Cheektowaga board approves personnel and grant measures, removes $18,907 plow charge; several contracts defeated

The Town of Cheektowaga Town Board on March 25 approved multiple personnel appointments and a county-funded bench grant, amended its warrant to remove a nearly $19,000 highway plow charge and defeated a proposed extension of a public-works contractor.

The board unanimously approved Resolution 2025-185 appointing two provisional public safety dispatchers, Emily Fulerano and Zachary Klevka, to the Police Department effective March 26, 2025. Supervisor Brian Nowak moved the item and it carried after an aye vote. Chief of Police introduced the new hires at the podium.

On the consent warrant (Resolution 2025-186) Council member Barbara Bukowski moved an amendment to remove a Viking Clive invoice for $18,907.40 for plows; Council member Michael Jasinski seconded the amendment. The amendment passed and the amended warrant subsequently passed by roll call. Bukowski had raised a procurement concern, citing Highway Law and the town procurement policy; Highway Department staff said the plows were associated with prior truck purchases and used Sourcewell pricing.

Resolutions appointing staff in the Building and Plumbing and Justice Courts (including Resolution 2025-207 and 2025-216/217) were approved as presented. Resolution 2025-214 authorized acceptance of $2,500 in Erie County grant funds to fund benches at Town Park; the board approved the intermunicipal agreement.

The board voted on several contested items. A proposed memorandum of agreement to set salary/hourly terms for a new senior planner (Resolution 2025-213) failed on a roll-call vote, 2–5. A separate proposed extension of the town's contract with CMH Company for equipment and operators for public works (Resolution 2025-215) was defeated by roll call, 5–2. Several other resolutions on the consent agenda passed after procedural votes; a small number of items were pulled for discussion and handled separately.

Where roll-call totals were recorded in the meeting, the transcript excerpts below give the board's votes. The board also discussed procurement policy and oversight after the warrant amendment; those substantive questions were referred for follow-up at upcoming department-head meetings.

Votes at a glance - Res. 2025-185 — Appointment of two provisional public safety dispatchers (Emily Fulerano; Zachary Klevka). Sponsor: Council member Thompson; second: Supervisor Nowak. Outcome: approved (voice vote recorded as aye, motion carries). - Res. 2025-186 — Warrant/vouchers (as amended). Amendment to remove Viking Clive expenditure $18,907.40 (moved by Council member Bukowski; seconded by Michael Jasinski). Outcome: amendment approved; amended warrant approved by roll call. - Res. 2025-187 — Local law/public hearing (opt-out under RPTL 487 for certain energy exemptions). Outcome: passed (recorded as 6–0 with one abstention noted earlier in roll call). - Res. 2025-207/209 — Personnel actions (appointments/transfers). 207 moved forward; 209 was pulled for discussion; relevant appointments were approved or handled as described in meeting minutes. - Res. 2025-213 — MOA authorizing senior planner salary/hourly (sponsored by Supervisor Nowak). Outcome: failed on roll-call, 2–5. - Res. 2025-214 — Intermunicipal agreement to accept $2,500 from Erie County for park benches (sponsored by Council member Jasinski). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Res. 2025-215 — Extension of contract with CMH Company for equipment/operators for public works (sponsored by Supervisor Nowak). Outcome: defeated on roll-call, 5–2. - Res. 2025-216 & 2025-217 — Park/facilities appointments (Jordan Pocobello; Robert Wagner). Outcome: approved (voice votes recorded as aye).

Why it matters: The warrant amendment and the defeated public-works extension prompted extended discussion about procurement procedures, budget oversight and the town's approach to capital and emergency infrastructure work. Defeated measures and pulled items signal that the board remains divided on how to rebid or temporarily cover public-works needs while the town finalizes project scopes and funding.

What's next: The board directed follow-up on procurement policy and scheduled department-head review; items pulled from the consent agenda will be addressed at future meetings or after additional staff follow-up.

Ending: Several substantive items on the warrant produced follow-up requests for documentation and for clarifications from highway and engineering staff; board members asked the supervisor to raise procurement adherence at the next department-head meeting.