This is a summary of public comment and legislation voted on at the 7/24/24 Binghamton City Council Business Meeting. I’ll be on vacation next week so the recap may be late or nonexistent but there will probably be a vote on protections for the unhoused so it’s a big week. I mostly just write these because local news barely covers anything, let alone city council, which seems important. If you ever want to help recap city meetings or write about anything else for the Binghamton Bridge, email me at tripcities@gmail.com. I would love to get other citizen journalists involved and/or start a discussion group and bounce ideas around.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS
The Municipal and Public Affairs Committee is continuing to discuss the Mayor’s proposed changes to the city’s noise ordinance.
The Water Street Development Corporation has officially dissolved.
The Committee for the Conservation of the Environment is looking to appoint a new member after former mayor Matt Ryan stepped down.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Residents wishing to submit public comment may do so electronically by emailing their comments prior to 1:00PM on the day of the meeting to clerk@cityofbinghamton.gov or in-person during the meeting.
Misty Kirby expressed disappointment in the City Council’s vote to approve funding for surveillance cameras.
Carol Hawley spoke about vandalism at South Side Commons Park and said it may have been prevented by the installation of security cameras.
FIRST READING LEGISLATION
Introductory Resolution R24-51. A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Fairview Recovery Services. Passed 6-0 (Porter Recused)
- Summary: Fairview made a mistake and overspent on homeless services, so this legislation is making up the difference of $78k.
Introductory Resolution R24-62. A Resolution to accept funding from the District Attorney for Discovery Officer. Passed 6-1 (Porter Dissenting)
- Summary: Creates new “Discovery Officer” position for BPD. Pays $82k. Result of Governor Cuomo’s criminal justice reform in 2020 that set a short deadline for prosecutors to hand over discovery evidence to defendants.
Introductory Resolution R24-63. A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a professional services agreement with Tetra Tech for the Chenango River levee bat survey. Passed 7-0
- Summary: The Dept. of Environmental Conservation mandated that a bat acoustic survey be done before updates are made to the trail behind Binghamton Plaza.
There was a Special Business Meeting held yesterday.
- A discussion of the latest Food Cart licensing legislation was tabled.
- The 2025 budget discussions were scheduled to begin on September 13th.
- Another Special Business Meeting was scheduled for tomorrow, 8/1, to discuss the legislation that would restore the Human Rights Commission. The City Council already voted to add a referendum to the November ballot for this. The deadline to submit a referendum is in early August, so if we’re connecting the dots, it seems that this meeting is the result of the mayor vetoing that referendum.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading. See you Monday at 6:00 for the next City Council Work Session.