Monday, June 1st, 2015
Kingston Common Council Caucus
7:00pm
Conference Room #1
Kingston City Hall
420 Broadway, Kingston
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015
Kingston Common Council
7:30pm
Council Chambers
Kingston City Hall
420 Broadway, Kingston
Both meetings will be filmed.
By Rebecca Martin
At last week’s Public Safety/General Government Committee meeting, a resolution for a referendum to be placed on the ballot in November passed unanimously through to the Common Council. The referendum, if approved by a full Council vote, would give the public the opportunity to vote on whether or not to amend the charter to include the Common Council for “Water Supply Outside of City”.
In Section C11-5C (Water Supply Outside of City), it says: (C) Such sales or sales must be approved by the New York State Water Power and Control Commission” (the NYS Water Power and Control Commission today is the Department of Environmental Conservation aka DEC). The referendum would ask the public to approve or not the inclusion of the Common Council, “and the common council.” That simple amendment would give the public a say as to water sales outside of Kingston’s city limits. Additionally, Kingston would automatically be an “Involved” agency in SEQR in the case one were ever triggered again.
In the meantime, the public’s water would have a layer of protection that would allow for thoughtful policy to be developed for sustainable growth and economic development using this precious public resource.
This is one of many steps that need to be taken in order to help protect Cooper Lake and our watershed as a whole. But by assuring that the sale of water outside of our small, local municipality includes our Common Council – it is a significant one.
WHAT TO EXPECT: June 1st
Caucus (Monday, 6/1), which is a public meeting of supporters and members of a specific political party (in Kingston, our nine alderpersons are made up of eight democrats and one republican), occurs each month the evening before the full Common Council meetings. Much discussion is generally had on all agenda items, as well as often, conclusions as to which way council members will cast their vote the following evening. There isn’t a sign-up for public comment during Caucus, however you may contact Matt Dunn, the Council Majority Leader (see email address below), if you wish to be added to the agenda. For those who can attend caucus, it is always enlightening and in this case, and if added to the agenda, will help you to better understand the dynamics that surround this issue.
WHAT TO EXPECT: June 2nd
It is very important that the public plan to attend the Kingston Common Council meeting on Tuesday, June 2nd to speak in support of the public referendum as described above if you are in favor of it. Please consider to thank the Public Safety/General Government Committee for their leadership role here and on passing the resolution for referendum through to Council. Request that the City take any necessary steps to make a referendum possible for the November, 2015 ballot. A public comment period begins shortly after 7:30pm. Please arrive 10 minutes early to sign-up to speak. Keep your comments succinct, respectful and no longer than 3 minutes in length.
If you cannot be in attendance next week but wish to share your thoughts with city officials regarding this matter, with “REFERENDUM: Water Supply Powers” in the subject.
Mayor Shayne Gallo
sgallo@kingston-ny.gov
(845) 334-3902
Alderman-at-Large James Noble
jnoble39@aol.com
(845) 331-4696
Matt Dunn, Ward 1 and Majority Leader
ward1@kingston-ny.gov
(845) 541-8880
Brian Seche, Ward 2
brian@seche.net
(845) 335-5971
Brad Will, Ward 3
bbieber693@gmail.com
(845) 616-8664
Nina Dawson, Ward 4
ward4@kingston-ny.gov
(845) 616-8592
Bill Carey, Ward 5
kingstoncarey5@yahoo.com
(845) 339-1361
Elisa Ball, Ward 6
ward6@kingston-ny.gov
(845) 430-8521
Maryann Mills, Ward 7
mmills1299@aol.com
(845) 331-7682
Steven Shabot, Ward 8
ward8@kingston-ny.gov
(845) 338-5060
Deb Brown, Ward 9 and Minority Leader
djbrown72@hotmail.com
(845) 338-0763
Additional Reading from KingstonCitizens.org:
Resolution for Referendum Passes Unanimously Through Kingston Public Safety Committee
Powers for Sale of Water Outside of Kingston Put to Referendum? We Say Yes!
Checks and Balances. Amend Charter to Include Kingston Common Council in Certain Water Sales.
Niagara Bottling Proposal Timeline: 116 Events