For this summary, we will report on the Civil Service, Finance, Legislation, and Community Development Committee meetings. Because the new council term is beginning, we will also include the Reorganizational meeting. ‘Council Member’ is abbreviated as CM; ‘Council President’ as CP; and ‘Majority Leader’ as ML.

At a special meeting on January 1st, new representatives Leah Halton-Pope and Zeneta Everhart were sworn in; they will be the first women on the city council in a decade. Halton-Pope will be the new Ellicott District representative, taking over for departing CP Darius Pridgen. She worked for Crystal Peoples-Stokes, the Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly. Everhart was the Director of Diversity and Inclusion in State Senator Tim Kennedy’s office. She will serve the Masten District.

On January 2nd, the council held its biennial Reorganizational Meeting. This is when the council decides on its new leaders and clerks. There was a big crowd, with elected officials, party leaders, and city commissioners in attendance.

To start, they voted on a new leader. CM Golombek nominated CM Scanlon as council president, and CM Nowakowski seconded it. CM Wyatt nominated CM Rivera as council president, but none of the other council members would second the nomination, so the only candidate for president was CM Scanlon. All of the council members except CM Wyatt voted “yes” for CM Scanlon, so the motion passed, and CM Scanlon is now council president.

Next, the council voted on their majority leader. CM Feroleto nominated Leah Halton-Pope, explaining that she would be the second woman and first woman of color to serve as majority leader of the Buffalo Common Council. There were no further nominations, and Leah Halton-Pope was unanimously elected majority leader.  After that, CM Bollman was elected President Pro-Tempore (a position similar to a vice president). Tianna Marks was reappointed City Clerk, and Pamela Maggiore was appointed Deputy City Clerk. Millie Castro Littles was reappointed Deputy City Clerk for Vital Statistics, and the council also appointed City Clerk staff, representatives to BURA, Common Council legislative and office staff, and marriage officiants.

CM Rasheed Wyatt is the new Civil Service Committee chair. In their meeting, the committee quickly approved appointments in the Citizens’ Services and Recreation Divisions, as well as green-lighting a police surveillance camera monitor hire.

In the Finance Committee meeting, City Accountant Bill Ferguson, Investment and Debt Officer Gregg Szymanski, and Delano Dowell, Commissioner of Administration and Finance all spoke about the city’s financial reports.

Members again discussed American Rescue Plan funds and how slowly they are being disbursed. CM Wyatt asked Delano Dowell about the $6 million planned for forgiveness for unpaid property taxes and water bills. Dowell said that the city sent letters to folks owing arrears, but there have been “a couple of hiccups” in the process of getting the money out. Wyatt asked for a list of those individuals who were going to be helped with this funding, and Dowell said that he could provide that.

Gregg Szymanski presented the Peer Review Report, which is an audit performed by an outside group, in this case Allied Financial. CM Wyatt asked why it was so difficult for the city to find Buffalo-based auditors. Bill Ferguson explained that this might be partly because local colleges and universities are graduating very few Certified Public Accountants, who have the necessary qualifications to do these audits.

Lisa Hicks, Director of Development in the Office of Strategic Planning, addressed council concerns that the city was denying businesses emergency funds because they are behind on taxes. Hicks said that only four businesses had been denied for that reason. She explained that the city was working with those and other businesses to provide technical assistance to help them develop (for example, helping them develop a business plan). The program is currently helping over 120 businesses; 71 were denied. This week, the small business assistance fund will be sending out $1.5 million. Businesses will be receiving grants of either $7,500, $12,500, or $25,000.

CM Rivera asked if the program was working to ensure language access for folks who need it.  Beauford assured the council that they were focused on cultural competency.

The Legislation Committee meeting was very brief. Since notices were sent out with the wrong date, the committee did not hold any public hearings this week.

CM Golombek remains chair of the Community Development Committee. The committee recommended approving a request for an extension on the proposed “Loads of Love” project on Michigan Avenue. Barrett and Benitez is the designated developer (i.e. the city’s chosen builder) for Loads of Love, a laundromat with an attached affordable housing complex. This project will partner with Fostering Greatness to prioritize rentals to foster care alumni.

Many dentists and health experts testified about the lack of water fluoridation in Buffalo’s water. Public fluoridation of water is a health program that is nearly universally understood to dramatically enhance health and equity. Brendan Dowd, a dentist and the past president of the New York State Dental Association, said that it had been years since the Water Authority fluoridated the city’s water. They stopped fluoridating the water without alerting the public. Dowd said that lack of fluoridation results in children missing school days. He and others pointed out that this is a matter of equity and inclusion. Dr. Amanda Cryan, a pediatric dentist, cited studies showing that drinking fluoridated water prevents 20%-40% of cavities.

The council is party to a lawsuit on this issue, CM Rivera noted, but the Water Board still hasn’t been forthcoming with information. CM Wyatt reminded listeners that fluoridating water is an immediate concern because not everyone can access or afford dentists.

Nicolee Johnson and Lucrecia Watkins from the Forge, an affordable housing development on Broadway, testified about problems with the building, including shoddy workmanship, repair and security issues, and owner unresponsiveness.