North Tonawanda Water Superintendent Paul Drof will not be splitting his time with the City of Niagara Falls in a bid to divide his expertise — and his salary — between both cities.
Common Council President Catherine Schwandt issued a statement Friday saying she and Mayor Rob Ortt decided Drof is worth more to residents in the Lumber City by staying right where he is, despite a potential for cost savings under the plan.
The Niagara Falls Water Board’s bid to pay part of Drof’s salary in return for part of his time will benefit his current employer less than it would those in Niagara Falls, the statement concludes.
Drof recently had emerged as the leading candidate for consolidated oversight when the board began searching for a person to oversee operations in both cities.
“Due to the age and condition of water systems in Niagara Falls, there are real concerns here in North Tonawanda that our city’s employee would have been devoting the bulk of his time to another municipality, and little of his attention to our water customers,” Schwandt wrote.
“I was open to the idea of reviewing it,” Ortt said Friday. “I think we’re at a point where if there’s a potential for saving taxpayers money you have to look at it ... but when you consider Paul would be working half the hours in North Tonawanda, is it a savings or are you just getting less productivity?
Ortt said once planners got down to brass tacks the half and half time sharing started to look like less than that for his city, mainly because of the ailing infrastructure in Niagara Falls, which it seems would certainly demand more of Drof’s attention.
As for where that leave the city’s involvement in future shared services arrangements, Ortt said results of the Tri-City water study, funded using grant money more than a year ago, soon will be released.
“I felt it would be prudent to see what that report says before entering into something like this ...,” he said. “I’m hopeful that there will be something positive to come out of that but at this point there were more concerns and the collective decision was to not pursue this option.”
Drof could not be reached to comment Friday, though Ortt said he was made aware of the decision prior to the announcement.
Contact reporter Neale Gulley
at 693-1000, ext. 114.
Local News
NIAGARA FALLS: Water plan dries up
- Local News
-
-
State senator, wife beaten at Seneca Niagara Casino
A state senator and his wife were attacked and beaten and a casino “shareholder” was arrested after one or more incidents at the Seneca Niagara Casino Friday night.
- Staff cuts, large tax increase being considered to fill N-W's $10.M deficit
-
Police searching for jewelry thief caught on tape
-
Falls cops arrest pot and heroin dealers
-
Child run over be car on Niagara Avenue
Falls Traffic Division investigators said an 11-year-old boy was struck after he darted into the street, in front of a car as it pulled away from a stop sign.
-
Gerber resigns from SPCA board; calls for adding veterinarian to staff
A Town of Niagara veterinarian and long-time member of the SPCA of Niagara Board of Directors has stepped down.
Dr. William Gerber submitted his resignation on Tuesday. It was effective immediately. -
Militello paid $50K to leave Niagara-Wheatfield
Former Niagara-Wheatfield Superintendent Carl Militello is receiving a $50,000 from the district, according to a separation settlement agreed to on Feb. 1.
-
Joseph Davis State Park gets some green
Officials in the Town of Lewiston received approval Thursday to spend a significant portion of the community’s incoming greenway funds on the redevelopment of Joseph Davis State Park.
-
Has NYPA relicensing agreement led to a revival?
A state senator is calling for an audit of the low-cost power and cash used in the last seven years by Niagara County entities that have shared in the benefits of the 50-year relicensing agreement with the New York Power Authority.
-
Autopsy unable to determine cause or time of Judith Burr’s death
An autopsy by an Erie County Medical Examiner has failed to determine either the time of death or the cause of death of Judith Burr.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
