For those of you who can’t make it to the weekly Common Council
meeting, following is the briefing. From this week’s meeting as
provided by the council:
The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Delaware District Council Member Michael J. LoCurto creating the City of Buffalo Green Building Code Task Force.
The Green Building Code Task Force will be comprised of eight members
charged with adopting standards for the construction of environmentally
friendly buildings. In 2009, New York State Governor David Paterson
signed into law, the New York State Green Building Construction Act,
which mandates that new construction, expansion, and renovation projects
conform to green building practices. Federal Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (“LEED”) guidelines, the Chicago Standard, and
other such programs can help mitigate the City of Buffalo’s impact on
the environment while still creating attractive buildings. The Green
Building Code Task Force will be responsible for outlining the criteria
used to determine the level of greenness for the construction of
buildings and the methods by which the City of Buffalo will achieve them
based on standards used in other United States cities.
The Council approved a resolution sponsored by Council Members David A. Franczyk and Curtis Haynes, Jr. requesting that the City of Buffalo waive all fees associated with the Now Generation’s Peace Walk and Rally. The “Now Generation” is a group of young activists who are united in their efforts to take a stand against violence and to show youth that there are alternatives to a life of drugs, violence, and crime. On December 11, 2010, after weeks of planning, the Now Generation hosted their inaugural 2.3 mile Peace Walk and Rally that began at the Broadway Market in the Fillmore Common Council District and ended at Buffalo City Hall in the Ellicott Common Council District. At least 200 walkers participated in the Peace Walk and their enthusiasm and message of unity persuaded additional East Side residents to join along the way. Several local area churches also joined the Now Generation in their efforts. Most of the marchers were youth who wished to take a stand against the drugs, gang violence, and crime that plagues many inner-city neighborhoods.
The Council approved the sale of the following City owned properties:
Fillmore District
200 Sweet Avenue was sold to the HIFZA Corporation for $1,700
Niagara District
228 Baynes Street was sold to Mr. Gregory Giardina for $3,100
237 Herkimer Street was sold to T.K. Oxford LLC for $2,500
The Council rescinded the sale of the following City owned properties:
Lovejoy District
The sale of 1418 & 1422 Bailey Avenue to Custom Sheet Metal was rescinded and the deposit of $600 forfeited
The Council appointed the following individuals to the City of Buffalo Green Building Code Taskforce:
Eric Walker, Kevin Connor, Dave Majewski, Paul Lang, Sam Magavern, Donna Budniewski
The Council appointed the following individual to the City of Buffalo Council-Manager Task Force:
Raymond Chapman
The Council adopted the Mayor’s appointment of the following individuals to the City of Buffalo Elevator Safety Board:
Frank Marks, Brenda Calhoun, Mary Battey, Randall Pawlik, Donald Winkle, John Lydon
The Council adopted the Mayor’s appointment of the following individuals to the City of Buffalo Construction and Home Improvement Advisory Board:
Michael Brundige, Paul Leone, Jim Moscato, Oscar Hernandez, Bob Krieger, Vince Ferraraccio, Pat Sole, Richard Fulinara
The Council approved the appointment of the following individual to the position of Associate Account Clerk within the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works at a step above the base salary:
Jennifer Jacobs
The Council accepted the appointment of the following individual to the position of Laborer II within the City Clerk’s Division of Record Management at the base salary:
Tara Rogowski
The Council accepted the appointment of the following individuals to the position of Laborer II within the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works at the base salary:
Don Williams, Jordash Pinkard, Mohamed Ali
The Council accepted the appointment of the following individuals to the position of Senior First Class Stationary Engineer within the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works at the base salary:
Lawrence Doctor, Jr., Dennis Schollard, Thomas Pyjas, James Conrad, Sephen Makula, Reginald Goston, Victor Burgio, John Womer, Patrick Lonergan, Casimi Piwowarski
Upon the recommendation of the Department Permit & Inspection Services, the Council approved the following license and permit applications:
Delaware District
Food Store License – Colvin Market Express LLC located at 117 Colvin Avenue
Permit for Outdoor Patio – D. Land, agent of property located at 2616 Main Street
Ellicott District
Second Hand Dealer License -Gamestar Inc. located at 442 William Street
South District
Pawnbroker License – Liberty Gold & Silver located at 1831 South Park Avenue
Claims, Contracts, Change orders & Agreements
The Council approved the following contract change orders submitted by the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works (“DPW”):
The contract with South Buffalo Electric, Inc. for the Bailey Kensington Fire Station Traffic Signal and Controls Project was decreased by $7,000 due to the deletion of trench work for the project. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $69,954 and with this change the contract will decrease to $62,954.
The contract with John W. Danforth Co., Inc. for the Large Meter Replacement Project was increased by $86,890. The installation of an additional 10 large meters at selected sites, will immediately address facilities with high volume water usage. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $289,635 and with this change the contract will increase to $376,525.
Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works (“DPW”) the Council:
Authorized DPW to issue a mere license to the Ellicott Development Company to install concrete bollards within the City of Buffalo right-of-way at 68 South Elmwood Avenue. The bollards are round in shape, 3 ½ feet tall, have an approximately three foot square base, and weigh approximately 3,000 pounds each. The bollards are being installed as a Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) security requirement.
Authorized DPW to issue a mere license to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (“NFTA”) to install a bus shelter within the City of Buffalo right-of-way at Seneca Street on the northeast corner of Emslie Street. The NFTA will be responsible for maintaining the bus shelter as long as it remains within the City of Buffalo right-of-way.
Authorized DPW to enter into an agreement with Wendel Duchscherer Architects and Engineers to provide professional services for the Citywide Tree Management and Planning Project. Wendel Duchscherer Architects and Engineers will be responsible for updating the City of Buffalo tree database, maintaining trees on City of Buffalo streets, vacant lots and City parks, and will include trimming trees, and managing the urban tree population. Of the bids that were received for the project, Wendel Duchscherer Architects and Engineers was the lowest with a bid of $277,395.
Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning (“OSP”), the Council:
Authorized a lease agreement between the City of Buffalo and Musicians United for Superior Education, Inc. (“MUSE”) for use of the second floor of the Utility/Control Pool Building and four dedicated parking spaces in Shoshone Park. The organization will use the property to continue its various youth programs. The lease agreement covers the period January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 and includes various terms and conditions.
Authorized a renewal of the lease agreement between the City of Buffalo and University Heights Community Development Association, Inc. for use of the Gloria J. Parks Community Center located at 3242 Main Street. The organization will use the property to continue its various human services and housing programs. The renewal agreement covers the period January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 and includes updated terms and conditions.
Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Department of Human Resources, the Council:
Authorized the Department of Human Resources to enter into a contract with Travers Collins and Company to initiate a marketing campaign for recruitment of applicants for the 2011 entry-level Police Officer examination scheduled to be administered during April 2011. The campaign is expected to last eight to ten weeks at a cost not to exceed $85,000.
The Council approved th
e reports of bids from the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works for the following projects:
The Michigan Avenue Water Main Investigation Project. Of the bids that were received, Visone Construction, Inc. was the lowest with a bid of $404,761.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Splash Pad Equipment Project. Of the bids that were received, Titan Development was the lowest with a bid of $373,945.
The Water Distribution System Improvements at Various Locations #1 in North Buffalo – Phase 2 Project. Of the bids that were received, Visone Construction, Inc. was the lowest with a bid of $1,687,636.
The Rehabilitation of Equipment in the Low Lift Pumping Station at the Colonel Ward Treatment Plant Project. Of the bids that were received, John W. Danforth Co. was the lowest with a bid of $3,711,060.