AUBURN - The feral cat problem in Auburn won't be disappearing any time soon, but potential city funds could lead to improvements.
Alicia McKeen, a member of the Feral Cat Friends group in Auburn, said even with the organization's efforts, it will be at least 10 years before the city starts seeing a decrease in cats.
McKeen visited the city council Thursday to ask the city for help in dealing with the feral cat problem.
"We need financial support to continue this service," McKeen said. "We have stabilized many colonies in the city."
Councilor Thomas McNabb asked Corporation Counsel Thomas Leone if he would prepare a proposal to transfer $3,000 from the contingency account to help fund the efforts of the feral cat organization. Mayor Tim Lattimore supported the proposal.
"Hopefully, neutering the cats will be the answer," Lattimore said.
In other business, the issue of code enforcement resurfaced this week as landlord Carr Nagel complained to the council about what he considered to be unfair inspections by the city code enforcement office.
Nagel said code enforcement was slow to respond to his complaints about his tenants, but quick to address what he believed were "nitpicky" violations.
"I can't keep up with this. I'm doing normal maintenance," Nagel said. "In the old days, the city seemed more willing to work with me."
Several individuals have spoken to the city council in the past weeks about code enforcement. Leone said he was getting mixed signals from councilors and individuals addressing council about what the code enforcement office should be doing.
"I'm hearing codes isn't doing enough, codes is doing too much," Leone said. "You'll see a difference between those who comply with codes and don't complain about it, and those who are not complying with the codes who complain all the time."
The council plans to hold a work session addressing code enforcement issues in the coming weeks.
In other news:
- Councilors approved an amendment to the fiscal year 2005-06 budget allocating $31,044 for a full-time planning assistant in the Office of Planning and Economic Development.
Some of the salary money will be reimbursed by the Community Development Block Grant and the Empire Zone Program, lowering the city's share to $13,500. The full-time assistant position will replace a vacant part-time planner position.
- The council passed a resolution allowing the city to submit grant requests for New York State Energy Research and Development Authority funds for natural gas exploration in the area.
"We're looking for the opportunity to explore for natural gas deposits in Auburn," said Frank DeOrio, director of municipal utilities. "The first step is finding the gas, and then the next step will be drilling for it."
- Further budget amendments were approved allowing the city to use $115,514 from the fund balance for retroactive salary payments required under a contract with the Civil Service Employees Association. The city will also use $235,000 from the fund balance for a debt payment made in June.
Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net
McKeen visited the city council Thursday to ask the city for help in dealing with the feral cat problem.
"We need financial support to continue this service," McKeen said. "We have stabilized many colonies in the city."
Councilor Thomas McNabb asked Corporation Counsel Thomas Leone if he would prepare a proposal to transfer $3,000 from the contingency account to help fund the efforts of the feral cat organization. Mayor Tim Lattimore supported the proposal.
"Hopefully, neutering the cats will be the answer," Lattimore said.
In other business, the issue of code enforcement resurfaced this week as landlord Carr Nagel complained to the council about what he considered to be unfair inspections by the city code enforcement office.
Nagel said code enforcement was slow to respond to his complaints about his tenants, but quick to address what he believed were "nitpicky" violations.
"I can't keep up with this. I'm doing normal maintenance," Nagel said. "In the old days, the city seemed more willing to work with me."
Several individuals have spoken to the city council in the past weeks about code enforcement. Leone said he was getting mixed signals from councilors and individuals addressing council about what the code enforcement office should be doing.
"I'm hearing codes isn't doing enough, codes is doing too much," Leone said. "You'll see a difference between those who comply with codes and don't complain about it, and those who are not complying with the codes who complain all the time."
The council plans to hold a work session addressing code enforcement issues in the coming weeks.
In other news:
- Councilors approved an amendment to the fiscal year 2005-06 budget allocating $31,044 for a full-time planning assistant in the Office of Planning and Economic Development.
Some of the salary money will be reimbursed by the Community Development Block Grant and the Empire Zone Program, lowering the city's share to $13,500. The full-time assistant position will replace a vacant part-time planner position.
- The council passed a resolution allowing the city to submit grant requests for New York State Energy Research and Development Authority funds for natural gas exploration in the area.
"We're looking for the opportunity to explore for natural gas deposits in Auburn," said Frank DeOrio, director of municipal utilities. "The first step is finding the gas, and then the next step will be drilling for it."
- Further budget amendments were approved allowing the city to use $115,514 from the fund balance for retroactive salary payments required under a contract with the Civil Service Employees Association. The city will also use $235,000 from the fund balance for a debt payment made in June.
Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net
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