Board approves package of contracts, hires and purchases including $1 acquisition of 17.2‑acre parcel

The Village of Depew Board of Trustees voted on multiple resolutions and motions during its Oct. 14 meeting, approving an intermunicipal snow‑removal contract with Erie County, authorizing the purchase of a 17.2‑acre parcel for $1 from Erie County, accepting a grant agreement and local match for a phase‑11 engineering planning grant, authorizing a municipal vehicle leasing agreement with Enterprise Mobility, hiring seasonal recreation employees and a part‑time public safety dispatcher, and several routine permissions for the volunteer fire department and school events.

Why it matters: The package includes the village’s acquisition of land adjacent to an existing solar site and a multiyear vehicle‑leasing agreement intended to refresh aging municipal vehicles. The votes also implement routine operations (staffing, contracts, and community event approvals) and set local matching commitments required by a state planning grant.

Key outcomes (votes recorded at the meeting): - Snow‑removal contract with Erie County: Approved. The village will be paid per lane mile: $5,279.96 (2025–26), $5,491.16 (2026–27) and $5,710.80 (2027–28) for 3.16 lane miles. (Roll call: Trustee Morawski — yes; Trustee Zimbach — yes; Trustee Kraft — yes; Deputy Mayor Adolph — yes; Mayor Kevin Peterson — yes.)

- Purchase of 0 Broadway (17.2 acres) from Erie County for $1: Approved. Mayor Kevin Peterson said the parcel adjoins the village’s existing solar array and the village is considering options including remediation to a buyer’s specifications or leasing; he also stated the village has “an offer for $195,000 in cash” for the parcel (statement at meeting). (Roll call: Morawski — yes; Zimbach — yes; Kraft — yes; Adolph — yes; Mayor Peterson — yes.)

- Authorization to execute a grant agreement with the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation and appropriation of a 20% local match for an engineering planning grant (EPG) for “phase 11”: Approved. The EPG award is $100,000; the local match minimum is 20% (not to exceed $20,000). (Roll call: all yes.)

- Enterprise Mobility municipal vehicle leasing agreement: Approved. The board authorized the mayor to sign a multi‑year municipal vehicle leasing agreement with Enterprise to lease seven vehicles initially; police vehicles on a two‑year term and DPW/rec vehicles on five‑year terms were described in the discussion. (Roll call: all yes.)

- Appointment of Elaine (Elaine) Clouden to part‑time public safety dispatcher, effective 10/14/2025, at salary per the 2025–2026 budget: Approved. Chief McNamara thanked Clouden for prior relevant county dispatch experience. (Roll call: all yes.)

- Other resolutions and permissions: The board approved permission for fire department apparatus to attend/stand by at school events, a Unifirst uniform and rug contract, hiring of winter seasonal recreation staff, waiver of sign permit fees for Depew High School craft shows, a bonfire permit with fire marshal conditions, and several budget adjustments and line‑item appropriations described in the meeting packet. (All motions carried as recorded by roll call or voice vote.)

What the votes do not resolve: Several agenda items that involve future work (for example, how the 0 Broadway parcel will be used long term — sale, lease, or solar project phase) were described as subject to further review and potential remediation requirements; the board did not adopt a final development plan for the parcel at this meeting.

Ending: The board closed the meeting after approving claims and accounts totaling $718,222.70 and observing a moment of silence for a longtime volunteer firefighter.