Schenectady council approves citywide 25 mph limit, declines one property sale; several sales and appointments pass on consent

The Schenectady City Council on Jan. 27 approved a citywide 25 mph speed limit and cleared a package of consent items that included appointments and several property sales, while rejecting one proposed property sale after members expressed procedural concerns.

The council adopted, on the legislative consent agenda, an ordinance to amend sections 2-48-11 and 2-48-16 of the Schenectady City Code to set a citywide speed limit at 25 miles per hour. The consent agenda was moved by Miss Patrick and seconded by Mr. Farley and approved by voice vote as part of the legislative consent agenda.

Also approved on consent were two appointments: a resolution confirming Kristin D. Fabian to the Board of Zoning Appeals (Item No. 2) and a resolution confirming Adam Roseland to the Planning Commission (Item No. 3). The consent agenda included multiple property-sale resolutions that the clerk read into the record (Items No. 5–8), covering sales listed on the agenda as: 66 Wiley Street for $35,100; 720 Congress Street for $62,500; a vacant lot at 821 Congress Street for $2,000; and a vacant lot at 2623 Broadway for $1,625.

A separate vote and roll call were held on Item No. 4, a resolution authorizing the sale of 25 Moisten Street. The clerk read the item into the record as “a resolution authorizing the sale of 25 Moisten Street for $31,100.” Councilmember Williams made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Farley. During roll call several members explained why they would not support the sale; Councilmember Porterfield said she voted no because she had unresolved concerns about the process and wished those issues had been examined before the item left committee. The clerk announced, “the motion fails 5 to 0.” The transcript records explicit “No” responses for Farley and Williams and a verbal explanation and “no” from Porterfield; the roll-call result reported five no votes and no yes votes. The record indicates two council members were absent (Mancini and Matubarran).

Other business: the council took up a resolution recognizing Anthony Ferrari for 40½ years of service; Ferrari, the city’s finance commissioner for much of his tenure, spoke briefly, thanked colleagues and family and said he will retire Jan. 31, 2025. Councilmembers also noted that Public Hearings Nos. 2 and 3 (an increase in point values for noise ordinance violations and amendments to Chapter 28 governing council rules and procedures) were opened and closed with no public speakers.

What the votes mean: the 25-mph ordinance was approved via the consent agenda; specific implementation steps (timing, signage, education and enforcement) were discussed in later remarks but not formally adopted at the Jan. 27 meeting. The failed sale of 25 Moisten Street will require staff follow-up if the city still intends to pursue a sale; the transcript shows some council members requested additional clarification after executive-session discussion.

The meeting closed after routine adjournment votes; the council indicated Item No. 10 (a resolution recognizing Black History Month 2025) will be presented in February.