Acting DPW Director Mark Roetzer explains how the professional engineer certificate works within the DPW Director role to City Council (April 10, 2023)

Jamestown City Council members don’t seem in favor of removing a professional engineering certificate requirement for the Public Works Director position.

An ordinance to amend the City Code to do just that came before council at its April 10 work session.

The city has had issues finding a replacement for former Public Works Director Jeff Lehman, who retired March 31, in part because of the engineering requirement.

It came to light that the only residency requirement for the position is that the director must live in Chautauqua County. Mayor Eddie Sundquist said this was a change in state law.

Council Member at Large Jeff Russell asked if removing that requirement would have any effect in the department being able to get work done.

Acting Public Works Director Mark Roetzer said the director doesn’t produce drawings that are then stamped and signed as a professional engineer, “But you’re reviewing drawings and plans and that sort of thing, specifications, so to not have a P.E. would be a detriment. If you hire someone who does not have it, they’d potentially become more of an administrator. The work that the director does now, part of it, would fall back on the other engineering staff that does have a P.E., or people under them that they oversee.”

Council member at Large Kim Ecklund expressed concern that could lead to the union requesting a stipend for extra work or change in job duties.

Roetzer said when the city receives plans, those were historically reviewed by Lehman, who had the P.E. designation. He pointed out that the DPW Director also is a member on the Planning Commission and the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities.

Russell stated he didn’t think the city should “lower its standards” by getting rid of the designation requirement.

Sundquist said only one application received for the DPW Director position had the required P.E. certificate, “And what we’ve heard, especially from Jeff (Lehman), to many folks who are getting P.E.’s are going into consulting firms that almost double the rate that we pay, which has been a concern. So, the county does not have a P.E. requirement for their Director of Public Facilities. Most communities do not. They have more of an administrator role at the top, which is the proposal.”

No action seems likely on the matter any time soon as the ordinance was tabled by the Public Safety committee with council members citing that city does have an acting director while the search continues.

Council also continued discussions on the proposed hiring of an Ombudsman in the Corporation Counsel‘s office. This position is proposed to replace the Associate Corporation Counsel position, which is being vacated by Ben Haskin.

Corporation Counsel Elliot Raimondo cited a need for a Human Resources-type of employee to help with mandatory employee trainings, “Issues with employee complaints and disputes, following up on council concerns, following up on public concerns apart from the police, following up with department heads to ensure that they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing, handing our EAP program which I’m not the happiest with, and, recently, dealing with our health insurance program which is not functioning the way it should be functioning.”

Raimondo said he thought the position should report both to the Mayor and City Council. He said he understands that the addition of the ombudsman may lead to the Corporation Counsel position being made part-time versus full-time.

Finance Chair Kim Ecklund requested a salary schedule with a projection for future years be provided. The position would be funded through 2023 by funds previously allocated for the Associate Corporation Counsel.

Jamestown City Council

The positions would be funded by a three-year $1.8 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant.

City Council members have expressed concern that they’d be faced with having to lay-off the firefighters if the grant money is not renewed.

Mayor Eddie Sundquist said while he understands that concern, this is an opportunity to make Jamestown safer, “As of right now, we close a fire station every shift. We still don’t have enough to run ambulances right now in the city. So, when you talk about being able to add on new fire fighters that are fully funded for three years by the Federal government – we’re talking salaries, benefits, all of those things – it’s a really unique opportunity for the city.”

Sundquist said by hiring the eight positions, there would be enough to operate a second ambulance.

City Council is expected to review a resolution to use $250,000 in American Rescue Plan funds to purchase that ambulance for the Fire Department.

Sundquist said the city generated $300,000 from billing insurance in 2022 with running the first ambulance, “Now, I don’t think you’re going to double it when you add a second ambulance, but I think you’re going to get close to that and certainly add more revenue which will make up for the cost of adding new firefighters.”

Council also will review a resolution to purchase splash pads from Aquatix by Landscape Structures, Inc. for $135,000. That funding, using American Rescue Plan monies, was approved at the March voting session.

The discussion of hiring an Ombudsman in the Office of the Corporation Counsel is on the agenda again. This position is proposed to replace the Associate Corporation Counsel position, which is being vacated by Ben Haskin.

Council also will review an proposed amendment to the City Code regarding the Director of Public works position. The proposed amendment would eliminate the requirement that the DPW Director have a professional civil engineer certificate. According to the staff report, most of the people who have applied for the position have applicable experience, but do not maintain or have a professional engineer license. The City has had difficulty finding candidates to replace former DPW Director Jeff Lehman, who retired March 31 after serving in the position for 29 years. The DPW Director position is being filled on an interim basis by DPW Project Engineer Mark Roetzer.

Council will hear a presentation by New York State Climate Smart Communities Coordinator Sarah Swinko. This presentation will precede the review of a resolution for the City to adopt the New York State Climate Smart Communities pledge.

According to the staff report, Climate Smart Communities (CSC) is a New York State program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. The program offers grants, rebates for electric vehicles, and free technical assistance. In order to take part in the program, a municipality must pass a resolution to become a Registered Climate Smart Community.

The Housing Committee also will have a discussion on homeless shelters. That committee will meet at 6:45 p.m. with the other committees meeting at 7:00 p.m.

The full council work session will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Police Training Room on the fourth floor of City Hall. The public is welcome to attend all meetings with the work session being livestreamed on jamestownny.gov.

Mayor Eddie Sundquist said the city has filed the first round of lawsuits known as “19-A” suits, “These are abandoned properties. We’ve also started filing New York State Zombie Property law actions to bring back homes that have just been left abandoned by banks. These are all tools in our tool kit to deal with blighted housing.”

Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said “19-A” is part of New York State real property law, “Which is a tool for municipalities to obtain title to an abandoned property. And either clean up the property, sell the property, work with other local housing agencies in partnership to improve, and again sell or demolish the property as a last resort.”

Sundquist said many of the vacant and zombie houses are in adequate condition, “And the City intends to sell the houses.We think can bring and attract aspiring homeowners. The acquisition of homes fit into a longer term strategy of building home ownership among local residents, growing our community wealth, and investing in our homes and neighborhoods.”

Associate Corporation Counsel Ben Haskin says there are currently 45 zombie properties with an estimated 175 to 200 abandoned and vacant properties in Jamestown.

Surdyk says the HOME funding will likely be used toward obtaining the properties and some of the redevelopment costs.

The city council will act on giving approval to the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency to acquire a long-time dilapidated property on Lakeview Ave.

Last week, city development director Vince DeJoy and attorney Ben Haskin said JURA is looking to acquire the property, located at 402 Lakeview Ave.,in order to help see it renovated into an owner-occupied home.

The house, which has been abandoned for almost five years, will be acquired by JURA through a new state tax law that allows zombie houses to be transferred to home municipalities when certain criteria is met. Once the city owns the property, requests for proposals will then be sent out to potential developers to purchase, rehab and either live in it or sell it.

Potential developers will be able to use the city’s new Local Property Tax Abatement Incentive for redeveloping vacant and condemned properties, as well as historic tax credits, to help restore the house.

Among the other items being voted on is the application for a grant to fund new playground equipment for Chadakoin Park on the city’s north side. The costs associated with the new playground equipment is projected to be around $200,000.

The council will also vote to accept a grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation for $136,000 for the West Second Street public piazza project in front of the National Comedy Center. The $700,000 project will provide a pedestrian-friendly area as motor vehicle traffic through the street being blocked off. The closure and use is expected to take place only during special events and activities during certain times of the year.

Monday’s meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the city council chambers of city hall and is open to the public.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi (upper right) addresses the Jamestown City Council during its May 14 work session in city hall.

JAMESTOWN – The official opening date of the Chadakoin Park Trail, which is part of the city’s Greater Jamestown Riverwalk system, will open with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, June 29.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi delivered the news on Monday night to the Jamestown City Council during its work session.

The Chadakoin Park Trail, which will be paved and allow for both bikes and foot traffic, runs from Clifton Avenue to near McCrea Point Park. The cost of the project is $525,000, with more than half the funding come from a state grant.

Meanwhile, the two Riverwalk pedestrian bridges over the Chadakoin River behind the National Comedy Center will officially open on Saturday, July 7.

The $2 million project is being paid for through a $1.6 million grant from the state, with the remaining balance covered by a First Instance Urban Development Action Grant the city recently received.

LAKEVIEW AVE PROPERTY TARGETED FOR REHAB

In other news, a long-time dilapidated property on Lakeview Ave in Jamestown will soon likely see a major renovation thanks to the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency.

On Monday night city development director Vince DeJoy and attorney Ben Haskin said JURA is looking to acquire the property, located at 402 Lakeview Ave.,in order to help see it renovated into an owner-occupied home.

The house, which has been abandoned for almost five years, will be acquired by JURA through a new state tax law that allows zombie houses to be transferred to home municipalities when certain criteria is met. Once the city owns the property, an RFP will then be sent out to potential developers to rehab and either live in it or sell it.

Potential developers will be able to use the city’s new Local Property Tax Abatement Incentive for redeveloping vacant and condemned properties, as well as historic tax credits, to help restore the house.

The city council will act on giving approval to JURA acquiring the home during its monthly voting session later this month.