Council moving to silence speakers

In an effort to quell the chaos that has become Niagara Falls City Council meetings, a resolution at tonight’s meeting proposes a change to public speaking rules.

Only 3 speakers will be allowed on any given topic and speakers will have to choose a specific agenda item to speak on. Also, speakers will have to choose between speaking on an agenda item at the start of the meeting and speaking for the good of the community at the end.

There is a clause in the proposed rules that allows additional speakers on a given topic “at the discretion of the chairperson.”

Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes and are not allowed to question the council or say mean things about Mayor Robert Restaino. The resolution is sponsored by Council Chairperson Jim Perry as well as Councilpersons Traci Bax and Brian Archie.

Notably absent from the sponsors is David Zajac who twice within the last year actually voted no on an agenda item desired by the Mayor. Zajac is running for reelection.

Perry, Bax and Archie have all voted consistently with every action suggested by the executive branch.

Also on the agenda is the expenditure of $3.054 million for the rehab of city parks. Among the items included are metal roofs for picnic shelters at Hyde Park and the rehab of Duck Island.

The project includes a wishlist of park work all over the city including a new scoreboard for Sal Maglie stadium. Maglie pitched 1292 innings for the Giants and 49 for the Yankees.