23° and Overcast
It’s happened four or five times in recent months.
The Niagara Falls City Council meets on a Wednesday night and some item on the agenda can’t be explained by Acting Corporation Counsel Tom DeBoy.
The result is a vote to postpone to get more information.
Wednesday it was a change order to pay an additional $77,815 to Cimato Brothers for catch basin replacements.
Council member Brian Archie wanted to know where the basin work was being performed. He motioned to postpone and got a second from Donta Myles as well as support from Traci Bax and David Zajac and, reluctantly, chairperson James Perry.
Having only DeBoy present to answer for the administration has been a consistent problem for the council because he doesn’t know everything. He also serves as parliamentarian, interpreting Roberts Rules of Order and, in recent meetings, offering administrative updates attempting to correct allegations made by members of the public speaking in the “For the Good of the People” portion of the meeting.
The pattern is likely to continue in January. Myles will leave the council but be replaced with Bridgette Myles who observers expect to vote with Perry for whatever Mayor Robert Restaino wants. Archie will likely be pragmatic on an issue-by-issue basis as will David Zajac. Vincent Cauley is likely a consistent no when there is a lack of information or representation.
Even before the new council is seated, the pattern is playing out.
In other action from Monday:
The council approved a new collective bargaining agreement for the city’s hourly workers.
Director of Planning Kevin Forma spoke to the council to express gratitude for the privilege of serving the last 3 ½ years and having a chance to rebuild the department and move numerous issues forward. He has accepted a position with the State working on downtown redevelopment initiatives. In a brief discussion with the Express before the meeting, Forma said his decision was opportunity based, a chance to begin at the base level of economic development with the state at similar compensation but advance over time. It had nothing to do with a need to escape the Restaino administration or the city's residency requirement.
