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Council rejects mayor’s Broome County Land Bank ARPA plan after heated debate over $386,749
Summary
The council debated alternative uses for $386,749 in ARPA funds — the mayor's proposal to contract with the Broome County Land Bank versus a Southern Door Community Land Trust request — and voted down the resolution to authorize the county land bank contract.
The Binghamton City Council debated an urgent year‑end allocation of $386,749 in American Rescue Plan Act funds on Dec. 18 and ultimately rejected a resolution that would have authorized the mayor to enter an agreement with the Broome County Land Bank.
The funds were described by Southern Door Community Land Trust executive director Hajj Aziz as newly available and, he said, were offered to the county land bank before the city council or other local nonprofits were fully notified. “How does nearly $400,000 slip through the cracks?” Aziz asked, pressing the council to support the land trust’s request to rehabilitate a dilapidated property into deeply affordable units.
Councilman Kavanaugh moved to hold the resolution to allow additional consideration of the Southern Door proposal; after discussion that motion failed and the council took the resolution up for a vote. Council members split in public remarks — some accused the administration of political handling of the funds and urged the council to stand with minority‑led organizations; others argued the mayor’s office had valid reasons for the land bank referral.
When roll was called on the resolution authorizing the mayor to contract with the county land bank, the resolution did not pass. Council staff recorded the votes by roll call and the chair declared the measure failed.
Council members said the issue — including whether a contract can be executed before the Dec. 31 deadline and whether the Southern Door CLT can meet procurement and contract requirements — will be subject to further discussion; a special business meeting was suggested to deal with outstanding ARPA and contract matters.
The transcript shows detailed factual claims from witnesses about project feasibility, matching grant commitments, and prior communications with the mayor’s office; the council did not adopt either side’s proposal during the meeting.
Next steps: council members flagged follow-up steps including a possible special business meeting to resolve the year‑end funding decision, additional contracting details, and possible negotiation with the mayor’s office to create a path for the Southern Door Community Land Trust should the city pursue that option.
