Charter Review Committee approves proposal to make City Attorney an appointed corporation counsel, to go before voters in November 2026

On July 9, 2026, the North Tonawanda Charter Review Committee voted unanimously to approve revised charter language shifting the City Attorney from an elected post to an appointed corporation counsel and to submit the proposal to the City Clerk/Treasurer for placement on the November 2026 ballot. Chairman Lou DalPorto summarized the committee's intent to place "putting Proposition before voters in the November 2026 election, to change the fulfillment of the City Attorney from an elected position to an appointed position."

The change would remove the City Attorney from the roster of elected officials and create an appointed office — ‘‘corporation counsel’’ — to serve as the city's chief legal officer. Committee members cited three central rationales for the proposal during the meeting: they said North Tonawanda is the only municipality in New York State that continues to elect its City Attorney; that the current elected model has required the city to use outside consultants at additional cost; and that the elected model can pose potential conflicts of interest. The committee agreed that if the amendment is approved by voters the transition should be effective Jan. 1, 2027.

Committee staff member Kate presented specific draft charter edits that the committee reviewed. The proposed changes described in the minutes include: removing the city attorney from the list of elected officials (Sec. 3.021); striking the city attorney from the four‑year term provision (Sec. 3.023(b)); deleting the existing City Attorney section (Sec. 3.026); removing assistant‑city‑attorney exceptions from mayoral appointment language (Sec. 3.051); and adding a new set of provisions (Sec. 3.052(c); Secs. 3.054, 3.059–3.065) to establish corporation counsel as the appointed chief legal officer, allow selection of an individual or retained firm via a procurement‑consistent process, set qualifications (must be a New York‑admitted attorney in good standing), provide for compensation by council resolution or agreement within appropriations, and require mandatory recusal rules for elected‑officer‑vs‑elected‑officer litigation.

A formal motion "Motion to accept these changes and to submit to City Clerk/Treasurer" was made by Committee member Heather Farley and seconded by Susan Gosch; the minutes record a unanimous vote by the committee members present to proceed. The committee also voted that the change would take effect on January 1, 2027, if approved by voters. Dan Brick moved to adjourn at 7:30 p.m.; Susan Gosch seconded. Chairman Lou DalPorto said the committee will schedule upcoming meetings and a public hearing prior to the election date.

Next steps recorded in the minutes: the committee has authorized submission of the proposed charter revisions to the City Clerk/Treasurer for ballot placement and will hold additional meetings and a public hearing before the November 2026 election.