[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6655544,"mediaKeyId","5387139-bddc4bfd8e8c02338742c85132a72b4c","parentId",5387139,"title","Depew trustees approve fire-training use of apparatus, authorize DPW mowing of vacant properties and appoint van driver; claims approved","audioSeconds",1862,"startMs",1563025,"endMs",3425494,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5387139-bddc4bfd8e8c02338742c85132a72b4c&start=1563&end=3425","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5387139-bddc4bfd8e8c02338742c85132a72b4c/thumbnail_1563025.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655544/Depew/Erie-County/New-York/Depew-trustees-approve-fire-training-use-of-apparatus-authorize-DPW-mowing-of-vacant-properties-and-appoint-van-driver-claims-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655544-316f65afe9d32d77a8d2a3adaa942fbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582576&Signature=ME5eRnRjol1Snkm2KYvmX7sPxrzZ0YqxJNaPytqLNWxRgRxbrz~mhxbOz7k~7wDeTdxDvmW2~fpcKbhMbj2zQZsvMcD3nJyMMy3Fiy~73rMmFYthFCJUrQyAUaePTcLVnus0NKze8cAleRrnbUqicUMjTRwSo1DCxMz0Y-AdY~BUZmpc6vKAQzKw9FnwkK3uzL4e5VA1LCCi9WOXSoHxlTrcbn7NILArdcggRXuKByYGa92EXysawggHiPMiKfwfjodAq9FWFTewAOWxUVCIxlACjL7MOaLvEGhNDlhC8RcocpZMSfEzdwC3h611FYJ~ildlgFkglFKhkhY2IJYwXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dewpew, NY","date","2025-07-10T23:10:42Z","article","The Village of Depew Board of Trustees on July 14 approved several routine actions including permission for the Depew Volunteer Fire Department to conduct live-fire training, authorization for the Department of Public Works to mow listed vacant or foreclosed properties with the cost added to property tax bills, and the appointment of a part-time senior citizens van driver, Mayor Kevin Peterson said.

The approvals were taken as separate motions and carried by voice or roll-call votes. The board also approved audited claims and accounts submitted by the finance committee and later entered — and then left — an executive session to discuss a legal matter; the board said no decisions were made in executive session.

Why it matters: the motions let the fire department use apparatus for training, allow the village to clear nuisance vegetation on properties that did not comply with orders to remedy and recover costs through property tax billing, and fill a budgeted part-time transportation post serving seniors.

The live-fire training permission covers two scheduled training events: use of “squad 2” and “engine 3” at 2060 William Street in Cheektowaga, N.Y., on July 15, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and use of engine 1, engine 3, ladder 5 and engine 6 at Twin District Fire Company, 4999 William Street, Lancaster, N.Y., on July 22, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The board recorded the motion and later called the question; the clerk announced the motion carried.

On the nuisance grass resolution, the board authorized DPW to mow properties where owners failed to meet orders to remedy. The resolution named the following addresses: 68 Brewster Street; 18 Main Street; 62 Suffield Avenue; 48 Muskingum Street; 74 Main Street; 52 Main Street; 3230 Walden Avenue; 3106 Walden Avenue; and 3253 Walden Avenue. The motion notes the cost of said mowings will be attached to the village tax bill for each property.

The board unanimously appointed John Safai to the position of part-time senior citizens van driver, effective July 14, 2025, and cited Section 4-400 of Village Law during the appointment motion. The appointment was approved by roll call.

Claims and accounts: the finance committee reported audited claims for payment by fund, including $382,941.35 from the general fund and $104,246.85 from the community development fund; the board approved payment as presented.

Executive session: the board entered executive session at 7:50 p.m. to discuss a legal matter and returned at 8:21 p.m.; a motion at the end of the meeting stated “no decisions were made” in executive session. The meeting adjourned following the final motions.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution 9 — Permission for Depew Volunteer Fire Department live-fire trainings (use of listed apparatus at two sites; July 15 and July 22, 2025): outcome — carried (voice vote recorded as carried). Motion text: permission granted as read. (Provenance: motion and vote recorded in meeting transcript.)
- Resolution 10 — Authorize Department of Public Works to cut/mow specified vacant or foreclosed properties and charge costs to property tax bills: outcome — carried (roll-call: Trustee Murawski — Yes; Trustee Finba — Yes; Trustee Craft — Yes; Mayor Kevin Peterson — Yes). Motion text and property list as read in meeting.
- Resolution 11 — Appointment of part-time senior citizens van driver (John Safai), effective 07/14/2025, pursuant to Section 4-400 of Village Law: outcome — carried (roll-call: Trustee Murawski — Yes; Trustee Zimba — Yes; Trustee Kraft — Yes; Mayor Kevin Peterson — Yes).
- Claims and accounts — audited by the finance committee and approved for payment (general fund and community development fund amounts announced): outcome — carried (voice vote recorded as carried).

No other formal ordinances or resolutions were adopted at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Village of Depew Board Meeting 7-14-25","oneSentenceSummary","The Village of Depew Board of Trustees on July 14 approved live-fire training permissions for the Depew Volunteer Fire Department, authorized DPW to mow specified vacant or foreclosed properties and attach the costs to property tax bills, and appointed John Safai as a part-time senior citizens van driver, Mayor Kevin Peterson said.","taxTitle","Depew, Erie County, New York","taxId",58917,"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},6655539,"Depew fire chief reports solar-farm inverter fire contained; new apparatus arriving and junior firefighter recruits joining department",102,1148995,1251110,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5387139-bddc4bfd8e8c02338742c85132a72b4c&start=1148&end=1251","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5387139-bddc4bfd8e8c02338742c85132a72b4c/thumbnail_1148995.jpg","/articles/6655539/Depew/Erie-County/New-York/Depew-fire-chief-reports-solar-farm-inverter-fire-contained-new-apparatus-arriving-and-junior-firefighter-recruits-joining-department","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655539-bb0b42ea032421abe2de22cace2bc4f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582576&Signature=boi-nDkjWwoQ1PuBZvQZMMyM~1SlXfn~rjxq0Pj4F3D84L-~WhTbQwQwuXqx~H4LQ7UgXGG1kjsMD4Kzg0K8T-c6L4--mi0iENUAL3JSw0May84htNAOv3HGabkneMJQEfNcW3xC2vdnv3FzWSmbsDaIY~tNvHKbBwxJqcAcNw32tffUgnxzUdJ4qdQ4LOVfmw8ooT3IQPSr3AV6JnEO~yClo6ciKTqPAICkgp2ZvZLzulCVoLG3su~I3S2nH~tuKNgeZVIiPA4~ijB1OmJ57BpJVrqOo7cJhcI40LHqiYsuAXdDWEqR9bAJfk-CiJc~2X5us85Y5WEF6P3v8s88Kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fire Chief Bridal Musilak told the Village of Depew Board of Trustees on July 14 that crews contained a recent fire at a nearby solar installation to a single inverter and panel, and that an investigation into the cause is under way.

\"We were able to contain it to that one solar panel and that inverter,\" Musilak said. He described the incident as the first inverter failure their solar contractor had reported across roughly 322 similarly built facilities, and said the contractor and village are working closely to identify safeguards.

Musilak said the department’s biggest on-scene concern in these incidents is preventing fire spread from panel to panel and avoiding exposures that could force sheltering or evacuations because of toxic smoke. The chief said the solar contractor is investigating whether the inverter shorted and that the village and contractor are discussing improved mitigation measures.

The board also heard that the solar project produced funds and remediation work the village said reduced its cleanup cost exposure. The village administrator said the sale of 15 acres to an energy developer provided a “couple hundred thousand dollars” toward required creek remediation, and that the full remediation work for the site amounted to about $1.5 million the village did not have to pay. The administrator added that state changes affected an original plan to allocate 15% of certain project output to the village and 15% to the Depew school system; the developer has since identified an alternate mechanism to provide a share to the village and the school district for a later phase.

Musilak also described department staffing and equipment updates: a new squad (squad 2) arrived to replace an older engine, in-service equipment fitting is under way and in-service training for members is scheduled. The department recently accepted three junior firefighters; the chief noted the program as a recruiting pipeline and said one recruit is a fourth-generation firefighter in his family.

Safety reminders and community events: Musilak gave seasonal precautions about campfires, saying recreational open burns must be in approved fire pits no taller than three feet, at least 15 feet from structures or vegetation, supervised, and extinguished before leaving. The chief also praised department coordination with police and public works during recent holiday events.

Why it matters: the fire chief’s report touches on immediate public-safety risks at energy facilities, local emergency response capacity and ongoing recruitment and equipment upgrades.

What the transcript records (clarifications): Chief Musilak said “23 calls” since the last meeting; he also referenced a year-to-date total that was not clearly stated on the record. The contractor told village staff this was the first inverter failure they had reported across their approximately 322 similar facilities, according to the chief. The village administrator described remediation funding and figures in general terms in the meeting record; the precise contractual terms and exact dollar flows were not read into the record.

Next steps: the contractor’s investigation and follow-up mitigation measures were described as ongoing; the board did not take formal action on the solar incident during the meeting.","Fire Chief Bridal Musilak said a recent inverter failure caused a fire that was contained to a single solar panel and inverter; an investigation is under way. The chief also reported a new squad vehicle arriving, ongoing recruit training and the addition of three junior firefighters.","actionData","errors"]

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Depew trustees approve fire-training use of apparatus, authorize DPW mowing of vacant properties and appoint van driver; claims approved

Depew fire chief reports solar-farm inverter fire contained; new apparatus arriving and junior firefighter recruits joining department