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HomeMy WebLinkAbout91-1218S 1COMMON COUNCIL CITY HALL, BUFFALO N.Y. SPECIAL SESSION DECEMBER 18, 1991 at: 1:30 P.M. Present- George K. Arthur, President of the Council and Councilmembers: Amos, Bakos, Bell, Collins, Coppola, Fahey, Franczyk, Higgins, LoTempio, Perla, Pitts, Zuchlewski. - 13. Absent- None. No. 1 Mr. Charles L. Michaux, III City Clerk 1308 City Hall Buffalo, New York Dear Mr. Michaux: Pursuant to Section 30 of the Charter of the City of Buffalo, upon the written request of five Council Members of the City of Buffalo, dated December 13, 1991, 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 December .18, 1991 1991 at 1: 30 pm. for the following purpose: (1) To receive, consider and take appropriate action on an item or items relating to the City of Buffalo's current fiscal crisis. Hon. David A. Franczyk President Pro Tempore of the Council 1315 City Hall Buffalo, New York 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 30 of the Charter of the City of Buffalo, for the following purpose: Norman Bakos, Brian Higgins, Dale Zuchlewski, Eugene M. Fahey, Clifford Bell (1) To receive, consider and take appropriate action on an item or items relating to the City of Buffalo's current fiscal crisis. WE request that this Special Meeting be held on December 18, 1991 at 1: 30 pm. 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: ARCHIE L. AMOS, JR. DAVID FRANCZYK NORMAN M. BAKOS CARL A. PERLA, JR. CLIFFORD BELL BRIAN HIGGINS DAVID A. COLLINS ROSEMARIE LoTEMPIO ALFRED T. COPPOLA JAMES W. PITTS EUGENE M. FAHEY DALE ZUCHLEWSKI hereby states that he 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 December 18, 1991 at 1:30 pm; STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF ERIE ss: CITY OF BUFFALO On this 18 day of December, 1991, before me, the subscribers, personally appeared Norman Bakos, Brian Higgins, Dale Zuchlewski, Carl A. PerIa, Jr., Alfred Coppola, Eugene M. Fahey, Clifford Bell, 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. Richard F. Okoniewski, Commissioner of Deeds, in and for the City of Buffalo, N.Y. My Commission expires 12/31/92. OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK TO EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL: YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that, pursuant to Section 30 of the Charter of the City of Buffalo, upon the written request of five Council Members, dated December 13, 1991 the HON. DAVID A. FRANCZYK President Pro Tempore of the Council, has called a Special Meeting of the Common Council, to be held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Buffalo, New York, on December 18th, 1991 at 1:30 pm. for the following purpose: (1) To receive, consider and take appropriate action on an item or items relating to the City of Buffalo's current fiscal crisis. CHARLES L. MICHAUX, III City Clerk No. 2. BY: MESSRS. BAKOS AND COPPOLA APPRAISAL FOR BENNETT BEACH WHEREAS: The City of Buffalo owns property outside its corporate boundaries commonly referred to as Bennett Beach; and WHEREAS: The value of this land has not been formally established; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That this Common Council requests that the Comptroller undertake any and all necessary measures to have an independent appraisal performed for the city-owned property commonly known as Bennett Beach. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND THE CORPORATION COUNSEL. No. 3 BY:MESSRS. BAKOS AND COPPOLA APPRAISAL FOR PERRYSBURG PROPERTY WHEREAS: The City of Buffalo owns property outside its corporate boundaries in Perrysburg, NY; and WHEREAS: The value of this land has not been formally established; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That this Common Council requests that the Comptroller undertake any and all necessary measures to have an independent appraisal performed for the city-owned property in Perrysburg, NY. ADOPTED. AYES- AMOS, BAKOS, BELL, COPPOLA, FAHEY, FRANCZYK, HIGGINS, LOTEMPIO, PERLA, ZUCHLEWSKI-10 NOES- ARTHUR, COLLINS, PITTS-3 No. 4 BY MR. FAHEY BUDGET GAP PROPOSED ACTION Attached please find a copy of the "Proposal for Closing Budget Shortfall" as presented to members of the Common Council at a meeting held on December 13, 1991. RECEIVED AND FILED. No. 5 BY: MR. FAHEY Proposed Plan to Preserve Credit Rating WHEREAS: The City of Buffalo, for various reasons, has a projected budget deficit of approximately $16.7 million for fiscal 1991-92; and WHEREAS: Because of this projected shortfall, Standard and Poors has changed its outlook on Buffalo's general obligation bonds from "stable" to "negative"; and WHEREAS: A "negative" rating would be devastating to the financial stability of the city, as it would result in a downgrading of the city's credit rating and could result in a loss of the city's ability to enter the market for both short and long term borrowing. Every aspect of city business, ranging from meeting weekly payroll to planning for capital projects would be adversely impacted; and WHEREAS: To reestablish a "stable" rating and maintain the city's BBB+ status, a joint effort by all branches of city government to adopt a plan to address this mid-year budget crisis is necessary; and WHEREAS: As a result of a meeting of Councilmembers held on December 13, 1991, the following plan of action is proposed for approval: Revenue enhancement: 3,000,000 Sell Hospital Perrysburg 2,180,000 Increase Utility Tax 1% 1,000,000 Increase PVB Revenues% 125,000 Increase Fees and Permits, TOTAL 6,305,000 Reduction of expenditures: 3,100,000 Vacancy Savings 1,350,000 Reserve for Retirees 875,000 2% Dept. Cuts 125,000 Suspend Holiday Garbage Pickup 80,000 Close Front & Houghton Pk Outdoor Ice Rinks 50,000 Council's Contingency Line (580) to 180,000 SUB TOTAL $ 5,580,000 GRAND TOTAL $11,885,000 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That this Common Council formally endorses and adopts the aforementioned plan of action, resulting in a net adjustment of $11.885 million, in order to address the projected budgetary imbalance for fiscal year 1991-92. Mr. Fahey moved to approve the above item; seconded by Mr. Bakos Mr. Coppola moved as an amendment to separate the items; seconded by Mr. Pitts LOST. AYES - ARTHUR, COLLINS, COPPOLA, PERLA, PITTS - 5. NOES - AMOS, BAKOS, BELL, FAHEY, FRANCZYK, HIGGINS, LOTEMPIO, ZUCHLEWSKI - 8. Mr. Fahey now moved his original motion to approve the above item; seconded by Mr. Bakos ADOPTED. AYES- AMOS, BAKOS, BELL, FAHEY, FRANCZYK, HIGGINS, LOTEMPIO, ZUCHLEWSKI - 8. NOES- ARTHUR, COLLINS, COPPOLA, PERLA, PITTS- 5. No. 6 ADJOURNMENT At 2:55 P.M. Mr. Fahey moved to adjourn. Seconded by Mr. Perla. Charles L. Michaux, III City Clerk Meeting reported by Leonard G. Sciolino, Council and Committee Reporter.