[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6385864,"mediaKeyId","2118832-929c020ff4bbccfd02a9929ca8360ea3","parentId",2118832,"title","Public commenters urge council to address housing affordability and heat mitigation","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1361000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2118832-929c020ff4bbccfd02a9929ca8360ea3&start=1361&end=1361","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2118832-929c020ff4bbccfd02a9929ca8360ea3/thumbnail_1361000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6385864/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Public-commenters-urge-council-to-address-housing-affordability-and-heat-mitigation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6385864-f448fd9fd7f901823cd1626c9abc3d50/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175390&Signature=C0mskqJ8pNhBSg6iCCT9kIQGkf9pRyVYRLQOwwnAeF~CIozI8EUipL8fb2dN6akUnvLL1qpUzud9DNzq41Tl2PLSjXsGWytKNuRyqLDfe8LzoUL0rWRncnX0HGOPxalvVuPkjAcnty9-1mByv1I0qw~CTzSgjeHVUePwsHeTpwTDFFPaTqY0q5OPbPGOrNZj-FshFSBmFMqAaQqPHU6Fx07HUmv8CR6EENWYNhYdf9I~KUldinblLlHRcRvBrznAdt8lWW2gXtpfIFKPB~k6H3jfhMizLnG0-N5PnM~g3ghADn~eeGGvQm6fgQVCqiMlPEZyilYOdL-w8xvlxFpNaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Binghamton, NY","date","2025-01-08T00:00:00Z","article","Two members of the public used the council’s public-comment period to press for action on housing affordability and climate‑related heat mitigation.

Tarka Dells, who said they live on Tremont Avenue, praised council members for securing a small share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and urged the council to continue pushing for housing policies that prioritize deeply affordable units. Dells said the council secured “0.83% of the $46,000,000 in ARPA funds” and urged the council to use its leverage with the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to restrict tax incentives for projects that do not include deeply affordable housing, suggesting a minimum 20% deeply affordable requirement or banning PILOTs for market-rate development. Dells also criticized the loss of an opportunity to use the former Davis College campus for permanent supportive housing.

Another commenter, who identified herself as Elaine and lives off Old Front Street Road, asked the council to consider bringing back awnings and adding shade trees on commercial strips to reduce extreme heat impacts during hot weather and to help with cooling. Elaine said last year’s heat wave was severe and urged measures such as awnings and planting shade trees along business strips.

Council members did not take immediate action on either suggestion at the Jan. 28 meeting but Council member Hotchkiss reminded listeners the planning committee will host a town hall on a proposed “good cause eviction” ordinance and encouraged attendance at other upcoming meetings and boards.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Binghamton City Council Business Meeting 2025.01.08","oneSentenceSummary","Speakers at the Jan. 28 meeting urged the council to use ARPA funds for deeply affordable housing, reconsider IDA tax breaks for market-rate projects, and to pursue heat-mitigation measures such as shade trees and awnings.","taxTitle","Binghamton City, Broome County, New York","taxId",5034,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6385869,"Council announces reappointments and openings for advisory boards including CDAC and Conservation Commission chair",80,510000,590000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2118832-929c020ff4bbccfd02a9929ca8360ea3&start=510&end=590","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2118832-929c020ff4bbccfd02a9929ca8360ea3/thumbnail_510000.jpg","/articles/6385869/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Council-announces-reappointments-and-openings-for-advisory-boards-including-CDAC-and-Conservation-Commission-chair","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6385869-015f69020513ba4ba0af9e6b84f812d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175390&Signature=mTiuV3I-H0a1AYlX4vfq0WTWMyo25CR~16~sFKsdaFVl1u9xLbB-b2wh~mihD-gSnF02tK6ahfKwtouoDKZfVMZne5CgdSS1KVWBmn3v-ZvXQjpfc2Jd7NzuzkS4GGc54euU3JmHjXdhD1FV9uK9rtPuq3XA-qe30X1SSyJiXJTFMobjW2bBW0x3FekBNqtddk-krVIx84~VGSS7yFF73NBiDgR15X98TwLY6BQPDkTGCpWmTOyNFH~MOlwu8vJZXRC08tOKIwMdeoNG80bT62NZXeAnyLIxSgTnRe1xxnGCGUEHeD3nhfAfWb-3tG1YrgsbCxA1h6KMm6g-~PQerg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During communications and appointments, Council president Dunton announced a series of reappointments and openings to city advisory bodies.

Council reappointed Michelle O'Loughlin as a member at large to the Community Development Advisory Council (CDAC). Council members asked residents interested in district-specific CDAC seats to contact their district council members: district 3 candidates should contact Council member Kavanaugh, district 4 candidates should contact Council member Hotchkiss, and district 6 candidates should contact Council member Rathmell.

For the Conservation Commission (referred to in the meeting as the Commission on Conservation of the Environment), the council reappointed Darius Bang and Laura Bond, reappointed Julie Julian Shepherd and named her chair, and appointed Nikita Robinson as a new member. The council also reappointed Julian Shepherd to the Shade Tree Commission.

On the Human Rights Commission, the council said it is continuing to review resumes and has not yet made appointments; the commission has been inactive for several years and council members said they are conducting thorough due diligence to assemble a diverse membership.

Council members encouraged qualified residents to apply for these advisory roles and provided district contact points for CDAC vacancies.","Binghamton City Council reappointed several advisory members and announced openings for district seats on the Community Development Advisory Council; Julie Julian Shepherd was named chair of the Conservation Commission.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6385874,"Funeral-home owner tells council business disrupted by nearby unhoused residents, cites damage and safety concerns",172,600000,772000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2118832-929c020ff4bbccfd02a9929ca8360ea3&start=600&end=772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2118832-929c020ff4bbccfd02a9929ca8360ea3/thumbnail_600000.jpg","/articles/6385874/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Funeral-home-owner-tells-council-business-disrupted-by-nearby-unhoused-residents-cites-damage-and-safety-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6385874-1accf813293813e0d7bad51427694d11/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175390&Signature=Lq5E6T5tOPntqe9bKJxcGcKLGUk4zltwqyXAWUTKuvHgbrp~i75egEVLxIBruIyQgwLZrYFYUJQKr0VG5LGjI9jbTUn61vvKmCIO8pSUTdf3fVxTRC5v4KsH-J7hXe78zMVJjTx6Hh2SeCMP4Aq3-8GwsmnZcFZySYWUDQZi50sXY~2~06xGLkatS9hSAkpIUj6wqGhNvSARfnPk1SVv0s-n0XkoARP3QwQfIozD6NnOC8RuZILUuXBImxzGp11Sk01BOvgN1UcHEBeDG1Fk5-Q-Bo1mMkAcq72EdYboFGTzla~aRHvvriI7g9glSvtyymtSxVzyS589DY4kRZKEIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tim Sesney, owner of Demon Funeral Home and Cremation Service, told the council during public comment that recent incidents involving people living along the riverbank have disrupted his business, endangered staff and family members, and caused property damage.

Sesney said Binghamton’s efforts to clear the riverside in a recent city action led to displacement that has caused continued disturbances elsewhere. He described waking at 4 a.m. to a neighbor yelling obscenities and said that person later committed domestic violence; he said another person threatened his father on the funeral-home property. Sesney said one individual “broke and destroyed my doors to the funeral home” around Christmas and that he is incurring roughly $5,000 in damage costs.

Sesney thanked the mayor for “cleaning up the city and my side of the street” but said he is considering whether to locate the business outside Binghamton because of repeated disruptions. He urged council members to address the safety and property impacts that he described.

The council received Sesney’s comments during the public‑comment period and did not take immediate action during the Jan. 28 meeting. Several other public commenters later addressed housing and related policy topics.","Tim Sesney, owner of Demon Funeral Home and Cremation Service, described repeated disturbances near his business linked to people living along the riverbank and asked the council for further action after property damage and safety incidents.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6385879,"Conservation commissioner urges council to reconsider water fluoridation after split vote at commission",460,792000,1252000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2118832-929c020ff4bbccfd02a9929ca8360ea3&start=792&end=1252","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2118832-929c020ff4bbccfd02a9929ca8360ea3/thumbnail_792000.jpg","/articles/6385879/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Conservation-commissioner-urges-council-to-reconsider-water-fluoridation-after-split-vote-at-commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6385879-3604c29416e258cb7b8c38c49d7c68f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175390&Signature=FVSRuAnq1AjO7jhYEuaZR0RCpPQOAodIGMjg4YGCt3M7k2fi3FUjYVKfd3gkBrlwKej47xKqu38iZ5saitnPwPQzEdCe1oK~EY~1CwTeC8ntfrtb7GliPi0zJWsqMSOUKbhaCDMYiDFeQ3AENDNZgFplHmxPWdROthBu-PmCHJBmQ10DqHslPQ61yZyPX61oJSNcF~FyIe4ZupwuFvE3case0WGOihJLFuU3AleFWFDgo2lE1UrEGV87CfkvUyGbG9rc4YTSfLA-YxzVCshAnMEFuZffhBo3oPp25Bxsd-hu29GnnGDXb1ZUbDqvwWzOs38~DMYAhuiBbGSvWyCW7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Julian Shepherd, a member of Binghamton's Conservation Commission, told the City Council during public comment that the commission voted 5–4 to send a resolution recommending the city stop fluoridating the drinking water supply.

Shepherd said the commission’s recommendation drew significant opposition within the panel and that he personally voted against the resolution because he believed it was too strong and the commission had not consulted enough outside experts before sending it to council. He urged council members to “give it careful consideration and consult, more authorities than we did about the issue,” and specifically said he had since spoken with the county medical director, Dr. Lazarus Carey.

Shepherd summarized the issue by noting the city fluoridates at 0.7 parts per million and that studies linking fluoride to neural development effects largely report associations at substantially higher concentrations (he cited studies and recent meta-analyses that identify effects at levels around 2 parts per million). He also noted that the Centers for Disease Control and the American Public Health Association support community water fluoridation as a longstanding public-health measure.

Shepherd asked council to solicit input from the county health department, the medical director and dental associations before deciding whether to act on the conservation commission’s resolution. The conservation commission's resolution was the subject of Shepherd’s remarks; the council did not take any formal action on the resolution at this meeting.

Shepherd also served earlier in the meeting as a reappointed member and was named chair of the Conservation Commission in the appointments announced by the council.

The council did not vote on any ordinance or policy change regarding water fluoridation at the Jan. 28 meeting.","A member of Binghamton's Conservation Commission told the council a 5–4 commission vote recommended stopping fluoridation of the city's drinking water and urged council to consult public-health officials before acting.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6385887,"Council approves three budget and sewer-related ordinances; all roll-call votes recorded as six in favor, one absent",316,1666000,1982000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2118832-929c020ff4bbccfd02a9929ca8360ea3&start=1666&end=1982","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2118832-929c020ff4bbccfd02a9929ca8360ea3/thumbnail_1666000.jpg","/articles/6385887/Binghamton-City/Broome-County/New-York/Council-approves-three-budget-and-sewer-related-ordinances-all-roll-call-votes-recorded-as-six-in-favor-one-absent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6385887-b0c0a6b180edf4dc33a5035f97987064/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175390&Signature=aRtylbG3irXzEas~r77ZZ0tJbMvSS0yzuijohWofDYzQB4R3bV9u8Nb62B2VAj0qgSnIe6g8wU-P7OeY~-Pg9mRXpumxSs1c44QXFPz7vV2ZUKY-ugk2d2d-BEAcQIkfEksSU9klxO9UFoEOhNI6-6UEyh1j3FNGlYuxR~aJhizIcc1XJY4l3vnM5LLNmSvFuQl2YZIvJlAxKtKVvLiriIW-KBJStkRB0MqyJuXAsWv0izyA2T~PCBXvHyv76jSxSQDQvEMZExTu7~ePTaeHWEmHA96iqDCjLEvk0GtHoWPdYqlUhirqCz2TVxuVnPxjq7lIM6wt8EYM73wI9qOOQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Binghamton City Council on Wednesday approved three ordinances amending wage and budget lines, including changes tied to the sewage treatment plant and year-end general fund adjustments.

Council members approved: an ordinance to implement a contractually obligated hourly increase tied to an existing sewage treatment plant labor contract (ORD 025-01); an amendment to the sewage treatment facility budget to move funds to cover unusually high chemical usage and offset electricity costs (ORD 025-02); and an amendment to the 2024 general fund budget to cover over-budget year‑end items by transfers, extra revenues and a draw on fund balance if needed (ORD 025-03).

The measures drew brief explanation from Council member and finance committee chair Council member Kavanaugh and passed on roll-call votes with Council members Middleton, Kavanaugh, Rathmell, Madivetski, Hotchkiss and Council president Dunton voting aye; Council member Porter was recorded as absent.

Kavanaugh told the council ORD 025-01 implements “the contractually obligated increase, from the sewage treatment plant, labor contract.” On ORD 025-02 he said the city saw “an exceptionally large amount of chemicals used in the last month” and that savings on electricity—because extra solids increased biogas and turbine generation—offset some of the cost, so the ordinance rebalances the treatment facility budget. On ORD 025-03 Kavanaugh summarized that the ordinance moves leftover balances from several lines, uses extra investment interest and some tax and state/federal aid, and may draw on fund balance to cover higher electricity costs and overtime used late in the year.

Deputy clerk conducted roll calls after each vote. For each ordinance the roll-call tally was recorded as six ayes and one absent. No amendments were offered during the council discussion and no public hearing occurred on these items at this meeting.

Votes at a glance

ORD 025-01 — Ordinance to amend 2025 hourly employee rates (sewage treatment labor contract increase): Moved by Council member Kavanaugh; second not specified on the record; Roll-call: Middleton — Aye; Kavanaugh — Aye; Rathmell — Aye; Madivetski — Aye; Hotchkiss — Aye; Dunton — Aye; Porter — Absent; Outcome: Approved.

ORD 025-02 — Ordinance to amend 2024 sewage treatment facility budget (increase chemicals / decrease electricity): Moved by Council member Kavanaugh; second not specified on the record; Roll-call: Middleton — Aye; Kavanaugh — Aye; Rathmell — Aye; Madivetski — Aye; Hotchkiss — Aye; Dunton — Aye; Porter — Absent; Outcome: Approved.

ORD 025-03 — Ordinance to amend the 2024 general fund budget (year‑end overages): Moved by Council member Kavanaugh; second not specified on the record; Roll-call: Middleton — Aye; Kavanaugh — Aye; Rathmell — Aye; Madivetski — Aye; Hotchkiss — Aye; Dunton — Aye; Porter — Absent; Outcome: Approved.

Council recorded no further action or formal referrals connected to these ordinances at the meeting. Kavanaugh said staff will continue to monitor revenues—including a larger-than-expected sales-tax inflow—and that the city may not need to use the full fund-balance amount if additional revenue materializes.

The council moved from these items to communications and appointments later in the meeting.","Binghamton City Council on Jan. 28 approved three ordinances to adjust employee rates and amend sewage-treatment and general-fund budgets. Each measure passed on roll-call votes of six ayes with Council member Porter absent.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters urge council to address housing affordability and heat mitigation

Council announces reappointments and openings for advisory boards including CDAC and Conservation Commission chair

Funeral-home owner tells council business disrupted by nearby unhoused residents, cites damage and safety concerns

Conservation commissioner urges council to reconsider water fluoridation after split vote at commission

Council approves three budget and sewer-related ordinances; all roll-call votes recorded as six in favor, one absent