Buffalo Common Council Votes on New Leadership, Appoints Committee Chairs at Reorganizational Meeting
Buffalo, N.Y. - In a unanimous vote, the Buffalo Common Council on Friday approved new leadership positions and appointments to Committee Chairs and various administrative and staff positions as part of its biennial reorganizational meeting. Delaware District Councilmember Joel P. Feroleto was appointed Council President, Ellicott District Councilmember Leah M. Halton-Pope was appointed to continue as Majority Leader, and Masten District Councilmember Zeneta B. Everhart was appointed President Pro Tempore. The vote marked the first leadership positions for Councilmembers Feroleto and Everhart - and is the first time in the City of Buffalo’s history that women form a majority of Council leadership positions.
Also during Friday’s meeting, the Council approved City Clerk Tianna Marks, deputy clerk positions, council staff, and committee appointments, which include:
Claims: Niagara District Councilmember David Rivera as Chair, along with Everhart, North District Councilmember Joseph Golombek, Jr., and University District Councilmember Rasheed Wyatt.
Civil Service: Lovejoy District Councilmember Bryan Bollman as Chair, along with Nowakowski, Rivera, and Wyatt.
Community Development: North District Councilmember Joseph Golombek as Chair, along with Everhart, Halton-Pope, and Wyatt.
Education: University District Councilmember Rasheed Wyatt as Chair, along with Everhart, Nowakowski, and Bollman.
Finance: Fillmore District Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski as Chair, along with Bollman, Everhart, and Halton-Pope.
Legislation: South District Councilmember Christopher Scanlon as Chair, along with Golombek, Halton-Pope, and Rivera.
Rules: Feroleto as Chair, along with Everhart and Halton-Pope.
Special committee appointments include:
Budget: Halton-Pope as Chair, along with Golombek, Nowakowski, and Wyatt.
Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises: Halton-Pope as Chair, along with Everhart and Golombek, and Rivera.
Police Oversight: Rivera as Chair, along with Bollman, Nowakowski, and Wyatt.
Preservation: Golombek as Chair, along with Everhart, Scanlon, and Nowakowski.
Transportation: Bollman as Chair, along with Everhart, Scanlon, and Nowakowski.
Waterfront Development: Rivera as Chair, along with Golombek, Nowakowski, and Wyatt.
“Being voted unanimously for Common Council President is a great honor,” said President Feroleto. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Common Council and the administration to tackle the challenges facing our great city.”
“It’s been an incredible honor to serve as the Common Council Majority Leader, and I thank my colleagues for their support to continue in this role,” said Majority Leader Halton-Pope. “The Council has assembled an excellent leadership team that is ready to guide this body and take on the most pressing issues affecting our community. Moreover, this vote is a historic moment, as this is the first time in history that the Common Council has had a majority women leadership team - a milestone that hopefully sends a strong signal and motivates more women in our community to step up and lead in public service. I’m excited to continue the vital work of serving the people of the City of Buffalo with this council and the new administration.”
“I couldn’t be more energized to continue to serve on the Council and to take on a leadership role as President Pro Tempore,” said President Pro Tempore Everhart. “Thank you to my colleagues for the vote of confidence in my leadership and to my constituents for your support. I pledge to make sure the Council is moving together as a unit and that we are tackling the issues across our city together. While we have significant challenges in the City of Buffalo, I have the utmost confidence that this leadership team and new administration is up to the task.”