Published: November 06, 2009 12:37 am      

NIAGARA FALLS: Cottrell complains to police of strong-arm tactics

Kevin Cottrell tells police of “very intimidating” visit from self-proclaimed relative of Renae Kimble

The man leading a push to promote the area’s ties to the Underground Railroad told Niagara Falls police that he had a “very intimidating” encounter this week with an individual who identified himself as a relative of a Niagara County lawmaker.

Kevin Cottrell, a state parks employee who serves as project coordinator of the North Star initiative, filed a police report on Wednesday alleging that a man who said he was related to county Legislator Renae Kimble engaged him in an “extremely awkward” conversation during a visit to his office at City Hall.

According to the police report, the man met privately on Monday with Cottrell to discuss comments he allegedly made about Kimble following her appointment earlier this month to the 13-member Underground Railroad Heritage Commission. Cottrell told police two men had first come to city hall on Friday looking for him but he wasn’t in his office.

In the report, Cottrell said he admitted to the man that he did use a derogatory comment to describe Kimble and explained that he used it in relation to how she got herself appointed to the commission. The report indicates Cottrell denied the man’s accusation that he also said he intended to “shoot her down like a dog,” saying he never said anything like that and the man got his information wrong.

The report indicates Cottrell gave the man his card and telephone number and the visitor to his office said he felt better knowing Kimble would not be harmed. According to the report, Cottrell told the man he thought the “nature of his visit was inappropriate” and that “this is not how things are done here.”

The report indicates that Cottrell’s visitor did not arrive at City Hall alone and that Cottrell later identified a man who accompanied him as a police detective from Buffalo.

Reached by telephone on Thursday, Cottrell verified the statements contained in the report and said he filed it because he was upset and disturbed by the encounter. He added he’s sick of dealing with a political class in Niagara County that has for many years used acts of intimidation in an effort to gain control over local projects and the funding attached to them.

“I have a job to do and my job should be productive and focused on getting this project moving,” Cottrell said. “It should not be focused on a goon squad coming in and intimidating me. Is this how we do business in the 21st century? Is that why nobody wants to come up here and do business? It stops with me.”

Kimble was appointed to the commission as the sole nomination of state Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos who named her to the board at the recommendation of Republican state Sen. George Maziarz.

Kimble said she had no knowledge of the incident in question. She did not respond when asked if the individual who visited Cottrell’s office was a member of her family.

“I don’t know anything about it,” she said, before declining further comment. “I wasn’t there. I know nothing about it.”

A dozen other residents with various backgrounds and education have been appointed to the commission, the first of its kind in New York. Members will work with sub-committees and be charged with implementing a master strategy to promote cultural heritage and oversee projects. To aid efforts, the commission is slated to receive $350,000 in casino funds annually until 2010.

Last year, the city and Niagara Falls State Park signed an agreement to appoint Cottrell to serve as project coordinator of the North Star initiative, created to establish a heritage tourism district along North Main Street and near the Whirlpool Bridge.

North Star has proposed three major projects, including transforming the first floor of the old U.S. Custom’s House on Whirlpool Street into an Underground Railroad interpretive center, which will complement the planned International Train Station. Cottrell has also proposed creating a park named after Tubman at Ontario Avenue and Main Street and is trying to partner with the U.S. Bridge Commission to allow pedestrian access halfway up the Whirlpool Bridge so people can relive Tubman’s historic walk.

Cottrell admitted he is concerned Kimble’s appointment is aimed at undermining the overall effort, which he noted is being supported by casino cash that some state and county lawmakers strongly believe should be spent elsewhere. Cottrell said he has no problem with Kimble serving on the board because he believes he will have the backing of the majority of commission members moving forward.

“I’m working,” Cottrell said. “I’m not looking for a fight.”