FULTON UPDATE:
After consulting with our legal counsel, it has been determined that Resolution 5-3-2024 regarding the Special Use Permit for Leafy Wonders, presented at the March 5, 2024 Common Council meeting, actually passed. At the meeting, I indicated the motion failed and upon further review, it has passed as there was a majority of the quorum present that voted in favor of approving the application. The minutes will reflect the motion carried for Resolution 5-3-2024.
FULTON – Fulton City Council, March 5th
The meeting opened up with the Pledge of Allegiance with Abigail Miner. The first order of business was a Public hearing for the Special Use Permit application for Leafy Wonders, a business located at 956 South 1st Street, Fulton. No one spoke about the public comment.
The public comment period relative to Chapter A700, “Fees” for North Bay Campground rentals and park pavilion rentals, opened with strong public sentiment. The proposed rate is $1000 + $100 security deposit, up $100 from last year.
Dave Minor spoke passionately about the fees for seasonal campers. He did not feel the rates should go up; he felt the seasonal campers are the backbone of North Bay Campground. “We maintain our sites,” Dave said. Making his point that the seasonal campers are the backbone of the campground. Without seasonal campers, there would be no campground. Mr Minor also feels that the seasonal campers would help make it happen if the city wanted special events. Mr. Minor is concerned that there will be fewer seasonal campers if the rates are raised for the Seasonal campers.
Frank Castiglia questioned the rate increase: “What do you have over at the campgrounds? You got a lake you can’t swim in. Your playground for the children is not the best in the world. Your bath house is disgusting to use at times.” Mr Castiglia added, “If you’re losing money, then you have to raise the rates, but why are you losing money?” He wanted to know what campers would get for the extra $100. Mayor Rice commented, “Budgeted expenses are $88,989; there’s an 18% gap.” Frank wanted to know what had gone up. The Mayor answered, “Manpower is up; minimum wage has gone up.” Frank compared the campgrounds to a business losing money. Frank added, “A business that loses money should be closed.” Mayor Rice interrupted Frank, “Please don’t put that fear into people. That is not part of the conversation.” Frank said he didn’t know what it was like at the Campgrounds. He hadn’t been over there.
Mr. Rapponi has used the campgrounds for 8 seasons. He Feels there needs to be more oversite in the campgrounds. “We definitively that fees were not consistently collected by campground management and staff. We know definitively that the office was rarely staffed during hours of operation. Reading into this that no one was there to collect fees.” Mr. Rapponi added that he knows there are times when seasonal campers staff the office to collect fees and help campers for hours. Not one guest was charged for entry last year. He had friends launch their boat and was not charged. Mr. Rapponi finished with. “Maybe the answer isn’t raising fees but raising oversite.” Stacey Rapponi came up next to speak. She stated that on August 3rd, 2021, she addressed the council about the safety, cleanliness, the grounds, and the conditions of the bathrooms. “Today, March 5th, 2024, we are here with the same exact issues, only worse than what it was on August 3rd, 2021,” Stacey said. “Here we are being asked to pay more for less.”
Bathhouses do not meet standards for state regulations, have no ventilation, and are covered in black mold. The Dump Station shut down because it was full. Non-paying Campers are allowed to use the dump station without paying because no one is there to collect the fees.
A person was allowed to put up a tent behind the management office, run an extension cord out to the tent, and use electricity, but he or she was not paying for it. Tenters can stay longer than two weeks, camp rules, and do not pay.
Rick Grosvent told a story of an electrical fire that burned up an electrical box and his $386 power cord to his camper. He also complained of the homeless coming into the back side of the campgrounds, using the facilities, and making it a mess.
Ultimately, the public asks for oversight, proper staffing, and safety if the camp rates are to be raised. The Mayor asked to keep the public hearing on Chapter A700, “Fees” for North Bay Campground rentals and park pavilion rentals for March 19th, 2024
Next on the agenda was The Mayor’s Proclamation. Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month” Dr Mohamad Ali from Oswego Health accepted the Proclamation. Dr Ali spoke about the importance of persons over 45 years old should be checked regularly for Colorectal Cancer.
The meeting moved on to vote on the Special Permit Application for the business Leafy Wonders’s hours of operation. Monday through Thursday, 10 am-9 pm, Friday and Saturday, 10 am 10 pm, and Sunday, 11 am -7 pm. Before the vote, Mayor Rice asked once more if there was anyone who wanted to speak on this. No one got up to talk. Councilor Patrick was absent. Councilors Farnham, Chapman, and Cobb voted yes. Councilor Avery abstained, and Councilor Taylor voted no. The resolution did not pass.
All other resolutions passed.
4. Resolved to approve the minutes from the
February 20, 2024 Council Meeting.
5. Resolved to approve the Clerk’s report from February 2024.
6. Resolved to authorize the Mayor to sign the Fulton Community Basketball Lease Agreement.
7. Resolved to authorize the City Clerk/Chamberlain to advertise for a public hearing relative to adding Chapter 261 “Vacant Building Registry”.
8. Resolved to authorize the City Clerk/Chamberlain to advertise for a public hearing relative to amending Chapter 262 “Buildings, Unsafe”.
9. Resolved to authorize the City Clerk/Chamberlain to advertise for a public hearing relative to amending Chapter A700 “Fees” for Zoning related to Special Use Permit application fee.
10. Resolved to authorize the City Clerk/Chamberlain to advertise for a public hearing relative to adding a Public Safety Committee to the City of Fulton Charter.
11. Notation to appoint Pamela Peeling to the Personnel/Civil Service Administrator position.
12. Resolved to authorize the Mayor to sign the Personnel/Civil Service employment agreement for Pamela Peeling.
During the final Open Comment Period. An 89 year young, Ruth Berry, told of an event that occurred near The Towpath Towers. A woman was attacked from behind, knocked down, and her purse was stolen. She made a heartfelt cry for public safety. Her fear of a time when she was younger and attacked in the same manner made he make the decision to take a cab from the towpath towers to the council meeting and back home to the towers instead of walking the two blocks.
Finally, during the final Comment Period, Frank Castiglia spoke again. He questions the need for mixed-income housing and feels it will only bring drugs and crime and not an improved community. He explained that the government is addicted to getting money; the money is the draw, and they don’t think about the future, just the money today.
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