[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6609746,"mediaKeyId","2906606-f6e1ac76f4232a17e4c41f6028dcab82","parentId",2906606,"title","Cheektowaga board approves series of resolutions; spending freeze and TCEA contract among measures passed","audioSeconds",4810,"startMs",4822000,"endMs",11634,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906606-f6e1ac76f4232a17e4c41f6028dcab82&start=4822&end=11","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906606-f6e1ac76f4232a17e4c41f6028dcab82/thumbnail_4822000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6609746/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Cheektowaga-board-approves-series-of-resolutions-spending-freeze-and-TCEA-contract-among-measures-passed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609746-7f9f805901d32f104699811b7320a287/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440269&Signature=MPuy3SxWGbD-7arxrciSQQu2mmnUSOQ4j1wZVe85R6DSTvRToxW1SvVxsX3pfmay8ah5ISwidvTwwfCw6JwE3EBQAdM0ID8bGcH8baD7ac0-D2OgzWoZa4feM34ceOMA-sG0taFDQRuG~wmUwVRaOqLzsoRjIijD1z-ievL2d6WkW1QMrS7g-wS6tm6kaxgNrQqpgLXmyr~MDLaOdGuCDqqcknGW7hmukSOfDh0TtvwM0xaWqCgIMyTXeCSkaBxib-wsFq7ZMAKzBK8ZG2Dr80IVsuS1YD6r9LOn4ccq94f3wHRv03SQKskTMiEzImXpbaHbFWxeLiblVsdy3Y8p7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cheektowaga, NY","date","2025-04-09T01:37:00.133Z","article","The Town of Cheektowaga Town Board voted on a series of resolutions on April 8, approving several procurement and personnel items, adopting a successor collective-bargaining agreement with the principal employee union and passing a temporary spending freeze for nonessential town expenditures. The board also adopted a resolution requesting state authorization to allow a local bed/occupancy tax and rejected a proposal to codify an engineer position in the highway department.

Key outcomes at a glance

- Refuse totes and lids (Res. 2025-223 and Res. 2025-224): The board authorized the sanitation department to purchase 95‑gallon and 65‑gallon refuse and recycling totes and lids. The packet lists unit pricing and quantities: 180 95‑gallon refuse totes at $54 each ($9,720), 180 95‑gallon recycling totes at $54 each ($9,720) and 180 65‑gallon refuse totes at $50 each ($9,000); 95‑gallon lids at $20 each (quantities and total shown in the resolution). The board approved the sole‑source purchases and authorized the sanitation chief to complete the orders.

- Bed/occupancy tax request (Res. 2025‑231): The board voted to request state authorization to enact a local occupancy (bed) tax of up to 3 percent, with the town supervisor and legislative delegation notified to pursue enabling state action.

- Appointments and personnel (Res. 2025‑245; 2 48–2 52): A set of appointments were approved by the board, including the hiring of an appointed sewer maintenance worker and park maintenance and clerk positions as listed in the agenda. One contested appointment for a principal-engineer assistant was defeated and a different candidate for that role was subsequently approved by the board.

- Collective bargaining (Res. 2025‑246): The board ratified a successor collective-bargaining agreement with the Town of Cheektowaga Employees Association (TCEA) covering 01/01/2024–12/31/2026. The board amended the salary implementation timing to 45 days to reflect the parties’ written agreement. The item passed after an amendment and roll-call vote.

- Emergency sanitary-sewer contractor piggyback contract (Res. 2025‑250): The board authorized the sewer department to piggyback Erie County bid 221046-002 and use Concrete Applied Technologies Corp. (CATCO) for emergency on-call sanitary sewer repairs; the supervisor recorded an abstention on that vote.

- Spending freeze (Res. 2025‑247): The board adopted an immediate spending freeze on nonessential town expenditures, exempting contractual obligations, public safety, public-health and statutory requirements; the resolution directs the town supervisor to conduct a comprehensive financial review and report recommendations to the board.

- Highway engineer memorialization (Res. 2025‑237): A resolution to formally memorialize an arrangement assigning highway-engineer duties to an engineering-department employee was defeated by roll call (motion failed at the meeting).

Why it matters: The spending-freeze resolution signals a board-level effort to curb discretionary spending while staff and the supervisor prepare a fiscal review and recommendations. Ratification of the TCEA contract resolves a long-running out-of-contract period for that bargaining unit and contains provisions the board amended to reflect the union’s written agreement. The hotel/occupancy tax request signals the board’s interest in identifying new revenue sources but requires state authorization.

What the board asked for next: The supervisor was asked to provide a written fiscal analysis and recommendations within 30–45 days (the board amended the timing for salary implementation within the TCEA contract to 45 days); several departments were told to bring questions or requests to a department-head meeting for clarification. The resolutions that require follow-up — including the sanitary contractor arrangement, the TCEA successor contract implementation and the spending review — were recorded with directions for staff to provide supporting documents and timelines.

The board then moved to executive session for personnel, litigation and real-property discussions and took no further public action during the open meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Board Meeting 4.8.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Town Board approved a set of procurement, personnel and budget-management resolutions on April 8, including a temporary freeze on nonessential spending, ratification of a successor agreement with the principal town union and authorization to request a local bed/occupancy tax from the state.","taxTitle","Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York","taxId",56246,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6609751,"Public hearing on possible town opt-out of state solar tax exemption draws proponents and critics",489,2666000,3155000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906606-f6e1ac76f4232a17e4c41f6028dcab82&start=2666&end=3155","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906606-f6e1ac76f4232a17e4c41f6028dcab82/thumbnail_2666000.jpg","/articles/6609751/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Public-hearing-on-possible-town-opt-out-of-state-solar-tax-exemption-draws-proponents-and-critics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609751-3ce87e8188dc0eb45b8236a17f6e79b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440269&Signature=K4nxfTEpgEkv-A2JRvYcUCxZgKX1DdSjTyGJeTwT6~7QLws87gMpihQelxZvYnqhYGOxJ~9XIJlA9kgQJptrXW5V-zWduFBtYgcGVhapBGuKR8fKBB~jhYrq2VhdMDSpHxjzZiExOYOtT7ZyCgwPzKujOCZEMncOx0uMh0jwl3aMPrSHRd9SSpBZb-qWUzvGhbUJXTNkZeABaZ6E5Z1LVjYT-05PxtrOzj9jnW7aJi~Lba1hxeXGQ8Ixi7dX292SBtBH9zCoQTU2LEw8uzFJ5xM5TqJN2Pn0RyMW-zb2gXU-vd4OuugsyweIn-oH2hajxrodALZbuE7NTjg3yBiMdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cheektowaga Town Board conducted a public hearing on whether to adopt Introductory Local Law No. 1 of 2025 to opt out of Real Property Tax Law §487 — a state provision that allows municipalities to grant a partial property-tax exemption to solar and certain other renewable-energy installations.

Why it matters: RPTL §487 makes solar and certain energy-storage investments more financially attractive by sheltering the increase in assessed value from property tax for a set period. The board is considering whether retaining the exemption helps local homeowners and small businesses afford rooftop systems or whether opting out protects school districts and municipalities from revenue loss when large commercial projects locate in town.

Dean Stanfield, speaking for Solar Liberty, a local solar and battery installer, urged the board to retain the exemption. “We respectfully urge you to retain RPTL §487 and keep the door open to affordable, independent energy for all,” Stanfield said, adding Solar Liberty’s local work had produced “about $150,000 a year in electricity savings” for Cheektowaga customers and employed roughly 90 Western New York residents.

Stanfield told the board that removing the exemption would increase the tax burden on homeowners and small businesses that adopt solar, likely making small residential and commercial installs financially infeasible. He said municipalities that opt out generally “opt out of all sizes and system types,” and he urged the board to weigh the exemption’s role in widening access beyond wealthier households.

Council members voiced conflicting priorities. Council member Diane Benczkowski said opting out would preserve local tax revenue for schools and town services and offered negotiating leverage with large developers; Council member Bridal Pularski asked that Solar Liberty’s public comments be entered into the record. Council member Anthony Phillipski and others acknowledged the policy trade-offs between encouraging residential clean energy and protecting municipal tax bases.

Public commenters raised practical concerns. One resident asked how solar tax credits and federal deductions affected affordability and noted many households take the standard federal deduction and may not benefit from investment tax credits. Another commenter urged the board to consider the distributional effect of any decision on lower-income households.

The board recognized Solar Liberty’s presentation as part of the hearing record. The public hearing was opened and later closed; no final vote on the local law occurred at the meeting. The board will consider the public record, local fiscal impacts and any state legislative approvals required before acting on the proposed opt-out.","Representatives from Solar Liberty urged the Town Board to retain New York’s RPTL §487 exemption for solar and battery systems; some board members said opting out could protect local tax revenues from large-scale developers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6609756,"Town board holds public hearing on Caliber Collision plan for 4959 Genesee Street",1185,1393000,2578000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906606-f6e1ac76f4232a17e4c41f6028dcab82&start=1393&end=2578","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906606-f6e1ac76f4232a17e4c41f6028dcab82/thumbnail_1393000.jpg","/articles/6609756/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Town-board-holds-public-hearing-on-Caliber-Collision-plan-for-4959-Genesee-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609756-c46e92fc24bce370230b56a6b7a4edc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440269&Signature=VsY6i5I7svju0x0DWnqQZSFj-K32P5v4kptpd5ht9SWKiBtOANkv3kUrYn9nW5CNQCnYzO7jExekuj~5zNIZeyV1pkvoVnsaJgtDXmXJ-d0k3-ctts5ylU-ubAPcyh4QPF~s1b9RZsVF2aBKAFepcGZK18RZv71lEdSzcURFYYFA5LikP4joGVI72zh8~X4nIJPDAI6pJtfD8A3yTuL0skOV0-SKFek0lG56Jx-ZNGPa~h8cS4vL41~W45ruvXBAJ-zfo6lRKIpqPrqJqizLpNFucCEFyTMahHHJN1Awb~FHXcdPcNoFDcT5tIugoLY~ry-83BL9RE3KMnerEujQTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Cheektowaga Town Board opened and closed a public hearing on a special-use permit application for a Caliber Collision vehicle-repair facility proposed at 4959 Genesee Street.

The applicant’s engineer, Robin Cerniak of GPI, told the board the project would sit on a 1.5-acre, motor-service–zoned parcel and would include a 12,475-square-foot building with 16 indoor service bays, 59 parking spaces and an enclosed vehicle yard. “This facility is smaller,” Cerniak said of the current plan, noting it has about half the bays of a previously proposed project and that “all the work is indoors.”

Why it matters: Neighbors and board members raised questions about noise, paint fumes, stormwater and the project’s relationship to a town pump station on adjacent property. Several board members said they want concrete information from state and federal regulators before taking an approval vote.

Architect Melissa Hernandez of Cross Architects addressed air quality and noise concerns. “All services including cleaning up will be done inside the building with closed doors,” Hernandez said. She said the paint booths are self-contained, meet applicable spray-booth codes and that the facility will obtain a state air-quality permit. The project team also said the paint booths will use multi-stage filtration and that the manufacturer’s systems meet federal and state requirements.

Board members pressed for specific data. Council member Michael Jasinski asked whether the applicant could provide expected parts-per-million figures for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The applicant said such calculations could be produced and that paint suppliers typically tailor mixes and VOC controls by county to remain in compliance; the applicant offered to provide the VOC estimates and filtration specifications to the board.

The applicant also told the board the site will use an existing New York State Department of Transportation curb cut and that the project has already been reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Planning Board and the Environmental Advisory Committee. The ZBA granted a small variance for the vehicle-use area and the planning board recommended site-plan approval, the engineer said. Cerniak said the project team has submitted a highway work permit application to the NYSDOT and that DOT storm-drain approvals remain pending.

On traffic and operations, the applicant said hours would typically be Monday through Friday about 8 a.m.–5 p.m., with occasional half-day Saturday work. The team said similar facilities of this size typically see about 30 vehicles in and 30 vehicles out on peak days and that, based on DOT counts for Genesee Street, the additional traffic would not materially change conditions at the road.

Board members and the developer discussed access to a nearby town pump station. The project team said the owner had agreed to provide town access to the south side of the pump station and that the project would preserve a drive aisle that could be used to reach the facility.

The public hearing was opened and then closed after the developer’s presentation and unrelated public questions; the board did not take a final vote on the special-use permit at the meeting. The applicant said it expects to return with any requested supplemental data and regulatory approvals in a future meeting.","Developers of a proposed 12,475-square-foot Caliber Collision repair shop told the Cheektowaga Town Board the facility will operate indoors with paint booths that meet state air-quality rules; board members pressed for more environmental and traffic detail before the application advances.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cheektowaga board approves series of resolutions; spending freeze and TCEA contract among measures passed

Public hearing on possible town opt-out of state solar tax exemption draws proponents and critics

Town board holds public hearing on Caliber Collision plan for 4959 Genesee Street