The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Drama club at City Hall
City officials honor Oneida High School drama students for award-winning “Footloose” production
Common Councilors were treated to an awardwinning performance by the Oneida High School cast of “Footloose” Tuesday evening.
Hot off the heels of winning three SyracuseHighSchool Theatre awards -- including Outstanding Overall Production of aMusical - MediumSchool, Out- standing Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Emmanuel Esparza, and Outstanding Production Number - “Let’s Hear it for the Boy” -- members of the cast beseeched council to make dancing legal in the city -- through song and dance, of course.
“I’d love to grab that enthusiasm and put it into the whole city,” said Mayor Leo Matzke following the performance, which garnered a standing ovation from council and those in attendance.
“We’ve got a lot of talent here,” said Ward 4 Councilor Helen Acker.
In honor of the students’ achievements, Matzke presented “Footloose” director Brett Bogardus with an Award of Excellence.
“This means a lot to us,” Bogardus said.
“Anyone who says kids don’t contribute to a community doesn’t know kids,” Matzke said, noting how the students’ performance shone a positive spotlight on the efforts of the school and those involved in the production.
In less foot-stomping news, councilors will hold a public hearing on June 19 at 6:30 p.m. in councilor chambers regarding a change to overnight parking in the city. Chapter 180-Vehicles and Traffic, Article II,
Section 180-21 is being amended to allow overnight parking on curbed and uncurbed streets throughout the city where parking is allowed -- with the exception of Main Street from Washington Avenue to Furnace Avenue -- from April 15 to Oct. 15. The amendment consolidates curbed and uncurbed parking un- der the same dates and restrictions. The Oct. 15 cutoff, as opposed to a previous Oct. 31 cutoff, gives police a twoweek period to file citations before Nov. 1.
“I know a lot of citizens will have one opinion or another on the policy change,” Matzke said.
Councilors adopted Local Law Nov. 3 to amend the city codes relating to grass and weeds. The amendment significantly shortens the time between when the city informs a homeowner that they need to cut their grass to when the city can come in and cut if for them at a cost no less than $100 and no greater than $250.
“I want to compliment you Jim. You’ve been like a bulldog on this,” Matzke said to Ward 5 councilor Jim Chamberlain, who spearheaded the amendment. Matzke said the overgrown yards on some properties detracts from the work the city is trying to do to build the community.
“It’s a great addition to our codes,” Chamberlain said.
Acker said while she supports the new codes, the city has to be diligent in taking care of the property it owns, particularly in the Flats, where several homes have unkempt lawns.
“It’s hard to send people a letter when we don’t maintain our own property,” she said.
As for the Flats, the city is currently working with FEMA on the second round of house demolitions. Twenty-nine homes are slated to be torn down, and Acker said All Around Excavating will once again handle the demos. Work should begin within the next couple weeks, she hopes.
Matzke also addressed a couple questions from homeowners regarding the state of city streets and abandoned homes. The mayor said council is working on legislation in relation to “zombie homes,” or bank-owned properties the city cannot touch. Paving should also begin on some city streets within the next month, said City Engineer Eric Schuler.
“Our infrastructure is woefully behind,” Matzke said. “It’s just a question of howwe do it in the budget.”
Ward 6 Councilor Tom Simchik was absent from the meeting. No county supervisors attended.
The next Common Council meeting will be Tuesday, June 19, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.