Buffalo Common Council

The Buffalo Common Council is the legislative branch of the city of Buffalo, New York government. It is a representative assembly, with one elected member from each of nine districts: Niagara, Delaware, Masten, Ellicott, Lovejoy, Fillmore, North, University, and South. In the past, the Common Council also had as many as five at-large members and a Council President who were elected citywide. Each council seat is elected for a four-year term, with elections occurring during off-years, between mid-term elections and presidential elections.[1]

Buffalo Common Council
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
Founded1832
Leadership
President of the Common Council
Darius G. Pridgen, (D)
since January 3, 2015
David A. Rivera, (D)
President Pro Tempore
Christopher P. Scanlon, (D)
Structure
Seats9
Political groups
  • Majority
  Democratic (9)
Length of term
4 Years
Salary$75,000
Elections
First-past-the-post
Last election
November 5, 2019
Next election
November 7, 2023
Meeting place
Buffalo City Hall
Website
https://www.buffalony.gov/362/Common-Council

History

From Buffalo's incorporation in 1832 the common council existed under New York State charters.[2] In the early years of the common council the Buffalo Mayor, the head of the executive branch of the Buffalo government was also the President of the common council, head of the legislative branch.[3] From 1832–1854 all Mayors were also Common Council President.[3] Eli Cook was the first mayor who did not serve as Common Council President for his whole term as mayor.[3] From 1832–1913, no mayor served as Common Council President.[3] In 1914, New York State charters established a Council that consisted of five members – a Mayor and four Council Members.[2] From 1913–1927, the Council was composed of the Mayor, Commissioner of Finance and Accounts, Commissioner of Public Works, Commissioner of Parks and Public Buildings, Commissioner of Public Affairs and the Mayor was the Chairman of the Board.[3] In 1926, the Kenefick Commission was appointed to form a new city charter after New York State authorized its cities to write their own charters in 1924.[2] Since 1927, no Mayor has presided over the common council.[3]

A 1983 downsizing eliminated two at-large members. A 2002 downsizing eliminated the remaining three at-large members and the elected Common Council President. The size of the council's membership has been shrinking roughly in tandem with the decrease in population.[4]

Composition
Affiliation Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

 Total
Democratic Independent Republican Vacant
End of previous legislature (2015) 9 0 0 9 0
Begin (2016) 9 0 0 9 0
End (2019) 9 0 0
Begin (2020) 9 0 0 9 0
Latest voting share 100.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Members

The Democratic Party is the dominant party in Buffalo politics; no Republican or other party member has won a seat on the council in several decades, and all nine seats are currently held by Democrats. As of January 1, 2020 the current membership is as follows:[5]

District Member Party District Name Tenure Began Term Expires
1 Rev. Darius G. Pridgen Democratic Ellicott District 2011 2023
2 Bryan J. Bollman Democratic Lovejoy District 2019 2023
3 Mitchell P. Nowakowski Democratic Fillmore District 2019 2023
4 Joseph Golombek, Jr. Democratic North District 1999 2023
5 Christopher P. Scanlon Democratic South District 2011 2023
6 Joel Feroleto Democratic Delaware District 2015 2023
7 David A. Rivera Democratic Niagara District 2007 2023
8 Rasheed Wyatt Democratic University District 2014 2023
9 Ulysees O. Wingo, Sr. Democratic Masten District 2015 2023

According to the web site of the City of Buffalo, there is a Majority Leader and a Minority Leader if there are members from more than one political party.[6] In practice, there is a majority leader even when all members of the council are from the same political party; a local law was passed in November 2002 to allow this.[7] Mr. Scanlon was appointed by a majority of the Council on May 16, 2012, to fill the vacancy created when Michael P. Kearns won a seat on the New York State Assembly in a special election to fill a vacancy there.[8] Mr. Scanlon secured his seat by winning in a subsequent general election. The term of all Common Council members expires in January 2024.

Committees and Organizations
  • Budget Committee
  • Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency (BURA)
  • Civil Service Committee
  • Claims Committee
  • Community Development Committee
  • Education Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Joint Schools Construction Board
  • Legislative Committee
  • Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Committee
  • Police Oversight
  • Rules Committee
  • Transportation Committee
  • Water Front Committee

References
  1. "Erie County, NY Board of Elections". www.elections.erie.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  2. "History of the Common Council". ci.buffalo.ny.us. City of Buffalo. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  3. Rizzo, Michael F. (2005). Through The Mayors' Eyes: Buffalo, New York 1832-2005. Lulu Enterprises, Inc. pp. 400–5. ISBN 1-4116-3757-7.
  4. Niman, Michael I. (August 8, 2002). "Dave Franczyk, Racism and a Divided Council". Artvoice. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  5. "Legislative Branch - The Common Council". city-buffalo.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  6. History of the Common Council City of Buffalo official website
  7. ecode360.com City of Buffalo Charter, section 24-12. According to ecode360, this is not the official version. However, the City of Buffalo Archived February 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine directs one here. It is speculated that this is due to a desire on the part of the City Government not to allow Citizens to actually know the law under which they have consented to live.
  8. Submitted by WGRZ Web Staff Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 1:29pm Scanlon Appointed South-District Councilman
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