Committee receives file on Nadine Murrell as executive director of OSP; members press for clearer district outreach

The Buffalo City Common Council Committee on Civil Service opened discussion and received the file Tuesday for the appointment of Nadine Murrell as executive director of the Office of Strategic Planning (OSP).

Murrell, who told the committee this is her “third go round” at City Hall after previous service as director of environmental affairs and director of planning and zoning, said she intends to rely on existing staff while she evaluates OSP’s functions. “I do really think that the work of the city and city government is incredibly important for the residents of the city of Buffalo,” Murrell told the committee.

Council members emphasized the need for earlier engagement between OSP and council districts. Several members said past practice had been to inform council members only after plans and contracts were finalized, and they urged the new director to include council members in early-stage planning. Council member Rivera said the office is “the economic arm of the city of Buffalo” and said he was hopeful Murrell would change prior patterns of limited early engagement.

Members also pressed for clearer reporting on funding streams and how community block grant and other dollars are used. One council member said they could not find the budget lines to match recently approved title changes and asked that the administration and finance office provide the council with the relevant budget allocations before approvals are finalized.

Councilors praised Murrell’s responsiveness and cited past neighborhood planning work, including plans for Seneca Street and the Lovejoy District. Members asked for public-facing committee or work-session-style meetings where staff and council can review documents and engage constituents earlier in the development process.

The committee recorded motions to remove item 9 from the table, open discussion, close discussion, and receive the file. The transcript shows those motions and seconds but does not record roll-call vote tallies; the final motion to receive the file was offered before adjournment.