Niagara Falls City Council members made quick work of a trio of legislative items at a special meeting called by Mayor Robert Restaino late Monday afternoon.
The items, two public works-related contracts and a new collective bargaining agreement with the union representing Falls Police captains and lieutenants, had all failed to gain approval at the city council’s regular meeting on Wednesday. Action on the contracts and collective bargaining agreement was either postponed or failed outright on votes of 2-2, with Council Member David Zajac (R) not present and voting because of a medical emergency.
Council Members Vincent Cauley (R) and Bridgette Myles (D) initially opposed a $478,875 contract with Laubacker Enterprises for drainage structure replacement and repair in connection with the city’s 2026 road paving projects. Cauley specifically objected to the use of Community Development Block Grant funds for the work.
Restaino told council members the failure to approve the drainage work would put the city’s road paving plans for this summer in jeopardy.
“You need to make sure that after you mill the old road, the drainage in the old road is reset so that the new pavement lines up with it,” the mayor said. “Typically, you install new catch basins before paving because the new paving needs proper drainage.”
Restaino said the approval of the contract would allow some paving projects to begin by the end of June, with the bulk of the city’s road work underway by July. He said the city is in the process of determining what streets and roads will be repaved this summer.
City lawmakers approved the drainage project contract unanimously.
Myles and Cauley also initially opposed the new police union CBA, with Myles complaining that she did not have enough time to review the proposed agreement.
“It’s not fair that we get this material on Sunday (for a Wednesday meeting),” she said.
After failing to postpone a vote on the CBA, the new contract was defeated on a tied vote, with Cauley and Myles in opposition and Council Chair Brian Archie (D) and Member James Perry (D) in favor. Perry called the vote “disrespectful” to the union members.
At Monday’s meeting, Restaino told Cauley there was “no mechanism” in the Falls City Charter that would allow for city council members to participate in union negotiations. The mayor warned the council that a failure to approve the CBA could lead the union to seek binding arbitration.
“The fact we have been able to negotiate this without arbitration is in the best interests of the union and the taxpayers,” the mayor said.
The council approved the union contract unanimously.
City lawmakers had also deadlocked on the award of a $96,793 contract with E-LECTRIC of WNY to repair and improve the operation of a complex collection of traffic signals and electrical boxes at the intersection of 11th Street and Lockport Road. City officials said the current signal system, in close proximity to the Harry F. Abate Elementary School, is “old and malfunctions” frequently, creating what they described as a “serious traffic safety” situation for school children.”
Officials proposed using funding from the city’s CARES Act grant for the project, but warned the contract had to be finalized by June 10 or the grant money would no longer be available.
Myles and Cauley both opposed the contract initially. Myles said she was also concerned that E-LECTRIC was the only bidder on the project.
The council member said she forwarded an unsolicited second bid to city administrators. Administrator Anthony Restaino said the bid did not meet the project’s requirements.
“I support kids. I support public safety. But I don’t support this rushed vote,” Myles said before voting to approve the contract along with Archie, Perry and Zajac. Cauley voted no.