27° and Overcast
Image
A subtle change happened in last night’s Niagara Falls City Council meeting that portends attention.
Newly elected councilperson Bridgette Myles, an endorsed Democrat perceived as loyal to Mayor Robert Restaino, voted with councilperson Vincent Cauley to postpone voting on a $134,500 change order for electrical work being done at the John Duke Senior Center. She then voted no on the resolution which carried with yes votes from councilpersons James Perry and David Zajac as well as chairperson Brian Archie.
Myles, in casting her vote, said she voted no because she did not receive requested information.
The council also discussed the vacant fire hall at 3721 Highland Ave. which has not been used for anything for decades. The building was transferred to the Urban Renewal Agency.
Cauley expressed concern the building was not transferred to the neighboring youth ministry which does great work and has expressed interest in acquiring it. Cauley motioned to postpone the vote.
Acting City Counsel Thomas DeBoy explained to Cauley that the URA has more latitude to transfer property and, ultimately, the building may be transferred to Potter’s Field.
The URA will likely do analysis to see if there is a way to redevelop the property and return it to the tax roles before transferring it to a ministry that does great work but is tax exempt.
E3 Communications was discussed as the low-bidder for a request for public relations services proposal for a public information officer.
The administration of Mayor Robert Restaino has been through 3 PIOs. One left for a better job. Two left because they were unwilling to comply with the city’s residency requirement for employees which is selectively enforced. At least 3 jobs in the city are currently filled by non-residents.
Cauley expressed concern the contract with E3 was an end-around, outsourcing a job to a 3rd party and skirting the residency requirement. He called for E3 to present to the council on what it does and motioned to postpone the vote on the contract. It may or may not have been an error on the first baseman.
Perry defended the Mayor’s proposal for E3, noting that some information was getting out but not enough.
Perry said there was a need “To counter all these negative and slanderous information going out over social media.”
Myles asked for E3 to come and do a presentation. Ultimately the council voted 4-1 to postpone voting on the contract.
Steelworkers Union President Tim Huether addressed the council about the city selectively enforcing residency requirements for employees. He cited specifically the city administrator, code enforcement director and deputy corporation counsel.
