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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Agenda for the April 16, 2026 Meeting
of the Charter Revision Commission
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Ithaca City Hall, Third Floor
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York
Watch Online: https://www.youtube.com/@CityofIthacaPublicMeetings
1. Call to Order.
1.1. Emergency Evacuation Notice
2. Agenda Review.
3. Remarks by the Chair.
4. Hearing of the Public (no more than twenty minutes).
5. Process Presentation by the City Attorney’s Office.
6. Hearing of Testimony.
6.1. Testimony of the Democratic Commissioner of Elections Mr. Stephen DeWitt.
• Opening Statement (10 minutes)
• Topic Questions Submitted by Commissioners from the Chair (20 minutes)
• Questions by Commissioners (3 minutes each)
6.2. Testimony of the Acting City Manager Mr. Domnick Recckio.
• Opening Statement (10 minutes)
• Topic Questions Submitted by Commissioners from the Chair (20 minutes)
• Questions by Commissioners (3 minutes each)
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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
7. Consent Calendar.
7.1. (Resolution No. 4) A Resolution to Add a Supremacy Clause and Local Powers Clause
7.2. (Resolution No. 5) A Resolution to Revise the Incorporation Clause
7.3. (Resolution No. 6) A Resolution to Amend the Provisions Governing the Election of City
Court Judges To Reflect the Current Number of City Judges
7.4. (Resolution No. 7) A Resolution to Revise the Notice of Defect Provisions
7.5. (Resolution No. 8) A Resolution to Remove to the City Code the Sick Leave Provisions
7.6. (Resolution No. 9) A Resolution to Remove Duplicative Mentions of Common Council
Meetings
7.7. (Resolution No. 10) A Resolution to Retitle the Offices of Acting Mayor and Alternate
Acting Mayor as those of First Deputy Mayor and Second Deputy Mayor
8. Business Calendar.
8.1. (Resolution No. 11) A Resolution to Adjust Elections for the Office of Mayor and Member
of the Common Council to Even Years to Follow the Pattern of the Tompkins County
Legislature
8.2. (Resolution No. 12) A Resolution to Standardize and Establish a Process for Decennial
Redistricting
8.3. (Resolution No. 13) A Resolution to Comprehensively Revise Article IV on Taxation &
Assessment
8.4. (Resolution No. 14) A Resolution to Authorize Board Member Alternates to Serve in Event
of Conflict of Interest or Absence
8.5. (Resolution No. 15) A Resolution to Simplify References to Deputies
8.6. (Resolution No. 16) A Resolution to Place the Provisions Establishing the Fire and Police
Departments Together
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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
8.7. (Resolution No. 17) A Resolution to Authorize the Common Council to Establish Budget
Priorities and a Maximum Levy Increase
8.8. (Resolution No. 18) A Resolution to Establish a Provision for the Adoption of a Budget
for Instances in which the Common Council Fails to Adopt the City Manager's Proposed
Budget
8.9. (Resolution No. 19) A Resolution to Cede Authority for the Discipline and Removal of
Members of Boards, Committees, and Commissions to the Common Council
8.10. (Resolution No. 20) A Resolution to Create Appointment Deadlines for Mayor to Fill
Vacancies on Boards
9. Reports of the Working Groups.
9.1. The Elections Working Group.
9.2. The Legislative Working Group.
9.3. The Board & Commissions Working Group.
10. Planning.
10.1. Immediate Actions.
10.2. Meeting Schedule.
11. Adjournment.
Note on Public Comment: Not every citizen may find themselves able to attend the Public
Comment section of the meeting. To submit written comments to the Charter Revision
Commission, please use this link. Written comments submitted will be compiled and entered into
the record.
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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 4
A Resolution to Add a Supremacy Clause
and Local Powers Clause
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to establish a Charter supremacy clause to indicate the charter’s supremacy over
“all inconsistent local laws, ordinance and resolutions” and City powers clause to indicate “the
city shall have all powers granted upon it by the Constitution and the State of New York to cities
of the same class” (i.e.: creation of sections §C-Xi and C-Xii in Article I).
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 5
A Resolution to Revise
the Incorporation Clause
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to Article I §C-4 to strike existing language and replace it with a simplified,
modernized “incorporation clause” to identify the municipality as an entity itself rather than as
defined through its residents.
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 6
A Resolution to Amend the Provisions Governing the
Election of City Court Judges To Reflect the Current Number of City Judges
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to update Article II, § C5A to reflect that there are two City judges and amend
Article II § C10A to reflect current practice (the election of a judge for a 10-year term in a year
ending in 5 or 0) OR simply refer to guiding NYS Courts procedure.
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 7
A Resolution to Revise the
Notice of Defect Provisions
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to Article VII §C-107 that:
(1) Simplifies its language to the extent permissible;
(2) Explicitly states that a written notice of defect can be delivered in person, by certified mail,
or by any other means formally designated by the city clerk for the delivery of such notices;
and
(3) Conforms to General Municipal Law 50-E(4), 50-G, and any other relevant provisions of
state law.
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 8
A Resolution to Remove to the
City Code the Sick Leave Provisions
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
an amendment to move Article VII §C-109, which concerns sick leave of City employees, to the
relevant portion of the City Code. (This amendment should include relevant transitional language.)
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 9
A Resolution to Remove Duplicative Mentions
of Common Council Meetings
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to revise Article III §C-29 and §C-31 with a preference for removing §C-29, and
combining any necessary language of substance into §C-31.
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 10
A Resolution to Retitle the Offices of Acting Mayor and Alternate Acting Mayor
as those of First Deputy Mayor and Second Deputy Mayor
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment revise Article III §C-33 that:
(1) Establishes the role of First Deputy Mayor, in lieu of Acting Mayor;
(2) Establishes the role of Second Deputy Mayor, in lieu of Alternate Acting Mayor;
(3) Authorizes the First Deputy Mayor to step into the role of “Acting Mayor” if there is either
a temporary or permanent vacancy in the Mayor's office, while retaining requirements for
electoral certification of the new Mayor in the event that the Mayor's office has been
permanently vacated;
(4) Indicates the Second Deputy Mayor may step into the role of Mayor if the First Deputy
Mayor is not available, with the understanding that this person is “Acting Mayor”;
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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
(5) Makes clear that these roles are to be appointed by the Mayor from the existing members
of the Council, with no extra compensation; but shall receive the Mayoral compensation in
the event the Mayor permanently vacates the office and they are required to serve as Acting
Mayor; and
(6) In the event that both the First Deputy and the Second Deputy become unavailable, a line
of succession is thereafter determined by local law.
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 11
A Resolution to Adjust Elections for the Office of Mayor
And Member of the Common Council to Even Years to
Follow the Pattern of the Tompkins County Legislature
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to revise Article II § C-10 to establish that elections for Common Council members
must be held in even years following the pattern of the coming change in County Legislature
elections.
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 12
A Resolution to Standardize and Establish
a Process for Decennial Redistricting
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to revise Article I § C-3 and Article II § C-8 to require a standardized decennial
redistricting process following each census & establish that such redistricting must be done in
accordance with New York State Law.
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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 13
A Resolution to Comprehensively Revise
Article IV on Taxation & Assessment
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
a comprehensive amendment to simplify and contemporize language in Article IV on Taxation &
Assessment such that there may be the removal of archaic provisions, preempted language is
replaced with short summaries of relevant state provisions, short budget process and lien/fee
authority sections are retained, and local penalty structures or installment programs are retained in
city governance documents by moving them to the code where permissible. (This amendment
should include relevant transitional language.) (§§C-39-54)
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 14
A Resolution to Simplify
References to Deputies
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to revise Article II §C-5 such that it simply reads “Officers who serve as the
deputies or assistant department heads of their respective departments, and who are appointed by
their respective department heads,” with references to specific deputies are removed, providing
City Manager and Department Heads flexibility with internal organization & Revise Article II §C-
22B such that the phrase “as defined in §C-5C(5)” is removed for the sake of consistency, with the
understanding that Deputy positions will still continue to be governed by the civil service,
appropriations, and rostering processes.
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 15
A Resolution to Authorize Board Member Alternates to
Serve in Event of Conflict of Interest or Absence
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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to remove §C-5(f)(3) and revise §C-5(f)(4) to allow alternates to serve when
members are unable to act because of a conflict of interest or absence.
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 16
A Resolution to Place the Provisions Establishing
the Fire and Police Departments Together
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to revise the placement of the Police & Fire Departments by moving them to the
appropriate Article in the charter alongside other departments, providing the movement of said
departments does not conflict with any union contracts or regulations specific to these departments.
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 17
A Resolution to Authorize the Common Council to Establish
Budget Priorities and a Maximum Levy Increase
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment authorizing the Common Council to pass a resolution establishing budget priorities
and amounts of maximum levy change, and further authorizing the Mayor to submit such priorities
and amounts of maximum levy change to the City Manager should the Common Council fail to
establish such priorities. These priorities shall apply to the budget submitted to Common Council
by the City Manager but shall not be binding on the final budget or tax cap increase adopted by
Common Council (§ C-X).
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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 18
A Resolution to Establish a Provision for the Adoption of a Budget
for Instances in which the Common Council Fails to Adopt the
City Manager’s Proposed Budget
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to establish a provision that, in the event that the Common Council does not adopt
a budget by the state mandated timeline, that the final City Manager submitted budget be adopted
as the budget for the next fiscal year (§ C-X).
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 19
A Resolution to Cede Authority for the Discipline and Removal of
Members of Boards, Committees, and Commissions to the Common Council
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to revise § C-5 by delineating disciplinary measures for members of boards,
committees, and commissions, providing:
(1) A two-thirds majority vote from council;
(2) Council shall be empowered to establish rules and procedures for such proceedings;
(3) Such actions shall only be taken upon formal charges be served;
(4) Said officer is granted a reasonable opportunity to be heard in their defense in accordance
with the values of due process protections; and
(5) Such disciplinary powers shall supersede other provisions elsewhere in the Charter (§ C-
5)
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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Charter Revision Commission Resolution No. 20
A Resolution to Create Appointment Deadlines
for Mayor to Fill Vacancies on Boards
For Consideration at the April 16, 2026
Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission requests the Office of the City Attorney either draft language
for or provide a written explanation as to the technical or legal reasons hindering the adoption of
an amendment to revise §C-5(c)(1) whereby the Mayor shall appoint with the advice and consent
of the Council, the Members of citizen advisory boards and commissions including alternates by
March 31st. If the Mayor is unable to do so, the Council shall appoint the remainder of the needed
members to maintain quorum by July 31st.
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e City of Ithaca, New York
Charter Revision Commission
Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
MEMORANDUM
From: Billy Noseworthy, chair
To: Commissioners
Date: April 16, 2026
Subject: Revised Schedule of Commission Meetings
Dear Commissioners:
With gratitude for their service, we appreciate commissioners being willing to make space for
extra meetings in May and June.
Billy Noseworthy
Chair
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