Auburn council adopts procurement change-order policy, approves budget transfers, garden use, STRIVE grants and a school settlement

The Auburn City Council on Feb. 20 adopted multiple resolutions covering procurement policy, budget transfers, park use for a community garden, acceptance of a state STRIVE grant for a domestic-violence initiative, an interagency memorandum of understanding to implement STRIVE, and settlement of a claim by the Auburn Enlarged City School District.

Procurement: Council resolution 17 of 02/2025 amended the City of Auburn 2025 procurement and surplus policy to include a standardized public-works change-order policy. The resolution cites consultation with the New York State Office of the State Comptroller and Corporation Counsel and states the proposed change-order procedures comply with New York General Municipal Law. The resolution was sponsored by Councilor Rose Street Wilson and seconded by Councilor Cuddy and was adopted by roll call.

Budget transfers: Financial resolution 18 of 02/2025 authorized various operating and non-operating budget transfers for February, to be effective immediately. Councilors asked for background on overtime transfers; city staff and the police and fire chiefs explained increased overtime stemmed from a higher number of significant incidents, including nine greater-alarm fires so far this fiscal year and one fatal house fire that produced approximately $9,000 in overtime costs. The council approved the transfers in a recorded vote.

County infrastructure and housing: Council resolution 19 authorized the city to accept regranted County Infrastructure Grant funds from Cayuga County for infrastructure work to ready 213 Dunning Avenue Rear for a proposed 70-unit Bluefield Point project, and authorized the mayor and comptroller to execute documents if funds are awarded. That resolution passed unanimously (see vote record below).

Community garden: Resolution 20 authorized the use of a portion of Miles Park/Lepic Park for a community garden, expanding an existing garden to roughly 2,000 square feet with 10 additional 4-by-8 raised beds. The council approved a one-year term from Feb. 1, 2025 through Jan. 31, 2026. The council and project volunteers noted donations and funding from the Cuba Community Fund and the Auburn Beautification Commission.

STRIVE grant and MOU: The council accepted an approximate $300,000 New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) STRIVE grant for a one-year period beginning April 1, 2025 to support a coordinated community response to high-risk intimate-partner-violence cases; no local match is required. Resolution 22 authorized the chief of police to participate in and execute a memorandum of understanding among STRIVE partner agencies (a local Domestic Violence High-Risk Team). Chief Andrascu said the state contacted the city to invite participation and that the police department expects most of the work to be handled by detectives with some patrol officers participating by letter of interest.

Settlement with school district: Resolution 23 authorized settlement of a timely claim by the Auburn Enlarged City School District for property damage. The council approved reimbursement of $22,115.83 to be charged to account number 1930453. The school board had already approved the proposed settlement; city staff handling sewer and water reviewed the district’s documentation and recommended reimbursement.

Other business: The council approved the Feb. 13 meeting minutes and then recessed to an executive session to discuss several items including the sale of real property and attorney–client matters.

Votes at a glance: see the actions array below for motion text, sponsors, movers/seconders and roll-call tallies for each recorded action taken at the Feb. 20 meeting.