Schenectady council rejects custodial account for summer concert series; item sent back to committee

The Schenectady City Council on May 27 failed to approve a resolution authorizing the city to establish a custodial account to hold sponsorship funds for a proposed downtown concert series, with the measure sent back to committee after a 4-2 vote.

The custodial-account proposal, moved by Councilmember Michael Farley and seconded by Councilmember Yvonne Patrick, would have allowed the city’s finance office to create an account to receive private sponsorships for city-run events, including a planned summer concert series the mayor’s office said would start June 12.

Council members split over both the substance and the process. Councilmember Marcus Farley said the language before the council differed from what had been discussed in committee and that the council should revisit the item: “The appropriate thing to do is to bring it back and then let’s just have a conversation about it,” he said. Councilmember Damian Mancini and Councilmember Williams likewise said they lacked needed details and…