42° and Fog
The good news is the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at the John Duke Senior Center are going to get a total makeover, the DPW is going to get a new building and federal dollars will pay for both through the American Rescue Plan.
Both resolutions passed in a special session called by Niagara Falls Council Chairperson James Perry Wednesday night.
The bad news is both resolutions passed with questions unanswered and no representative other than acting Corporation Counsel Tom DeBoy present.
Councilperson Donta Myles questioned how the cost of the DPW building increased from $4.5 million as listed in the capital budget “wish list” to $8.03 million as funded.
He asked DeBoy if the project in the capital budget and the one being voted on were the same.
It led to a terse exchange with DeBoy lecturing Myles on the appropriate way to ask questions. Perry also didn’t remember the previous DPW project and instead thought Myles was grandstanding over the Hyde Park dog shelter which will also cost $4.5 million.
“If it’s on the capital budget for $4.5 million, why are we spending $8 million tonight?,” Myles asked.
Myles went on to talk about Beech Avenue Park and the neglected 4th Legislative district.
“My opposition is we are ignoring. We are continuously neglecting a group of people” Myles said. “. . . We have become negligent in our duty.”
On Friday, Mayor Robert Restaino posted his weekly missive to Youtube lecturing about the “sunshine councilman” (Myles) and talking about how the Duke Center work was necessary even if it had been discredited by a disgruntled former employee.
His dictate is never to mention a critic by name. He did it a few weeks ago with Arlene Doss.
Councilperson Brian Archie explained he was not against the Duke project but he voted to table because “it was about being responsive to the people in the gallery.”
Councilperson David Zajac said he voted to table it to “get the correct information.”
“We have to take care of the elderly and the kids,” Myles said. “That is the soft spot.”
Perry became terse in the exchange with Myles over Beech Avenue park for which he reiterated support.
“I am sick and tired of hearing the same old crap, day-after-day, meeting after meeting,” Myles said.
