Plattsburgh

In 2013, New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli implemented a Fiscal Stress Monitoring System that evaluates local governments. This week the office issued the scores for municipalities with fiscal years that ended on Dec. 31, 2017.  Plattsburgh was among the communities listed with the second-highest level of fiscal stress.  As WAMC North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley reports, the score was not a surprise to Mayor Colin Read.

Plattsburgh’s mayor and common council held a public hearing last night on the mayor’s proposed 2019 city budget.  But no one commented on the $59 million fiscal plan.

Plattsburgh Mayor Colin Read has released his proposed 2019 fiscal budget for the Clinton County city.  The mayor says it enhances the city’s financial stability while staying within New York state’s tax cap.

Twenty years after the first Battle of Plattsburgh commemoration, city officials and organizers were at city hall today to highlight some of the events planned for September 6th through the 9th.

A number of municipalities across the country are considering banning plastic straws.  City of Plattsburgh officials plan to gauge whether residents approve of the idea before moving forward with a ban.

Plattsburgh Mayor Colin Read stood next to vacant land on Thursday while discussing the need for the city to explore the possibility of finding town properties it can annex.

Plattsburgh’s mayor is looking at the possibility of obtaining a plot of land in the adjacent town by annexation. But the idea is not going over well with the town supervisor.

The North Country Chamber of Commerce spearheads the New York State exhibit at the Farnborough International Air Show in England, the largest annual aerospace and aviation trade and air show in the world. This year the feature article in the brochure distributed to more than 1,500 distributors from 52 countries focused on aeronautical and transportation infrastructure development in Plattsburgh, New York.  Chamber President and CEO Garry Douglas has just returned from the event. He says it was a pleasant surprise to see the region highlighted before the world.

The mayor of Plattsburgh recently announced plans to seek developers who would partner with the city to redevelop a waterfront lot.

Plattsburgh’s mayor and city councilors are continuing to work on a five-year fiscal plan even though they completed the city’s annual budget several weeks ago. Mayor Colin Read explains that while a multi-year year plan is required, for many years it was not produced.

New litigation has been filed in the dispute over shared PILOT payments between the town and city of Plattsburgh.  The town has countersued the city and its supervisor is blaming the mayor for the dispute.

During last week’s Plattsburgh City Council meeting, one councilor quizzed the mayor about developments in a lawsuit between the city and the neighboring Town of Plattsburgh.  Town Supervisor Michael Cashman says the town is countersuing the city regarding a Payment in Lieu of Taxes dispute in which the city claims the town has not properly paid the city its share of Falcon Seaboard payments.

The mayor of Quebec’s third-largest city was in Plattsburgh recently to re-sign a Declaration of Cooperation between the two cities.

The city of Plattsburgh came under national and international scrutiny recently when city officials decided to place an 18-month moratorium on cryptocurrency operations.  The Bitcoin miners were using so much of the city’s cheap electricity that its quota was breached and residents’ rates went up.  Mayor Colin Read says a couple subcommittees are looking at various aspects related to the new industry.

The Plattsburgh Common Council held its regular weekly meeting Thursday evening. Councilors approved and then forwarded a five-year budget plan to the mayor. But they once again delayed action on a Code of Conduct.

Plattsburgh Mayor Colin Read called a special meeting of the Common Council Friday to review their duties and responsibilities as outlined in the City Charter.  But some clauses appeared to become less clarified as the discussion progressed.

For the second time, Plattsburgh common councilors have tabled a proposal offered by the mayor that would establish a Code of Conduct for city leaders, department heads and employees.

In July 2016, the city of Plattsburgh was awarded $10 million through New York state’s Downtown Redevelopment Initiative.  Projects are still being planned. One of the most controversial is changing the city’s main parking lot.  Councilors held a public comment session last week on 14 recommendations offered by a consultant.  But some downtown business owners are skeptical about the plans.

Last Thursday during the Plattsburgh Common Council meeting, Mayor Colin Read announced the appointment of Levi Ritter as the city’s new police chief.  Ritter has been on the force for 14 years and began his new job Friday.  Chief Ritter tells WAMC’s North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley his desire to lead the department might be a bit of a cliché.

The Plattsburgh Common Council’s Finance and Budget Committee provided an overview of the city’s finances and an update on its five-year budget plan during its monthly meeting Thursday night.

The Common Council chambers were packed Thursday evening as Plattsburgh leaders considered a moratorium on new cryptocurrency operations in the northern New York city.

Relations between the city of Plattsburgh and the town of Plattsburgh have worsened. The city of Plattsburgh on Tuesday filed suit against the adjacent town, claiming that a Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement has been violated and the city is owed more than a million dollars.

The city of Plattsburgh has initiated legal action against the adjacent Town of Plattsburgh.

By now, you’ve probably heard of—and maybe even invested in — the online currency BitCoin.  But how are the cryptocurrencies made?  Apparently by using a lot of electricity.  In Plattsburgh, where there are low electric rates and a couple cryptocurrency entrepreneurs are sucking up lots of power, the mayor is proposing a law to curb the practice.

A rash of retirements and resignations by department heads in Plattsburgh has some city residents concerned. But the mayor says it’s normal turnover for a city of this size.

A Plattsburgh city councilor resigned at the end of Thursday night’s Common Council meeting, further exposing rifts between some city leaders and the mayor.

The Plattsburgh North Country Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual State of the County, Town and City forum this morning to hear reports from municipal leaders.

Plattsburgh Common Councilors chose a mayor pro tem Thursday evening.  The vote had been postponed following testy exchanges and a deadlocked vote the week before.

The debate over a long-term Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement between the city and town of Plattsburgh has led to the city retaining outside lawyers to investigate.

The Plattsburgh City Council held its first meeting of the year last night. The organizational session was intended to choose a mayor pro-tem for the year.  But antagonisms between councilors flared and a final vote was postponed.