Latest / The Hot Line w/ Jeff Graham / February 13, 2026

Transcript

February 13, 2026 · The Hot Line w/ Jeff Graham

0:00
[SPEAKER_32]: This is CBS News on the hour, your home for original reporting.
0:08
[SPEAKER_05]: I'm Steve Kathan, the search for Nancy Guthrie is into its 13th day, and FBI wanted poster in a canvas of people who lived near the missing Arizona woman of the latest developments.
0:19
[SPEAKER_05]: CBS's Jonathan Vigliotic.
0:21
[SPEAKER_21]: The FBI is looking for a male, 5 feet 9 to 10 inches tall, with an average build.
0:27
[SPEAKER_21]: They say he was wearing a black Ozark Trailhiker backpack.
0:30
[SPEAKER_21]: Investigators were seen earlier in the day at Guthrie's front porch setting up this pop-up tent to take measurements.
0:37
[SPEAKER_21]: It was the same location, a doorbell camera captured the man.
0:40
[SPEAKER_21]: The FBI says is the suspect in Guthrie's abduction.
0:43
[SPEAKER_05]: Court challenges are expected now that the Trump administration has moved to revoke the landmark environmental protection rule, created a fight climate change by limiting greenhouse gases.
0:54
[SPEAKER_05]: CBS's Ouija Jank.
0:55
[SPEAKER_27]: President Trump has repeatedly called climate change a hoax, and this move would have a major impact on climate regulation.
1:03
[SPEAKER_27]: The 2009 Endangerment find-in declares greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane threatened human health in the environment.
1:12
[SPEAKER_27]: It is the foundation for several major climate policies like stricter vehicle emission standards.
1:17
[SPEAKER_05]: The Secretary of State Rubio is in Germany for an international security meeting that could show the strains of the U.S. relationship with Europe.
1:25
[SPEAKER_05]: And the BBC's Garvinder Gilles says the war in Ukraine is a key issue.
1:30
[SPEAKER_29]: President Zelensky said it would be an important day with new steps towards shared security for Ukraine and Europe, including the first joint Ukrainian German drone production enterprise.
1:41
[SPEAKER_29]: Arseniyetsin Yuk is a former Ukrainian Prime Minister.
1:45
[SPEAKER_03]: I am quite optimistic, in terms of where the Europe can handle these war, together with Ukraine, without Americans.
1:52
[SPEAKER_05]: The CBS's Michael Wallace reports on a new American military move.
1:57
[SPEAKER_03]: Sources tell CBS news the U.S. has most advanced carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships are expected ahead from the Caribbean to the Middle East.
2:06
[SPEAKER_03]: As President Trump threatens Iran with military action if it doesn't agree to curb its nuclear program.
2:11
[SPEAKER_05]: San Francisco teachers who have been on strike since Monday over wages and family health benefits have reached a tentative agreement with the school district.
2:19
[SPEAKER_33]: Now to Florida, 3, 2, 1, ignition, and lift off.
2:25
[SPEAKER_05]: Lift off this morning for a new crew to the International Space Station, the team replaces the astronauts who returned to Earth early because one had a medical condition.
2:35
[SPEAKER_05]: A key measure of inflation fell to an early 5-year-low last month.
2:39
[SPEAKER_05]: The government says consumer prices were up 2.4% from one year ago.
2:44
[SPEAKER_05]: Wall Street, the Dow, is up 224 points.
2:48
[SPEAKER_05]: This is CBS News.
2:51
[SPEAKER_22]: What is going on?
2:52
[SPEAKER_11]: What's going on here?
2:53
[SPEAKER_11]: How was this possible?
2:54
[SPEAKER_11]: Great story telling starts here.
2:57
[SPEAKER_11]: Come on.
3:00
[SPEAKER_11]: Why?
3:00
[SPEAKER_11]: It's time for 60.
3:00
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3:02
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3:03
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3:31
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3:56
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4:03
[SPEAKER_11]: China is unhappy with a new spy recruitment video released by the CIA.
4:27
[SPEAKER_11]: China is not amused.
4:29
[SPEAKER_11]: Its foreign ministry is responding with a vow to take all necessary measures against what it calls sabotage activities of foreign anti-China forces, Michael Tuscanos, CBS News, Washington.
4:40
[SPEAKER_05]: The sex workers at a brothel in Nevada are fighting to unionize if successful.
4:45
[SPEAKER_05]: They'd be the only unionized brothel in the U.S., the sex workers at Sherry's Ranch, alleged the brothel was pushing them to sign an unfair contract.
4:54
[SPEAKER_05]: They would give it complete control over the workers intellectual property.
4:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Steve K. Thensibia For 35 years, Abby Carpet and Floor has been rooted right here in downtown Watertown.
5:05
[SPEAKER_01]: When Stephen Joyce Bradley opened their doors back in 1989, they partnered with Abby Carpet, a family-run company that's been trusted since 1954, now celebrating their anniversary.
5:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Stephen Joyce want to say, thank you.
5:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Their success comes from the friends and customers they've proudly served through the years.
5:21
[SPEAKER_01]: At Abbey Carpet and Floor of Watertown, your home's decor is where fashion meets function.
5:26
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5:28
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5:34
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5:40
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5:47
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5:50
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5:58
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6:00
[SPEAKER_22]: The Accua of the Forecast is sponsored by Ben Chone Home Improvement and Snowplowing.
6:04
[SPEAKER_22]: 3-1-5, 7-8-8, 7-2-8-7.
6:07
[SPEAKER_33]: The night expect intermittent snow and flurries with one to three inches of accumulation possible, be cautious of slippery spots.
6:13
[SPEAKER_33]: The low will be 18 degrees, but the temperature will rise into the mid-20s to marble bring low clouds with the high of 33 tomorrow night, skies will be mostly cloudy with a low of 17.
6:20
[SPEAKER_33]: On Sunday, anticipate low clouds throughout the day with a couple of snow showers in the afternoon and a high of 34 degrees, with your Accua of the Forecast, I'm meteorologist
6:30
[SPEAKER_22]: Now, AM-1240-WATN presents the hot rod sponsored by Herringers Contracting, the roof people who call you back, L.A.
6:40
[SPEAKER_22]: Quarry, the destination for all your crushed limestone in the North Country, and Watertown Appliance, the proud studio sponsor for the hotline with Jeff.
6:49
[SPEAKER_19]: The hotline with Jeff Graham is here on a Friday.
6:52
[SPEAKER_19]: Good afternoon, dear one and all.
7:00
[SPEAKER_19]: is the angry man have a valentine hmm and what about to Monday president state i am going to be in monday even though the office is closed because i have to be some well i want to be somewhere have to be home on monday or Wednesday so i probably won't be on Wednesday so you'll get me four days next week either way
7:30
[SPEAKER_19]: But I did want to be an unmonday just so I didn't want to cut you to three or two or something like that is because of my night since it's going on.
7:38
[SPEAKER_19]: So 755 1240 the phone number if you'd like to give us a call to be on the show of shows.
7:46
[SPEAKER_19]: Let's see.
7:46
[SPEAKER_19]: 29 co-workers put a million dollar powerball ticket bought in New York State.
7:52
[SPEAKER_19]: Where did that happen?
7:55
[SPEAKER_19]: Long Island.
7:58
[SPEAKER_19]: You know, of course, downstairs, always like that, and will be joined in just a moment by a city councilman Ben Schoen, who's agreed to come in and who knows to him for doing so because no one else will.
8:12
[SPEAKER_19]: I'm considered a kind of a pariah by some members of council and all of that, but we're happy to have Mr. Schoen here.
8:20
[SPEAKER_19]: So we'll take a break, be back with him in just a moment.
8:25
[SPEAKER_22]: The Democrats want to push President Trump out of office.
8:37
[SPEAKER_14]: So how do they do it?
8:38
[SPEAKER_14]: By taking over Congress in the midterms, they're targeting dozens of districts including our New York 21.
8:44
[SPEAKER_14]: So the question is, are you ready?
8:47
[SPEAKER_14]: Anthony Constantino is.
8:49
[SPEAKER_14]: Anthony Constantino isn't an Albany politician.
8:53
[SPEAKER_14]: He's a successful businessman.
8:55
[SPEAKER_14]: The CEO of Sticker Mule, a wildly successful company headquartered right here in Amsterdam, New York.
9:00
[SPEAKER_14]: He's built real businesses, created real jobs, and he knows what it takes to grow an economy from the ground up.
9:07
[SPEAKER_14]: Anthony Constantino is a proven outsider with grassroots Republican values and the backbone to stand with President Trump.
9:14
[SPEAKER_14]: Now he's running as the Republican nominee for New York's 21st Congressional District, fighting for economic growth, strong national security, and practical leadership that actually works.
9:24
[SPEAKER_14]: The Democrats want Trump out.
9:26
[SPEAKER_14]: We need Anthony Constantino in.
9:29
[SPEAKER_07]: Anthony Constantino and I approve this message.
9:32
[SPEAKER_07]: paid for by Constantino for Congress.
9:34
[SPEAKER_02]: Hey North Country, Luke Ob and here in FX Capura, Honda.
9:37
[SPEAKER_02]: I know it's freezing, snow splying, ice is everywhere, but let me tell you a little secret.
9:42
[SPEAKER_02]: Right now is the best time to grab that sports car you've always wanted.
9:46
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9:52
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9:59
[SPEAKER_02]: It's all here and it's priced to move.
10:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Of course, if winners got nervous, we've got all-wheel drive CRV's pilots and tough trucks to get you through the snow.
10:08
[SPEAKER_02]: But, if you're thinking ahead the sunny days and open roads, now is the time to make your move.
10:13
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10:24
[SPEAKER_02]: Smart Shoppers know sports car season starts now.
10:28
[SPEAKER_02]: FX Tupurahanda on Bradley Street right off 81 Watertown.
10:35
[SPEAKER_13]: Ready to take the next step toward your future?
10:37
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10:47
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10:59
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11:05
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11:18
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11:26
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11:32
[SPEAKER_19]: experience Samaritan orthopedics today riveting radio AM-1240 W-A-T-N-D news in talk authority well good afternoon here what an all-in-all I'm Jeff Graham and then we have city councilman Ben showing here Mr. showing you're in what your third year of a councilor everybody says you're not gonna run again next year is that true is it next year already that twenty seven yeah
12:02
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, I mean, I don't at this time.
12:03
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't get closer.
12:04
[SPEAKER_24]: Not close.
12:05
[SPEAKER_24]: No.
12:05
[SPEAKER_24]: I'm sorry.
12:06
[SPEAKER_24]: At this time, I don't have any plans to run again.
12:08
[SPEAKER_24]: The next year in eight or nine months make a big difference.
12:14
[SPEAKER_24]: If you feel like you're making a difference and that you can continue to make a difference, I think, you know.
12:19
[SPEAKER_19]: That's an open seat.
12:21
[SPEAKER_19]: And then himple seat will be open because he's running for mayor, right?
12:24
[SPEAKER_19]: I don't know.
12:25
[SPEAKER_19]: Did he announce?
12:26
[SPEAKER_19]: Wait, sure, it looks like it to me.
12:28
[SPEAKER_19]: And, um, I don't know.
12:31
[SPEAKER_19]: P. Monaco called in yesterday.
12:33
[SPEAKER_19]: Maybe you heard him.
12:34
[SPEAKER_24]: I was chopping ice on a roof yesterday, so I missed.
12:37
[SPEAKER_19]: Oh, don't do that.
12:38
[SPEAKER_19]: Let it melt naturally.
12:40
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, some people are having some issues right now.
12:42
[SPEAKER_19]: Oh, I hear some of that.
12:43
[SPEAKER_19]: Oh, I hear some fell down last night.
12:47
[SPEAKER_19]: I don't know what you do, but it's awfully dangerous.
12:49
[SPEAKER_19]: We don't want to lose you.
12:51
[SPEAKER_19]: I appreciate that.
12:53
[SPEAKER_19]: All right.
12:53
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, you know, there's a lot of talk out there.
12:55
[SPEAKER_19]: And I appreciate you coming in because nobody else
13:02
[SPEAKER_19]: And we hear about it every year, and it's this big sacred document that comes out and you got a little earlier start this year, which is a great thing, but last year you were told, and the council was told you're going to have a 30% increase next year, right?
13:15
[SPEAKER_19]: Something like that.
13:16
[SPEAKER_24]: Actually the council wasn't told, I asked Mr. Mills to question because I had an idea with the personnel costing increases were going to be, and I guessed around 25%, and he agreed that it would be around 25%.
13:29
[SPEAKER_24]: And I warned, as I do, because sometimes I might be a little bit pessimistic, but I knowing the numbers, I was warning council at the time that, hey, you know, there's something common that we need to take care of now.
13:41
[SPEAKER_24]: So, it takes a majority of people to make cuts, you know, I could sit there and another big council person could sit there.
13:48
[SPEAKER_19]: But you knew it was coming.
13:49
[SPEAKER_19]: I assume if you figured it out, your city manager did.
13:52
[SPEAKER_19]: and there was no hiring freeze right that would be the easiest way to start containing costs long-term start developing vacancies and fill the moment you needed sure comment technique used in private sector but you didn't do it right the council didn't yeah council did nothing made it there was there i think there were maybe two personnel cuts last year uh... there really wasn't much
14:20
[SPEAKER_24]: And I've said that you can't cut equipment purchases because that's not really where the largest majority of our money spent.
14:27
[SPEAKER_24]: But, you know, some cuts were made a couple.
14:30
[SPEAKER_24]: I had a much larger list of cuts, but they just didn't, you know, I think they're in the campaign.
14:35
[SPEAKER_19]: A couple people suggested it.
14:39
[SPEAKER_19]: It's not a novel concept, but it's a good one.
14:41
[SPEAKER_19]: Tell the manager, manage.
14:43
[SPEAKER_19]: Propose a budget with no tax increase.
14:47
[SPEAKER_24]: and we will decide which positions get added back in if we want it but no one's willing to do that with this guy yeah i don't know i don't know it's like i've heard you say that and i i'm not a safe candidate said i said it yeah i mean i've heard you said of her other people say now i don't know if it's not so fairly feasible to do that it may be but then you would have to absolutely no what is well you can is the bare minimum of staffing that you would need to have
15:13
[SPEAKER_24]: to run the city essential services you know what a central services are because you you had the job for a long time so water sewer roads things like that that's after the fire protection police protection those are absolutely essential infrastructure so those and yeah but everybody's gonna stay on or understand for the bare minimum or to the bone you know right but you know you can you can figure your way through that as well
15:40
[SPEAKER_19]: Yeah, but I mean, back in 1989 when Larry Cook was in, they had massive cuts, like 90 positions or something.
15:49
[SPEAKER_19]: A lot of people went out the door because they needed a fundamental reordering of priorities.
15:53
[SPEAKER_19]: I assume you're at that point now.
15:56
[SPEAKER_19]: And yet, if I go down the list, they say, police, oh, can't touch that fire, oh, can't touch that.
16:02
[SPEAKER_19]: Public works, no, can't touch that.
16:04
[SPEAKER_19]: The number of can't touch is
16:06
[SPEAKER_19]: You know, you have a person on duty to handle 300 foil requests that come in every year because the third floor is not straight on giving out information most of the time.
16:19
[SPEAKER_19]: So who are we to believe?
16:22
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, I'll tell you what, you know, because I go through the old budgets and I look at it.
16:26
[SPEAKER_24]: So I just, I made a couple notes for today.
16:28
[SPEAKER_24]: Sure.
16:29
[SPEAKER_24]: I happen to have 2017 budget at my house, just because there was a copy of it City Hall and I asked if I could take it and I did.
16:36
[SPEAKER_24]: We had 314 full-time employees in 60 part-time employees in 2018 with about 25,000 in change residents, about 25,900.
16:48
[SPEAKER_24]: Last year, we had 335 full-time and 94 part-time employees at the city with approximately 24,000 in change.
16:58
[SPEAKER_24]: So a decrease of about 1,000 people.
17:01
[SPEAKER_24]: in the population in an increase of 20 plus fall time and 30 plus part time of four are these people you're hired.
17:09
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, I mean, I don't think I hired any of them, but the city did and for me, I'll, I know some departments that added positions over the years and I'll compile the list from what information I can, you know, get together and say, hey, we operated with this many people with more residents.
17:29
[SPEAKER_24]: So can we get back to to that staffing level and if not why not?
17:35
[SPEAKER_19]: Okay, well, in order to come up with a zero percentage tax increase, that's a cut about 30 positions.
17:43
[SPEAKER_19]: Right.
17:43
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, I mean, it's 25, 30.
17:45
[SPEAKER_24]: You know, you've got to pick up truck if you want, but no, I mean, you can't do that.
17:51
[SPEAKER_24]: you can you can cut out things that were unnecessary like buying duplicate pieces of equipment if we already have a few excavators what that's nibbling around it right i'm not saying that it isn't but also it's like mixing a box of copy paper if a piece of equipment cost five hundred thousand dollars it's not just five hundred thousand dollars maintenance cost associated with that and you know storage things like that so i mean these things really do add up and they add up to the bottom line
18:17
[SPEAKER_19]: you know the buying cost you year over year we're adding six hundred fifty but is there anyone on the council who's got the reliable better term stones to say year-out the door year-out the door year-out the door is that's what that's what cuts me right absolutely
18:35
[SPEAKER_24]: I'm fully aware that the position cuts will have to be made if we intend to try to keep the tax rate, the tax levy, with in-reason, and the increases within-reason.
18:48
[SPEAKER_24]: So I wouldn't, I don't think a 0% rate increase is appropriate because look, you know, how much we've got to consume our price index, we have inflation.
18:59
[SPEAKER_19]: You've got a statutory to the perspective.
19:01
[SPEAKER_24]: So we have, I think the state gives us this year about 3.5%.
19:05
[SPEAKER_24]: where we couldn't, you know, stay below that tax cap that's allowed by the state of three and a half percent.
19:10
[SPEAKER_19]: You know what will happen?
19:12
[SPEAKER_19]: They'll be a local law put before you're the first meeting and I can take over something to override the tax cap.
19:17
[SPEAKER_19]: You know, I'll do it if we go in and vote for it.
19:19
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't know if, I don't know if we all will.
19:24
[SPEAKER_19]: No, past is prolonged.
19:25
[SPEAKER_24]: I mean, I've said in budget meetings like that when they go to vote on the tax cap, and somebody votes no on overriding the tax cap.
19:33
[SPEAKER_24]: But when it comes to the actual budget deliberations, wants to add spending to the budget.
19:38
[SPEAKER_24]: So you say no to the tax cap overriding, but then set it the budget and add to it.
19:42
[SPEAKER_19]: You want that headline, that's fine.
19:43
[SPEAKER_19]: Okay, listen, we got your headphones on.
19:46
[SPEAKER_19]: We got a call right here.
19:47
[SPEAKER_19]: Good afternoon, you're on the air.
19:49
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, I have a question for Mr. Schoen on there.
19:56
[SPEAKER_19]: Yeah, what do you mean?
19:57
[UNKNOWN]: Yeah, what do you mean?
19:58
[UNKNOWN]: Yeah, what do you mean?
19:59
[UNKNOWN]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:00
[UNKNOWN]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:00
[UNKNOWN]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:02
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:03
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:03
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:04
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:05
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:06
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:07
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:08
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:09
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:10
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:11
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:12
[SPEAKER_20]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:12
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:13
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:14
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:14
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:15
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:16
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:17
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, what do you mean?
20:18
[SPEAKER_24]: It's a valid question, and I definitely don't want to raise the taxes 25% and I will not vote for a budget that increases the taxes 25%.
20:26
[SPEAKER_24]: 24?
20:27
[SPEAKER_19]: No.
20:30
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, here's the problem.
20:32
[SPEAKER_19]: Listen, if my property taxes, city property taxes would up by $200, that was the only thing in my life increasing.
20:39
[SPEAKER_19]: But I hate to say it, but the grid bills are out of control.
20:42
[SPEAKER_19]: You own property.
20:43
[SPEAKER_19]: Sure.
20:44
[SPEAKER_19]: The school superintendent got a 4.2% raise.
20:47
[SPEAKER_19]: He wants to spend more money.
20:49
[SPEAKER_19]: And in fairness to the city, the school district and the county, their expenditures have escalated way faster over the history than the cities.
20:58
[SPEAKER_19]: So with the county, I'll probably want just as much or more, plus everybody else.
21:04
[SPEAKER_19]: And the gentlemen says seniors can't afford it.
21:08
[SPEAKER_19]: They can't.
21:09
[SPEAKER_19]: I don't know who's laughing, I appreciate it.
21:11
[SPEAKER_19]: You can spot some property on Van Ducey Street that was taxable.
21:14
[SPEAKER_19]: Now it's taxed.
21:15
[SPEAKER_19]: It's said he did.
21:16
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah.
21:17
[SPEAKER_19]: What for?
21:18
[SPEAKER_24]: It's nothing there.
21:20
[SPEAKER_24]: My vote on that purchase was to keep us from spending $25 million to build a new facility at DPW.
21:27
[SPEAKER_24]: Nobody ever said that.
21:29
[SPEAKER_24]: That was definitely a discussion.
21:31
[SPEAKER_24]: The plan was to build a new facility because we had aging infrastructure for me.
21:35
[SPEAKER_24]: When I saw that parcel come available with
21:39
[SPEAKER_24]: you know 15,000 square feet of interior heated storage space I thought man that would be five million six million seven million dollars or more for us to build that facility and instead of us doing what's in there now we use it for storage for equipment and we rotate seasonal storage equipment you know like snow piles and things out
21:58
[SPEAKER_24]: out of the nule street yard down to there and then in the winter we can do ever look at that building before you upon it yes inside we all did inside now yep but it was never openly discussed it's sort of well it's it's a property purchase so that would be an example of their buyers oh they're definitely good event it's a nice building well
22:18
[SPEAKER_24]: That's, that's a huge commercial property right there that was in, and really great shape.
22:24
[SPEAKER_24]: Okay, I don't, I don't have any problems saying that I'm happy that we made that purchase.
22:28
[SPEAKER_24]: Because I didn't even criticize the county for buying the fire station on Arsenal Street.
22:32
[SPEAKER_24]: I did.
22:34
[SPEAKER_19]: Because there's land outside of Watertown that the county could use.
22:37
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, why would you want any of there?
22:39
[SPEAKER_19]: I don't, I don't want any county operations out in the town of Wichita McAllent.
22:42
[SPEAKER_24]: I mean, you know, I don't, I don't want any more.
22:45
[SPEAKER_24]: of our tax parcels taken up by non-tax paying government entities or non-profits.
22:52
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, you know, and I brought the numbers for the exemption report, too, so that the public knows how much these exemptions cost them on their taxes.
23:03
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, they're going to go out pretty far.
23:04
[SPEAKER_19]: We got a call here.
23:05
[SPEAKER_19]: Sure.
23:05
[SPEAKER_19]: We're there for dinner on the air.
23:07
[SPEAKER_17]: Yes, man.
23:08
[SPEAKER_17]: This is for Ben.
23:10
[SPEAKER_17]: Ben, yesterday you had a, they were talking about eight scales of stuff.
23:16
[SPEAKER_17]: uh... one of the ex-managers was on and and uh... he said something to think that the city doesn't pay enough that towns are paying five six seven dollars more an hour so i just met in a rest at night looked up the a scales of the fire police and dp w it's a wonderful income for a town
23:43
[SPEAKER_17]: of 22 or 23,000 people with 30% not paying taxes, 30% of non-taxible properties.
23:53
[SPEAKER_17]: You don't have to have a toilet, $300,000 college bill behind you.
23:58
[SPEAKER_17]: You can walk on a high school or not have high school and walk into a great job with benefits,
24:13
[SPEAKER_17]: vacation, sick leave, personal leave, I didn't see any income even on the lowest guy in the DPW.
24:25
[SPEAKER_17]: It's making a great income for water down in New York.
24:29
[SPEAKER_17]: It's for the taxpayers to they can afford.
24:32
[SPEAKER_17]: They said that 75% of all the taxpayers money that you take in goes to employees.
24:40
[SPEAKER_17]: I don't know what you people are going to do.
24:44
[SPEAKER_17]: I have said this the mirror before.
24:47
[SPEAKER_17]: I saw the handwriting on the wall two years ago, and I sold my house and got out.
24:54
[SPEAKER_17]: I've been there in my whole life, and I knew, as a senior citizen, I was not going to be able to afford to stay in in Watertown, New York, so I might move just outside.
25:04
[SPEAKER_17]: But nobody should complain about what they make.
25:09
[SPEAKER_17]: at a little city like water down in New York.
25:12
[SPEAKER_17]: It's a heck of an income if you've had like I said, if you don't have any money going out for college and everything else.
25:18
[SPEAKER_24]: Thank you.
25:19
[SPEAKER_19]: Thank you.
25:19
[SPEAKER_24]: I mean, I definitely pay attention to what we're paying.
25:24
[SPEAKER_24]: We have some departments that are paid very well, but I also pay attention to what municipalities are paying their employees and I can understand sometimes why in certain
25:37
[SPEAKER_24]: to other municipalities for similar jobs.
25:40
[SPEAKER_24]: I definitely do.
25:40
[SPEAKER_24]: You have to keep an eye on the market for sure.
25:44
[SPEAKER_24]: You know, and we have to determine what our minimum staffing levels are.
25:47
[SPEAKER_24]: So that we can, if we have to pay people more to keep them, we don't want to have too many people working.
25:53
[SPEAKER_19]: All right.
25:53
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, listen, we're going to take a break and we'll be right back.
25:56
[SPEAKER_22]: The news and talk authority.
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[SPEAKER_07]: This is Chris Stigall.
29:06
[SPEAKER_07]: Join me as I wake up America and the North Country.
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[SPEAKER_07]: Mornings from 69 right here on AM-1240-W-A-T-N.
29:18
[SPEAKER_19]: All right, we're back back with a councilman ban shown.
29:21
[SPEAKER_19]: I know that these are tough times a year.
29:23
[SPEAKER_19]: It's cold.
29:24
[SPEAKER_19]: There's a lot of problems.
29:25
[SPEAKER_19]: Water mean breaks, plowing, and other things.
29:27
[SPEAKER_19]: And you know, you know, all the best thing about money, we do appreciate the job that's done.
29:33
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, I definitely, I wanted to say thank you to our DPW staff, I think that they've been doing a great job.
29:40
[SPEAKER_24]: We got about 150 inches of snow already this winter, which is a good winter for water town.
29:46
[SPEAKER_24]: They're doing a phenomenal job, cutting back the snow banks, keeping the roads clear.
29:49
[SPEAKER_24]: I know people don't like that snow in the end of their driveway, but it does have to go somewhere.
29:54
[SPEAKER_24]: and you know if you need to get around the roads need to be clear so thank you to them and not everybody's got a buddy like Drake to help him out well no he does a great job and and our trash crews are doing a good job that's one of the most difficult jobs especially in the winter time and then the water department there's been between main breaks and service breaks proudly close to 20 at this point and it's probably going to get a little worse when
30:16
[SPEAKER_16]: it warms up and gets cold again and dries at frost and so thank you to everybody at the city that's working very hard to you know to do the things that you don't really see or maybe care that all that much about that goes without saying we got a call right here good afternoon right here yeah I have a question for the council member that you've been voting now for the raising of any flags besides the American flag there's a flag issue coming up on Tuesday and I was
30:46
[SPEAKER_16]: Do you think you're still going to be in the minority with the mayor voting no?
30:51
[SPEAKER_16]: Do you have a beat on the other two council members or are you guys going to continue to be in the minority and they're still going to be raising all these flags?
30:59
[SPEAKER_24]: I haven't had a discussion with the new council members on that.
31:02
[SPEAKER_24]: I saw that the Irish flag was on the agenda for a vote.
31:07
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't know what anybody else is gonna do.
31:09
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't see you voting no.
31:11
[SPEAKER_24]: I'll probably keep the same position that I've had since the flag policy.
31:14
[SPEAKER_24]: What do you got against you, I don't have anything against you.
31:16
[SPEAKER_19]: Yeah, okay.
31:16
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, I'd love to have somebody else here.
31:19
[SPEAKER_19]: Thank you.
31:19
[SPEAKER_19]: No, thank you.
31:20
[SPEAKER_24]: You know the deal.
31:22
[SPEAKER_19]: No, that's an irony.
31:23
[SPEAKER_24]: You're out of the government.
31:24
[SPEAKER_24]: You know, if we can stay neutral, I like to stay neutral.
31:27
[SPEAKER_24]: And anybody can fly any flag at their house or property or business, whatever they would like.
31:31
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah.
31:33
[SPEAKER_19]: So you've seen the video of Millie over at Pete.
31:38
[SPEAKER_19]: What do you think?
31:40
[SPEAKER_24]: I think it's an unfortunate situation.
31:43
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, we'll prove that in the chain of command.
31:45
[SPEAKER_19]: Is that an officer decision to all of a sudden issue a ticket to somebody like that and show up at their house at 10 o'clock at night?
31:52
[SPEAKER_19]: I mean, some people think if you don't back that, you're not backing the blue, but I mean, it strikes me as odd.
31:59
[SPEAKER_19]: I mean, to me, that was a reason to celebrate because the life was saved, not ding somebody.
32:05
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, I don't know the the protocol on that.
32:08
[SPEAKER_24]: I'm happy that the gentleman's life was was saved I guess it was a long process eight or nine minutes, and I like you think anybody who was there to try to help between Well, what did you see in the video?
32:21
[SPEAKER_19]: I see you haven't seen the body camp video from the police.
32:23
[SPEAKER_24]: I have not that's person else stuff I don't I don't I don't wait a minute.
32:26
[SPEAKER_19]: You're a councilman.
32:27
[SPEAKER_19]: You can I didn't ask to see it What would happen if you asked?
32:31
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't know.
32:32
[SPEAKER_24]: I could ask by saw the surveillance footage.
32:35
[SPEAKER_24]: I'm like I said, I'm happy that the gentleman is alive and that everybody that was there tried to help and did- But did Milly just have it?
32:44
[SPEAKER_19]: And I know she antagonizes people.
32:45
[SPEAKER_19]: I know people don't like her.
32:47
[SPEAKER_19]: Some people, not everybody.
32:48
[SPEAKER_19]: We like her here on the hotline.
32:49
[SPEAKER_19]: But some people don't like her.
32:51
[SPEAKER_19]: Did she in any way assault her to harass the officers?
32:55
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't know what the technical definition of assault or harassment is in a legal standpoint.
33:01
[SPEAKER_24]: I really don't know.
33:02
[SPEAKER_24]: I like this, I mean, just stick with the fact that I think it's an unfortunate situation.
33:08
[SPEAKER_24]: Okay.
33:08
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, I won't see what happens on the front of you if there were never the court appearances, but is anybody asked the city manager about it?
33:15
[SPEAKER_24]: Not that I know of.
33:16
[SPEAKER_24]: I mean, I've used Millie's urgent care.
33:19
[SPEAKER_24]: I think she's done a great job for me.
33:21
[SPEAKER_24]: So either way.
33:24
[SPEAKER_24]: You know, just happy that gentlemen survived.
33:26
[SPEAKER_19]: No.
33:26
[SPEAKER_19]: Didn't talk to the police chief.
33:28
[SPEAKER_24]: I did not.
33:29
[SPEAKER_19]: Who is the police chief?
33:31
[SPEAKER_24]: Chipped on you.
33:31
[SPEAKER_19]: Okay.
33:32
[SPEAKER_19]: Just check it.
33:34
[SPEAKER_19]: Uh, 755, 1240 is the phone number.
33:36
[SPEAKER_19]: If you'd like to give us a call to be on the show today.
33:39
[SPEAKER_19]: Can you understand why some people are, I just upset about the city manager living in Shamo.
33:45
[SPEAKER_19]: But all these department heads.
33:47
[SPEAKER_19]: You never see them.
33:48
[SPEAKER_19]: They're never out doing PR, never talk, talking about stop-drop and roll or whatever they're supposed to talk about and they're given profession, and they're invariably 11 out of 14 of them live outside the city.
34:02
[SPEAKER_19]: You understand why people are upset about that?
34:04
[SPEAKER_24]: I definitely do.
34:05
[SPEAKER_24]: I mean, you know, council members have to be residents of the city because I would assume it's because, you know, you have a vested interest in the city that you're legislating.
34:16
[SPEAKER_24]: I definitely get that I've lived here in my entire life.
34:19
[SPEAKER_24]: I think it's important.
34:20
[SPEAKER_24]: I really do.
34:22
[SPEAKER_24]: and hopefully we can incentivize people to want especially in management positions those are our best paying positions to want to move into the city because if you're here I think it's easier to make a difference if you're here every day and you stay the night new live here.
34:36
[SPEAKER_24]: I definitely do agree with that.
34:38
[SPEAKER_24]: But I don't necessarily think it's 100% negative to not live here, but it would be nice if more Department heads decided that they wanted to be part of the community.
34:47
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, you're not going to do anything to the existing ones, but future appointees.
34:51
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't know.
34:52
[SPEAKER_24]: You could.
34:52
[SPEAKER_24]: I mean, Mr. mixed move back to Watertown for the job.
34:55
[SPEAKER_19]: When are you getting a part of it or something?
34:56
[SPEAKER_24]: He still lives here.
34:57
[SPEAKER_24]: Okay.
34:59
[SPEAKER_24]: So, you know, I wanted to talk about the exemption report because there was a conversation like how many properties are exempt.
35:06
[SPEAKER_24]: So it's about 36% of the properties in the city or value-wise.
35:12
[SPEAKER_24]: So last year the exemption total was $548 million of property was exempt.
35:18
[SPEAKER_24]: So that includes not only our buildings, county buildings, schools, other government buildings
35:28
[SPEAKER_24]: churches half way houses, things like that.
35:32
[SPEAKER_24]: And as of last year, they had an impact directly on the average household in water, it's on the average property of $569.25.
35:39
[SPEAKER_24]: And that number is going to go up too, because we're adding about $100 million of construction for two housing units.
35:49
[SPEAKER_24]: In water town one on commerce park one on main avenue.
35:52
[SPEAKER_24]: They're not going to be assessed at a hundred million But that's approximately the cost of the construction.
35:56
[SPEAKER_24]: So that's going to add to that exemption report It's going to push us near 40 percent property exempt Which you know, I mean when you when you get down to it Who does the exempt property benefit and if it happens to be another government entity then that other government entity should pony up and give us more revenue?
36:15
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, there's a lot of those, but these not for profits, they're basically businesses in this case.
36:19
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, I mean, if you check into the financials, a lot of the CEOs or the presidents of these nonprofits make a lot of money that last property on Commerce Park Drive, that part of Council agreed to give a tax break to a $50,000 a year pilot for a building that, you know, is $40 million that doesn't cover, you know,
36:41
[SPEAKER_24]: it doesn't cover any expenses really the the CEO of that non-profit to Paul properties out of Rochester makes like $1.3 million a year the lawyer they sent made $500,000 a year and as a company you can't say no because it's well it's jobs it's housing it's whatever the responsible decision would have been to say no and the reason was given that they wanted to know what their cost would be year over year and I'll tell and I said it at the meeting I said you know what?
37:09
[SPEAKER_24]: Our residents would love to know how much their taxes are going to be year over year, but they don't have the benefit of knowing that they're going to have a fixed tax for the next 20 years.
37:19
[SPEAKER_24]: They pay the difference.
37:20
[SPEAKER_24]: So every time a tax break is given, a pilot is given, you pass that burden on to the tax payer.
37:25
[SPEAKER_24]: The average tax payer that can't get an exemption, because they're not a non-profit, or they're not connected in some way.
37:32
[SPEAKER_19]: Interesting.
37:33
[SPEAKER_19]: Now, this cold weather, a lot of people having water problems, water being breaks,
37:39
[SPEAKER_19]: I didn't know there was a whole list of houses that are on a freeze list, really with it.
37:44
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, any vacant property that has a service going into it, there's a possibility of that freezing.
37:50
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, what's the city do?
37:52
[SPEAKER_19]: Is there anything or just tell these people to leave the water running?
37:55
[SPEAKER_19]: Or turn the service up?
37:56
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, on a freeze list for vacant properties, they'll just turn it off at the curb stop generally, but if some properties are susceptible to freezing,
38:04
[SPEAKER_24]: because of the depth of their service.
38:06
[SPEAKER_24]: I think they are suggested to keep at least some water trickling.
38:10
[SPEAKER_19]: OK. And they do read the meter and then give you a little bit of a break.
38:16
[SPEAKER_24]: I'm not sure.
38:16
[SPEAKER_19]: I read one of the letters that somebody got anyway.
38:19
[SPEAKER_19]: OK. Well, that's kind of interesting.
38:24
[SPEAKER_19]: Let's do a break.
38:25
[SPEAKER_19]: And if you have questions for councilman shown, write them down and then call them in.
38:29
[SPEAKER_22]: You're back with more in a moment.
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40:12
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40:25
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40:55
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40:59
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41:09
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41:12
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41:56
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[SPEAKER_19]: the botlers everybody.
42:07
[SPEAKER_19]: We were all in there and for years we all walked, went up to the third floor and we walked through the same door into the management suite at the end of the hall.
42:18
[SPEAKER_19]: And all of a sudden in this past year, your city manager spent $10,000.
42:24
[SPEAKER_19]: without I don't think anybody's knowledge on a new door and I can say you wanted to have a lock on it well you know you're in the house business or you put a lock on a door with he whatever did you know about that door I did not you know any art burn over it's a lot of money ten thousand dollars yeah I've seen bigger arguments over less
42:45
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, yeah, definitely, yeah, it's a lot of money.
42:48
[SPEAKER_19]: And he did it without a appropriation.
42:50
[SPEAKER_19]: Now, we'll talk about a $10,000 appropriation in line item and the budget for a fire hose or something like that.
42:56
[SPEAKER_19]: So, okay, chief, can you do without this $5,000 hose?
42:59
[SPEAKER_19]: But nobody asks about that.
43:01
[SPEAKER_24]: it's interesting i don't know how you know i i probably should ask how can some purchases be made and and others like you know a ten thousand dollar doors a lot of money our radios that are police and fire use i think are seventy five hundred dollars each or five thousand so maybe it could about two radios security at city hall is important and i think that was that's part of the remodel that door had a lock on it before
43:26
[SPEAKER_24]: Right, I don't know what the uh, and you can get a release lock.
43:29
[SPEAKER_24]: You know what I mean?
43:30
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, sure.
43:31
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't know what the impetus for the door was, you know, in in reality.
43:34
[SPEAKER_19]: Is it vanity?
43:36
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't have any idea.
43:37
[SPEAKER_19]: Okay.
43:38
[SPEAKER_19]: All right.
43:40
[SPEAKER_24]: You're the zoo liaison.
43:42
[SPEAKER_19]: Sure.
43:43
[SPEAKER_24]: Now, yeah, they haven't voted on it at their board meeting.
43:45
[SPEAKER_19]: So, okay.
43:46
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, that's nice.
43:47
[SPEAKER_19]: They haven't allowed you in.
43:48
[SPEAKER_19]: I think anybody should be able to go to those
43:57
[SPEAKER_19]: that due to the New York Times, they're flush with money.
44:00
[SPEAKER_19]: $100,000 donation from one person.
44:03
[SPEAKER_19]: $600,000 fund balance.
44:07
[SPEAKER_19]: Now one council, another was Mr. Osborne, told me, so that there shouldn't be any appropriation this year.
44:12
[SPEAKER_19]: But you're gonna give them $100,000 anyway.
44:15
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, I believe the $100,000 was appropriated last year.
44:18
[SPEAKER_24]: during budget.
44:19
[SPEAKER_19]: But then you have to give it to him.
44:20
[SPEAKER_19]: You approve that new contract that facilitated giving it.
44:23
[SPEAKER_19]: You didn't have to vote for him.
44:24
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't understand the formality of that because it was already, because you have to have a, no, no, no, no, no, I'm sorry if I'm interrupting.
44:31
[SPEAKER_19]: I know people think I do.
44:32
[SPEAKER_19]: But the passing of a public benefit contract gives you the legal mechanism for giving money to people who shouldn't get money otherwise.
44:39
[SPEAKER_19]: In other words, you can't just give me $100,000.
44:42
[SPEAKER_19]: Say, I like this guy's bar, right?
44:46
[SPEAKER_19]: That's an unconstitutional gift, but if you dress it up and you have the lawyers dress it up as a community benefits agreement, then you can do it and go on and on for years.
44:55
[SPEAKER_19]: We're all guilty of it.
44:57
[SPEAKER_19]: But he's Mr. Eisenborn, right, in saying that the flush with money, they just got 100 grand, we're tied on money, we're not going to appropriate any money in the budget that starts July 1.
45:11
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, I mean he's probably accurate there there has to be you're going to support a list of if if I believe in and what he's saying on that sure Yeah, you know why not you're the zoolie a thund I mean isn't a conflict should I not vote on that?
45:26
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't know I mean as far as my responsibility is to the taxpayer the city water town But there's always a debate on whether the closest or I'm not here.
45:34
[SPEAKER_19]: What is it?
45:35
[SPEAKER_19]: You really can't be effem
45:37
[SPEAKER_24]: a credible part of that debate because you're there basically as the zoo's representative on city council as well as you know i'll be there to watch the meetings but you know there's some talk what you know why should i go why should i do that in people complain it you know that they should just go anyway the zoo has city money sure right right now we don't have a liaison so
45:59
[SPEAKER_24]: to make an argument you want to know more about the zoo but then to say well now we got somebody that's actually been able to go to these meetings and complain about that it doesn't make sense to me do you want us to know where do you not want us to know we also do get financials from the zoo as well which we do not get from every entity that you look at the benefit at some point yes I have looked at I'm not in great depth that's for sure mm-hmm but I'm I'm very happy that they're they're what about the golf course
46:27
[SPEAKER_19]: Now, you say things like, let's sell naming rights, that's the new thing naming rights.
46:33
[SPEAKER_19]: Yep.
46:33
[SPEAKER_19]: How much?
46:33
[SPEAKER_19]: I mean, what's going to be the, you can get a thousand dollars a hold as to put a whole T sign up for people.
46:40
[SPEAKER_19]: You could sell it to all the vendors you have, all the law firms, the engineering firms, and everything else.
46:45
[SPEAKER_19]: But that's not the council shouldn't be selling that stuff.
46:48
[SPEAKER_19]: They should just be doing that.
46:49
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, you know, it was, it was brought up as a way to increase revenue because, you know, the golf course lost about a hundred thousand dollars last year.
46:57
[SPEAKER_24]: And I believe that we'll probably, I think we already have at least half of them.
47:03
[SPEAKER_19]: So was I, were my ears failing me at that meeting where you discussed the golf course?
47:07
[SPEAKER_19]: And somebody said, well, what about the food concession?
47:10
[SPEAKER_19]: And it's staff really say, well, we haven't talked to the guy yet.
47:14
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, they, they did not have an answer on that.
47:17
[SPEAKER_19]: Yeah, that was kind of weird on it.
47:19
[SPEAKER_24]: different.
47:20
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, I mean, I asked for, you know, if we're going to do a contract which was very generous to the to the lessy of the concessions up there that we do a 10% of gross so that we can actually get some revenue.
47:35
[SPEAKER_19]: Never do you know what gross is?
47:36
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, you should be able to find out what gross is.
47:39
[SPEAKER_24]: I mean, those if those financials have to be given to the city.
47:43
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, let me
47:50
[SPEAKER_19]: and somebody gives you five dollars for it.
47:52
[SPEAKER_19]: There's no record of that, is there?
47:55
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, a lot of people use credit cards and debit cards and stuff.
47:58
[SPEAKER_24]: So maybe, but there's a lot more of transactions that are covered than used to be.
48:01
[SPEAKER_24]: So yeah, I mean, you could look at their sales tax filing.
48:04
[SPEAKER_24]: You can cover, you know, black some things out, but I'm trying to make you pay 10%.
48:09
[SPEAKER_19]: You could use their sales tax filings, which you know, whether they're totally accurate, I don't care.
48:13
[SPEAKER_24]: but take ten percent of that but I'm not sure that makes any sense either I mean if we're coming close though if if we can get ten thousand dollars from add revenue if we can get an additional five or ten thousand dollars from concession or anything
48:31
[SPEAKER_24]: would it be in our best interest to say yes or to turn it down and I think starting to be more proactive to try to generate revenue other than to see you have a record of giving up stuff away like at the arena that I think the dashboards sold by somebody else yeah that's not a great contract for us as far as the advertising at the arena and uh...
48:52
[SPEAKER_19]: You know, up at the park, I mean, there's the other things you could probably generate some money on.
48:57
[SPEAKER_24]: Sure.
48:58
[SPEAKER_19]: But I mean, to continue to say, well, the Gulf Club loses money, the pools lose money, the police department loses everything loses money when you look at it.
49:05
[SPEAKER_24]: Right.
49:06
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, the pool is not a business.
49:09
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, you made it one of your charging.
49:10
[SPEAKER_24]: The arena is not a business for us, really.
49:15
[SPEAKER_24]: Now we're trying to cover some expenses.
49:17
[SPEAKER_24]: We're definitely not running it like a business because profit has nothing to do with the cost that was associated with pool usage.
49:24
[SPEAKER_24]: You know, when you try to equal cost with expenses or rather, you know, and I'm not suggesting you're sure that I don't think it should be charged to use the pool.
49:35
[SPEAKER_24]: I mean, we charge $5 to open skate.
49:37
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't understand the difference between the two, it's a pool, it's an ice rink, you charge in five bucks for two hours a skate or you charge in two dollars for 12 hours of swimming.
49:46
[SPEAKER_24]: I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I mean it's I
50:14
[SPEAKER_24]: The expenditure and I don't know if they could put back in this year, but after noon you're on the air Are you taking calls mayor?
50:21
[SPEAKER_19]: Yes, go ahead.
50:23
[SPEAKER_18]: Oh, on the security door.
50:24
[SPEAKER_18]: I told you about a month ago a couple instances on the third floor Somebody got in the edition of Benner and it was covered up.
50:31
[SPEAKER_18]: We don't need to know about it I told you that about a month ago Okay, probably homeless people who took over city hall last summer And if it was a permit bring it up, they probably still could camp and out there
50:44
[SPEAKER_18]: Mister shown that you sign a non-disclosure agreement to be on the conservatory for the zoo I haven't signed anything So you're not going to be on the board is that correct?
50:56
[SPEAKER_24]: I As the resolution was stated, I will be the liaison to the park zoo and I did not disclose her.
51:03
[SPEAKER_24]: I didn't I didn't vote on that resolution either Mixed the ex city manager So what you here there you can't tell me anybody else that
51:13
[SPEAKER_24]: If it's executive session information, I can't discuss it.
51:17
[SPEAKER_24]: What I haven't signed anything yet, so no, I didn't.
51:19
[SPEAKER_24]: We had with the golf course, you had to get a nondesculture agreement, Mr. London.
51:23
[SPEAKER_24]: Is that correct?
51:25
[SPEAKER_24]: I mean, I wasn't on the council at the time.
51:27
[SPEAKER_19]: That's a long time ago.
51:29
[UNKNOWN]: What about now?
51:30
[SPEAKER_24]: And that's significantly different, too.
51:32
[SPEAKER_18]: Mr.
51:33
[SPEAKER_18]: Mix says, if you come to these meetings, you have to sign a nondesculture agreement.
51:42
[SPEAKER_24]: No, what he said really the wording said some some information would be considered executive and non-discussable But I don't think I'll be privy to those parts of the meeting anyway.
51:53
[SPEAKER_24]: What is it that they discuss what they have for food?
51:56
[SPEAKER_24]: You get probably financial information the same as we wouldn't want to you know Well, you do why I know city financial situation should be made well some if like it's a purchase of something or a Personnel issue you're not discussing that until you appropriate time
52:10
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, I mean, how much is spent on employees?
52:13
[SPEAKER_19]: Somebody was trying to foil six-figure salaries.
52:17
[SPEAKER_19]: I think Mr. Monaco was.
52:18
[SPEAKER_19]: They stolen all of him.
52:21
[SPEAKER_19]: Said go to that, see through New York website.
52:23
[SPEAKER_24]: If you want to see it.
52:24
[SPEAKER_24]: What's the big secret?
52:25
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, I don't know.
52:26
[SPEAKER_24]: I mean, a lot of municipalities published their pay.
52:29
[SPEAKER_19]: Right.
52:30
[SPEAKER_24]: For, I mean, you generally could look up all state employees as far as I know.
52:34
[SPEAKER_19]: Do you know what they're all paid?
52:35
[SPEAKER_24]: I do not.
52:36
[SPEAKER_24]: I know what the average employee gets paid for.
52:41
[SPEAKER_24]: police chief i'd be guessing please keep probably around a hundred and sixty hundred and fifty hundred forty five last of red well then thrapton an idea there's other people in those departments that are paid in six figures right all you know yeah i think it's you know they they probably both average over a hundred for all employees you can look up our budget
53:03
[SPEAKER_24]: to see how much the budget is for personnel services and divided by how many employees we have to come up with you.
53:08
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, can you see why somebody's people say if you want to cut the budget, that's where you cut it.
53:13
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, I mean, you cut with a money if 75% of our expenses go to payroll and you're not going to try to cut the poor guy standing in a hole in the street and cold water trying to fix a water man.
53:24
[SPEAKER_19]: So you can take a shower and not have attracted.
53:27
[SPEAKER_24]: All right.
53:27
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, the thing there is the water fund is self-funded.
53:31
[SPEAKER_24]: So we're not
53:33
[SPEAKER_24]: in the budget they would affect the water fund or the sewer fund.
53:37
[SPEAKER_24]: They pay for themselves with rates.
53:39
[SPEAKER_24]: You know, so those are positions that are going to get cut to save us money on the general fund.
53:45
[SPEAKER_19]: Well, it's still an expense to homeowners.
53:48
[SPEAKER_24]: you can say it's a separate course of course it is you know they've had what ten percent rate increase year ago or two years ago and a small rate increased last year they didn't do anything for years and had to do a ten percent instead of doing a one percent or two percent like I said we should do with a budget you should do something based on what say 65 million you're going to spend on that water plant also reservoir
54:10
[SPEAKER_19]: That's going to jack over it, isn't it?
54:12
[SPEAKER_19]: I know you're getting a grant.
54:13
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, well no doubt, and I'm not, I'm not in support of spending, I offered my support for a new pre-water pre-treatment facility, but not the entire project.
54:24
[SPEAKER_24]: I think we have a sedimentation basin that we need to have replaced and covered.
54:29
[SPEAKER_24]: for sure but i don't i drink a lot of support of of uh... spend in seventy five million sixty seventy five million dollars on a new process and not in support of spending thirteen million dollars in a reservoir when i i think that we're not actually finding out what the real problem with that reservoir is okay we got a call here but after dinner on the air yeah i have a couple of quick questions for mr. shown and also general questions how is his position as liaison to the zoo
54:57
[SPEAKER_30]: any different than the council's position as liaison to the library or CAPC I believe or anywhere like that and it's a good thing that that was added because due to the nature of the relationships it's probably wise to have somebody like that.
55:14
[SPEAKER_30]: Now, my other question is in regards to operating the pools, I wonder how closely the city has looked into any of the New York let's play grants that the governor always
55:27
[SPEAKER_30]: ever spring to things like pool of hope and then pay life cards and get kids out to
55:35
[SPEAKER_19]: All right.
55:35
[SPEAKER_19]: Thank you, ma'am.
55:36
[SPEAKER_24]: I appreciate it.
55:37
[SPEAKER_24]: Yeah, I mean, I don't I don't see the problem with the liaison because she's she's right.
55:41
[SPEAKER_24]: We definitely have those positions and the only difference.
55:45
[SPEAKER_24]: Maybe that there may be some restricted information, but it's I think it's a positive for us to have some sort of insight just like we do with the library and just like we do it in our areas of a public entity.
55:56
[SPEAKER_19]: Those are public employees.
55:57
[SPEAKER_19]: Zoo was a private entity.
55:59
[SPEAKER_19]: Right.
56:00
[SPEAKER_19]: And the reason the city has a relationship letting him run it is to avoid public
56:03
[SPEAKER_24]: or it's complicated, but I think it's important for us to have somebody there.
56:07
[SPEAKER_24]: Now, they're operating the zoo on city property, right?
56:10
[SPEAKER_24]: That's partly in.
56:12
[SPEAKER_19]: So, what about that building that they wanted the city to take over the welcoming set of maintenance of, and then the managers suddenly announced that they were backing you're backing up on that because the building's got serious deficiencies.
56:26
[SPEAKER_19]: What are the deficiencies?
56:27
[SPEAKER_24]: I haven't gotten a list of what the issues are.
56:30
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, did he just unilaterally back you guys out of it or what they would they would drew it the zoo with drew really requests and and I did offer to mr. mix that I would I would be willing to come up and you know I do have some construction experience I'd be willing to come up
56:47
[SPEAKER_19]: Oh my god, you could be the new cliff holding it going to get on the roof.
56:49
[SPEAKER_24]: Well, I mean, I can get on the roof and say that I know what I'm doing on my roof.
56:53
[SPEAKER_24]: So I just as a volunteer, obviously, I don't want to, I don't want to, the zoo to incur any cost, but at least give my idea of what could be done and I thought about the house up there, Mr. Patista raised the question of the house and he kind of got the house around.
57:09
[SPEAKER_24]: I was as in being used, I asked about it as far as I know the house isn't being used.
57:12
[SPEAKER_24]: There's been a discussion about maybe it could be, maybe it could be rented out.
57:17
[SPEAKER_24]: there could be some revenue generated for maybe people want to have when you talked about raising 10,000 for the golf course by selling sponsorships you could you could get a thousand a month out of that house somebody could live there yeah you need to have somebody in charge of that endeavor as well too so it's something else that gets added to the daily operations oh my god how are you ran houses
57:37
[SPEAKER_24]: Oh, and you could do her being beer, something like that, and probably make more money.
57:40
[SPEAKER_24]: What was the last question she asked for, I apologize.
57:42
[SPEAKER_19]: I don't know if I forgot.
57:43
[SPEAKER_19]: We got another call.
57:44
[SPEAKER_19]: Gotta be real quick.
57:47
[SPEAKER_19]: Gotta be quick.
57:47
[SPEAKER_19]: Go ahead.
57:48
[SPEAKER_19]: I don't know.
57:50
[SPEAKER_34]: It doesn't have nothing to do with your guess, but I'd like to tell everybody to that tomorrow is something in the mercy of that horrible, or a verbal avenue that took the buddies of the father and the four daughters.
58:10
[SPEAKER_34]: Okay, all the starter that lived in a folder at the time I believe.
58:16
[SPEAKER_19]: Okay, well, thank you for reminding us Horrible tragedy back then.
58:19
[SPEAKER_19]: I sure we all remember tomorrow's also valentines.
58:21
[SPEAKER_19]: Did you have any plans councilman?
58:24
[SPEAKER_24]: No, no plan.
58:25
[SPEAKER_24]: I'm probably going to stay probably going to stay in with with my girlfriend.
58:29
[SPEAKER_24]: Okay, so you have Well, I mean, that's not really a plan.
58:32
[SPEAKER_24]: I stay in generally.
58:34
[UNKNOWN]: Yeah
58:35
[SPEAKER_24]: going out to dinner.
58:35
[SPEAKER_24]: Flowers candy.
58:38
[SPEAKER_24]: I don't think so.
58:39
[SPEAKER_19]: No, nothing.
58:39
[SPEAKER_24]: So I do have a couple ideas and in these, you know, because we're going to have to work on this budget.
58:44
[SPEAKER_24]: Every everything is going to be on the chopping block.
58:47
[SPEAKER_24]: But, you know, we operate two pools.
58:50
[SPEAKER_24]: I suggested last year that we that we rotate opening days of the pool so we could post opening days on on the fence at the pool you know one let's say the parks open on Saturday and north is open on Sunday we could do that save about half the money about $200,000 on operation we do playground programs every single day during the summer not on the weekends I don't think but you know you could you could scale that back there's things that we could
59:14
[SPEAKER_24]: scale back yet still keep services available for people so come up with some ideas but okay i'm i'm gonna do my best to make sure that we're not going double digits on the tax increase well thank you for coming yet not everybody will submit to this because a lot of people think i grew
59:30
[SPEAKER_24]: you're very intimidating.
59:31
[SPEAKER_19]: Okay.
59:32
[SPEAKER_19]: All right.
59:33
[SPEAKER_19]: So, there you go.
59:34
[SPEAKER_19]: And Councilman Ben show in here today.
59:37
[SPEAKER_19]: Thank you again, sir.
59:38
[SPEAKER_19]: And we'll see if we can get maybe the mayor in one of these days.
59:42
[SPEAKER_19]: All right.
59:42
[SPEAKER_19]: That is our show of shows for today.
59:44
[SPEAKER_19]: Glenn Curry.
59:44
[SPEAKER_19]: He'll be in at five o'clock.
59:46
[SPEAKER_19]: And Councilman, you can do guns show if you want to.
59:49
[SPEAKER_19]: And I want to remind you, you're listening to the hot light on A. I'm 1240, WATN, Watertown, New York, the time one o'clock.
59:56
[SPEAKER_19]: CBS News is next.
59:57
[SPEAKER_19]: You have a good day drive carefully and stay warm.