City Council Meeting – April 13, 2026

Agenda. Navigate the video via the time stamps below

City Council Meeting

6:41

Call to Order

7:07

Invocation

7:46

Pledge of Allegiance

8:02

Roll Call

8:16

Approval of Minutes

8:31

Communications & Petitions

Emails received regarding ARPA funding and bulk waste policy clarification.

9:35

Public Comment – Legislative Agenda (None)

9:54

Legislative Consent Agenda Approval

Public Comment – General City Business

10:20

Public Comment – Cynthia Farmer

Resident Cynthia Farmer urged the City to address widespread garbage and deteriorating vacant properties across Schenectady. She described specific problem areas on Lottridge Hill, Albany Street, and Swan Street. Farmer stated she has not seen the Mayor come through any neighborhoods since his reelection and urged him to walk the areas to see conditions firsthand. She called on the City to take responsibility for cleanup of vacant parcels and improve how the City looks.

13:28

Public Comment – Vince Riggi (former councilmember)

Former Council Member Vince Riggi questioned multi‑year surpluses in the City’s waste fund and argued it should be segregated like water and sewer. He raised concerns about the proposed tiered trash limits, noting that bags not placed inside the standardized cans would not be collected, which he said would burden, particularly for seniors and residents without backyard access. Riggi urged the Council to review the line‑item budget documents he provided.

17:22

Public Comment – Kelly Horton

Resident Kelly Horton told the Council she was evicted from her home earlier that morning for unpaid taxes. The person she was with said she has been trying to pay the taxes since May of last year and had checks mailed back to her from the tax department. Horton asked the Council to review her situation and said she wants her home back after 29 years of ownership.

18:57

Public Comment – Eric Johnson

Wyllie Street Cleanup organizer, Electric City Community Grocery Board President, and Resident Eric Johnson described a two‑day Wyllie Street cleanup this past weekend and said illegal dumping over the embankment continues despite prior requests for mitigation. He outlined the city‑owned parcels involved, suggested barriers to deter dumping, and urged Council members to list their phone numbers on the City website since he was not able to invite them all to the cleanup due to that barrier. Johnson also invited the Council to tour the Electric City Community Grocery.

23:01

Public Comment – Dean Mirabito

Resident Dean Mirabito urged the Council to consider expanding the Schenectady Community Compost Project, launched in 2013. He highlighted the environmental benefits of composting and noted that the benefits far away the challenges.

24:40

Public Comment – William Rivas

C.O.C.O.A House Executive Director and Resident William Rivas described a decade of community–police trust‑building work he founded through Save Our Streets, including events, dialogues, and partnerships that led to the Schenectady Police Community Hiring Panel. He noted the panel’s national and academic recognition and emphasized that its success comes from shared participation among residents, police leadership, and City officials. Rivas urged the Council to ensure the voices involved remain part of all related conversations as they discuss.

28:45

Public Comment – Marion Porterfield (former councilmember)

Former Councilmember and Resident Marion Porterfield thanked volunteers and One Schenectady for the Wyllie Street cleanup. She called for a permanent solution, noting neighbors want fencing and cameras and that last year’s request for a fence was not acted on. Porterfield thanked Councilman Wiggins for convening the Housing Stability Task Force and highlighting the need for permanent housing solutions for people living in hotels.

Miscellaneous Business

31:37

Councilmember Hayden Engert – Neighborhood Cleanup Announcements

Councilmember Engert shared a list of upcoming neighborhood cleanups throughout April which have since passed. He encouraged residents to participate.

32:51

Councilmember Kim Wiggins – Housing Stability Task Force Update

Councilmember Wiggins reported that the first Housing Stability Task Force meeting was highly informative and said the group has the right people to make meaningful progress. She outlined expectations for future meetings, stating that side conversations, distractions, or behavior that discourages participation with not be allowed.

Closing

34:45

Mayor Gary McCarthy – City Cleanup's & Weather

Mayor Gary McCarthy thanks volunteers for cleanup efforts and urged individual residents to clean up their own properties as warm weather arrives.

35:38

Council President Carl Williams – Closing Remarks

Council President Carl Williams thanked attendees for participating and speaking, encouraged residents to report issues through SeeClickFix and directly to councilmembers, addressed concerns about trash and the proposed tiered system under discussion, invited residents affected by foreclosure to share their experiences, and expressed appreciation for community members contributing to improvement efforts before moving to adjourn the meeting.