Published: November 19, 2008 12:16 am      

NIAGARA FALLS: Council ousts city planner

Thomas DeSantis’ job cut but should return

Frustrated over the lack of progress and development in Niagara Falls, a majority of City Council members voted Tuesday to eliminate the job of Senior City Planner Thomas DeSantis.

In total, the council approved 69 amendments and cut $415,484 from Mayor Paul Dyster’s $80.2 million proposed budget, the most surprising of which was DeSantis’ $57,022 annual position, which passed by a 3-2 vote.

Council Chairman Samuel Fruscione and council members Steve Fournier and Robert Anderson Jr. cast the majority vote over Charles Walker and Chris Robins. Afterward, Fruscione insisted his decision was nothing personal against DeSantis, but because little has changed since DeSantis has been city planner over the past two decades and multiple mayoral administrations.

“The majority of the council is not happy with his performance at City Hall,” Fruscione said. “His track record is, well take a look outside. He’s been city planner for the last 20 years and look at the shape the city is in.”

Eliminating DeSantis’ job may be a moot point, however, since the mayor has the power to veto any of the council’s amendments. Vetoes can be overturned by a “super majority” of four council votes, but that seems unlikely since both Robins and Walker voted against the initial position cut.

“I think it’s important to have that position in the budget,” Robins said after the budget worksession.

Walker agreed, but said he could reconsider if the other three councilmembers convince him the same amount of work can be done without the position.

“The city has to have a city planner,” he said, adding the amount of new development projects are increasing. “I don’t know what their idea is to make up for that loss.”

Fruscione and Fournier said they believe DeSantis’ workload could be absorbed by new Economic Development Director Peter Kay, whose position was created by Dyster in September.

“There seems to be a duplication of services going on,” Fournier said. “I think Peter Kay is more than qualified to do Mr. DeSantis’ job.”

DeSantis’ department has recently finished updated drafts to the city’s 1992 comprehensive plan and 1994 zoning ordinance. The plans have attracted criticism by some residents and businessmen upset about proposed height restrictions for buildings in the downtown area.

Fruscione admitted negative reaction to the plan factored into the decision to eliminate DeSantis’ job.

“That entire plan was done without including input from the council or business owners,” Fruscione said.

DeSantis declined to comment on the council’s actions Tuesday. Dyster did not return a call seeking comment, however, Fruscione said the mayor was aware DeSantis’ job was being cut.

Besides the city planner position, the council approved an additional $85,522 worth of reductions in the planning department’s budget, including cuts to office supplies, postage, travel and training and books and magazine subscriptions. A vacant grant writer’s position was eliminated at a savings of $50,000, but the council decided to allocate a $15,000 stipend to another city employee to do the work.

“That’s the more effective way to handle grant writing because we won’t have to pay benefits for a full-time position,” Fruscione said.

Another major amendment to Dyster’s proposed budget was a $164,800 decrease in the estimated cost of gasoline next year. Dyster has budgeted $885,150 for all departments, but council members believe those estimates are too high since gas prices are now going down.

The council also approved an amendment to add $303,600 for eight new firefighters. City Controller Maria Brown said $292,538 of the cost would be reimbursed through the SAFER grant.

The $415,484 cut from the budget will not go to reduce taxes. It will be moved into a contingency account that can only be used with council approval. The council will meet again Monday to finalize amendments before turning the budget back over to the mayor, who will have about a week to make any vetoes.

Dyster’s proposed budget increases spending by more than $3 million but maintains stable tax rates for home and business owners thanks in large part to a shot of surplus state aid. However, Brown announced Tuesday that Gov. David Paterson’s state budget includes a reduction of $309,000 in aid for Niagara Falls than what is budgeted for next year. That loss will have to be made up through other revenue sources or possibly a purchasing freeze toward the end of 2009.

“We will have to come up with a remedy on our own and try not to dip into our fund balance,” Brown said. “We’re a city that knows how to survive in the red.”



Budget amendments

Here are a few of the major changes City Council made Tuesday to Mayor Paul Dyster’s proposed 2009 budget:

• Eliminated the position of Senior City Planner Thomas DeSantis, a savings of $57,022.

• Eliminated a vacant grants writer position in the planning department, a savings of $35,000.

• Reduced the cost estimated for gasoline next year by $164,800.

• Eliminated $48,500 remaining in a contingency account set up for the mayor’s discretion to assist in hiring.

• Reduced a combined $40,000 in overtime for the police department’s dispatch and patrol employees.

• Added $303,600 to hire eight additional firefighters. A total of $292,538 will be reimbursed through the SAFER grant.

• In total, $415,484 was cut from the proposed budget and placed into a contingency account to be used upon council approval.