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Resident urges codes enforcement and restoration of historic public art; Rome Waterways group backs Erie Canal bicentennial events
Summary
At the June 11 Rome Common Council meeting a resident called for stronger code enforcement and restoration of historic fountains; a waterways group asked the council to approve a donation and promoted the city's trail assets ahead of a July 17 Erie Canal event.
Kathleen Murphy, a longtime Rome resident, used public comment at the June 11 Rome Common Council meeting to urge the council to address litter, improperly stored trash containers and junkyards near homes, and to restore historic city fountains.
"We have trash cans left at the curb week after week... It makes the city look dumpy," Murphy said, identifying herself as a resident of 1404 Franklin Street. She asked council members to "check your wards to see what does not meet standards, and then it's your job to give it to the codes office so that they can go after these people with citations and get these things in order." Murphy also asked that fountains and other historical pieces be returned to visible public locations.
Bobby O'Brien, speaking on behalf of the Rome Waterways and Trails Advocacy Group, thanked the council for approving a street-closure ordinance in May and urged a favorable vote on resolution 90, the $5,000 donation from Worthington Steel to support the welcoming block party for Parks & Trails New York's Erie Tour on July 17. O'Brien said the weeklong, 400-mile event will include community celebrations along the canal route as part of the canal's bicentennial and encouraged residents to attend the West Dominick block party.
"We encourage everyone in the community to come down to West Dominick and enjoy the festivities," O'Brien said, and noted the city's proximity to the Erie Canal and Fort Stanwix National Monument as assets that can boost tourism. Resolution 90 was approved by the council during the same meeting.
Both comments came during the meeting's public comment period. Murphy's remarks called for increased ward-level enforcement and use of the codes office to pursue citations; O'Brien's remarks requested council support for a funded community event and highlighted trail and canal resources the group says benefit local tourism.
Provenance from the meeting transcript is cited below.
