By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County's Fiscal Stability Authority held its very first meeting Monday in downtown Buffalo. The panel was created by the state to advise the county through its ongoing fiscal crisis.
Members of the county's control board were sworn in Monday at the Buffalo Convention Center. Board Chairman Ned Regan presided over Monday's session. Regan is promising that the board will work in the public eye in an advisory role. He says as the board works to help resolve the county's fiscal mess, they will also help change the mood and morale of citizens.
This board is a softer version of the type of control board that is in place for the city of Buffalo. But Regan says, if needed, it will instill stricter rules over the county, especially if the administration fails to deliver a balanced budget.
"You could get into a control period," Regan said. "You could have this board and some of the experts start to impose certain restrictions and certain controls to make sure the budget is balanced."
But County Legislator Al DeBenedetti, who attended the first session, was critical of the role of the newly installed board. He says the board is there only to advise.
"I think there are people there who haven't distinguished in their minds yet the difference between a control board and an advisory board," DeBenedetti said.
But the Legislature's Majority Leader Lynn Marinelli says she doesn't have a problem with the board's role.
"It sounds like we are going to try to be working in concentric circles with each other in our respective roles," Marinelli said.
The county must submit a four-year financial recovery plan by October 1st.
At the first session, the control board adopted bylaws, approved a short term staff, opened a bank account at HSBC, and named legal and financial advisors.