Water board reorganizes

The other shoes are dropping at the Niagara Falls Water Board.

First, it was putting Rick Sirianni and James Dean in place. One by Kathy Hochul the other by the Niagara Falls Council.

Then Monday, with Board Chairman Nick Forster absent for bereavement, Renae Kimble attended in person for the first time since before covid and joined Dean and Sirianni in replacing Forster.

Sirianni is the new chairperson. Dean is vice chairperson.

Board member Colleen Larkin, knowing the ambush of Forster was coming, skipped the meeting.

"I chose not to attend because I felt a last minute, walk on reorganization vote, knowing the chair would miss this meeting due to a death in the family, was wildly insensitive and inappropriate timing and I did not want to be party to that” Larkin said.

Today’s Gazette further reports the board, in executive session, voted to remove Director of Administrative Services Dave San Lorenzo. According to See Through New York, San Lorenzo’s 2023 salary was $93,584.

San Lorenzo had been at odds with the Union, which is currently in the midst of contract negotiations, over negotiations as well as hiring practices.

Niagara Falls has among the highest water and sewer rates in the state.