BUFFALO, N.Y. — In the basement of Buffalo City Hall is a cafeteria. It is operated by Sue's NY Deli, not to be confused with the Sue's Deli on Main Street in downtown Buffalo.
According to an audit conducted by the city comptroller's office, the operator of the cafeteria is supposed to pay a little over $25,000 a year for rent.
It's part of a contract with the city which is handled by the Department of Public Works.
According to Buffalo Common Councilman Mitch Nowakowski, the city is owed over $103,000. This is for rent from April 2020 to April 2024.
The audit shows the contract expired in December of 2019.
When 2 On Your Side asked if the operator should pay since there isn't a contract, Nowakowski said, "I understand where they're saying, look, we were in purgatory for four years, we weren't given a contract. We weren't given anything in writing. The correspondence seems to be lacking through the Department of Public Works and the vendor. So that needs to be clarified as well, but nothing is for free. I think that's the basic expectation that in lieu of not having a lease that you revert back to the old one and you would adhere to the conditions that you once agreed to to maintain that type of stability until you are granted, a new contract and you can negotiate that with the City of Buffalo. I don't think that it's common sense wise that you could just say, well, I'm here and I don't have to pay."
According to the owner/operator, he has not been presented with a request for proposal (RFP).
Nowakowski said, "The council is really looking to gain clarity of what happened here. Where was the miscommunication, and what fault really lies with the Department of Public Works, that didn't really stay on top of this and didn't oversee their contracts that they have with vendors that are charged with paying rent to the City of Buffalo "
The comptroller's office offered some recommendations, which include making sure the comptroller's office is included in the review and approval of revenue contracts with the city.
This matter will be discussed on July 2 at the Buffalo Common Council finance committee meeting.