Village trustees approve solar lease amendment, sewer grant application, demolition and contracts in unanimous roll calls

The Village Board of Trustees of Depew voted on nine resolutions at its regular meeting Aug. 11, approving measures that included a Phase 2 solar lease amendment, submission of a New York State WIIA grant application for sewer Phase 9, authorization to begin the demolition process for 47 Main Street, and two contracts tied to a controlled demolition at 163 Keefer Avenue.

The actions were taken by roll call and the board recorded unanimous support for the items noted on the agenda. The resolutions authorized staff to sign amended lease documents retroactive to July 29, 2025; to authorize Municipal Solutions Inc. to prepare a WIIA application and permit the mayor to execute required documents; to advertise a public hearing for Local Law No. 3 (open fires and incinerators); to accept an engineering planning grant award letter; to begin the demolition process at 47 Main Street under village law; to appoint John Dean III as a third‑party electrical inspector; and to award contracts for controlled demolition and asbestos abatement at 163 Keefer Avenue.

Why it matters: the actions set in motion a mix of capital and regulatory steps — the sewer grant application could fund a portion of a multi‑phase infrastructure project, the solar lease amendment changes how the village receives compensation from a renewable project, and the demolition resolutions begin a formal legal process to remove structures deemed unsafe. The contracts for Keefer Avenue allow immediate remediation work to proceed if preconditions are met.

Key vote outcomes (by resolution number): - Resolution 1: Authorization for the mayor to sign amended Phase 2 lease documents (retroactive to 07/29/2025) — Passed (roll call: unanimous). Tally: yes 5, no 0, abstain 0. - Resolution 2: Authorize submission of a WIIA application for Sewer Phase 9 and to authorize Municipal Solutions Inc. to prepare the application — Passed (unanimous). Tally: yes 5, no 0. - Resolution 3: Authorize administrator to advertise a public hearing for Local Law No. 3 (open fires and incinerators) to be held 08/25/2025 — Passed (unanimous). Tally: yes 5, no 0. - Resolution 4: Mayor authorized to sign engineering planning grant award letter (approx. $100,000 referenced in discussion) — Passed (unanimous). Tally: yes 5, no 0. - Resolution 5: Approve demolition process for 47 Main Street under village law sections 81‑4 through 81‑11 and set procedure for notice and public hearing — Passed (unanimous). Tally: yes 5, no 0. - Resolution 6: Appointment of John Dean III as third‑party electrical inspector pursuant to Village Law §4‑400 — Passed (unanimous). Tally: yes 5, no 0. - Resolution 7: Authorize mayor to execute a $16,500 contract with Get 'er Done Buffalo for controlled demolition of 163 Keefer Avenue — Passed (unanimous). Tally: yes 5, no 0. - Resolution 8: Authorize mayor to execute a $1,885 contract with UNYS Environmental Consultants for asbestos abatement and monitoring at 163 Keefer Avenue — Passed (unanimous). Tally: yes 5, no 0. - Resolution 9: Permissions for Depew Volunteer Fire Department activities (vehicle attendance at events, station pavilion use for junior firefighters) — Passed (unanimous). Tally: yes 5, no 0.

Context and next steps: several approved items are procedural authorizations (grant application preparation, advertising a public hearing) that require further staff action and, in some cases, additional public hearings and legal service of notice before final work occurs. For the demolition at 47 Main Street the board approved pursuing the statutory process; a public hearing is required after owners are served with notice and before physical demolition may proceed. The sewer Phase 9 project will move forward through an application process with the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation; the planning consultant named in the resolution will prepare required materials.

The board also approved audited claims and accounts totaling $709,833.04 and adjourned the meeting at 8:33 p.m.