Mulberry,
Street,
Mary,
Ely
and
Lydia
streets.
Our
investments
also
mean
in
replacing
aging
underground
utilities.
D
It's
work
that
helps
keep
our
drinking
water
safe
and
makes
our
neighborhoods
more
resilient
to
flooding.
Since
2014
worked
to
build
new
storm
water
lines
across
the
city
have
better
equipped
our
neighborhoods
to
handle
rainfall.
Now,
in
major
rain
events,
an
average
of
67
million
gallons
fewer
enter
the
city's
sanitary
sewer
lines
and
enter
the
city's
storm
water
system
and
set
dedicated
storm
water
systems
that
help
protect
neighborhoods
against
overflows
and
flooding
and
downtown
storm.
Water
management
is
a
key
piece
of
a
multi-year
plan
to
reconstruct
Henry
Street.
D
The
project
will
make
needed
improvements
to
the
flood
prone
area
near
Morabito,
Stadium,
upgrading
infrastructure
and
streetscapes
and
helping
turn
Henry
Street
into
a
vibrant
and
walkable
commercial
corridor.
Earlier
this
year,
the
project
received
a
5
million
dollar
earmark
in
the
House
Appropriations
Bill.
While
final
approval
is
needed
through
a
final
budget
resolution,
it's
a
remarkably
positive
step
in
getting
Federal
support
for
the
project
and
could
be
binghamton's
largest
largest
Grant
award
for
a
local
infrastructure
project
in
some
time.
D
D
Earlier
this
week,
I
visited
MacArthur
Park
on
the
south
side,
where
a
2.1
million
dollar
project
to
upgrade
conlon
field
is
underway.
The
city
is
replacing
the
playing
surface
with
artificial
turf
and
installing
a
new
drainage
system.
Finally,
addressing
the
flooding
issues
that
have
played
the
field
for
decades,
new
batting
cages,
bullpens
and
faxing
will
help
make
Collin
field
our
Region's
Premier
destination
for
amateur
baseball.
D
It's
the
single
most
significant
Improvement
to
a
city
park
in
decades,
the
kind
of
amenity
that
Binghamton
families
and
kids
deserve
in
the
First
Ward
a
new
management
structure
and
recent
Investments
at
Ely
Park
Golf
Course,
have
resulted
in
the
best
conditions
in
memory
and
the
residents
have
noticed.
The
city-owned
course
is
hosting
a
record
number
of
rounds
this
season,
including
more
than
5
300
rounds
last
month
alone
and
to
date
the
golf
course
has
hosted
about
23
500
rounds.
D
D
The
city
has
added
16
pickleball
courts
to
parks
around
Binghamton,
and
next
year
we
will
upgrade
10
new
Courts
at
Valley
Street
Park
Webster,
Street
Park
and
Ross
Park,
supporting
a
growing
Pastime
among
our
seniors,
especially
and
meeting
the
demand
for
all
of
the
phone
calls
and
emails.
We
get
about
the
demand
for
pickleball
courts
in
Binghamton.
D
The
city's
youth
sports
are
growing
too.
Nearly
every
program
saw
an
increase
in
participants
this
year,
including
Little
League
football
soccer
cheerleading,
a
new
basketball
program
for
students
in
grades
three
through
six,
have
had
nearly
160
students
play
in
its
first
year.
Overall
participation
in
Youth
Sports
is
up
27
percent
this
year.
That's
more
kids
having
meaningful
recreational
experiences.
Chances
to
make
friends,
engage
with
positive
role
models
and
build
a
healthy
lifestyle.
D
Pat
McGinnis
and
Shane
heard
from
the
parks,
department
and
School
District
Athletics
director
Jeremiah
Johnson
worked
to
Simply,
break
down
silos,
open
up
facilities
and
just
get
more
kids
involved,
and
last
year
I
announced
a
one
million
dollar
youth
fund
to
invest
in
programs
and
services
for
Binghamton
children
and
teens
talk
to
any
teacher
parent,
social
worker
or
principal.
Our
young
people
are
still
dealing
with
the
aftermath
of
the
pandemic
from
struggles
with
mental
health,
the
poor
academic
outcomes
and
behaviors.
D
D
Study
after
study
shows
that
childhood
outcomes
are
shaped
in
a
major
way
by
where
children
grow
up
children
and
residents
of
every
age
deserve
to
live
in
vibrant
neighborhoods
with
safe
quality
housing.
Cities
alone
cannot
accomplish
this
this,
but
Binghamton
is
showing
how
communities
can
take
steps
to
build
the
neighborhoods
and
housing
that
residents
deserve.
D
Last
week,
Binghamton
became
one
of
the
first
cities
in
New
York
state
to
adopt
Governor
hokel's
pro-housing
communities
pledge
it
affirms
our
commitment
to
build
housing
of
all
kinds
to
support
families,
Revitalize
neighborhoods
and
improve
quality
of
life.
The
Pledge
sets
Binghamton
up
to
receive
priority
funding
in
key
applications
to
the
state,
but
it's
not
just
pledges
but
hundreds
of
units
of
new,
affordable
housing.
In
the
pipeline
last
week,
I
visited
the
site
of
the
former
Clinton
Street
DMV
187
Clinton
Street,
which
is
now
a
vacant
overgrown
lot.
D
The
city
is
committing
2.2
million
dollars
of
American
Rescue
plan
act
or
arpa
funds
for
the
project
on
top
of
nearly
three
million
dollars
in
support
through
Restore
New
York,
a
state
program
that
is
investing
in
a
First
Ward
neighborhood
with
Incredible
untapped
potential,
we'll
continue
to
advance
Stadium
loss,
a
24
million
dollar
70
unit,
mixed-use
Workforce
housing
project
at
180,
Henry
Street,
near
mirabito,
Stadium,
with
additional
local
support
coming
soon
and
on
the
South
Side.
D
The
former
Crowley
daily
plan
on
Conklin
Ave
is
being
turned
into
45
units
of
market
rate
housing
geared
toward
young
professionals
and
families.
It's
a
13
million
dollar
investment
to
preserve
a
true
water
front,
landmark
in
Binghamton
and
breathe
new
life
into
that
South
Side
neighborhood
in
2024,
we'll
continue
to
our
partnership
with
the
Broome
County
Land
Bank
turning
vacant
properties
into
new
home
ownership
opportunities
for
residents.
D
The
city
will
fund
50
percent
of
the
cost
of
a
case,
Aid
position,
work
side
by
side
with
code,
police
and
other
City
departments
to
address
housing
emergencies
in
Binghamton
and
more
efficiently
share
information
across
levels
of
government
following
changes
this
year
to
an
updated
code
enforcement
salaries
and
in
the
code
office
to
recruit
and
retain
quality
employees,
we're
updating
the
staff's
structure
in
the
office
of
Building
Construction
and
code
enforcement.
D
Two
new
positions,
a
Building,
Inspector
and
code
supervisor-
will
allow
resources
to
go
where
they
are
needed,
most
responding
to
resident
complaints,
investigating
cases
and
preparing
for
prosecution.
This
update,
followed
discussions
with
many
members
of
city
council
is
a
great
example
of
effective
bipartisan
problem.
Solving
again
funded
in
the
2024
budget
is
our
housing
prosecutor
position.
This
position
was
brought
to
fight
the
bad
actors
and
pursue
charges
against
slumlords
who
break
the
law
and
put
people
in
danger.
The
position
has
also
bolstered
efforts
to
lock
down
problem
properties
across
the
city.
D
D
In
that
case,
the
city
compelled
more
than
fifteen
thousand
dollars
in
repairs
to
West
Side
property
and
secured
a
hefty
fine
against
the
long
island-based
property
owner
and
to
support
efforts
to
crack
down
on
landlords
attempting
illegal
evictions.
Next
year's
budget
we're
imposing
a
500
water
meter
tampering
fee
in
the
budget.
It
will
include
actions
like
bypassing
the
meter
or
theft
of
services,
but
also
cover
instances
when
a
landlord
illegally
removes
water
meters
to
force
tenants
out.
D
We
will
advance
160
000
in
youth
programs,
a
hundred
thousand
dollars
in
Parker
upgrades
and
a
quarter
of
a
million
dollars.
Paving
roads
in
those
neighborhoods
three
hundred
thousand
will
support
lighted
property
demolitions,
which
will
actually
begin
just
a
few
weeks.
This
fall,
while
nearly
seven
hundred
thousand
dollars
is
earmarked
toward
homeownership
programs
and
Rehab
programs
for
first-time
homebuyers
and
seniors,
prioritizing
Federal
funding
to
support
neighborhoods
and
finally,
some
overall
numbers
for
the
2024
budget.
In
total,
the
city's
2024
budget
is
99.4
million
dollars.
D
D
that
16
million
sales
tax
is
our
second
largest
form
of
Revenue
for
the
first
time
in
binghamton's
history.
That
I'm
aware
of
the
budget
next
year
includes
revenues
from
adult
use,
cannabis
sales
Binghamton
became
home
to
the
first
legal
cannabis
dispensary
in
Upstate
New
York
earlier
this
year,
when
just
breathe
opened
downtown
and
this.
In
its
first
seven
months
of
operation,
the
shop
has
pulled
in
2.6
million
dollars
in
cannabis
sales.
D
The
state
is
opening
up
a
next
wave
of
applications
in
the
coming
weeks
and
we
expect
more
stores
to
open
before
the
end
of
next
year.
The
city
receives
three
percent
of
cannabis.
Sales
from
retail
stores
and
an
excise
tax
in
the
2024
budget
includes
two
hundred
thousand
dollars
in
estimated
revenue
from
stores
like
just
breed
and
other
retailers
who
will
open
next
year
and
at
the
end
of
last
year,
the
city
had
an
overall
general
fund
balance
of
17.6
million
dollars,
which
is
a
healthy
financial
reserve.
D
We've
built
up
by
making
spark
financial
decisions
and
leveraging
our
state
and
federal
funds.
A
healthy
fund
balance
helps
protect
taxpayers
against
Rising
costs
and
other
economic
challenges,
while
state
aid
remains
flat
at
10.2
million
dollars.
The
city
is
facing
increased
costs
tied
to
employee
benefits
and
interest
rates.
D
The
city
will
pay
19.1
million
dollars
in
debt
service
next
year,
up
1.4
million
from
2023.,
and
next
year's
budget
includes
9.7
million
dollars
for
employee
health
insurance
costs,
which
is
a
small
increase
from
next
year.
But
the
big
change
has
been
in
our
retirement
costs.
2024.
The
city's
mandatory
contributions
to
the
New
York
State
retirement
system
will
be
up:
8
million
up
to
8
million
up
13
from
this
year.
Retirement
costs
for
police
and
fire
alone
have
increased
by
550
thousand
dollars
compared
to
this
year.
D
Salaries
and
employee
benefits
represent
the
city's
largest
budget
expenditure
and
nearly
60
million
with
police
and
fire
making
up
nearly
70
percent
of
salary
costs
about
40
million
dollars
as
binghamton's
police
and
fire
agencies
have
an
outsized
impact
on
the
public
safety
of
communities
across
Broome
County
Binghamton
taxpayers
have
historically
shouldered
those
costs
and
and
in
the
2024
budget,
that's
no
different.
We
should
view
it
not
as
a
burden
but
as
a
responsibility
and
an
opportunity
to
set
new
standards
lead
by
example,
and
shape
the
future
of
Public
Safety
in
our
neighborhoods.
D
Those
key
drivers
of
increased
cost
that
I
just
mentioned:
Public
Safety
and
Public
Works
Personnel,
a
hike
in
the
state's
police
and
fire
retirement
rates
and
higher
interest
rates
to
fund
projects
will
mean
a
modest
increase
in
the
2024
tax
levy,
1.7
percent
in
the
homestead
and
non-homestead
rates.
This
is
well
below
binghamton's,
tax
cap
and
I
feel
responsible
fiscal
management
and
how
we
ultimately
avoid
the
wild
tax
swings
of
the
past
and
deliver
tax
relief
for
hard-working
residents
and
small
businesses
in
the
long
term.
D
To
conclude
this
afternoon,
I
want
to
acknowledge
four
members
of
city
council
who
are
leaving
office
at
the
end
of
this
year.
Giovanni
scoringi,
Angela,
Riley,
Aviva,
Friedman
and
Joe
Burns,
serving
as
an
elected
official,
is
not
easy.
Just
ask
me
for
City
Council
Members.
It
often
means
time
away
from
family
for
meetings
and
work
sessions,
phone
calls
and
emails
from
constituents
facing
problems,
the
occasional
sharp
elbow
in
politics,
or
frustration
from
voters
who
expect
superhero
qualities
from
those
they
put
into
office.
D
There
aren't
many
people
who
want
to
take
on
these
sorts
of
sacrifices
and
devote
time
away
from
representing
the
public.
So
please
join
me
in
thanking
these
four
council
members
who
are
moving
on
at
the
end
of
this
year.
Thank
you
for
your
service.
D
I
also
want
to
acknowledge
the
work
of
many
of
the
department,
heads
and
staff
who
assisted
during
the
budget
process,
Deputy
Mayor
Megan
Hyman,
especially
Lori
Clift
and
Chuck
shager
accounting,
my
previous
role
at
City
Hall.
This
is
the
10th
budget.
I've
worked
on
with
Lori
and
Chuck.
They
are
among
the
most
dedicated
public
servants
working
in
local
government
join
me
in
thanking
them.
Thank
you.
D
In
2024,
Binghamton
will
be
building
a
solid
Financial
foundation
and
the
path
forward
to
win
the
future.
That's
not
hyperbole.
The
decisions
and
values
in
this
budget
represent
really
what's
important.
Infrastructure
housing,
safer,
neighborhoods,
build
build,
our
residents
deserve
it
and
our
future
demands
it.
Thank
you
very
much.