By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – As expected, it was smooth sailing for the first five mayoral appointments in the Buffalo Common Council Tuesday. Lawmakers unanimously approved the nominees.
Despite four hours of confirmation hearings on Monday, the first round of appointments did not generate any controversy among lawmakers. Mayor Byron Brown says he is very pleased.
"The hearings were lengthy, but I think it was good," Brown said. "The Council members were expressing their concerns, issues and ideas. I think it was very helpful to the appointees in hearing the concerns of the Council."
And despite a nation-wide search, four of the commissioners are returning to their jobs. Brown defended those hires recommended by his transition team.
"We feel comfortable that we ran a national search. We looked at numerous people for all the positions. And in the cases of those areas were incumbents were kept in the jobs, it was because members of the transition team and myself felt those were the best and most qualified people available."
Returning to City Hall are Finance Commissioner James Milroy, Public Works Commissioner Joseph Giambra, Corporation Counsel Michael Risman and Commissioner of Assessment and Taxation Bruna Michaux.
But there is a new leader in the mix. Richard Tobe is a former city control board member. He becomes commissioner of Economic Development and Permits and Inspection Services. As soon as Tobe was appointed a couple of weeks ago, he began examining the department and employees for accountability.
"I've been meeting with the chiefs one by one to go over what their areas of activities are, and they're submitting to me a report explaining what their duties are," Tobe said. "I'm going to challenge each of them to come up with a way to measure performance."
Former Inspections Commissioner Ray McGurn was under fire for a backlog of needed housing inspections and demolitions. But Tobe says McGurn actually remains in the department.
"He has a permanent Civil Service title as a building inspector. And he is now in that title."
Mayor Brown says more appointments, including a new fire commissioner, are expected soon. He says interviews and background checks continue for appointments in his administration.