OSWEGO, NY – The Common Council rolled through its agenda Monday evening paving the way for some summer events.
The council approved a request by Mary Vanouse, community development director, to issue a request for proposals to seek qualified developers for 1-7 W. Seneca St. (Former Cahill’s and most recently Coleman’s).
In January, the Community Development Office foreclosed on the property according to the terms of default for the outstanding Canal Corridor HUD 108 Loan.
The property is listed on the US Secretary of Interior’s National Register of Historic Places (as the Walton and Willet Stone Store) and is the oldest commercial building in the Port City.
“The mortgage is in default and the Community Development Office foreclosed on the property and took it back. It is now the city’s property,†Vanouse explained.
A committee of professionals, including council members, will review all proposals for re-use of the property and make a recommendation to the full council.
A minute later, councilors OK’d a request by Harborfest to use the parking lot of the former Walton and Willet Stone Store, from July 14 through 28 to prepare for and celebrate Harborfest 2010.
The council also approved a pair of requests from a local businessman.
They granted permission for Don Wahrendorf, owner of The Sting, to hold a Muscular Dystrophy benefit at his establishment on July 4 from 3 – 8 p.m.
He requested permission to use public space by allowing the music performers to pull their trailer on the sidewalk fronting The Sting’s patio on the West Bridge Street side and a variance of the city’s noise ordinance between 3 – 8 p.m.
The council also agreed to waive the open container ordinance to allow the two-man band to have a cooler of beer on the trailer while they perform.
The band will pull the trailer right up next to the wall of the bar after the Fourth of July parade, Wahrendorf explained.
Wahrendorf was also granted a variance to the noise ordinance to allow performers to play on his outside patio on July 23 and 24 (no later than 2 a.m.) during Harborfest.
The council also approved several requests for use of public space.
Approved were requests by:
- Mary Lou LaGoe, owner and occupant of a single-family dwelling at 161 W. Seneca St. to construct a 13-foot by 12-foot covered porch and steps fronting on West Seneca Street.
- Debra Hammond, owner and occupant of a single-family dwelling at 66 W. Sixth St. to construct an eight-foot by 20.5-foot deck, 48 inches high fronting on West Sixth Street.
- Will and Laurie O’Brien, owners of the Red Sun Fire Roasting Company, 207 W. First St., and Port City Café and Bakery, 209 W. First St., to install decorative fencing and place tables and chairs for dining purposes between the curb and property line.
Maureen Peddle, who is currently running a yoga class two nights a week in the McCrobie Building, was granted permission to offer yoga lessons in Breitbeck Park near the bell tower through the month of August.
The Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce was approved to use the Port City’s mobile bandstand on Aug. 13 – 14 for Jazzfest in the city of Fulton.
The council authorized the city clerk to schedule, advertise and hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment to the Code of the City of Oswego, Section 280-103 (Building Permits).
It will be held at 7:10 p.m. on July 12 in the Council Chambers.
The mayor was authorized to sign the Professional Services Agreement prepared by Stearns and Wheler, consulting engineers, for SCADA (computer) upgrades at the wastewater treatment plants at a lump sum fee of $93,000.
The upgrade is needed now, according to Tony Leotta, city engineer.
The upgrades will be designed to accept the upgrade to the plant that has to be finished by Nov. 1, 2013, Leotta explained. Doing both plants at the same time is the most efficient way, he added.
Deborah Coad, acting city chamberlain, was granted permission to accept the quotation of the city’s bond counsel, Orrick, Herrington, and Sutcliffe, to provide legal services relating to the Environmental Facilities Corporation Funding of the Westside STP Bypass Monitoring and Sanitary Sewer Management Project, Westside Catch Basin Project and the Disinfection Project.
Coad also received permission to close the High Dam Reserve Account to the Capital Fund in accordance with Resolution #259 of 1993.
The acting city chamberlain was also authorized to transfer $16,180.09 into the appropriate water department account to pay for the completion of the energy savings projects at the city’s water plant.
The city granted a renewal of the Junk Yard License submitted by Phillip Gordon and Sons, for property located at 89 E. 12th St.
The Police Department was granted permission to accept the donation of five used monochrome CCD security cameras from Constellation Energy.
The council accepted a donation from the Oswego Firefighters’ Association of a bench to be placed in front of the mural at the East Side Fire Station in memory of (retired) Fire Chief Donald Beauchene.
Mike Smith, DPW commissioner, was authorized to purchase, on state contract, a Ferris lawn mower and two pickup trucks for use by the department.
Also, the purchasing agent was authorized to seek bids for a six-wheel dump truck, a reconditioned cab and chassis, and a stainless steel sander box for use by the DPW.
The DPW commissioner was authorized to transfer some funds into an equipment account to pay for the purchases.
$105,000 from Central Garage Equipment Repair Account A5132-0470 and $20,000 from Central Garage Materials and Supplies Account A5132-410 and $13,000 from Sanitary Sewers Equipment Account A8120-0200 into Central Garage Equipment Account A5132-0200.
The mayor was authorized to execute an agreement of purchase with Ronald Shuster for the former Oswego Recycling property for $320,000.
The property had been deeded to the city by Oswego County by virtue of the county’s real property tax foreclosure.
Councilors approved the proposed amendments to the Code of the City of Oswego, Chapter 224, Taxation Ordinance, sections 224-2, 224-3 and 224-4, Sales and Compensating Use Tax.
It will make the charter current with what the city sales tax is now.
Also approved was a request by Linda Goodness, assistant director of community development, and a member of Springboard Mural Project Committee, to use Riverwalk West for continuation of the mural project.
And, they also approved the city’s Foreclosed Property Disposition Procedure.
