By Jill Terreri
Good morning,
Today the Common Council will meet at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers, where they will discuss leadership's desire to have the Erie County Legislature investigate the county Board of Elections.
The resolution was criticized by Democratic Elections Commissioner Dennis Ward, who said their complaints should be directed at the party, and Legislature Chairwoman Betty Jean Grant said government bodies shouldn't be involved with partisan complaints.
Four members of the Council majority, including its top leadership, are seeking an investigation into "irregularities" at the board, including complaints about changes in polling locations. But the resolution also mentions changes in zone boundaries, which is something the county Democratic Committee decides, not the board.
Also today:
* The Council will consider a request from Council President Richard Fontana for an audit of city street lighting. Fontana suggests that the city could be owed money if it is being charged for electricity to broken street lights.
* The Council will consider forming a "cat task force" to get a handle on the city's population of outdoor cats, at the recommendation of Ellicott Council Member Darius Pridgen.
* Pridgen has another resolution urging more programming at Coca-Cola Field, which is expected to be adopted. The city pays for capital upgrades to the field and Pridgen has suggested that it should be used more.
* The Council is also expected to adopt a resolution urging the County Legislature to hold a hearing regarding findings by the county medical examiners' office in the death of Amanda L. Wienckowski. The Council held a hearing on the topic last week, but the county health department declined to participate.
* All Council members signed on to a resolution supporting plans to build a football stadium and entertainment complex on the Outer Harbor, which will be adopted.
