[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6622002,"mediaKeyId","2788228-3e8d7156a5abd10a039f2fbdfeeb485b","parentId",2788228,"title","Residents press Rome council on South Rome blight and parks access; city outlines cleanup, green-waste and parks master plan","audioSeconds",1002,"startMs",1066000,"endMs",2068000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2788228-3e8d7156a5abd10a039f2fbdfeeb485b&start=1066&end=2068","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2788228-3e8d7156a5abd10a039f2fbdfeeb485b/thumbnail_1066000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6622002/Rome/Oneida-County/New-York/Residents-press-Rome-council-on-South-Rome-blight-and-parks-access-city-outlines-cleanup-green-waste-and-parks-master-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622002-d0d33c08333f341726e985d847a88cc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173591&Signature=Ks5tTEYkuuTPje6ccxKywwCtHfhx6wuFXTfIJExYJyCq7B2wYICHlBAP-frEUgpi3QwFhehcBr9woo2F1iNngvJr5i6lM2n85Y8dedFf1vW12lHDWkxuqAQTX7u2nCvYauAZCKmJsI6mvNc2t30~arYgeJEyAeEF9ThS~W2ZDl7kqACWj2jbFC9tBLQOP5RlNJ85hU7TKqsUyzyg9rJWfHiIhXuJUENONT9BgNzQJhtEb6D2lH7WR0nHhXOM5VOTPcU49Zjzz1pRWAsoSDwWFUA~Era1p7OUoGZqGgnJIePXvU9MV0tljySrZXfU-PcHEsFYuvW-~6te3JMwu~c~Ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rome, NY","date","2025-03-27T00:28:01.447Z","article","Several residents used the public-comment period at the March 26 Rome Common Council meeting to press officials about derelict buildings, tear-downs and uneven maintenance in South Rome.

Jamie McCoppin said he submitted a bid to buy a house on North George Street that he said is slated for demolition and asked why the city would demolish a useable home to create a parking lot. Kelly Lubeck of Rich Street urged action on a partially demolished warehouse on Ridge Street and said South Rome neighborhoods felt neglected. Lubeck also proposed a shuttle or bus for children in South Rome to access parks and pools, and raised concerns about a canceled splash-pad project at Grisek (as stated by the speaker).

Councilor Pazio and other officials responded that the city cannot unilaterally tear down privately owned buildings; Pazio said meetings had been scheduled with property owners and “they have been canceled twice by the owners.” He described the process for addressing damaged buildings, including legal steps that take time, and asked residents to provide addresses so staff can follow up.

On parks and youth access, Councilor Praia (chair of Parks, Recreation and Youth Activities Committee) told the council the city has funded a parks master plan with $200,000 taken from ARPA and retained consulting firm Fisher & Associates to study every park in the city. Praia said the study is in an early stage; public meetings and input opportunities will follow and specific projects — including any shuttle or transportation programs — will be considered after the master-plan process.

Public and council members also discussed city cleanup and green-waste procedures. Commissioner Giuliano (DPW) said the annual containerized green-waste curbside program starts April 7 and that residents should set the green-waste container out the day before their regular solid-waste pickup. He recited limits in the notice: a 50-pound weight limit and a six-foot branch length limit, and said the notice describes how to prepare material so DPW crews can collect it safely.

Giuliano said the city will address loose piles on a demand basis via calls to the 311 app or as crews encounter larger accumulations; the DPW has not committed to a recurring bulk loose-pickup program at this time. The city also publicized a spring cleanup event scheduled for Saturday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Rome Stanwix (Oriskany) Trailhead, led by the Rome Waterways and Trails Advocacy Group; organizers asked volunteers to sign up on the group’s Facebook page.

DPW committee reports additionally covered demolition work at St. Peter’s Church (work completed and the site settling), the Northwest Water Improvements project moving forward, a tentative cold-milling street list and a routine estimate of roughly $340,000 spent per ward on road repairs in recent years. Councilors said weather and tornado-related repairs have slowed some projects and that staff are reassessing final road lists.

Councilors asked residents who raised property concerns to provide addresses so staff can pursue follow-up inspections and legal steps where appropriate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/26/25 Common Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Residents raised concerns about demolition, derelict properties and limited park amenities in South Rome; city officials detailed a spring cleanup, curbside green-waste rules starting April 7 and a $200,000 ARPA-funded parks master plan that will lead to public meetings.","taxTitle","Rome, Oneida County, New York","taxId",54217,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6622007,"Rome outlines lead-service inventory effort tied to EPA rule, seeks resident self-reporting",259,2535000,2794000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2788228-3e8d7156a5abd10a039f2fbdfeeb485b&start=2535&end=2794","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2788228-3e8d7156a5abd10a039f2fbdfeeb485b/thumbnail_2535000.jpg","/articles/6622007/Rome/Oneida-County/New-York/Rome-outlines-lead-service-inventory-effort-tied-to-EPA-rule-seeks-resident-self-reporting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622007-16d8e18a24d3fafa546fd2341fb29465/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173591&Signature=UG1KWDD4lxAaa-D23YZUZGmiqWfqZ-K4ZXrQxohpbrhgAIPgxn16w2fKLEowBYity2FiVI1Yye8ggzrolekC8rhTtIvoaxTKd~c02vy2dXHVat~wNX1Hlse091l1cOrfjgiZFhOu0IHv~Rq07wEbzI7E59iz-D9YNpPnANtdeJh1~qQswKHUzVaed3lvZbdKjCKQ~20Kme~5RniTtesDpqLYuP40gbtGy9xApHSjuDUo2~gDghAG92vjd1TjyDFzlT47jdHGf4Xgk3MEhiHUYIwj9qh-1PT4cNgN5k92WBBy~-HKQJxCnqw0iVA-KjjR~cth5d7SevvSfx~YloGTUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials told the Rome Common Council on March 26 that a revised federal Lead and Copper Rule requires municipalities to inventory water service lines and that Rome is pursuing resident self-reporting to meet federal deadlines.

Commissioner Giuliano (Department of Public Works) said the rule requires municipalities to inventory services “whether they’re lead, copper, or galvanized.” He said the city submitted an initial inventory to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in October 2024 and has “just under two years left to do that,” adding that the city must show progress on inventories in the Octobers of 2025 and 2026.

Giuliano said the EPA wants up to 500 services inventoried with photographic proof and that the city lacks the personnel to schedule inspections of 500 homes. “That’s what we’re relying on: the self-reporting of the residents to do right now,” he said. The city is ramping up outreach — including presentations at community centers — to help residents identify pipe types, photograph their service line and submit the form.

Giuliano said municipal staff are pursuing funding opportunities that open in May (grant application window) and that having a larger inventory will improve Rome’s grant competitiveness. He described a fallback plan that would use “machine learning” and the city’s historical water department records and work orders to predict likely lead services if resident response is insufficient, noting that such predictive inventories are weaker evidence for grant applications than photographed self-reports.

Councilor Anderson and others asked about uptake; Giuliano said the city has increased from roughly one contact per week to a couple per day but remains below the 500-service goal. Officials said they will continue social-media outreach, public meetings and targeted visits to senior centers to help residents with submissions.

Giuliano and councilors emphasized the inventory is a federal mandate and not a city order to force residents to replace pipes. “The city is not going to make you change your lead pipes,” a council member said during committee reports, noting the exercise is an inventory and planning step required by the EPA.

City officials encouraged residents to look for the public notice, take photographs showing the connection between the meter/service and the house, and to use city outreach events for help completing the form.","City officials said Rome must inventory up to 500 water service lines under a revised EPA rule and urged residents to self-report service-line photos and information; the city is pursuing grant opportunities that favor larger inventories.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6622012,"Votes at a glance: Rome council approves donation, fee waiver, environmental determination and property sale",231,2824000,3055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2788228-3e8d7156a5abd10a039f2fbdfeeb485b&start=2824&end=3055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2788228-3e8d7156a5abd10a039f2fbdfeeb485b/thumbnail_2824000.jpg","/articles/6622012/Rome/Oneida-County/New-York/Votes-at-a-glance-Rome-council-approves-donation-fee-waiver-environmental-determination-and-property-sale","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622012-034e5c1c5a78463e04337202cce504f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173591&Signature=nLmQpL4~k0vCvNv9Vdb1ZbOJOvTsnmQOTsdDuQuevt4iHy2ABsbTN~6K2bK68dkwF4XshtaCtOVPWFf5q~wUtm3NFhDGu53maltkr9usjlyzTzLJ66qa0YVaMtpAAHOMX6OJIkrmT0YLFj2eUQHQgF69zz0Zoy9xtOEhNgWVA1SRHAF9OU-JBtPjXCBr5sbHQbrs62WW-SmN4a-q5hniRPhqhTjqZotTHsQNboG450usUs8oMi7WdTI6fdsLLqvQlAb4S9ZtHaYF5ym442jhb3co2MV05Nhs9umngRErYM4GM~Auli4lniJoPOPU54U8Ek1g1rc3fUHmY1Sn~6urFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its March 26 meeting, the Rome Common Council approved multiple resolutions and ordinances. All measures listed below passed by voice vote or unanimous consent during the session.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 46: Accepting a $10,000 donation from Mohawk Valley Materials to the city of Rome to support the police department’s K-9 unit. Moved by Councilor Sprues and seconded by Councilor Anderson; carried by voice vote.

- Resolution 47: Authorizing a waiver of all fees for the police civil service exam on May 3, 2025. Moved and seconded; carried by voice vote.

- Resolution 48: Determination that action to undertake a certain project will not have a significant effect on the environment. Moved and seconded; carried by voice vote.

- Resolution 49: Appointment of a Commissioner of Deeds. Moved by Councilor Mortis and seconded by Councilor Fazio; carried by voice vote.

- Ordinance 9774: Authorizing the issuance of $1,200,000 in bonds to finance purchase of a motor vehicle used for fighting fires. (See separate article for detailed discussion.) Approved on unanimous voice vote.

- Ordinance 9775: Authorizing the mayor to approve sale of city-owned parcel 411 West Thomas Street (tax map number 242.033-0002-022) to a buyer for $4,000. Moved and seconded; carried by voice vote.

Council discussion on the floor was brief for most items; several motions were moved, seconded and carried by unanimous consent or by voice vote without a recorded roll-call tally in the transcript. The donation for the K-9 unit drew explicit thanks from councilors on the record.","The Rome Common Council passed four resolutions and two ordinances on March 26, including a $10,000 donation for a police K-9 unit, a waived police exam fee, an environmental determination, appointment of a commissioner of deeds, the $1.2 million bond for a fire truck (Ordinance 9774), and sale of a city parcel for $4,000 (Ordinance 9775).",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":92,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6622016,"Rome approves $1.2 million bond to buy new fire pump truck",2177,878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2788228-3e8d7156a5abd10a039f2fbdfeeb485b&start=878&end=3055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2788228-3e8d7156a5abd10a039f2fbdfeeb485b/thumbnail_878000.jpg","/articles/6622016/Rome/Oneida-County/New-York/Rome-approves-12-million-bond-to-buy-new-fire-pump-truck","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622016-d454c9731a0aeb0306577537c38e4e5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173591&Signature=eFYLzRGR~GT0rdJUdpdFVG67yTuIxFBQIvWd6l004BvDdc6YQYQR3bP5MLONXK-jJvtq0~c1L0b0Q4Qub7M7FYoGRbYyU2YBVGG4qGicWm~TfHih7zQCvzDq2KHZohdEip9cAFkZ9PH2PFbxRAAlYaTv~pTjHD2n4X2gO1FheLhCOJ8NKacp906K4-a6ItYbrERDX9JncZxYUi~cxBCjurgk9W3WbmXWH3-KhASTAalCNpzMH3-tozIc-gfYh3yYGsFgf4YcbVViBWOqG-ybaqSPoRg3G5CByZJGQSdzZx8otLIfyspuUGVzaaKdGHGHrw2KJslByP7Yaz7eCloH-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rome Common Council on March 26 unanimously approved Ordinance 9774, authorizing $1,200,000 in bonds to finance the purchase of a fire department pump truck.

Commissioner Frank White, the city’s public safety commissioner, told the council the funding request is intended to replace a 1995 pump truck that has been in reserve and “often requires thousands of dollars a year in maintenance to keep it operational.” White said the state recommends frontline pump trucks be replaced every 10 years and that, even if funding is approved, “it will take anywhere between 2 and a half to 3 years to have this truck ordered, built, painted, equipped, and delivered for service.”

White framed the ordinance as a public-safety priority and disputed public claims that the current mayor had canceled an order for the vehicle. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” White said, saying the previous administration had been quoted a lower price in 2021 and failed to act. He said the cost had risen since then and that the current administration and treasurer had brought the ordinance forward.

During the public comment period, multiple residents asked why an earlier-designated vehicle had not been delivered and whether money set aside — including ARPA funds referenced by speakers — had been spent for other purposes. In response, Councilor Dursley said funds previously set aside were returned to the city’s pool of ARPA money and that council votes subsequently allocated some ARPA dollars to other public-safety projects.

The ordinance passed on unanimous voice vote. City officials recorded that the truck would be a long-lead procurement requiring ordering and manufacturing before delivery, but the council did not set a separate delivery or implementation date beyond the multi-year estimate cited by Commissioner White.

Clarifying details discussed in the meeting include the 1995 pump truck remaining in reserve, an estimated 2½–3-year lead time for ordering and delivery, and public statements from the commissioners that prior price estimates (quoted to the council in 2021 and 2023) had increased over time.

The council made no other formal conditions on the ordinance at the March 26 session.","The Rome Common Council unanimously authorized $1.2 million in bonds to finance a replacement fire department pump truck, a measure supporters said addresses an aging 1995 reserve vehicle and will take years to fulfill after ordering.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press Rome council on South Rome blight and parks access; city outlines cleanup, green-waste and parks master plan

Rome outlines lead-service inventory effort tied to EPA rule, seeks resident self-reporting

Votes at a glance: Rome council approves donation, fee waiver, environmental determination and property sale

Rome approves $1.2 million bond to buy new fire pump truck