Falls attorney says two city employees face residency hearings

Local News

Related Photos

Community Banner sig

April 19, 2010

By Mark Scheer Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Mon Apr 19, 2010, 10:23 PM EDT

NIAGARA FALLS — A pair of municipal employees suspected of violating the city’s residency policy will face hearing officers in May.

Corporation Counsel Craig Johnson told Falls lawmakers Monday the city brought in a pair of hearing officers to review both cases following consultation with private investigators who followed up on residency complaints.

“There are presently several ongoing investigations into residency violations that have been alleged,” Johnson said. “Two of those investigations have been completed.”

The residency law, first passed in 1984 and strengthened in 1996, sets a time frame of six months for new hires to move into the city. Firefighters are exempt from the local law because of a state statute that allows them to live within a neighboring county from where they work. Employees who started working for the city prior to Dec. 17, 1984, are also exempt from the local law. More than 300 employees are not exempt from the policy. Workers found not in compliance with the residency policy can be asked to resign. The council can also grant waivers in special situations.

Johnson did not identify the employees in question. He also declined further comment on either case when approached following the council’s afternoon agenda review session.

“At the conclusion of the hearings, the hearing officer will make a recommendation to the city administrator on the situation,” Johnson said.

In 2008, lawmakers spent about $50,000 to hire a private investigator to weed out residency violators. Johnson said the two cases currently pending did not involve the services of that particular firm but were the result of investigations conducted by another agency.

Johnson indicated the administration will continue to investigate potential violations as warranted.

“The process is to respond to tips that have been passed along and if they are determined to be non-frivilous, appropriate investigation, which will include surveillance, will be implemented,” Johnson said.

In other matters, the council:

n Received an update on the 72nd Street repair project from City Engineer Tom Radomski. The engineer reported design work is in place for the length of street from Buffalo Avenue to Niagara Falls Boulevard. Radomski said his department plans to put the project out for bid on Wednesday and is expecting to be able to present a preferred bidder for council approval by mid-May. If all goes as planned, Radomski said construction could start as early as June.

n Learned from Code Enforcement Director Dennis Virtuoso that a second code enforcement blitz is scheduled to begin on Saturday. Virtuoso said his department will be performing inspections of structures in the neighborhood of East Falls Street and Cudaback and Mackenna avenues. The department conducted a similar blitz last month on Main Street, resulting in citations being issued to 47 property owners. Virtuoso said several of the property owners have responded by performing the necessary repairs and that his department has heard from several others who have plans to do so.

“It’s coming along pretty good,” he said.

n Set a public hearing for 7 p.m. May 3 in council chambers on a proposed amendment to the city charter that would allow members of the city’s Planning Board and Board of Appeals to receive compensation from at a rate set by resolution of the city council from time to time. Members of both boards are appointed by the city council and currently receive no pay for their services.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Second suspect pleads in shooting death of NU student
All Cordero Gibson could do as he stood in a Niagara County courtoom on Friday morning was weep.

The 23-year-old Falls man was pleading guilty to his role a in robbery gone bad that had left a Niagara University student dead. Because he didn't fire the shot that killed Brandon Johnson, Gibson dodged the bullet of a murder conviction.

May 27, 2012 1 Photo
SLIDESHOW: Memorial Day Weekend 2012 Niagara Falls celebrates Memorial Day Weekend activities on Saturday with a parade on Pine Avenue, a memorial service and viewing of the new Veterans Memorial at Hyde Park, a concert series on Old Falls Street and free boat safety inspections by the Niagara County Sheriff Department Marine Division at the City of Niagara Falls Boat Docks on Buffalo Avenue.
May 26, 2012 1 Photo
Legislation protecting Falls air base units moves forward
The effort to protect jobs at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station got a boost from a committee in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Korean student robbed at gunpoint in Falls
Detectives are investigating the robbery of a 25-year-old woman Wednesday night in front of a motel in the 400 block of Main Street.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Davis will not seek Murphy removal
Lawyers for accused killer Matthew “Bones” Davis say their client will not ask to have Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III removed from his case.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Labor group laments economic development efforts
Economic development in New York state has become a joke to some in the area. And many of them are demanding changes to a process which spends approximately $3 billion a year.

May 24, 2012
Repaving work on Old Military Road rises to $790K
Sometimes a change is good. Sometimes a change is bad. For the Town of Lewiston, a change can be pretty costly.

May 24, 2012
Fifth-grader presents list of 400 names asking for new playground
A 10-year-old boy carrying a petition containing more than 400 signatures asked members of the Niagara Falls School Board on Thursday to consider building a new playground at his school.

May 24, 2012
Bomb threat leads to arrest at NT school
A North Tonawanda teen was arrested Thursday morning for sending a one-sentence bomb threat to the computer of a fellow high school student, resulting in a brief lockdown of the school.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Sense of resignation on AES pact
May 24, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Do you think cigarette sales to non-Native American customers should be taxed on reservations?