A newly formed committee within the North Tonawanda Common Council will examine ways to improve security within city hall following a scare last week.

“The ultimate goal is to make sure our personnel are safe and secure in this facility,” Alderman Bob Pecararo said during a council meeting Tuesday.

• A recent bomb scare has cause the city of North Tonawanda to look into upgrading security
• A newly formed security committee will look at increasing physical and cyber security
• Every detail about the committee including terms, and those sitting on it will be brought back to council for approval

As it stands, guests entering City Hall walk past a sign that says the building is secure.

However, Pecararo said the security at City Hall is not up to par.

“As you can see coming into City Hall today, there's no security arrangements or requirements for entering the building,” he said.

A newly formed committee will look at increasing physical and cyber security.

The renewed focus comes after City Hall was evacuated on June 25 after a man, retired U.S. Army Sergeant Timothy Payne, was believed to have brought multiple guns into the building. Police found a loaded pistol, two loaded military-style rifles, about 400 rounds of ammunition and what was believed to be an explosive in his van. Payne was arrested without incident and will be transferred to a VA facility to get help.

“We found out that he had been there [inside City Hall] the night before after hours and that added to the concern as to why he was there at that time," said Mayor Art Pappas.

Payne and Pappas had a pleasant conversation, Pappas said, and he did not feel threatened in any way. He is, however, concerned about how easy it is to come into the building.

“When I first came into office, I had mentioned building security a few months after I had came in,” he said. “It’s an old building, it’s a historic building, it’s been very open.”

Alderman Pecararo said Tuesday’s vote was simply about making a decision to improve security. He said every detail about the committee, including terms and those sitting on it, will be brought back to council for approval.

The alderman and chief of police will also discuss security recommendations and bring them back to council.