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Public debate over Tonawanda youth bureau pay and volunteers prompts council review
Summary
Residents and board members traded views about whether the city’s youth bureau positions should be paid or remain volunteer-run; speakers argued both that volunteer work is low-cost and that replacing volunteers with city staff would be more expensive and reduce programming.
Public commenters and council members spent part of the meeting debating the structure, compensation and value of the city’s youth bureau and board after earlier criticisms surfaced on social media.
Lindsay Brower Gelski, a resident who spoke during public comment, urged the city to broaden outreach for volunteer committee members and suggested that committees use a public application process. Cynthia Richard, speaking on behalf of the youth bureau board and its director, defended the bureau’s work and said the program is “not broken,” noting that the bureau’s $5,400 budget allocation (including roughly $5,000 for salaries, as cited in the meeting) represents roughly 0.02 percent of the city’s $30 million budget. She said the bureau and volunteers often cover supplies, travel and event costs themselves.
Those defending the bureau argued that replacing volunteer labor with recreation-department staff would likely cost the city more in salary and benefits, and that the current volunteers provide events and services that otherwise would not be possible. “If the rec department were to take on everything we contribute, it would most certainly require hiring help,” Cynthia Richard said, and she urged the council to consider the comparative cost.
Other council members voiced concerns about transparency and the appearance of pay for board roles. Council member Chris Fisher (speaker identified in the record as Mr. Fisher) said he requested youth board minutes and would review them to determine whether pay was required by law or reflected patronage. Fisher also noted that many other volunteer boards and committees in the city are not paid.
The council did not take formal action at the meeting to change the bureau’s funding or staffing model. Several members encouraged further review and discussion; the mayor said he would meet with concerned council members to review the issue and the record.
