This week, the Common Council held four committee meetings. The Finance Committee concerns all matters about the budget and issuance of bonds. The Civil Service Committee addresses matters relating to human resources, civil services, and personnel. The Legislation Committee focuses on local laws, ordinances, and general legislation—except for civil matters. The Community Development Committee focuses on matters pertaining to work or improvement using revenue from another government unit. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Council canceled this week's Claims Committee meeting. 

The Finance Committee was short (less than nine minutes) due to one open item. Finance Chair Wyatt thanked the committee and city clerk for their efforts to amend the city budget. He wanted to remind the public that the Council doesn't have to wait until the last minute to make recommendations. Residents should feel empowered to do so throughout the year.

Council Majority Leader Rivera spoke about the intensity of the previous week working on the budget. He appreciated the Comptroller Office forecasting the out years and has concerns about the sustainability of new positions once federal dollars evaporate. However, he's hopeful to work with the administration to right-size government in light of raised flags. 

The Civil Service Committee opened with the approval of a motion to appoint a Chief Diversity Officer. The Council received and filed a motion to appoint a HUD Program Manager and Real Estate Maintenance Manager.

Council Member Wyatt requested department heads come before the committee better to understand the responsibilities of each position before approval. He wants to improve the process in light of the budget—and concerns regarding the lack of right size government—to ensure any position enhances residents' quality of life.

Common Council continued with the approval of a Coordinator of Office Automation and a Systems Analyst appointment. The body received and filed motions to appoint a Senior Data Processing Equipment Operator and permanent Street Worker.

There was a discussion about the City of Buffalo's Living Wage Law during the Legislation Committee meeting. Sam Magavern, former Director of the Partnership for the Public Good and current volunteer attorney for the City's Living Wage Commission (LWC), joined the chair and two commissioners to discuss revisions to the living wage. The LWC applauds Buffalo for being a living wage city but suggests it takes steps now to clarify the law to become clearer to vendors, employees, and the City of Buffalo. There are systemic issues of poverty in Buffalo a living wage can help address, including a reduction in wage disparities and poor health outcomes.

Sam Magavern notes the LWC began in 2004 and monitors how the law works and its ambiguities. The group recommends a series of reforms, including:

• The City of Buffalo increases staff in its Office of Contract Compliance to oversee day-to-day operations of the LWC required by Buffalo's Living Wage Ordinance. The LWC has yet to receive staffing by the City;
• Creating a public database of contracts to ensure proper application of the Ordinance, and for residents to see to track spending of public revenues; and
• Phasing out the nonprofit exemption as all workers deserve and need a living wage

Click here to read the Commission's full recommended revisions to the City's Living Wage Law on packet pages 8-22 of the May 24 Legislation Committee journal.

All council members were present for this week's Community Development Committee meeting. Harold Caldwell, the City of Buffalo's Fair Housing Officer, was present to speak on the City of Buffalo's Fair Housing Report submitted to the Common Council. There were no opening remarks or questions. Council tabled the item.

Paula Moses, a member of the University District Block Club Coalition and President of the Godfrey Street Block Club, stated the Hopewell Center informed decisions were already in place for the opioid center in the Cleve-Hill Plaza in the University District. There was already a change to move a dialysis center in the plaza to Amherst before Hopewell personnel informed her there was no choice. She fears negative consequences due to the existing high traffic in the area and would like to have more community input. "Right now, we can't think of one positive thing that can happen from busing Indians from the reservation to this Cleve-Hill Plaza," Moses said. "Bused in without any guarantee that they have a way to get back home."

Shakina Powers, another University District resident, reiterated frustration with things being "a done deal." She does not want to give the impression of being against people receiving treatment but is not in favor of the location. Powers stated Hopewell did not volunteer any information and, after contacting representatives, received word that 300-600 people would receive service per day, 24 hours a day, six days a week. She also noted that 30% would come from the reservation, with 70% left for self-accommodation. A school bus route feet from the intended treatment center raises concerns, along with unanswered questions about a decrease in property values due to its presence. "It was made irrefutably clear to me—to my loved ones, and to my community that I love so much and care about so much—that we would have to move forward with a petition proceeding," Powers disclosed. "We already started collecting signatures, and I'm looking forward to the status of that to produce betterment for my community and our area."

Committee Chair Golombek reiterated Council Member Wyatt's request for New York State to cease proceeding with the Hopewell Opioid Treatment Center at the community's request. He supports Wyatt's efforts as this incident is not unique, noting the state moves forward with projects throughout districts without community input.

Council President Pridgen expressed his support to Council Member Wyatt and residents, noting something similar occurred in his district on the West Side. "We're not against treatment, but it is against treatment. It's against the treatment of the people who live there [in University District]," Pridgen said. "You can't claim to be an agency that helps people and then not deal with the people in the area you're going to." He applauds residents for taking a stand and hopes they take their argument to the state to change the process from that level.

Council Member Wyatt thanked residents in his district who were able to come to testify. He called on Majority Leader Peoples-Stokes and Senator Kennedy to stop the project and work with the community. "Right now, they have a petition of about 200 to 300 people, and it's probably going to end up being about 500 to 1,000 people going against this," Wyatt stated. "The tide is rising very clearly, and I hope that our state officials will recognize this is a community—they want to be respected. They don't want to hear secondhand; they want to hear directly. The Council voted to table the item.

On May 23, Common Council posted on its Facebook page a resolution Council Member Wingo filed in response to reports food stores are selling donated items for relief efforts collected in the community. "No one in any capacity should engage in the exploitation of someone else's tragedy," Wingo stated. "This behavior is disgusting, and the people of the City of Buffalo deserve better." His resolution calls for officials to suspend food store licenses if proprietors sell any donated relief items for profit.

Wingo hopes the Department of Permits and Inspections conducts frequent food store inspections within a radius of the Tops on Jefferson Avenue. The Common Council will consider this resolution during the Regular Meeting on May 31 at 2 p.m.

Need more than just a summary? Contact us at info@ppgbuffalo.org, or find full meeting information and schedules here: http://buffalony.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx