Utica, New York Common Council Meeting Records

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Common Council Meeting January 21st, 2026

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Common Council Meeting January 21st, 2026

6 matches · 2 unidentified
41:46
All right, I think let's move this one forward. We'll vote on it tonight. All right, the reason I'm moving something quickly is that we have a guest today and she's got— can you do it in 20 minutes? All right, so I'd like to introduce, uh, Betty Joan— how do you say your last name? Beaudry, Chair of the Environmental and Climate Justice Committee of the Utica United Chapter of NAACP, will be here discussing how the impact of lead poisoning and legislative changes they could bring about improved conditions. And I'd like to mention that she's married to my first cousin, Paul O'Meal.
Unidentified speaker 1:10:45
Good evening. My name is Shayna Dolan, and as some of you know, I wear many hats in the community. But here I am tonight. I'm here to wear my NAACP Environmental Justice Committee member hat as well as the policy and advocacy chair for the Lead-Free and Healthy Homes Mohawk Valley Coalition. So I just want to reiterate everything that Betty Jo mentioned earlier. And just remind the council and the rest of the city government that no amount of lead is safe. Again, right now kids are being used as lead detectors, and right, the damage is permanent, but it's 100% preventable. It just requires action and political will. As stated before, this isn't just a public health issue, it's a racial justice issue, a socioeconomic and housing justice issue. I brought some other handouts that I can share with everyone that kind of outlines the ripple effect, that it's not just on the individually poisoned child, but it has impacts on the school system, right, the healthcare system, the taxpayers, et cetera. So I was actually hired by over HUD, 6 years ago to work on a campaign in the community to end childhood lead poisoning. And again, one of the asks was to create local legislation to end childhood poisoning in the City of Utica. And under that grant, I was able to work with different folks at the coalition and with folks at what's called Alterum Institute, and we submitted a bunch of different data to help create a city-specific, um, cost-benefit analysis. So again, this is in the handouts I'll give, but essentially it kind of gives a breakdown on the economic impact to the City of Utica if you don't address this issue. And then it kind of breaks it down into 3 levels whether the city implements lead hazard controls, lead service line replacement, which was talked about earlier, and finally renovation, repair, and painting standards enforcement, which again affects the housing. And then finally, I'll just end by saying that I have a list of recommended videos on YouTube. One is the documentary that the County Health Department and Cornell Cooperative Extension put out a few years ago, as well as other videos that talk about the real history and impact of lead. So I just want to offer my services as someone who has been working on this issue for many years now to help the community get leaducated. My info is on the sign-up sheet. And I hope to hear from you all. Thank you.
1:53:30
A local law amending Utica City Charter, Section 1.016, Notice of Tort Claims Against City, Liability of City in Certain Actions. No civil action should be maintained against the city for damages or injuries to person or property sustaining consequence of any street, highway, bridge, culvert, sidewalk, crosswalk, park, recreational field, or any other municipal-owned asset, real or personal property and/or facility. Park, recreational field, or any other municipal-owned asset, real or personal property and/or facility delivered. No such action should be maintained for damages or injuries to the person or property sustained solely in the consequences of the existence of snow, ice, water, grass, or other growth, um, upon any street, highway, bridge, culvert, sidewalk, crosswalk, park, recreational field, or any other municipal-owned asset, real or personal property and/or facility, unless actual written notice thereof relating to the particular place was in writing and actually delivered to the Commissioner of Public Works and there was a failure or neglect to cause such snow, ice, water, grass, or other growth be removed or the place otherwise made reasonably safe within a reasonable time after the receipt of notice. The city should not be liable in civil action for damages or injuries to person or property or invasion of personal property rights of any name or nature whatsoever, whether casual or continuing, arise at law or in equity, alleged to have been caused or sustained in whole or in part, or because of omission of duty, wrongful act, fault, neglect, misfeasance, or negligence on the part of the city or any other of its agents, officers, or employees, unless a notice of claim was made and served in compliance with Section 50(e) of the General Municipal Law, nor unless the action was commenced thereon within 1 year and 90 days after happening of such act, omission, fault, or neglect. But no action should be commenced to recover upon or enforce any such claim against the city until the expiration of 3 months after the service of the notice. This subsection does not revive any claim or cause bar discard or any requirement, statute of limitations, nor waive any limitation applicable to any claim or cause of action against the city. The actual written notice requirement, which necessitates an actual delivery of said notice to the Commissioner of Department of Public Works, will be satisfied by transmissions of said notice to the designated recipient Such delivery does not include utilization of the City of Utica 311 application or similar electronic applications, text messaging, oral notification, and other methods inconsistent with subsection A above. Your votes, please.