CORTLAND — After a lengthy discussion, city council on Monday voted 4-3 to table a motion to create the position of economic and community development manager.

The issue will be brought before council again May 5.

Voting to table were councilmembers Kathy Fleischer, Richard McClain, Don Moore and John Picuri.

Voting to not table were councilmembers Jim Bradley, Scott Rowley and Kevin Piros.

Picuri said he wanted the public to be able to attend the May 5 meeting, at which attendees could speak either for or against the creation of the position or ask any questions.

He said for residents, it may be the first time they have heard the position was being considered.

Picuri said he does not see having to wait two weeks to delay seeking grants since the city has a consultant in place through the end of June.

“To me, tabling this for two weeks is not unreasonable to allow for our residents to provide feedback. Anyone who feels strongly about this can come here and talk to us at the next meeting,” Picuri said.

Mayor Deidre Petrosky said she would be willing to take any calls from residents with questions or opinions if they did not attend a council meeting.

Piros said the position will include the individual seeking grants and loans for the city for projects or equipment.

“You have to really chase this money because there is often only a short window to apply, including by next month. I don’t want to go to our residents and tell them we missed out on A, B and C, which are potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars, because we did not want to create a position. We need this position to help us get our hands on any possible money, grants, zero-interest loans. I don’t want to see us lose out on this,” Piros said.

He said the position will benefit the residents if grants and funding is obtained to cover costs for projects and less from the taxpayers.

“This position can go after the funds, so we don’t have to ask the taxpayers for money,” Piros said.

Officials said the mayor and department heads do not have the time that is needed when applying for grants and other available funds so the new position’s priority will include seeking grants.

Moore said the new position would replace the city’s use of consultants to seek grants as it has done in the past.

Finance Director Patty Gibson said it costs the city $49,000 in 2025 for consulting services for grants.

Interim Service Director Sean Ratican said if the position had been created earlier in the year, the city could have obtained funds for offsetting costs to residents for projects such as sewer projects.

Piros said once the motion is passed, the city will advertise for someone to fill the position.

Ratican said a candidate can be brought before officials for consideration for the position who can begin seeking the funds.

Ratican said some grant applications close in May.

Fleischer recommended that the two previous associate service director positions be repealed and off the books since the new position of compliance coordinator was created and approved, replacing them.

DIGITIZING MAPS

In other business, council gave first reading to get city maps and drawings digitized by SE Blueprint.

Petrosky said there are a lot of documents and maps in the municipal building that need to be digitized and archived.

She said this will make it easier for staff to locate items when they are needed.