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The war for control of the Niagara Falls Water Board is intensifying.
One recent volley was the replacement of Gretchen Leffler by Governor Kathy Hochul with Rick Sirriani.
The next battle is over removing Michael Asklar, an appointee of the Niagara Falls City Council.
The Express has spoken to people on both sides of the issue.
The “status quo side,” as in the current Water Board, seems to support Chairman Nick Forster and standing for fiscal responsibility in the face of untenable financial strain.
The “make change and move on" crew seems aligned with setting up favorable negotiations for the Steelworkers Union which has a new contract coming up. Replacing Asklar with a more union-friendly representative is their objective.
Falls residents pay among the highest water and sewer rates in New York. Some of that stress is unavoidable, caused by the high cost of maintaining decaying infrastructure. Another big stresser is chemical prices going through the roof. Then there is the cost of keeping lifetime healthcare promised to retirees.
Management recently tried to make unilateral changes to retiree healthcare, a move that was quickly met with derision by retirees and union officials.
Sources working for the Water Board tell the Express the changes suggested would have made no difference in the level of care and saved $145,000 monthly for ratepayers.
Chairman Nicholas Forster is an appointee of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino whose appointment expires Dec. 31.
Other members include Colleen Larkin, an appointee of State Sen. Rob Ortt, Renae Kimble, who serves at the pleasure of Assemblyman Angelo Morinello and Asklar, an appointee of Niagara Falls Council.
Kimble and Larkin are on expired terms. Asklar was appointed by the last city council.
Asklar is superintendent of general maintenance for the New York Power Authority and is in his 2nd term serving as an appointee of the council. Current council persons Traci Bax, Donta Myles and David Zajac all voted for his current term.
He was reportedly at the core of budget cutting that reduced a 25% proposed rate increase to 17.8% two years ago.
On July 8, City Council Chairperson James Perry, sent a letter to Asklar copied to his council as well as City Deputy Counsel Thomas DeBoy and all four members of the city council.
On July 18, Asklar responded via Kauffman, Borgeest and Ryan, LLP, (KBR) a Buffalo law firm. The Express attempted to reach Asklar for comment but he was unavailable. Water Board members are volunteers. Attorneys are not free.
That does not matter. The water board reportedly has insurance that covers legal fees. Hence, costs incurred from KBR are covered by insurance.
Last night, at its meeting, a vote to rescind funding to KBR failed in a deadlocked vote with Asklar abstaining.
In Erie County, the average water bill is $56 per quarter. In Niagara Falls, if you pay it a couple days late, (oops) your minimum is $147.38 every quarter.
No matter how it settles out, we deserve better.
