Oneonta Mayor Dan Buttermann addressed local concerns about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity nationwide at the Common Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 20, as protesters gathered downtown following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier this month.
On Tuesday, about 100 people gathered in Muller Plaza as part of the nationwide “Free American walkouts.” Buttermann said that he supported peaceful protesting in light of events like these, so that people can bring attention to issues that could impact the broader community.
He added that Oneonta law enforcement has continued to state that it will not work or collaborate with ICE.
He said he has faced some questions about ICE’s interactions with the community, especially after it came to light that the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office had entered into an agreement with ICE.
“I’m glad to see that there were protests today, and what we want is a rule of law that no one is above it, and that we will abide by it and by doing that we will be protecting our community,” Buttermann said.
During the council roundtable discussion toward the end of the meeting, other council members expressed similar concerns with the escalation of ICE throughout the country and future steps the city could take to cement its stance.
In November, the council passed a resolution addressing federal immigration and deportation policy, largely condemning ICE action and voicing support for local immigrant communities.
Shannon McHugh, D-Third Ward, mentioned a recent piece of legislation passed by the Binghamton City Council unanimously in December, which prohibited city collaboration with ICE, blocking the use of city funds and resources for federal immigration law enforcement. She proposed Oneonta consider adopting something similar.
“I think the difference that I see is that we passed generally a statement in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors condemning some of the actions of ICE, but it really was just a strongly worded statement,” said Kaytee Lipari Shue, D-Fourth Ward.
She added that the Binghamton legislation offered more clear guidelines about, for instance, funding and use of city property.
Other business
The council took action to request that state lawmakers adopt legislation that would allow the city to impose a hotel or motel occupancy tax.
The resolution the council unanimously passed stating that new “state enabling legislation specific to the city of Oneonta” is required for the city to enact a local law establishing a hotel occupancy tax.
Assembly member Brian Miller and State Sen. Peter Oberacker have introduced identical bills in the state Assembly and Senate to allow the city to enact a room occupancy on hotels.
Scott Harrington, R-Sixth Ward, said the city needs to re-approve the resolution the council voted through last year to bring it back before the state Legislature. Cecelia Walsh-Russo, D-Second Ward, asked if the specific occupancy tax percentage would still be up to the discussion of the council after it passes in the state, and Harrington said yes.
The council voted to take steps to advance a project that would replace the underground fuel tanks at the airport with above-ground tanks and associated equipment on a concrete pad with electrical and communications connections.
According to Daily Star archives, the project budget was about $889,350, with 90% intended to be funded from a state Department of Transportation grant and 10% funded by the city.
The city is looking to increase the overall project budget by at least $17,457, which was originally discussed at the Jan. 15 Finance and Human Resources Committee meeting. Funding would be taken from the Airport Capital Improvement Projects reserve, which has an available balance of $25,600, Daily Star archives stated.
“I was the one who asked this go on the discussion agenda because there are three motions related, and it does involve a significant amount of money,” said Don Mathisen, D-Eighth Ward.
The budget amendment passed, with Lipari Shue voting no.
The council unanimously authorized the city to enter into a contract with Francis Smith & Sons for the purchasing of more equipment, like a fuel tank monitoring system for $9,631 and a manufactured kiosk building for $14,191, and to award the contract to Cent-Tech, Inc., of Colliersville, for $162,690.
Walsh-Russo asked if the main purpose of the overall project was environmental protection, and City Administrator Greg Mattice said that was a large factor. He said it is time to replace the underground tanks, and this change will make it easier to track future leaks.
The next council meeting will start at 5:30 p.m., Buttermann announced toward the end of the meeting. He said this will be a trial period, as the council is here to serve the public.