By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – New Chairman Anthony Baynes presided at his first meeting of the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority Wednesday. It was the board's first meeting in more than two months.
Without criticizing previous leadership, Baynes said things will be different.
He promised a more effective and transparent board. Baynes rejects calls from some county lawmakers that the control board is no longer needed.
"We're not planning on going away. There's a fiscal crisis here in this county, there's no reason to go away. we're here to work with them," said Baynes. "People like Bill Joyce and Joe Goodell, the two newest members, they understand the situation and they are here to work with these people."
The control board heard Wednesday from local businessman Robert Gioia, who chaired a special panel last year that reviewed county finances. Gioia said county government needs to go on a "spending diet."