In the Civil Service Committee meeting, we learned that the new director of the Office of Strategic Planning (OSP), Nadine Marrero, will come to the Civil Service Committee’s next meeting on Jan 28. OSP is the city’s urban planning department. It is a large division, overseeing everything from vacant lots to historic preservation to zoning and environmental review.

In the Finance Committee, Acting Commissioner of Administration and Finance Raymour Nosworthy spoke about the city’s e-bike initiative. The city received an award of $1.3 million from New York State Department of Transportation to purchase electric bikes, put in electric vehicle charging stations, and develop a car share program. The city also got a state grant to purchase four electric vehicles for the parking department. Council members said that the programs would be managed by Shared Mobility, Inc. and Buffalo Carshare. However, Buffalo Carshare no longer exists, so it is unclear who will be helping develop and implement these plans.

Council Member Wyatt asked for an update on payments to non-profits out of American Rescue Plan funds. Acting Director of Administration and Finance Raymour Nosworthy said that now that he was in charge, there would be no foot-dragging or up-to-the-wire processes. When asked who would oversee the disbursements, he said “I am. I really do not want any confusion.” CM Wyatt has asked for a thorough accounting of the funds, which Administration and Finance will deliver by the 28th of this month, at the next meeting of the Finance committee. Majority Leader Leah Halton-Pope said that this should, in fact, be very easily available information, so there should be no reason whatsoever not to have the report ready. 

Later in the meeting, several council members chastised the Administration and Finance Department for consistently failing to respond to, or even acknowledge, the council’s repeated requests for information. Committee Chair Mitch Nowakowski attempted to set a deadline for one requested report, but the city’s representative said it was a lot to ask; this prompted committee members to point out that this “disrespect” of the council was widespread throughout City Hall, and it hampers the council’s ability to work.

Nosworthy said that he was proud to report that his office has encumbered (meaning promised and committed within the account books) all executed contracts. We aren’t sure exactly what this means. To our understanding, all contracted funds would be encumbered simply because they’ve been contracted.

The council revisited the question of moving the Buffalo Police B District into the former Braymiller’s property. With the recent and surprising removal of Police Chief Joseph Gramaglia, said Ellicott District representative Leah Halton-Pope, the city should not be moving ahead at all with this plan. They tabled this item.

The council voted to adjourn the discussion of the Spectrum contract with the city. There will be a hearing on January 28th at 10:00am. Right now, the public access channel is a very high numbered channel, meaning that few people are likely to see it. Council members are bothered by this. The council feels it is important that public government programming is easily accessible to city residents. Council Member Wyatt noted that “now that Meta [and therefore Facebook] is not going to fact-check,” it’s especially important that the city control and take advantage of ways to get good information out to Buffalonians.

The students, from daVinci High School, had come to talk about the city’s capital budget, which will pay for daVinci to renovate and move into Buckham Hall, on Buff State’s campus. Along with parent, school, and alumni representatives, they urged the city to support the schools by issuing bonds to raise money for their needs.

In the Community Development Committee meeting, aresolution to object to new wind turbines in Lake Erie was put off, pending revision. Environmentalists had been concerned about this resolution, which they saw as a rollback of the region’s commitment to clean energy and climate resilience planning. There will be a public hearing on this item in February.