Published: November 24, 2009 08:54 pm      

CITY COUNCIL: $24K for jobs added back to budget; still want administrative cuts

Niagara Falls City Council members rescinded two of their budget amendments Tuesday but later reinforced their stance on eliminating Economic Development Director Peter Kay’s job and cutting City Administrator Donna Owens’ salary.

The council voted to put back a record asset clerk in the purchasing department into the proposed 2010 budget and allow the reclassification of two Public Works employees to enhance street repairs. Combined, the rescinded amendments will add $24,462 back into Mayor Paul Dyster’s $79.2 million budget.

“We took another look at these items and feel it is economically more prudent to have them in the budget,” Robins said during the brief budget meeting.

Last week, the council approved 81 amendments that slashed $282,391 out of the budget. The biggest cuts were the elimination of Kay’s $100,000 economic development position and reducing Owens’ annual base salary from $110,000 to $70,000. Though Dyster said he plans to veto those actions and emphasize the importance and accomplishments of the two positions, councilmembers said Tuesday they have not changed their stance.

To supersede a mayoral veto, there must be a super majority of at least four councilmembers voting alike.

“I’m not going to change my view on either of them,” Councilman Robert Anderson said. “We need to be prudent with our expenditures.”

Councilman Samuel Fruscione echoed those statements and noted that he heard numerous complaints about the job performance of Kay and Owens while he was going door to door during the recent election campaign.

“I refuse to change my stance,” he said. “Those positions are a waste of money.”

Council Chairman Chris Robins and Councilman Charles Walker appear to be the only ones likely of switching their previous votes and allowing the positions to stay intact. Both said they’ve had conversations with the mayor since last week but have not changed their mind.

“Right now, we are at the point where the mayor has to go through the veto process,” Robins said. “We are waiting for the veto to get a feeling from him about these two positions.”

Councilmembers will vote on a few minor budget amendments at 3:45 p.m. Monday before sending the budget back to the mayor on Tuesday. Dyster will have until Dec. 7 to make any vetos.

The rescinded amendments approved Tuesday included the reclassification of two DPW employers from MW-2 to MW-3 for six months of the year at an additional combined pay of $4,226. Public Works Director David Kinney said the change will identify the employees as specialized laborers and allow them to work on one of the key pieces of equipment used to fix city streets.

Walker said the reclassifications will amount to more time on task.

“In the long run, the city will more or less save money by doing this,” he said.

The creation of a new full-time record asset clerk for purchasing will cost $20,236, roughly the same amount the city budgeted for temporary work in the department last year. Though he has spoken out against any staff increases, Anderson said the new position is “paramount and only a few dollars compared to the $79 million budget.”

“This was going to be needed now or later,” he said.