[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6577854,"mediaKeyId","3091520-d29c5de0058eb0c4b0bd6139c773a002","parentId",3091520,"title","Veterans group presses board to finish Nob Hill Park memorial after contractor-extension vote stalled","audioSeconds",138,"startMs",262000,"endMs",400000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091520-d29c5de0058eb0c4b0bd6139c773a002&start=262&end=400","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091520-d29c5de0058eb0c4b0bd6139c773a002/thumbnail_262000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6577854/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Veterans-group-presses-board-to-finish-Nob-Hill-Park-memorial-after-contractor-extension-vote-stalled","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577854-2cdfdf2b306587ea8d67fe35cf2d9d9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157920&Signature=ko2aPa4inWWjKh1nwaFt5V00kXbnYvlgdXtlfpjXhlj4MG3EFrKRoYXwTdwQIbM~fQcJzh8ceumogOM0NSiPwp2H-y7ZCAPQGr9aKVKoFmFZVsF418dx3h4Aq6aLCv1~fD6LnCwSl7LUQsATV7VlWQNxUwUOlcAsUGFlt7orvOiyhE2yGWNaNE-pdnwM7JKGxCQjA73LsHTBdBvp4qBzTwZFFc3gzOk-ew6KfDKJ6pt9B8FhP8pSTkH31Ww9Ty9NkEP256hOqg1Ogs2o-QIgvg9yMrOgMIvZj7em7KIMvYaLFJTtJNYR6h501nQE1avAIo-bhMZbqUfH~9knQrD5dA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cheektowaga, NY","date","2025-04-23T00:36:00.293Z","article","Jeff Degar, a veterans advocate and officer with the Donovan Post and Voiture 5140/40 & 8 Society, urged the Town of Cheektowaga board on April 22 to allow completion of a long‑planned veterans memorial at Nob Hill Park.

Degar said the monument has been funded—\"The monument's been paid for\"—and brick pavers are engraved and en route. He said the group secured a $25,000 grant from Assemblymember Monica Wallace five years ago, a donated flagpole and donated landscaping, and that the remaining needs were a concrete foundation and electric work for the flagpole. Degar said those final steps stalled after the town did not extend the contractor’s term. \"What we needed was the foundation for the monument, and they were gonna run electric for the flagpole. And that came to a screeching halt by not extending that contract,\" he said.

Nut graf: The memorial project is largely financed by grants and in-kind donations, and veterans asked the board to resolve the contract-extension issue so the installation can proceed.

Supporting details
- Degar thanked several council members for prompt replies while describing roadblocks after a town decision not to extend a contractor’s contract.
- The veterans group also wants a future program to hang veterans’ banners along Harlem Road or another main street.

Ending: Board members acknowledged the request and council members who had been contacted indicated they were pursuing possible solutions; no formal resolution on the memorial was introduced at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Board Meeting 4.22.25","oneSentenceSummary","A veterans advocate told the board a donated monument and other in-kind contributions for Nob Hill Park are ready but work halted after the town failed to extend a contractor’s term; advocates said most costs are covered by grant and donations and asked the board to help clear the remaining administrative hurdle.","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},6577861,"Board urges review of AMR ambulance contract, EMS committee to report back",71,1037000,1108000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091520-d29c5de0058eb0c4b0bd6139c773a002&start=1037&end=1108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091520-d29c5de0058eb0c4b0bd6139c773a002/thumbnail_1037000.jpg","/articles/6577861/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Board-urges-review-of-AMR-ambulance-contract-EMS-committee-to-report-back","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577861-d92ff5984e841bad6f44f640ab78c1df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157920&Signature=OooHfoUMdn6FnB97A4vjaPmfbH4J4Bi4QnWD8aTI2al-vFJl~w8TWEfH4bH8tiE6BzO28wM7hPGiSpFl2dcRzzP7PJXQND9vlS5TdHwA3IEX7f4h2dd6XZbulrbHm3M5Yljyc4JIiQIW-8LLqOV0u7A7xANuBeteEyyfYnoXA9TaW~OFli1unjFmBZvVJx0KM0C~E0nqzmHRMxS1H5hlxU2UKhes3NmZAsVRXBc51o2tSCgCVOlfU6a8erYqIFHiFvgAYc15XyKWEEbvgYHIaHMC-oHKUGXj0K6IuyOPmXbDatiTGjNcNipiFHc2HI64LNHysLjW5GF8EvyQzbOwHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several council members raised questions about the town's emergency medical services arrangement with American Medical Response (AMR), noting the town currently operates under an expired contract and that the EMS committee and an internal subcommittee have been working on alternatives.

Council member Brian Pularski said the town is \"still operating under an expired contract with AMR\" and urged the board to re-evaluate the arrangement and consider whether splitting coverage among providers or otherwise changing the contract would reduce perceived monopoly influence. Board members and staff noted the EMS committee meets on the second Monday of each month and that subcommittee discussions have produced suggested contract changes; Pularski offered to provide updates to the board in the coming months.

Nut graf: With the existing AMR contract expired, the board signaled a desire to revisit options for EMS service delivery and asked for subcommittee updates to be shared with the full board.

Supporting details
- Pularski said the town has convened meetings of an EMS subcommittee to develop contract preferences and that a meeting occurs the second Monday of each month just before the board meeting.
- Council members discussed options including splitting service territory to avoid monopoly leverage and working with other stakeholders to counterbalance provider influence.

Ending: The board asked staff and the EMS subcommittee to provide updates at upcoming meetings; no formal direction to terminate or reprocure service was taken at this session.","Council members asked for an update on the town’s ambulance service arrangement with AMR, noting the contract is expired and expressing interest in re-evaluating service structure and competition; EMS subcommittee meets second Monday of each month.",{"_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},6577865,"Cheektowaga highway engineer role, staffing and hires draw sharp questions from board",784,2666000,3450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091520-d29c5de0058eb0c4b0bd6139c773a002&start=2666&end=3450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091520-d29c5de0058eb0c4b0bd6139c773a002/thumbnail_2666000.jpg","/articles/6577865/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Cheektowaga-highway-engineer-role-staffing-and-hires-draw-sharp-questions-from-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577865-2d8760856978d0b5293b4b548665683e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157920&Signature=DFkbjznJ77rNUZBAbXoU58wouw-NBfRKTDTJmTIcobfOQ4UBCgWf8cU~SrXSwjEQhlSOw562hUppWokfTBK7cI-~GFmBmSlw8fM6hQPEhHwxwWXpTeDtZJwbp3sMyH2qMScrLpNiEGoV0GwKDMa79RYsjKjIuyi-fJ~whs89VZcyZ2z9huAbuDOglYuO941U1g61-~NWhbmJ7v-wIwOWQvO~TT~EkCEPi5StIU62sQ1sRhzUgjdfIpHLCqNp9zotAXb0J5yZ6fwQencpyWmCElu6ppaDfe~soEET5Gigi-heeMmoLq-qM2gxVaQWZcMPbxa-pnoKCbWHtlT-IQDjCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On April 22 town council members questioned a resolution that would formally memorialize the practice of the engineering department employee performing highway engineering duties.

Council members said the town has relied on a principal engineering assistant to support highway projects for years, but they asked for explicit budget lines, overtime comparisons and contract analysis before formally designating the role. Council member Diane Benjkowski (spelling in record varies) cited New York Highway Law §140(19) — which allows a highway superintendent to employ an engineer — while other members pointed to collective-bargaining language and the town budget to argue the board controls headcount and appropriations.

Council member Barbara Bukowski asked for numbers on overtime, costs of outsourcing to firms such as Nussbaum & Clarke, and whether in‑house staffing or shared services would offer long-term savings. A town attorney/staff member reviewed the expired bargaining agreement language and confirmed the board is operating under the prior agreement until a successor contract is in place, meaning workforce and job-security provisions remain in effect.

Nut graf: The proposed resolution to memorialize the engineer’s role was tabled for further financial detail; board members said they want a clear plan for how the position would be funded (highway fund vs. general fund) and what changes, if any, would be required if the incumbent retires.

Supporting details
- Several highway hiring resolutions were brought forward (motor equipment/operator upgrades and a crew-chief appointment) and produced divided roll-call results; some failed to carry and were defeated.
- Board members asked staff to provide: (1) a cost comparison of overtime vs. hiring a full-time or part-time highway engineer, (2) the cost/role of outside engineering firms used for stamped plans, and (3) how to allocate salary and benefits across relevant funds.
- Council members and staff emphasized the need to plan for succession if the current engineering staffer retires, and to identify how the position would be budgeted in future years.

Ending: The board tabled the memorializing resolution and asked staff to return with detailed cost and budget options at the next meeting.","Council members asked for financial and contract detail before memorializing the highway engineer arrangement that has been in practice for years and pushed back on multiple highway hiring resolutions; a proposed resolution to formalize the existing practice was tabled.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6577872,"Town officials say $5 million DEC sewer lining grant remains available; work ongoing in Sheds 9 and 10",256,1829000,2085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091520-d29c5de0058eb0c4b0bd6139c773a002&start=1829&end=2085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091520-d29c5de0058eb0c4b0bd6139c773a002/thumbnail_1829000.jpg","/articles/6577872/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Town-officials-say-5-million-DEC-sewer-lining-grant-remains-available-work-ongoing-in-Sheds-9-and-10","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577872-f101ef63c3e052a735c71af5c7de9089/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157920&Signature=igKfM8RHVlkEmhA2QBwgeuWzsoWprn-bpuhGqXL01M7-FUGs1Zi8-bQiyQSS9VW9Dd0-AU5R9QDkGO9aB2Qh9dRFczHDBrYZzYcNYxlS45R~eHSpqrrXtQVejJ74cOB399HqZKszivUEmRFYKRl0pDugGl-FLBYEeTzzwvu9NNrqvcuHMY-~X-XLI0Abl2dfeYAw0YrE-LpY90Nb9y4M9Hqeq3xvVEwWi3Jgm66bbmKXA4Yx7pqbT8dZgUmsbtHNqGcUEqgt0lc3a3oXxc6gThgOHBQ~pQw7HCfzKT-ZXhjhbHdJKZrFNbeUNw9L~oJqyp5zTKkBIyf3Yv2SM4FF8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 22 meeting, town staff confirmed that the $5 million grant awarded through New York’s Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP) for pipelining in Sewer Sheds 9 and 10 remains in place but requires completion of contracted work and submission of invoices for reimbursement.

Pat (department head) told the board that the WQIP award is tied specifically to mainline pipelining for Sheds 9 and 10 and that some lining work has already begun. \"This $5,000,000 grant was tied to the lining of 9 and 10. So we just gotta get out there and finish it, and then we can claim the money later on,\" Pat said. He added that some manhole repairs and other supporting work remain separate from the lining contract and may be needed before final reimbursement.

Town staff said two separate contractors were awarded the work for the two sheds and that National Water Main recently began work in town. Staff also explained that invoices are sometimes held until contractors satisfy program paperwork requirements (for example, MWBE documentation), which can delay payments. When asked for a schedule, staff said they expect the work to be completed this year and committed to emailing the board an up-to-date timeline and invoice/reimbursement status within a day or two.

Nut graf: The grant reimburses costs incurred for pipelining once invoices and required documentation are submitted; board members requested a short written update before taking further bond or bidding steps.

Supporting details
- The board discussed but then tabled several bond and notice-to-bid resolutions tied to sewer and drainage work so the board has current financial and DEC-priority information before committing to bonding or awarding contracts.
- Staff said reimbursements are submitted through the town process (via a named contact, Bernie Rotella), and some invoices have been paid, while others await state approval paperwork.
- Town staff said contingency and typical contracting practices have limited the incidence of change orders on lining projects and often result in deducts at project closeout rather than large additional costs.

Ending: The board requested a written status update on percent-complete, submitted invoices and expected reimbursement timing; staff committed to an email update within one to two days.","Town staff told the board the DEC/EFC $5 million WQIP grant for sewer-lining in Sewer Sheds 9 and 10 remains available but the town must finish work and submit invoices for reimbursement; some related bond and bid resolutions were tabled pending more detail.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6577877,"Cheektowaga board approves new hires, controller, and several routine items; multiple infrastructure and hiring measures tabled or defeated",3523,124000,3647000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091520-d29c5de0058eb0c4b0bd6139c773a002&start=124&end=3647","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091520-d29c5de0058eb0c4b0bd6139c773a002/thumbnail_124000.jpg","/articles/6577877/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Cheektowaga-board-approves-new-hires-controller-and-several-routine-items-multiple-infrastructure-and-hiring-measures-tabled-or-defeated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577877-13d8d0a36c9d9a84d5c426cb23a361ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157920&Signature=AjgN~i63RALSWpyggMNjZ9hSXKaO6VCTbdSTRXvKDQfrnV1Dq6JQ~o1NSxQWMUw7PE04R~3rGSnQ4f6upEkynnS3AVD34v~Zl9rUxKbkniImeBTEAA6zKdmXTcRlRRnJmWmMIvzKqOWogOT7hVfEZeWKreFcMKxXowvZ5w58di9QBH4tNceBa0nyrSFCFbmmw7Hup~BTnNpDyNj4r~yRi9fapMA~-QETAQYgg7TNsmYru9CiXYWjEZYMGVY6TuURm8YELkBV0gZj7pHDN-CKglInT8NQIoR5HwE3SYDjBeGt0-wU4iV9ERDDr1-qJSh9YLpFYTJkTQfoac9S4~Srqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Cheektowaga Town Board on April 22 approved a set of personnel appointments and routine resolutions while tabling or voting down several infrastructure and highway personnel measures.

The board voted to appoint Dennis Dombrowski as town controller, effective April 23, 2025, and approved other hires including a maintenance worker and a provisional pump operator. The board also approved an agreement to host a FeedMore Western New York farmers-market program at the senior center. Several bond-related resolutions and notices-to-bidders tied to sewer and Kemp Avenue drainage work were tabled for further review or defeated after discussion about timing and grant coordination.

Why this matters: the controller hire establishes a new finance officer to review town spending and reimbursements; debate over sewer bonding and highway engineering highlights competing priorities around DEC consent-order deadlines, grant reimbursements and budget constraints.

Key votes and outcomes
- Resolution 2025-0254: appointment of Zachary Worrall as part-time court officer — PASSED (voice vote).
- Resolution 2025-0255: appointment of Walter Zelinski as part-time court officer — PASSED (voice vote).
- Resolution 2025-0256: exemption from town residency and appointment of Joseph LaRacio and Eric Morawski as detention officers at $22/hr — PASSED (voice vote).
- Resolution 2025-0259: rescindment of prior spending-freeze resolution and direction to consider controller recommendations — PASSED (roll call: unanimous yes recorded where roll call taken).
- Resolution 2025-0260 (amended): annual financial disclosure filing list (added director of youth and recreation, town prosecutor, planning board members, and general crew chief) — PASSED as amended (voice vote on amendment; then passed).
- Resolution 2025-0261: opt-out of Real Property Tax Law §487 solar & energy-system exemptions — TABLED at sponsor request pending assessor data (motion to table approved).
- Resolution 2025-0266 (sanitary-sewer public hearing/bond call): TABLED.
- Resolution 2025-0267: bond authorization up to $3,000,000 for drainage improvements (Kemp area) — DEFEATED (roll call: several no votes; Supervisor Brian Nowak and Council member Brian Pularski recorded yes; others no).
- Resolutions 2025-0268, 2025-0270, 2025-0271 (various notices to bidders for sewer/storm/sewer repair projects): TABLED or pulled for later consideration.
- Resolution 2025-0277: agreement with FeedMore Western New York to host farmers-market program at the senior center — PASSED (roll call recorded yes votes).
- Resolution 2025-0280 (memo re: highway engineer authority): TABLED for additional financial detail.
- Resolutions 2025-0282, 2025-0283, 2025-0284 (highway hiring/appointments): several were considered but the roll calls recorded defeat or abstentions; specific motions failed to carry.
- Resolution 2025-0297: appointment of William Rathburn, maintenance worker, Facilities — PASSED (voice vote).
- Resolution 2025-0298: appointment of Dennis Dombrowski as town controller, $80,000 salary — PASSED (voice vote; follow-up budget transfers to be provided).
- Resolution 2025-0299: appointment of Ryan Pocobello as provisional pump operator, main pump station — PASSED (voice vote).

Board members who requested more detail asked staff to provide the latest spending/reimbursement status for the DEC WQIP $5,000,000 pipelining grant tied to sewer sheds 9 and 10; staff committed to an update by email within a day or two. Several motions to table items were adopted to allow that follow-up.

Ending: The board finished regular business and entered executive session on personnel, litigation and attorney-client matters with no action announced afterward.","The Town of Cheektowaga board approved a mix of personnel appointments including a controller, passed routine agreements and a senior-service contract, and tabled or defeated several sewer- and highway-related bond and hiring measures after extended debate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Veterans group presses board to finish Nob Hill Park memorial after contractor-extension vote stalled

Board urges review of AMR ambulance contract, EMS committee to report back

Cheektowaga highway engineer role, staffing and hires draw sharp questions from board

Town officials say $5 million DEC sewer lining grant remains available; work ongoing in Sheds 9 and 10

Cheektowaga board approves new hires, controller, and several routine items; multiple infrastructure and hiring measures tabled or defeated