The Government Affairs Committee, chaired by Erie County Legislator Lynn Marinelli (D-Tonawanda, Buffalo), will reconvene on Friday, June 4th at 11:00am in the Legislature's Chambers (former Part 6 Courtroom, 2nd floor, Old County Hall, 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo) to discuss the proposed intermunicipal agreement under which the County would assume responsibility for operation and maintenance of Buffalo's 180 parks, playgrounds and greenspace parcels.

"We are being asked to consider this very significant agreement on a very short timetable," said Majority Leader Marinelli. "At our meeting last Tuesday, Legislators had a number of questions that could not yet be answered by those involved in drafting this plan. If we are to move forward on this plan in the coming week we need to be comfortable that we have the details before us to make an informed decision."

The City presently spends approximately $5 million a year to run the Parks Department and, under the proposed takeover, would pay the County $1.8 million to takeover responsibility for those functions. The plan before the County Legislature includes the transfer of 77 full-time City Parks Department workers to the County payroll. If approved, the proposed transfer in oversight would take place July 1st, 2004.

The Legislature will also be hosting a public hearing on the parks issue at 7:00pm on Monday, June 7th, 2004 at the Buffalo Museum of Science Auditorium.

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