By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority is back up and running. New Chairman Anthony Baynes and the board's two new members say they are ready to get to work.
Baynes had been an advocate of a hard control board in the past. Although he's still not ruling it out for the future, Baynes says the new board has what it takes to get the job done. Baynes says business leaders William Joyce and Joseph Goodell have the expertise and dedication to watch the bottom line. And they've agreed to start by not asking for expense reimbursements. Baynes says it sends the right message.
"It's more of a symbolic gesture - it's not going to save the County a lot of money," said Baynes. "But we're to reengineer the way we've done things in the past. We're not about spending money, wasting money. We're truthfully here to help the citizen."
And he says others will be stepping up to help out on the staff - and he says they also won't be asking for reimbursements - or a salary.
"We'll have a communications director who will be non-paid. I met with Bob Wilmers and Bob Rich and both of them have given me their assurances that they will provide financial analysts for free," said Baynes.
Baynes says they have some catching up to do. The Board has not met since February when it suddenly lost its leadership. However, he says they will resume regular meetings soon.