Meetings this week were all quite short, and the Education Committee meeting was postponed.

In the Civil Service Committee Majority Leader Halton-Pope and Chair Rasheed Wyatt reiterated their wish for the Acting Mayor’s proposed Deputy Mayor, Brian Gould, to come talk to the council. Gould was not there, and they tabled the motion.

The Finance Committee discussion focused on plans for a new city animal shelter. The proposed location, on Niagara Street, is owned by Ellicott Development—Carl and William Paladino’s company.

In the Legislation Committee, chaired by Joel Feroleto, council members, as is typical, received a “negative SEQR declaration” concerning a proposed development. SEQR stands for State Environmental Quality Review Act. For most projects, a developer must look at how their project will impact the environment, as well as the social and economic fabric of the neighborhood and city. Questions on the declaration range from “Will this affect traffic?” to “How does this affect wildlife?” to “How will potable water be supplied?” to “Does this fit into its surroundings?” A negative declaration—and they are almost always negative—says that there will be no negative consequences of the development.

The Community Development Committee heard spirited presentations from the Committee Against Fluoride (CAF). The CAF doesn’t want any fluoride or—as the CAF calls it—“this toxic substance” in our city’s water. They cited many studies that say fluoride is a dangerous addition to the water. The City of Buffalo has just added fluoride back into our water supply after many years. Council Member Wyatt applauded this as many of his constituents report severe problems due to a lack of fluoride. Both he and Council Member Nowakowski thanked citizens for coming forward to speak out about their concerns, but pointed out that many researchers, dentists, and professionals have come out in support of fluoridation.

The Committee on Waterfront Development, which comes together occasionally, met to hear from the city’s Climate Action Manager, Kelly St. John, who spoke about climate resiliency in Buffalo. Council Member Wyatt asked St. John about her views on upcoming national environmental policies that we can expect starting in January 2025 (with the new Trump administration). St. John said that she would focus on local and state matters, like grants, rather than national ones.

This week, members of the Claims Committee recommended approval of around $10 million dollars in settlements to people, mostly because of police and prosecutorial misconduct of various types.

Council Member Nowakowski asked Corporation Counsel Cavette Chambers what the city had budgeted for claims this fiscal year. Chambers was unsure.