Published: May 09, 2008 12:06 am            

ERIE COUNTY: Legislature debates capital plan

Erie County’s $51 million capital project bond for road repairs and cultural institution upgrades was killed Thursday after the county Legislature failed to secure the 10 votes required to move it forward.

Legislators debated for 90 minutes about whether to force a vote on the bond resolution or send the proposal back to committee for further discussion.

In the end, some Legislators said lawmakers have had ample time to discuss the bond resolution and moved to vote on it so the proposal could be sent to Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz and the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority to determine which entity — the Legislature or the control board — would borrow the money. The vote to pass it on to that next step was 9 to 5; however, it failed because it needed a two-thirds favorable vote, or 10 votes.

“This capital budget was proposed October 15, 2007. By a quick count, that was 205 days ago,” said Legislature Chairwoman Lynn Marinelli, D-Tonawanda.

Several Legislators tried to convince their colleagues to vote on the bond resolution by saying that it includes a number of important infrastructure improvements.

“As each day goes by we delay, it affects our ability to fix our infrastructure, and infrastructure leads to economic development,” Marinelli said.

Kenmore Democrat Michele Iannello was among the group that wanted to have more discussion on the project.

“There’s room for more conversation,” Iannello said, adding that she has concerns about the amount the county would be borrowing.

The bond resolution encompasses nearly 50 projects, ranging from a $2.8 million rehabilitation of Ralph Wilson Stadium to various highway and bridge repairs, park and beach improvements and an update of the county’s emergency communications system.

Legislator Maria Whyte, D-Buffalo, voiced the strongest opposition to voting on the bond resolution, saying the Legislature has only just begun its discussion of the proposal and also that it would be unfair to vote on the matter with one member, Buffalo Democrat Barbara Miller-Williams, absent.

Whyte and Betty Jean Grant, D-Buffalo, also voiced their displeasure over what Whyte called “a critically important piece” of the bond resolution that’s missing — $15 million to expand Erie Community College’s City Campus.

Amherst Democrat Thomas Loughran took issue with the bond resolution’s process and said it would be “premature” to vote on the measure.

“To go forward without all the information that some of us are requesting...it’s almost like we’re pretending that there is not a control board,” Loughran said.

Michael Ranzenhofer, R-Amherst, accused Iannello and others of being obstructionists and said county residents are tired of lawmakers bickering. “Let’s try to show the community that we can actually get something done for once,” he said.

In an attempt to achieve a compromise, Loughran proposed sending the bond resolution back to committee with the commitment that the Legislature will vote on it at its next meeting. His request, however, was denied.

Contact reporter David J. Hill at 693-1000, ext. 115.

        

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