FULTON, NY – The day after Mother Nature dumped nearly two feet of snow on the city of Fulton, the streets were clear and it was business as usual as city leaders conducted the first council meeting of the year Tuesday (Jan. 6) evening.
At the start of the annual reorganization meeting, the mayor noted all streets had been plowed and he personally checked on the only two complaints his office received.
“Our Department of Public Works did a great job. They worked for just about 24 hours straight and then got up the next morning and were out picking up garbage,” Mayor Ron Woodward said.
“What a job they did,” Councilor Tom Kenyon added. “I’d put our DPW up against any other city, village or town anywhere around.”
The 1st Ward Councilor then relayed thanks to the department from a citizen in his ward whose car was stuck in the road and a DPW crew pushed and shoveled the car and its owner to the safety of her driveway.
“I can’t say enough about these guys,” Kenyon said.
That sentiment was also expressed during the public comment period by Fulton resident Doug Chapman.
Turning to the first meeting of the year, the business of the day included the mayoral appointment of the city’s new clerk/chamberlain, Dan O’Brien.
With the retirement of Jim Laboda after 30 years as city clerk/chamberlain, O’Brien – formerly the city’s DPW Commissioner – has been serving in the ‘acting as’ capacity since October.
“I’ll be calling you Dan now, I won’t be calling you Jim anymore,” Woodward joked.
The other important business of the day included the changing of the Council guard.
2014 Council President Dan Knopp nominated 6th Ward Councilor Larry Macner to take his place as council leader.
“I believe his military experience will help to lead the council in a positive direction,” Knopp said.
The nomination was seconded by 4th Ward Councilor Jim Myers and with a unanimous vote, Macner was named to serve as the 2015 Council president.
In a quick bit of government business with 15 items passed in 14 minutes, councilors voted on resolutions which included approval of previous meeting minutes, clerk’s reports, official newspaper, agreements with the Fulton Historical Society, and the city lease for the Senior Nutrition Program.
Noting that the city’s insurance costs came in less than budgeted, councilors granted the mayor’s request for a budget transfer of $15,000 from the unallocated insurance account to the law account.
“We have all three labor contracts to settle this year,” Woodward said. “I have a feeling we’re going to need it.”
Councilors also approved appointing Jodi Corsoniti as deputy registrar; Joann Cavalier as plumbing/HVAC board secretary; and Linda DeForest to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The lease agreement with Steven Cole, a Fulton Water Works operator who lives onsite at West First Street, was also approved.
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