[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6108556,"mediaKeyId","2767937-3d4443f4af40609f554e9af029f6fd38","parentId",2767937,"title","Council members debate who should hold custody and control of city buildings in charter rewrite","audioSeconds",2480,"startMs",703000,"endMs",3183000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2767937-3d4443f4af40609f554e9af029f6fd38&start=703&end=3183","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2767937-3d4443f4af40609f554e9af029f6fd38/thumbnail_703000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6108556/Olean/Cattaraugus-County/New-York/Council-members-debate-who-should-hold-custody-and-control-of-city-buildings-in-charter-rewrite","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108556-516f9926237b52b5532252e7b3c01913/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176636&Signature=nhgbgv2WKKhqQzPHgBtfTiOEoOUHE0J3RM0yK-h~G5qKD1wuhwXFNN7N1XOlhhZfmfVGzmMFOvnDuuJ1dp1hJijzwlTZ~u9xYVqtiRJ7A0Ru0549Ux1T4kq0IcE014n5r8q4IQT6HUdXskNgMx7jLBgUF6xd~g7VPYJGhJhBwE57Wn7yeD8M8xKdSY2zeDcdJtfwnuOPi-mPgFABNcipXmwHz80oLYoMksJUhyjQEESP6kQPN5l13u6ukDAQ2T51p0yWmdRvjn5ao2V9u-p3Eg4lKurr7WQ7BUjywhiT0p1qEuCHE6zBzbAUETa8y-jWTu5Wm1kQagEEVZoYAcjLUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Olean ","date","2025-02-27T00:00:00Z","article","Council members and staff spent substantial time on proposed charter language that assigns custody, control and construction responsibility for city buildings, debating whether that authority should rest with the mayor and common council or be shared with the city clerk and the Department of Public Works director.

The discussion centered on differing sections in the draft charter. One provision (noted in the draft as 6.03) currently lists the mayor, city clerk and the DPW director as having “custody, control and management” of public buildings; another provision (4.053 in the draft) describes responsibility for construction, alteration and repair. Several speakers said those two formulations could be read as inconsistent and recommended clarifying that custody and ultimate legal control are the responsibility of the governing body and the chief executive officer.

A participant suggested changing the custody/control language so that it is explicitly vested in the mayor and common council, while allowing the DPW director and city clerk operational duties for managing, maintaining or supervising building work. Another participant recommended adding a general clause that DPW duties be subject to the direction and supervision of the mayor and common council to avoid any ambiguity about decision authority.

Speakers also raised drafting issues in the construction/repair paragraph, noting older draft language required professional engineering oversight (PE) for certain work; participants suggested striking or updating that requirement where redundant or inconsistent with modern procurement and building codes. Several members recommended adding a catchall clause such as “related duties as assigned by the mayor and common council” to reflect the department’s broad responsibilities.

The group agreed to defer final wording and to continue work at a subsequent meeting so additional members and those with operational knowledge of city facilities could attend.

Ending: Council members directed staff to produce a revised draft that: (1) expressly vests custody and ultimate control of public buildings in the mayor and common council; (2) retains DPW operational responsibility for construction, maintenance and repairs subject to mayoral and council supervision; and (3) cleans up references to professional-engineering requirements. The item was continued to the next charter-review meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Of Olean Charter Committee (02/27/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Council members and staff spent substantial time on proposed charter language that assigns custody, control and construction responsibility for city buildings, debating whether that authority should rest with the mayor and common council or be shared with the city clerk and the Department of Public Works director.","taxTitle","Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York","taxId",69897,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6108553,"Council debates budget process, calls for earlier council input and uniform presentation",400,1445000,1845000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2767937-3d4443f4af40609f554e9af029f6fd38&start=1445&end=1845","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2767937-3d4443f4af40609f554e9af029f6fd38/thumbnail_1445000.jpg","/articles/6108553/Olean/Cattaraugus-County/New-York/Council-debates-budget-process-calls-for-earlier-council-input-and-uniform-presentation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108553-b02fd890b7cf5fc41e0a452be2b8b274/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176636&Signature=MPQhEgLUA5fswl3fVH7Gm8EtP2j12c71kU1OTVfFc5hVv3KlrQJ6KRi3LLawFrjOqfxPDzGE2T5mVU41SJ6ktk6MiqNEdklvy~KQjvoS~N6W6xUl7MzEKGhgFviaB9BFRUuNruPGInWyldT-p3APSMnzux1iJrJtcxLSnfwUlfEvOB2OfJ4hIC5BxTaaD91TA08Umf5n4Q4ZkxYq83oejop5UZGFa4YGeTNuDIQOjGhnZRmVYZcxzGMGIeLclt~Bg~D~T7erOWvwFsDeMJd9pJNoePglGfEZRUv8vrF0OtunUB6tofs3xSrdYMyXYBMFvu6he16sQUvFtGa8FYFRIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members devoted a substantial portion of the meeting to Article 5 of the charter redraft, which addresses the budget process. Participants pressed for clearer procedures to give the common council earlier, substantive input into departmental budget development and for uniform presentation formats from departments.

Multiple council members said the current process leaves them reviewing a final budget without prior involvement. One participant recalled that in past practice council members would sit in as budgets were developed; another proposed that the mayor consult a council budget committee during the mayor’s budget preparation so the council would have structured opportunities to influence proposals before the budget is finalized for public release.

Speakers suggested using the council’s existing finance committee for this role, or creating a designated council budget committee with formal consultation deadlines (one participant suggested a February 15 milestone for mayor-department-council committee consultations). Several members also urged that each department present budgets in a uniform format, including a five-year lookback, to speed review and reduce repeated follow-up questions.

On statutory timing, a speaker proposed adding charter text that if the council fails to adopt a budget by April 15 the mayor’s proposed budget would be deemed adopted to ensure the city can run the tax roll and operations. Council asked staff to draft language options on (1) committee consultation timing; (2) required budget presentation format; and (3) a default rule tied to an April 15 deadline for adoption. The item will return for review at the next charter meeting.

Ending: Staff was asked to circulate a draft with proposed language for Article 5 before the next meeting so members can review and comment in advance.","Council members discussed proposed charter language on the municipal budget process (Article 5), including whether council should have earlier input, formation of a council budget committee, uniform budget presentation formats and a contingency if the council fails to adopt a budget by the April 15 deadline.","actionData","errors"]

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Council members debate who should hold custody and control of city buildings in charter rewrite

Council debates budget process, calls for earlier council input and uniform presentation