[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6527972,"mediaKeyId","3445396-14771c3c0e5d8f7d6c997d0889df2007","parentId",3445396,"title","Council adopts four resolutions; readings waived for agenda items 1–4","audioSeconds",59,"startMs",2662000,"endMs",2721000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445396-14771c3c0e5d8f7d6c997d0889df2007&start=2662&end=2721","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445396-14771c3c0e5d8f7d6c997d0889df2007/thumbnail_2662000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6527972/Tonawanda/Erie-County/New-York/Council-adopts-four-resolutions-readings-waived-for-agenda-items-14","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527972-df44e34e178b58e59cbb970ec495e9d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1776234872&Signature=ZMUKGBlHjLHWs~VUodFcheOdWtWu2ZYvLTeIUFrERfBy6YHbd-8yy5pb3No6wWDdeWMWAMIoJp4gT7L0yHfVMgJJLLtGPRchinSyM8WsGPrrFF7Pw-KEsF8GWzqrLS6BXdGA97QmhRvdJsXcZ3BvH9rtgMYb3NDLioKCV7IZCUJqMqz3QEd18tp0o6tUuXY-sFWsg1ku-v6iv~S9NF~RF29UaQlNMw0FJiaNyBaOKvFav351-P2NqUq0N0o9KZY68yvoYwsMH2u2Xd7A-7D3cXuZIjvFj2Rb6e2tnGn6kGVAHJLesImzFU2KsGCLqUUYM5oM3ZX8mt148o9qijoNdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tonawanda, NY","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Tonawanda City Council voted to waive the readings and to adopt four resolutions during the meeting. The clerk recorded roll-call votes for each action; the transcript records councilmembers saying “Aye” during roll calls and the clerk declared each resolution adopted.

Council procedure at the meeting began with a motion by Councilmember Milam to waive readings of agenda items 1 through 4, seconded by Councilmember Sheasley; the clerk then called the roll and the council recorded “Aye” votes. The clerk read the resolution numbers and sponsors into the record as follows:

- Resolution number 1, sponsored by Councilmember Milam — declared adopted by roll call.
- Resolution number 2, sponsored by Councilmember Sheasley — declared adopted by roll call.
- Resolution number 3, sponsored by Councilmember Ralph Strowell (as recorded) — declared adopted by roll call.
- Resolution number 4, sponsored by Councilmember Milam (transcript notes sponsor as Sheasley in one call and later corrected) — declared adopted by roll call.

The transcript records the roll-call responses by name for the waiver motion and for each resolution; responses were recorded as “Aye” for the councilmembers who answered. The text of the four resolutions was not read into the transcript during the roll calls captured here, and specific operative language for each resolution was not included in the meeting excerpt. Where a sponsor name or clerk reading contained inconsistent spellings in the transcript, this article reports the sponsor names as read into the record and notes corrections where the clerk made them during the meeting.

Because the meeting transcript contains only the roll-call affirmations and sponsor names (and not the full resolution texts), this article documents the formal outcome (adopted) and the recorded sponsoring councilmembers; the clerk declared each resolution adopted following roll-call affirmation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 20, 2025 Common Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Tonawanda City Council waived readings and adopted four numbered resolutions by roll call at the meeting; the transcript records roll-call 'aye' votes and sponsors for each resolution though the resolution texts were not read into the transcript.","taxTitle","Tonawanda, Erie County, New York","taxId",56260,"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},6527977,"Presenter asks council to consider Harriet Tubman byway resolution; DOT signage rules highlighted",261,3252000,3513000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445396-14771c3c0e5d8f7d6c997d0889df2007&start=3252&end=3513","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445396-14771c3c0e5d8f7d6c997d0889df2007/thumbnail_3252000.jpg","/articles/6527977/Tonawanda/Erie-County/New-York/Presenter-asks-council-to-consider-Harriet-Tubman-byway-resolution-DOT-signage-rules-highlighted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527977-8b81ea4f979b1e582472e2db7be533ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1776234872&Signature=DwgfvIHHsmy0xlP2Cmr294UrWYZsoUHT1LCP-fptbnDSANlrWPkL3Bp-ACyya3nWXNniE5R5BorHuujVQiOHEy9pKSYhLdqnTdFR2WFzHfS5KLbMJmlD76c3gv8QuMFkv49zuQlqJuXDlGpsJaIExVN0G0NL4qu5Wbs8BrbEZB6t0IhLTO~mMxZ15y07~BXwwFPHTqy-SAYZeVjLm3gQ45H7Y3iC~L6-CnsP71ehb91zva9~Edoucau-fzWZphlCS9FyAg9pybnf9jio1wnuhn6oPNaPNw-9MlcDS2Xrv8aXWgq9xWILsl4O2ofE-VgcN7QSMU7yi138lR0EmaQD0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alice Fondredagan, president of the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State and director of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, presented information about the proposed Harriet Tubman (Harriet Southern Underground Railroad) state byway and asked the Tonawanda City Council to consider formal support.

Fondredagan described a 550-mile New York State byway that would run from Manhattan through the Hudson Valley to Albany and across to Niagara Falls; in Western New York the proposed route would pass through Black Port, Amherst, the City of Buffalo, Village of Kenmore, City of Tonawanda, North Tonawanda and end in Niagara Falls. She said designating the route as a state byway is intended to recognize local history related to Harriet Tubman, freedom seekers and abolitionist activity and could support educational programming and heritage tourism.

Fondredagan told the council the designation is a “drivable” route on existing roadways that requires no physical changes to streets. She also explained a New York State Department of Transportation requirement commonly associated with state byways: DOT does not permit new off‑premise commercial signage (typical billboards) along designated byways; existing billboards can be assessed and, where applicable, grandfathered. She asked the council to review the materials and consider a resolution; the presenter requested the council review the proposal and indicated June 3 at 6 p.m. as a date for further council consideration.

The presenter said the application process covers multiple counties and jurisdictions and that the consortium would seek segments of designation next winter (the presenter cited January 2026 as a target for segment designation activity). The presenter offered to answer questions and invited the council to a public information session; the clerk recorded the request for further review and the June 3 date.

No formal council vote on a resolution to support the byway was recorded at this meeting; the presenter’s request was placed on the record for council review at a subsequent meeting.","An official with the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State briefed the council on a proposed 550-mile Harriet Tubman state byway route and asked the city to consider a resolution; she said DOT requires byway designations to limit new off‑premise commercial signage.",{"_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},6527982,"Council, police and local groups plan education session and helmet giveaway after bicycle/e-bike injury",172,3972000,4144000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445396-14771c3c0e5d8f7d6c997d0889df2007&start=3972&end=4144","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445396-14771c3c0e5d8f7d6c997d0889df2007/thumbnail_3972000.jpg","/articles/6527982/Tonawanda/Erie-County/New-York/Council-police-and-local-groups-plan-education-session-and-helmet-giveaway-after-bicyclee-bike-injury","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527982-678229fa2c83fab8dcd72b48ce3dcdc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776234872&Signature=bwAfCLF1ZqalkxdUBmmjmsR7jmO~WZ5UxLbFmO6h5-vSPjeSYO3CkN2VSIQnvhIek88WExuYe5LUVpzl2CgaSf4jZi~kJU~ai17eA7KWesl9cVBybqreIRzhnRcX1jzBBn75IK5-oZ55R8kpQ63C26ALtcDCUlylHxckEioLDCeUwrLFdpq1MuE3EfACe593oOHeSYW-qoJtsAmtaXMA1mn5isHhw~uBqbXTAI~Om26x1xEfh0Yr1wMuP63AjwRdw3Ixg0BzfwEyLKiDfAlEZ8FYUTmQyIoCansTqT5Af0Xv3IJFEwSMKd-xwrwoRwgVJWHHGfrtXuPQ9waeZkP94w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tonawanda city leaders, the police department and local community groups announced an education session plus a community helmet giveaway in response to recent bicycle/e-bike crashes, including a child seriously injured in a recent incident. Councilmembers and the mayor described an information-and-enforcement approach that pairs a 40-minute educational presentation with later enforcement of state and local rules.

Councilmembers said the safety presentation will be delivered by Officer Steven Worthen and other traffic-safety staff; the presentation will explain local rules, safe riding behavior and where e-bikes and e-scooters may not be ridden. “Education is the best tool,” Councilmember Milam said. The council and partners plan in-person outreach that the mayor and council described as focused on both riders and drivers.

Council members and community partners also organized helmet distribution. Mayor and council reported ordering helmets at roughly $17.18 each and placing an initial order for 50 units; community donations raised roughly $1,100, allowing the city and partners to plan distribution of “over a hundred helmets” to children at the event. The mayor said the helmets will be distributed with school‑based outreach so children receive helmets and information to bring home to parents.

Officials stressed that education will precede enforcement. A councilmember said police have started issuing summonses in some cases and the city’s traffic-safety committee will coordinate enforcement after the education push. The mayor and council asked residents and drivers to attend the public session; no new local ordinance was adopted at the meeting.

Organizers named partners including the North Tonawanda Neighborhood Watch, the Erie Niagara Sunrise Exchange Club, the Aquinas Club and local schools; Superintendent Tim Oldenburg was named as a cooperating partner who will help send notices home with students. The event is intended to reach parents, child riders and motorists and to reduce serious injuries by increasing helmet use and awareness of where e-bikes and e-scooters are allowed.

No formal council action adopting regulations was recorded in the transcript; the meeting record shows council direction to coordinate the education event and helmet distribution and to continue enforcement activities where permitted by state law.","City leaders, police and community groups announced a safety-education session and a community helmet distribution to address bicycle and e-bike safety after recent serious injuries; officers will pair education with stepped enforcement.",{"_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},6527987,"Council opens public hearing on proposed no-standing zone on Dexter Street",326,1957000,2283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445396-14771c3c0e5d8f7d6c997d0889df2007&start=1957&end=2283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445396-14771c3c0e5d8f7d6c997d0889df2007/thumbnail_1957000.jpg","/articles/6527987/Tonawanda/Erie-County/New-York/Council-opens-public-hearing-on-proposed-no-standing-zone-on-Dexter-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527987-dd6b10294039affd5a9037291e091a3a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776234872&Signature=UwevEKOKjg5q5oiixOJM5nFcVmFXdq1RPviPjkpTK6ZjTRFo8NfIUEfIy3zNXk7dDysV6UcHDXfdcJNjdFXG5EUjZ-4-cmawkwVqEiZX-mMD7MXPaqPdbZuIG8rYc7uaKqIp68CgYgML8UqxcPOgZLVkH-W3qMAFAD4R9SrLhzebYiGEVTLTUJwWexKas4D50tBBjAkeabRMowgUwbnThF7skp0F1jb~E2ruLmAh3FMYRSsxhDo6WTj0T3wuJQ5~bVREVX9jDHYy~SOXswVkPJbl6ueb8WrMRF~R~dpQ~RN9DvuEwEP5LjGd492E2sAqtQbQn33bxEO70c-HlDprAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tonawanda City Council opened a public hearing to consider amending Tonawanda City Code section 62-193 (Schedule 15) to prohibit standing of vehicles on the east side of Dexter Street from Tussing Lane to a point 100 feet north. The clerk read the public-notice language before residents addressed the council.

Residents who spoke urged the council to adopt restrictions for safety. “When you're pulling onto or off of Dexter to Tussig, you can't see traffic coming towards you,” said Catherine Burks of 100 Dexter Street, adding the street is narrow and she wants the change “to be safer.” Randy Walker of 128 Chester Street told the council that street plowing and emergency-vehicle access are affected when cars park on both sides in winter, calling it “a huge safety issue.”

Another resident, speaking for Jack Gallagher of 204 Dexter, told the council Gallagher believed a 100-foot no-standing zone “is too long” and would prefer a shorter distance at the corner. The clerk and speakers on the record confirmed the council received written material and local residents measured the distance in question during public comment.

The public hearing was opened and then closed during the meeting; no final vote on the proposed code amendment was recorded in the transcript. Council members and staff discussed next steps after public comment, including follow-up through the city’s traffic-safety process. Councilmember Fisher said the item will move forward with the traffic-safety committee, noting the council has “wheels in motion” to address the safety concerns raised at the hearing.

Because the hearing record and testimony focused on sight lines, plowing and emergency access, council members asked staff to return with options (including a shorter no‑standing zone) and implementation details; no ordinance adoption or final amendment was recorded on the transcript of this meeting.

The clerk’s public‑hearing notice identified the specific code section under consideration: Tonawanda City Code section 62-193, Schedule 15. Council discussion and public testimony emphasized localized safety effects and winter plowing and emergency-vehicle access as the principal reasons residents want parking restrictions adjusted.

The council closed the public hearing and proceeded with other agenda items. Staff and the traffic-safety committee were asked to review the public comments and provide follow-up recommendations at a future meeting.","Tonawanda City Council opened a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the city code to prohibit standing of vehicles on the east side of Dexter Street from Tussing Lane north for 100 feet; residents described sight-line and emergency-access concerns and urged a shorter buffer.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts four resolutions; readings waived for agenda items 1–4

Presenter asks council to consider Harriet Tubman byway resolution; DOT signage rules highlighted

Council, police and local groups plan education session and helmet giveaway after bicycle/e-bike injury

Council opens public hearing on proposed no-standing zone on Dexter Street