Charter Review Committee approves moving City Attorney to mayoral appointment

The North Tonawanda Charter Review Committee voted unanimously on Aug. 3, 2026, to change the city charter so the City Attorney will be appointed by the mayor with Common Council approval rather than chosen by popular election. The committee adopted the proposal and set an effective date of Jan. 1, 2027.

Chairman Lou DalPorto, who led the meeting in the 2nd-floor conference room at City Hall, described the rationale for the change: "The what is to move the position of City Attorney from an elected position to a position appointed by the Mayor with Common Council approval. The why is to create a more unified government and avoid potential conflicts of interest." DalPorto opened the proposal to questions; none were raised. Committee member Heather Farley moved to accept the proposal; Darlene Bolsover seconded the motion. The committee recorded unanimous yeas and DalPorto announced the motion had passed.

Susan Gosch Taylor, the committee secretary, read the "Resolution of the North Tonawanda Charter Review Commission" dated August 3, 2026, and Chairman DalPorto signed the resolution to formalize the committee's action. Earlier in the session the committee also voted to accept the minutes of its prior meeting (motion by Kate Wistner, seconded by Darlene Bolsover). The meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m. after a motion by Susan Gosch Taylor and a second from Daniel Brick.

The committee's action changes only the method of selecting the City Attorney as described in the committee's draft; the transcript does not record whether the change requires further action by the Common Council or a referendum. No public comments or opposing arguments were recorded in the meeting transcript.