[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6676914,"mediaKeyId","2344357-26180ef0ed99b228bb13091ac055f80a","parentId",2344357,"title","Resident urges change to youth bureau spending; council and attorney discuss confidentiality and records","audioSeconds",483,"startMs",492745,"endMs",976000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2344357-26180ef0ed99b228bb13091ac055f80a&start=492&end=976","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2344357-26180ef0ed99b228bb13091ac055f80a/thumbnail_492745.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6676914/Tonawanda/Erie-County/New-York/Resident-urges-change-to-youth-bureau-spending-council-and-attorney-discuss-confidentiality-and-records","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676914-e85f7ba739a3543b79f834504351370e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776234774&Signature=VctggfaJ-r28pbf19QzZNX40gYKJB7m5~eQ2O9uVhIofPRjFc39XPYLAXbOgbQc3aJ7tMam76KFVF5VVKtE3R9uf9A1pBNtvcwWPiDZwr-22Sl2SXA188OeXXfE35Ew4elE25g7lYF4b-AVmWvssIjgkXQMJT0cjaZH1AUkf3f0upuc5SskjWbS9dmeRhRxUmd6gei4EhrkoNjDoRddx72bIYsn6FF9lHsj5xAfBEb7r0cEuGoO7toH4efdOkUy4JuNie-HWh6vkbseGB-RgBQJn5qrsVtoM3O2LihKsj9BSXPMrplYWT-fWO-h7KnuiNKhkoMAVQxLfWrkmU4RDSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tonawanda, NY","date","2025-02-19T13:47:56.76Z","article","During public comment at the City of Tonawanda Common Council meeting, resident Robert Galtke urged the council to eliminate a $5,400 line item for the youth bureau and redirect the funds to youth programs, saying most activities duplicated parks-and-recreation work and characterizing the bureau’s paid positions as patronage.

Galtke said the 2025 budget allocates $5,400 to the youth bureau, “$5,000 of which goes towards salaries for a chair and sector,” and argued the city could merge youth functions into parks and recreation or rebrand the department to deliver programming more effectively. He told the council his research indicated the city does not meet the 20,000-population threshold for state youth-bureau funding and that many nearby municipalities have merged youth functions into recreation departments.

Council members responded: Council member Fisher said he would follow up with the mayor’s office to verify whether the youth bureau’s work justifies the expense; Council member Shiesley and others said they supported reviewing consolidation and spending efficiencies. Mayor John White said he previously reduced a youth-bureau payment and encouraged residents with concerns to speak with him directly.

Separately, council members questioned the city attorney about a recently publicized settlement. A council member noted a settlement clause in a prior resolution stating the name of a former employee and specific settlement terms “shall be kept confidential by all parties,” and asked about the legality of confidentiality provisions after a newspaper article identified a person the article said was the former employee. The city attorney explained that public officers law and FOIL allow redaction of certain personal personnel information, and that confidentiality clauses do not always prevent disclosure when a public entity is the subject of a records request; the attorney said the city is exercising its right under public officers law to withhold certain personal information to protect an individual’s privacy. The mayor was reported in a newspaper article as confirming a settlement with a former employee; council members questioned how the name appeared publicly despite a redaction.

No formal action was taken on the youth bureau during the meeting. Council members asked staff to gather more information for budget deliberations and to consider consolidation or reorganization options before the next budget cycle.

Provenance

- Public comment by Robert Galtke: transcript block starting at 2328.0652 contains Galtke’s presentation and budget figures (\"the 2025 budget allocates $5,400 to the youth bureau, $5,000 of which goes towards salaries...\").

- Attorney remarks on records and redaction: transcript blocks starting about 492.745 through 656.55 contain attorney explanation of public officers law and redaction authority; the mayor’s reported statement to the newspaper is included in the same exchange.

Context and next steps

Council members said they would review the youth bureau’s activities and budget line items over the coming months and requested follow-up information from the administration. Council member Fisher said he would email the mayor’s office to confirm the bureau’s activity level and funding justification. The attorney’s explanation clarified the city’s use of FOIL redactions for personnel information but did not change any immediate council action regarding the settlement or the youth bureau.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 18, 2025 Common Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A resident urged the council to redirect a $5,400 youth bureau line item toward youth programming and questioned the bureau's structure; the meeting also included a discussion with the city attorney about confidentiality, FOIL/redaction and a newspaper article naming a former employee.","taxTitle","Tonawanda, Erie County, New York","taxId",56260,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6676919,"Tonawanda council adopts local law to allow 2026 tax levy above state cap; approves contracts for roof, splash pad",531,1789830,2321000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2344357-26180ef0ed99b228bb13091ac055f80a&start=1789&end=2321","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2344357-26180ef0ed99b228bb13091ac055f80a/thumbnail_1789830.jpg","/articles/6676919/Tonawanda/Erie-County/New-York/Tonawanda-council-adopts-local-law-to-allow-2026-tax-levy-above-state-cap-approves-contracts-for-roof-splash-pad","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676919-26270447fd1a7620ba884c16af8caf3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776234774&Signature=Oipg7zbfU2gxVaJLiki412aXLHpCb4whbd6B1GPe-MPK6zO7a9s9OUAxHgIigOUXlvcR4iZew490YwTh5YP2xYk6jWNW0vXhCFcmKdQ3gCDpM5koXRyILDow1nqm9IlHQR0tE-Ef0f3DNMRCH0jX1Jaa91cpPVLmUiW84MRQvrFP9ssz6jrFN6ZvO22pT-7V2KL2xNgYO8IewU31rAwnGfNzJ67spfxnbhXH2ZgXj8rV~jceeDpwXS~P3zuM2B3M5Hzy0~MOMQ57ipEi0D3p-k6lov1xBuXZ28gJgy8L2-1b4aVj3GzwG5eFsjmcRk1Mbm3CluTWHhMa52WeINdwzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Tonawanda Common Council on the evening of the meeting adopted Local Law No. 1 (2025), authorizing the city to adopt a 2026 budget with a real property tax levy in excess of the limit set by New York State General Municipal Law, Article 2, Section 3C. The council also approved contract awards for the Department of Public Works administration building roof design and the Culver Park splash pad, and allowed audited bills. One resolution was tabled.

The local law authorizes the council to override the state tax cap for the fiscal year beginning Jan. 1, 2026, as permitted by subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law Article 2, Section 3. Council members debated the measure before voting to adopt it by roll call. During the discussion, Council member Fisher said, “I will not ask our residents, our neighbors, to go above the tax cap and finance this,” arguing for cuts rather than a tax increase; other council members said they supported the law to give the mayor flexibility when preparing a budget.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 1 (motion to table): A motion by Council member Milam to table Resolution 1 was seconded by Council member Raumstrom/Roundstrom and the clerk called the roll; the resolution was declared tabled on a roll-call vote.

- Resolution 2 (allow bills as audited): Sponsored by Council member Shiesley; roll-call vote recorded as aye from Cheesley/Keasley, Fisher, Raub/Raumstra, Milam and Cook. The presiding officer declared the resolution adopted.

- Resolution 3 (DPW administration building roof — design phase): Adopted on the recommendation of City Engineer Jason J. Lamonica, PE. The council approved awarding design-phase services to Clark Patterson Lee at a cost not to exceed $71,880. The council adopted the resolution by roll-call.

- Resolution 4 (Culver Park splash pad construction): Adopted on the recommendation of City Engineer Lamonica. The council approved awarding construction of the Culver Park splash pad to Groundbreaking Solutions LLC at a cost not to exceed $344,213.60. Council member Roundstrom noted that the project received outside funding, mentioning a $250,000 grant from Senator Sean Ryan and an additional $100,000 from a legislator identified in the meeting as Art Musee.

- Resolution 5 (Local Law No. 1 — tax cap override): The council considered and adopted the local law permitting a tax levy in excess of the statutory limit for the 2026 budget year. Council members debated fiscal priorities, reserve use and potential cuts before the roll-call adoption.

Formal actions and motions recorded in the meeting generally followed the clerk’s roll-call procedure and were declared adopted where the clerk announced a majority vote. The meeting record shows motions being made, seconds recorded, and roll calls taken for each adopted resolution.

Context and next steps

Council and public comments during the meeting emphasized competing priorities: some members urged fiscal restraint and sought cuts rather than higher taxes, while others said the local law was necessary to allow the mayor to propose a budget that responds to rising costs and available investment opportunities. Mayor John White and several council members referenced a recently awarded Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant of $10,000,000 as background context for city finances and future planning.

The council’s adoption of Local Law No. 1 enables the mayor and staff to prepare a 2026 budget that may exceed the statutory cap; any specific levy increase will appear in the budget the mayor presents later in the process. Contract awards for the DPW roof and the splash pad advance design and construction work; staff will proceed with agreements consistent with the terms approved by the council.

Votes provenance

- Resolution 1 (table): topic intro evidence: \"We have a motion by Mr. Milam to table resolution 1. It's been seconded by mister Roundstrom.\" (transcript block starting at 1529.765). topic finish evidence: clerk roll-call and declaration \"Declare the resolution tabled.\" (transcript blocks starting at 1543.03–1555.775).

- Resolution 3 (roof design): topic intro evidence: resolution text referencing City Engineer Jason J. Lamonica and award to Clark Patterson Lee (transcript block starting at 1613.9349). topic finish evidence: roll call adoption (transcript blocks 1636.07–1650.675).

- Resolution 4 (splash pad): topic intro evidence: resolution text awarding to Groundbreaking Solutions LLC at $344,213.60 (transcript block starting at 1663.07). topic finish evidence: roll call adoption (transcript blocks 1682.92–1752.48).

- Resolution 5 (local law): topic intro evidence: full local law text introduced on the floor, including citation to General Municipal Law Article 2, Section 3C (transcript blocks starting at 1769.8301). topic finish evidence: council debate and final roll call declared the resolution adopted (transcript blocks starting at 1948.1101 and votes around 2292–2305).","The City of Tonawanda Common Council adopted a local law authorizing a property tax levy above the state cap for the 2026 fiscal year and approved several resolutions including design work for a DPW roof and construction of a splash pad. One resolution was tabled; others were adopted by roll call.","actionData","errors"]

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Resident urges change to youth bureau spending; council and attorney discuss confidentiality and records

Tonawanda council adopts local law to allow 2026 tax levy above state cap; approves contracts for roof, splash pad