The Ithaca Common Council on Jan. 7, 2026 approved a package of bond resolutions and personnel actions that implement spending already authorized in the 2026 budget and finalize key city appointments.

Council members voted to authorize borrowing for a range of capital projects, including Stewart Avenue renovations (~$5.2 million), Cass Park bathroom/pavilion improvements ($938,000), North Cayuga Street improvements ($200,000) and several water, sewer and street projects. The council also approved a $250,000 bond for the Red & White Café project, which staff said will support youth hospitality programming run through GIAC and related training opportunities.

Mayor (speaker) said these borrowings are procedural: “the budget gets passed in November, and we have to borrow the money,” and described this meeting’s bond votes as the routine step to access previously authorized budget dollars. Council discussion flagged cost overruns on the Cass Park project and staff said reprogramming and IURA support will be used to address those increases.

The council unanimously approved a contract recognizing the actual cost of providing fire services to the Town of Ithaca; staff gave new figures for 2026 (~$5,317,000) and 2027 (~$5,000,646) with further increases if renewed. Council members praised staff and legal counsel for negotiating the intermunicipal agreement.

After executive-session deliberations the council adopted a retroactive temporary salary adjustment for Acting City Manager Recchio, setting an annual rate of $167,000 retroactive to Jan. 1 and crediting one week of sick leave. The measure passed unanimously.

The council also waived the search process to appoint Michael Moody as permanent fire chief effective Jan. 8, 2026, at an annual salary of $151,500. “Congratulations, chief,” the mayor said after the vote. Council approved the collective bargaining agreement for the chief officers unit (Ithaca Professional Firefighters Association, Local 737), expiring Dec. 31, 2026, and authorized the acting city manager to execute the agreement subject to city attorney advice.

The votes implement previously budgeted items and move forward contract and personnel actions the administration said are time-sensitive to execute in the coming weeks. The city clerk reminded the public that HUD entitlement application materials for the IURA annual action plan are available online and that the HUD program year allocation is $907,000.

What’s next: staff will finalize the bond sale/borrowing transactions and return any required follow-up paperwork; the newly appointed fire chief’s effective date is Jan. 8, 2026, and the acting city manager salary adjustment takes effect retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026.