Schenectady City Council approves 17-item consent agenda, including zoning, codes, contracts

The Schenectady City Council on Feb. 10, 2025 placed 17 numbered items and related resolutions on the legislative consent calendar and advanced them for approval, with most items described by staff as "discussed in committee" and handled on consent.

The consent items read into the record included proposed ordinances amending sections of the Schenectady City Code — among them an amendment to increase the point value for violations of the noise ordinance (chapter 183 §183-1) and an amendment to allow email notifications to council members (chapter 28 §28-3). The caucus also read a zoning amendment to regulate locations of cannabis establishments (section 264-113 of the zoning code) and a resolution calling for a public hearing to rezone the former St. Clair's hospital property to R3 multiple-family residential.

The deputy clerk read multiple administrative and contract items marked for consent: an amendment to the building codes fee schedule; a capital-budget reallocation to purchase two packer vehicles; a declaration that the zoning amendment is a Type II action for SEQRA purposes; a resolution supporting the Schenectady County Food Council's advocacy requests for the NYS FY2026 budget (item 9); corrections and authorizations for the sale of properties at 28 and 25 Moisten Street; a revocable-permit request (No. 688) for Insomnia Cookies Operators LLC to install gooseneck lighting at 118 J Street; authorizations to settle several claims; authorization to accept proposals for upfitting police vehicles; and an award of a bid for golf course tree removal to Kevin Downs Tree Service Co. Inc. in the amount of $187,000.

Several items were identified as having been "discussed in committee with objection and on consent" or "discussed in committee without objection and on consent" in the clerk's reading; the transcript marks the items' committee disposition for each item.

A separate, out-of-order resolution honoring the late Leonard F. Pacarro was presented and moved to the floor by Council Member Moutier and seconded by Council Member Farley; the roll call on that resolution recorded unanimous "yes" votes from the council members present. The clerk recorded "yes" from Ms. Satoro; Mr. Farley; Mr. Mancini; Mr. Muntaviran; Ms. Patrick; Mr. Williams; and Ms. Porterfield. The clerk noted the motion "passes unanimously."

Votes at a glance (consent items and outcomes) - Item 1 — Ordinance amending chapter 183 §183-1 (noise ordinance point values): disposition "discussed in committee without objection and on consent"; outcome: approved on consent (vote: on consent; roll call not individually recorded in transcript). - Item 2 — Ordinance amending chapter 28 §28-3 (allow email notifications to council members): discussed in committee without objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 3 — Multi-section ordinance technical amendments (sections of chapters 138, 150, 159, 151, 160 referenced): disposition recorded in clerk's reading; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 4 — Zoning ordinance amendment (section 264-113) to regulate locations of cannabis establishments: discussed in committee with objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 5 — Resolution calling for public hearing to rezone former St. Clair's hospital properties to R3: discussed in committee with objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 6 — Resolution amending building codes fee schedule (authorized by chapter citations read into the record): discussed in committee with objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 7 — Capital budget amendment to purchase two packer vehicles: original consideration; discussed in committee with objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 8 — SEQRA/Type II determination for the cannabis zoning ordinance: original consideration; discussed in committee without objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 9 — Resolution supporting Schenectady County Food Council advocacy/empowerment requests for NYS FY2026 food-security funding: original consideration; discussed in committee without objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 10 — Resolution correcting typographical errors in a prior property-sale resolution (Res. 2024-245 re: sale of 28 Moisten St. for $25,000): original consideration; discussed in committee without objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 11 — Resolution authorizing sale of 25 Moisten St. for $31,000: final consideration; discussed in committee without objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 12 — Revocable permit No. 688 to Insomnia Cookies Operators LLC for gooseneck lighting at 118 J St.: original consideration; discussed in committee without objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Items 13–15 — Resolutions authorizing settlement of claims by Janelle D. Collins; Lamont and Charmaine Trotling; and Michael Trilongo: original/final consideration as read; discussed in committee without objection and on consent; outcomes: approved on consent. - Item 16 — Contract and supply resolution accepting proposal for upfitting police vehicles: discussed in committee without objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 17 — Award of bid and contract for golf course tree removal to Kevin Downs Tree Service Co. Inc., base bid plus alternatives A, C and D, amount $187,000: contract award read into the record; discussed in committee without objection and on consent; outcome: approved on consent. - Item 17a — Out-of-order resolution honoring Leonard F. Pacarro: moved by Council Member Moutier, seconded by Council Member Farley; roll-call vote recorded unanimous yes; outcome: approved (unanimous).

What changed and what remains next: Most items were routine and handled on the consent calendar; individual items that were flagged as discussed "with objection" had been debated in committee before placement on consent. The transcript records the clerk's reading and the disposition language; explicit, itemized roll-call tallies appear only for the out-of-order honoring resolution, which passed unanimously.

The council adjourned after other routine business and announcements.