Tonawanda council adopts most bond and capital resolutions, tables two items; names public art site

The City of Tonawanda Common Council on April 22 adopted a series of bond and capital resolutions and other routine measures while tabling two agenda items.

The approvals included capital projects and bookkeeping adjustments that the council said align project budgets with previously authorized borrowing or outside grants. The council adopted resolutions covering sidewalk repairs and other street improvements, a storage/maintenance heating replacement at the fire headquarters, a city roof replacement at the Department of Public Works (DPW), City Hall window replacement and a contract for work at the main pump station. The council also adopted a resolution naming a grassy area in Niwanda Park “Bob Gregg Grove” effective June 1, 2025; Council Member Cook recorded the lone recorded “nay” on that measure.

Why it matters: The package authorizes construction and bookkeeping steps that permit the city to spend previously authorized funds, accept outside grants and proceed with maintenance work officials said is necessary for infrastructure reliability. Several adopted items use a mix of grant and city funds, and at least one significant repair — work at the main pump station — was discussed as an expanded scope driven by failing valves and emergency repairs.

What the council approved (high-level): - Sidewalks and walkways improvements: a project with a maximum cost stated at $360,000 that the council said includes a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award and additional city funding to reach the project total. - Storage/Fire headquarters heating replacement: a capital resolution with a $200,000 maximum cost to replace ceiling heaters and add infrared heat in apparatus bays. - DPW roof replacement: council authorized expanding an existing roof-replacement authorization to include additional buildings (mechanic shop, welding shop, vehicle storage) and to remove/store/reinstall solar panels as part of the work. - City Hall window replacement and related east-side energy repairs: the packet cited a $250,000 grant plus existing city authorizations to cover project costs. - Main pump station bypass and related valve work: the council approved authorization tied to a contract for bypass construction and related valve replacements (see separate story on the pump-station work for details). - Grants and special projects: the council authorized the mayor to accept a $100,000 county grant for Magdalene Park restroom refurbishment and approved local matching authorizations tied to a New York State parks grant for the East Athletic Field (10% local match as the state program requires). - Events and permits: council adopted routine special-event approvals including the Buffalo Freedom Eagle Run 5K along the Niwanda River Walk.

What was tabled or deferred: Resolution 1 and Resolution 9 were tabled at the meeting and will return for later action, according to council motions on the floor.

Roll-call and dissent: The meeting record shows roll-call voting on each resolution as the clerk called the roll. Most measures were adopted unanimously on the record; Resolution 20 (naming the Niwanda Park grassy knoll) passed with one recorded “nay” from Council Member Cook. A small number of resolutions were described by presenters as bookkeeping or project-cost adjustments rather than new appropriations.

Background and context: Council members and staff repeatedly framed these actions as routine project accounting or necessary capital maintenance. Council and staff discussed funding sources, grant matches and project timing; in several cases council members emphasized that some project scopes had expanded after additional inspection or emergency failures (notably at the pump station).

Votes at a glance (select items from the meeting record): - Resolution 1 — Tabled (motion by Councilman Fisher) - Resolutions 2–8 — Adopted (roll calls recorded) - Resolution 9 — Tabled (motion carried by roll call) - Resolutions 10–19 — Adopted (roll calls recorded) - Resolution 20 — Adopted (naming the Niwanda Park site “Bob Gregg Grove,” effective 06/01/2025); recorded vote includes one nay from Council Member Cook

Ending: The council adjourned after the roll-call votes and public comments; several items will return to the docket with revised language or updated figures, staff said.