The City of Poughkeepsie Common Council confirmed Mayor John Tkazyik’s appointment of Michael Long to the post of City Administrator at its meeting this past week. Long will replace acting administrator, City of Poughkeepsie Police Chief Ronald Knapp, who stepped in following the departure of former administrator James Marquette last November.
Marquette, who was appointed by former mayor Colette Lafuente, served the city as administrator for eight years.
“After a long process we have not only found the right choice for city administrator, but we’ve found the best choice for the City of Poughkeepsie,” said Tkazyik. “This is going to be an exciting experience. I look forward to working with him, and I know Michael will be a true asset to the city of Poughkeepsie.”
Long was born in Rochester, but moved to the City of Poughkeepsie with his family in 1964. He attended Holy Trinity Elementary School, and graduated from Poughkeepsie High School in 1974. Two years later Long graduated from Duchess County Community College.
Before returning to Poughkeepsie to take the position, Long served the City of Auburn as interim city manager. Prior to his job in Auburn, Long was employed at the Cayuga County Planning Board.
Long received his master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University.
The council voted unanimously to confirm Long. Afterward, City Chamberlain Karen Burke swore-in the new administrator as his family looked on.
“I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support,” said Long. “I hope that I live up to your expectations.”
Youth Initiative support
Also at the meeting, the council passed a resolution to appropriate $50,000 to the city’s Youth Initiative by a 7-1 vote. Council member Thomas Parise (R-1st Ward) voted against the resolution, which was first introduced at the May 19 meeting.
“I am in favor of the Youth Initiative and the 25,000 that we budgeted for,” said Parise. “June is here, and marks the halfway mark of the year being over. October is staring us in the face, where we sit down and hash out a new budget. I feel that spending $25,000 before we sit down and hash out a new budget is financially inappropriate. We’re in a hole and we all know it, so I won’t be supporting this,” he said.
Council member Joe Rich (D-2nd Ward) reminded council members that during a May 4 presentation to the council, Poughkeepsie Institute students cited youth development as an integral part of the city.
The city’s Youth Initiative was created by the Common Council last year, as a way to keep the city’s youth off the streets and away from crime.
“As a retired teacher with 30 years working with youth, to me the need for continuing the Youth Initiative is crystal-clear. In 2007 the Common Council began the program with funding of $50,000. During the December 2007 budget deliberations, the Common Council committed to fund a 2008 program as monies became available. We have found the money via unspent Community Development Block Grant funds and savings from vacancies,” said Rich.
Tkazyik, who has supported the Youth Initiative in the past, expressed concern about the budget amendment at the May 19 meeting.
“I’m being fiscally conservative on the signs of the times. My suggestion was only to fund the initiative until the end of this year at $25,000, and then during the budget process take a hard look at the budget,” said Tkazyik, “It all should have been planned for.”
Luckey Platt updates
Acting Development Director Tom Aposporos updated the council on the status of the Luckey Platt project.
“The news is better,” Aposporos told the council.
The building, formerly a department store and financial linchpin for the city, was purchased by Queens-based developers Alma Realty for $1 in 2006. Progress on the building – which is slated to become a multi-use facility with 35 apartments and floors of community spacing for stores and community venues – was halted in March 2007, when the site’s developers were issued a stop-work order for completing work which exceeded the scope of their original permit without supplying some of the necessary documentation.
The order was lifted earlier this year, and work has resumed on the landmark.
According to Aposporos, a revised elevation plan must be approved by the City Planning Board. Aposporos anticipates that revisions will be presented to the Planning Board at its June meeting, with the final revised plan submitted for approval at the July meeting.
Reconstruction of the interior and exterior of the building continues, with the exception of the work that requires Planning Board approval.
“I would say I’m cautiously optimistic,” said Aposporos. “I think we’ll soon be able to report to you expected completion dates.”