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This is opinion.
As the dust settles from the Niagara Falls Council’s Wednesday meeting, a few things are apparent.
How is it possible Mayor Robert Restaino thought there was anywhere more important to be than council chambers Wednesday night?
The HVAC work at the John Duke Senior Center requires better explanation, at least for how much work was done on the system during this Mayoral administration.
There is no doubt the Department of Public Works needs improved facilities but how can it be that a capital project that a month ago was said to cost about $5 million as "pie in the sky" on the capitol budget is suddenly valued at more than $8 million?
Then there is the matter of the stray dog crisis in the City.
If you see a dog off leash and call the police, dispatch will most often advise you to leave it alone or bring it into your home.
That’s because the city’s dog shelter provider Pit Chic, run by Kelli Swagel has a 17-dog capacity and is always full.
The city’s lone dog control officer, Donny Booth, can’t work 24/7. No other Niagara Falls Police officer is trained as a DCO.
Swagel’s contract is up for renewal. The City Council, after a year of hearing complaints about Pit Chic from a legion of critics, some of whom have now opened their own shelter fully licensed and up-to-code shelter in Niagara Falls, voted against renewing Swagel’s contract.
The SPCA formerly provided services to the city and within weeks of accepting the contract was at 65 dogs. According to the terms of Swagel’s contract, the mayor can extend it at his discretion. The council did not need to vote on it.
The troubling reality, however, is that at any time, while 17 dogs are being cared at least another 40 roam the streets and, knowing the problem exists and refusing to address it likely leaves the government, and its taxpayers, liable should one of those stray dogs attack. And that goes without addressing stray cats.
Extending Swagel’s contract is one part of the solution. So is getting help for Booth and finding additional space for stray dogs.
All of that goes without even discussing plans for a new shelter being built in Hyde Park. It will be interesting to see if anyone brings litigation over that project being a misuse of the park according to the terms unde which it was deeded to the city by Charles Hyde.
