by Kassadee Bradshaw | June 3, 2020 10:44 am
FULTON – At last night’s teleconference Common Council meeting, as part of the short agenda, the council voted to decommission the Sharp’s Pond dam, an issue that community members discussed last year.
The plan is to deconstruct the dam and allow the water feature to return to its natural form – a creek. The Common Council declared the project will result in no major impacts and therefore will not cause any significant damage to the environment.
When put to a vote, three councilors voted yes and three voted no, causing for Mayor Deana Michaels to cast her tie-breaking vote – yes, to decommission the dam.
Councilors who voted no: First Ward Councilor Tom Kenyon, Fourth Ward Councilor John Kenyon, Fifth Ward Councilor Audrey Avery.
Councilors who voted yes: Second Ward Councilor Doug Chapman, Third Ward Councilor Don Patrick Jr., Sixth Ward Councilor Larry Macner.
Previous coverage of Sharp’s Pond (chronological order):
Also during the meeting, all councilors voted against authorizing the City Clerk/Chamberlain to advertise for a public hearing in regards to amending Local Law section 640-17 B, Central Business District at the next Common Council meeting.
The council voted to approve a lease agreement with Enterprise FM Trust for one new and unused replacement vehicle due to accident and total loss for the Police Department. The vehicle is a 2020 Ford Police Interceptor Utility All-Wheel Drive.
The agenda documents can be found here[6].
Polling of the council following the agenda:
Second Ward Councilor Chapman said he hopes everyone is doing well and hopes the COVID-19 pandemic will soon go away.
“I would like to continually commend all our departments, especially the DPW on the job they’re doing with the yard waste; they’re flying through the wards, doing a great job. Nothing but compliments from the residents. Not only are they picking up the yard waste, they’re cleaning up after themselves. They’re doing a great job,” said Third Ward Councilor Patrick.
Patrick also thanked the mayor for keeping the council up to date and hopes everyone stays healthy. He said he has had to deal with COVID-19 first-hand with his father being ill and worrying about his wife.
Fourth Ward Councilor John Kenyon thanked the mayor for meeting with him in regards to an issue in his ward.
Fifth Ward Councilor Avery said she is pleased that a section of 481 was weeded, wishes for everyone’s safety and health, said for residents to call the police if they see anything suspicious in their neighborhoods, and said Patrick’s father and wife are in her prayers.
Sixth Ward Councilor Macner said he is glad that the region is in Phase Two or reopening and is sure Phase Three will come soon with the decrease in the COVID-19 numbers and hospital admittances. He encouraged people to utilize the half-mile trail at Van Buren Park should they want to get out for some exercise.
“Hang in there and be patient,” Macner said. “Help a neighbor if they need it.”
Mayor Michaels said she thanks the community for coming together to put up the tribute flags in the city to honor the community members who serve the country, including her brother and nephew who both serve in the U.S. Air Force.
She said with the wish for the the program to continue, she reached out to the Oswego County Federal Credit Union and there are now a limited number of spots reopened for those who are interested.
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