Along with the Utica Common Council, other parts of the city could be shrinking
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: February 15, 2012
As the Utica Common Council could see reductions in it's size, another
important part of the city's operation may be shrinking as well.
Eyewitness News Reporter Chelsea Rarrick noticed several dozen police officers in uniform sitting in on Utica's Common Council Meeting Wednesday.
The officers were sitting side by side in the chamber audience, all dressed in uniform.
It seemed that they were listening very attentively to what was being discussed at Wednesday's nights meeting.
Utica Mayor Rob Palmieri has been working on the city's budget which involves a $7 million gap.
The mayor tells Eyewitness News that he's trying to cut down that gap any way he can, which means layoffs in the city, including public safety.
Utica Police Sgt. Steve Hauck says although he can't speak for all the officers himself, Hauck says the reason for the large presence could be because of the mayor's possible plans to lay off police officers.
In regards to the Common Council, Councilman at Large, Jim Zecca has presented an idea of reducing the number of council members.
Tonight was step one of the discussion, and Zecca says he would like to see the reduction in just the Council at Large members.
This would make the numbers go from three members down to just one.
Zecca says he supports this change even if it costs him his own position.
Eyewitness News Reporter Chelsea Rarrick noticed several dozen police officers in uniform sitting in on Utica's Common Council Meeting Wednesday.
The officers were sitting side by side in the chamber audience, all dressed in uniform.
It seemed that they were listening very attentively to what was being discussed at Wednesday's nights meeting.
Utica Mayor Rob Palmieri has been working on the city's budget which involves a $7 million gap.
The mayor tells Eyewitness News that he's trying to cut down that gap any way he can, which means layoffs in the city, including public safety.
Utica Police Sgt. Steve Hauck says although he can't speak for all the officers himself, Hauck says the reason for the large presence could be because of the mayor's possible plans to lay off police officers.
In regards to the Common Council, Councilman at Large, Jim Zecca has presented an idea of reducing the number of council members.
Tonight was step one of the discussion, and Zecca says he would like to see the reduction in just the Council at Large members.
This would make the numbers go from three members down to just one.
Zecca says he supports this change even if it costs him his own position.
