The World According to Bob

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is this weekend on Old Falls Street. German Bands, food, music and of course beer.

The text message is coming but it is this Saturday afternoon.

It’s going to be a great weather weekend

Clearing the aid on Hyde Park Pavilion

“We are happy we are able to make good on what we always intended and that is to keep the ice pavilion open for the purposes of those who use it, youth and adult leagues, tournaments etcetera.

“Despite a lot of misinformation, the real key to the ice pavilion was removing the current operator. What’s refreshing is this interim operator has already been open about exchanging calendars such that the city may be able to post it on its Website. There is a greater sense of transparency with this operator.

“The other thing that is funny is that again, this operator, the interim operator, has shared threats by the outgoing operator sort of similar to threats that I heard a few years back about removing the glass around the ice and taking equipment. That is the confusing part.

“The outgoing operator’s claim to fame was ‘it’s for the children, it’s for the children, it’s for the children’.” And yet not even at any point along the way during the several days, couple of days at least that I am aware of that the interim operator has had several conversations with the outgoing operator who now, the outgoing operator claims he’s never spoken to the interim incoming operator, it is kind of funny. It is just consistent with all of the other misinformation that his operator has provided. I just think the most important thing for city hall is that we are going to have an operator who understands that it is a city venue and that they are operating it, and certainly can operate it within the four corners of their best business model but understanding that city hall’s responsibility is to make sure that these venues are at least honoring these agreements with regard to payments that they need to make to the city.

“You know, it is strange that a council majority couldn’t see that. That they also have a responsibility to that. In fact, there obligation is written out in the charter with regard to their finances.

“But you know, some of them decide to make decisions based on who they like. Imagine for a moment, if that’s the way all things went, that is didn’t matter if you were the best or even the most efficient, it is just these council members like you so you get that work. That doesn’t really match up with some of the vocal council members who talk about transparency and nepotism and all of these other things. I think they throw out words that they have just learned because what’s funny is they end up acting out the same way that they like to criticize so it is really, it is one of the things that keeps us humored here when you see some of these incumbent council members behaving a way, saying one thing and then behaving just like it, just like what they are accusing but we are anxious to turn a page at the ice pavilions and see some improvement in the conditions, see some improvement in the interaction between the operator and city hall.

“You know the other thing I want to bring to people’s attention: If you or someone you know is somehow connected to a league, a team, some entity that may have made payments to the outgoing operator for ice time, going forward from October to the end of the year, you should probably tell that person that they have to contact the outgoing operator and get that money back. The outgoing operator has no right to keep those funds and we will be interested in getting as much information as we can to turn over to individuals that need to know about whether or not this operator is retaining funds to which it is not entitled.

I think all of us know that that is not appropriate. So if you know someone, please make sure they know they need to contact the outgoing operator and get their money back.

Sal Maglie update

We are completing the next phase of improvements at Sal Maglie Stadium. The new scoreboard is up. The new sound system is being fully installed and then coordinated with the scoreboard in order for everything to be in sync so we expect by the end of this month all of that work will be done and then, at least for this season, the improvements that we had inline for this season for the stadium will be competed. I think everybody will enjoy the experience, whether you are out there to watch some fall baseball, certainly when everything is programmed and people are trained in the new equipment for the next season so we are excited about that.

We are wrapping up the paving season. Right now, those who operate on Pine Avenue from Hyde Park Boulevard all the way east toward Walnut you will see crews are out there providing a top coat over that portion which gets pretty will traveled as well as pretty beaten up so we can make that pathway smoother going into the winter and beyond.

Watch for children

Just a reminder to everyone, again, school is in session, school buses and students are out, coming on and off buses at street corners. Please be mindful of school buses, those flashing red lights and the stop signs are there for a reason. Despite the fact that we have had the bus system in place for a few years we still have people who choose to pass a school bus when it is stopped.

Do yourself a favor and avoid the traffic ticket, the trip to court and the possibility you could be involved in an accident that will just be something you might not want to live with for the rest of your life.

Be mindful of that and just consider it is picking up pretty important cargo. Some of those families have students coming home. Be mindful of that.

Leaf collection and snow are coming

We are starting to formulate two schedules, one will be the leaf collection schedule the other will be the snowplowing schedule. As we get that information finalized we will be sharing that, particularly the leaf collection schedule with all of you. If you are not a part of the text alert system and you haven’t after all the times we’ve talked about it, I urge you to get on there. You will find a whole lot of information that is of value to you. You take the number (716)-325-5723 text the word “resident” to that number. It will take you through a series of prompts. It is not a two-way exchange we simply submit information out there to those who are registered there is no data collection there is no monitoring, it is simply an information source to you the resident.

It talks to you about school issues, waterboard issues, entertainment, anything that comes our way at city hall from whatever direction, library, whatever, we get it out to you so take advantage of that.

Fall is on us but the weather has been unseasonable in that regard so well it’s OK, we get to get outside and enjoy a little bit of the great outdoors that we have here in the City of Niagara Falls. So this weekend, don’t forget its Oktoberfest. I expect a great crowd out there so please, come on out and enjoy. Otherwise, as you get out and about this weekend be mindful of bicycles and scooters and some of our disabled residents be careful on the street. It is important that we take some personal responsibility for how we operate. Be careful out there, enjoy this great weather and I look forward to talking to you again next week.