Statements by Fred A. Neil
1,535 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
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Mar 24, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Oh, okay. Thank you, um, Councilman Sudler. Uh, on numbers, uh, page, line 178, number six, uh, on page 28, a vacant first floor storefront is otherwise that in an otherwise occupied building in the Downtown Development District may be exempt, provided the owner demonstrates they're trying to sell or lease the property during the vacancy period. That's kind of difficult, isn't it? Um, basically, it's occupied in part, and the only thing that's open is the is is, uh, the the the storefront area. Uh, now, you have, uh, designation in there the building must provide adequate adver- advertisement, approved by the the Design Committee of the Downtown Partnership. This exemption is granted for a maximum of 2 years. That That's a tough one, Eddie. Um, you've done a great job on both of these ordinances, and the building is not really empty because the presum- I'm presuming that there's apartments upstairs that are being occupied. So we're try- trying to force the the building to become occupied or the rest. Is is there any other wording that we can have in there, or is that going to get us into trouble at some point?
Play from 1:03:24Mar 24, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I'm questioning whether or not um we can run into an attorney saying, "My building's occupied. That building is occupied. My client's building's occupied." And so, I I'm bringing it up because I don't want future problems. Do I agree with what you said? Absolutely. Uh, we need we need to have that refreshed. We have need to have activity in in those buildings.
Play from 1:06:09Mar 24, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
We need either having boarded up in such a way that it's handled that we can't have people come in, destroy it from the inside and out. But it's a point that I'm just bringing up to suggest that we could have a legal problem, and maybe have to have our attorney to take a look at it whether you can have an occupied building that is vacant at the same time, and what what the status is. So I'm running into the same problems that you presented to us with the revenue or the revenue bill that we hope to get back on to track. But it is just a question mark that I'm bringing up at this point that you have an occupied building with the vacancy that is uh uh that uh is considered uh empty and enforceability sale. That's all. I yield.
Play from 1:06:51Mar 24, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yeah, I would I would suggest that we do so that we don't run into, as I've been doing, some attorney coming in and saying, "Wait a minute. This is not a not a vacant building." I yield.
Play from 1:08:13Mar 24, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I I'm going to request that it be delayed, uh postponed, and take a second look at it uh and bring it back to us as quickly as possible with with looking at the point that can it be empty? Can we force an owner to sell under those circumstances? And have counsel take a look at that uh to see whether we can, what the wording can be. Yes, Coun- Council-
Play from 1:10:53Mar 24, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Mr. Chairman, what we have two items with that. My suggestion is why don't we just have him come back with those two items added into it?
Play from 1:21:33Mar 24, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
That's a motion.
Play from 1:21:42Mar 24, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Neil seconds.
Play from 1:30:50Mar 24, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Is any other business before this Council tonight? Hearing none, the meeting is adjourned.
Play from 1:35:39Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
We have before us here this evening's agenda. I will entertain a motion for its adoption.
Play from 00:00Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Have been seconded. Any questions? Hearing none, all in favor please say aye.
Play from 00:10Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Any opposed, please say no. It passes unanimously. I'll entertain a motion uh motion to approve the agenda. Um, okay. Next,
Play from 00:18Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
we have the consent agenda. We have before us the consent agenda. Those items on the council agenda which are considered routine, non-controversial, and will be acted upon by a single roll-call vote by the council. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of council so request. In which event, the matter shall be removed from the consent agenda and considered as a separate item. What is the pleasure of council?
Play from 00:29Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
It has been moved and seconded. Any questions? Okay, we need a uh roll-call vote.
Play from 01:03Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 01:28Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
As a someone who shared this position and as a member of this council when I first came here, Bill Hare set a tremendous precedent in terms of what he did and how he did. And, the seat that I held now have is held by, Councilman Sean Lynn, who is now a member of the House. So, we know him well. And I thought that maybe Kay Sass, who worked with him so closely on the with the with the military aspect of his life that perhaps a lot of people just don't know, that was really significant for people who people of the armed services who were desperately in need of help and funds to do something that they couldn't get elsewhere. Kay, I don't know if you want to add a word or two?
Play from 04:18Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
And Representative Lynn, since we shared the seat, now we share the dais.
Play from 05:37Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
This is the traditional key to the city. You will not find a lock in anywhere in the city that it will open, but it's a tribute to him and to you.
Play from 06:57Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
It has been very traditional for this cup. It is a pewter cup and it has been given to everybody who has served in capacity as a remembrance of the joys and what they brought to us. It holds a lot of memories, and that we present to you as well.
Play from 07:08Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
And this—
Play from 07:52Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
the symbol of the fact was he didn't drop the one. But this is the symbol of the fact that he was president of this body, and we present that to you.
Play from 07:55Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
You're welcome.
Play from 08:17Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Next we have the annual report from the Robbins Hose Company Fire Department, and we invite Chief David Carey to proceed with the presentation.
Play from 08:18Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Questions? Councilman Lewis.
Play from 22:43Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Councilman Anderson.
Play from 30:27Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Any additional questions? Seeing no additional questions, um Councilman Sudler.
Play from 35:09Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Now I can see you!
Play from 35:20Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you. And now we accept a motion to receive the report.
Play from 40:14Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes, Councilman Anderson.
Play from 40:20Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
We have a motion and a second. Do we have any further discussion? All in favor, please say aye.
Play from 40:29Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you. Any council announcements? Yes, uh Councilman Boggerty.
Play from 41:56Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Any other announcements? Yes, Councilman Lewis.
Play from 43:53Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Is that the police site chief? Councilwoman Hall.
Play from 44:21Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Any other announcements?
Play from 44:52Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yeah, Councilman Anderson.
Play from 45:25Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Councilman Anderson.
Play from 45:36Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I see you, Dr. Sudler. Do you have some comment?
Play from 47:11Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you.
Play from 47:17Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
And with that, I wish everybody a happy Passover or a happy Easter, and we will see you back after those holidays. Thank you very much, this meeting is adjourned.
Play from 47:50Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I will now call to order the Council Committee of the Whole for Tuesday, March the 10th, 2026. I would like to remind the public that public comments are welcome on any item and will be permitted at the appropriate time. You have before you this evening's agenda, and I will entertain an a motion for its adoption.
Play from 00:02