Based on a grant report provided to City Council at its December 5, 2022 meeting, only three out of 13 grants received by the City on the list had gone through formal acceptance and authorization by City Council.

Two examples of grants received by the city that had not been formally accepted include a $25,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation toward improvements of the Johnson Street Playground and a $1.2 million State Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization Project grant.

According to a staff report on a resolution to purchase new fencing for Johnson Street Park in the agenda for the June 12 City Council work session, the City has already used the grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation to purchase a new swing set, benches, picnic tables, new hoop, signage, trash receptacles, and repave the basketball court. As of Sunday, June 11, the basketball court with new hoop has been completed, but other new equipment had not been installed.

According to the City Charter, under Article IV, C-31.F for Powers of the Mayor,

“When authorized by the City Council so to do, the Mayor shall execute on behalf of the City all deeds, contracts and other papers to be executed as an act of the City. All contracts, agreements, obligations or other instruments made, executed or issued by order of the City Council or at the direction of the boards provided by this Charter and in behalf of said City or boards shall be signed by the Mayor except as otherwise provided by the Local Finance Law.”

At the Finance Committee meeting on June 5, Corporation Counsel Elliot Raimondo made the comment that per the Mayor, City Council didn’t need to approve a $4,310 grant awarded by the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth. Finance Committee Chair and Council member at large Kim Ecklund disagreed with that opinion at the meeting.

In a statement by Ecklund, she said she had requested council be updated monthly at minimum about what grants the city has applied for, but that has not been happening on a regular basis.

Johnson Street Playground with newly paved basketball court (June 11, 2023)

She replied to a request for comment on this matter, saying Council should be approving the acceptance of all grants,  “.. just as we would any donation by a group or person. I have no idea why these have not been brought in front of us to do this and it should be corrected. In particular, I do remember speaking about the Johnson Street project at Parks Commission. We have not been aware of any reason why these would not come to a legislative body for approval. I honestly only asked for the grant list in March because of the ‘surprise’ FEMA Grant and had not received a copy again until today because I had to ask for it yet again. The bottom line is there is a lack of communication and honestly these grants and any other financial donation or in kind gift needs to come before the legislative body for acceptance and approval.”

Mayor Eddie Sundquist responded on the issue with a statement saying that, “For many of these grants, we may have been awarded them, but have not yet received a formal contract from the entity. In addition, some grants the City applies for on behalf of entities but the funding does not pass through the City. Many of the state grants, we may have been awarded but have not yet received a contract. ESD and some state agency grants require a pre-application resolution and in that resolution, it authorizes acceptance, if won.”

Council President Tony Dolce said he agreed that Council needs to formally vote to approve and accept the grants. He said in a statement that he had requested the City Clerk and Corporation Counsel bring forth resolutions to Council to approve those grants.

Jamestown City Council

The seven resolutions under new business had been approved by the Jamestown Local Development Corporation, but as all the requests were over $100,000, City Council also must give their approval.

The businesses seeking capital improvements grants from the program include:
– El Greco $198,363
– Dawson Metal $198,363
– Artone LLC $192,794
– International Ordnance $198,363
– National Wire and Metal Technology Incorporated $198,363
– Colecraft Commercial Furnishings $198,363
– and Shawbucks $198,363

Council also will vote under new business on adding $500,000 of American Rescue Plan funds to the Senior Citizen Home Improvement Incentive Program. Mayor Eddie Sundquist had said there had been over $1.8 million in requests for the senior citizen program, which had initially been funded with $500,000 of ARPA funds.

Another item under new business is a resolution to spend $8,000 out of contingency for building roof maintenance at the Fenton History Center.

City Council will hear budget presentations from the Clerk and Treasurer’s Office, Finance, Assessor’s, and Corporation Counsel at a work session scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the fourth floor Police Training Room.

The voting session will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the second floor Council Chambers. The meetings are open to the public and will be livestreamed on jamestownny.gov.

Juneteenth recognizes when enslaved people living in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation approximately 2.5 years after the Civil War ended. On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Texas became free. This was the last state of the Confederacy to learn of the independence, even though President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

The annual Juneteenth Festival will start with a free showing of the movie “Sister Act 2” at the National Comedy Center the evening of Friday, June 17. Activities begin at 6:00 p.m. with basket raffles, drawings, and concession stands.

An opening ceremony for the Juneteenth Festival will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 18 at Jackson-Taylor Park. Saturday’s itinerary will feature a variety of live music, entertainment, a basketball tournament, and food/craft vendors. Families are encouraged to bring their children to Jackson-Taylor Park from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to take part in games, contests, and activities, including a meet-and-greet with Jamestown Fire Department.

Saturday night’s performances at Jackson-Taylor Park for the Festival include poet and author Rodney Mitchell at 4:00 p.m.; and blues artist Marsha McWilson performing at 6:00 p.m.

On Sunday, a 9:00 a.m. morning worship services will be followed by more live music, vendors, and basketball. Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to attend the Carol Faison Memorial Gospel Fest at 3:00 p.m. The announcement of the Juneteenth Scholarship Winners will take place Sunday evening.

In observance of Juneteenth, the Jamestown City Clerk’s Office will be closed Monday, June 20.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said other city departments will be open that day.

He added that starting in 2023, Juneteenth will be a paid holiday for all City of Jamestown employees.

Window hours for the Clerk’s Office will now be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with hours for Mondays and Friday remaining at 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

These hours will take effect on Tuesday, May 31 until further notice.

The Clerk’s office is hiring an Account Clerk and is accepting applications.

Any questions about the hours change or position can be directed to the Clerks office by phone at (716) 483-7612 or by email at clerk@jamestownny.gov.