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Long Beach council approves appointments, grant and banking agreement; several items sent to public hearing
Summary
At its Nov. 19 meeting the Long Beach City Council approved reappointments to the Zoning Board of Appeals, accepted a $26,400 traffic‑safety grant for the police department and authorized participation in a banking marketplace program; two charter/rules changes were authorized for public hearing on Dec. 3.
The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday approved a slate of routine measures and moved two charter and rules changes to public hearing.
The council reappointed Vinnie Lease and Barry Alton to the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals for three‑year terms. The body also authorized the city manager to accept a $26,400 grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to fund seat‑belt enforcement and related overtime for traffic‑safety initiatives, and approved participation in the Metropolitan Commercial Bank Demand Deposit Marketplace program, which staff said offers a higher yield than the city’s existing money‑market options.
Council members voted to authorize publication for public hearings on Dec. 3 for two related items amending council procedures and the charter language governing meeting administration. Council members who opposed the procedural changes flagged concerns that the draft shifts certain meeting‑management powers from the full council to the presiding officer.
During the meeting the council also approved the Oct. 15, 2024 minutes and adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager to purchase a PHC‑12 freestanding laboratory analysis station for the water purification plant; staff said the purchase replaces a 25‑year‑old unit and includes training and a one‑year warranty.
What the council approved: - Reappointments to Zoning Board of Appeals: Vinnie Lease and Barry Alton (three‑year terms). - Police‑department grant: $26,400 from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee for seat‑belt enforcement and traffic safety overtime initiatives. - Banking program: authorization for the controller to enter the Metropolitan Commercial Bank Demand Deposit Marketplace program (staff noted a current money‑market yield of about 4.80%). - Purchase: PHC‑12 laboratory analysis station for the water purification plant (staff said maintenance costs will be provided later). - Publication for hearing: ordinance and local law amending council rules/charter language (hearing scheduled Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.).
The council’s approval moves each item to the next administrative step or implements the action where staff had recommended adoption. Several votes drew brief council discussion: one councilor said he was uneasy approving the lab purchase without a defined long‑term maintenance cost, while others said the unit replaces equipment past its useful life and includes training and a warranty. The procedure and charter amendments prompted a lengthier policy debate and public comment that will continue at the Dec. 3 hearing.
The council adjourned after the scheduled public‑comment period.
