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Residents, council and mayor spar over charter revision timing, filings and public notice
Summary
Public concern about the Charter Revision Commission's outreach and filing timeline dominated public comment at the City of Tonawanda Common Council's Sept. 16 meeting, with residents and council members asking for commission membership lists, minutes and confirmation that attorney-general and election-board filings were completed on schedule.
Public comment and council discussion on Sept. 16 focused heavily on the city's Charter Revision Commission and related filings for a possible November ballot referendum. Residents and council members raised concerns about the commission's public meetings, notice to the city clerk, whether draft language had been submitted to the New York Attorney General for review and whether the Board of Elections had been informed in time for the November filing deadline.
City officials—including the mayor and city clerk—responded that a memo announcing the commission's work had been circulated in July (the mayor said July 8) and that the commission had been working for approximately a year with attorneys on draft language. Council members and residents said they had not received all materials and flagged a July email that included a deceased member on the distribution list, which raised questions about the timeliness and accuracy of outreach.
Council and residents asked whether state filing requirements and the attorney general's review requirements were followed; the mayor acknowledged the city clerk had been contacted by the Board of Elections and said he was unaware of some timing changes that affected the filing window. The mayor accepted responsibility for communication lapses and apologized to the council for not ensuring the filings were handled in a way that met the revised deadlines; he said he would make sure future submissions are completed.
Why it matters: charter revisions determine the city's governing framework and a ballot question requires careful public notice, attorney-general review of ballot language and accurate coordination with the board of elections. Residents said they wanted more public hearings and clearer, accessible records of commission meetings. Council members discussed the need to post minutes and agenda supporting materials so the public can review proposed changes before a referendum.
What council asked for: one resident requested a list of commission members and copies of minutes; the mayor said he would provide the materials and reiterated that the city would improve communications to ensure required filings and reviews are completed ahead of deadlines.
