WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. May 25, 2006: On Decision Night Thursday evening, the Common Council approved a $147.6 Million budget, (it could not be determined if that included the salary increases of administration personnel),  the $147.6 figure means a 6.1% spending increase, and a 7.8 % tax increase. Salaries of the Mayor's Commissioners were increased 4% across the board, according to Paul Wood, the Mayor's Executive Officer.

It was agreed water rates to residents and commercial users would be raised 20% to make up the water fund deficit. The council also was reported by Mr. Wood, as being accepting of the one-floor structural change on the podium of the Cappelli hotel, and supportive of the rooftop restaurant and additon of 54,000 square feet of floor space.

The council, according to Mr. Wood, passed the budget 7-0. He also said the council had no problem with the minor amendment to the 221 Main site plan that would allow an extra floor on the podium, that Building Commissioner Mike Gismondi did not "overstep" his authorityppelli to build a restaurant on the roof of the Main Street condominium tower surrounding  the building mechanicals. Wood also told WPCNR the council listened to Mr. Gismondi's explanation for the extra floor on the podium, and also had no problem with it.

Wood, speaking to WPCNR after the Work Sesson that WPCNR did not attend, added that in December of 2005, Mr. Cappelli had spoken about a reinforcement change that would add an extra floor to the hotel podium and give him construction flexibility. Wood then said Mr. Cappelli informed the Common Council May 15, he  had built the structure to add the extra floor, and three days later, May 18,  he asked to add 54,000 square feet to the structure to provide amenities for Ritz-Carlton within the podium, in the Main Street tower, and also on the pool deck of the podium, and on the mechancals level of the Main Street tower. Wood said there was a letter from an engineer noting the need for seismic reinforcement as part of new New York State code, that was received about three days prior to May 15 of this month, supporting the developer's requested change, which WPCNR (at the time), had already been executed.

In Mr. Gismondi's written analysis, of the "Minor Amendment" approving structural modifications, dated May 22, 2006, the Building Commissioner writes: "it can be concluded that there is no significant alteration of the essential charactersitics of the design, layout or arrangement of "buildings," parking, circulation, landscaping, or relationships of the project to the "street," adjacent properties and the area."

Rita Malmud, addressing an angry Democratic City Committee throng disturbed at what they described was a "bad precident,"  Wednesday evening said that she had been told by the Mayor in a meeting Tuesday of this week that the structural reinforcement had been asked for and approved in December for Ritz-Carlton, but that Monday, May 15, was the first time she had heard of it. However, Mr. Wood said Ms. Malmud was favorably disposed to the structural change (the one floor addition to the podium-- which actually makes two floors)  after Mr. Gismondi spoke Thursday night.