March 24th, 2023
from the desk at city hall

March 2023 City Manager Report.

City Recruitment 

Director of the Planning and Economic Development Department 

o   We are in the process of drafting the new recruitment materials for this position which includes highlighting the expectations of the Director as a connecter, and business developer.

Police Chief 

o   The Police Chief exam will be held on March 25. Once the exam is completed we will await results from New York State Civil Service, which typically takes between 4-6 months.  As we await the results and begin the process of interviews we will be creating an interview panel of staff and community stakeholders to participate in the process. Prior to the panels full formation, we will also hold community discussions to talk about the role and expectations of the Chief of Police in the City of Geneva. 

Assessor 

o   Our Assessor announced his resignation effective on March 10. We will be working with the City of Canandaigua on recruiting this currently shared position.  

Lakefront Request for Proposals 

As discussed as part of the budget process, we will be retaining support from consultants as well as our own team to review the infrastructure of the lakefront and bicentennial park to provide solutions for event management, including the farmer’s market. The Request for Proposals is being completed and will go out in the coming weeks. We will be looking for an organization to review the current lakefront configuration and activities, talk with community stakeholders, and to make suggestions for ways to support the activities of the lakefront. 

Map Grant Request for Proposals 

We are currently seeking applicants for an administrator of the New York State Microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP). Applications are due by March 10, 2023 at 4pm.  

NY Market 10^th Year Anniversary 

Last week the City celebrated with Ag and Markets, the Visitors Center and others the 10th anniversary of the Taste NY brand.  

Shadetree Committee Appointments 

Charles Rouse 

Jeremy Busch 

James Norwalk 

Recently, the Federal Government mandated that municipalities must inventory all water services to determine where if any lead service pipes are located throughout the community. This information will be utilized to develop plans and begin the process of eliminating them. Lead is usually not present in the drinking water source. It may result from the distribution system or the homes interior plumbing itself. Possible ways lead enters into drinking water could be where there is corrosion in the lead pipes, fixtures, and solder. An impactful way to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in drinking water is to remove the lead service line that brings water to your home from the water main in the street. To help address this issue of identifying the specific homes that have lead service lines, the City of Geneva staff will be conducting door-to-door assessments. These trained individuals will be able to quickly identify if your home has a lead service line. This round of door-to-door lead service line verifications begins this week and continues through May 31 2023. The Geneva DPW workers will identify themselves with an official City of Geneva ID. If you have any questions about this important and federally mandated initiative, please call Public Works and Engineering at 315-789-3101. 

Attention Geneva Residents and Property Owners

Do you have open green space between the street and sidewalk in front or alongside of your property?

The Geneva Department of Public Works with the support of the Geneva Shade Tree Committee is seeking property owners to plant street trees in open city rights-of-way.

•    Trees are beautiful and provide important value to you and to the city. 

•    Trees can increase the resale value of your home and enhance privacy and boost the appearance of your street. 

•    Trees improve air quality and provide cooling shade to lower ambient air temperatures in urban and residential spaces.

•    Trees improve water quality by absorbing groundwater and reducing storm run-off.

•    Trees improve habitat for birds and other important wildlife.

•    Healthy residential tree cover makes people happier!

Healthy young trees are available at NO COST in exchange for a small promise that they will be watered regularly for the first year and protected from trunk damage by mowers and string trimmers.  DPW will provide FREE tree trunk guards and initial waterings. 

You will be consulted to select the species most suited to your planting sites to minimize conflict with overhead and underground utilities and to avoid future issues with sidewalks such as upheaval and cracking.

Planting sites are being created this spring and trees will be scheduled for planting in Fall 2023. DPW will provide tree installations. 

Please call Joe Venuti in the Engineering Department at (315) 789-3101 or contact Mark Perry at markperry@geneva.ny.us to request additional information.

NOTICE TO GLENWOOD

CEMETERY VISITORS

Please be advised that Geneva City crews have started spring cleanup activities at Glenwood and Washington Street Cemeteries.  We would like to remind visitors that all unclaimed wreaths, broken urns and flower pots and all artificial flowers and/or adornments not in appropriate containers, etc. will be disposed of starting Monday April 10th 2023.

Visitors are reminded that trees and shrubs are not to be planted without permission, and flowers should be placed in containers at the ends of the monuments if possible.  Due to safety concerns, GLASS CONTAINERS AND/OR ADORMENTS ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS AND DECORATIONS NOT IN POTS, AND LOOSE STONE ARE PROHIBITED. WOODEN CROSSES, FENCES, TRELLISES, SHEPHERD HOOKS, AND BANNER & PLANT HANGERS/HOLDERS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

As you visit the cemetery, please note (as posted in both entrances of Glenwood and at Washington Street) that dogs are not allowed on cemetery grounds.

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please feel free to contact the cemetery office at 315-789-7271.

The City of Geneva

Buildings & Parks Department

Motorists may have noticed a new signage addition around town as the city has installed two new stop signs at an intersection that previously were without a stop at all. The new signs are installed at the intersection of William Street and West Street, making this a three-way stop-controlled crossroad.  Stop Ahead Warning and replacement No Parking Here to Corner signage have also been posted.  Supplemental stop bars, crosswalks and pavement markings will be repainted during our annual maintenance contract.  We urge drivers to be mindful of the new stop signs when travelling though this area as we work to increase awareness during and after school operating hours.   The stop signs are part of the city’s ongoing efforts to promote motorist and pedestrian safety.