Cheektowaga board approves $2.14 million paving plan, authorizes $47,006 microsurfacing payment after procurement debate

The Town of Cheektowaga Town Board on Aug. 12 approved a 2025 paving, drainage and reconstruction list and authorized payment of $47,006.48 to Suco Corporation for a microsurfacing project, following debate about procurement rules and a pending union grievance.

The board approved a revised maximum appropriation for highway work after amending the originally listed maximum of $5,048,610.70 down to $2,138,840.40. The board also voted to authorize payment to Suco Corporation for crack sealing and microsurfacing work performed in June 2025 on Countryside Lane and Whitecroft Boulevard.

Why it matters: The highway superintendent said the micropaving and crack-sealing work is intended as a cost-effective “catch up” to extend pavement life after postponed road maintenance. Board members said the town’s procurement rules and a pending grievance from the highway union required clarification before similar contracts proceed.

The most important facts

Supervisor Brian Nowak sponsored the paving resolution and proposed the list of streets for reconstruction and drainage work. After discussion and a motion to amend the dollar amount, the board approved the amended ceiling of $2,138,840.40 for the 2025 paving program.

Separately, the board voted to authorize payment of $47,006.48 to Suco Corporation for microsurfacing work on Countryside Lane and Whitecroft Boulevard. Town staff said the work had been done in June 2025 using an Erie County piggyback bid (bid 250085-004). Town Attorney Fowler moved technical edits to the payment resolution to remove inaccurate wording and add a note that the county contract had been piggybacked.

What board members debated

- Procurement and process: Several members said the highway superintendent should have sought board authorization before advancing the Suco contract and that similar purchases above the procurement threshold require board resolution. The town comptroller confirmed the purchase required notice to the board because the invoice exceeded the town’s procurement threshold.

- Union and staffing impacts: Council member Filipsky raised a pending grievance about the use of outside contractors on work town crews might perform. Highway Superintendent Rick Rusnak described a plan to integrate town labor into the contractor’s operation (providing traffic control and loading material) and said the product requires proprietary equipment the town does not own. Board members asked that staff and union leadership agree to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) before expanded use of the method.

- Efficacy and appearance: Several members questioned the appearance and durability of micro‑surface treatments versus full-depth milling and paving. Supporters said crack sealing and microsurfacing are widely used on state and interstate projects as a lower‑cost way to extend pavement life and to avoid immediate full-depth reconstruction.

Board action and next steps

- The board approved the amended paving appropriation and authorized the highway superintendent to proceed within the revised financial limit.

- The board approved payment of $47,006.48 to Suco Corporation for work completed in June 2025.

- Members directed highway staff to work with union leadership to produce an MOU covering town labor participation on future micropaving/crack-seal projects and to follow procurement rules for any projects exceeding procurement thresholds.

Context and background

Highway staff said the town has deferred maintenance in recent years and is pursuing lower-cost surface-preservation techniques to delay full-depth reconstruction where possible. The Erie County contract used for the Suco work was identified as a county bid for summer construction and maintenance materials, and the town piggybacked off that contract. Board members said they want clearer, earlier notification of purchases that approach or exceed procurement thresholds so the full board can review options for in-house work, bidding or piggybacking.

Ending

The board approved both measures after multiple amendments to the resolutions and a commitment to meet with union leadership. Highway staff said work this year will proceed on the approved list, with a fuller review of results and a return to more traditional milling and paving in 2026 if budgets permit.