City of Utica Residential Assessment Information...UPDATED

All properties in the 2010 City of Utica Assessment database are now online.

Concerned Citizens recently FOILed a copy of the City of Utica 2010 Assessment database and we are making the information available in an Excel spreadsheet.

We started by sorting the information according to address. If you are familiar with sorting information contained within an Excel spreadsheet, you will be able to sort according to square feet, assessed value, etc. If you need help sorting the information, please email us and we will provide assistance.

Total assessed value, along with assessed value used to compute county, city and school taxes for each parcel is available. We also added a column for School Assessed Value after STAR. Any difference in value between these columns indicates whether or not the property is receiving a reduced assessment due to an exemption.

The following spreadsheets are available for download to your computer:

Residential - one, two, and three family. We also included the inventory [sq. ft., number of baths, bedrooms, etc.] for each residential address. Blank fields means that the database does not contain the information.

Property Class 411 - Apartments with more than 3 units

All Vacant Land - Property Class in the 300s

Commercial - Property Class higher than 411

City owned property - All property classes; these are also contained within the other files by property class. [includes schools, playgrounds, etc.]

Roll Section 8 - Wholly Exempt

Please feel free to download any or all of these spreadsheets to your computer.

For information regarding Property Class and a description of what is included in each class, the list is on the Office of Real Property website.

From another town or city and would like to see assessment information online? Email us!

Filling in the "cracks"...

A few days ago we blogged about the Shumaker invoice, unpaid since 2008, that seemed to have slipped into the stack of bills that were awaiting town board approval for payment at the February 9, 2011 town board meeting.

In that blog we reported:

Councilman Backman questioned whether or not the voucher/invoices for work on Woods Highway should be paid by taxpayers or Larry Adler. It was Councilman Backman's belief, after reviewing signed agreements between the town and Larry Adler, that Mr. Adler is responsible for all "incidentals".

In the end, the invoice was not approved for payment at the February 9, 2011 town board meeting, but instead was handed over to Town Attorney Herb Cully to figure out who should pay.

Well, the topic was once again on the table for last Wednesday's [February 23, 2011] town board meeting. Town Attorney Cully reported on his findings and presented a resolution that was approved at a May 13, 2008 town board meeting.

According to Attorney Cully, the resolution and town board minutes were rather vague as to the intentions of the board. No kidding! That is exactly why we started videotaping...we noticed a long time ago that the minutes don't seem to always reflect what actually happened. There's nothing like an actual recording of events...if nothing else, it makes it a little more difficult for anyone to "pull the wool over someone's eyes".

We just happen to have the video of the May 13, 2008 town board meeting referenced by Town Attorney Cully...here is the portion of that meeting where the discussion lead to the adoption of Resolution No. 128 of 2008 that was referred to by Town Attorney Cully:

That's former Highway Superintendent Roger Cleveland talking and he answered "yes" when then Town Supervisor Earle Reed asked, not once, but twice, whether the money is to be paid out of the PILOT as an expense of the business park. Dave Reynolds, Christine Krupa and Rich Woodland, you were all there...what did you think you were voting on when you adopted that resolution? Sounds to us like the contract was in furtherance of the New Hartford Business Park project and was intended to be paid from the $2.3 million bond.

The agreements signed by Larry Adler obligated him to make good on all cost overruns...due to poor budgeting there were cost overruns and the fact that there were insufficient monies from the bond associated with the PILOT is a problem for Larry Adler; NOT town residents!

Which brings us to our next story...

In 2009, when Heather Mowat was hired as Budget Officer to find the missing $2.8 million, she identified several invoices that were paid by town monies that she felt should be paid by the developer. They totalled about $188,000...or more. At the last town board meeting, the question was asked by Councilman Woodland as to whether or not Larry Adler had ever paid back the town for those expenses. The answer from Town Attorney Herb Cully was "No" further stating that he believes that they [Mr. Adler et al] are disputing the charges."

Supervisor Tyksinski, unable to control his frustration and appearing to let his personal feelings regarding Ms. Mowat show in his voice and body language, stated that it was merely numbers put together by the Budget Director...a "wish list".

Personal feelings aside Supervisor Tyksinski, Ms. Mowat is well qualified to make those determinations and she spent a lot of time talking to town employees and sifting through documents. Publicly calling her work a "wish list" is uncalled for no matter what differences you may have with her.

Our question is to Supervisor Tyksinski...At this point, town taxpayers have paid for expenses from a private developer that, according to signed documents, are really the responsiblity of that private developer; that private developer feels no obligation to make good on the agreement he signed with the town; however, for some reason you seem to be defending his failure to keep his side of the bargain and, to top it all off, shortly you plan to introduce another bond resolution to finance another portion of that same private developer's business park. What are you thinking? Who are you working for...town residents or "friends" who make political contributions?

Here is the portion of the February 23, 2011 town board meeting regarding the 2008 unpaid Shumaker invoice, and the failure of Mr. Adler to pay the money that is owed to town taxpayers.

For those that are interested, here is Ms. Mowat at the December 9, 2009 town board meeting discussing the monies she feels are due from Mr. Adler to the town taxpayers:

Town Board Meeting Tonight...

starting at 7:00 p.m. in Butler Hall. Agenda now now online!

Creating a Police District...

was the topic of a recent Observer Dispatch article, Police presence could grow in region’s commercial hub...New Hartford may add officers, charge businesses more.

Supervisor Tyksinski discussed that same topic at the February 9, 2011 Town Board meeting. Here is a video of that discussion:

There are a lot of 'ifs, ands, & buts' to be resolved in connection with this plan...definitely will be an interesting topic to follow.

Utica's Master Plan...

Last Wednesday evening, February 9, 2011, Concerned Citizens videotaped the Utica Common Council's Economic Development Committee at which the "recommendations" of the "Infrastructure and Waterfront Development" subcommittee (which Frank Montecalvo chaired) of the Utica Master Plan steering committee were presented.

We asked Mr. Montecalvo if he would mind giving us an overview of the presentation to go along with our videotape. Mr. Montecalvo's comments are as follows:

When viewing this presentation, note where it is pointed out that in several places the language of the draft of the Master Plan has been changed from that originally proposed by the subcommittee. Unless one was paying close attention, the changes would be easy to miss. The changes, however, are significant.

For example:

"Acknowledge and follow the 1968 Comprehensive Water Supply Study as the official regional planning policy for meeting water supply needs."

became---

"Formally request that the MVWA update the 1968 Comprehensive Water Supply Study so as to provide a new regional planning policy for meeting water supply needs."

While updating the Study might be a good idea (the locations of water resources and municipalities have not changed) , having the MVWA do this is putting the "fox in charge of the hen house" and was never recommended by the subcommittee. MVWA is only one of a multitude of water purveyors in the Oneida, Herkimer and part of Madison Counties covered by the state-sponsored Study. It would be illegal to give MVWA the power to reallocate the state's water resources in this region because the power of allocation belongs to the state. It also would not be fair to other parts of the region. It should be noted that the 1968 Study was done at a time when Oneida County was one of the fastest growing places in the nation and there was a real fear that the Greater Utica area (primarily Utica's suburbs because they were growing the fastest) would run out of water. Recent MVWA proposals to extend service to Verona and other places in central and western Oneida County run counter to that Study's recommendations and could conceivably lead to a water shortage if prior growth rates were to resume.

Several of the Master Plan's changes which are objectionable involve the Water Authority, Sewer District, and new "regionalization" efforts which, essentially, preserve and extend the policies that have encouraged "urban sprawl" -- which raises taxes in Utica and suburbs alike -- as well as preserve a "power structure" that is insulated from voter control.

A number of the subcommittee's recommendations were left out, while things that we had not discussed were inserted. It was enough to make one think "Who's Master Plan is this?"

Frank Montecalvo

Below is the video of the meeting:

New Hartford Business Park Update...

After the discussion at the February 9, 2011 town board meeting on who [Larry Adler or town taxpayers] should pay for the Shumaker engineering invoice that was among the vouchers to be approved by the town board, Supervisor Tyksinski decided to continue the discussion of the business park since it was on the evening's agenda anyway.

This time the discussion centered around the PILOT that Larry Adler "needs" for the hotel that is supposedly going to be built in his New Hartford Business Park. Since the board resolution for the business park was passed in 2008, Steve DiMeo from Oneida County EDGE asked that the board confirm that they are still interested in pursuing the PILOT arrangement for the hotel.

According to Supervisor Tyksinski, the PILOT monies will be used to build the Clinton Street Extension and the right in, right out access to Route 840. The amount needed to for this project is estimated to be about $1.2 or $1.3 million.

The PILOT payments are expected to cover the repayment of $600,000 of bonds including the interest. The town has also authorized $500,000 of Fees in Lieu of Mitigation to be used for a total of $1.1 million. Any expenses over that amount is expected to be paid by Mr. Adler although Supervisor Tyksinski did say that the hotel would be expected to pay mitigation fees that could also be used to cover any cost overruns.

Supervisor Tyksinski, who has long been a proponent of the business park [from when he was comptroller and the business park was going to be a town project] says it won't cost taxpayers a dime! Now...where have we heard that before?

[Click on graphic for larger print!]

Funny how this discussion took place right after a voucher that was supposed to be paid by Mr. Adler somehow got mixed in with the vouchers to be paid by the town.

Of course, since the business park is in an Empire Zone; more than likely the tax dollars paid by the hotel and used to build the roads will be reimbursed to the owners of the hotel so basically, taxpayers are footing the bill no matter how you slice it. Not to mention the additional cost of police and infrastructure maintenance after the hotel is built and occupied.

Then again, if the business park is part of the proposed police district, the additional cost for policing won't matter to residential taxpayers...right? More on that subject in a couple of days.

No one wants to see the business park fail; however, it is high time that Mr. Adler start paying his own way. If the development is not worth the risk then perhaps Mr. Adler shouldn't have undertaken the project in the first place.

The town board vote was 4 'ayes' in support of the PILOT and 1 'nay'; Councilman Don Backman, voted nay stating that he was not willing to ask his constituents to pay for a bond for more infrastructure for the business park that should be paid by the developer.

New Hartford Central School and Oneida County Legislators will now also have to vote either against or in support of another PILOT for the business park. Take any bets on how that will turn out?

Here is that portion of the February 9, 2011 town board meeting:

Almost slipped through the cracks...

Vouchers were piled on the table waiting for Supervisor Tyksinski to present them to the town board for approval at the February 9, 2011 Town Board meeting.

Everyone seemed to be in agreement on the vouchers to be paid...except for one for Shumaker Engineering in regards to the Business Park.

Councilman Backman questioned whether or not the voucher/invoices for work on Woods Highway should be paid by taxpayers or Larry Adler. It was Councilman Backman's belief, after reviewing signed agreements between the town and Larry Adler, that Mr. Adler is responsible for all "incidentals".

An interesting conversation ensued. Apparently, Roger Cleveland, without town board approval, hired Shumaker to do some engineering work on Woods Highway. Wow...Shumaker Engineering and no board approval...we're shocked!

It was obvious that Supervisor Tyksinski was annoyed with the discussion. However, in the end, the voucher was held back for further review.

Here is the video of that portion of the meeting (less than 5 minutes long):



The invoice was actually from 2008; there was no explanation as to why it had yet to be paid, but that voucher should have never been presented for payment using town funds in the first place; who was Supervisor Tyksinski trying to fool? It was probably one of the expenditures brought to the board by Heather Mowat in 2009 and already determined to be the responsibility of Mr. Adler.


TO BE CONTINED...

New Hartford Planning Board meeting....

tomorrow, Monday, February 14, 2011 starting at 5:30 p.m. in the lower level of the New Hartford Public Library.

On the agenda is the Messrs. James & Harold Julian property located at 4752-4756 Middlesettlement Road for recommendation to Town Board for Zone Map Amendment from RB3 Office Business to Planned Development Mixed Use. The Julians would like to sell the property so that a senior housing project can be built.

Agenda now online!

Time to pay the piper?

Through the end of December 2010, the general whole-town fund had an almost $1.7 million surplus for the year...according to an article in the Observer Dispatch; New Hartford expects to close 2010 budget with surplus...

...BUT, the Observer Dispatch article continues:

...by the time final receivables and payables are accounted for, the total is likely to be closer to $400,000, Tyksinski said.

So...we have plenty of money...if we don't pay our bills. What kind of smoke screen is that?

It became apparent that the town is still in financial distress after we heard the conversation between town officials just before the start of the January 12, 2011 town board meeting.

All the councilpeople were gathered around the table initialling what seemed to be an endless number of vouchers waiting to be presented and approved for payment later that evening. One councilman asked why there were so many. Supervisor Tyksinski answered that some of them were from September 2010 and just hadn't been paid yet.

Here's a picture of the vouchers on the table:



According to the DRAFT copy of the January 12, 2011 town board minutes, the vouchers totalled $825,473.80.

Here is ...a pdf of the minutes with a listing of the vouchers to be paid.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why vouchers from September 2010 were just being reviewed and approved for payment on January 12, 2011...there was no money available at that point until after the town property tax revenue started rolling in. The town simply did not have the money to pay their bills when they were due and some of those bills were 90 days past due!!!

By the way, an August 2, 2010, Observer Dispatch article, New Hartford's fund $350,000 in the red at end of ’09 stated:

‘Pay the piper’

The town has been managing its cash flow this year by borrowing between funds when necessary, Tyksinski said. But that can only work for so long.

“It’s not like we can just sit back and say, ‘That happened last year and let’s move forward,’” Tyksinski said. “Some place along the line, you have to pay the piper.”

The questions everyone should be asking are...how close to $400,000 does Supervisor Tyksinski think the ending fund balance will be? And is that guess based on the 'sales tax revenue windfall' touted by Supervisor Tyksinski? And is it before or after the borrowing between funds is paid back?

If the town is not in a position to pay their bills on time in September, perhaps it's merely a matter time before we are forced 'to pay the piper'!

New Hartford Town Board meeting tonight...

Wednesday, February 9, 2010 starting at 7:00 p.m. in Butler Hall.

Agenda now online!