OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Albany Common Council Meeting and Committee Actions on June 15, 2026

Common Council — Monday, June 15, 2026
BodyAlbany, New York
SessionCommon Council
DateMonday, June 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:05:04
Transcript — Verbatim
0:28

Good evening, everyone.

0:30

Welcome to the Albany Common Council Cooperation.

0:34

Ah, Council Operations and Ethics Committee.

0:38

Tonight we are joined by committee members Tom Hoey, Ousuanane, and Megan Keegan.

0:44

We're also joined by our staff, our council and director of policy, Robert Winner, and our policy analyst, Carly Johnson.

0:54

We also have our common council president, Kelly Kimbrough with us.

0:59

And while he is not here for this, we are also joined by um Garrett Chaff of the CPRB, who will be here later, but he is here also right now.

1:09

Um this evening we're discussing local law J of twenty twenty-six by Councilmember Howie, which is a local law amending section thirty-four-two public notice of meetings and boards, commissions, and committees of the code of the city of Albany in relation to adjusting the requirements to notice public meetings to remain in compliance with New York State open meetings law and allow for short-term notice emergency meetings.

1:33

Councilmember Hoey, did you want to say anything on your legislation?

1:36

Yeah, I ended up yeah, I've said it a few times, but um when we came up with this law, and I believe it was originally two thousand nineteen, if I remember correctly.

1:45

Um we didn't put in for emergency uh meetings, and all of a sudden, uh this year we did have a definite need for an emergency meeting.

1:55

And um, you know, again, I I bring up that the council's always willing to make things work, and uh that's why we're here tonight to see if we can get this um passed to allow for emergency meetings to take place under certain guidelines.

2:10

Excellent.

2:11

Do any council members have any questions on this?

2:15

It's a pretty straightforward piece of legislation.

2:19

Um councilmember Keegan.

2:22

No, I was just raising my hand to make a motion.

2:25

Excellent.

2:26

Go ahead.

2:27

Um, I would like to move that local law J be moved out of committee with a positive recommendation.

2:33

Second.

2:34

Uh moved by Councilmember Keegan, seconded by Councilmember Anane.

2:39

I will take away Councilmember Hoey's normal role as he is the sponsor.

2:45

Um all in favor.

2:46

Aye.

2:47

Aye.

2:48

That is unanimous.

2:49

Thank you so much.

2:50

Uh move uh motion.

2:52

Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Hoey and a second.

2:57

By Councilmember Anane.

2:59

Excellent.

2:59

Thank you so much.

3:00

All in favor.

3:02

All in favor.

3:03

Aye.

3:04

It's unanimous.

32:45

Good evening, everyone.

32:47

Welcome to Caucus.

32:50

Um, if our policy analysts could call the roll.

32:56

Adams.

32:58

Anani.

33:00

Fallorin.

33:01

Brody is absent.

33:03

Farrell.

33:04

Here.

33:05

Flynn is currently absent.

33:07

Hoey.

33:08

Present.

33:09

Johnson.

33:10

Jones.

33:12

Keegan.

33:15

Lumpkin.

33:17

Powell.

33:19

Here.

33:20

Robinson.

33:22

Williamson is absent.

33:23

Zamer.

33:25

Here.

33:26

That is eight present.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████████38%
Public Engagement█████████████████████21%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Affordable Housing█████████████13%
Budget Equity Analysis████4%
Fiscal Sustainability███3%
Community Engagement███3%
Racial Equity██2%
Personnel Matters█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Albany Common Council Meeting - June 15, 2026

The Albany Common Council met on Monday, June 15, 2026, for a full agenda including committee meetings, caucus, and a regular meeting. Key actions included advancing legislation to allow emergency public meetings, passing a resolution demanding good-faith negotiations with a tenant union, and appointing a new member to the Community Police Review Board (CPRB). The council also introduced several new local laws and resolutions, and heard extensive public testimony regarding tenant conditions.

Consent Calendar

  • Resolution 6762-26R (appointing James Cheney to the CPRB) was introduced and passed via majority consent after being taken out of order.
  • Resolution 6862-26R (demanding negotiations with Capital District Apartments LLC regarding Thurlow Terrace) was also introduced and passed via majority consent.
  • Several resolutions recognizing Juneteenth, Black Restaurant Week, and street renaming were introduced and referred to committees.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Kenyon Ryan, Executive Director of United Tenants of Albany, spoke in strong support of the council's resolution on Thurlow Terrace and shared personal experiences with substandard housing. He explained why tenants often hesitate to call code enforcement due to fear of retaliation or displacement.
  • Judy Dodie (Ward 9) criticized the administration for bypassing council authority regarding debt reserve fund transfers, urging the council to declare the December transfer unlawful.
  • Sean Scully (Thurlow Terrace tenant) thanked the council for supporting the tenant union and described safety issues including theft and assault.
  • Herman Johnson (Thurlow Terrace tenant) thanked United Tenants and the council, stating "democracy works just slowly but it does grind."
  • Chris Sue read a letter from tenant Judy Bratt detailing theft, drug activity, and security failures at Thurlow Terrace.
  • Regina Bellser (Thurlow Terrace tenant, 15 years) described intimidation, theft, and lack of help from agencies, calling the situation elder abuse.

Discussion Items

  • Local Law J (2026-J): Sponsored by Councilmember Hoey, this law amends Section 34-2 of the city code to allow for short-notice emergency meetings, bringing the city into compliance with state open meetings law. The law passed through the Council Operations and Ethics Committee unanimously and was later adopted by the full council.
  • Local Law H (2026-H): Sponsored by Councilmember Johnson, this law adds protections against housing discrimination and increases enforcement of fair housing violations. It was introduced and passed by a roll call vote of 12-0.
  • Resolution 6862-26R (Thurlow Terrace): The council passed a unanimous resolution demanding that Capital District Apartments LLC negotiate in good faith with the Thurlow Terrace Tenant Union. Multiple councilmembers spoke in support, citing unsafe conditions and the courage of tenants.
  • Appointment of James Cheney to CPRB: After a background check, Cheney was appointed to the Community Police Review Board. He introduced himself as a former Albany High School teacher and award winner. The appointment passed 12-0.
  • Reports from Standing Committees: Finance committee met on June 10 to discuss Local Law I and budget. Council Operations and Ethics met to discuss Local Law J.

Key Outcomes

  • Local Law J (2026-J): Passed unanimously (12-0) after being recommended by committee. It allows short-notice emergency meetings.
  • Local Law H (2026-H): Passed unanimously (12-0) strengthening housing discrimination protections.
  • Resolution 6862-26R: Passed unanimously, demanding good-faith negotiations with Thurlow Terrace tenant union.
  • Appointment of James Cheney: Approved 12-0 for a seat on the CPRB.
  • Resolutions for Juneteenth and Black Restaurant Week: Passed via voice vote.
  • Introduction of new local laws: L (financial reporting), M (human rights commission term dates), N (disabled veterans tax exemption) were introduced and referred to committees.
  • Council President Kimbrough reported that Albany Police have no interactions with ICE regarding civil enforcement; police learn of ICE activity through social media.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Albany Common Council Cooperation. Ah, Council Operations and Ethics Committee. Tonight we are joined by committee members Tom Hoey, Ousuanane, and Megan Keegan. We're also joined by our staff, our council and director of policy, Robert Winner, and our policy analyst, Carly Johnson. We also have our common council president, Kelly Kimbrough with us. And while he is not here for this, we are also joined by um Garrett Chaff of the CPRB, who will be here later, but he is here also right now. Um this evening we're discussing local law J of twenty twenty-six by Councilmember Howie, which is a local law amending section thirty-four-two public notice of meetings and boards, commissions, and committees of the code of the city of Albany in relation to adjusting the requirements to notice public meetings to remain in compliance with New York State open meetings law and allow for short-term notice emergency meetings. Councilmember Hoey, did you want to say anything on your legislation? Yeah, I ended up yeah, I've said it a few times, but um when we came up with this law, and I believe it was originally two thousand nineteen, if I remember correctly. Um we didn't put in for emergency uh meetings, and all of a sudden, uh this year we did have a definite need for an emergency meeting. And um, you know, again, I I bring up that the council's always willing to make things work, and uh that's why we're here tonight to see if we can get this um passed to allow for emergency meetings to take place under certain guidelines. Excellent. Do any council members have any questions on this? It's a pretty straightforward piece of legislation. Um councilmember Keegan. No, I was just raising my hand to make a motion. Excellent. Go ahead. Um, I would like to move that local law J be moved out of committee with a positive recommendation. Second. Uh moved by Councilmember Keegan, seconded by Councilmember Anane. I will take away Councilmember Hoey's normal role as he is the sponsor. Um all in favor. Aye. Aye. That is unanimous. Thank you so much. Uh move uh motion. Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Hoey and a second. By Councilmember Anane. Excellent. Thank you so much. All in favor. All in favor. Aye. It's unanimous. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to Caucus. Um, if our policy analysts could call the roll. Adams. Anani. Fallorin. Brody is absent. Farrell. Here. Flynn is currently absent. Hoey. Present. Johnson.

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