BUFFALO, N.Y. — The controversial head of Buffalo’s water and sewer systems is leaving to take a job as city engineer in Houston, Texas.
Oluwole “O.J.” McFoy, who held dual roles as Buffalo Water Board chair and Buffalo Sewer Authority general manager, was praised Wednesday for his “transformative impact” in a news release announcing his departure.
But McFoy’s 19-year tenure — he was appointed by former Mayor Byron W. Brown — had become increasingly controversial in recent months as 2 On Your Side reported on scandals involving McFoy’s leadership.
Those included a lack of fluoride in the city’s water supply for a nine-year period, which prompted emergency dental surgeries for young kids and a class-action lawsuit filed by parents against the city.
In September, a 2 On Your Side investigation revealed that McFoy during that time period also kept an extensive taxpayer-funded travel schedule. Since 2015, McFoy spent 297 weekdays traveling to water conferences in 23 states. He took a total of 55 work trips at an estimated cost of $161,000, according to sewer authority meeting minutes.
The travel expenses outraged some residents and members of Buffalo’s Common Council. McFoy said the trips were necessary to secure grant funding for the sewer authority.
Government transparency under McFoy was also an issue in recent months.
The State Committee on Open Government in Albany in a letter to 2 On Your Side last week said the Water Board violated the Open Meetings Law when it limited access to a public meeting in September.
The committee also said the agency appears to have violated the law by not posting the minutes of its meetings online. Governments are required to post meeting minutes within two weeks but the water board had not done so since June.
Sewer Authority Board Chair Herbert Bellamy Jr. said he was "incredibly grateful for OJ's dedicated service and the transformative impact he has had in the City of Buffalo."
Acting Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon was expected later this week to “strongly encourage” the water and sewer agencies to comply with transparency laws. Wednesday evening, Scanlon released a written statement that said, “In the coming weeks, I plan to meet with my administration to discuss the future of both the Buffalo Sewer Authority and Buffalo Water Authority. I am committed to ensuring that individuals are selected who are ready to take on these critical roles with a head-on approach, demonstrating open, honest, and transparent leadership to facilitate a seamless transition into a new era of service excellence to our ratepayers.”
McFoy's statement said he would remain with Buffalo Sewer until January "to ensure a smooth transition." He made $120,000 per year in Buffalo. His statement noted that he will be paid an annual salary of $280,000 in Houston.