A resident said cars are blocking city sidewalks. An Elm Street resident told the council that because Rome uses federal money on its sidewalks, it has to bring them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and those rules require a clear path wide enough for a wheelchair without forcing anyone into the road. He said blocking a sidewalk is already illegal under state vehicle and traffic law and is addressed in the city charter, but that enforcement has been lax. He described streets where parking is banned on both sides, leaving tenants with nowhere to go, and landlords who rent to more tenants than their driveways can hold. He pointed to vehicles regularly blocking the sidewalk on Turin Road, where he said the driveway provided by the property owner cannot fit the number of cars parked there. They suggested the city consider selling paid parking permits, and warned that the problem will grow if it stays unaddressed.

Two officials answered him. Commissioner Guiliano confirmed that the resident's description of the federal rules was accurate and that the city is required to make those sidewalk changes. But he said the city will not issue special parking permits, because Rome already has overnight parking rules from November through April and permits would only push the problem down the road. He added that the city is not responsible for providing parking to landlords or their tenants, and that the codes office can inspect properties and issue citations where vehicles are parked on grass instead of a hard surface. He asked that the resident's complaint be forwarded to Police Chief James and Public Safety Commissioner Ken White. Councilor Reilly said he and the resident text regularly about parking and that he agrees enforcement is a problem, but not because the police are unwilling. He said he listens to a scanner and hears officers tied up call after call, which pushes parking complaints down the list. Reilly said he wants to talk with the mayor about giving the city's downtown parking staff a way to travel to other neighborhoods, since they currently patrol on foot.

A $2.3 million dam grant was put on hold. Guiliano asked the council to table a resolution accepting about $2.32 million from FEMA and the state's homeland security division for repairs at Kessinger Dam tied to an August 2021 storm. He explained that he brought the item forward after a homeland security representative announced the award, but that about 10 days ago the agency told the city one more review still has to happen at the federal level, which could take six to eight weeks. The council tabled it.

The Kessinger Dam project now carries a $17.1 million price tag. The council formally updated the financing plan for the dam rehabilitation. The maximum estimated cost rises from $14 million to roughly $17.15 million, an increase of about $3.15 million. The higher cost is covered by the $14 million in bonds the council authorized in 2024 plus two earlier withdrawals from the water dam capital reserve, one for about $2.15 million approved last year and one for $1 million approved in February. Councilor Dursi described the resolution as paperwork requested by the city's bond counsel.

The school district will pay for three officers. The council approved a new agreement placing three full time school resource officers in the Rome City School District. The district will pay the city $502,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, $516,000 for 2027-2028, and $535,000 for 2028-2029, including compensation for events. The agreement is retroactive to July 1st and runs three school years, with an option to renew for two more. Before the meeting, councilors met with the superintendent of schools and members of the school board in the caucus room at City Hall.

The police department will lease body cameras and tasers. The council authorized a five year agreement with Axon Enterprise. The city pays about $101,053 in 2026 and about $95,125 in each of the four following years, roughly $481,600 in total. Councilor Dursi noted the agreement covers body cameras as well as tasers.

A splash pad, a small grant, and closed projects. The council created a capital account for a splash pad at Guyer Field with a budget of $925,000, funded by two years of federal community development block grant money at $400,000 each and a $125,000 Crest grant. It accepted a $1,500 state grant for a child passenger seat safety program. And it authorized the treasurer to close out a group of completed capital projects, part of a corrective action plan the council adopted in 2016 to improve the city's financial accuracy.

A finance update. Councilor Dursi reported that the finance committee met about two weeks earlier and spent roughly an hour going over the numbers with Treasurer Adams and Councilors Reilly and Sbaraglia. He said the committee also met with the city's auditors, who gave favorable remarks about where the city stands. Dursi said the budget is tough and costs keep rising, but that Rome is holding its own.