— — North Tonawanda Mayor Rob Ortt said the city has managed to cut costs and streamline government under his watch as he highlighted his achievements during the past year and looked to the future throughout his annual state of the city address Wednesday afternoon.

In front of about 70 onlookers at Pane’s Restaurant, the mayor trumpeted his achievements in 2011 related to the reduction of labor and cost and several successful development and infrastructure projects, describing it as “a year of reform and growth.”

He also pointed to campaign promises kept including the resuscitation of a River Road marina property vacant since 2006 and bringing a big name concert series back to the Erie Canal for the first time in years, which will begin at the Gateway Harbor this summer.

Long-ignored problems such as the Witmer Road flooding issue are moving toward resolutions as well, he said.

During a 30-minute speech, the mayor presented an agenda of the progress the city has made while emphasizing a reduction of the “burden and cost of government” that he says are required to keep it moving forward, including the 2012 budget that is $500,000 less than last year’s and holds the line on tax increases.

Among cost-savings efforts, he said, were new labor agreements with the five unions representing the city’s public employees — many of which conceded to a wage freeze and health care amendments — that will save the city tens of thousands of dollars, while he also noted that the city has cut 34 employees from the budget in the last two years that will equate to millions in the coffers.

“I realize that there were promises made to our hard working employees, both current and retired, by my predecessors, which they knew the city could never keep,” he said. “I have done my best to try and keep the promises that we could. However, I have made a promise to every resident and taxpayer in North Tonawanda, especially those that don’t get a paycheck from the city.”

A multi-year approach to increased government efficiency is in place as well, Ortt said, referring to the acquisition of services by an outside firm to look at restructuring and cost-cutting measures, including plans to share water treatment services with the City of Lockport. He also reiterated his stance on dissolving the city-run police dispatch outfit that labor leaders have vowed to fight.

The mayor elaborated on headway made toward the city’s ailing infrastructure, with 10 miles of roadwork completed last year and many more projects slated for the coming months.

In a tilt to development undertakings, Ortt spoke of the groundbreaking of the Walmart Supercenter and movement in the new Buffalo Bolt business park along with the Remington Lofts and the addition of several small businesses in the downtown corridor in helping stir the city closer to “a vibrant, first class downtown.”

“The lofts will be the centerpiece of downtown and together with many businesses and events happening along Webster Street and Gateway Park, will give the city what it has not had in many years,” he said.

One area the mayor conceded is in need of improvement is cutting through the red tape that puts a strain on business development. As a result, he said he’s asked the common council, city attorney and building inspector to perform a complete review of inspection and permit processes.

“Government does not create private sector jobs,” he said. “We can only create an environment that either fosters jobs or stunts it.”

He also touted his vision for this year, that will entail a focus on continuing to raise the tax base and furthering the city’s sense of community.

At the heart of that plan, he said, would be putting the city’s most obvious asset to use.

“There is no greater strength for North Tonawanda than our geographic location, right between the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls and on the banks of the Niagara River and the Erie Canal” he said. “Utilizing our proximity to these two bodies of water has always been a recipe for success.”