Niagara Falls council approves Greenway-funded park projects after debate over Exhibit B and cost estimates

The Niagara Falls City Council on April 9 voted 3-1 to authorize the mayor to award engineering, construction and other contracts to expedite completion of 2025 city park projects using Niagara River Greenway funds already allocated.

The vote came after more than an hour of public comment and council discussion about the accuracy of project cost figures, whether equipment items carried warranties, and a mistaken reference to an ‘‘animal shelter’’ in the meeting paperwork. Council member Dante Miles voted no; Council member Archie, Council member Banks and Council chairperson Perry voted yes.

Council members and several members of the public pressed administrators for clarity on the numbers in Exhibit B to the mayor’s recommendation memo dated 03/20/2025. Public speakers said some line-item prices appeared inflated and asked the council to pause the vote until the controller and finance staff could explain the estimates. “The cost for the disc swing is 1,600, not 4,200,” said resident Lawrence Blaber during the public comment period, citing written information he had provided to council offices.

Administration representatives told the council the figures in Exhibit B are estimates prepared to match the scope approved by the Greenway and that the projects still must be competitively bid. The council was told the bidding and award process will follow state procurement law, including General Municipal Law §103, under which public improvements are awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. The administration also said Exhibit B includes…