[{"_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",6152816,"mediaKeyId","5496006-29bf5795949cbd8e156562926d80660b","parentId",5496006,"title","Comptroller says 2025 budget needs adjustment to cover bond-related advisory bills","audioSeconds",231,"startMs",1549000,"endMs",1780000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5496006-29bf5795949cbd8e156562926d80660b&start=1549&end=1780","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5496006-29bf5795949cbd8e156562926d80660b/thumbnail_1549000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6152816/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Comptroller-says-2025-budget-needs-adjustment-to-cover-bond-related-advisory-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152816-8de346dc2d07518d425ee3a688377c19/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194627&Signature=CzjWC-UkknsCcGzlyn759D8-~bfN-pSWcBaO4-x4NncO42zBn3vJEFxCurtYo10pZYPfQrqTwV9HNZ~QzxVkY0f2mTXZmgxgFBHE8Ibv1kwzHppBAPZJNSg8kMB~hQeFdLbDJiZVwmfFHJlBlyU4p9UG5vA6Caf2GHUi7jkJtlf50nmg2wjYkBu7UnDtMljzefBaHAY9ZwCFS84oa4awNoPAsYQKDm~jpW4NMroydzvjvsQy7APY5UmyYr9mnNvFlBYO-ER5dAaseMTHG0yJyD3npyvhNecH8ano91Ynz0k6e0hTxNOMr8t3pgrCzkhQqcqXPauKilTIxb~~djqM8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Binghamton","date","2025-07-29T10:41:45Z","article","At the July 28 work session, Comptroller Charles Robinson told the Lehi City Council that the 2025 budget needs an adjustment to pay bills tied to bonds issued in the prior year. “So it looks like we forgot to budget for some of the money to borrow money to fund the budget,” Robinson said.

Robinson said the unpaid invoices relate to bond counsel, financial advisers, Moody’s rating costs and publishing services for bond notices. He explained that those fees are normally charged to the capital fund lines associated with each bond and that last year the city issued two bonds rather than one; bills for those services arrived after the close of the 2024 books and are now being processed against the 2025 budget.

Robinson said some transfers will come from the general fund to the capital fund and that he would also move money from the insurance fund where appropriate; he noted current insurance reserves were modestly below forecast but added the city’s insurance position could change quickly if a few high-cost claims occur. Council members did not vote to expedite payment at the work session.

No dollar amounts for the transfers or invoices were provided in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session 2025.07.28","oneSentenceSummary","Comptroller Charles Robinson told council the city failed to budget for some bond-related costs from last year and plans a transfer from the general and insurance funds into capital to pay bond counsel, fiscal advisers and rating-related fees.","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},6152821,"Council approves contract with Keystone to retain inspector at reduced rate; vote 5-0 to expedite",310,1226000,1536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5496006-29bf5795949cbd8e156562926d80660b&start=1226&end=1536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5496006-29bf5795949cbd8e156562926d80660b/thumbnail_1226000.jpg","/articles/6152821/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Council-approves-contract-with-Keystone-to-retain-inspector-at-reduced-rate-vote-5-0-to-expedite","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152821-7bf71b897d9a8b58a840c08c2cbf99da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194627&Signature=TUgSvDTZpGexSOuP42Wd~0Y4S-mve3Yng5JABc1CLXAUAy9eYtLGxB~De9UtLl~EMENcet~Y-Zes0Nw7x72k4ejp5Mp73xhb6qi7t1~CtVlib3yojZKsOWDpWqZezfU8S6RfkjkHrQfKhLGffa9xRe-1op-9Elt5x6lW20z2QPbYKUQ0ndlBDi0cGJMX8i-VC4sXsxH3yK7ibdNKZRMdvEounmMSnvfLUF5jIGMZlp8hvHd8nREYMq6Vrzb3qDEQ-s65lfb4RawdDJmTm-uF7Izfdf7AHwGMcuBsSO8GH4uOAa1r9rhLC0I2IoqtgOt1yl4OhsAO9EXq5SV3BSousQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the July 28 work session, Ron Lake presented RL25-123, a resolution to enter into an agreement with Keystone Associates for construction administration and inspection services. Lake said Keystone’s inspector, Gary Webb, previously served on the Binghamton Plaza trail replacement project and has been effective.

Lake told the council he negotiated a lower hourly rate for Webb — “we’re paying what Keystone pays him with maybe a 1 or 2% markup” — and estimated the city’s cost would be about $30–$40 per hour less than prior inspector rates. Lake said he will deploy Webb to street reconstruction and other construction jobs and that using Webb would allow higher-cost staff (including an engineer identified as Ray) to be reallocated.

Council member(s) moved to expedite the matter; a roll call vote recorded the outcome as Aye from Council member Murray, Council member Cavanagh, Council member Rathmell, Council member Madovetsky and Council president Pro Tem Hotchkiss, with two council members absent. The clerk announced that the vote was 5–0 in favor.

Lake said the funds to pay the inspector will come from existing project lines. Council members characterized the arrangement as a cost-saving, short-term solution and noted the city’s departments remain “very thin” on staff.

The contract authorization was approved by the council during the expedited vote, and Lake said the inspector will be used on current and upcoming construction projects.","Council authorized an agreement with Keystone Associates to provide construction inspection services using inspector Gary Webb at a reduced hourly rate. Council voted 5-0 to expedite and approve the contract, with funding drawn from existing project lines.",{"_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},6152826,"Public works seeks budget amendment after storm cleanup; director cites 600 overtime hours and heavy road repairs",393,917000,1310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5496006-29bf5795949cbd8e156562926d80660b&start=917&end=1310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5496006-29bf5795949cbd8e156562926d80660b/thumbnail_917000.jpg","/articles/6152826/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Public-works-seeks-budget-amendment-after-storm-cleanup-director-cites-600-overtime-hours-and-heavy-road-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152826-c2330a5c43a342e50e53310e827f7730/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194627&Signature=D9ldc3d4pOAKTjfPC8VV267IfqUKFY2d5S13Ar-nCCE4UOcpOgSEQf9S4Nq-1hVmKMjc7KyNRXxWLdBgD1sxSkMScS00s6-eGfAqk1Q3dXzi-OqqiQcCFF31nVbAJHR2-UKZUkIpDqmUPPP2S5tLShceQ1BHHhTcryjrk3pQzF-9xQZnnkErbEc4z7SjheY4WPVCVfkCfsCebplgXOGsYsfoj-a0F1F2yThs07RqFVHPCCDqMb7nVtrDFB09myAdc1EPv5kAe7MZzBSmSYsNNh9DRYWb3UDAh3P-72w5~5p23b2f9sqp9VyROK2nITP2t76NNr~MxSk8pRB~6sPJfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 28 Lehi City Council work session, Don Josh Pilutti, acting director of public works, presented RL25-122, an ordinance to amend the 2025 budget to increase lines for overtime and construction materials.

Piluitti said a recent storm produced extensive debris and that staff logged “over 600 hours of overtime” to clear streets, including work through the Fourth of July weekend. “The whole few weeks after that, they'd work a full shift and stay between 2 and 4 hours over to try and finish getting all the debris off the streets,” he said, citing emergency cleanup as the principal driver of the overtime request. He also said scheduled events through the summer and fall — Porchfest, Garlicfest, Luma, Blues on the Bridge, Bowling University parents weekend and the Columbus Day Parade — require overtime for traffic and event work.

On materials, Pilutti said crews have completed roughly 25 to 30 large pavement “digouts” (areas typically 30 by 20 to 30 by 50 feet in which crews remove pavement and 12–14 inches of subbase) and estimated five or six very large digouts remain. He asked for additional construction-material funds for patching and for traffic-sign materials and paint. Pilutti said the city’s new sign-making machine has produced “over a 150 new signs” and that ladder-style (hashed) crosswalks require more paint; he said the department is on track to paint as much as 90 to 100 percent of city streets this year.

Council members asked how signs had been made previously; Pilutti said the city purchased pre-made signs and that the new machine reduces cost by allowing the department to strip and remake existing signs. A resident thanked staff for responding to sign requests.

No formal council vote on the ordinance was recorded in the work session transcript.","The acting public works director asked council to amend the 2025 budget to cover overtime and materials after a major storm and to fund increased sign and paint costs for pedestrian safety and events.",{"_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},6152831,"Resident presents resolution urging mayor to pursue removal of police chief; council outlines civil-service process",627,156000,783000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5496006-29bf5795949cbd8e156562926d80660b&start=156&end=783","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5496006-29bf5795949cbd8e156562926d80660b/thumbnail_156000.jpg","/articles/6152831/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Resident-presents-resolution-urging-mayor-to-pursue-removal-of-police-chief-council-outlines-civil-service-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152831-a456d348d72aebd943c82c23cb7ce125/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194627&Signature=mZhQHXbcN4-nfqg4-EOgBSEs2dpLU4X4RtK~WbhkUUMw3whYLzT-0ZMdJYWz2v599SQUmG8pVaSl335dI8q5~3ktQ5-h7cQpZAQhg25yj19TIHI1XeLX2bFroZZP13N1MkVPgp8n91~e8~fXbiMCtDZdObYocfNh5HAjji3ChKrLIKEir5pkumCQJswwKz79Cyktrkn81kyJG-nYITPeFVHbz9uYzRQd8wltmvTWKzfiuGGb5U8yDaen-qN0QAGHbUMkbIBHZrR4mVXyV40Z2Dsb1HvXB6hzJp~jvcNohqlHpg0y3NOnfYFWvTXHmRUwPViX-IALmaFisph68lepRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Lehi City Council work session on July 28, a resident introduced RL25-124, a resolution asking the mayor to initiate removal proceedings for the City of Binghamton’s chief of police. The resolution was presented by resident Aloni Porter, who cited an online video and an earlier January 2023 investigative finding as prompting the request.

Porter told the council the resolution is meant “to try to figure out a way to maybe convince or help initiate a process with the mayor,” and listed alleged leadership failures including “failure to intervene” and “failure to follow arrest procedures.” Porter also read a list of behaviors she described as examples of abusive leadership and said the actions supported consideration of formal removal.

A council speaker confirmed the incident referenced occurred on July 18 and said Chief Sekowsky was placed on administrative leave on July 20. The speaker said the city has retained an independent investigator and that the civil-service process is governed by Chapter 124 of the city code and state law. “We have confirmed that the final report will be made public,” the speaker said, and added that if misconduct is identified charges should be brought swiftly but that the authority to bring charges or impose disciplinary action rests with the mayor. The speaker also said the chief retains rights under civil service to a hearing or appeal.

Other council members spoke in support of holding the process to account but said the investigation limits public disclosure. One council member said they were “deeply disturbed by what I saw” and echoed calls for accountability while acknowledging the open investigation constrained what the council could discuss publicly.

No formal vote on RL25-124 was recorded during the work session and council members did not take action to expedite the matter. Council members indicated they want residents’ views on the record and encouraged public comment while the independent investigation proceeds.

The resolution and the council’s discussion emphasized process limits: the city’s civil-service rules and state law set specific procedures; the mayor has final disciplinary authority; and an independent report — targeted to be completed in roughly 30 days but subject to outside variables — will be released publicly once available.

For now, council members said, the city has initiated the investigatory steps (placing the chief on administrative leave and retaining an outside investigator) and will await that report before any formal charges or disciplinary actions are pursued.","A resident introduced RL25-124 asking the mayor to initiate removal of the City of Binghamton chief of police. Council members and staff described the ongoing administrative-leave status, an independent investigation and limits of council authority under civil service rules.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Comptroller says 2025 budget needs adjustment to cover bond-related advisory bills

Council approves contract with Keystone to retain inspector at reduced rate; vote 5-0 to expedite

Public works seeks budget amendment after storm cleanup; director cites 600 overtime hours and heavy road repairs

Resident presents resolution urging mayor to pursue removal of police chief; council outlines civil-service process