Myles and Bax finish terms

Donta Myles and Traci Bax bid adieu Wednesday at the Niagara Falls City council meeting.

While Bax may drift off and focus on career and family, Myles ended the meeting by speaking for the good of the community and promising he’s not going anywhere.

He offered a word of caution for incoming council members Vincent Cauley and Bridgette Myles.

“If you think it is going to be an easy ride then you are sadly mistaken,” Myles said, “when you get sworn in on January 1 don’t think it is going to be a party.”

A motion by Myles to restore the public speaking time limit to 5 minutes from the current 3 failed by a 2-2 vote. Myles and Brian Archie supported it.

Bax said she was a no because there are 12 elements to speaking rules as listed on the agenda and extending the time is just one.

Chairperson James Perry said he was a no because the change should be voted upon by the new council.

Perhaps the best point made on the topic was by Myles.

“The funny thing is how deeply it hurts us,” he said, “because we are just here to listen.”

In other action the council:

Approved a new contract for the firefighters union.

Approved a previously presented change order facilitating catch basin replacement as part of 23rd Street paving and railroad track removal on Acheson drive at a cost of $77,815.

Appointed James Dean as the council representative on the Niagara Falls Waterboard.

Approved Homestead and non Homestead tax rates for 2026.