By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Common Council approved the appointments of four new Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority Commissioners Thursday.
The commissioners were appointed last week by Mayor Byron Brown when he announced reforms to deal with recent abuses at the Authority.
Thursday lawmakers met in special session, voting six to two in favor of the new commissioners.
Common Council President David Francyzk was one of the two "no" votes. But he said his negative vote was not against the commissioners.
Francyzk said he wants answers on other public housing issues.
"I'm concerned about the previous and current mismanagement of Marine Drive Apartments. Crime is up, there are 60 vacancies and there is supposedly a deficit," said Franczyk. "And, I wanted a report from the commissioners, not a condition for approval, but just as an amendment. That amendment failed, so without it I didn't want to rubber stamp any of the commissioners."
Francyzk said he is also concerned about public safety.
Francyzk said the Authority must now deal with security since the housing police were cut last year because of a lack of funding.
But now the four new housing commissioners have a chance to revisit these issues. Hal Payne, vice president of student affairs at Buffalo State, is one of the members.
Payne said in the wake of the past abuses, this new board must realize it that it is a policy making body.
"Our job will be to select a new director and to review policies that govern the work of that director and staff. I think that is the way we can be helpful to tenants and improve the delivery of service," said Payne.
Payne said he is ready for the challenge. The other new commissioners are the City's director of treasury and collections, Michael Seaman, tax accountant Ronald Brown, and attorney Betty Calvo-Torres.
Under the new reforms established by Mayor Brown, there will be no more cell phones and credit cards for BMHA commissioners.