City Attorney Calls For A Public Hearing Regarding Deal With Spectrum

City Attorney Kevin Caraccioli called for the hearing to be held on March 24th. It is concerning a 10-year deal between Spectrum and Oswego. Caraccioli said that Spectrum pushed for a 15-year deal, but said they felt more comfortable with a shorter deal.

The long-standing deal would see the City of Oswego continue to receive 5% of the gross revenue Spectrum gains from Oswego residents. Caraccioli said the city has gotten around $200,000 but has gone down in recent years due to streaming services.

“Tonight’s action is to set a public hearing, I believe and hope that a representative of the company will come into to answer any questions,” said Caraccioli. The motion was approved.

Caraccioli also requested authorization to sign a 2-year extension with J&R Outdoor Inc. for fishing cleaning services at Wrights Landing and West Linear Park.

Fire Chief Paul Conzone requested a discussion regarding adjustments to the City of Oswego Fire Department ambulance rates. Conzone says the city hasn’t raised the rates since 2023 and proposed that the city increase the rates to align with national market rates.

The following are the proposed rate increases:

• BLS Transport – $1,300 to $1,600.

• ALS-1 – $1,800 to $2,000.

• ALS-2 – $2,200 to $2,400.

• ALS Link – $600 to $900.

• Mileage – $30/mile to $39/mile.

• SCT Transport $1,500 to $2,700.

The rates are below CUNY highs and match the CNY average.

Mary Vanouse Chair of the Tree Advisory Board and Kate Spector of SUNY Oswego’s Sustainability office came to discuss planting trees during droughts. Vanouse proposed that the city of Oswego support their initiative to plant more trees by allowing them to do so on land in the city.

Vanouse suggested land like the two reservoir sites. She says the city would only have to monitor the saplings and potentially water them. Vanouse says that a letter of support from the city would help them get a foot in the door with the Atlantic States Legal Foundation. They would be giving them the grant to do their proposed project.  

Spector has been working with St Luke’s to plant trees with a grant she received. They are planting around 300 acres of reforested land on the campus. Vanouse believes it’d be good for SUNY Oswego to partner with the city.

DPW Commissioner Craig Rebeor voiced his support for the initiative. The motion was approved and was pushed to be on the floor for authorization at next week’s meeting.

City Engineer Jeff Hinderliter requested authorization to sign a deal with Essex Partnership LLC. It is in relation to the High Dam Hydroelectric Facility. The contract will be the same as the previous contract, but if they fail to sell the power, they will reduce their monthly bill by half.

Hinderliter hopes the city will sell over $1.5 million in power; “they will get a 5% incentive to sell that power on our behalf,” he said. He hopes the city will be approved for a longer deal with the company, allowing it to sell its RECs for double.

The city had a contract with a different contractor, but the company was acquired by another company. The city’s contract was passed on, and the city did not have an active agent for it to sell it on the open market. National Grid currently does buy the city’s power at market rate.

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