Committee hears business complaint about lack of public tow-truck license list

A business owner reported trouble hiring a tow company because the city's online resources did not show which tow operators were licensed, prompting a council member to ask the committee to make licensing information more visible and diverse.

"When they called to hire somebody, they were advised by the city you can't use them. They're not licensed by the city of Buffalo," the council member said, describing a constituent's difficulty finding a licensed tow operator. The speaker asked the committee to ensure a publicly accessible list so businesses and residents can see which tow companies are licensed and MWBE-certified.

Members said the list would improve transparency and make it easier to select licensed vendors. The committee moved to table further work on the item for committee follow-up and possible policy language.