By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Citizens will soon have a chance to go on-line to learn more about Buffalo's Fiscal Stability Authority.
The new web site could go live by early August or even the end of this week. Mayoral spokesman Matt Brown says Mayor Anthony Masiello wants to make sure the public is kept "abreast" of the board's work and the evolving process. The site will include the state legislation that gives the board its authority.
But Brown says they also want to hear from public. He says the web site will allow citizens a chance to offer suggestions on city spending and revenues.
"We think public education is priority," Brown said. "It is really one of the things that is going to make this process work. The public must have buy-in. They must be aware of the things the control board will discuss.
"It clearly affects our quality of life here in the city of Buffalo."
A form page on the site will allow residents to write comments and suggestions and the city will pass them on to the control board staff members. Brown says the site will have its own web address, but there will be a link from the city's site.
"There is a link that will be on the city's homepage with a separate from the web address," Brown said. "If you go onto the city site you will see a sort of a flasher that will move you toward the control board site."
Brown says they're not ready, just yet, to give out the new web address.
But the city has already used e-mail technology to contact citizen groups and other interests. A "blast e-mail" was delivered last week that contained a letter from the Mayor with several pages outlining information explaining how the city landed in financial difficulties.
Brown says the letter was sent to a number of block clubs and community leaders. A hard copy should arrive in the mail to city residents by early August.