Trustees approve local law on open fires, personnel appointments and multiple permits; claims of $360,330.32 approved

The Village of Depew Board of Trustees voted on multiple resolutions and administrative items during its Sept. 22 meeting, adopting a local law on open fires and incinerators and approving personnel, permits and departmental trainings. The board also approved claims and accounts totaling $360,330.32.

The board adopted Local Law No. 3 of 2025 on open fires and incinerators following a public hearing held Sept. 8, 2025. The law provides enforcement mechanisms to address excessive backyard fires, and—according to the board’s description—creates an enforcement pathway that is complaint-driven rather than authorizing proactive patrols for bonfires.

The trustees approved minutes and actions reported by advisory boards: the Zoning Board meeting minutes (Aug. 28, 2025) were accepted, which recorded approval of variances for Rebecca DePasquale and Justin Palmer at 66 Lee Street to widen a driveway and approval of a fence variance for Robert Anna at 194 Warsaw Street. The Planning Board minutes (Sept. 4, 2025) were approved and recorded a special-use permit approval for Ahmed Salah to open and operate a vape and smoke shop at 6061 Transit (Unit 6063).

Personnel and event permissions approved included the appointment of Matthew Gary as a part-time laborer in the Recreation Department (appointed pursuant to section 44-100 of Village Law), and permission for the Depew High School motorcade scheduled for Oct. 24, 2025.

The board authorized the village administrator to advertise a public hearing on the village’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for projects on both the Lancaster and Cheektowaga sides of town; the hearing is scheduled for the Oct. 14, 2025 meeting. The resolution specified up to $150,000 for a playground project on the Lancaster side and described a $100,000 allocation on the Cheektowaga side, half of which would support senior-center services and the other half typically used for sidewalk work in targeted areas.

Fire-department related permissions passed included granting membership pending physicals for two new recruits identified as Elliot Mendez (Engine 3 / Cayuga) and Michael Matthews (Hook and Ladder Company); permission for Engine 1, Engine 3 and Ladder 5 to attend live-fire training at the Amherst Fire Training Tower on Millersport Highway on Sept. 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and permission for the chief’s vehicle (Car 9) to travel to Albany Oct. 6–7 to attend the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony.

The board approved claims and accounts as audited by the finance committee: General Fund $335,678.67; Community Development $7,125.75; Sewer Fund $859.00; Capital Projects $16,666.90, for a total of $360,330.32.

All formal roll-call votes recorded in the transcript that used a roll call showed affirmative votes from the trustees present (Trustee Murawski, Trustee Zimba, Trustee Kraft, Deputy Mayor Adolph and Mayor Kevin Peterson) where a roll call was requested. Several procedural items and routine permissions were approved by voice vote with “aye” recorded on the transcript.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in meeting minutes): - Accept Zoning Board minutes (Aug. 28, 2025) — motion carried; variances approved: Rebecca DePasquale & Justin Palmer (66 Lee Street) and Robert Anna (194 Warsaw Street). - Approve Planning Board minutes (Sept. 4, 2025) — motion carried; special-use permit approved for Ahmed Salah (6061 Transit, Unit 6063) to operate a vape and smoke shop. - Appoint Matthew Gary, part-time laborer, Recreation Department (pursuant to Village Law §44-100) — motion carried (roll call recorded as yes). - Permission for Depew High School motorcade (Oct. 24, 2025) — motion carried. - Authorize administrator to advertise public hearing on CDBG application (hearing 10/14/2025) — motion carried. - Grant membership to two volunteer fire department recruits pending physicals (Elliot Mendez; Michael Matthews) — motion carried (roll call recorded as yes). - Permission for Engine 1, Engine 3 and Ladder 5 to attend live-fire training (Amherst Fire Training Tower, 9/23/2025) and permission for Car 9 travel to Albany (10/6–10/7/2025) — motion carried. - Adopt Local Law No. 3 of 2025 (Open Fires and Incinerators) — motion carried (roll call recorded as yes); copies of the law were made available at the entrance. - Claims and accounts as audited by finance committee (total $360,330.32) — motion carried. - Motion to adjourn at 7:57 p.m. — carried.

This summary is drawn from the meeting transcript of the Village of Depew Board of Trustees, Sept. 22, 2025. Specific vote counts were recorded as roll calls for several items; where the transcript records only voice votes, the minutes record the motion as carried.