​​This week, the Common Council held three committee meetings. For this summary, we will focus on the Finance Committee and Community Development Committee meetings. The Finance Committee concerns all matters about the budget and issuance of bonds. The Community Development Committee focuses on matters pertaining to work or improvement using revenue from another government unit.

The primary agenda item for the Finance Committee Meeting was the City of Buffalo's cash flow report for August 2021. Deputy Comptroller Delano Dowell, Sr., presented the report. As of August 31, 2021, the City of Buffalo had $101,813,000 in its account. 

Deputy Comptroller Dowell shared several sources of revenue as of August 31, 2021:

• Sales tax receipts came in at $7.8 million ($1.8 million more than August 2020);
• Property tax receipts came in at $29.3 million ($9.6 million more than August 2020);
• Service charge receipts came in at $1,015,000 ($594,000 less than August 2020);
• Fine receipts came in at $675,000 ($184,000 more than August 2020); and
• Miscellaneous revenues—including grant reimbursements, property sales, etc.—came in at $954,000 ($163,000 more than August 2020)

The City of Buffalo is projected to receive its first state aid payment of $19,166,000 in December and anticipates receiving a total of $161,285,000 in the fiscal year 2022. The administration budgeted an anticipated $11 million in Tribal Compact funds in the fiscal year 2022, and the city expects to receive these funds by June 2022. The largest upcoming expenses include $42 million for health insurance costs—down from $52 million in 2020—and $51 million in pension payment costs. These payments will be made in December.

Donna Estrich, Commissioner of Administration and Finance for the City of Buffalo, stated that the cash flow projections for this year look great, and she anticipates it will be a strong year. The Finance Committee tabled the cash flow report and voted to receive and file 23 additional previously tabled items without further discussion.

During the Community Development Committee Meeting, Marc Romanowski, attorney for Timothy LeBoeuf's Symphony Property Management, addressed the Council and requested final approval to sell 244 Maple Street at the new appraisal price of $125,000. An earlier appraisal assessed the property value at only $9,100, drawing criticism from concerned community members. Council President Pridgen offered his support of the new price, which he said is more in line with market value. The motion was approved.

The Council heard a proposal from Darren Cotton, University District resident and founder of the Tool Library. This all-volunteer, nonprofit organization lends everything from handheld tools to a jackhammer to groups or individuals who pay just $20 per year for a membership. Block clubs, neighborhood organizations, and community groups can rent up to five tools per week to create a community garden, turn vacant buildings into canvases for art, repurpose old rail trails into walking or biking paths, plant bulbs, and trees, and improve neighborhoods in other creative ways. 

Cotton explained that the goal of the Tool Library is to create more equitable and civically engaged communities. He offered to partner with the City of Buffalo's Neighborhood Improvement Corp as it implements American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding. Rather than "overlap" with City plans, Cotton proposed "supplementing" them with free tool lending, imagining future Tool Library satellite locations that improve access for residents all around the City. Councilmember Wyatt thanked Cotton for coming and commended the Tool Library for being a great example of accountability and reporting back on how grant money has been used. This item was tabled for the next meeting, along with discussions of the redevelopment of the Broadway Market and the reported purchase of 3235 Bailey Avenue.

Councilmembers Bollman and Nowakowski reasserted their support for a future In-Rem Auction that prioritizes owner-occupants. They believe that homeownership should be more accessible for local buyers to purchase properties, invest in them, and live in them. The committee passed a motion to recommit this item to the full Council.

At the end of the meeting, Councilmember Wyatt passionately urged the committee to create a BMHA Oversight Task Force. Residents of the Kenfield-Langfield Apartments notified him that 15 cars were recently towed without prior notification of restricted parking due to construction.  He argued that while new sidewalks and paved driveways are nice, treating residents with respect is essential. Wyatt said that BMHA must protect vulnerable people and "already have a difficult life," yet managers are either unavailable or unwilling to communicate effectively with residents. To claim their cars, residents had to pay over $200 each—an amount they could not afford. Councilmember Wyatt believes that BMHA should be held accountable for failing to provide signage and that residents whose cars were towed should be issued refunds.

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