By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Erie County parks will remain closed -- at least for now. The County Legislature Thursday sent the proposal to open the parks up, along with several other proposals, to committee.
A plan from the County Executive that would have re-opened the parks hit the wall Thursday. Legislators said they have new questions about funding for the plan.
Lawmakers say they are, once again, getting conflicting information from the county comptroller and the county budget director. Comptroller Nancy Naples says the $1 million that was going to be used from the All High Stadium account isn't there. Budget Director Joseph Passafiume says it is. Legislator Doctor Barry Weinstein says it shouldn't matter.
"The parks never should have been closed in the first place," said Weinstein. "I call your attention to my resolution assessing the legality of parks closures. Parks cases go back many years. the people of the state of new York are the owners of the parks, not the people of Erie County."
Weinstein says the county should ask the state for an opinion. And he says if lawmakers barre going to worry about the money to re-open parks, they will probably have to wait for the State Comptroller's opinion on Erie County's finances. But Weinstein's resolution, along with other on adding probation officers and opening another auto bureau also went to committee.
That was also the fate of lawmaker Denise Marshall's opposition to new media restrictions. Marshall says now more than ever the media needs access.
"I feel right now that you are the eyes add ears of the public, and you need to move about and get your business done," said Marshall.
Lawmakers also took no action cutting hours for their staff. Democratic Majority Leader Lynn Marinelli says they may consider furloughs. But she admits that, as of now, they have not enacted the remaining staff pay cuts outlined in the budget.
"There hasn't been a vote yet on the staffing that remains," said Marinelli. "There have been several staff who have been laid off, including in my own office."
Lawmakers say they will take up the parks, probation and auto bureau plans at committee meetings next week. They say a special session could be held Thursday to vote on re-opening the parks, if the funding question is resolved.