Two senior staffers out at City Hall as Scanlon shakes up new administration

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon announced a shakeup in his new administration on Tuesday, parting ways with two senior staffers at City Hall who oversaw development.

Director of Real Estate Howard Grynspan was fired. Brendan Mehaffy, Executive
Director of the Office of Strategic Planning, will resign effective Dec. 16.

“These decisions were made after much thought and consideration and in-line with my
well-known management approach to improve departmental functions, hold
administration leadership accountable, and make city government function more
efficiently and cost-effectively," Scanlon said in a statement. “I want to thank Brendan and Howard for their years of dedicated service to the City of Buffalo, and I wish them well in their future endeavors."

The departures are the first major changes in Scanlon's administration since he stepped into the job last month after five-term mayor Byron Brown resigned to lead Western Regional Off-Track Betting. Previously the Common Council president, Scanlon is serving out the final year of Brown's term.

Mehaffy stood behind Brown for years on many city projects.

Grynspan told WIVB News 4 he plans to return to his private real estate practice in Western New York and downstate.

"It has been my honor and privilege to serve the people of the City of Buffalo as the Director of Real Estate over the past 2 1/2 years," Grynspan said. "We got a lot accomplished and I'm very proud of the work and the dedicated, brilliant staff I led in the Division of Real Estate."

This is a developing story