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Niagara Reporter yesterday published a story reporting on Kenny Tompkins effort to terminate Jeff Palumbo, the outside counsel the city council hired to review eminent domain proceedings over Centennial Park as reported in the Niagara Gazette last week.
Tompkins argued that Palumbo’s work was done and the council should request refund of the remainder of its retainer. Vincent Cauley, David Zajac and Dontae Myles would not allow Tompkins motion to come to the floor.
Tompkin’s motion cited Council Chair Zajac as unilaterally extending a negotiation window with Niagara Falls Redevelopment over a proposed two-project solution to the Data Center/Restaino Centennial Park conundrum.
Under the city charter, negotiations are the purview of the executive, not legislative branch. Hence even if the council were to find a path to a settlement, the Restaino administration could use an Article 78 proceeding to render council action invalid.
Here’s a link to what the Reporter published.
One other thing: There will be a candidates night Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bloneva Bond School, sponsored by the Gazette and WEBR. It was announced in an email to candidates and in an editorial buried in the Gazette a couple weeks ago but no format has been announced.
https://niagarafallsreporter.com/council-beats-back-tompkins-bid-to-cut…
