Little Falls Common Council Unanimously Approves Local Laws, Contracts, and EMS Initiatives at April Meeting

LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. — The City of Little Falls Common Council held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall. There was a Traffic Committee Meeting prior to that, followed by three public hearings before the Council meeting.

All agenda items passed unanimously, including new local laws and key resolutions supporting city operations, public safety, and economic development.

Among the measures approved were:

• Local Law #2 of 2026, amending Chapter 84 of the City Code regarding Property Maintenance Standards & Enforcement.
• Local Law #4 of 2026, establishing a bed tax.
• Local Law #5 of 2026, related to Article 19 of the New York State Urban Renewal Law.
• Resolutions covering clerical and civil clerk contracts, the CPA audit agreement, EMS transport vehicle acquisition, a 5-Axis lease for EMS, the reappointment of Darrin Lynch to the Board of Assessment, the City Switch Tower Agreement, and the Forestry Management Agreement.

The council also approved the March 2026 minutes, bills, and monthly reports from the City Clerk, City Treasurer, and Court Clerk.

In her comments, Mayor Deborah Kaufman provided an update on the city’s financial position, reporting $1,559,885 in combined General Fund, Water/Sewer, and Golf funds as of the meeting date (GF: $956,588; W/S: $510,844).

She noted that the monthly $30,000 pension payments for two years of unpaid obligations remain on schedule.

Cash flow is being monitored closely until tax collections begin in May, at which point payables are expected to be brought current—this being the first year without a Revenue Anticipation Note (RAN) or Tax Anticipation Note (TAN).

Mayor Kaufman highlighted positive revenue developments, including the start of MultiMed billing on April 1 and the launch of new EMS transfer services on May 1, which are projected to generate significant new income for the city budget.

February non-water/sewer revenue totaled $575,163 (including a large back-tax payment), while water/sewer collections reached $216,676.

Two detailed reports—cash flow projections through December and EMS Transfer Unit ramp-up projections—were included in council packets.

The mayor also commended the Little Falls Police Department for a major drug raid conducted the previous Thursday morning. The operation, which involved six months of planning, resulted in 21 arrests at two locations.

It was led by LFPD with support from numerous agencies, including the Little Falls Fire Department, DPW, Dog Control, City Court security, Central School District, Herkimer County District Attorney’s Office, Village of Herkimer PD, Herkimer Special Response Team, Fulton County Sheriff’s K-9 unit, and Herkimer County 911 staff.

The city expressed gratitude to all participating officers and neighboring agencies.

On community projects, Mayor Kaufman updated the council on the municipal swimming pool. NEXT is conducting a $130,000 capital campaign for upgrades and has already raised $69,343. Once complete, the funds will be donated to the city for critical repairs, filtration system upgrades, and potential operational support.

City and NEXT staff are working to address Department of Health inspections and secure certified lifeguards in hopes of opening the pool this summer. Annual operating costs are approximately $118,000, with infrastructure upgrades estimated at $500,000.

Additional updates included plans for a local celebration marking the 50th anniversary of Moss Island’s designation as a National Natural Landmark, expected in early summer.

On development, Ivy Gardens continues to move forward with a potential summer opening. Progress was also reported on the Burrell Building project, with a recent conference call involving DOS and DRI leadership on reallocating funds; a budget is being prepared for state submission.

The Snyder and Berkshire properties remain actively marketed.

The full Common Council meeting, including public comments, presentations, and discussions, is available to watch on YouTube or below.

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for May 5, 2026. For more information, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 315-574-5246.