Town Board Meeting

We got up. Good. Well, let's call a meeting of the Webster City Council for Thursday, May 2, 2024. Oath of allegiance . I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Uh, Dolly, could you please hold a roll call ? Warden Flaherty? Here. Councilor Cataldi? Present. Councilor Cahill? Here. Councilor Wynn? Here . Councilwoman Wright? Here. Genesee City Attorney? Present. Okay, our first item on the agenda tonight is, as I always say, my favorite part of city council meetings. This is an open meeting where anyone can take the stage for up to 5 minutes to simply speak about whatever their heart desires. So, tonight it looks like we have, uh, about six people registered, and we'll go in the order that they registered. And the first one will be Kevin Lockhart.

Hello everyone. How are you doing tonight? Thank you for allowing me to speak. My name is Kevin Lockhart, and I live in Kettleburger Park. I want to address the topic of tonight, which is this issue with our attorney Sandra Doorley, and also the provocateurs who were sent here on behalf of the city of Rochester to incite hostility against us and harass us, and to try to smear our public safety apparatus in Monroe County. I am saddened by District Attorney Dorell's behavior because it is disappointing, but more important than a polite District Attorney is a District Attorney who fights crime hard. The City of Rochester and its affiliates are actively working towards public safety, which is a top priority for all Monroe County residents. The City of Rochester , the Rochester City School District, the Democratic National Committee— all of these are actively provoking and trying to destroy the public safety apparatus, sending provocateurs, crisis actors, to our meetings to provoke, to incite hostility against us, and to generally harass us. So, I'm just asking

everyone to generally ignore the trolls who are here again to harass and turn us against each other, and I'm sure they'll prove my point by the end of the evening . Um, yeah, normally I would talk more towards the end and respond to what they're saying directly, but today I decided to stop pretty quickly so everyone would understand that I'm well acquainted with these people. Um, I have a few open cases against them right now. Um, I filed several criminal reports against them. These people are unscrupulous actors. They are criminals. We should mostly ignore them. They are very fond of hoaxes and hysteria. Just ordinary people who, in my opinion, are acting dishonestly. And when I talk to everyone in Monroe County, their priorities are always public safety, education, clean neighborhoods, transportation, no taxes . But that's not what everyone thinks. There are a few radical figures who are contemptuous of the entire system. And they may be loud and antagonistic, but they advance their campaign only through force and fraud. And I

just want to make sure that everyone is clear that we are not going to tolerate any unlawful or non-peaceful gatherings in Westchester. And as I've been telling them for the past week, if I see you committing any of the crimes that I've documented many times, I'll turn you into sheriffs, like I've done before, and we'll keep the peace here. So please keep that in mind as you continue to harass and turn us against each other for whatever reasons you can come up with. And just know that I am stalking you all . And that this campaign of yours will definitely lose, especially since we are not going to give up any of your seats at all. So have a good evening here. Welcome to Webster, and feel free to come out later. Thank you. Thank you, Kevin. Good. Next up, and I hope I'm pronouncing the names correctly, is Bethany Hoyer. Did I say that correctly? Yes. Good. I do n't think I was the second person. Everything is fine. My name is Bethany Hoyer. I live in Hamlin, New

York. So, last week, after Sandra Doorley's recent illegal and unethical actions were publicly exposed, many people commented on the patience and professionalism of the police involved. However, the Webster police response is not something to celebrate, and in fact demonstrates the corruption, favoritism, and white privilege that are endemic to systems of power. It is insulting to praise how any of the Webster police officers handled a situation where Sandra Doorley committed crimes and ethical violations. The officer who tried to stop Sandra Doorley had no control over the situation. Sandra Doorley repeatedly went into her house and car, despite being repeatedly asked not to . No one, from the chief to the manager, and none of the officers, responded, none of them said she should be arrested, even though she had committed crimes that warranted arrest. The police chief even told the officer that it was his business whether to issue Doorley a ticket. That this is ineffective or not effective or responsible leadership. However, it was precisely this type of application and difference that Sandra Dorley was apparently counting on, knowing that the boss would actually provide this opportunity, and he did. This favoritism clearly demonstrates that the public cannot trust any of these individuals. If it had been anyone else,

the police would have arrested Doorley and given her a breathalyzer test because of her behavior and demeanor. The officers did not demonstrate that no one is above the law. They granted Dorla the privilege she demanded, only issuing her a speeding ticket, not even a ticket for failing to stop, let alone an arrest. The only reason this became known is because the chest camera footage was released. Otherwise, Doorley would only be liable for the speeding ticket, not the rest of the egregious ethics violations, misdemeanors, and arrestable offenses she committed that Webster police missed. The Webster police did not do their job. They did less than necessary and made it clear that Sandra Doorley's actions tied their hands in terms of professional courtesy that ordinary people never receive. Forget about the fact that if anyone else did what she did, especially black and brown people, they would at best be thrown out and arrested. The hypocrisy, double standards, and corruption are blatantly obvious and tragically repeated...Oh God, I'm sorry. Repeated... It's okay, you're doing well . This is so stressful. Compare how Webster police did virtually nothing against Sandra Doorley, who violated numerous laws, including creating a public danger by speeding and refusing to stop for a police officer. Contrast this inaction, ahem, and preferential treatment by Webster police with the excessive force and brutality that Webster police

used on peaceful protesters just a few years ago when they were protesting, paradoxically, disproportionate and preferential policing and systemic racism. Sandra Doorley's illegal and unethical behavior and the lenient, lenient response of Webster police prove this. Webster police are just as complicit in the abuse of power that we all saw from Sandra Doorley, and they too need to be held accountable. Thank you. Thank you, Bethany. And then, uh , Robin Wilt. And I think I want to...Robin, you're a member of Brighton City Council, right? That's right. Guess what? I. For the first time in my 4.5 years as leader, I feel honored to have another female city council member on the podium. Welcome. Well , thank you very much for inviting us here. We, uh, are grateful for the opportunity to address you in an open forum. And, as you know, I am a member of the city council, so I am very familiar with the duties of the

city council. And my comments will be consistent with that. So, uh, according to the mission of the Webster Police Department, the primary mission of the officers of the Webster Police Department is to serve the community of Webster and its residents. The mission statement goes on to say: "We are called to ensure the implementation of laws and regulations adopted by representatives of these same people." The Department is committed to serving and maintaining our high standards in accordance with the needs of the community we serve. However, on April 22, 2024, in the event of a traffic stop involving Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley, the Webster Police Chief and responding officers failed to adequately enforce laws and ordinances passed by representatives of Webster residents. In fact, they deliberately ignored these laws and ordinances to help Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley avoid accountability for her crimes and abuse her authority, thereby undermining the credibility that enforcement of these laws is equal in the City of Webster. From

the moment District Attorney Doorley contacted Police Chief Dennis Gollmeyer by phone, the community witnessed the application of a two-tier criminal justice system. Where Doorley's race, class, and status as the Monroe County District Attorney , as she so arrogantly claimed, determined how she was treated by law enforcement . In the bodycam footage captured during the incident, we witnessed that, although the officer in charge and the officer who initiated the traffic stop insisted that Doorley's failure to stop was an arrestable offense, neither of them actually considered arresting District Attorney Doorley. Second, given District Attorney Doorley's belligerence and failure to comply with any orders from the officer who initiated the stop, it was necessary to conduct a sobriety test. However, the officers who arrived at the scene did not escort him. So, the public will never know whether Sandra Doorley was under the influence of alcohol or other substances that evening. Third, the officer who arrived on scene allowed District Attorney

Doorley unimpeded access between her car and her home, where she could have concealed evidence of additional offenses. Again, the failure to restrict her freedom of movement, even though she was lawfully detained for a traffic violation, means the public will never have a full picture of what criminal activity District Attorney Doorley was engaged in on April 22. District Attorney Doorley's conduct is clearly a case of uneven treatment by officers, as the officers knowingly allowed District Attorney Doorley to ignore the laws and regulations created for all of us. I just dread to think what would have happened to a person of color who so brazenly ignored the Webster Police Department's obvious attempts to detain and investigate her for a traffic violation. For her role in this incident, District Attorney Doorley faced investigations by the Monroe County Office of Public Integrity, in conjunction with the Monroe County Board of Ethics and the New York State Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct . However, the City of Webster and the

Webster Police Department are silent on what investigations they intend to conduct to try to restore the trust of this community that a two-tier justice system is not standard operating procedure for this police department. In the interest of fairness for all, we demand that the City of Webster initiate an investigation into Police Chief Kohlmeier and the Webster Police Department regarding the actions of Police Chief Kohlmeier and the Webster Police Department in the traffic stop case involving District Attorney Sandra Doorley. Thank you very much. Thank you, Robin. Okay, next up is Tiffany Porter. My name is Sydney Porter, and I'm at 30 Black Watch Trail, Fairport. First of all, to address the first person who spoke, this person assaulted two members of the group, both women, and sent one to the emergency room . So, if you want to believe a man who beat women, go ahead. I'm here tonight to talk about the

blatant abuse of power that Sandra Durley demonstrated as District Attorney, and the leniency she was shown by the Webster Police Department . In 2020, as the city supervisor knows , we protested on the street corner, but he didn't show us the same mercy. All we had were cardboard signs and a megaphone, and the Webster police swooped down on us and arrested several of our comrades. However, in this case, they forced Sandra not only to not stop, but to pull into the driveway, pull her car over, curse at the officers, and then hold her accountable for the ticket, because that's exactly what she did. We were not arrested. We were arrested and these comrades of mine had to deal with these fines in Webster court for a year. We want to know how acceptable this is? Will this council allow Webster police to exercise such discretion? Sandra picked up the phone and called Dennis. Will we, as citizens, also be able to call Dennis to avoid

traffic tickets or anything else ? Good question. We will be sure to ask you this question every week in this open forum until you hold everyone involved in this situation accountable, because the Webster police did not do their job properly that day. Anyone else is different, and that's why we were standing on that corner protesting, because anyone else, if they were black, would probably be dead. They wouldn't be able to tell their story. They would n't be able to post an apology video, and they would n't be on the internet saying that the Webster police did a great job, because they didn't . They didn't do their job. So will you all hold them accountable for not doing so? Or, could you post Dennis's phone number so we can all call him when we have a problem? Thank you. Thank you, Tiffany. Good. I think it's Nicholas Wilt? Is that correct? Yes, Nicholas Wilt. Is Webster a police state? A few years

ago, when I was arrested on an illegally issued warrant, when the Rochester court incorrectly scheduled my appearance date, we received a preliminary affirmative answer. The Webster Police Department invited the Monroe County Sheriff's Office to assist in organizing a peaceful protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement . The protest itself was sparked by the police's disproportionate response to other peaceful protests, where, for example, pedestrians were fined for crossing the street in an unauthorized place, despite the fact that they were crossing the street at a traffic light. In a police state, holding a sign that is undesirable to the police can result in arrest. Despite being told that my appearance date in Rochester was incorrect and providing the appropriate documents, I was given a free ride downtown, and on the way to the prison I was strip-searched. It's not on my wish list, then or now, to undress and then have a law enforcement officer look into my anus because the city court got the date wrong. And if this comment makes you uncomfortable, I challenge you to imagine the discomfort of these

insults from armed agents of the state. A word of caution to those who approve of such police intervention: it restricts your freedom. Either you express an opinion that goes against the will of the state, or, more likely, you limit your thoughts and expressions to those that are acceptable to the state. In any case, freedom suffers in a police state . Fast forward to this week, when the Webster Police Department saw a car traveling 55 in a 35 zone ignore their lights and siren. To say that double standards were applied during Sandra Doorley's encounter with the police would be an understatement. She called her boss while she was being pursued and claimed her position as a district attorney to avoid accountability for her criminal actions. Her abuse of power is well documented. But the complicity of the Webster Police Department also needs to be investigated. A fully functioning police state provides access to power at every level of executive power. Webster, which is not a police state, would enforce the law with equal hands. Thank you, Nicholas.

Good. The following appears to be written by Craig D. Carson. Did I understand correctly? Yes, sir, you did it. Good. Greeting. This is Craig Carson. So, I think everyone knows that what happened is despicable. I think everyone in their thoughts, in their hearts, you kind of realize that something was questionable. Someone felt that he was above the law. The question is, who is the city of Webster? Do you know who you guys are ? As a council, as a community, what are you going to do about this? Are you going to do as the city hall does? Because the city hall immediately convened for a meeting. They decided to launch an investigation based on this situation. They did it. Will the city of Webster do the same? Who is this town of Webster? Is the city of Webster, in the eyes of the people on the council, the population at large, cowards? Or a group of people who will be vigilant in making sure that the police, the police chief, Sandra Doorley, whoever it is, or the individuals involved are held accountable; they were under some pressure; and the good people you all probably think you are

actually looking at the work you are doing in this regard. Are you really going to change something, make a difference? Who are you? As you all sit here, I see you have various titles: Deputy Commissioner of Public Works, Chief Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, I don't know what that means, Manager, and other various fancy or definitive titles. Who are you in this situation? We play certain roles every day in a certain narrow and even temporary situation, you know? This guy here can do his job perfectly well, considering the chief operating officer position he holds. But the question is, is he going to speak out on this issue, because it concerns all of our citizens and the integrity of this city, you know, and the integrity of these various institutions that we're talking about, particularly the District Attorney's Office. Who are you guys on this topic? This country, and certainly this district, has a long tradition of racism. I don't need to go into detail. Everyone has some level, even if it was mediocre, of education on the subject. But we really don't want to continue to be in this social state. This

...this is absurd. And that's something that , I don't think you guys can prove me wrong, maybe you can prove me right , um, that we want to change this social condition. We want transparency, we want accountability, we want integrity, we want professionalism, and many other words that can be kind of synonyms that complement this type of perspective. But then again , who are you guys? Are you going to sit here, stare at this blindly, blink a thousand times, and hear half of what we say , or are you going to do something? So maybe I missed it and I'll be transparent on my part. Maybe you guys did something. Maybe you guys are full speed ahead to make something happen. If so, great. Uh, I have a round of applause for you when my hands come off this podium. But if not, please, please do the right thing. Right? I'm sure you've told your kids this. I'm sure you'll tell your husband/wife that. I'm sure you'll tell that to whoever you manage, whatever it is . Or Donald Trump, when his stupid ass appears on television, I'm sure you'll say the same thing about him. But we need everyone to be consistent and to step a little bit beyond the roles you hold, your titles, and your nameplates, and do something that will make a difference . Because,

of course, we all know that no matter what people say in political conversations, we all know that what happened was wrong. So I would ask you guys to think about it, but you're a little further along. Because if we want to have a good society, full of integrity, it's because we all make that sacrifice, regardless of our background, regardless of our religion, regardless of, you know , our prejudices. So here's what I would ask of the city of Webster. Are you guys cowards? Are you going to take up justice, hit the park? My time. Thank you, Craig. Okay, that's all the people who have signed up to speak tonight . Is there anyone else who has changed their mind, or has anyone else come after Bridget and signed up? Sorry? The lady behind her, behind... I don't know. This beam always...Hmm, would you like it? And ma'am, could you please tell us your name and where you're from, because you didn't register, so... I... I'm sorry. I was a little hesitant

about this. This is normal. But absolutely...Um, my name is Charice Marie , 3896 Dooley Avenue. Hmm, I'm here today for ethical reasons. Hmm , I really believe in following the process. Hmm, I really believe that things don't change overnight. And until the systems and processes are changed, I believe in following the processes so that the system can hopefully work. Part of the system is the city of Webster, which is the body I stand before. I agree with many of the points everyone has made. Um, I think the first officer who stopped Sandra Doorley, I think he did a great job. Things that he didn't know about, um, because he was in the police force, as, you know, the camera footage shows, for less than a year, um, he didn't know, right?

Um, whatever that means, we can only guess, because she was really upset about being stopped. So, um, I guess it was n't the first time. Um, I have a senior class of college students, and I keep telling them, " Do the right thing." No matter what others do, you are doing the right thing. You stand on honesty. You stand on your honor, you do the right thing, and the right things will happen." Um, I know it's not your job to talk about Sandra Doorley's ethical, um, behavior, and I'm not here to talk about that. Um, I support the ongoing investigations, but I'm asking the city of Webster to consider investigating the operations of the police department and finding out what types of systems are backdoor systems or traditional systems that are not technically part of the system that may still be operating, and how we can change that so that no one, um, thinks they're above the law because their police department, um, is on speed dial.

Thank you. Thank you, Sheri. Good. Does anyone still have doubts? Good. Thank you very much. We'll move on to the next, um, topic tonight . We have two, um, minutes of council meetings that were reviewed for approval. I looked it up, hmm, no, I take my words back . I didn't watch the first one because I wasn't here on April 18th. I looked it over. I have reviewed the, um, minutes of the April 18 meeting, and I propose that we approve them. Second. Council member of Ghatalli. I. Councilwoman Winn. I. Councilman Cahill. Resisted. Councilwoman Wright. I. Flaherty's supervisor. Resisted. And then I was here last week at a seminar, and I , uh, looked at the minutes. I propose to approve them. Secondly. Chief Flaherty. I. Councilman Cahill. I. Council member of Gatalli. I. Councilman Winn. I. Councilor Wright. I. Patty, was that you this week? I looked it over. I looked at the bills and everything was in order,

so I suggest we, uh, pay the bills. I support. Council member of Gatalli. I. Councilor Wright. I. Councilman Cahill. I. Councilman Winn. I. Flaherty's supervisor. I. And I have reviewed the, uh, prepaid warrants submitted by Paul Adams, the Director of Finance, and I propose that they be approved. Second. Chief Flaherty. I. Councilor Cataldi. I. Councilor Kehoe. I. Councilman Winn. I. Councilor Wright. I. Yes, I have also, uh, reviewed the purchase orders submitted by Paul Adams, the CFO , and I propose that they be approved. Second. Chief Flaherty. I. Councilman Winn. I. Councilor Cataldi. I. Councilman Kehow. I. Councilman Wright. I. And now I'm upset because I really wanted to give an explanation. That's you, right? Uh, Eric? No, it's Rick...Rick has the position of chief cameraman. Good. Well, next resolution, one of you two or both...Uh, Rick and Ellie. Oh, okay. Good. Well, I'll give you guys a chance to

explain before we vote on it. Okay, thank you. The sludge contract, obviously we know it's a problem, not a problem, but sludge removal is a big issue in our treatment plant budget. Hmm, one of the driving factors of the new modernization was to be the driving force of our own future in this. And that was kind of a telltale sign of why. So, we put the contract out to bid. We had one bidder. It was oh, um, and I think they know that. Just my opinion. So, we got a nice new contract from them with a bunch of changes they wanted to make. But again , we are not in a negotiating position , because this is the only option. So prices have increased by $15 per ton of wet fertilizer to $145 now. That's up from $65 four years ago to $145 now. We thought we'd be smart and add that during the life of this contract we'll also be producing classic fertilizer later on, and we'd like two prices. One in case it appears. And they actually installed it, and that's what we're paying for now.

So there really wasn't any advantage to taking it to the landfill, as they showed us. They also increased the minimum tonnage. We had 11 tons of wet fertilizer, and for anything less, we would receive a surcharge of $95. Now they have increased it to 14 tons of wet fertilizer and we have to stay above that level. Um, or if we were there, they would have implemented a fuel surcharge, which we didn't even want to include in this formula. So, it goes without saying that we are putting this forward based on the agreement that, um, was put in place. This is a two-year term, and hopefully after that we will look for other ways to use our by-product. Is there an exit clause? Yes, but if we decide that something happens, we want, I think, 90 days. And then we have nowhere to put it. Good. So, Paul, I think it's about three hundred or four hundred thousand dollars a year that we spend on sludge removal. Yes. Yes, it's at least 350. And it's obviously, as you just said, Rick, I think at least for next year the amount will go up because, um,

it's going up by about $45,000 a year . Um, that's because, I mean, for anyone who follows these board meetings, especially the last few years, this is such an important part of the technological part of the wastewater treatment plant project. Hmm, and we went through this many times back in mid-2022 to show how a certain technology would dry the sludge and reduce its content from 30% water to 10% and almost granules. And we will not be hostages, I would say, to the fact that there are landfills that are closing. And if the landfills don't open, and believe it or not, new landfills aren't a big deal right now. Hmm, the landfills will be hundreds of miles away. And if we only get one offer now, hmm, we'll be kept on the barrel. This is a monopoly, and we saw this a few years ago. You predicted it, you showed all the statistics. And so we decided, one of the main factors we focused on is not just upgrading the assets in the second phase of our sewage plant, but new

technological advances that will bring us revenue as well as significant cost savings. And now, this project is underway. Um, it won't be completed, and we probably won't start to benefit from the savings of not having to haul away that kind of sludge until mid-to-late 2025, I think. But there is already light at the end of the tunnel on this issue. And we, uh, have made strides on this board over the last few years with the help of Rick, Art, Paul, and the legal counsel, and, uh , put us in a position where hopefully this will be the last time we have to have a sludge removal contract where Rick, Art, or Paul says , "This is the best we can do." They are the only ones who applied. Our landfill is closed, and the next one is the only other one, which is 500 miles away, and the further it is to be hauled, the more it will cost. So, sorry if this is something wrong, but I think it's important to come back to this issue. So, to put it in perspective, the state of Maine has banned the dumping of sewage sludge into its landfills. So, processing plants in Maine are forced

to export it to Canada. They ship to various states in the south, and I can only imagine the cost of that. Yes. Another thing I would like to mention is the hard work and negotiation of Rick, Charlie and Mary Ann trying to keep up with all the changes we are going through, it actually all came down to about 2pm today? Yes. Yes. So, here it is . We really justified everything. Any questions or comments from the rest of the board, Charlie, Al, or anyone else? I would like to propose that the contract for the removal and disposal of sewage sludge for the City of Webster Sewer Department be awarded to New England Waste Services of Maine. Is this Maine Incorporated? Yes. And for the manager to sign a contract for the specified services. I will support. Councilwoman Gataldi? I. Ms. Councilwoman Wright? Me. Councilman Cahill? I. City Councilman Winn? I. Flaherty's boss? I. Well, as I said in the previous one, for those who are watching this all the time , last week we had a very good presentation by the team of Barton and

Logidis. Uh, was that Aaron and Aaron? Aaron and Theron. Right. Theron. Yes. Good. And, uh, I think this resolution is about this presentation. I don't know if you have...We just saw it last week. Do you have any questions? What is it? No, I meant to say that I don't know how much we... We just saw the presentation last week. We were talking about getting this contract done this week so we could... Well, and for those who didn't watch last week, it involves Shipbuilding Bay and, um, some very neglected infrastructure. And it needs restoration, and it needs it fast. This is something we have been considering for at least a few years. So, I think we all agreed that it's time to move forward and let's see what we can do about it. Um, I would authorize the City Manager to contract Barton and Loguidice to analyze alternative engineering work and assist in submitting a CFA funding application for East Branch Shipbuilders Creek's $20,500 in riverbank erosion and exposed sewer infrastructure restoration. Second. Councilwoman

Gattaldi? Yes. Councilman Cahill? Yes. Councilwoman Wynn? Yes. Councilwoman Wright? Yes. Chief Flaherty? Yes. Yes. Sorry. Good. Well, I know no one from MRB is here today, right? That's right. So I'll turn it over to our Rick, and maybe even Charlie , to explain the following. I can talk a little bit about it in a color context and give it to Charlie over the speaker. So, our Visher pumping station is the largest pumping station in the city. Uh, we, uh, today, uh, we asked MRB to do a professional appraisal of the facility, I think, almost 2 years ago. Almost three years ago, to be honest , but time just flies. Uh, the pumping station is in a state of dire need, and I don't use the word " dangerous," uh, lightly. Uh, there are numerous, uh, valves that don't work, uh, pumps that are, uh, nearing their last days, and electronic controls that, uh, we dare not touch. So, uh, while we were looking at this , we were looking at, uh, the possibility of applying for grants, and the

first step of that is the search process, and I'll turn it over to Charlie now. Well, I won't comment on, uh, the project itself, but I...let's just say, I remember that being around for a while too. Uh , I think we all actually remember. Uh, there are a number of agencies, and the list is attached, quite a few, uh, interested and involved agencies, uh, who, uh, we will send a message to get their opinion, and they have 30 days to respond; and hopefully within 30 days we will be able to make, or at least be on the way to familiarizing ourselves with, a decision and then proceed with obtaining grants and further continuation of the project. Yes, I think this is in line with the promises made by the city council over the last few years that the money is there, let's try to get it. And this is the first step towards preparing this project for a grant. I agree. And I will say that it seems that

Patty and Paul and I got some good news today from Empire Facilities Corporation, EFC. They were...This is the agency that is providing, what do you want to call it, the city of Webster with $20 million for our sewer facility, for the reconstruction of our sewer plant. This is exactly what Governor Hochul announced 2 weeks ago today at the Coke Fairlife groundbreaking ceremony. But during our Zoom meeting today with some key people from EFC, we can apply by June 14th for a WIIA grant through EFC for the Boss Road plant or Boss Road through EFC for, so that was good news. And obviously the timing of this 30 days, and this is a type one action, Charlie? Yes. Good. Um, we also, uh , hopefully, can get something done by June 14th, the WIOA deadline, but then we'll also be looking carefully at the CFA deadline of July 30th and what grants, maybe WQIP or something else, might apply to this project. So, uh

, this is a start. So, this is a start. I can definitely speak to the dire need for this project, as I have been to the Vosburg pumping station several times, uh, in my boots and, uh, any other necessary gear. And Art sent us all a video a few weeks ago, another pipe leaking. Uh, uh, so this is exactly what we need to move on from. You know , a lot of people will look at what we're doing and say, "Well, you're taking on a lot of tasks right now . Can't you let this wait a little? » But as you said, manager, we are facing deadlines for grants. And if we do n't do it now, then we'll have to wait and we won't be able to apply until next year. So it's important that we control this. And from your perspective, we can't. We've waited too long for this. I mean, a lot of these projects that we're doing, you know , I give you and your team a lot of credit. You brought this up not only to our board, but to previous boards regarding needed upgrades, preventative maintenance, and it just got to the point where all of these projects have come to a head over the last few years. So, um

, I'm proud of your diligence and the cooperation of this council in moving these much- needed projects forward. Thank you, counselor. And that's true. It's a shame that everything hits at the same time. However, uh, the sanitation system is not something that can be postponed until later. Right. Uh, we're in the green business , and these statements don't work, uh, as you've seen. You know, we had 8 feet of water where it shouldn't be, in that basement. Uh, the flow can't be stopped. Right. Yes, absolutely. The flow cannot be stopped if something breaks. And it's just great that this is, you know, also a time in terms of having, uh, you know, trying to get a grant. So this is a very, very good time. I think Art and Rick were very, uh, measured in how they approached us with these things. The only resolution I vetoed was that they wanted to do one where we put a moratorium on anyone in the city using the restroom for a month, and I said, "I do n't think we can do that." Uh, they ...you didn't lobby for it that much. So. I must have been absent from this. Yes, you were. Uh, no, I was, yes. Uh, so in any case, I'm going to make

a motion that the Webster City Council declare its intent to be the lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act for the purposes of the Vosburg Pumping Station Reconstruction and begin a 30-day coordinated review process for this first-of-its-kind action. Secondly. Warden Flaherty? Yes. Councilwoman Catalino? Yes. Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Councilwoman Wynn? Yes. Councilwoman Wright? Yes. Okay, I guess I'm a liaison at the courthouse, so I'm going to file a motion to approve the following items for recycling from Webster Courts: Canon DI320 printer, scanner, tag number 04783. Second. Warden Clarity? Yes. Mr. Councilor Cahill? Yes. Councilwoman Cataldi? Yes. Councilwoman Wynn? Yes. Councilwoman Wright? Yes. And with that in mind, the next task is to approve the following items for auction from the Webster Police Department. Uh , four patrol cars, as stated on our agenda. Uh, I suggest sending them to auction. Second. Councilwoman Cataldi? Yes. Councilwoman Cahill? Yes. Councilwoman Wynn? Yes. Councilwoman Wright? Yes. Warden Clarity? Yes. And that

concludes the official agenda for tonight. We'll move on to our roundtable, which I think will be very interesting tonight. Let's start with Mr. Canale, down below, in his Boston Bruins. Are you going to...Are they playing tonight? Yes, they want to. So you want to get out of here ? Yes, I want to. You start a roundtable . Good. Um, of course, last week we got great news about 20 million, um, because we exceeded what, five? More than three on WEA and more than two on CFA. It was a bit disappointing that they felt their project didn't meet the criteria for, um, any grant funding. But, um, I just want to say how you, Supervisor Flaherty, organized, sat back , waited, rallied the troops, and bided your time, but played it out well for us so that we could finally get it done. And I just have to say, we definitely failed trying to get all of that, but I think how you handled it, moved on, and were patient. I think that was the key to getting that 20 million. I just want to express it. You thought I was patient. Well, Rick, thank you. Well, did you measure? You were restrained, you showed restraint. Well, you have an interesting

definition of patience. Thank you, Rick. It wasn't visceral. It wasn't visceral. No, it wasn't. You know, to be honest, I would echo Rick's thoughts. This was well done. Thank you, Art. And well done. Yeah, Tom, Harry, and I had something similar. We had a great meeting today at 1:00 PM with representatives from the state of New York. They seemed eager to push the issue forward, but I think by 3:00 PM we already had the deal in our inbox. I've already reviewed it, and Charlie will review it. So, they are looking to complete this, and I will review it over the next few days. And I will also review your comments and compare. Yes. Thank you. Do you think we can start applying whenever we want? I think it was a nice shock to Paul, Patty, and me that this seemed ridiculously simple compared to the normal process of refunding New York State grants and so on. But I said, "Let's see what the contract looks like , and if Charlie and Paul, when they read it, find it as simple as they described it." I'm really interested to hear what you

guys have to say about this. So, Jenny? I would like to commend Paul for completing the audit on time, in fact a few days early, and Dolly for having a perfect report on her audit. It's great to see this and we will miss you as you move on to the next journey of life in retirement. Thank you. She's not going anywhere for a while . Well, we have a little time, but it will be July, it will be May. July will come sooner than you realize. Dolly and I talked today. I think you'll still see her at City Hall after July. But that's another story for another day, right? My turn. Um, I want to thank the community for coming to the medication return day on Saturday. We had a really successful event where we collected over 400 pounds of, uh, unused and expired prescription medications. Hmm , that's what we do twice a year. This is a district-wide effort, and, um, it's very much

appreciated. Everyone who comes has said they're glad we're doing this, and they're grateful to be able to, um, rid their homes of these medications, and we're just happy to help. Hmm, I had...Well, first of all , I don't think the community knew that the last 2 days we had a statewide seminar and meeting of animal control inspectors in Webster at the West Webster Fire Department. It was organized and conducted by, um, Barbara Hollins, who is our animal control officer, and her assistant, Tracy, and , um, the Department of Agriculture and Markets. And it was a very , very comprehensive, hmm, I don't know what to call it, program. It was more than just a class. Hmm, this lasted 2 days, from about 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM the last 2 days. I was briefly present yesterday. I was there this afternoon, and, uh, the former probation judge and I were supposed to do a mock trial. But there were so many issues that it eventually turned into an argument between the two of us, and we really

went through the whole process that you go through in a trial . But anyway, I was very impressed with the turnout, the depth and breadth of the program, and I think Webster should be proud that we did it. Again, this was for the entire state. So, do you know how we were chosen for this? No. Good. You know. That was quite a few years ago. Barbara said it happened, I don't know, a few decades ago. Um, when Tom Link was here, she helped him, but I don't know how we got chosen. They did a great job. Good. We should be very proud. You, Barbara, had a big say in this because she is quite respected. Oh, yes. Barbara Gaylen, you know, I don't usually speak at roundtables, but I have to say this before we go to Jenny. It would be remiss of me not to express my gratitude to the staff of the Assessment Department here at Webster. They were a key player for 4 months and they still managed to meet the May 1st deadline for the preliminary tax roll

for this year, and that is no small feat. And I'm not going to name them all because I'd probably mess up a name or something, but great job. Great job , Jenny. Okay, and again, I have achieved...First, through collaboration and dedication, together we can reach for the stars. And I have the honor of going to Albany with my friend Virginia McIntyre. She is a district representative . You know, and, um, on Wednesday, March 20th, to advocate for increased AIM funding and incentives for municipal assistance. And I'm pleased to announce that this year's New York State budget has added an additional $50 million to AIM funding. to AIM funding. And this could be used for water supply, sanitation, and other projects in cities. Like I said, you know, it's a lot of work, and it's a lot of team effort and all that, and, well, our voice is heard, so it's important. And there are also a few things I would like to say. May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. So, since I'm Asian, I'd

like to express my opinion. Um, but I love this country. And, um, please come and support your Webster Library and Webster Museum. They exist because of all of you. And I thank you for your support . And good evening to you , and may God bless America . Thank you, Jenny. I have nothing. I know. Well, what do you have? I really appreciate the people who came and expressed their opinions during the meeting. Um, I respect their contribution. And, um, you know, it's been a long week for Webster. Really. And, um, you know, I commend everyone for their restraint. Really. Well, that's a shame, because I agree with you. And I mean, and I don't want to say this, the last speaker, Craig, I thought, "I wish this guy would run for mayor." Yes. He was...there were no notes in front of him . He was...He was nasty. He spoke from the heart. Yes, I spoke from the bottom of my heart. Hmm, but she had a great costume. Thank you. Dolly. Hmm...I just want to point out that the fourth installment of city and county taxes was due on April 30th. However, the City Clerk's Tax Collector's Office will continue to

collect taxes until May 31, at which time all taxes will be forwarded to the Monroe County Treasury Department. Good. Well, that concludes today's meeting. We are closing.