Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-0810ssCOMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO AUGUST 10, 2005 SPECIAL SESSION FRUITBELT REDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Brian C. Davis, Chairperson MAYOR Hon. Anthony M. Masiello ACTING COMPTROLLER Andrew Sanfilippo COMMON COUNCIL PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL FILLMORE DISTRICT David A. Franczyk PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT Bonnie E. Russell MAJORITY LEADER DELAWARE DISTRICT Marc A. Coppola DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS BRIAN C. DAVIS - ELLICOTT RICHARD A. FONTANA - LOVEJOY ANTOINE M. THOMPSON - MASTEN DOMINIC J. BONIFACIO Jr. - NIAGARA JOSEPH GOLOMBEK JR. - NORTH JEFFREY M. CONRAD - SOUTH REGULAR COMMITTEES CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE: Bonnie E. Russell Chairman, Brian C. Davis, Joseph Golombek Jr., Richard A. Fontana - Members CLAIMS COMMITTEE: Jeffrey M. Conrad, Chairman, Richard A. Fontana, Joseph Golombek,Jr., Antoine M. Thompson - Members COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: Joseph Golombek, Jr. Chairman, Dominic J. Bonifacio Jr., Bonnie E. Russell, Antoine M. Thompson - Members FINANCE COMMITTEE: Brian C. Davis, Chairman, Dominic J. Bonifacio, Jr., Jeffrey M. Conrad; Marc A. Coppola, - Members. LEGISLATION COMMITTEE: Richard A. Fontana, Chairman, Dominic J. Bonifacio Jr., Marc A. Coppola, Bonnie E. Russell - Members RULES COMMITTEE: David A. Franczyk, Chairman Marc A. Coppola, Bonnie E. Russell - Members SPECIAL COMMITTEES BUDGET COMMITTEE: Dominic J. Bonifacio, Jr., Chairman, Marc A. Coppola, Brian C. Davis, Joseph Golombek, Jr. - Members MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE - Antoine M. Thompson, Chairman Brian C. Davis, James D. Griffin EDUCATION COMMITTEE Antoine M. Thompson, Chairman, Richard A. Fontana, David A. Franczyk, Bonnie E. Russell CORPORATION PROCEEDINGS COMMON COUNCIL CITY HALL - BUFFALO SPECIAL SESSION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2005 AT 2:00 P.M. PRESENT : Council President Pro Tempore Russell and Council Members Bonifacio, Conrad, Coppola, Davis, Fontana, Golombek, and Thompson -8. ABSENT Council President Franczyk -1. NO. 1 Mr. Gerald A. Chwalinski City Clerk 1308 City Hall Buffalo, New York Dear Mr. Chwalinski: Pursuant to Section 3.9 of the Charter of the City of Buffalo, upon the written request of Five Councilmembers, dated August 8, 2005 presented to you herewith, I hereby call a Special Meeting of the Common Council, to be held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Buffalo, New York, on August 10 2005 at 2:00 P.M. for the following purposes: To receive and take appropriate action on All Items Relating To 1. Perrysburg Yours very truly, Bonnie E. Russell President Pro Tempore of the Council RECEIVED AND FILED. Mr. David A. Franczyk President, Common Council Dear Sir: We, the undersigned members of the Common Council, hereby request that you call a Special Meeting of the Common Council, pursuant to Section 3.9 of the Charter of the City of Buffalo, for the following purpose: To receive and take appropriate action on All items pertaining to 1. Perrysburg We request that this Special Meeting be held on August 10, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. Marc Coppola Jeffrey M. Conrad Antoine Thompson Bonnie E. Russell Dominic J. Bonifacio, Jr. Pursuant to Rule 2 of the Rules of Order of the Common Council of the City of Buffalo, each of the following named members of the Common Council, to wit: DOMINIC BONIFACIO MARC COPPOLA RICHARD FONTANA BONNIE E. RUSSELL JEFFREY M. CONRAD BRIAN DAVIS JOSEPH GOLOMBEK ANTOINE THOMPSON hereby agrees that he /she received twenty -four (24) hours' notice of the time and purpose of the Special Meeting of the Common Council duly called to be held on August 10, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF ERIE) ss: CITY OF BUFFALO) On this 8th day of August 2005, before me, the subscribers, personally appeared All Councilmembers To me known to be the same persons described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and they duly and severally acknowledged to me that they executed the same. Gerald A. Chwalinski My Commission Expires 12/31/06 August 8, 2005 TO EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL: YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that, pursuant to Section 3.9 of the Charter of the City of Buffalo, upon the written request of Five Councilmembers, dated August 8, 2005, DAVID A. FRANCZYK, President of the Common Council, has called a Special Meeting of the Common Council, to be held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. for the following purpose: To receive and take appropriate action on all items relating to 1) Perrysburg Yours very truly, Gerald A. Chwalinski City Clerk NO. 2 D. FRANCZYK- OPPOSITION TO SALE OF J.N. ADAM COMPLEX To My Esteemed Colleagues of the Buffalo Common Council: I am hereby informing you of my ardent opposition to the sale of the 649 -acre J.N. Adam Hospital complex in Perrysburg, New York, to the Trathen Land Company, a logging interest. This magnificent property, a mere 45- minute drive from Buffalo, was purchased by the visionary Mayor of Buffalo, James Noble Adam who then donated the land to our City. Subsequently, bonds were floated by our City and the tuberculosis hospital was built. The citizens of Buffalo paid for and built this complex, it is property held in public trust. Not only is our City being cheated on the purchase price, a measly $333,000 when the parcel in question was assessed at $4 million two years ago, but the bidder has no solid, written or any plan otherwise to preserve or reuse the buildings that are listed on the National Historic Register. Mr. Trathen's primary interest is to log out the 100+ year old forest of oak, hickory, black cherry, hard maple, etc. (including some rare species), as well as significant amounts of trees likely dating back to the Civil War era. Over 250 different species of plants have been identified on the property, including rare orchids and many plants found only in Zoar Valley, and Alleghany and Letchworth State Parks, all of which are State Preserves. The lack of logging on this site for the past 100 or so years has allowed a tremendous biodiversity to evolve at this site, a rarity in the eastern half of the United States. This Council, charged with the role of leadership and vision, and protection of the public well being, should not be cowed and intimidated by a lawsuit filed by someone who so far has exhibited only personal interest in dealing with this public trust. As a body we need to show wisdom, courage and vision in dealing with this unusual public asset, which has much more potential than a denuded forest and demolished historic buildings/ Let us continue to oppose this sale. Hasty decisions on issues of such magnitude often in the future are realized as the wrong ones. Allowing this sale will change this property irreparably; which is there now can never be replaced. I thank you for you thoughtful deliberation in this matter. RECEIVED AND FILED. NO. 3 J. N. ADAM HOSPITAL AGREEMENT I am providing the following information for Common Council action regarding the proposed agreement between the City of Buffalo and the State of New York regarding the above - referenced property. Attached please find the proposed reverter agreement and parcel descriptions, the necessary documents for the City's sale of its reversionary interest in certain parcels of land in Perrysburg, N.Y. know as the J. N. Adam reversionary interested in certain parcels of land in Perrysburg, N.Y. known as J.N. Adam Hospital. The parcels will be transferred to the State of New York, acting on behalf of the Hospital. The parcels will be transferred to the State of New York, acting on behalf of the dormitory authority. The parcels to be transferred are referenced in a survey prepared by McIntosh & McIntosh, P.C. dated July 26, 2000, which was previously provided to the Council. This agreement will facilitate the following: 1. Sale proceeds to the City of Buffalo in the amount of $333,900; 2. Transfer of property to the State of New York for sale to Trathen Co. 3. Future transfer of some parcels by the State of New York to the Town of Perrysburg, as well as, the water system and necessary easements; 4. Retaining reversionary interests in the balance of the property where six homes have been constructed; 5. Prior written approval or disapproval from the City of Buffalo regarding the removal or demolition of the music dome in the dining hall. The Corporation Counsel recommends the approval of the attached agreement by your Honorable Body. Mr. Coppola moved: That the communication from the Corporation Counsel, dated August 9, 2005, be received and filed; and That the Corporation Counsel be, and he hereby is authorized to enter into the agreement between the City of Buffalo and the People of the State of New York, Dormitory Authority attached hereto, to transfer certain lands situated in the Village of Perrysburg owned by the City to the People for use in the establishment of the JN Adams State Memorial Hospital including the following conditions: 1. Sale proceeds to the City of Buffalo in the amount of $333,900; 2. Transfer of property to the State of New York for sale to Trathen Co; 3. Future transfer of some parcels by the State of New York to the town of Perrysburg, as well as, the water system and necessary easements; 4. Retaining reversionary interests in the balance of the property where the six (6) homes have been constructed; 5. Prior written approval or disapproval from the City of Buffalo regarding the removal or demolition of the music dome in the dining hall. PASSED. AYES- BONIFACIO, CONRAD, COPPOLA, DAVIS, FONTANA, RUSSELL, THOMPSON -7. NOES - GOLOMBEK -1. NO. 4 ADJOURNMENT On a motion by Mr. Coppola, seconded by Mr. Thompson, the Council adjourned at 2:17 PM. GERALD A. CHWALINSKI CITY CLERK