The outgoing Republican council’s last day in office was December 30, 2025. Before they left, the administration got them to authorize a $6 million bond for a Frear Park pavilion, with no site plan, no community engagement, no construction documents, and a disputed environmental review that a resident would later testify may have violated state law.
Jessica Bennett told the new council she called the city clerk at 3 PM that day and was told no project plans were on file. State law requires SEQR documents to be available 24 hours before a vote. When the new Democratic council tried to rescind the bond, they spent weeks being stonewalled from accessing bond counsel. Council President Steele eventually pulled the rescission, noting that misrepresentations had been made during the rush to get it done.
Sources: Dec. 30, 2025 and Jan. 8, 22, 2026 meeting transcripts (City Clerk’s office); clerk’s minutes IDs 1760, 1761