Last summer, the Buffalo Common Council voted 5-3 to raise salaries for themselves, the mayor, board of education members and the city comptroller.

Now, a government transparency group is asking a judge to void those raises.

In a petition filed in State Supreme Court last week, the New York Coalition for Open Government argued that city officials repeatedly violated city and state law to illegally approve pay raises that would cost taxpayers an additional $200,000 per year.

“We haven’t taken a position on whether the amount of the raises is appropriate or not, but we do take the position that following the city charter matters, following the council rules matters, following the Open Meetings Law matters,” Paul Wolf, the president of the Coalition for Open Government and counsel in the case, said. “While we all would love to raise our own pay, you’ve at least got to follow the law and the rules when doing so.”

A push is growing to make some pandemic-era changes to the state’s open meetings law permanent before they expire next year.

Transparency advocates are hoping to see a hybrid of in-person and virtual participation, with specific in-person expectations for elected officials.
Paul Wolf, president of the New York Coalition for Open Government, which also participated in the proposal, stresses the need to underscore the importance of both in-person and virtual participation in any changes made to the law or quorum requirements.

“We don’t favor all virtual,” he said. “We favor what’s called a hybrid. If you want to attend in person you should be able to attend in person if you’re a member of the public.”

Coalition President Paul Wolf discusses open and transparent government with radio host Bob Joseph on WNB 1290 – Binghamton Now.

Duration: 17min

“Paul Wolf, the President of New York Coalition For Open Government, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that advocates for better transparency in government, said, “The process to raise elected official salaries should be transparent and provide the public a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

He directed people to look at the City of Buffalo where a Citizens Salary Review Commission must be formed and report their recommendations to the council by May 1 before the council votes in June. The mayor has to hold at least one public hearing before approving the local law and there must be an election before the raises go into effect, so the public knows where each council member stands regarding a pay raise before the election. 

“We don’t take a position on the amount of a pay raise. I think that’s something that should be decided by each community, but we do take the position that process matters, and a transparent process is critical,” said Wolf.”

Coalition President Paul Wolf discusses how the Buffalo Common Council did not follow proper procedures in seeking to raise the pay of city elected officials.