Tonawanda debate on civil service, police promotion rules; mayor launches bike-safety campaign

Tonawanda City Council members spent a lengthy portion of their informal meeting discussing whether the city should move its civil service functions to Erie County, and raised concerns about changes to language in a recent police promotional exam posting. Mayor White also announced a citywide bike-safety initiative, including a June 2 safety seminar and a free-helmet distribution for attendees.

The civil service discussion focused on potential operational trade-offs from outsourcing testing and eligibility lists to Erie County civil service. Supporters of the change argued it could standardize procedures and reduce local administrative cost; opponents and police leadership said the county process can be slower and less responsive for a small city. Council members asked for more detail on how long county canvasses and disqualifications can take and whether that delay would affect filling academy seats.

Police leadership pushed back on suggestions the department or its leaders would manipulate promotional lists. “I would never do anything like that,” said Chief Klantz, responding to a council concern about subjective certification dates and potential manipulation of promotion timing. The chief described examples where Tonawanda’s local civil service process had produced faster results for the police department than relying on a larger county system.

Council members who spoke described two practical concerns: (1) time-to-fill for academy candidates and promotional appointments, and (2) loss of local control or perceived impartiality if eligibility lists were produced and managed by Erie County. Several members asked staff to provide documentation of timelines and canvass procedures used by Erie County and by other nearby municipalities before making any structural change.

Separately, Mayor White announced a bike-safety committee and laid out a public safety outreach plan after the city experienced two recent fatal crashes and a serious injury to a child. “We are going to have a bike safety seminar,” Mayor White said, and the city will distribute free helmets to attendees while supplies last. The mayor said the first public seminar will be run with local bicycle groups and school officials; the administration expects additional community outreach and a follow-up meeting of the bike-safety committee on May 15.

The mayor described other nonregulatory steps under consideration, including public education, partnerships with local bike shops, and short video outreach. He said logistical details — where helmets will be collected and the precise distribution method — will be announced publicly.

What happened next: council members requested more information on civil service procedures and timing; no formal resolution transferring civil service responsibilities to Erie County was moved or adopted at this meeting. The bike-safety outreach will proceed as a mayoral initiative coordinated with school officials and local groups; staff were directed to publicize the June 2 seminar and helmet distribution.

Ending: Council members asked staff to return with written comparisons of local versus Erie County civil service timelines and with any legal or administrative implications. The mayor said the city will publicize the safety seminar and helmet availability in the coming weeks.