Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Common Council has a resolution on their agenda this Tuesday which calls for "a request for comprehensive emergency winter weather preparedness updates," to ensure ample time to prepare for possible severe weather events, like last year's Christmas blizzard.
Council Majority Leader David Rivera tells WBEN the council is calling for updates from Buffalo Police, Fire, Public Works, Human Resources and the mayor's office in regards to what the city's plans are to prepare for the upcoming winter weather, especially given that a severe weather event could come to the city well before the city's charter date to unveil snow plans.
"[The Council is] requesting the various department heads come to the Common Council, and brief us on their plans for snow removal emergencies, to make sure that we're prepared in every area that we need to. We're still waiting on the city's snow plan. That plan, by charter, has to be given to the Council by Nov. 1, but we're looking at changing the charter, pushing or moving the date back to April, giving us more time to analyze it and to allocate resources during the budget year in terms of manpower, equipment and technology. We would like to see the snow plan a lot sooner, making sure that we're prepared."
The Council's resolution, titled, “Where Are We At?," signed by Councilmembers David Rivera, Mitch Nowakowski, Bryan Bollman, and Rasheed Wyatt, also questions where the city stands in terms of hiring an Emergency Manager (Homeland Security Coordinator) and Fleet Manager, which were approved by the Council in February.
"We feel very strongly that there should be a robust process to bring these individuals on board, start planning for any eventuality," said Rivera. "We need to make sure that we have the proper equipment, that our fleet is prepared to deal with snow drifts and whether or not we need additional equipment. We need to know and make sure that we're prepared [and] we have the resources. The only way to do that, is by working with the administration, working with department heads providing the resources. Having a plan is very important, and that's why the Emergency Coordinator [position] is so important."
We asked Mayor Byron Brown where the city stands on a snow plan.
"[The] city is in good shape, snow plan by city charter is due, at least, by Nov. 1. We set up a snow task force that has met several times. [There's] good ideas coming from that organization. We had New York University, Wagner School do an after action report on the blizzard, they provided us with good information. We will have a range of new policies, procedures, equipment for this winter season."
Mayor Brown also responded to where the city stands on the appointments of Emergency and Fleet Managers.
"We have advertised those positions. People have been interviewed. We are going to extend the application and interview process. We want to make sure that we get people with the right qualifications for those positions."
Even though the mayor is ensuring a revised snow plan by Nov. 1, the Council wants answers to other snow-related preparedness plans as well.
The resolution reads:
"Furthermore, a resolution was adopted at the February 7, 2023 Buffalo Common Council meeting, known as the “WARMUP Act,” which urged the DPW to conduct a study on the feasibility and viability of using city-owned buildings as warming shelters. We are interested in learning whether this study has been conducted and the findings.
In order for the Buffalo Common Council and the public to be aware of the outcomes of the above requirements and requests, we respectfully request an immediate response from the administration on the aforementioned items at the Civil Service Committee Meeting on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 9:45 AM. We invite representatives from the administration, the Department of Public Works, the Police Department, Human Resources and the Fire Department to attend and address the Council's requests for updates on these critical matters."