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COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO

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

Photo Caption: Masten District Council Member DemoneSmith(left) along with Ellicott District Council Member Darius Pridgen (right) present Edward Williams (center) with a proclamation honoring him for earning his Adult Basic Education and General Educational Development certificates at the age of 82 after a life dedicated to serving his family and community.

MEETING SUMMARY for


JULY 12, 2011 SUPPORT HISPANIC-AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL INITIATIVEThe Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Council Members David A. Franczyk and David A. Rivera supporting the Hispanic-American Veterans Memorial Initiative. Hispanic-American veterans have fought in every conflict in which the United States has ever participated, displaying loyalty, bravery, and persistence in the face of adversity. Currently, the Hispanic-American citizens of the City of Buffalo and Western New York do not have a single monument or symbol that serves as an illustration of the service and dedication Hispanic-American veterans have made throughout 1

history. The Hispanic-American veterans want to erect a monument that will recognize and honor the contributions and sacrifices Hispanic-American men and women have made to the United States. The Council is urging residents to support this initiative therefore commemorating the dedication that Hispanic-American veterans have given to our country. INCREASE PENALTY FOR BURGLARY OF A VEHICLEThe Council adopted a resolution sponsored by North District Council Member Joseph Golombek, Jr. supporting tougher penalties for persons charged with breaking into and burglarizing vehicles. Vehicle break-ins are a problem and can present a major hardship for individuals affected by this crime. The City continues to experience vehicles being broken into or windows being smashed and personal items, packages, and car stereo systems being stolen. The penalty for these types of crimes is typically a charge of petty larceny or other misdemeanor and these offenses generally carry only minor penalties for the people charged. Many of these individuals have been charged multiple times, yet they rarely face severe penalties or jail time. The Council maintains that increasing the punishment for these types of thefts may be the deterrent that is needed. Classifying vehicle break-ins as a burglary would allow judges to impose harsher charges on persons charged with this type of crime. The Council is requesting the New York State Legislature to increase the penalty for breaking into vehicles to a burglary charge. WAIVER OF FEES FOR INSTALLATION OF ORNAMENTAL LIGHTING ON HAZELWOOD AVENUE & EASTON STREETThe Council approved a resolution sponsored by Council Members Richard A. Fontana and Bonnie E. Russell requesting the City of Buffalo Departments of Permit and Inspection Services, Public Works and Law, to waive any and all fees associated with the installation of ornamental lighting on Hazelwood Avenue and Easton Street by Romeos Superior Home Improvements, Inc. for the Hazelwood-Easton Block Club. The HazelwoodEaston Block Club is partnering with the City of Buffalo to promote safety and a high quality of life for community residents. As part of their efforts to beautify the Lovejoy District, the block club has obtained a grant that will fund the installation of ornamental lighting on Hazelwood Avenue and Easton Street. The block club has arranged for Romeos Superior Home Improvements, Inc., a licensed and insured contractor, to install these lighting improvements. The Council maintains that waiving any and all fees associated with the project is necessary to assist the Hazelwood-Easton Block Club, which has limited funds at its disposal. RENAMING THE SCAJAQUADA PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THE 9-11 MEMORIAL BRIDGEThe Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Council Members Michael J. LoCurto and Joseph Golombek, Jr. urging the New York State Legislature to approve an effort to rename the pedestrian bridge which spans the Scajaquada Expressway, from Nottingham Terrace to Hoyt Lake in Delaware Park, the 9-11 Memorial Bridge. Since 2003, an annual memorial has been conducted, for the victims of the attacks on September 11, 2001, atop the pedestrian bridge which spans the Scajaquada Expressway. City of Buffalo Police Officers, Firefighters, and Emergency Medical Service and Military personnel attend each year to pay their respects to the brave men and women who gave their lives on September 11th and to those who continue to do so in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The organizers of this annual event would like to rename the pedestrian bridge The 9-11 Memorial Bridge and hope to do so before the 10 year anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2011. The Council maintains that renaming the bridge, as well as

placing a memorial flag pole and spotlight, would provide an eternal tribute in the City of Buffalo to those who sacrificed their lives on that fateful day. PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT MONTHThe Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Ellicott District Council Member Darius G. Pridgen designating September 2011 as Project Homeless Connect Month.The Western New York Coalition for the Homeless (WNYCH), with the support of the Homeless Alliance of Western New York and Mayor Browns Poverty Initiative Team, will hold Buffalos Third Annual Project Homeless Connect on September 19, 2011. This event is held in over 200 communities nationwide to link people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, with a broad range of needed services. In 2008, the United States Census Bureau released a special report naming the City of Buffalo as the third poorest large city in the United States. Approximately 2,000 people are homeless on any given night in the City, a number that has not changed dramatically in recent years. Project Homeless Connect Buffalo works to welcome homeless neighbors into the life of the community, change the way resources are accessed and achieve quantifiable results for people experiencing homelessness. The Council acknowledges the hard work and commitment of WNYCH in their efforts to raise awareness and assist homeless and at-risk individuals in the City of Buffalo. WAIVER OF FEES FORST. TERESAS CHURCHThe Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Council Members Richard A. Fontana and Michael P. Kearns requesting the City of Buffalo Department of Permit and Inspection Services to waive any and all permit and inspection fees required by St. Teresas Roman Catholic Church for its chair lift project. St. Teresas, located at 1974 Seneca Street, faithfully serves the residents of both the Lovejoy and South Council Districts. Many of the parishioners of the church are senior citizens or individuals with physical disabilities that impair their mobility. These physical disabilities often make it difficult or sometimes impossible for the parishioners to gain access to the church for worship and services. St. Teresas has planned to install a chair lift to assist disabled parishioners who may have trouble climbing the stairs to get into the church. The Council maintains that waiving any and all permit and inspection fees associated with the chair installation project is necessary to assist St. Teresas, which operates with a very limited budget. WAR OF 1812The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by North District Council Member Joseph Golombek, Jr. officially designating the cross-border Niagara Region as an International Corridor of Peace and Cooperation. The War of 1812 represents a seminal period in the process of nation building in both the United States and Canada. The cross-border Niagara Region was at the frontline of the War of 1812, reporting the greatest number of casualties and the longest period of continual conflict. The War of 1812 significantly affected civilian populations on both sides of the Niagara River, especially when the flames of war burned British-Canadian, American and Tuscarora settlements in December of 1813. From the death and destruction of the war was born a spirit of cooperation and a vision of peace between the United States and Canada. The Council maintains that the bicentennial of the War of 1812 in the year 2012, offers and exceptional opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the true and lasting legacy of 200 years of peace along the Niagara River between the United States and Canada. 2011 GREATER BUFFALO ITALIAN HERITAGE AND FOODFESTIVALThe Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Council MembersMichael J. LoCurto and Richard A. Fontana granting 3

the North Buffalo Business Association, and the West Side Business and Taxpayers Association permission to conduct the Annual Greater Buffalo Italian Heritage and Food Festival. This years festival is being heldfrom of July 14throughJuly 17, 2011 between the hours of 11:00 am and 11:00 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 11:00 am to 10:00 pm on Sunday.The event area will be closed to general traffic and will be conducted on Hertel Avenue, between Crestwood and Tennyson Avenues, and the cross streets bounded by Colvin, Linden, Delaware, and Tacoma Avenues. BANNERSTOBEHUNGINTHECITYOFBUFFALO y The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by North District Council Member Joseph Golombek, Jr. giving permission to the Black Rock Riverside Good Neighbor Planning Alliance Historical Committee to hang bannersin the Black Rock area, along Amherst Street from Niagara Street to Tonawanda Street. The banners will commemorate the War of 1812 and will be displayed from July 1, 2011 until the completion of the events commemorating the War of 1812. SALEOFCITYOWNEDPROPERTYThe Council approved the sale of the following City owned properties: y Ellicott District o 35 Tenth Street was sold to Ms. Tiffany Durilla for $2,400 y Fillmore District o 56 and 58 Empire Street were sold to Mr. Ronald and Mrs. Amy Jones for $3,000 o 604, 610, and 616 North Division Street was sold to Harvest House for $4,500 y South District o 1566 South Park Avenue was sold to Mr. Donald Smukall for $3,800 APPOINTMENTS y The Council approved the appointment of the following individual to aposition within the City of Buffalo at a step above the base salary: o Department of Public Works  Recreation Instructor y Stephen Rogers y The Council accepted the appointment of the following individuals to positions within various City of Buffalo Departments at the base salary: o Department of Public Works  Senior First Class Stationary Engineer y John Scanlon  Assistant Filtration Plant Operator y John Gurbacki  Supervising Lifeguard Seasonal
y y y y y Damian ReedWheeler Elizabeth Connors Erin OBrien Giovanni Jones Jim Wilkinson y y y y y y Justin Hart OtukenGildo Robert Malave Samantha Murphy Samantha Schultz Sarah OBrien

Shanae Duncan
Aaron Dalton AdriennaDiCioccio Ahmed Elbaneh Alan Ring Alexander Walters Allison Wagner Amanda Gonter Andrew Potwora Arianna Gonzalez Ashley Murdoch Brandon Waz Brenda LaBorgne Brett Andersen Brittany Jaeckle Brittany Johnson Carl Reeves, Jr. Christopher Petrella Courtney Leous Daniel Clark Danielle Polniak David Gzyl Debra LaBorgne Desmond Brown Dominique Brown Donald Hill, Jr. Donovane Hill Edgar Rodriguez Eduvijez Sanchez Elizabeth Vogl Emma Hartman Erik Martin-Mingo Erin Hughes Greta Rizzo Ilon Crittenden Jacob Fossitt Jacob Jeziorowski

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y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

Taylor Sittniewski
James McCool Janel Anthony Jesus Algarin Jillian Casey Jillian Harris Jonathan Rossi Jose Cruz-Jackson Joshua Koester Joshua Parker Juan Nieves Julie Wozniak Kasia Williams Katelin Reed Kathleen Scherer Kayla Witherspoon Keith Peters Kevin Quinn Kirsten Lempke Liana Rodriguez Marisol Angeles Matthew Pasqualetti Megan Morcio Michael Geary Monica Smithers Noah Atkisson NunzioDiCioccio September Williams Shane Casado Shane Palistrant Tam Mai TarahForesta TeelaGajewski Timothy Anderson Timothy Ryan Treykel McGee

Lifeguard Seasonal
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o Department of Fire  Account Clerk Typist y TalishaColston o Department of Assessment & Taxation  Clerk Seasonal y Alonzo Thompson, Jr. The Council appointed the following individuals to the position of Intern within various District Common Council and the City Clerk Offices: o Office of the City Clerk  Timothy Eglogg  Sheila Durham  Robert Quintana  John Wagner  Cameron Rogers  Angel Castro 5

 Malcolm Ertha  Rachel Mumm o Fillmore District  Christian Dobosiewicz  Philip Lowrey  Connor Mann o Masten District  Danielle Taylor  Cydney Johnson  Thearthur Duncan II

 

John Fuqua Kevin Pitts Jr.

LICENSE AND PERMIT APPROVALSUpon the recommendation of the Department Permit & Inspection Services, the Council approved the following license and permit applications: y Delaware District o Permit for a Sidewalk Caf  H. Persaud, owner of property located at 579 Forest Avenue y Ellicott District o Permit for an Outdoor Patio  D. Hannon, agent of property located at 166 Franklin Street o Restaurant Dance Class III License  Pure Live located at 67 West Chippewa Street o Used Car Dealer License  Bigg-Dogg Inc. located at 538 Pearl Street  Leons Auto Sales & Service located at 116 Myrtle Avenue o Permit to Erect Ground Sign  J. Knab, agent of property located at 1069 Delaware Avenue o Sidewalk Caf License  PURE located at 67 West Chippewa Street y Fillmore District o Permit for an Outdoor Caf  G. Alfieri, owner of the property located at 253 Allen Street o Restaurant Dance License  Roxys located at 884 Main Street o Used Car Dealer License  Global Resale Center located at 98 Wasmuth Avenue y Niagara District o Second Hand Dealer License  Westside Stories located at 205 Grant Street The Council denied the following license application: y Ellicott District o Permit for a Ground Sign  D. Mika, agent of property located at 63 Linwood Avenue CLAIMS, CONTRACTS, CHANGE ORDERS & AGREEMENTS

The Council approved the following contract change orders submitted by the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works (DPW): o The contract with DiDonato Associates for the South Park and Tifft Street Project was increased by $50,000for additional design, construction, and inspection services. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $508,491 and with thischange the contract will increase to $558,491. Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning (OSP), the Council: o Authorized the PILOT Agreement between the City of Buffalo, County of Erie, and Heart of the City Neighborhoods Inc. (HCN) for the Cynthia Gardens Project. HCN will construct eight apartment units on the vacant land located at 294-302 Hudson Street. The project will consist of four two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units, all of which will be affordable for households with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income. The total development cost is estimated to be $1,527,000. o Authorized the sale and transfer of former School Number 36 located at 40 Days Park to the Elmwood Village Charter School (EVCS). The property was sold to EVCS for the sum of $550,000 and is 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 engage the services of a engineering consultant for the Rehabilitation of the Number 4 Pump and Motor Project at the Massachusetts Avenue Pump Station. The pump station has two 30 million gallons per day pumps which provide redundancy for the Citys water system, however one of the pumps is in need of a full rehabilitation due to a shaft failure. The estimated cost for the consulting engineer will not exceed $100,000. o Authorized DPW to engage the services of Watts Architecture & Engineering, P.C. for architectural and engineering services for projects in the following City of Buffalo parks:  LaSalle Park Shelter House and Dog ParkImprovements  Shoshone Park Shelter House Improvements  Riverside Park Fields Improvements; and  Construction administration and inspection at various parks citywide The Council approved the reports of bids from the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works for the following project: o The Massachusetts Avenue ParkProject Phase I. Of the bids that were received, Titan Development was the lowest with a bid of $119,647. o The 213 Bristol & 235 Emslie Streets Playground Rehabilitation & Soil Remediation Project. Of the bids that were received, Scott Lawn Yard, Inc. was the lowest with a bid of $90,210. o The Erie Basin Marina Boardwalk Construction Project General Construction Phase. Of the bids that were received, Pinto Construction, Inc. was the lowest with a bid of $428,450. o The Erie Basin Marina Boardwalk Construction Project Electrical Phase. Of the bids that were received, Ferguson Electric, Inc. was the lowest with a bid of $26,290. 7

o The Erie Basin Marina Pier Gates Project General Construction Phase. Of the bids that were received, Pinto Construction, Inc. was the lowest with a bid of $114,950. o The Erie Basin Marina Pier Gates Project Electrical Phase. Of the bids that were received, Ferguson Electric, Inc. was the lowest with a bid of $98,890. o The Erie Basin Marina Restroom Improvements Project General Construction Phase. Of the bids that were received, Miller Enterprises was the lowest with a bid of $131,670. o The Erie Basin Marina Restroom Improvements Project Electrical Phase. Of the bids that were received, Ferguson Electric, Inc. was the lowest with a bid of $46,200.
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 the live streaming of Common Council meetings on a personal computing device with internet access, please insert the following address into the device web-browser: www.city-buffalo.com/Home/Leadership/CommonCouncil/Common_Council_Live_Coverage. 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/Home/Leadership/CommonCouncil.

BUFFALO COMMON COUNCIL David A. Franczyk Council President Fillmore District 1315 City Hall 851-4138 Michael J. LoCurto Delaware District 1405 City Hall 851-5155 Joseph Golombek, Jr. North District 1502 City Hall 851-5116 David A. Rivera President Pro Tempore Niagara District 1504 City Hall 851-5125 Darius G. Pridgen Ellicott District 1408 City Hall 851-4980 Michael P. Kearns South District 1401 City Hall 851-5169 Common Council Legislative Staff Office 1413 City Hall 851-5105 Richard A. Fontana Majority Leader Lovejoy District 1414 City Hall 851-5151 Demone A. Smith Masten District 1316-A City Hall 851-5145 Bonnie E. Russell University District 1508 City Hall 851-5165

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