Common Council of the city of buffalo

David A. Franczyk, Council President FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

David A. Rivera, President Pro Tempore Contact: James Pajak, Chief of Staff (716)
Richard A. Fontana, Majority Leader 851-4047

Common Council Members Demone Smith (3rd from right), Bonnie Russell (2nd from right), and
Darius Pridgen (1st from right) present members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity with a
proclamation honoring their 100th Anniversary.

MEETING SUMMARY
for
JANUARY 25, 2011

CALL FOR AN EDUCATION SUMMIT IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO —The Council adopted a
resolution sponsored by Council Members Demone A. Smith and Michael P. Kearns and co-
sponsored by Council Members Richard A. Fontana and Darius G. Pridgen calling for an
educational summit to be held to discuss the issues affecting and to identify options for
improving, the quality of education in the City of Buffalo Public School System. The City of
Buffalo Public School System suffers from low achievement and is consistently among the
lowest producing school systems within New York State (“NYS”). With an overall graduation
rate of around 60 percent, students who drop out of school are much more likely than their peers
to become unemployed, live in poverty, receive public assistance, be incarcerated in prison, have
health problems, be divorced, and/or be single parents of children who tend to become school
drop-outs. The Council maintains that the education of City of Buffalo students must be a top
priority and that an educational summit designed to bring together education stakeholders, would
provide an appropriate venue for developing a framework for improving the City of Buffalo

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Public School System. The Council is calling for the education summit to be scheduled for the
spring of 2011 and to include representatives of: the NYS Board of Regents, the NYS
Commissioner of Education, the Chancellor of the NYS Department of Education, the
Superintendent of the Buffalo Public School System, the Buffalo Board of Education, teachers
and school personnel, institutions of higher education, mental health organizations, crime
prevention agencies, and parent and community organizations.

HOME RULE MESSAGE—The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Masten District

Council Member Demone Smith supporting New York State Assembly Bill #A00612 which
would allow the City of Buffalo to adjudicate traffic infractions, which are presently adjudicated
by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Passage of the bill would benefit the City
of Buffalo by permitting all traffic related violations occurring within the City of Buffalo to be
adjudicated in a convenient location within the City of Buffalo. Further, by allowing the City to
participate in and receive traffic infraction revenue, the City would be placed on an equal footing
with other cities, towns and villages in the State of New York who have been granted the
authority to adjudicate traffic infractions occurring within their corporate limits.

CALL FOR THE CREATION OF A COMPLETE STREETS COORDINATOR — The Council adopted a
resolution sponsored by Council Member Demone A. Smith calling for the creation of a new
Complete Streets Coordinator position, to be shared by the City’s Office of Strategic Planning
(“OSP”) and Dept. of Public Works (“DPW”), whose duties would include comprehensive
citywide planning, implementation of the City’s Complete Streets Policy which was adopted in
2008, and regularly interacting with and reporting progress to the City’s Bicycle Pedestrian
Advisory Board. Pursuant to this adopted resolution, the new Complete Streets Coordinator
would be required to be credentialed with a minimum of a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning,
Urban Design, Traffic Engineering, or a related field, and would need to have a minimum of one
year of professional experience implementing, or advocating for, Complete Streets, Traditional
Neighborhood Design and/or Context Sensitive Design policies. The Complete Streets
Coordinator would serve as a liaison between City Departments, the Bicycle and Pedestrian
Advisory Board, and governmental and private transportation agencies, be tasked with the
creation of a new citywide Streets Design Manual policy guide for public space improvements,
oversee the integration of the Complete Streets Policy with the Land Use Plan and
Transportation Strategy that the City is currently developing as well as other planning initiatives,
and oversee grant applications to support the Complete Streets Policy. The City Clerk was
directed to provide certified copies of this adopted resolution to the Mayor, OSP, DPW and the
Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council.

SUPPORT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMON COUNCIL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM —

The Council adopted a resolution co-sponsored by all nine Common Council Members voicing
support for the establishment of a mentorship program in collaboration with City of Buffalo high
schools. Recognizing how important it is for students to have positive role models both in and
outside of school, under this mentorship program, each Council Member would adopt a
particular high school and spend time mentoring three or four students from that school. This
initiative would provide students with an opportunity to learn about how government operates,
while providing them with positive role models and an opportunity to develop their leadership

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skills. The City Clerk was directed to provide copies of this adopted resolution to all City of
Buffalo high schools and Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. James A. Williams.

APPROVAL AND ENDORSEMENT OF OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY’S GRANT APPLICATION

—The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Council Member Michael J. LoCurto which
approves and endorses the application of Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy to the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYS DEC”) for a grant under Round 10 of
the Urban and Community Forest Program. If the grant is awarded, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks
Conservancy will utilize this funding for their “Tree Inventory and Management Plan: System
Wide Inventory Updates and Tree Maintenance” project.

REVISION OF THE PRESERVATION CODE—The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by

Council Member David A. Franczyk directing the Corporation Counsel to draft an amendment to
Section 337-4(c)(1) of the City Code that would add language stating that "A quorum (of the
Preservation Board) shall consist of a majority of the members. All decisions of the Preservation
Board shall be made by a majority vote of the full membership. All decisions of the Preservation
Board shall be made within 45 days, or such longer period of time as may be agreed to by the
applicant consistent with this ordinance, but if the Preservation Board fails to act within 45 days,
such failure to act shall be deemed a denial of the application." Additionally, pursuant to the
adopted resolution the Corporation Counsel shall draft an amendment to Section 337-21(c) of the
City Code so that it shall read, "In case of a denial (by the Preservation Board), the Preservation
Board shall state the reasons therefore and shall make recommendations concerning changes in
the applicants proposed action that would be ground for reconsidering the application. An
applicant may amend an application while it is being considered by the Preservation Board, but
not reapply until at least six months from the date of the denial."  The Council’s amendments are
being drafted in legal form to allow for subsequent adoption by the Common Council.

SALE OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY—The Council approved the sale of the following City
owned properties:
 Fillmore District
o 1067 Genesee Street was sold to Creative Structures Services for $8,500
o 59 Guilford Street was sold to Mr. Wayne Williams for $1,400
o 166 Rother Avenue was sold to Mr. Mohammad Abdul Muiz for $1,500
o 129 Stanton Street was sold to Ms. Justine Thompson for $1,700

APPOINTMENTS
 The Common Council adopted the appointment of the following individuals to the cited
positions:
o Lauris Robinson as a voting member of the Shared Asset Forfeiture Fund
Advisory Committee (SAFFAC)
o Crystal Rodriguez as a voting member of the Police Reorganization Commission
(PRC)
 The Council appointed the following individuals to positions within the Ellicott District
Common Council Office:
o Vernee Shaw was appointed to the position of Legislative Assistant
o Deborah Tucker was appointed to the position of Legislative Aide

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 o Felicia Williams was appointed to the position of Intern VI
 The Council approved the appointment of the following individuals to positions within
the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works at a step above the base salary:
o Heather Murray was appointed to the position of Dog Control Officer
o Michael Milovich was appointed to the position of Program Coordinator
o Raylena Cunningham was appointed to the position of Senior Rate Clerk
 The Council approved the appointment of the following individual to the position of
Parking Meter Mechanic within the City of Buffalo Department of Parking at a step
above the base salary:
o Francis Tronolone III
 The Council accepted the appointment of the following individuals to a position within
the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works at the base salary:
o Laborer II
 Francisco Casillas
 Bernard Chaney
 Derek Koonce
o Senior First Class Stationary Engineer
 Kevin McCarthy
 The Council accepted the appointment of the following individual to the position of Real
Property Appraiser within the City of Buffalo Department of Assessment and Taxation at
the base salary:
o Bogusia Carroll
 The Council accepted the appointment of the following individuals to the position of
Parking Enforcement Officer within the City of Buffalo Department of Parking at the
base salary:
o David McMamara
o Emanuel Reid

LICENSE AND PERMIT APPROVALS —Upon the recommendation of the Department Permit &
Inspection Services, the Council approved the following license and permit applications:
 Ellicott District
o Sidewalk Café License
 Kings Court Lounge located at 189 Delaware Avenue
 Fillmore District
o Second Hand Dealer License
 Lucky Market II located at 729 Sycamore Street
 Lovejoy District
o Second Hand Dealer License
 Aaron’s located at 1673 Broadway
 Masten District
o Food Store License
 Pee Wee’s Variety Store located at 2319 Main Street
o Used Car Dealer, Scrap Processor & Wholesale Junk Dealer Licenses
 Ben’s Tire Center Inc. located at 550 E. Delavan Avenue
 North District

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 o Permit to Erect Pole Sign
 A. Komanecky, agent of property located at 1700 Kenmore Avenue
 University District
o Restaurant Dance Class III License
 Visions Club and Bar Restaurant located at 289 Austin Street
o Permit to Erect a One Story Masonry Store & Fence Exceeding Height
Restrictions
 A. Komanecky, agent of property located at 3364 Bailey Avenue

The Council denied the following license application:

 University District
o Restaurant Dance Class IV License
 PJ Bottoms located at 3270 Main Street

CLAIMS, CONTRACTS, CHANGE ORDERS & AGREEMENTS

 Upon the request of the Mayor of the City of Buffalo, the Council:
o Authorized the Mayor to execute a formal waiver of the City of Buffalo’s
potential administrative expense claims against the trustee of the Statler Towers
which include property tax related claims of approximately $189,675 and safety
measure related claims of approximately $34,000. The Council also authorized
the Mayor to execute support waivers of administrative expense claims which
include sewer charges of approximately $9,775 and water charges of
approximately $80,454. By approving this waiver, the City’s claims against the
Trustee in Bankruptcy for the Statler Towers will be transferred to the yet to be
selected purchaser of this property.
 Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning (“OSP”), the
Council:
o Authorized OSP to designate Belmont Housing Resources of Western New York
(“WNY”) and/or the Housing Development Corporation as redeveloper of the
property located at 858 East Ferry Street. The property was acquired by the City
of Buffalo in 1992 through a tax foreclosure proceeding and Belmont Housing
Resources of WNY intends to construct a new thirty (30) unit rental townhouse
development on the property at an estimated cost of $6.6 million. The
redeveloper designation will be for a period of one year and will be subject to
various terms and conditions.
 Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works (“DPW”) the
Council:
o Authorized DPW to hire a consultant to provide design, bid, and construction
phase services for the rehabilitation of waterline insulation, leak repairs, and
waterline replacement over the Kensington Expressway. The cost for the
consultant is estimated to not exceed $150,000 and the cost of the construction is
estimated to be $1 million.
o Authorized the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter to accept $20,550 in funds from
Maddie’s Pet Rescue Project, a family foundation established in 1999 to help fund
the creation of a no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and
cats are guaranteed a loving home. The Maddie’s Pet Rescue Project will be
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 providing the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter with $15,150 in subsidy funds and
an additional $5,400 for surpassing its adoption goals. The funds will be used
towards shelter growth and to promote the Animal Shelter by advertising for
foster homes, adoption events, purchasing new equipment, attending workshops
and veterinary expenses.
o Authorized the purchase of one Chevy 2010 Silverado Pick-up Truck for the
amount of $28,010. The vehicle will be used by the City’s Division of Buildings,
be marked according to City requirements and will not be utilized as a take-home
vehicle.
o Approved the Release of Retention held by the City for its contract with Wendel
Energy Services for the Traffic Signal – Energy Performance Project.
 The Council approved the reports of bids from the City of Buffalo Department of Public
Works for the following projects:
o The Polonia Hall Roof Reconstruction Project. Of the bids that were received,
Weaver Metal & Roofing was the lowest with a bid of $163,665.

TRANSFERS OF FUNDS
 Upon the request of the City Clerk, the Council authorized the transfer of:
o $3,500 from the City Clerk’s Contractual Services appropriation line, to the
Common Council - Legislative Function Hourly Salary appropriation line.

SALARY ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS

 Upon the request of the Commissioner of Administration and Finance, Policy and Urban
Affairs, the Common Council authorized the: and creation of the following job titles:
o Elimination of two (2) Junior Collection Officers at a salary of $31,084-$34,255
o Creation of One (1) Junior Collection Officer and one (1) Laborer II at the
respective salaries of $31,084-$34,255 and $22,070-$34,139 for an annual
savings of $116 at the highest salary step.

For any questions, concerns, or further information regarding the above, please contact your District Council
Member, the Common Council Legislative Staff Office, or the respective City Department.
To view replays of a Common Council Meeting please visit the City of Buffalo Government Television website at
www.city-buffalo.com/Home/Government_TV.
To view the final Common Council Meeting agenda and/or supporting communications, please visit the City of
Buffalo website at www.city-buffalo.com and select the Common Council link.

BUFFALO COMMON COUNCIL

David A. Franczyk David A. Rivera Richard A. Fontana
Council President President Pro Tempore Majority Leader
Fillmore District Niagara District Lovejoy District
1315 City Hall 1504 City Hall 1414 City Hall
851-4138 851-5125 851-5151
Michael J. LoCurto Darius G. Pridgen Demone A. Smith
Delaware District Ellicott District Masten District
1405 City Hall 1408 City Hall 1316-A City Hall
851-5155 851-4980 851-5145

Joseph Golombek, Jr. Michael P. Kearns Bonnie E. Russell

North District South District University District
1502 City Hall 1401 City6 Hall 1508 City Hall
851-5116 851-5169 851-5165
Common Council Legislative Staff Office
1413 City Hall
851-5105