Finances dominated the meeting of the Common Council of the City of Poughkeepsie on Monday, Oct. 6, as might well be expected at a time when the city’s projected budget shortfall of $1.85 million is being compounded by a worldwide financial meltdown.
A number of city-owned properties, which had been off the tax rolls for years, were approved for sale, while debate continued about selling others. Reports were heard about audits of the city’s finances to be conducted by the State Comptroller’s Office and the city’s energy use by the New York Power Authority, and dispositions of Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) were made to effect the improvement of city parks.
But first the more mundane but perennial problem of graffiti was the subject of a report by Commissioner of Public Works Steve Miko.
Miko detailed the operation of graffiti blasters, which are power tools which use intense shoots of water to blast away the unsightly and unwanted markings which disfigure many buildings. They are being employed by the commissioner’s office to replace the previous method of painting over the graffiti with a battleship gray coat of paint, which many residents have complained is unsightly in a different way. When questioned by Council Chairman Brian Doyle (D-4th Ward) as to whether the blasters posed any harm to mortar which lies between bricks, Miko answered that they generally do not, though that might depend on the condition of the mortar on older buildings, which might warrant inspection beforehand. And he lamented a particular failing of the generally reliable blasters.
“We found that they do not work too well on asphalt, to our surprise,” he said.
The graffiti blasters used by the city are also available to residents upon request for a $30 fee, and Miko indicated that he thought that should be raised.
Sales go through
The council approved the sale of a variety of properties located on Cottage Street, Mansion Street, Winnikee Avenue, West Winding Road and Route 9, ranging from unused buildings to rocky parcels. The sales will bring the city a total of $443,000 in revenue.
There had been prior controversies about two of the proposed sales. The first, that of two rocky pieces of land next to Andy’s Place Restaurant, which is owned by Mayor John Tkazyik’s father, Andy, was approved at a price of $3,000, though their value is assessed at twice that amount. The dispute regarding them had revolved around the price gap, and allegations of political bias. But the sale was approved in consideration of the fact that they abut the restaurant in such a way that they cannot be developed by anyone else, and that the sale would put them back on the tax rolls.
However an even larger price gap stalled the approval of the proposed sale of the former Imperial Lounge Building on the 500 block of Main Street. It is in such poor shape that the developer, The Palombo Group of Stanfordville, is only offering $1 for it, citing the great cost it would take to renovate it, the tax revenue that would accrue to the city once that happens and the fact that it would be a great expense to the city to tear it down. However, the qualms about the token price could not be resolved, and the matter was delayed pending further consultation with the developer and among council members.
In other business, Commissioner of Finance Milo Bunyi made a report to the council about an audit of the city’s finances by the State Comptroller’s Office, which will occur on Oct. 17.
“The mayor had asked me to go the comptroller and get a full audit, so there would be a clean slate from the previous administration,” Bunyi explained. “Unfortunately, they had a backlog of work and they have been unable to schedule us up until now.”
Bunyi noted that the areas of efficiency and government reform would be the particular focus of the audit, and expressed confidence at being able to provide the state officials with all of the necessary paperwork.
City Administrator Michael Long reported about a similar audit by the New York Power Authority which is also pending.
“The Power Authority will come in and do it at no cost,” he said. “The council can accept some of the options or none of the options. Its importance is that energy savings are what you use to pay back capital costs, so it’s a win-win situation.”
In the remaining bit of fiscal business, the council cancelled the selling of some bonds which had been proposed to repair the fencing at the pool at Pulaski Park and other city properties, and instead allocated CDBG funds for the work. Both resolutions passed by unanimous votes.