[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6037359,"mediaKeyId","3864165-d3e0ecd8e74ef8b58e6e4a10d5d0fd65","parentId",3864165,"title","Planning committee to hold mid-May town hall on proactive rental-inspection proposal as counsel reviews legal issues","audioSeconds",85,"startMs",153000,"endMs",238000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864165-d3e0ecd8e74ef8b58e6e4a10d5d0fd65&start=153&end=238","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864165-d3e0ecd8e74ef8b58e6e4a10d5d0fd65/thumbnail_153000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6037359/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Planning-committee-to-hold-mid-May-town-hall-on-proactive-rental-inspection-proposal-as-counsel-reviews-legal-issues","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6037359-409b15e7f0c7590156ba5efa493f5637/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204383&Signature=klEsXDVeRcuZdpDaFuotpMQ9XdYpwsbFJf7voau1MRIhsqJZyUkFxJxs7c3g2NKBYPCQTVVWb0BIspKy7sybMVhNsFy4pBwiQiHG-YxwKpiViesAhS~HOu7ldlEbdjkcwa6x7uxZXgHd0CoJSDmzpeWggYYBq4Rc8NQZjg~46jKFNptJyZCH4iZXskSZL2hk8JB2zodY7m5HCu59aU5CFwUbN8YyoRcI~JBDFDc2syjUlNpRH2ePhVZaXt8EQOFxQek0RsmcIJuYpzep1oG8sNVHbkqGz-TgIgB4PjIHY2aW-e123qfRlNUDUH7hbcR9ZxfLJHs6Jdvpg88jqPSKuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Binghamton","date","2025-04-24T00:00:00Z","article","BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The council’s planning committee reported it will hold a town hall in mid-May to seek resident input on a proposed proactive rental-housing inspection program, while city attorneys continue to review potential legal issues that have delayed program implementation.

Council members said the committee met April 15 to discuss next steps for legislation introduced last month. Committee members said the primary barrier to implementing the program has been legal concerns and they plan to work with corporation counsel to resolve those issues. The committee also plans to meet with Mayor Grama and Supervisor Schleider to focus administrative resources on implementation tasks such as logistics, database and software rather than leaving legal coordination solely to the supervisor’s office.

Why it matters: The program would affect rental properties and landlords in the city if implemented; the town hall is intended to gather feedback from residents who may be impacted and to surface operational concerns before the council advances legislation.

Next steps: A town-hall date in mid-May will be announced once scheduled; the transcript records repeated council requests that the mayor’s office develop a protocol for how demolished parcels and related housing programs are assessed (see side-lot discussion).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Business Meeting 2025.04.23","oneSentenceSummary","The planning committee will schedule a mid-May town hall on a proposed proactive rental-housing inspection program as city attorneys review legal concerns that have slowed implementation.","taxTitle","Binghamton City, Broome County, New York","taxId",5034,"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},6037375,"City council approves sale of two former housing lots amid calls to revise side-lot policy",231,1833000,2064000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864165-d3e0ecd8e74ef8b58e6e4a10d5d0fd65&start=1833&end=2064","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864165-d3e0ecd8e74ef8b58e6e4a10d5d0fd65/thumbnail_1833000.jpg","/articles/6037375/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/City-council-approves-sale-of-two-former-housing-lots-amid-calls-to-revise-side-lot-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6037375-82aaf6481d0639d34f1421d10e8b1845/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204383&Signature=kt2CqBN-AMDoozUUf9lfUrQE7Ozc7vEgX0FewYlk09Hpl7civMCxm2J2quC-ertoa~uqDdaRYlFlI29F8MEdvYLIujonTtoEeKtYYsR-CVc15NFN9bU8GWfh4Em~H03Dhs6lrmoUWwIYqZFY3qXQo2VLIYctzZI1pvUj317zK715W8b1hTxmmv0~C2pM34e3T2GrZQNVwedy-rtF3n9JraEcerZQ08jVYol34Rg2U4D1HZZmTpWaOzxALFye8oEk7ExnLX8sz1tG4HvowuLPXYf6xJfeCT8PB9hd~n1ITVAeV8OzuQ6Vm5Tagz~9Jt~r9bk2AsAgA-u-YF1bToIBNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Binghamton City Council voted to authorize the sale of two vacant parcels created after demolition, approving ordinances O25-31 (193 Matthew Street) and O25-32 (31 Travis Avenue) following State Environmental Quality Review determinations. Both ordinances passed by 6-1 votes.

The sales were presented under the city’s side-lot program, which makes lots that formerly contained multi-unit structures available to adjacent property owners once buildings are demolished. The council first held SEQR motions and issued negative declarations before voting to adopt each ordinance.

Why it matters: Neighbors said the Matthew Street lot long posed safety and nuisance problems and welcomed the planned yard expansion. Several council members, however, urged the administration to develop a formal protocol for evaluating whether demolished residential sites could be redeveloped for housing before placing them in the side-lot program — a concern members said is heightened by the city's housing shortage.

Council member Rathmell introduced the motions to declare lead agency, identify the actions as unlisted under SEQR, and adopt the ordinances. The clerk’s roll-call votes on adoption recorded Rathmell voting No on both ordinances; the other six members present voted Aye. For O25-31 (193 Matthew Street) the roll call recorded: Madivetsky Aye; Hotchkiss Aye; Kavanaugh Aye; Middleton Aye; Murray Aye; Dunton Aye (6-1). For O25-32 (31 Travis Avenue) the roll call recorded the same result (6-1).

Public comment at the meeting included neighbors who urged approval of the Matthew Street sale. Resident Bobby Moreno said the couple seeking the lot are long-time neighbors and “we love the community,” and neighbor Julie Sauger read a letter describing repeated code, safety and drug-related problems at the condemned building that formerly stood at 193 Matthew Street. Sauger told the council: “The building that was condemned and now demolished at 193 Matthew Street was not only a long time eyesore, but a major source of fear, anxiety…The building had a long history of drugs, 2 meth lab fires, which ultimately was the final demise of the building.”

Several council members said they sympathized with neighbors and supported the immediate sales, but said they wanted a citywide policy change. One council member said there is currently no protocol for assessing whether demolished sites could be redeveloped, which risks reducing the city’s housing stock when lots are permanently converted to green space. Another council member noted state funding for infill development exists but said the city lacks an analysis showing where infill would be possible and affordable.

Council members asked the clerk to research what pausing the side-lot program would entail so the council can consider inserting a redevelopment-assessment protocol; multiple members said they have repeatedly requested a plan from the mayor’s office. Several speakers emphasized that their support for the individual sales does not mean they oppose revising the program going forward.

Votes at a glance:
- O25-31 (ordinance to authorize sale of 193 Matthew Street) — Adopted 6-1 (No: Rathmell; Ayes: Madivetsky, Hotchkiss, Kavanaugh, Middleton, Murray, Dunton).
- O25-32 (ordinance to authorize sale of 31 Travis Avenue) — Adopted 6-1 (No: Rathmell; Ayes: Madivetsky, Hotchkiss, Kavanaugh, Middleton, Murray, Dunton).

What happens next: Council members said they will continue to press the executive branch for a protocol that assesses redevelopment potential for lots made available under the side-lot program. Council member Murray said the clerk was asked to look into pausing the program’s advertising while that protocol is drafted.

Background: The side-lot program allows adjacent property owners to acquire lots created by demolition. At the meeting council members referenced prior demolitions and said the city has not consistently assessed whether a parcel could be redeveloped as housing before transferring it to an adjacent owner.","The Binghamton City Council voted to authorize the sale of 193 Matthew Street and 31 Travis Avenue under the city’s side-lot program, approving ordinances O25-31 and O25-32 after SEQR negative declarations; each ordinance passed 6-1.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6037365,"Traffic board approves one-year pilot for raised pedestrian crosswalk on Oak Street",55,101000,156000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864165-d3e0ecd8e74ef8b58e6e4a10d5d0fd65&start=101&end=156","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864165-d3e0ecd8e74ef8b58e6e4a10d5d0fd65/thumbnail_101000.jpg","/articles/6037365/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Traffic-board-approves-one-year-pilot-for-raised-pedestrian-crosswalk-on-Oak-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6037365-c706fe47944d4b2111f9fb4ebaee2240/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204383&Signature=PbV7LXm9KbLnZE9tIXGm-DZPlxVzM4t~jiB3jQP4n8CtCY~HoCzRGO~bPy-K9i9pkC-1WjAjV5NKFxUcTKlsPnUTU1ugmZHQmHlKCRg-7ExezZ-SxCeLKe74Ut80CG78HM4GL3bX1jajaM4wEQg~AA1Mctumty53pfOl0hDdMROdgGCI4Fs-zlITpgQFxnQIou2uo-D5vdXuPFzsyYWj5sqe831UMXoARCF6BJtKN69VlqDp8GDp8hBJVvRGmCgd-vazIA5x9znqEG1dA9exfHChtOZo2OX9kzUwSUoS3xXrOzQFZe~iHfNASc9d8~1wnoqZY43RA2ld05zcCzvnxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The city’s traffic board held a special meeting and approved a one-year pilot to install a raised pedestrian crosswalk on Oak Street.

According to the council committee report, the measure passed at the traffic board’s special meeting. The pilot will run for one year with language allowing the city to remove the raised crosswalk sooner if it does not withstand use or weather conditions. The council report noted the Broome County Health Department will move forward with purchases of materials covered by a grant related to the pilot.

Why it matters: The raised crosswalk is intended to improve pedestrian safety and calm traffic in the area. The pilot structure and the city’s ability to remove the crosswalk early gives the city flexibility to respond if the location or design proves inappropriate.

Next steps: The city will coordinate materials purchases under the grant and install the pilot. The council report did not record a separate citywide ordinance; the action was a traffic-board-level decision reported to council for information.","Binghamton traffic board approved a one-year pilot to install a raised pedestrian crosswalk on Oak Street; the Broome County Health Department will proceed with purchasing materials under an applicable grant, and the city may remove the installation sooner if it fails to perform.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6037369,"Council approves option to secure 400 Court Street parcel for planned pump station to reduce flooding",168,2063000,2231000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864165-d3e0ecd8e74ef8b58e6e4a10d5d0fd65&start=2063&end=2231","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864165-d3e0ecd8e74ef8b58e6e4a10d5d0fd65/thumbnail_2063000.jpg","/articles/6037369/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Council-approves-option-to-secure-400-Court-Street-parcel-for-planned-pump-station-to-reduce-flooding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6037369-908c1eea768637a443510269ca2119d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204383&Signature=J1VrBqiVeR-m2vU0D2Z1ZsKe7hOnlyOMoNUxFIYwJz-pTUTy9s0KQTDj8VJqXGVJ9YVrzvoKASIg-3THhqVnxVKDSOwrmj7PD0d883o5m7sna1VCxIxLE7s497WS8ej~7g-dmXQx8tWk2g~4sb9dSCcLZRfMNvigfRTrEYmNRud8zmVpGQJtkvm8lbPMf0RHNB4IA61ey9zfpL9o~Y3zSeRoGZ5ewcNSbAKebmTLWZPgy02247H5ldAOjBBeXqwWBSi1ylWte765IGThO8eR3W6SsWYtD2GRvxQVTjVK4W1lyWic-EVjGWs~LIUNEE28qBe2ISPZEBvrYiYXINiPQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Binghamton City Council unanimously approved Resolution R25-24 authorizing an agreement with Williams Auto Group that gives the city an option on 400 Court Street as part of a plan to site a pump station to reduce flooding on the lower East Side.

Council member Hotchkiss moved adoption of the resolution; the roll-call vote recorded the measure adopted 7-0.

Why it matters: Council members said the site would allow the city to conduct geotechnical testing and design work and then pursue funding to build a pump station that would pump stormwater under the railroad tracks directly into the river, reducing repeated flooding on lower Court Street and nearby blocks.

Council discussion clarified the purchase structure. The option agreement includes an initial option fee of $1 that gives the city the right to perform the required testing and design work and later exercise the purchase option for a price listed in the agreement (the agreement identifies a purchase amount of approximately $275,000). Council members emphasized the project’s role in mitigating persistent flooding that affects residences and businesses on the lower East Side.

Roll-call vote: The clerk recorded Rathmell Aye; Madivetsky Aye; Hotchkiss Aye; Kavanaugh Aye; Middleton Aye; Murray Aye; Dunton Aye (7-0).

Next steps: Staff said the city will pursue funding and begin design and testing once the option is secured; the resolution authorizes the city to move forward with those preliminary steps.","The council adopted Resolution R25-24 authorizing an agreement with Williams Auto Group to secure an option on 400 Court Street to allow design and testing work for a pump station to address recurring flooding; the resolution passed unanimously, 7-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning committee to hold mid-May town hall on proactive rental-inspection proposal as counsel reviews legal issues

City council approves sale of two former housing lots amid calls to revise side-lot policy

Traffic board approves one-year pilot for raised pedestrian crosswalk on Oak Street

Council approves option to secure 400 Court Street parcel for planned pump station to reduce flooding