A new city council

The Niagara Falls Council met last night for the first time since reformation on January 1.

Chairperson Brian Archie spoke clearly from the dais, as if the chairperson’s microphone had been upgraded from the one Jim Perry used. I wish they had fixed the microphone a year ago. It was unfair to Perry whose mic at times made him inaudible.

There wasn’t much legislative action of note at the meeting.

The usual speakers were at the podium. Janine Gallo asked why the city has no apparent arbor plan and instead regularly settles lawsuits when ill-maintained trees wreck personal property. The Express would like to see Niagara Falls have a plan for its trees with consistent inventory, maintenance and planting of new native trees. The Callery pears and tree lilacs are horrible choices for a biophillic city. 

Tanya Barone asked questions about the operation of Hyde Park Rink. Last year, Mayor Robert Restaino declared the beloved operator, Mike Carella, who had been running the place for years without a contract, in arrears on payments to the city and put the operations contract out to bid. There were allegations he owed more than $1 million but no evidence has ever been put forth nor are there any collection efforts in the public eye.

A big corporate operation with a poor reputation was recommended for a new rink contract. The council voted it down. The mayor brought in a different, local operator, Jerry Puleo. Everything has been sunshine and lollipops ever since. He has cleaned the place, replaced glass, upgraded signs, painted and conducted numerous upgrades. Barone asked the council if anyone knows what the arrangement is and who has paid for the imporvements. So far there are no answers. Why would a “temporary” operator invest thousands of dollars without a guarantee he will be in charge moving forward? It is a fair, and unanswered question. Also, could the city face legal action from the scorned low-bidder even if it has a poor reputation easily verified by public issues elsewhere.

Councilperson Vincent Cauley rambled on several agenda items but also promised to work toward some meaningful changes, for example to have the city’s codified ordinances easily accessible on the city Website.

In the “For the Good of the People” segment, taxpayer Donta Myles (former councilperson kicked to the curb by the Democratic committee at the request of the mayor)  addressed the Restaino's tone directly. Myles pointed out the mayor, in recent months, has spoken about wanting a “cooperative” city council. Myles called bunk on the notion, noting that in the last 6 years, 95% of everything proposed to the council by the executive branch has passed with little difficulty. If that is not the definition of “cooperative,” Myles would like to know what it is.

Finally, Archie proposed the posited the council will return to having work sessions where members can ask questions and address issues on the agenda, perhaps even with the presence of department heads or the executive branch.

In a metric prized by the Express, then 6 p.m. meeting was over in time for Jeopardy at 7:30 p.m.