August 12, 2026 - Working on the Train
This was one of the shortest meetings of the year, with no one signing up to speak during public comment. The main substance came from Public Works Commissioner Guiliano, who delivered a long-promised update on the train station restoration. The state has extended the project deadline to March 2027, giving the city eight more months to finish the work. Guiliano listed what has been done, including a new roof, masonry repairs, painting, and new doors, but said the tunnel ceiling remains the problem, and that the project is now over budget. He offered to walk any interested councilor through the building. Members also approved a lease letting a hockey team use the John F. Kennedy Arena, authorized the purchase of a Canal Street property for $150,000, joined a regional police agreement, sold two city-owned lots, added stop signs on Cortland Avenue, and set up two amnesty weeks for late dog license fees.
What happened at the meeting
The train station project got eight more months. Commissioner Guiliano told the council that New York State granted the city an extension, moving the deadline from the summer of 2026 to March 23, 2027. That gives the city more time to spend the grant money and federal ARPA funds committed to the project. Over the last 14 months, they added a new rubber roof on the main building and repaired the brick parapet on the southwest side. They are scraping and painting the upper platform, as well as adding better ventilation and four new doors on the Martin Street side. New locks with an automatic system go in over the next few weeks, which he said will let the city control the doors remotely.
The tunnel is still the sticking point, and the project is over budget. Guiliano said the scaffolding in the tunnel is still up. When crews began removing it six months ago, more of the concrete ceiling came down, so the work was halted. The city hired a structural engineer to design a second ceiling to be installed beneath the existing one, holding it in place. Guiliano said the design has been paid for and estimates are in hand, but the remaining project balance is not enough to cover the construction. He said he will work with Mayor Lanigan and the administration to find additional money. He also said the building itself is secure and watertight. When asked if councilors could tour the site, Guiliano agreed to arrange a 45-minute walkthrough.
A hockey team will lease the JFK Arena. The council approved a lease with Milliken Sports, LLC for the Copper City Chiefs to use of the John F. Kennedy Arena on West Embargo Street for the 2026-27 hockey season. Under the agreement, the team pays $155 an hour. The team keeps ticket revenue and runs its own game-day staffing, security, and marketing. The city keeps concession revenue, and the team handles alcohol sales. The city also gets 10 percent of in-ice advertising revenue. The team can extend the lease two more years.
The city is buying a Canal Street property for $150,000. The council authorized the purchase of 709 Canal Street from Rome General Lumber Company. The purchase agreement lets the city market the property for lease or sale once the contract is signed.
Rome police joined a regional SWAT agreement. The council approved a memorandum of understanding with the Utica and New Hartford police departments and the Oneida County Sheriff's Department for the city's participation in the METRO SWAT team. The agreement runs through August 2030.
The council amended the Erie Boulevard project budget. Members approved the fourth amendment to the capital account for the Erie Boulevard downtown transportation project, first established in 2020. The amendment lists total project funding of about $3.89 million, drawn from several state transportation grants plus a small amount of Downtown Revitalization Initiative money for signage.
Two amnesty weeks for dog licenses. The council set August 17th through 21st and August 24th through 28th as periods when the late fee normally charged for dog licensing will be waived.
Other business. The council approved the sale of two city-owned parcels, 410 and 412 West Liberty Street, for $1,000 each. It authorized stop signs at each end of Cortland Avenue. It approved an agreement with Oneida County Workforce Development to host up to 10 county interns, paid $16 an hour for 200 hours. The proposed permanent ban on battery energy storage systems stayed on the table.
Parks and pools wrap up for the season. Councilor Sbaraglia reported that the parks close this week, the day camp closes Friday, August 21st, and the city pools close Sunday, August 23rd. He said he expects an end-of-season report on attendance.
Filed with the clerk. The council received the Capitol Theatre's financial report for the quarter ending June 30th, a notice from a business on Floyd Avenue seeking an adult-use cannabis dispensary license, and the audit report and management letter from D'Arcangelo & Co. for the year ended December 31, 2025.