Amsterdam council approves budget transfers, bids for Crescent Avenue bridge, Westlaw reimbursement and parking ordinance

The Amsterdam Common Council approved several consent resolutions and an ordinance at its meeting, moving forward on equipment repairs, street projects and legal research reimbursement while holding a brief public hearing on a parking ban in a designated fire lane.

The council voted to transfer $45,000 to the wastewater treatment plant equipment line after a slurry pump failed; to approve a budget transfer for sanitation vehicle repairs; to authorize advertising bids for the Crescent Avenue bridge project; to reimburse Casale Law Firm PLLC for an upgraded Westlaw subscription used by the city's corporation counsel; and to authorize a temporary interfund loan of up to $300,000 for the golf course clubhouse project. The council also adopted Ordinance C (if adopted, Ordinance 3 of 2025), amending Amsterdam City Code section 2-28-17, Schedule 8, to prohibit parking in a designated fire lane.

Why this matters: the transfers and loan free up cash that city departments say they need now, the Crescent Avenue bidding moves a long-planned $2.4 million reconstruction project toward procurement, and the parking ordinance gives enforcement authority to public safety officials to ticket vehicles parked in a fire lane the city says must remain clear.

Most consequential votes and actions

- Resolution 24-25-163: transfer $45,000 from contingency to equipment repair at the wastewater treatment plant after a slurry pump failed. The council approved the transfer in roll-call votes.

- Resolution 24-25-164: budget transfer for sanitation repairs and vehicle maintenance. Council members noted the sanitation fund had already begun incurring repairs this fiscal year and discussed the need for expense reports; the motion passed.

- Resolution 24-25-166 (consent): amend the contract with LaVella Associates for the Complete Streets plan for Main Street and Bridge Street to include Schuyler Street reconstruction; the council agreed to the amendment and approved it as a consent item.

- Resolution 24-25-167 (consent): authorize advertisement for bids for the Crescent Avenue bridge project (projected construction cost $2.4 million); the council noted the city has about $2.9 million available and that additional inspection/engineering costs are expected.

- Resolution 24-25-168 (consent): reimburse Casale Law Firm PLLC for an upgraded Westlaw subscription used by the corporation counsel. Corporation Counsel Anthony Casale said the upgrade sped legal research and ‘‘paid dividends;’’ council members amended the reimbursement schedule to correct monthly-rate figures before approving the reimbursement.

- Resolution 24-25-169 (consent): authorize a temporary interfund loan of up to $300,000 from the general fund to the capital fund for the golf course clubhouse (the resolution was amended to change the project name from "pavilion" to "clubhouse"), then approved.

- Ordinance C of 2025 (would be Ordinance 3 of 2025 if adopted): amends Amsterdam City Code section 2-28-17, Schedule 8, to prohibit parking at all times in a specified fire lane. The council opened and closed a public hearing and then adopted the ordinance by roll call.

Discussion and staff clarifications

Council members pressed for clearer expense reporting during the sanitation transfer discussion. One council member said the city had already incurred close to $50,900 in sanitation repairs with months left in the fiscal year and requested printed expense reports for members who do not access the new online financial system.

Corporation Counsel Anthony Casale explained the request for reimbursement to Casale Law Firm PLLC: the city has been using an upgraded Westlaw research platform that accelerates legal research. Casale said the city received a trial period and "the upgrade paid dividends," and the council amended numerical rates in the resolution before approving reimbursement.

Planning and capital projects

Alderman Marticello and staff reported on a recent meeting with the New York State Department of Transportation and noted that LaVella Associates (the consultant) presented the Complete Streets plan including Schuyler Street. The council approved amendment of LaVella's contract to include Schuyler Street reconstruction.

On Crescent Avenue and the bridge that provides one of two accesses to Shuttleworth Park, council members said the project has been on drawings since about 2019 and that the city expects a bid opening April 2. The council discussed potential impacts to Mohawk athletic activities but said alternate egress exists and the project team will coordinate timing with the season.

Recreation feasibility and DRI funding

Council members referenced a recreation-center feasibility study that totaled $64,500 in contracted expenses; the study concluded the project would not be financially viable without ongoing subsidy. Council members said the study cost will be reimbursed by DRI funds. Dan (last name not specified) and others clarified DRI money is available for some of the planned projects.

Public safety and building impacts

Fire Chief Michael Agresta (Chief Agresta) praised the Amsterdam Fire Department's response to a recent large fire, saying the department "did an amazing job" and that the incident "could have been much worse." The council also received an update on Prospect Street, where a privately owned building with an unsafe condition has delayed reopening because bricks and a drip edge must be secured before the street can be declared safe.

Procedure and next steps

The council unanimously adopted the meeting agenda and approved minutes from recent meetings as consent items. At the meeting's end, the council moved into a short executive session to discuss pending litigation under the cited executive-session authority.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 24-25-161 (minutes): approved (roll-call recorded: Alderman Carpenter, Alderman Marticello, Alderman Quistamars, Alderman Collins, Alderman Marcela — all "Aye").

- Resolution 24-25-162 (special meeting minutes): approved (same roll-call pattern).

- Resolution 24-25-163 (WWTP equipment transfer, $45,000): approved (same roll-call pattern).

- Resolution 24-25-164 (sanitation repairs budget transfer): approved (same roll-call pattern).

- Resolution 24-25-165 (approve audit/bills and documents): approved (same roll-call pattern).

- Resolution 24-25-166 (amend LaVella Associates contract for Complete Streets/Schuyler Street): approved as consent (same roll-call pattern).

- Resolution 24-25-167 (authorize advertisement for Crescent Avenue bridge bids): approved as consent (same roll-call pattern).

- Resolution 24-25-168 (reimburse Casale Law Firm PLLC for Westlaw subscription; amended rates): approved as amended (same roll-call pattern).

- Resolution 24-25-169 (temporary interfund loan up to $300,000 for golf course clubhouse; amended title): approved as amended (same roll-call pattern).

- Ordinance C of 2025 / Ordinance 3 of 2025 if adopted (amend Amsterdam City Code section 2-28-17 to prohibit parking in a fire lane): adopted after public hearing (same roll-call pattern).

Ending

Council members said staff will circulate printed expense reports for members who need them and will return with contract language and bidding documents as slated. The council recessed into executive session on pending litigation following the votes.

Quotes (selected)

"I think that the AFD did an amazing job putting that fire out," Chief Agresta said of the large recent blaze. "It could have been much worse."

"The upgrade paid dividends," Anthony Casale, Corporation Counsel, said of the upgraded Westlaw research platform the city approved reimbursing the firm for.