Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of September 20, 2021

Buffalo Common Council Summary: Week of September 20, 2021

Date: September 24, 2021
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By Becca Bass |
Each week, PPG summarizes important takeaways from the major Buffalo Common Council meetings. We also include information from Council meetings related to our Community Agenda items.

For this summary, we will focus on the Regular Meeting. The Regular Meeting is the Common Council's primary meeting, where they make official decisions on issues.

During the Regular Meeting, after roll call, prayer, and memorials, most agenda items were approved, received and filed, or sent back to the committee without discussion. Among items referred to a committee of note are the Buffalo Police Reform legislation and the Clean Slate bill, which went to the Legislation Committee. A report on the Buffalo Police Department's Body Cam Policy and an inquiry into the Buffalo Police Department's interactions with bail enforcement agencies — aka bounty hunters — were both sent to the Police Oversight Committee. No further discussion of these items occurred during the meeting.

Councilmember Feroleto highlighted that the City of Buffalo, the Buffalo Arts Commission, and Douglas Development have collaborated to restore and reinstall the historic neon tango dancer art installation at Bidwell Avenue and Elmwood Avenue. Councilmember Golombek addressed a conflict between the Voelker’s Bowling building owners and historic preservationists over the future of the property. The Council officially approved a cease-and-desist order to prevent any construction or demolition activities until a formal determination about the property's landmark status is complete.

Councilmember Nowakowski spoke in support of his resolution, “Buffalo Welcomes Afghan Refugees,” and formally extended a welcome to the over 300 Afghan refugees who will be resettling in Buffalo. He emphasized the role of refugees and immigrants in helping to rebuild and revitalize Buffalo, and Councilmembers Rivera and Wingo similarly spoke to the ways in which our growing immigrant community strengthens the city. All eight of the Councilmembers present—including Bollman, Feroleto, Golombek, Pridgen, Rivera, Scanlon, and Wingo—requested to be added as co-sponsors of Nowakowski’s resolution.

The meeting was adjourned after 29 minutes.

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