Good morning,
Today is filled with meetings here at 65 Niagara Square, as the Common Council and the Planning Board start a new year with full agendas.
The Planning Board met this morning and held off on approving plans for a new Mighty Taco at 396 Kenmore Ave. until concerns about fencing and greenspace are met. Restaurant representatives expect to be back at the board in two weeks. Before this morning's delay, the chain hoped to open at that location in late spring.
A controversial plan to add a scrap metal recycling facility at Military and Hertel was tabled, as the applicant, Ben Weitsman and Son of Buffalo, is continuing to work on a traffic study and is working with the Buffalo Environmental Management Commission. A full report to the board is expected in two weeks.
The Council's committees will meet all day today. On the agenda for the Civil Service Committee at 9:45 a.m. is a new salary and wage schedule for crossing guards, which is included with a new contract for the part-time workers, which the Council already approved. Human Resources Commissioner Patricia Folts is expected to speak about concerns from firefighters about the medical care they receive during the Finance Committee, at 10 a.m.
The Community Development Committee meets at 1 p.m., and the Legislation Committee meets at 2 p.m.
Also of note, Comptroller Mark J.F. Schroeder released the city's comprehensive annual financial report on Monday.
