Buffalo Sewer Authority reports full board attendance; committee presses authority on outreach and potential funding impacts

The Committee on Community Development of the Buffalo Common Council heard from Charles Riley, executive secretary of the Buffalo Sewer Authority, at its January 2025 meeting about board attendance, public outreach and potential funding for a large Clean Waters initiative.

Riley told the committee that all three appointed members of the Buffalo Sewer Authority attended the authority's Jan. 8 board meeting and that the authority posts meeting schedules and agendas at least one week in advance, including on its website and by sending notices to the Buffalo News, the mayor's office and the common council. "We send out meeting notices in advance, at least 1 week in advance of any meeting," Riley said. He also said the authority holds hybrid meetings at City Hall so members of the public can join virtually.

A member of the public who identified themselves as a resident questioned the authority's outreach and raised concerns about the cost of the authority's recently announced projects. "I urge you to do something different," the resident said, urging more proactive engagement so residents understand potential rate impacts. The resident specifically asked, "Where's this billion dollars coming from?" referring to a previously announced Clean Waters plan.

Riley said the authority has increased outreach over the past two years, including tabling at public events such as Juneteenth, the Saint Patrick's Day parade and National Night Out, and that the authority launched the Queen City Clean Waters initiative in October to expand public outreach and stakeholder engagement. He said many of the authority's recent grants and low-interest or forgivable loans have come through New York State and that some funds originated under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. "We are obviously very concerned about the new federal administration and what funding they will have for projects that are heavily associated with climate change like ours," Riley said, adding that the authority will work with state and federal partners to limit ratepayer burden.

Riley also told the committee that the Buffalo Sewer Authority enacted its first rate increase in 18 years last year and created a low-income and senior discount program at that time. He said the authority is beginning its budget process for the next fiscal year and could not yet say whether another rate increase would be needed. The authority's fiscal year begins July 1.

Committee members and the resident urged greater transparency on the proposed Clean Waters program's estimated costs and funding sources so residents can understand how ratepayers might be affected. The committee noted an upcoming community breakfast on Feb. 8 and asked that authority representatives attend to discuss outreach and cost questions.

Procedural actions taken during the meeting included receiving and filing the authority's board attendance report and tabling several audit and policy items for later consideration. Specifically, the committee tabled the Buffalo Sewer Authority audit findings regarding the annual report and two related items, including an item listed as opposition to wind turbines in Lake Erie; those items will return to a future meeting.

The committee adjourned after tabling the remaining items.