Cat claim roils Buffalo Council session

The Buffalo City Council met with a moderate audience in attendance on Monday evening, July 12. All councilmembers were present, with the exception of Tim Ezell.

JoAnna Zimmerman topped the agenda, relating a request she had made for the City to reimburse costs incurred to repair damage to her vehicle. After repeatedly reporting a large number of feral cats over a five-week period, the problem persisted. Recently, Zimmerman had started her truck with cats trapped in the fan belt and blades, resulting in $240 worth of damages. She had asked Mayor Dawkins if the city could help with the cost of the repairs and, after consulting with City Attorney Gayle Ray, he had responded that the City was not liable.

Zimmerman was aware of a March 8th decision by the Council to reimburse Ms. Ray's daughter for the loss of show goats when the Animal Control Officer had not responded to Ray’s report of a pack of stray dogs.

Zimmerman concluded her presentation, "I see both sides -- why (Ray) made the claim and I also see that it set a precedent. I would like to reverse this precedent... I, too, am a single mother, and $240 is a lot of money to me. I will pay the damage to my vehicle in exchange for the following request: I think it is in our city's best interest that we set a higher standard and organize our Animal Control Unit. Give (Animal Control Officer Michael Hahn) the supervision and training to do his job better... I think he tried, but the job did not get done, wasn't completed, and I'm paying for it. I think we can do better."

The Council responded by confirming that Hahn had completed training to be certified for his position. Zimmerman was reminded that Hahn had set traps and, as Councilman John Maneval phrased it, "catching cats is a very inexact science." Since Zimmerman had not requested reimbursement from the Council, no action was taken.

Next, Buffalo Chamber of Commerce President Re- itha Hullum and a delegation of several members of the Chamber presented a request for an additional $8425 to be added to the already-approved $16,500 earmarked for this year's Buffalo Stampede. The Stampede, scheduled for September 18, is the Chamber's biggest fund-raiser, and the two-day event qualifies for hotel/motel tax money. The Council unanimously approved the additional funds to provide advertising, prize money, etc. for the event.

Matt Torno next presented a request for another extension of the city's contract with his water supply company. He reported that a new, successful Flo Water well in the Weedon division may be a possible new source of water for the Torno line, once the State's tests are completed. "That is underway and something we're actively pursuing," Torno concluded, and the Council granted the six-month extension to the orginal agreement.

Rita Baty, grant administrator for the City of Buffalo, reported on a BVCOG grant application which she is preparing. It is currently in the pre-application stage but if approved, the $3.5 Million, no-matching-funds grant would pay for widening a dozen streets in the city -- streets which service major infrastructures including the sewer plant, schools, the post office, and nursing home. The application process is in-depth, but Baty is hopeful that Buffalo will get the okay to go forward with the application. The next step is a hearing with DOT officials at 5:15 on Thursday at City Hall.

The agenda included the adoption of ordinances for speed zones on Highways 164 and 75 at the entrances to the new school. The wording of the ordinances brought to light some questions and the matter was tabled until the next meeting to allow Chief Pavelka to clarify the specific details to the Council's satisfaction.

Monthly reports were approved, including the Animal Control, Municipal Court, Library and Police Department reports. Outstanding bills were reviewed and approved for payment, and the minutes of previous meetings were approved with a single correction suggested by Maneval. He wanted it noted that no opposition vote was taken when the Council approved the Tri-County Horseshoe request for $2005 for advertising.

The Council's next meeting will be July 26th at the Fire Station at 7:00. It will be preceded by a budget workshop at 6:00, which may resume after the conclusion of the regular meeting.