Auburn City Council met Thursday evening for its regular business session at Memorial City Hall. The meeting covered a range of topics and even featured one resident who voiced concerns about public safety.
Here are five takeaways from last night’s meeting.
1. Racial and public safety concerns raised during public comment
Resident David Scott addressed the council during the public-to-be-heard portion with a sharply worded statement about what he described as a racial incident in Auburn involving a “racial terrorist.” Scott said the city had not adequately addressed the issue and announced his plans to coordinate alerts with New York State Police, including what he termed a “racial Predator Alert” and a “super Predator Alert.”
Scott criticized council members for what he saw as a lack of response, saying, “You never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” No members of the council responded to his comments during the meeting.
2. City Council election results announced
Mayor Jimmy Giannettino announced the certified results of the recent city election for two council seats. Councilor Terry Cuddy was reelected, and newcomer Craig Diego was elected to the council. Giannettino congratulated both and noted that onboarding for the new councilor would begin soon after certification by the Cayuga County Board of Elections.
3. City sells two surplus properties
Two land sale resolutions were passed:
- 25–39 Miles Avenue: A vacant, city-owned parcel was sold to adjacent property owner Joseph Nowak Jr. for $1,000. The lot had been acquired through tax foreclosure and was declared surplus with no municipal use. The sale includes a quit claim deed and requires permits for future work.
- 34 Franklin Street: A multi-family residential and commercial building was sold to Shenell Barr and Darryl Smith for $19,000. The buyers plan to renovate the three apartments and open a wellness center in the commercial space. City Manager Jenny Haines said the building had been a “source of angst and code enforcement issues” and expressed support for its redevelopment.
4. Sewer rate agreement extended with neighboring towns
The council approved Amendment No. 4 to the municipal cooperation agreement for sewer service with the towns of Sennett, Owasco, Fleming, Aurelius, and the Cayuga County Water and Sewer Authority. The amendment maintains the current wholesale sewer rate of $3.04 per 100 cubic feet through the end of 2026. A full recalculation of rates is planned for fall of that year.
5. Budget transfer approved for damaged police vehicle
The council authorized a $51,185 transfer from the city’s contingency fund to cover the cost of replacing an Auburn Police Department vehicle that was damaged during a pursuit. The funding will be used until an insurance claim is resolved. The resolution was tabled at the Nov. 13 meeting and brought back for approval on Nov. 20. No fund balance was requested, and the city continues to seek full reimbursement from the insurance provider.
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