Civil service committee presses for documentation after Buffalo Water employee on paid leave for years

Buffalo — The Buffalo City Council Committee on Civil Service on Oct. 7 heard extended discussion about a Buffalo Water employee who has been on and off paid administrative leave for roughly three years while discrimination complaints, a grievance and subsequent discipline moved through internal and external processes.

Councilwoman Sharon Evert introduced the item, saying a Madison District resident who works for Buffalo Water had raised multiple concerns, including being placed on leave after filing complaints and receiving a settlement offer of $1,600 that he rejected. "He has sent me numerous emails, where he was asking when he was going to come back to work," Evert said during the meeting.

John Hannibal, assistant corporation counsel in the City of Buffalo Law Department, explained why the matter has taken an extended period. Hannibal said separate processes — an internal discrimination investigation, an arbitration over a grievance and later a discipline matter — all…