Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Will a private suite in the new Highmark Stadium that's dedicated to Erie County be used for political insiders or for community groups?
That's a question Erie County Legislator Taisha St. Jean Tard wants answered and answered before the new $2.2 billion home to the Buffalo Bills opens this summer.
"It is supposed to be a benefit," St. Jean Tard said.
The lawmaker is proposing a policy that would only allow community and not-for-profit groups access to the suite during Bills' games and other special events.
That policy is under review, but St. Jean Tard wants it before the entire legislature and voted on before the stadium opens.
For now, there are more questions than answers.
Among them:
1.) Who would determine which group gains access to the suite?
St. Jean Tard said it must determined who would sign off on that and would it need formal approval from the county lawmakers.
"I want this to be totally transparent," St. Jean Tard said.
2.) Would a lottery system be used to determine which group can use the suite for any given game?
3.) Will there be a waiting period so that if a group gains access to the suite, will they have to wait a determined number of years before re-applying?
4.) Who would pick up the catering tab?
St. Jean Tard said she and her staff are looking at what other stadiums use and using that as a guide post.
"The intent is to be fair to everyone," St. Jean Tard.
Erie County was allocated a 12-person suite as part of its package for providing $250 million in public funds that helped finance the stadium.
New York state, which allocated $600 million, also has a suite.