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Cheektowaga board re-adopts amended procurement policy after debate, 4-2
Summary
After debate over approval thresholds and whether departmental staff should perform some property maintenance work, the Town Board adopted an amended procurement policy (resolution 2025-62) that reinstates updated internal procurement procedures; the vote after reconsideration was 4-2.
The Town Board of Cheektowaga voted to adopt an amended procurement policy that reestablishes the town27s internal procedures for purchases not subject to state competitive bidding rules. The measure, presented as Resolution 20 25-62, was the focus of extended debate and was tabled earlier in the meeting before being brought back and approved 42D2.
The procurement item had been discussed in multiple places on the agenda after town staff asked the board to re-adopt and amend a 2010 procurement resolution (Resolution 20 10-497). Supporters said updated rules were needed to manage purchases and ensure consistent purchasing practices. The amendment that passed added the director of emergency services to the list of officials with certain procurement responsibilities.
Concerns raised by board members and speakers included who should be authorized to approve smaller non-bid purchases, whether committee chairs or any two board members should provide required signoffs, and whether the town should perform some maintenance work in-house instead of contracting. Town Attorney Fowler cautioned about legal limits when public funds are used on private property and explained why the town typically awards private-property maintenance contracts so the cost can be placed on the tax roll. "It's actually illegal for us to send our parks people over to cut ... private properties," Fowler said during the discussion, urging the board to be mindful of statutory constraints.
Council Member Michael Jasinski urged caution and additional time to refine the policy. "If we're gonna pass this tonight, I think we're rushing into this," Jasinski said, calling for further conversation and potential amendments between meetings. The board majority declined to delay; after procedural steps to recall the tabling motion, members voted to approve the amended procurement policy 42Dto2D2.
Why it matters: the procurement policy sets internal thresholds and approval pathways for purchases that do not require formal competitive bidding under state law. It affects which officials can authorize purchases, how the town engages contractors and how the town allocates costs for services such as cutting lawns on vacant private properties.
What comes next: board members said they expect additional edits and possible future amendments to address concerns about approval signatures and operational details; staff and the town attorney will advise on specific legal constraints for any future in-house work on private properties.
