Council adopts firearms ordinance

There were no fireworks at the September meeting of the Buffalo City Council on Monday evening, 9-14, but plenty of talk of firearms as Mayor Royce Dawkins and the councilmembers matterof factly took care of city business.

The main topic of discussion was the implementation of a city ordinance regarding the discharge of firearms within the city limits. At the Council's request, City Attorney Gayle Ray had drafted a proposed ordinance that follows the state law. Residents inside the city limits will be prohibited from discharging firearms, although the ordinance allows some exceptions such as for removing varmints (snakes, or skunks for example) or defending yourself or your property. Properties adjoining the city limits will have some restric- tions defined in the local government code. (Ray gave the example, "I can't stand on one side of the city's boundary and fire into the city!") Permits will be available from the City for hunting on property adjoining the city limits, and no fee will be charged. Failure to follow the ordinance will be enforced with a Class C citation and penalties not to exceed $500. The effective date will be ten days after the ordinance is published, and copies of the ordinance will be available from City Hall. The ordinance was adopted as drafted, with Councilman Bob Winn casting the single "nay" vote.

Upon the recommendation of the Municipal Court, the Council approved the use of TrafficPay.Com as a method of on-line payment of traffic fines. There will be a convenience fee charged to the people who use this method of payment, which will "save a lot of people overnighting their payment, etc." The City of Buffalo will incur no costs for the service.

Police Chief Lance Pavelka gave a lengthy police department report, and presented the Municipal Court report as well. Both were approved.

Mayor Dawkins reported

that, according to his most recent meeting with the Water

Board representative, the City's water project is 85% complete and the sewer project is 60% complete. (Audience members pointed out that those numbers are lower than the figures reported at the last meeting. "Looks like we lost some ground," stated one guest.) The Council also discussed the need to make sure that affected streets are "fixed RIGHT" after Duplechain finishes the water/sewer project.

As outstanding bills were considered for payment, the Council voted to pay all but the Staples & Associates bill. That firm has still not submitted the City's 2007- 08 external audit, and at the recommendation of Councilmember Dianne Ryder, the bill was marked "HOLD until the audit is complete."

In a final action, the Council discussed replacing Linda Amos and Tim Ezell on the BEDC Board. The mayor recommended adding Martin Housler and Dianne Ryder, and both agreed to serve. The matter will be put on the Council's next agenda for a decision.

The next meeting of the Buffalo City Council will be a special public hearing on the budget, set for Monday, September 21 at 7:00 at the Buffalo Senior Center (behind the Civic Center).