PORT JERVIS, NY — In their first meeting of the year, Port Jervis Common Council members expressed their condolences for the passing of a longstanding member, Kevin Cunningham, whom council member Stan Siegel described as a “gentle giant,” who once was a teacher to some of the members currently on the council.

Regis Foster said, “He was full of knowledge and information, and a great friend. He will be truly missed.”

Kiel Van Horn added, “Cunningham was my teacher, and I still remember him.” Siegel recalled sitting on the council with some other people way back. “One day I knocked on Kevin’s door, and asked him if he wanted to run.” He added that being smart, Cunningham asked permission of his wife, then sat on the board for years.

In other news, Mayor Kelly Decker made the announcement that the new year will see changes in the council meeting format: executive sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m., half an hour before the public meeting, instead of after it.

Council member David Bavoso proposed adopting three new local laws, with a public hearing for each. With nobody speaking in the near empty chambers, all were passed unanimously.

The first law would prohibit the establishment of churches or places of worship within the service commercial (sc) zoning district and the central business district (cbd) within the city of Port Jervis.

The second law concerns the collection of leaves, which will be “restricted to only bagged leaves contained in biodegradable and/or compostable bags of appropriate strength, loose-leaf pickup, and leaves kept in appropriate garbage receptacles.” The council pointed out that its purpose is to help protect the City of Port Jervis workers and others from injury or disease as a result of leaves collected and stored in an unsafe manner.

The third law will enforce the new Watershed Park’s rules regarding the use of the park and the trails within it.

In other business, Decker talked about the progress with the proposed whitewater kayak park on the river, a longstanding, ongoing project. He said, “We’re still in process of trying to get a federal okay to move ahead.”