One of the things that I have stated time and again throughout this process is the lack of forward thinking I see here in Batavia. After months of walking the streets of our city and meeting the hundreds of neighbors that took time out of their day to speak with me, I, with the help of those who know more on these subjects, have created a look of possibilities at some very important issues.
First and foremost, let us tackle what I believe to be the simplest issues:
Open Government.
This is and easy problem to solve because it will take only a few simple steps to correct. Here is my Plan:
I will put forth a motion to:
- Place all meeting agenda items and supporting documents be published on the city’s website no later than seventy two hours before each meeting. This will of course not include any personnel or legal items, but should include all motion items that are open.
- With the power of this electronic society, all meetings should not only be taped for cable, but they should also be streamed live via the city’s website. They should also be stored on the site for a period of one year, so that residents can go back and re-watch if they wish. This is not costly as many will have you believe and it will allow anyone that wants a real time or even post time look to have.
- Institute a series of floating meetings. The Batavia City Schools for years have held meetings at the different schools throughout the district. Essentially, bring the meeting to the neighborhoods, instead of making the neighborhoods always come to them. There are plenty of spaces that can be used throughout the city that will allow council to hold at least one meeting in every ward. Not only will this allow those who have problems traveling yet another option, but it may even encourage some to experience the process for the first time.
- Limit the use of Executive Sessions to only issues concerning legal liability to the city.
I cannot make other city officials use online sharing resources like TheBatavian.com to openly speak about their opinions on topics or reasons for their vote, but I can assure you that I will. By giving the public access to its government, providing documentation and agendas, as well giving the ability to hear and see Business and Conference sessions at will, we will all have more insight into our government
Police and Fire Departments:
The public safety of this community is one of my top priorities. One of the many reasons my wife and I live in Batavia is because it is a safe place to raise kids. I have met and worked with many of the officers in our local force, including Chief Baker, and I am impressed with them all!
That all being said, the financial realities of running this city is very clear. At every home I went to, I was told the same thing: Taxes are too high! I understand the burdens that we face. I also understand that we cannot have tax reform without speaking about these two vital agencies. My plan is designed to be thoughtful while being realistic.
Police
Right now we have an opportunity to fully invest the time it takes into the Police question. We are in need of a new contract and that means the time is right to make a change. The fact is there are too many police agencies in our community.
My Plan is simple. We will merge the City Police Force with the County Sheriff’s department within two years. That is enough time to allow for a smooth transition. We will work with the county to create a “Metro Division” within the Sheriff’s department, so that we can ensure the proper protection for our neighborhoods.
- We will create a committee made up of multi-community officials (City and County Officials/ Officers) to work through all the details of the transition. Their primary objective: Keep safety levels at their current levels while we transition.
- We will honor the careers of our City Police and only eliminate positions through natural attrition to minimize impact on them.
- We will begin in year one to have a blended force with the county as we reduce our staffing levels to fill in any holes. Keeping our patrols where they are and ensuring response times are sound.
- We will work with the county to decide what equipment and vehicles are needed and what can be sold. Taken full inventory and using the monies earned to pay for any costs associated. If none, a full return to tax payers.
- By year two the county will fully take over operations as well as any officers that will be brought into the new force.
- The local police station can either be utilized by the county as a metro dept if they wish or be returned to the city for other purposes.
This will take time. The first thing that we have to do though is agree to do it. I have listened to enough of you to know that you want a change. I also believe that it should be the residents to decide! That is why when I bring this forward, I will push for a Referendum before I allow it to die out of political fear!
As for the Fire Department…
My plan for the fire department is different than that of the police.
Here is what I propose:
1. We re-negotiate a contract that introduces a blended department of full time officers and paid on call men for night calls. Ensuring flexibility while still maintaining a paid staff.
2. We enter service sharing agreements with all the surrounding volunteer departments to cut down on future equipment purchases.
3. We work with our City Fire Union to eliminate mandatory overtime provisions.
We will have to train new call men and build up that program. The reality is that we may very well continue with our current force for a few years farther into the future while we do this, but again I believe that the citizens of Batavia should vote for it. I will put forth the motion of a blended department and revised inter-service contract that will be based on market needs.
Neighborhood Improvement:
Every election year people always say that they are for neighborhoods. I find it hard to believe anyone is not for neighborhoods! My plan is to A.C.T.
Accountability
Community
Transformation
The first part, Accountability, is the one that has caused so much distress with those who value their privacy. I am not in favor of the government telling me how to live my life or how to keep my home. At the same time I also understand that one property in disrepair can cause an entire street’s value to decline. That is as much an infringement of another’s personal freedoms as the other. Although, when we choose to live in a communal environment we agree to a set of understandable standards that are common throughout the world.
Here are my opinions and solutions…
First let’s talk about rental properties. Landlords are business owners, plain and simple. They are paid for a service and, if done properly, profit from it. It is not wrong to require that business owners keep their properties in good repair. This should go for all business owners throughout the city. However, if a landlord will not do that, then I believe the city should have the right to inspect the property, cite violations and fines. This is about safety, not esthetics. Rental properties with damaged foundations, collapsing porches, exposed wirings and damaged piping can create problems for the whole neighborhood.
What about people who honestly can’t afford to fix their homes and then see their assessments raise just because they did something nice to their property. To this I have a plan.
There is a New York State statute that is already on the books right now. To put it plainly, it allows homeowners to do major home repair without having their assessment rise. It essentially freezes a property’s assessment rate for a period of three to five depending on what the city adopts. I would put forth the five year version of the bill.
Here is an example of how it works:
2009 Assessment value of property: $100,000
Work to be done: New roof, siding and porch
Total Cost: $25,000
Assessment would rise to: $111,000 an additional $112.42 per year just in city taxes!
Under plan: $100,000 – No change for five years!
That same house would then be reassessed in 2014. At that time between inflation and market growth the house would be worth $120,000. The way the plan works it breaks down the assessment over a two year period.
2015: $110,000
2016: $ 120,000 Full Market Value!!!
That is a total of seven years after the original work has been done before you see the change in your assessment!
If a property is sold during the window while it’s frozen the assessment will automatically go to the new rate. I will put this measure forward year one!
Community
Building a strong sense of community is paramount for a neighborhood to actually improve. The ability to trust, respect and protect one another has been the staple of powerful towns and cities throughout our country’s history. The first thing that we have to realize is that Batavia has changed. We are not the same city we were twenty years ago. Most people do not know the person to their left or right anymore. While it is not government’s job to make people know one another. It is very much their job to create a sense of revitalization when it has been lost. Here are my ideas on how we can do just that…
1. Individual community “Night Outs” that are led by the areas ward council person and teamed up with the various agencies throughout Batavia to bring neighbors together.
2. We need to institute ward forms so, neighbors can come together, address concerns and bring forward issues to their representatives that are important to specific streets.
3. Individual Ward events like, educational classes, crafts etc. sponsored by the various non-for-profits that bring community members together under like interests.
4. The re-institution of neighborhood watches. Neighbor protecting Neighbor
All are just possibilities, but anything that strengthens a community, improves a neighborhood.
Last…Transformation.
The purpose of this is the rebuilding of civic pride and interest that has fallen so over the years. Yes I believe a lot of this has to do with not feeling included in the process, but it’s so much more. Volunteerism is down. The amount of time that people give to charities, sports clubs, civic clubs, church groups and so forth, has seen steady falls for the better part of twenty years. I am not nearly to an age where I can preach about any type of “old days”, but I can tell you that we are just not connected to very much except the internet!
Transformation is the return to civic pride and revitalization of community participation on all fronts. It’s the call to action that I don’t think we have ever had and it’s time to give it. I don’t think I have a policy for this. It’s more of returning a state of mind. I will try to lead by example, but more so, I will help any young person that takes an interest in some field find the guide that they need.
There is so much more…
We have so much work to do! We have long term issues that we need to address now so that we aren’t facing the next budget crisis in four years. We have to be logical at the resources we have and use our city space to the best of our ability. We have got to think bigger about the possibilities and get past “the way we have always done things” mentality.
I want to thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts for a Better Batavia. If you want to know more just ask! I hope that you see I am constantly looking, assessing and re-evaluating things to find the best way for the most people! I am, if nothing else, a father of two little girls that count on him to do the right thing. That truth alone motivates more than you can believe not to mess up!
My name is Phillip Ricci and I am running for City Council at Large. On November 3rd, I humbly ask for your vote.
