Only two Auburn City Council business meetings remain this year before two newly elected members come aboard and two others leave.

Although council faces changes, it will vote on a few items that may change the city's future.

The first, is a vote that would allow the staff to apply for a grant that may lead to the renovation of two former factory sites and possible redevelopment.

The city wants to get money to renovate two potentially environmentally hazardous properties of former factories along the Owasco River.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation created the Environmental Restoration Program to clean brownfields. If awarded, the state grants would reimburse the city for up to 90 percent of on-site eligible costs and all of the off-site eligible costs for investigation and remediation.

Historians give the Auburn Woolen Company the title of one of the top polluters of the river. The remains of the company, which made material for men's suits, is north of the Mill Street dam. The property spans more than 9.5 acres.

The second site, the former Wadsworth and Son Scythe Factory, also sat near the river. The property offers nearly 15.5 acres.

The potential for environmental hazards may have prevented development. City officials hope the restoration of the land could lead to development of the now vacant properties.

The estimates to investigate the Woolen mill site is $309,200. The city's share, if it receives the grant, would be nearly $29,000. The scythe factory site would cost about $355,800, and the city would be responsible for about $32,500.

Once rehabilitated, the city-owned property can be used for any type of development.

Baldwinsville's Paper Mill Island was a reformed brownfield, or contaminated piece of real estate, that benefited from this program and became a waterfront park.

The council also will decide whether to use $15,800 to utilize a grant to draft an energy master plan for Auburn and Cayuga County.

The state Department of State Quality Communities grant would pay a total of $34,515. The city will vote whether to hire Rochester-based Larsen Engineers to draw up a sustainable energy plan for that first portion of the grant.

The two municipals share is 10 percent, or $3,451. They haven't decided how to split that amount, said Michael Long, director of capital projects and grants.

This blueprint would help the city identify a strategy for implementing green alternate energy initiatives. The grant will allow the city to bring in people from different communities to examine what ventures they are exploring, Long said. The project will include exploring energy consumption and the city's infrastructure.

And lastly, the council again will vote on whether to change the city hall's time of operation from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to starting and ending one hour earlier. If approved, city hall will adopt those hours starting Jan. 2.

Council previously decided against maintaining “summer hours” throughout the year. In May, council elected to adopt the schedule from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and have workers note how many people come early in the morning.

In August, council rejected keeping that schedule throughout the year.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net