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FEBRUARY 19th 2026
CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
AGENDA
Date: Thursday February 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: 108 E Green Street
Watch Online: https://www.youtube.com/@CityofIthacaPublicMeetings
1. Call to Order
1.1 Emergency Evacuation Notice
2. Agenda Review
3. Introductions of Commissioners
4. Adoption of Organizing & Video Conferencing Resolutions
4.1 Adoption of Organizing Resolution
4.2 Opt-in to City video-conferencing ordinance
5. Charge, Scope, & Process
5.1 Presentation of Charter Revision Process Overview (City Attorney’s Office)
5.2 Mandate & Timeline
5.3 Commission Scope
5.4 Open Meetings Law (OML) Compliance
5.5 Decision Making Norms
6. Committee Structure & Broad Assignments
6.1 Overview of Working Group & Steering Committee Procedure
6.2 Announcement of Working Group Assignments
7. Next Steps & Adjournment
7.1 Immediate Actions
7.2 Next Meeting Date
No Public Comments.
Not all meetings include a Public Comment segment. The City of Ithaca wants to hear
from you and encourages community members to share comments with the Common
Council using the option below.
To Submit Written Comments please use the link below. Public Comment Form Written
comments submitted will be compiled and entered into the record.
Written comments submitted will be compiled and entered into the record.

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Resolution No. 1
A Resolution to Organize the Charter Revision Commission
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Charter Revision Commission (“Commission”) has been
constituted pursuant to an appointment by Robert G. Cantelmo, the Mayor to review and propose
revisions to the City Charter within the sixty-day organizational period established by the Mayor; and
WHEREAS, the Commission will conduct its meetings and organization in compliance with the
New York State Open Meetings Law; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commission hereby adopts the following
organizing provisions:
1. Meetings
1.1. The Commission shall convene for a regular meeting on the Third Thursday of each
month at 6:00 pm in Common Council Chambers, third Floor, City Hall, 108 E.
Green Street.
1.2. Meetings shall not be more than two (2) hours in length, unless specified in the
notice of meeting or modified by the Commission.
1.3. Attendance is mandatory, although the Chair may excuse a member from attendance
for justifiable reasons.
2. Transaction of Business
2.1. Each Commissioner shall have one vote. No Commissioner may abstain from
voting, except in cases where a conflict of interest is present. If a conflict of interest
is present, the Commissioner will state the conflict before the commission.
2.2. A quorum shall be a majority of the voting power of the Commission. A quorum
shall be required to transact business, but less than a quorum shall have the power to
adjourn. The Commission may only transact business with an affirmative vote of a
majority of the voting power of the Commission at a meeting where a quorum is
present; however, committees of the Commission may transact business with a
majority of voting power present.

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3. Order of Business
3.1. The Order of Business for each future regular meeting shall be as follows:
3.1.1. Call to Order & Call of Roll
3.1.2. Adoption of Minutes
3.1.3. Special Orders of Business
3.1.4. Testimonies and Witness Statements
3.1.5. Reports from Working Group Chairs
3.1.6. Consideration of Resolutions
3.1.7. Appointments
3.1.8. Adjournment
4. Parliamentarian & Counsel
4.1. The Office of the City Attorney is hereby designated to serve as Parliamentarian to
the Commission, in an advisory capacity, to assist with procedural questions and
meeting administration.
5. Chair, Committees & Working Groups
5.1. The Chair is authorized to create, modify, and dissolve advisory committees and
working groups of the Commission, inclusive of appointing officers, filling vacancies,
and appointing members, consistent with applicable law, the Open Meetings Law,
and Robert’s Rules of Order.
6. Steering Committee
6.1. A Steering Committee is established, consisting of the Commission’s officers, with
the Chair authorized to appoint up to two additional members from the general body
of the Commission.
6.2. The Steering Committee will guide the Commission’s work, consult with the Chair
on forming or dissolving advisory committees and working groups, advise on
internal appointments and vacancies, and may compile questions for committees or
working groups to develop recommendations for the full Commission’s
consideration on timelines the Steering Committee sets.

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7. Internal Vacancies of Officers
7.1. In the case of the absence of the Chair at a meeting of the Commission or Steering
Committee, the Vice Chair shall serve as Chair. In the case of the absence of both
the Chair and the Vice Chair, the Secretary shall serve as Chair.
8. Duties of Officers
8.1. Consistent with Section 36 of the Municipal Home Rule Law, the Chair shall have
the power to conduct the day-to-day business of the Commission, including but not
limited to the authority to enter contracts on behalf of the Commission, appoint and
remove staff, fix their compensation, and establish policies and procedures necessary
to ensure the professional and orderly conduct of the Commission’s work: Provided,
the Chair shall not perform any of the duties set forth in this section in a manner
contrary to an action performed by the Steering Committee. In cases where there
shall be a conflict between an action of the Chair and one of the Steering Committee,
the action of the Steering Committee shall prevail.
8.2. The Chair may request and accept any and all services, facilities, materials, data or
funds on behalf of the Commission in accordance with Section 36 of the Municipal
Home Rule Law.
8.3. The Secretary shall have the power to take steps necessary, consistent with any
actions taken by the Commission, to ensure that the Commission, committees, and
other bodies formed by the Commission meet as appropriate, including scheduling
and providing notice of meetings and hearings, and preparing and distributing
agendas and determining the business considered, order of business for meetings,
and hearings. The secretary shall be the Steering Committee’s liaison to each working
group, and other bodies formed by the Commission or the Steering Committee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.

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Resolution No. 2
Resolution Opting In to City of Ithaca
Videoconferencing Provisions
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Ithaca adopted Local Law No. 5 of 2022
authorizing public bodies to conduct meetings by videoconference pursuant to New York Public
Officers Law §103-a; and
WHEREAS, said local law permits, but does not require, public bodies to opt in to
videoconferencing subject to specified procedural safeguards; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Charter Revision Commission (“Commission”) wishes to promote
accessibility and permit remote participation in meetings in a manner consistent with that local law
and applicable state law;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commission hereby opts in to the City of
Ithaca’s videoconferencing provisions as set forth in Local Law No. 5 of 2022, as amended, and
authorizes the use of videoconferencing for Commission meetings in compliance with the Open
Meetings Law and City requirements.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that when videoconferencing is utilized, the Commission shall
comply with all applicable requirements of Local Law No. 5 of 2022 and Public Officers Law
§103-a, including but not limited to:
1. Maintaining a quorum in accordance with law;
2. Permitting remote participation only under circumstances authorized by law and City policy;
3. Ensuring that members participating remotely can be heard, seen, and identified during the
meeting;
4. Providing advance public notice when videoconferencing will be used;
5. Recording meetings conducted with videoconferencing and making such recordings available
to the public as required; and

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6. Noting in the meeting minutes which members participated remotely.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that participation by videoconference shall not alter quorum
requirements, voting procedures, or any other obligations imposed by law.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.

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Announcement of Steering Committee
& Working Group Appointments
Pursuant to the authority of the Chair, I am announcing the appointment of a standing steering
committee, and working groups of the City of Ithaca Charter Revision Commission.
These appointments were informed by the assignment preference survey, members’ stated
bandwidth and accessibility considerations, along with the goal of balancing expertise, continuity,
and representation across committees and working groups. All working groups are advisory to the
full Commission, while the Steering Committee guides the process.
The committee appointments are as follows:
Steering Committee
● Billy Noseworthy, Chair
● Kris Haines-Sharp, Vice Chair
● Clyde Lederman, Secretary
● Victor Kessler, Member
● Miranda Pagan, Member
Legislative Powers Working Group
● Kristina Thelen, Working Group Chair
● George McGonigal, Member
● Travis Brooks, Member
● Nels Bohn, Member
● Clyde Lederman, Liason
Elections Working Group
● Donna Fleming, Working Group Chair
● Tiffany Kumar, Member
● Deborah Fisher, Member
● Miranda Pagan, Member
● Clyde Lederman, Liason

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General Charter Revisions Working Group
● Aryeal Jackson, Working Group Chair
● Cynthia Brock, Member
● Kristina Thelen, Member
● Pierre Saint-Perez, Member
● Clyde Lederman, Liason
Each working group shall have one additional member, appointed by the Office of the City
Attorney.
These appointments take effect immediately. Working groups are encouraged to organize their initial
meetings, coordinate schedules mindful of accessibility needs, and report regularly to the full
Commission.
To support transparency and shared understanding, working groups are requested to circulate
meeting minutes or notes to the full Commission within one week of each meeting.
I want to thank all commissioners for their flexibility and willingness to serve. If any member has a
concern regarding their assignment, I ask that they contact me directly so we can address it
promptly.
This announcement will be entered into the record.