Demone Smith looked right at home during a recent Common Council meeting, making the rounds, greeting old friends and colleagues.
It was like he never left, and now he’s back.
The former Council member, Erie County legislator and executive director of the city’s employment and training center is now special assistant to city Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams. Smith, who took a pay cut, started his new gig last August, making $95,000 annually.
Miller-Williams, the city’s financial watchdog, also hired another familiar name – MacCaelin Sedita. He’s the son of state Supreme Court Justice Frank A. Sedita III and great-grandson of a former Buffalo mayor. The younger Sedita started last July as Miller-Williams’ executive assistant. He’s also making $95,000.
Sedita’s LinkedIn profile says he is a recent graduate of University at Buffalo Law School. His most recent job was a part-time supervisor at Buffalo RiverWorks until April of this year.
The comptroller said doling out patronage jobs happens in government, but said that was not what happened in this case.
“I have not had any interaction with Judge Sedita in over 20 years or so,” Miller-Williams said. “I was honored when this young man came before us and he presented his résumé and he was seeking an opportunity to work in our office. He is doing a wonderful job and we are fortunate to have him on board.
“If there’s someone out there that is saying (Sedita was hired) based on who his parents are or are not, that’s their opinion and I have no comment to that,” she added.
The job openings were not publicly posted by the city, said Miller-Williams, because they are exempt positions.
“They’re not civil service positions, but exempt positions are traditionally and historically not posted,” she said.
Because Smith and Sedita are exempt employees, the Common Council also did not have to approve the appointments, said Fillmore Council Member Mitchell…
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