Council of Albany Neighborhood Associations

Meeting Minutes February 7, 2007

Albany Public Library

 

1)       Introductions

 

2)       Minutes:  Minutes of the January meeting are revised to indicate that Executive Committee Members Andrew Harvey is from Park South NA, Marggie Skinner is past chair, and Harold Rubin is at large and the minutes were adopted.

 

3)       Guest Speaker:  The Honorable Jerry Jennings, Mayor of Albany

 

Mayor Jennings presented a summary of his 2007 State of the City Address.

 

bulletSignificant progress has been made in creating a better life for Albany ’s citizens, but challenges remain.  Governor Spitzer’s direction and commitment to upstate cities are encouraging.
bulletThe manner in which State aid to cities needs to be reformed and tied to good management practices.
bulletThe State Legislature will be asked to reform the way road transportation projects in cities are funded because of their disadvantage compared to suburban and rural areas.  Cities streets require more repair and maintenance.
bulletA summit is being planned for June with SUNY to address the relationships of students and families and quality of life in Albany
bulletThis will be a year of even stronger lobbying of the State Legislature for permit parking authorization.  Cities should be able to manage their own streets.
bulletThe City’s finances are more stabilized because of successful efforts to obtain and increase the State’s payment in lieu of taxes on the Empire State Plaza .
bulletA comprehensive report of vacant and abandoned buildings in the city has been issued.  The Capitalize Albany Committee will make recommendations about whether to demolish, rehab or seek reinvestment in these buildings.
bulletThe City’s Department of Recreation and the Albany School District are collaborating to open an after school program and teen center at Giffen Elementary School beginning this spring.   It will offer students structured recreational and educational programs. 
bullet Albany ’s Truancy Abatement Program has received recognition from the New York State Conference of Mayors and is being recommended for National recognition.  Night visits are being made to families to address the truancy issue.
bulletThe Albany bus terminal needs to be rebuilt or replaced; plans are being considered.
bulletUSAir Magazine will feature the City of Albany in a 36-page insert in its April issue.
bulletA proactive approach to policing has been implemented under the direction of Chief Tuffey.  Results are already evident.  Instance of crimes in the City has dropped in most categories.  Operation IMPACT continues to be implemented.

 

Mayor Jennings also answered questions on the following subjects:

 

bulletA team of 13 people from USAir Magazine visited Albany to research the upcoming article.  Advertisements for the section are being sold to promote services and goods available in Albany .

 

bulletThere has been discussion about the local business community becoming involved with students in Albany Schools.

 

bullet New York State laws do not determine the structure of school systems.

 

bulletMoney for public access television no longer exists because the formula has changed.  The City is eager to settle its contract with Time Warner this year.

 

bulletAn inventory of streetlights, utility wires, etc. is underway to determine whether the City is underpaying or overpaying National Grid, Verizon, etc.

 

bulletIn addition to implementation of a parking permit system in Albany , it was suggested that the problems may be further addressed by if bike lanes were created and other means of public transportation were considered.

 

bulletThe odor coming from the landfill is being addressed.  Ways to eliminate the landfill and minimize the impact are being investigated.  Technology and recycling incentives are being considered that will turn waste to energy. 

 

bulletClimate change is a national issue that needs to be addressed within the larger picture of the environment.

 

bulletEffective April 1, the public will have access to crime information on the internet.  Shortly after that the system will become interactive and a new website will include more cohesive approach to DCJS and code violations.

 

bullet Albany ’s Master Plan will be active rather than re-active.  All neighborhood associations will be consulted as it is being developed. 

 

bulletIt was suggested that those groups and businesses responsible for economic development consider training and employing Albany residents and that Albany residents also be considered first for placement as interns in State government.

 

 

 

4)       Committee Reports

 

bulletUniversity and Community Relations

The next meeting will be Wednesday, Feb 14 at the APD Center Station (a new location).  Items on the agenda include the beginning of the 7-point plan for spring 2007, trash to treasure program, and the taverns and tavern owners’ agreement.

 

bulletCodes

The Committee met with DCJS on Monday night and asked for an annual management report in order to review trends and issue a report card on rating the City’s responsiveness to issues the Committee has identified.  The staff responded positively.  There have been no tangible changes since the committee began meetings with DCJS, nor is it any easier for residents to report violations.  There seems to be no inspiration for creative ideas.    The committee feels the City focuses on big businesses and that small businesses face hurdles. 

 

5)       New Business and Announcements

 

 

bulletPublic hearings on the subject of burying utility lines on Central Avenue from Everett Road westerly to the city line have been scheduled.

 

bulletApplications are being accepted for the spring, 2007 Albany Police Citizens’ Academy.  The course will begin in March 8 and meet weekly for 14 weeks.

 

bulletNominations for the 2007 Historic Albany Foundation Preservation Merit Awards are being accepted.  Guidelines and additional information are available by contacting Historic Albany at 465-0876.

 

bulletThe South End Improvement Committee is seeking donations of clothing, toys and household items for a family whose home was lost in a fire at 95 Clinton St .   There are five children.  Contact Don Folia at 436-8777.

 

 

 

6)       Adjournment

 

The meeting adjourned at    8:30PM .

 

 

Submitted by

     Deanna Colfels

 


 

CANA

February 7, 2007

Meeting Attendees

 

NAME

ASSOCIATION

ADDRESS

Lynne Jackson

Albany Bicycle Coalition

223 So Swan St

Daniel VanRiper

Lincoln Park NA

dwvr@mac.com

Howard Stoller

Melrose NA

 

Joe Cunniff

Upper Washington Ave NA

jcunniff@nycap.rr.com

Gene Solan

Pine Hills

126 So. Allen St

Harold Rubin

Center Square

156 Chestnut St

Donald Wardle

United Tenants

125 Dove St

Richard Conti

Common Council Ward 6

Rc6thward@aol.com

Tom Gebhardt

University at Albany

tgebhardt@uamail.albany.edu

Howard Stoller

CANA

Hstoller@aol.com

Holly Katz

Mansion

harriskatx@mac.com

Helen Klaysen

West End

817 Livingston Ave

Lisa Ternullo

Whitehall Dana

 

Mary Connair

Delaware Area NA

mconnair@yahoo.com

PO Matthew Montesano

APD

126 Arch St

Rev Joyce Hartwell

West Hill NA

461 Clinton Ave

Blake Pavlik

Mansion Hill

69 Trinity Place # 401

John Paneto

Shaker Park

11 Rosemary Drive Ext.

Stephen Winters

Second Avenue

227 Second Avenue

Hillary Tommaney

Historic Pastures Community Assoc.

50 Webster St

Jack Moodie

TenBroeck Triangle

Blaise1984@yahoo.com 82 N Hawk St .

Jim Lyons

Melrose NA

 

Daniel Colonno

Albany Police

dcolonno@albany-ny.org

Janet Parker

Albany Police Dept

Jparker@albany-ny.org

Officer Kathy Rissberger

APD

krissberger@albany-ny.org

Anne Brewster

Washington Park NA

 

Leanne Paegllow

West Hill NA

westhillpres@yahoo.com

Betsey Shearer

PSNA

58B Morris St bshearer@quixnet.

Andrew Harvey

PSNA

Aach2004@aol.com

Eileen Murray

PHNA

albanyem@verizon.net

Louise McNeilly

DANA

Louise@cdclf.org

Alison Coleman

Wash Sq NA

Allison.colemar@rcda.org

Archie Goodbee

Friends of Goodbee

154 Madison Ave

Ellie Pepper

Arbor Hill Dev Corp

ellie@arborhilldc.org

Roger Markovics

Mansion NA/United Tenants

utalb@verizon.net

Jack Consiglio

New Albany NA

JackNANA@nycap.rr.com

Shawn Morris

Common Council President

24 Marinello Terr

Christiana Limmatis

Historic Albany Foundation

899 Mercer St

Mimi Mounteer

Manning Boulevard

75 Manning Boulevard

Nicole Armsby

North Albany NA

20 Center St

JoAnn Morton

Resident South End

34 Alexander St

Nellie Morton

Resident South End

 

Mark Sullivan

Beverwyck

18 Lincoln Ave

Joe Rabito

Albany

21 Lodge St

Mike Yevoli

Albany Development & Planning

21 Lodge St

Chris Leo

Albany

21 Lodge St

Sarah Reginelli

Albany DDP

21 Lodge St

Anton Konev

Washington Square NA/Coalition to Save Albany

140 Washington Ave

Phil Calderone

Mayor’s Office

City Hall

Jim Tuffey

APD

APD

Aimee Allund

Melrose NA

 

John O’Grady

West End NA

817 Livingston Ave

Dianne Hansen

Manning Blvd

hansonpd@earthlink.net

Julie Elson

New Scotland-Woodlawn

Jelson510@earthlinknet