Task force is on target
Lockport Journal editorial
Tuesday, September 28, 2026







We’re pleased at the progress made by Niagara County’s Government Reform Task Force.

The public-private partnership was formed to implement the recommendations in last year's "Who Does What" report. So far, this has saved taxpayers more than $450,000 — with only six of the 27 recommendations implemented. More than two-thirds of the remaining goals have a tentative completion deadline of year-end 2005.

The benefits include:

n The new county manager has centralized operations, since department heads no longer report to the legislators. Gregory Lewis has examined the Mount View Health Facility and recommended its sale. He’s also mandated that each department develop a business plan and has taken the lead in crafting the county budget.

n Niagara and Erie counties are working on an agreement to share certain information systems, which could save $1.2 million.

n The county's municipalities have pooled buying power to save on purchasing.

What's more important is the positive attitude task force members show. Each came with their own background — and agenda — but quickly formed into a cohesive unit to address change. Furthermore, members are quick to pat each other on the back, unlike some governmental bodies that are constantly in power struggles.

Still, the county has a ways to go. If there's a flaw in the process, it’s the lack of strict deadlines. Implementing most recommendations by the end of 2005 sounds good, but we’d rather see specific dates, which would help keep legislators accountable and progress assured.
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