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Written on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at 8:41pm by Christopher Smith | 15 Comments

Michael Gainer Back In At Buffalo ReUse

gainer

The Board of Directors of Buffalo ReUse announced this evening that Michael Gainer has accepted a position with the organization as the Program Director.

The responsibilities of the position of Program Director were agreed by the Board and are as follows:

Program Director, Buffalo ReUse:

  • Provides monthly deconstruction and salvage report, and program status. This is to include what jobs have been completed, in-progress, signed and prospects. All jobs discussed are to include estimated costs and revenue expected.
  • Directs field operations for deconstruction and salvage activities.
  • Coordinates subcontracted services such as utility cuts, asbestos surveys, abatements, excavators and other as needed.
  • Follows up on job leads, responsible for job estimates and providing estimates for financial review prior to contract execution.
  • Directs staff training of deconstruction and salvage activities.
  • Coordinate safety and environmental compliance training for staff members.
  • Pursue funding opportunities.
  • Instrumental in strategic development and implementation of existing and future community programs. Member of the Strategic Community Development Committee.

Michael’s effective hire date is 10/19/09.

This brings to a close a summer of discontent at ReUse which included Gainer’s unexpected firing, the ascension of Harvey Garrett to Interim Executive Director, membership actions, the resignation of Harvey Garrett as Interim Executive Director, the election of a completely new Board of Directors, and the re-hiring of Michael Gainer to do what he does best; focus on deconstruction, training and evangelizing.  The Board is putting in place a new staff structure and policies to manage operations, financial records, and legal compliance.

Buffalo ReUse has its work cut out for it over the next several months as they work to earn back the confidence of the local foundational community and other grant makers, but these appear to have been growing pains for a vital and dynamic organization which fills such a critical need in the City of Buffalo.

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15 Comments

  1. bflofirst says:
    October 20, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    Comment deleted due to unsubstantiated allegations and personal character attacks. – Chris

  2. thinkfirst says:
    October 20, 2009 at 9:42 pm

    Astounding. Why do you worship this guy so much?? You are a fool, and when the funding gets pulled and this organization goes down you will have only yourself to blame.

    Comment edited due to personal attacks and defamatory statements – Chris

  3. Pauldub says:
    October 20, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    bflofirst – I don’t recall any specific charges of theft. Inappropriate relations?
    I believe he has been given a position that fits both his skills, and the needs of the organization. From what I do know about some of the new board members, they are not fools.
    Now if you are or were an actual member of this organization, and are privy to information that has not been made public, please enlighten me.
    Or are you just one of those who sit back and say “You know what I heard?”

  4. privy to it all says:
    October 20, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    bflofirst and thinkfirst sound like people who were on their way to being voted out of the organization but resigned first? There are many many people involved who want this organization to succeed and are dedicated to seeing it through the rough spots although truth be told most of the ” rough spots” resigned.

  5. Christopher Smith says:
    October 20, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    During the summer, I was treated to a full “airing of the laundry” of the issues between Michael and the Board of Directors of Buffalo ReUse. I sat there as members of the previous board reported Michael’s infractions, the full litany, nothing spared. After hearing them out, I came to the conclusion that the previous board lacked the skills necessary to competently administer an organization of this size, that Michael was not qualified to be the Executive Director and that this organization needed adult supervision.

    Buffalo ReUse now has a competent and experienced board which has already put in place dozens of new policies, transparency guidelines, membership requirements, financial controls and reporting mechanisms that the previous board in all of their purported wisdom couldn’t manage to handle over the past year. All done in a congenial and professional manner.

    Bylaws are under review, competent legal advice is being sought, standing committees focusing on membership, governance, financial reporting, fundraising and retail management have already been organized and ReUse is getting it together.

    With careful consideration, the board structured a job that suited Michael’s strengths and will continue to seek additional professional management staff for the organization.

    I am not going to tolerate rumor mongering, insinuations or unsupported allegations about the character of any public figure. If you make a bullshit claim, it will be deleted. End of story.

  6. Sharon says:
    October 21, 2009 at 3:15 pm

    Editing readers comments that are racially incendiary or expletive abundant is one thing, but to edit or delete comments that voice a different opinion undermines your credibilty as a blogger. It further supports the opinion that the your submissions are cursory and superficial.

  7. Alan Bedenko says:
    October 21, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    but to edit or delete comments that voice a different opinion undermines your credibilty as a blogger. It further supports the opinion that the your submissions are cursory and superficial.

    He didn’t delete comments that “voice a different opinion”. He deleted comments that were defamatory character assassination.

  8. Sharon says:
    October 21, 2009 at 4:04 pm

    Defamatory character association? Right.

  9. Christopher Smith says:
    October 21, 2009 at 5:39 pm

    Sharon, if someone came on to my site to tell me that you were a thieving child diddler, I’d bet you’d appreciate me editing their “different opinion”.

  10. Sharon says:
    October 21, 2009 at 5:45 pm

    What were the offending words, “thieving”, “child” or “diddler”?

  11. watchoutforthetbag says:
    October 22, 2009 at 8:52 am

    Please Alan- half of your posts contain defamatory character assassinations. You just dont like it when someone attacks someone you like and/or agree with.

  12. Chris Smith says:
    October 22, 2009 at 10:28 am

    Sharon, I could have just deleted the full comment and not let you know that I edited content, however, I am trying to be transparent about the choice. To let you know what the words were defeats the purpose of removing them in the first place. They were libelous statements and deserved to be removed.

    Also, I guess I’ll mark you down for being cool with others leaving libelous statements about you on our site. Good to know.

  13. Gabe says:
    October 23, 2009 at 10:19 am

    All you complainers out there…..get your own effin’ blog.

  14. Alan Bedenko says:
    October 23, 2009 at 10:26 am

    Hey, @watchoutforthetbag – I didn’t think so.