Uggh. Fump. Thwack.

Splat!

That was the sound of Mayor Robert Restaino’s Friday special meeting failing spectacularly on Friday as almost every single item was either postponed or rejected.

The fact the Mayor and his brother, City Administrator Robert Restaino, granted an audience to the city council did not matter because Chairperson Brian Archie, who is mourning the loss of his daughter, was not able to attend.

Restaino said before the meeting he had been in touch with Archie, expressed condolences and moved the special meeting, which he initially wanted to host on Tuesday, to Friday out of deference to Archie. In hindsight perhaps the Mayor should have canceled.

Archie’s input, and vote were missed as Councilperson Vincent Cauley moved to postpone almost every agenda item. Councilperson Bridgette Myles provided a second. The motions failed. 2-2 with Councilpersons Jim Perry and David Zajac voted against postponements.

When it came to moving on agenda items failing by a 2-2 vote were:

1. An agreement for ancillary mowing services for the city’s neglected lots. Cauley questioned the legitimacy of the contractor after social media reports showed KJ Smith Enterprises had been dissolved. When you look at that unmown lot in your neighborhood, blame the council.
2. A motion to award paving work to Occhino Paving. Union members according to Restaino, were OK with outsourcing the work. Union President Tim Huether disagreed. The current delay in paving was caused by previous delays in catch basin work caused by the council not approving contracts it could not understand. Catch basin work precedes milling in the paving process. When you wonder why your street didn’t get paved this summer, blame the council.
3. Paying the $4 million court-ordered lawsuit settlement with Niagara Falls Redevelopment over the proposed site for Centennial Park, the mayor’s dream event center. The city has never conducted a feasibility study including siting or debt service for the $250 million project. NFR has never built anything in more than 30 years of holding land in Niagara Falls. The court may hold the city in contempt and order the payment, plus a penalty because of the council’s inaction.

The council agreed to accept a $313,000 grant from Buffalo Niagara Waterkeepers to study the health of Gill Creek.

The council also agreed to schedule a public hearing on another delay of a new zoning law designed to address student housing in DeVeaux. That new code will be put in place following the planned construction of new dorms on Main Street. That contract is still being negotiated.

The paving, mowing and lawsuit settlement may reappear on next week’s council agenda.