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Partnership for Change
The Partnership for Change is a joint-initiative of the Mayor's Office and City Council, announced during the Mayor's 2008 State of the City Address, that aims to address four of the most pressing issues of municipal finance. Each Commission includes representation from the administration, City Council, city unions, and the community.
The Commission on Personnel Costs released its final report on August 26, 2009. The Commission on Sustainable Development & Smart Growth released its final report and implementation matrix on May 28, 2009.The Commission on Housing and Homeownership released its final report and executive summary on April 29, 2009.
Each of these documents and descriptions of the commissions are available on this page
Welcome Packet for Commission Members
All Commission members received a Welcome Packet to better understand the financial challenges we face as a community. The Packet includes plenty of financial data as well as the 2008 Budget Address presentation and a Welcome Letter from Mayor Ryan, which follows:
The City of Binghamton is at a crossroads.
Though we are posting impressive gains toward a shared vision of a safe community with healthy neighborhoods, we also face serious financial challenges that require sobering discussions and responsible long-term solutions. As I’ve been stating since last year’s Budget Address, we can no longer just tinker with our finances. Rather, we must make some difficult choices and devise comprehensive and creative solutions in order to restore and strengthen the city’s financial health.
The Partnership for Change is a joint initiative between the Mayor’s Office and City Council that recognizes the value of inclusion and diversity. We do not face these challenges alone, but as a community. So it must be as a community that we discuss and devise smart strategies to achieve financial strength and community vitality.
I thank all those who accepted this invitation, and I look forward to working with you all.
Matthew T. Ryan, Mayor
Meeting Schedule
The first introductory meeting of all Commission members was held Thursday, April 3, 2008, 5:30 - 7:00pm in the City Council Chambers. The meeting was open to the public, and broadcast live on Cable Channel 12 thanks to Time Warner Cable.
Commissions met monthly throughout 2008, and are now working on final report. The Commission on Personnel Costs, however, will continue meeting through March, and finalize their report in April.
COMMISSION ON PERSONNEL COSTS
Meeting: Fourth Monday of every month, 5:30pm, Mayor's Conference Room.
Main Objective:
To review thoroughly the three largest municipal expenses and make recommendations on long-term, more cost-effective strategies to maintaining and improving community safety. The review should include a survey of comparable communities in Upstate New York to contextualize the city’s expenses and financial trends.
- LAW ENFORCEMENT. Analysis should consider consolidation into metro force, consolidation with Johnson City only, work schedule and shift changes, and other organizational changes and operational reforms.
- FIRE PROTECTION. Analysis should consider consolidation into metro force, consolidation with Johnson City only, consolidation of firehouses, move to mixed professional-volunteer force, and other organizational changes and operational reforms.
- HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS. Analysis should consider changing employee contribution to a percentage of salary rather than flat percentage, review anticipated impact of retirees on municipal finances, investigate the feasibility of a regional consortium, and offering alternative health plans at a lesser cost to employees.
Membership:
- City Hall: Tarik Abdelazim, Executive Assistant to Mayor; John Cox, Comptroller; Patricia Keppler, Director of Personnel and Safety; Joe Ziksuki, Police Chief; and Daniel Thomas, Fire Chief
- City Council: Finance Committee and Employees Committee
- Labor: John Janos, IAFF; Pat Eggleston, IAFF; and Craig Follett, PBA*
- Community Leaders: Jim McLaughlin, Marty Tillipaugh, Ann Taft, Margaret Coffey, Kevin Wright, Gregory Talley.
* PBA members have declined the invite and will not be participating on this Commission
Final Report
Click here for the Commission on Personnel Costs' Final Report.
Mid-term Report
Click here for the Commission on Personnel Costs's Mid-term Report.
COMMISSION ON SANITATION
Meeting: Second Monday of every month, 6:30pm, Council workroom, City Clerk's Office.
Main Objectives:
- To study the feasibility of a municipally-owned composting facility
- To determine the future use of the transfer station and a new location if needed
- To review the garbage bag fees and recommend a long-term fee structure; to study the use and sale of “trash stickers” for items that do not fit into bags to offset tipping costs
- To discuss ways to improve residential recycling efforts
- To review the tagging and enforcement of improper disposal of garbage
Membership:
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City Hall: Luke Day, Commissioner of Public Works; Bill Reardon, 2nd Deputy Commissioner Public Works; and Amelia LoDolce, Sustainable Development Planner
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City Council: Public Works Committee
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Labor: Tom Kellar, Teamsters Supervisor rep
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COMMISSION ON SMART GROWTH
Click the screen below to watch an introductory video on the Commission on Smart Growth. The clip is part of Mayor Ryan's four-part Video Series on Citizen Resources.
- To research best practices in sustainable development and smart growth principles, compare with the City’s current code and make recommendations on improving municipal code for the following issues:
- Storm water management
- Landscaping requirements and parking lots
- Green building (construction and rehabilitation) for publicly-financed projects
- To review best practices on preservation of historic structures, adaptive reuse, and design consistency and to make recommendations to strengthen City Code, the role of CAUD, and Downtown Binghamton (Main Street organization)
- To make recommendations on a sustainable development plan for economic stimulation in the City, including marketing and funding opportunities to incentivize investment and compliance.
Membership:
- City Hall: Merry Harris, Director of Economic Development; Tom Costello, 1st Deputy Commissioner of Public Works; Brenda Longstreet, Senior Engineer; Caroline Quidort, Senior Planner; Dave Chadwick, Director of Building, Code and Construction; Amelia LoDolce, Sustainable Development Planner
- City Council: Planning and Community Development Committee
- Community Leaders: Ami Bar-On, Madeline Cotts, Zack McKenna, Maureen Wilson, Bob Pompi
Final Report
Mid-term Report
Click here for the Commission on Smart Growth's Mid-term Report.
COMMISSION ON HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP
Meetings: Last Wednesday of every month, 5:30 - 7:30pm, PHCD Conference Room, 4th Floor, City Hall
Main Objectives:
- Review best practices for increasing homeownership, compare with current local resources and strategies, and make recommendations per the following issues:
- Legislation
- Programmatic Initiatives
- Development and Resources
- Discuss and identify strategies to promote and retain responsible, local landowners and to incentivize student housing in appropriately zoned neighborhoods
- Discuss strategies in improving quality of life and building healthy neighborhoods with a focus on the following housing issues:
- Zoning
- Code enforcement and Certificate of Compliance
- Absentee landlord and property management
- Create Strategic Plan that incorporates the above elements with the integration of relevant findings from other Commissions
Membership:
- City Hall: Matt Ryan, Mayor; Steve Quinn, Housing Programs Supervisor; Brian Seachrist, First Assistant Corporation Counselor; Keith Heron, Vacant Property Officer; Ted Tedino, Zoning Inspector
- City Council: Municipal and Public Affairs Committee
- Community Leaders: Debra Hogan, Tobey Kellam, Rev. Henry Ausby, Ken Kamlet, David Husch, David Tanenhaus, Alycia Harris, Lois Andrascik
Final Report
Click here for the Commission on Housing and Homeownership's Final Report
Mid-Term Report
Click here here for the Commission on Housing and Homeownership's Mid-term Report.
