Port Jervis council adopts vacant‑building fee law, extends paid administrative leave and approves routine bills and events

The Port Jervis Common Council on Sept. 9 adopted Local Law No. 6 of 2024 to amend the city’s vacant‑building fees and approved a set of routine administrative and community measures.

Councilman Vicarello moved to adopt the local law "to amend the vacant building fees," and the motion was seconded and approved after a short procedural exchange about environmental review, which one speaker described as a "type 2 action under the secret regulations." The council also voted to extend paid administrative leave for an unnamed employee pending further council action.

In finance business, Councilwoman Fuller presented bills for payment totaling $309,063.04 — $213,801.54 from the general fund, $39,354.43 from the water fund, $2,246.73 from the sewer fund, $53,060.34 from the capital fund and $600 from trust and agency. Fuller noted several larger vendor payments included on the docket and moved to pay the bills; the motion carried.

Council approved departmental reports and community events: the building official’s report, the monthly police report and a rabies clinic scheduled for Oct. 27, 2024. The council also approved a public‑assembly permit for Grace Community Church’s trunk‑or‑treat event on Oct. 26, 2024, after city staff confirmed the required paperwork and liability insurance and that it would not conflict with the Halloween parade.

Personnel and appointments: the council authorized the extension of paid administrative leave for an employee (employee number to be provided to the record), reappointed Kathy Potter to the Board of Assessment Review and appointed Jeff Lewis as an alternate member of the zoning board.

Other community notices included a recreation trip to the Sept. 29 Jets–Broncos game (charter bus departing Port Jervis, ticket $220; optional tailgate about $30), and a city electronic electronics drop‑off day on Oct. 19 at the Towpath Road landfill from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The council also noted that Congressman Pat Ryan’s staff will hold constituent hours in the council chambers on Monday, Sept. 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Adopt Local Law No. 6 of 2024 (vacant‑building fees): motion moved by Councilman Vicarello; seconded by Councilman Siegel; outcome: adopted (motion carried). - Extend paid administrative leave for an employee pending further action: mover: (speaker 7); seconded; outcome: approved (motion carried). - Approve building official’s report: mover: Councilman Vicarello; seconded by Councilman O'Connell; outcome: approved. - Approve monthly police report: mover: Councilman Vicarello; seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve rabies clinic on Oct. 27, 2024: mover: Councilman Vicarello; seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve payment of bills totaling $309,063.04: mover: Councilwoman Fuller; seconded; outcome: approved. - Remove membership of firefighter (Bryce Stiletto): mover: Councilman Rose; seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve roast‑beef fundraiser on Oct. 19, 2024: mover: Councilman Rose; seconded; outcome: approved. - Hire part‑time DPW seasonal employee (Hayden McBride): mover: DPW rep; seconded by Councilman Siegel; outcome: approved. - Reappoint Kathy Potter to Board of Assessment Review: mover: Mayor; seconded; outcome: approved. - Appoint Jeff Lewis as alternate zoning board member: mover: Mayor; seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve public assembly permit for Grace Community Church trunk‑or‑treat (Oct. 26, 2024): mover: Councilman Siegel; seconded by Councilman Vicarello; outcome: approved. - Adopt resolution updating officer designations for NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR): mover: Mayor; seconded; outcome: approved.

Why it matters Taken together, the actions formalize fee policy for vacant properties, keep routine city operations funded and scheduled, and initiate administrative steps related to personnel and community events. The council also continued steps on resilience and grant administration (see separate CDA/grant item), which could lead to future capital work.

What’s next Several items will require follow‑up: posting details for the rabies clinic and the electronics drop‑off; the mayor said the city will publish a full list of accepted electronics on the city website. The employee placed on extended paid leave remains on leave pending council direction.